I peeled my gaze off the TV and looked at my shirt. Myra’s lipstick mark was still there. Just then, I noticed my mother watching me. But she didn’t say anything.
“You tried, at least,” I heard my voice, trying to calm her down. I shouldn’t have let her cry on my chest. I should have taken her out of the chapel right away. But instead, I had tried to heal her wounds. “You can’t change his future, Myra,” I told her calmly and ran my hand on her lace clad back to soothe her. “But now at least you can live in peace, knowing that you tried. He was supposed to disappear like that.” And it was better if he had run away like that.
That moment, our parents looked at me. Mrs Farrow realized I tried to accommodate and understand her daughter’s nonsense in every possible way. I thought she’d get over with him. I was, tried to be a gentleman, but, damn it!
She just disappeared.
The screen was still not showing anything. Just the black screen and our voices were heard. They all stopped watching it and were looking at me quizzically. I let her cry for a while. It was all being recorded—her desperation for the dead man.
Suddenly Myra jerked and pulled back from me, the camera now showing half her face.
“What?” I heard myself asking her. Our parents’ gaze returned to the screen.
“I heard him.” She looked around the chapel. She placed her forehead on the mirror, and within a second, she pulled back, stumbling as if she’d been shot. I grabbed her by the arm to support her.
“What happened, Myra?” There was concern in my voice now.
“He is here. He came back.” The colour of her skin returned too. I had no idea how that fucking dead man had the power to play with her mind, how he could manipulate her body like that—without even touching her. When I had tried to kiss her in Morocco, she’d shown no reaction whatsoever.
“He is right here,” she whispered, gesturing towards the mirror. I wondered if she thought he might hear her. The video showed Myra placing her forehead back on the mirror while I stepped back and focused the phone camera on her.
“You came back,” she whispered. “Thank you.” Her body was completely drowned in lust.
Fuck it! How was he doing it? What was so special about him? Why was she so enthralled by him? He’d decomposed a long time ago. I had seen him, if he looked like David. He wasn’t that sexy to fall in love.
You’re jealous of him, Steve.
“Talk to me, Edward.” She placed her hand on the mirror. “I want to touch you.” Jealousy seeped into me. That meant, he wasn’t saying anything to her. Only she was desperate here. I believed that moment he was a sadist phantom who enjoyed entrapping innocent girls. I never believed in ghosts earlier… but now I had to. If this wasn’t a ghost story—then what the hell was it?
My future wife had fallen in love with a man who died six hundred years ago. How was it even possible? I didn’t want her to desire that dead man. She was supposed to be my wife. She was wearing my fucking ring, after all and she was seducing a ghost?
I guessed he didn’t say anything in return because she pulled back, sorrow in her eyes.
“He is not responding.” I didn’t say anything in return at her nonsense. I just kept making her video—my eyes fixed on the phone.
“Talk to him before he leaves again?” That was the worst possible thing I could suggest to anyone. Only if I knew…
She took a deep breath and placed her forehead again on the mirror. She cradled the frame of the mirror, and there was something in her touch that could create magic. The mirror, the book—they all worked upon her touch. She was my key to unlock the history. If only I had stopped myself being a greedy bastard, it wouldn’t have happened at all, and she’d be with me right now.
She watched something quietly. Her body was pouring all desires. She placed her hand again on the mirror and then suddenly, her fingers had disappeared into the mirror. I should have stopped making the video and pulled her back immediately, but before I could even fathom the situation, her hands disappeared through the mirror. I didn’t know what she was touching that moment. Was it Edward? He must have become greedy by looking at my beautiful princess and pulled her into his world because…
She just disappeared.
The screen went dark. The phone no longer held the power to record inside the chapel because Myra was no longer in it. Ever since I’d managed to take a selfie with her in Hue Castle during our first visit, I had realized that there was a special connection between her and this castle. Little did I know the damn castle would pull her back into its darkened world.
Nothing had recorded after Myra’s disappearance, but at least the moment itself had been flawlessly captured on my phone. Only my voice, calling out her name with desperation was recorded.
I’d picked up the remote and turned off the screen. My legs were leaning against the edge of the couch, hands folded onto my chest. I waited for them to say something.
Silence crept in the room. No one had anything to say. Finally, Mrs Farrow was the first one breaking the stunned silence.
“Where is my daughter?” Hadn’t she watched the video? Why was she asking such a stupid question? “Is this the trailer of your stupid game or the movie?” Her anger was simmering; I could see the fumes rising.
“Didn’t you see it?” I pointed towards the dark screen. “Your daughter was insanely in love with that dead man, and he pulled her into his world.”
“Rubbish,” Mr Farrow interjected. “Tell me where my daughter is or I will call the cops.”
My dad walked over to me and placed his hand on my shoulder.
“Tell us where she is, Steve.” Wow! I couldn’t believe my own parents didn’t believe me after watching all this.
“I showed you everything.” I looked at my mother past my dad’s shoulder. “You gotta believe me, Mom. This is what it is.”
When she didn’t reply, I approached Mrs Farrow and sat down on the coffee table next to her.
“You knew your daughter was in love with Edward,” I said.
“Who is Edward?” Mr Farrow barked.
Mrs Farrow let out a sob. Her face turned completely red, eyes welling up with tears. She knew it. Myra had told her. She had seen Myra suffer. She was her mother, she should understand.
“This is where your daughter wanted to be.” I placed my hand gently on hers. She didn’t move. She looked down at our hands, a tear dripping down on the back of my hand. My engagement band sparkled, clearly laughing at my misery. It was strange to wear a band, because we weren’t married yet. But it was customary from Mrs Farrow’s side for a man to wear engagement ring as well. Old traditions, I was her betrothed. “I tried to pull her out of her fantasies, but she was off all day today. She didn’t even look at me. I brought her there because I hoped it would help her to move on.” I took a deep breath and raked my fingers through my hair. “If only I had known this would happen…” I placed my hand back on Mrs Farrow’s, “I swear I wouldn’t have taken her there. I had no idea what your daughter is capable of.” I was a fucking liar. I had known exactly what she was capable of. I had seen it on the very first day and then there had been the incident in Morocco that had started everything.
“You’re trying to say that she actually disappeared into the mirror?” Mr Farrow asked.
“I don’t get it, Steve,” Mom interjected.
“Is it his ghost?” Mrs Farrow looked me in the eye. “Do you think it’s his ghost?” she repeated.
I looked up at the ceiling and shook my head. “I have no idea, Mrs Farrow,” I sighed. “I thought so too, but…”
“But what?” Mr Farrow cut in. “You’re trying to say that my daughter just disappeared through that mirror? Are you even listening to yourself? To the rubbish you’re trying to sell us?”
“You call it rubbish?” I argued. “Ask your wife. She knows your daughter fell in love with a prince who died six hundred years ago. She talked to him the first time she saw that magical mirror. And did you know there is
a cult that masters in capturing time? And that your daughter is the only one who could see what they had captured?” They all stared at me, shock evident on their faces. “Now it’s up to you if you want to believe that your daughter has some connection with Edward or that cult. All I’m trying to explain here is that whatever happened, none of it is my fault except that I listened to your daughter’s bullshit.” My voice had risen to a dangerous level. I needed to calm down, so I took a deep breath before I continued. “And I only listened to her because I love your daughter. I haven’t done any harm to her. She has some unknown powers so deal with it.” I stood up from the coffee table under my mother’s watchful eye. “Julia Watson found her outside the castle so—we don’t know where she came from.” I turned around to look at them. “If you keep involving the media and cops—they will tear down the entire castle, but I doubt they will find anything.”
“What do you suggest then?” Mrs Farrow looked at me pleadingly.
I glanced at Tyler. He had been watching this drama without a word.
“We need to keep her disappearance a secret.” I folded my arms on my chest.
“But you’ve got an interview with Vanity Fair next week,” Mom reminded me.
“Tell them we’re out of town. That is not important, Mom,” I replied. “We just need to hope she decides to come back from that mirror.”
“Can she do that?” my father asked.
“I don’t know, Dad.” I sighed. “If she can travel from one time to another, I’m sure she can come back.”
“Only if she wants to...” Mrs Farrow whispered while she stared at the black TV screen. Mr Farrow draped his arm around her shoulder. “She was in love with Edward. If she has actually managed to meet him, I know she’ll never come back. She always wanted to meet a real king. She always wanted to live in real castles,” Mrs Farrow said, shaking her head and more tears started forming in her eyes. Her husband hugged her tightly. “She won’t come back. I know her. She would prefer living with…”
“Don’t say that, Paula.” Mr Farrow rubbed her back. “She’s our daughter. I know she won’t keep us in pain.”
“Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson
CHAPTER 5
EDWARD
JUNE 12th 1415
I jerked awake, my breath shallow, my palms and forehead sweating. I looked around, trying to absorb my surroundings. I was still in my bedchamber, an oil lamp burning by my side. I had no clue of the time but a look out of the window told me the night was still alive. I had no idea for how long I had slept.
It had been two months since I had last seen her in my dreams. After Veronica’s departure, nothing ever entered my dreams. They were hollow—like my soul. But tonight, what I saw… it took the life out of me.
I had never feared anyone in my life—not even King Stefan—but the dream had shaken me to my core. I dread speaking to King Stefan, telling him the truth about her.
I jumped out of the bed and hurried down the long, wainscoted corridor. The night was dreadfully quiet, writing down my pain and fear that I just felt in my dream. Was it possible? How could I have forgotten about her and slept in my chamber, knowing she was at my mercy? What if King Stefan had found her already? What if that dream came true? Did I have the courage to raise my voice against King Stefan or was I the heartless coward she addressed in the dream?
I silently prayed that it had just been a nightmare. I couldn’t imagine her falling into Stefan’s brutal hands. I didn’t know if I had the strength to fight him. I just hoped she was still there and had not been claimed by anyone. I would kill in order to save her.
What the hell had I been thinking?
Why hadn’t I brought her to my chamber?
Why had I left her alone in the tower?
Why hadn’t I gone back to her after leaving the dinner?
How could I have slept while she had been tied to the rack—helpless?
The questions ran rampant in my mind as I rushed towards the tower. Each step created a hollow sound across the desolate corridors. I hadn’t given her a chance to say anything and yet, I had charged her guilty for nothing. This guilt inside me was enough to wreck down my fortress. She didn’t need to curse me more. I was already cursed with her hatred. I knew she’d hate me forever, for leaving her in the tower alone at my mercy. I would do anything to pull her back to me. She had left her world for me. She had come here for me.
Only me.
And I had ruined it.
Damn it! How could I have been so stupid? She came here to make an enlightened path…where my dreams could chase her—out of my pool of darkness. And what had I done to her, to us? I pushed her out of my life—my only ray of hope to see colours. How could I ever earn her trust? She had let me tie her. She had let me watch her. She had let me touch her everywhere, and I had been such a bastard that I had left her at King Stefan’s mercy.
No!
I was hopeful he hadn’t found out yet. He had been busy entertaining the guests.
The way to the tower seemed endless. Each step up the spiral staircase was ceasing my heart. I couldn’t think of coming back without her. No, I would not let her leave me. She was not supposed to give up on me. I wouldn’t let her.
When I reached the door, it was still locked—like I had left it a few hours ago. I still had no idea how much time had passed. I opened the door wide and found her tied to the rack.
Oh, thank God!
I never had the urge of thanking God before, but this time, I was truly grateful that He had heard my plea. I touched her arm. It was freezing cold—as if all the blood had drained out of her. I patted her soft cheek, but she didn’t respond.
“Hey…woman…wake up!”
Shit! I didn’t even know her name, but I knew she wasn’t Jasmine. If she were Jasmine, she’d have disappeared or killed me by now. This woman was a helpless one. I kept tapping her cheeks, but she was lifeless. Fear shot through my whole body. What if...? No! I couldn’t even bear thinking about it.
I bent down to unlock her feet, but she still didn’t stir at my touch. When I unshackled her arms, she almost fell from the rack. I pulled her into my arms, and her head rested against my chest. I could hear her shallow breathing, but she didn’t show any other sign of life.
“I’m so sorry…” Who would’ve thought I’d ever apologize to a woman? She had made me think so low of me. I hated myself for doing this. “I would do anything to make you open your eyes right now and look at me.” Still nothing. “Curse me, but open your eyes, dammit.” She didn’t respond. I pulled her even closer to my chest, like her knight protecting her from any danger.
That moment, I took a vow. I swore to give up my life pleasing her, make her trust me, but for that, she needed to open her eyes.
The walk back to my chamber felt much shorter than from there to the tower. It was still quiet all around us, but I could see now it was predawn. I lay her down on the bed and looked outside the window.
Although I never had a chance to bask in sunlight, the sun would brighten up the sky soon to invade my privacy. And then I’d have to leave her here while I attended the mass and breakfast with King Stefan. He would ask me about my disappearance last night, and I was still not prepared for his questions. But if I didn’t show up at the table—would he come into my chamber looking for me? Or would he send someone to tend to me? He knew I was not feeling well, but I hated being touched by anyone—be it our physician.
But this woman…
I looked at her, fantasizing about her touching me everywhere.
What if I hadn’t acted such a brainless fool last night?
What if I had kissed her the moment our worlds had collided, when I had pulled her out of the mirror?
What if I had taken her to my chamber and worshipped her?
What if I had asked her name?
All this could have happened if I had not acted so obnoxiously. She was lying on my b
ed—helpless, lifeless, cold. My stubbornness had frozen her. Only if I knew how to melt her down, I would do it but I was as helpless as her. Did she know how frozen I was from the inside? Did she truly know everything about me? She told me she had known me for so long. She had told me last night how much she had known. And if she were not Jasmine—who was she?
I covered her cold body with the blanket. She moved and snuggled deeper into the sheets. She was breathtakingly beautiful and it was equally painful for me to refrain myself from touching her.
A streak of sunlight sparked through the sky. I could see the sunlight coming through the window, while I sat across the bed on the armchair. I had never seen the sun so close to me like this before. Perhaps, we mostly slept at this hour and there was always a dark cloud hovering over us. But something looked different about the sun today. I kept looking back and forth between the sun and the beautiful woman sleeping on my bed.
As the sun stretched sleepy tendrils of light over the horizon, I realized that this was the first time, sunlight had intruded into my darkened chamber—as if the sunlight was piercing right through the cursed clouds to find her. How could it be possible? It was the first time in two hundred years that the sun had ever shown its warmth inside the castle and it landed straight on her face.
I wish to wake up by sunlight hitting my eyes. Veronica’s wish flashed into my mind. I wished she were here to witness it.
She stirred, completely unaware of her surroundings, but moved her face to avoid the light on her face. I stood up from my seat and lifted my hand to give her shadow. But as I stretched my arm, the warmth disappeared and the cloud darkened my soul again. I shouldn’t have bothered to feel the warmth. I should have remembered that we were all cursed until eternity. The thought of Veronica craving sunlight crossed my mind. She had craved, all her life, to feel this warmth on her skin, but we all lived in cold and darkness.
But the sunlight found its way to touch my captive. Was she truly someone who could end my curse? Or would the sun still have shown its warmth for any other person sleeping here? This was the first time someone had slept on my bed beside Emma. How much she had hated sleeping in her mother’s chamber.
Once Upon A [Fallen] Time Page 5