HIIIII, I AM BACK!!! My semester is over, work has slowed down and the christmas craziness has settled! The past few weeks has been a whirlwind in a good way. I had so many adventures and have stories to tell! ;) Okay, so I have big news!!! After doing some thinking, I have come to a conclusion and decided to make a confession. Glass Prison was originally supposed to be a spin off from the main story that I grew up writing for years! Glass Prison was supposed to be a stand alone as a prequel to my main series. But dammit, these characters has so much to say that one book isn't gonna cut it. So Glass Prison will be a trilogy.
Anyway! Thank you for all the comments and votes. I am still in shock that I have made it this far and by the sheer amount of love and support from you guys!
Enjoy~
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Meredith
It was dark. I couldn't see a thing.
A roar shook around me.
I gasped as cold drops pelted my face. In the darkness, I found my eyes and opened them. A dark sky and endless body of water reflected the sky before me. My breath hitched. The ground violently rocked to one side causing me to stumble. I clasped unknowingly in front of me; a metal rail dug into my palms as I clenched tightly, refooting myself. Lightning cracked above me, briefly lighting up my surrounding.
I was on a boat.
Fear filled my lungs, choking me. Not this nightmare again. I thought I stopped having them.
No, no, no, no, no, no.
I was back on the same boat, the last boat ride I ever went on. The very same boat that tossed me into the unforgiving sea. A sound of anguish escaped from my trembling lips, my tears mixed with sea brine and cold rain. I shivered as my wet clothes clung to my skin and my curls hung limply around my face. I dug my drenched converse into the wooden flooring but I kept sliding. I tightened my grip till my hands molded into the shape of the curve of the pipe that was the rail. There was a brief stillness; the boat slowed, waves paused and lightning silenced. They all waited in anticipation.
Then there it was.
The beast.
The boat tugged forcefully forward and then dipped perilously downward. A large dark mass rose and above the boat. The wind shrieked as the waves howled with glee as the beast grew even bigger. Lightning cracked excitedly, shining a spotlight on the monster. The dark wave stood ominously above, waves racing to the top and it watched, waiting for the right time; to devour me.
I stood frozen, unable to move but to watch in horror as the black mass grew. The beast gave one final roar and began to curl over me. Terror immobilizing me to the spot and I could do nothing but watch.
"NO!"
Another body grabbed me to be yanked against a warm, masculine body and the man raised his hand toward the beast while the other was wrapped securely around my waist.
He gave a loud grunt and the waves suddenly evaporated. The boat vanished along with the stormy sky and the dark sea. I was abruptly in a large room with tall windows that encased the sun rays that bled across the concrete floor. The smell of the sea brine was replaced with acrylic paint. Easels, chairs and stools were scattered across the room. I was in my old high school art classroom.
What am I doing here?
I let out a long shuddering breath at the familiar smell of paint and paper. I was no longer drenched from the sea, but instead warm. Really warm. Somebody had their arms around me and my skin tingled. I've never reacted to anyone like this but...
"It is you." A baritone voice hitched.
I stumbled from the arms and gawked. "Tristen?" He wore jeans and a white tshirt but he was bare feet. Wait, a pair of legs and feet?
He slowly smiled at me while taking me in, his eyes dark and yet, alight.
My heart pounded and my skin flushed. "You're human!"
He grinned then he glanced down at his long legs. "So it seems."
I walked closer to dream Tristen. "I've never dreamt of you before. This is the first." I smiled coyly and moved closer to him. I actually had to craned my neck a bit to meet his eyes. "Whoa, you're tall."
He chuckled then his expression turned somber. "Are you okay now?" He reached out to tuck a curl behind my ears. "That nightmare... wasn't just a nightmare. Wasn't it?"
My throat tightened at the mentioned of the nightmare. I glanced down, "No, it wasn't."
"Thalassa," He reached out, his hand cradled my cheek, scorching my skin and I stilled, overwhelmed with sensory overload. Then he stepped forward, tugging my head to his shoulder while his other wrapped around to my lower back. My eyes widened at my body's reaction of having his body lined up against mine. His hard, body filled into my curves, perfectly. His hand that was on my back rove up to cradled my head against his, my cheek was melded against his, his scruff rubbed against my smooth face. Heat slices through my body and I could not move.
I did not want to move.
His voice came out low, rumbling next to my ear that made my belly warm. "You're safe now."
"I like this dream way more." I boldly wrapped my arms around his narrow waist. He stiffened then relaxed as he chuckled. His masculine scent teased my senses. I tilted my head toward his neck and inhaled. Sunshine mingled with a sort of unknown spice. What is that smell? I sniffed some more, trying to figure out the name of that wonderful scent.
Suddenly, Tristen grabbed my shoulders and gently pushed me back. "Are you sniffing me?"
I frowned, "It's my dream, I can do whatever I want." I stepped forward once more and wrapped my arms around his neck. His eyes widened when my face came closer to his.
His sea green eyes became drenched with something dark, but he abruptly jerked himself out of my arms. I frowned, not liking that he was so far away from me. He shook his head and seemed to whisper to himself, "No, I can't." He glanced up, "Red, this is not a simple dream. I am really here."
I giggled, "That's right, you're here." I reached out to hug him once more, aching for that thrilling high I get from having his arms around me.
Tristen's eyes darkened once more but he shut his eyes as he raised his hand to stop my pursuit. "I can't believe I'm stopping you." He breathed before he raised his head. "Meredith, I am really here. Remember that coke and chocolate you shared with me?"
I scrunched my brows, "Yeah... what about them? Why are you bringing it up?" What an odd thing to remember while I'm dreaming. Huh, it's strange that I am aware that I am dreaming. Am I lucid dreaming? Is that what this is?"
Tristen ran a hand through his hair, "I'm really in your dream, Red."
I blinked. My chest thudding, butterflies zinging in my stomach. The way his arms felt around me, how I felt like I was on fire and how he smelled. If I was dreaming, how did I know he would smell like that? All these sensations were too intense for a dream.
I stumbled back and tripped over a chair, but I fell into something soft. I sat up and took in what I feel on. A mattress manifested the floor, in the middle of the classroom. My face burned but shock quickly rid my embarrassment. "Hâhow?" I raised my face. "How is this possible?" Then I remembered Bodhi and how she said that Gale needed to talk to her. 'Shi-amares can go into each other's dreams. Quite useful when we need to communicate over long distance.' Then I recalled the pain I felt at the aquarium, I felt it right when Tristen was stabbed...
I raised my hand to my mouth and felt my eyes were going to fall out.
This beautiful man was minâ
No way...
"What is it, Red?" Tristen was suddenly before me, he inspected me for a possible injury from my fall. "Did you hurt yourself?" He grabbed my hands, lifting them to check my arms.
"Tristen."
"Did you break something?" He grabbed my chin to softly lift my face to him. I jerked from his touch when the fire leached from his fingers to my chin.
"Tristen."
"Yes?" He paused at my urgency, as if finally realizing that I was calling him.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath in preparation. I opened my eyes to meet his, the sunlight from the window lit up his eyes into a pair of pale teal. There was even streaks of brown. I met his gaze levelly. "Are we each other's shi-amare?"
He stilled, his hands still holding mine. The five seconds of silence joined our conversation. Then he sighed and sat next to me. The mattress dipped under his weight, causing me to leaned towards him till our body touched and lined upâfrom shoulders to ankles. But I didn't pull away, I couldn't pull away. Great distance between us didn't feel natural. Little sparks danced where his skin touches mine. It was addicting.
"You feel it too." Tristen said, his voice coming out low and velvety.
"Feel what?"
He reached out, intertwined his fingers with mine. "This." And he turned his head to mine, his face so close to mine that I spotted a faint scar on his right temple. I was on fire, the man before quickly sharpen and the art room became a blurâunimportantâwhile Tristen sea green eyes filled my world. The addicting heat traveled up my arm, detonating ripples of wants and needs throughout my being. Then whispers echoed from the dark corner of my mind.
Share each other's wounds...
Our life force is tied...
If I die, he dies...
My chest tightened at the overwhelming sensation of sorching need and something dark. "No." I whispered. I began to shake, overwhelmed by a maelstrom of emotions that I could barely breathe. I withdrew my hand and abruptly stood up. A sudden emptiness slammed into meâcold and unforgiving.
Bodhi's words echoed, 'We can't... resist. It goes against our primitive nature it seems. The emptiness catches up, what was once an ache becomes an unbearable pain. The longer we deny it, the pain and the ache can actually drive us to insanity...'
It was already beginning.
I paced, attempting to regain the ability to think. What will happen now?
"Red?" Worry seeped in Tristen's voice.
"I'm fine, just need a moment to think." My voice cracked at the last word.
"Think about what?" Tristen stood up.
"IâI just need to think." My heart refused to slow down. Oh god, what does this mean? And how? I'm human... Chills encased my body.
I can't live in the sea with him.
My chest tightened, trying to withhold this darkness of sea brine and nightmare from consuming me. I can't do it.
I can't.
I can't.
"Think about what, Red?" His voice said sternly and watching me pace.
"This is a mistake." I muttered to myself.
Something dark brewed across his face and his lips turned downwards. "A mistake?"
I glanced down and thought out loud to the ground, unable to meet his penetrating gaze. "You can't be my shi-amare,"
"Why not?" His voice came out sharp and I jerked upward. His eyes flashed green and he stepped closer to me, looming over me.
I walked back. "I mean I can't have a shi-amare."
His eyes softened, "Why do you believe that?"
"I'm human."
"And I'm not?" His exterior hardened once more. "Is that what's bothering you, that your shi-amare is a mer?"
I sputtered, "No! That's not what I mean!"
"What do you mean, Meredith?"
I flinched at the usage of my whole name like a slap. I gritted my jaw as my chest burned. "I mean that I didn't know that humans can have shi-amares."
"Oh," The intensity left Tristen's body and he stepped closer to me, but didn't touch me as if he knew a whisper of his hand can shatter me. "Anyone can have a shi-amare," he said.
Gale's voice whispered from my memories, '... pair of shi-amare can have nothing in common but they literally can't live without each other.'
I could not follow him to the sea nor can he live with me on land. Fear kept me on land and duty is calling for his return to the sea. This wasn't a fairytale, where the prince falls in love with a girl and they live happily ever after in a kingdom. This was the real world. I cannot up and leave all I know for a man I just met because I feel sparks when we touch. I didn't even know him.
And yet, I feel like I have known him forever.
I stepped away from Tristen who was staring at me like an astronomer would study the moon.
No, he was wrong.
He narrowed his eyes at my retreating steps then he sighed defeatedly. "I don't know what to do too, Red." He stared at me yearningly, "I mean, I have been searching for you for a long time and here you are..."
My eyes burned at that. Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't cry.
"Don't worry about that, I just wanted to check in if you were unharmed."
I nodded, "Oh, well, I'm fine."
He nodded, "Okay, good." A peaceful quietness came next but was shattered by Tristen's next question. "Red,"
"Yes?"
He moved closer, "What happened that night?"
I swallowed. I didn't need to ask which night, I knew exactly what he was asking. I went to the window and stared out what looks like the imitation of the dryad sanctuary. The tall trees and the sun filtering through branches are almost a compy form the real thing. I begun the tale of my woe. "When I was eight years old, my mom won a summer cruise from her work party and so my parents took me with them. It was a week long cruise to visit all those islands around the coast of california. Then one night, a really bad storm hit..." My hand shook. Suddenly, cascade of molten lava went up my arm and I gasped. I looked down and Tristen's fingers were interwoven with mine.
His thumb rubbed mine in comfort, "It's ok,"
I squeezed his hand in thanks and took a breath to continue. "The storm was so bad that my dad left to help the people get to their cabin. I waited in the cabin with my mom. She was strong, she didn't cry and kept saying my dad would be right back. Then a woman started crying for help and my mom told me to stay where I was, then she left too. I was by myself, scared for my parents... But they were taking a long time..."
I exhale a shuddering breath, remembering that time alone was the worst time of my life. "And I was so worried that I got up and opened the door. The water suged in and swept me out of the cabin. I remember getting up to search for them at the deck and calling for them... Then my mom spotted me. She was terrified and began calling my name, saying to go back to the cabin." I squeezed my eyes and Tristen's hand squeezed, keeping me grounded, "Then a wave toppled over us, knocking me out of the boat and into the sea.
"The waved tossed me miles from the boat and I kept swimming and swimming, but waves after waves kept pulling me away from the boat. The boat got smaller and smaller till it vanished over the curve of the earth. The storm lasted forever and I kept swimming, keeping myself afloat to breath..." I sobbed quietly but Tristen didn't say a word, only continued squeezing my hand. "I was lost at sea for six days and five nights."
The room brightened and my shoulders instantly felt lighter.
"Good Gaea," He whispered, "How did you get rescue?"
"I don't know, I was passed out from dehydration and starvation, the next thing I know, I woke up on a beach and a family found me. The doctors said it was a miracle I was even alive." I smiled sadly, "My parents believed that the ocean carried me back home or a sea animal." I shrugged and smiled at my lame attempt at humor, "Would be pretty badass to say I've ridden a dolphin."
Tristen chuckled then he hugged me once more. I sighed and hugged him back, relishing the warm and fluttery feeling. "I'm glad the sea brought you home alive."
I stiffened at his choice of word. The sea snatch my life away, is what I wanted to say. But didn't. I pulled away and turned to the nearest easel. I feigned interest at the twenty by sixteen empty, white canvas. I frowned, my fingers itching to paint at the most inappropriate time. Suddenly, a weight tugged my right hand down. I glanced down and I was holding a piece of charcoal.
I gawked at the charcoal that just manifested. "How is that possible?" I looked to Tristen for answers.
"This is our dream, we can do anything we want."
"Are you in my head or am I in yours?"
"Iâhuh. I honestly don't know." He walked around the art room, picking up various of vases that are used to draw from and studied it in his hands before he placed it back and went after another. "What is this place?"
"It was my old art classroom, I spent many hours here, losing myself into filling these blank canvases." I picked up my pallet and began drawing the first thing that came into mind. I lifted the charcoal and slid it across the smooth paper, pouring life in the emptiness.
My skin pricked and I could feel Tristen standing next to me, watching my hands work as I drew and shaded the contours. Then it was quiet, peaceful. Worries melted away and fear of the future diminished. I exhaled when I finish the last stroke and set the charcoal down on the easel. I stepped back to study it from the distance but my back bumped into something solidâTristen's chest. I gasped and was about to step away to apologize, but his hands came up and held my waistâkeeping me in placeâwhile his chin rested on my right shoulder, peeking at my drawing. "It's beautiful," He whispered into my ear. "Is it real?"
My heart raced. "Yes, that's the tree of the elder, Maiara."
Tristen stiffened and stepped back. "Elder?"
I turned, "Bodhi and I are currently in the Dryad's sanctuary."
"How did you get the dryads to approach you?" Tristen asked, "They not particularly fond of humans."
"They uhâwanted to help me. Help me get rid of the dark fays and free your people."
"They said that?" Tristen's brows furrowed in concern, "Why do they want to help?"
I glanced at my drawing, staring at the fallen leaves that littered the ground of the tree. "Their life force is being siphoned to maintain the glamour around the city."
"Oh," He stepped into the line of my vision. "You went to the outer glamour. What happened out there? I heard a dark fay went missing."
"You heard that?"
"Yeah, there was a buzz going around the aquarium. What happened?"
"Well, we went to the outer glamour andâ"
"Please tell me you didn't recklessly crossed it."
"âI crossed it."
He groaned as he slid his hand down his face, "Red," He mumbled, "You are so lucky that a dark fay didn't catch you..." He trailed off, "Oh thalassa, a dark fay did catch you."
"Yeah, but Bodhi fought him andâ"
"Does Bodhi realize that she set off a search party for the dark fay right now?"
"Oh no, you mean they coming to the woods right now?"
"So if you are truly where you say you are, the dryad sanctuary is probably the safest place for you right now. The fays cannot cross into the dryad's sanctuary without an invitation. It's the law of sidhes. You need to stay there for the night."
"IâI need to let my parents know or they'll be looking for me."
"Lie or do whatever you have to, but you and Bodhi need to stay put there for the night."
I nodded, "Okay." I paused, "Tristen?"
"Yes?"
"Is your back okay?"
He inhaled sharply, "Did you feel the spear?"
I hesitated and nodded.
"Let me see your back." He commanded, concern lancing his tight face.
I jerked, "What, no, I don't have a scar. I only felt it." My face burned at the idea of baring my torso to him.
"Oh, are you certain?"
"Yeah, I am." I paused thinking, "Did you get in trouble afterwards?"
He shut his eyes as he ran his hands through his hair, "Oh gods, tell me you didn't feel it... "
"Feel what?"
"You didn't experience any pain or dizziness?"
"Ah... I did experience dizziness, but it was probably lack of sleep and from hiking all day to the outer glamour." I tugged a curl, "And I passed out from it. Embarrassing, huh?"
"No, Red, you didn't pass out. We were injected with something to be knocked out."
My heart sped up at the word we. "What?"
"I was interrogated after you left and..." Tristen told me everything that happened to him and I felt my eyes widening.
"They were going to use Nixie on you? Those bastards!" I paced and Tristen's brows went up at my vocabulary. Without a thought I raised a hand to touch his cheek but stopped myself. Whoa... I am getting way too comfortable with him. I flitted my hand, playing it off as a wave over him. "Are you ok? Are you safe now?"
He smiled softly, "Yes, I am."
"Oh, then I should probably tell you what I overheard when I was trapped in the storage room." Then I told him all the things I learned about the dark fays and how the dark princess was behind it and how Kol was to be the next general for the future dark queen.
Tristen nodded as he muttered to himself, "Then it is true. My theory is becoming more solidify every moment."
"What theory?"
"That the infamous legend of Lost Prince is real."
I paused, "The Lost Prince?"
He sighed, "I should tell you the story. Let's sit somewhere comfortable. It's a long story."
Suddenly the scenery changed and we were in what looks like a library alcove with a tall ceiling which large, dozens of bookshelves covered the walls completely. Books were everywhere. On the small tables with a pair of wooden chairs and some on the steps of the spiraling, metal staircase that went to the second floor. A chimney was holding a fire that lit the dark room, making it instantly warm and cozy. A thick rug sat in front of the chimney with thick pillows strewn across the mahogany floors. Tristen went over by the fire and sat on the rug. He patted the pillow next to him but I was too busy gawking at my surroundings. It was beautiful.
I slowly spun around, addictively taking it all in, "Is this place real?"
"Yes and no. It's my library from under the sea."
"Under sea? But the pages and the water... How?"
"We laminate them." He smiled.
I sat next to him, awaiting for my next new information of the new world that was slowly becoming mine. "Okay, I'm ready now. What's the legend of the Lost Prince?"
"I guess I should start from the beginningâ"
"Wait, the dryad elder already told me of what happened before the beginning." I filled him in on my account of Nyx and Gaea.
"Then you remember the importance of balance?"
I nodded.
"Well, once upon a time, a Light King and Queen gave birth to their first and only child. Then the prophecy was born. The child had only two destinies. The child was known as the harbinger of either peace or destruction."
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