Aphrodite
Chapter 13

Rachel became consumed in the assault, draining Darius’s essence until he grew weak. His hold on her slackened as her senses intensified, and her perception of time dissipated. Amidst her fervour, the sound of water crashing caught her attention. Her vision flashed with an image of a majestic waterfall. She squeezed her eyes shut, attempting to dispel the hallucination.

When she opened her eyes, she expected to see Darius, but instead, the imposing waterfall loomed before her. Confusion laced with fear as she inhaled the pure scent of rushing water, Darius’s fading warmth leaving her arms empty.

Caught in this bewildering dreamlike state, she felt the ghost of his touch slip away. Suddenly, he acted, his body forcefully ejecting her. She found herself flung across the room, her back meeting the coffee table with a violent crash, glass shards scattering beneath her.

Upon opening her eyes, she found herself under his intense, furious stare. Anger emanated from his dark, piercing eyes. In pain, she managed to prop herself up on her elbows.

He swiftly grasped her wrists, firmly stating, “No more.”

An overwhelming desire to launch another attack and sap what was left of his essence surged within her. She fought to release her arms from his grip, yet her attempts proved ineffective.

“I-I.” She stuttered, the overwhelming sound of the waterfall interrupting her. Its roar was jarring. Closing her eyes, she attempted to block out the sound. Upon reopening them, she found herself facing the waterfall’s mighty flow. Her heart pounded as she closed her eyes once more, wishing to see Darius.

Feeling the mist of the waterfall touch her skin, her initial delight turned to apprehension, the air heavy with the scent of fresh water. Her hands shook as she dared to look again.

This couldn’t be happening. The idea that she might have the power to shift herself to such a location seemed unfathomable. Yet, the waterfall appeared to dictate a singular route ahead. Unable to glance back or move her feet, she was stuck, facing whatever lay ahead with the waterfall.

“This must be a dream,” she murmured to herself, attempting to calm her erratic breaths. As she extended a hand towards the cascading water, a harsh gust of wind whipped through, drenching her with spray. She wished for the wind to stop, and to her surprise, it obeyed.

The waterfall had quieted, and a chilly breeze settled over the area. Goosebumps prickled her skin as the temperature dropped. She couldn’t make sense of what was happening as the water froze.

Questions swirled in her mind as her arm lifted, guiding her hand toward the ice wall. Without her control, her knees weakened, drawing her closer to the shimmering crystals. The ice loomed larger and more daunting with each step, making her feel smaller and overwhelmed by its grandeur.

She longed to flee the biting chill, to push against the force drawing her in, yet she found herself immobilised, a spectator to her own plight. The prospect of her fingertips grazing the ice sent shivers down her spine, her hands quaking with apprehension.

An unfamiliar face materialised in the ice, but a sensation inside her told her it was him. Dark smoke billowed, thawing the ice’s surface as it climbed upward. An explosive gust shattered the ice at her fingertips. She flinched, closing her eyes and turning away, as a shrill sound pierced the air, the frost nipping her fingers to a numb blue.

Then, suddenly, the wind stilled. Her heart’s rapid beats were the only sound. Despite her efforts to move, to run, she was frozen in place, forced to face the unforeseen.

With trepidation, she slowly turned back to gaze at the newly formed breach in the ice. Beyond it stretched an abyss of darkness, daunting and seemingly endless.

As her fingertips began to form icicles, a shadowy figure emerged before her. Panic surged within her to flee, to break free from the trance and save herself before it was too late.

A single tear traced her cheek as the emptiness before her deepened into a darkness so absolute, it seemed to threaten life itself with its consuming void.

Ebony tendrils, initially mist-like, emerged from the breach, spreading ominously. As they brushed her fingertips, she recognised not smoke but essence—a pure, powerful presence. She felt its strength coursing through her, revitalising her with its energy. The icicles adorning her hand dissipated, replaced by a comforting warmth that rejuvenated her entire being.

Watching the essence glide across her skin, she momentarily anchored herself by concentrating on her breaths.

Suddenly, a hand extended through the gap, its elongated, dark fingers wrapping around her own in a grip so intense it made her flinch. Her pulse quickened as she fought the encroaching darkness, her body shaking as the ice continued to dissolve, the barrier between them thinning dangerously fast.

The idea of the entity breaking through invoked sheer panic. Tears cascaded down her face as the formidable grip unexpectedly softened, the fingers now gently intertwining with hers. Confused, she looked at their clasped hands, seeking understanding in this unexpected gesture of connection.

“Soon, Aphrodite, we will be together again,” the creature’s voice echoed, laced with a dark promise.

Attempting to respond, she found her voice trapped by fear, her lips trembling. Suddenly, her hand erupted in agony, a fiery sensation enveloping her as if consumed by flames.

Her eyes snapped open to a drastic change in scenery — no longer facing the icy barrier but staring into Darius’s concerned gaze. Lying on the floor, she felt his hold on her wrists loosen. With newfound strength, she pushed, sending Darius staggering back into the couch as she propelled herself to a stand.

Trembling, she felt the burn intensify around her wrists. Darius quickly rose, but instead of attempting to subdue her again, he sat frozen, staring. His eyes widened as they fixed on her wrists, mouth agape.

Alarmed by his reaction, she looked down at her wrists and gasped. There, on her skin, was a tattoo – a coil resembling a snake’s tail that started at her index fingers, wove through her palms, and encircled her wrists, ending just shy of her elbows.

“What is it?” she asked.

Darius lifted his eyes to meet hers. “It’s an incomplete bonding mark.”

She clutched her chest, trying to still her shaking hands. “A bond mark? But I’m bound to Vlad, and there’s no mark for that.”

He looked puzzled. “Your connection with Vlad was formed without mutual agreement. He wouldn’t use his essence just to mark you. Not every being adheres to the practice of marking, yet I’m baffled about its origin. You never left the room? Something happened, didn’t it?”

“I don’t know. One moment you were holding me, the next, this thing is on my arm.” She chose not to share her vision with him, fearing he might involve Vlad. She preferred to face this mystery alone, at least for now. “Are you sure you didn’t cause this?”

His response was a derisive laugh as he rose to his feet, visibly frustrated. “That’s impossible. I don’t know what’s going on with you, but you need to see Vlad and sort this out.” With that, he moved to leave.

“You’re leaving?” she asked, disappointment and panic in her voice.

“Indeed. After your attack, I’m not inclined to stay. I’ll inform Vlad you’re coming to him,” he said, stepping past her towards the door.

“Please don’t go. I’m frightened.”

“Scared of what? If you tell me the truth, I will stay. You can’t honestly believe I didn’t notice the strange event that just occurred.”

Tears threatened as her lip trembled, barely managing another quiet, “Please.”

Yet, her plea was in vain. He departed, the sound of the lock clicking signifying his exit. She curled up, surrendering to her tears. After a moment, she composed herself enough to look at her arm again, scrutinising the tattoo.

It was inevitable—he was coming.