Chapter 9 Don't Speak, Liar

Serenity’s POV

I flip to the next page of the book that I was reading, pushing out the past days' events. It pissed me off a bit that even Rham seems to have turned for the worst.

I haven't seen him since yesterday, and I was sort of happy with that seeing that he seemed to have no plans of really being helpful or anything.

I know I didn't want to get him involved in my mess, but seriously, he has control over this, but he just wouldn't make a solution.

Proof of that has the chains back on my ankle. He didn't even say that it was unnecessary as I was in no shape to escape what more get through all the guards outside.

I sighed and scanned the page that I probably already know by heart by now.

Pride and Prejudice.

I know I wasn't having the same trouble as her, but somehow the people surrounding her sounds familiar. I mean, seriously? Marrying for wealth.

But then again, there is the fact that they were doing it for their families, but I really don't know.

I was reading it because it gave me a sense that my life, though it is like fantasy, the reality of living in the 19th century and being in Elizabeth Bennett's shoes made my life sound like a perfect fairy tale.

I sighed again and looked outside the window, overlooking the high walls the hunters had put up after the failed attempt to save me.

The land beyond that was beautiful and vast, something that you would have thought of seeing in the movies or even just in a dream, but it wasn't.

And you can trust the hunters to taint such beauty with blood and hell.

I stared at the setting sun and watched as the horizon on the other side was getting darker.

I took a deep breath as I slowly feel calm fill me up.

And to my surprise, a tingle ran through my heart and to the tip of my fingers. Suddenly I had the butterflies and felt myself blushing.

What he-

Then a memory of a dream that I have constantly had since I was a child crept into my mind. How it had always ended up me watching the others run off laughing to who knows where with their own partners or someone, while I stood alone in the middle of that field waiting for the darkness to come back and me waking up.

But since Eric arrived, everything had changed. He was literally in my dreams. He ran off with me to the woods and kept me safe within his arms, and no matter how dark and, probably, scary it gets, I never doubted him.

I stayed there, wrapped in his arms, waiting for the rain to stop or to wake up, whichever comes first.

I suddenly had the urge to giggle and blush some more.

So I covered my face with the book and giggled like a high school girl- oh, I am a high school girl.

"Someone's in a good mood."

I looked up and saw Rham standing by the door, holding two cups of what smell like hot cocoa.

It was his calming drink, making me wonder what was bothering him.

Was he feeling guilty now? I thought, and he should!

I sat up, still having a crazy grin on my face.

"You were reading a good book there?" he walked up to me, handing out to me the cup.

I raised the book for him to see the cover, "You've read that like-"

"Twenty-five times since I arrived here," I said. "I don't know how many times when I was home."

"Exactly, it never had an effect on you like this." he pointed out as he sat at the love seat in the corner of the room.

"I don't think it has anything to do with the book, really..." I said as I turn the mug to mix it a bit, watching the floating little marshmallow.

"Then what has got you giggling?"

I shook my head, "I'm not really sure," I said, "but I think it has something to do with Eric."

"Eric?" I looked up at him, seeing the change in his face. Now he no longer sounded so interested.

I nodded, "He's sending all these excited and happy feelings..." another set of giggles escape me.

Rham remains quiet, and I center my attention on the emotion that Eric was sending out. This was the strongest emotion he had sent out these past few months.

And it was one that I welcome happily.

I already know that he is angry and worried even without him sending all those emotions. This change was a good kind for me. It's like I was just away from him, and nothing was wrong.

A vision of Eric laughing and the sound of it- even his chuckle- filled my mind.

"Maybe he's with someone." Rham broke into my thoughts.

I frowned, "What?"

"Maybe he's with someone..." he repeats, "I mean, if the emotion is this strong, unlike the past few months, someone may be triggering these emotions, don't you think?"

"It's possible." I agreed, "But I don't think it's anything for me to be worried about."

"Yes, it is." Rham argued, leaning forward, "For all we know, he can be meeting a new shifter now, not able to wait anymore-"

"That's not how Eric is," I said.

"That you think." He says again, "You said it yourself, you were just together for a short while and-"

"And the bond between us is stronger than normal." I snapped.

"But he is still a man Serenity." he now stood up, setting the mug down, "He is a man with needs and-"

"He isn't like that!" I shouted, "What's wrong with you, Rham?! First you tell me that you can help me escape but can't bring me back to my family, now you tell me that my mate is cheating on me?" he frowned and stared at me, "Are you planning to turn all my remaining hope into dust?"

"Serenity-"

"I thought you were my friend-"

"And I am!" he snapped, "I am the only one you can trust here! The only one that has the ability to save you and your kind!"

"And yet here you are doing nothing!"

He glared at me. "Everything has a price, Serenity."

Remembering how he wanted me to run away with him, I shook my head.

"You are just like your father." I sneered at him. "You may have a heart and a bit of goodness in you, but you are as selfish as he is."

With that, he just screamed at my face, "I am not like him! I will never be like him! If I were, then you would probably be still in the cage, half dead and all bond with your pathetic, cowardly mate gone!"

I slapped him with all the strength I had and pointed at the door.

"Get out," I said under my breath.

With another glare at me, he turned and left, slamming the door behind him.

I reached for my heart and sat back at the window sofa, holding onto the window sill for support.

I know that Eric wouldn't do that. I do not doubt it. Rham was just riling me up and making me doubt him.

That was the beauty of this link. Everything was real.

Eric is happy right and high as a kite right now, and it wasn't because of someone.

It was because he chose to be.