Memory
“Mara!” he called.
He had been gone for a few days, called away by Ryuk. But the excitement in his voice had me springing to my feet.
“You’re back!” I called to him, meeting him halfway. “I didn’t expect you to be home so soon.”
He smiled as he cupped my face, leaning down and planting a gentle kiss on my lips. “Do you truly love me, Mara?” he asked, the question making me blink a little in confusion.
“You know I do,” I said to him.
His eyes roamed down to my lips, and he kissed me again before pulling back. “I have a surprise for you.” I felt genuine excitement as my heart leapt. “Get dressed and meet me in the stables.”
“Okay.” I gleamed, turning back and racing to the room. Once I was in proper riding attire, I quickly made my way to the stables. I expected to see him outside, but it appeared empty. “Kaiden!” I yelled.
When no one responded, I walked inside to search for him. The horses were neighing as if they felt restless. Some of them shifted around, pushing against the doors that separated them.
“It’s alright,” I assured them. “It’s just me.”
I paused, stopping in the middle of the walkway, and turned. Kaiden’s horse wasn’t there. I didn’t see him anywhere outside, and he would have waited for me to retrieve my own. How strange…
A snarl caught my attention, making me whip my head to the side. “Who’s there?”
It started again, this time from another direction. Then another.
“Kaiden! This isn’t funny!”
Feet crunched against the hay and leaves outside of the stables, and I saw him standing there with his hands clasped behind him. “Ryuk and I had a very… enlightening conversation.”
Something appeared off with him. His stance… even his voice… “Kaiden, what’s going on?”
More snarls grew louder from places I couldn’t see, sending a terror-streaked chill through my bones.
“You see… the more I thought about it, the more I realized he was right. I mean, one can’t really deny a chance at being king, can he?” He stepped closer but still hadn’t entered through the doors. “Now, I can’t exactly have you following me around like a lost pup, can I?”
“What are you talking about?” Too many alarms rang through my head.
But when I turned to leave in the opposite direction, I saw them.
I had only seen those creatures once or twice during the war, but they never made it past the castle gates.
By the time I would lay eyes on them, they were dead.
Their carcasses brought in for examination.
“Kaiden!” I spun to him only to find him smiling at me.
“This is truly what’s best for all of us, Mara. Loose ends and all. I just…” He inhaled, closing his eyes and smiling as he shook his head. “Gods… I wish I could have played with you first.”
Before I could respond, I heard them charge behind me, and I screamed just as teeth sank into my arm.
I couldn’t fight them. I couldn’t stop them.
Another set of fangs dug into my shoulder…
Then, my other arm… My neck… I was immobilized, only standing because of the countless hands holding me up.
The only thing I saw was Kaiden, staring at me as pain enveloped my body and my screams became gargled.
“K… Kai…” My body fell to the floor, my face still pointed toward the doors. But now, I could no longer feel their bites. It happened so quickly—my blood draining.
“I hope she’s as pretty as you…” he said quietly before closing the doors and locking me inside.
He left me… He… How could he…
Suddenly, heat filled the stables and the horses whinnied, kicking around in their stalls. Fire. The stables… They’re on fire!
Kaiden… I wanted to cry out. Please don’t do this to me.
I battled my eyes, forcing them to stay open, but I could no longer feel my limbs. Every part of my body had gone numb, and the only thing left to hurt was my heart. It shattered, breaking in a pain worse than the wounds that now covered my limbs.
He left me… He…
Kaiden…