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I clamped my eyes shut as my time here as Niall and the life before that as Vener clashed. I’d believed the history books, engulfing myself in them, never sure why I was so fascinated with it all until now. Except half the information spouted as fact was wrong. Because I had lived it.
I’d begged Salenia to make me mortal again. Her siblings would forgive her if she did, and I could grow old with Anastasia. If I knew then what she was capable of, I would have fled far away with Anastasia.
I watched as the monster I created force fed Anastasia the elixir, too.
Then cursed us both.
Flashbacks of Anastasia covered in the blood of her family forced their way into my mind. She’d killed them all in a frenzy, then killed herself. But it wasn’t enough. Salenia didn't just punish me for loving another. She punished Anastasia more, her very existence threatening her self-worth.
I fell to my knees once again, burying my face in my hands. After what felt like hours, the ache in my head slowly subsided, and I slowly rose to my feet.
I licked my lips, as if I was tasting blood for the first time all over again from the memory. Vampirism came naturally to me back then, but not Anastasia.
I wanted to die when she was gone until I found out the horrific truth. It had been Vaneria who’d told me, those vicious words whispered into my ear on a cool spring’s eve. Salenia had created another realm, a place for immortals to go when we died. It was only me and Anastasia then, and Salenia swore to keep us apart for an eternity. She’d lost her family, and soon, this world she loved so much.
They punished her too, locking her in the realm she created for us.
Jaiunere was always the fair one who reigned judgement upon those who deserved it, and he damned her soul alongside ours.
So Salenia ran, and so did I.
I hunted her, feeding on mortals along the way until I accidentally turned my first, then my second.
The gods hated us, but we hid, and they created more vampires until there was no turning back. I needed to be with Anastasia, but not before I stopped Salenia, to destroy the realm so Anastasia could be free.
I recalled the day the earthquakes came, when the gods found out how many cursed ones now walked in the world, mortals dying at their hands. In their eyes, it was all their sister’s sin. Laveniuess's sudden departure from the world left a gaping hole in their family, and he was quickly followed by Jaiunere.
Then I found Salenia, but Vaneria got to her before I could force her to destroy the underworld. Vaneria sent Salenia to the underworld, imprisoned by her own creation, and I was alone.
I thought about all the vampires I’d ever met, remembering every single one of them was descended from my blood. Salenia wanted to rule them now, but she never planned on creating more than just Anastasia and me. She believed I'd kill myself too and join Anastasia in the underworld to suffer. The three of us, forced together forever.
We suffered for centuries, trapped in a never-ending nightmare that was the underworld. Salenia’s heart darkened as the years passed, and the demons that she created inflicted torture on those who came into the realm. She’d lost everything, but so had we.
I only had Anastasia to keep me sane, but Salenia couldn’t stand it anymore. She forced Anastasia out of the underworld, setting her free so we could never be together.
So how had Anastasia stayed alive? That was a century ago. She was still mortal.
Trembling, I reached for the handle, but the lifetimes of memories were too much as they tumbled on top of each other. Dizziness consumed me, and I dissociated, staring at the wall as shock rippled through me. I grabbed my head, struggling to find my identity between Niall and Vener, then dropped to the ground, shaking as I passed out.
***
I awoke to Anastasia standing over me, an immortal sheen to her eyes. “You’re alive,” I spluttered, slowly sitting, looking around us in the dark corridor. For a moment, I wondered if we’d finally made it to the afterlife, beyond the underworld, and there I would find peace with Anastasia, finally.
How long was I unconscious for?
“I am,” she said, her fangs glinting from behind her lips.
She didn’t remember a thing about who either of us were, but it didn’t matter, she was alive.
Except, she was a vampire.
My blood ran cold as I remembered the last time, how she’d killed her family in a frenzy, then took her own life. “Sweetheart,” I said tenderly, her eyes widening in surprise. “My love.”
Her brows furrowed. “You must have hit your head pretty hard.”
“No, no,” I shook my head, then reached up, cupping her face. “How are you feeling? Have you bitten anyone?”
She gave me a look. “No, but I am hungry. Mostly, I want to kill Salenia. Are you sure you didn’t hit your head? You’re being far too nice.”
