SPELLBOUND

What Gideon was witnessing from the recollection of memories at that moment was just too much of a shock that he could only look on, utterly wordless. He saw it clearly, as there was no mistaking it, Leah's soul was… it had entered the woman's body and it… 

He could see Leah's light from her soul in the woman's womb now and there were the unmistakable faint heartbeats coming from the life that was within that womb. He was aware about the fact that a dark fae's soul could only be visible when the physical body was gone. That would mean that if one could no longer see the soul, it could only be indicative of it having entered successfully into its vessel. This… this meant… a miracle must have happened, right? Right? 

Gideon's body began to shake terribly, unable to believe it. He was right, right? Leah… she did not disappear right?!

As he was flooded with another wave of impossibly strong emotions, the memories continued flowing. His entire world, even his darkness had just turned into a stand still. His heart seemed to have come back to life again, racing like crazy. And in his eyes, the deep darkness was dissolving, receding even as his rage and agony seemed to be elevating. There was even anticipation now that had been sparked within his heart. It was as if something had come to him, but he could not quite dare to believe it fully for fear that it was just his illusion or wishful thinking. 

But then as the memories continue playing out in his mind, he saw her. That baby from the womb. That child had been born healthy and grew well as time passed. And when she looked up, her eyes seemingly gazing on him with those pale azure eyes, and that fiery red hair… Gideon could not hold back any longer and just broke down into tears. Not knowing what to think, nor what to say, he just cried as the memories continued playing forward in his head. It would be more precise to say that he had broken down and sobbed – heavy and heaving sobs that wrecked his body.

He could not believe it. He felt like a saving grace had just shone down upon him at the very last crucial moments. Leah… her soul…! She had not actually disappeared… she… instead, she had found a new vessel for her soul! And she was… she had been reborn as… Vera! Vera his mate!

Could this be even more perfect? Was this even real? This was real, right? Right?! He could feel his mind reeling from the shock but yet he was pleasantly surprised at this fortunate twist of events. He would never had thought in a million years that Leah had found her soul a vessel to be reborn into.

He then saw his father, King Belial, visiting her secretly from time to time. She was so brave, so feisty… just so Leah. The only difference was that she had no magic powers at her disposal. All her behaviours, the way she speaks, the way she moves, it was the exact copy of how Leah's was when she was still a dark fae. Gideon started to smile and laugh in utter relief… still unable to believe all the things that he was seeing right now. 

But the temporary bliss did not last, and his smile slowly faded to be replaced with a frown. He saw her meet with other boys and when someone had kissed her, his heart suddenly blazed with an intense jealousy. However, the bad news did not stop there. He began to watch her being abused, getting beat up, being the object of lashing out, having been thrown into prison like a helpless animal by the same woman that had given birth to her. 

He watched her warm her mother's bed and was then made to watch her mother getting it on with different men. The darkness that had cleared off earlier was coming back with a vengeance and with full force due to the rage that was suffusing him. "No, stop! Don't hurt her anymore! She's… she suffered enough!! Stop!!" Gideon had found himself shouting those words out every time she received a lash or a blow. Every time someone struck her, and she bled, he would scream those words out, wishing he could tear those despicable creatures apart with his very hands. 

His heart began to bleed so hard all over again. So painfully hard as though she was right there, in the corner, wasting away before his very eyes and with no one else to even… to even lend her a hand. Why? He should have been there… by her side… he should be the one coming to save her from her misery. Like how she had stayed and held him so closely when he was breaking down, he should be there for her as well when she was the one suffering. But he had not been there for her. He had failed her again! She was suffering again, all alone, by herself… and without him even knowing about her very existence!

"Arrgghhhh!!" he could only scream and roar out his resentment and fury, wanting so badly to let loose and go berserk, when he watched her being assaulted by a filthy man. But finally… Finally! The memories had run its course and had reached up to that very moment. It had now caught up to the moment when they had met on the surface. 

And he began to relive it all over again, just that he was hearing, seeing everything from Vera's point of view. He felt her emotions, her thoughts… everything she saw, he saw it the exact same way and felt the exact same thing. And it was then that he realised one thing… This woman. She had never changed. Even though she had forgotten all about him, her heart and her soul were still the same. Be it that she was Leah or Vera, she was still her. Her essence was still the same person. And she was still the same woman that he had fallen in love with. The person that he had given his heart and soul to. She was his mate!

Announcement: Happy b-day to myself. Lol. XD

Alright, this is the real announcement. Just wanna tell you guys that my comic I Made a Deal with the Devil is finally out. You can read it now on tapas app for free. I hope you guys can support me by reading and subscribing there. It'd be a lovely bday present for me. ^^ 

P.s. please don't forget to subscribe, tap the ♡ button and comment when you get there. Thank you. 

~ kazzen (01-09-22)