Kaiser's Perspective:
10:31 PM - 1/1/2018
Celia sat across from me now — a careful, fragile few steps away. The warmth of her body had faded from my chest, replaced by this uncomfortable space stretching between us. I had shifted back—not dramatically, but enough for her to feel it.
Her eyes widened instantly, a sharp, wounded shock flickering across them like a lantern struggling in the wind.
She leaned forward, fingers curling into the fabric beneath her.
"Kai… why are you moving away from me?" Her voice cracked. "Why now?"
I kept my tone steady. "Because, Celia… I don't want you misunderstanding anything. I can't be with you. Not like that."
Her lips parted—once, twice—like she couldn't find the right place to breathe.
Then—
"I THOUGHT I WAS IMPORTANT TO YOU!" It ripped out of her, raw and trembling, her eyes already glossy.
She lurched toward me on instinct, but froze halfway when she saw me shift back again.
Her whole body recoiled like I'd struck her.
"You… you said I was your wife," she whispered, voice trembling violently. "You kissed me. You held me. You made me feel special. Like—like you loved me." Her face twisted with hurt.
"You can't just tell me to forget all of that… you're not allowed to—"
She stopped herself, swallowing a sob, shoulders shaking. Then the questions came—small, broken, terrified.
"Am I… not pretty enough?" Her hand touched her cheek as if checking for flaws.
"Is it my voice? My smile?" She blinked rapidly, fighting tears that still gathered, heavy as pearls.
"Tell me what part of me isn't good enough…"
"It's not that," I said softly. "None of that."
She sniffed—hard—like someone trying to hold herself together by force.
"Then why? Why am I not your type…? I can change. I'll be whatever you need me to be."
I exhaled slowly. "Celia… listen. You're beautiful. Strong willed too, actually. You don't take orders from anyone. You hate being led. You fight every rule, every suggestion, every direction you don't like."
She looked confused, desperate.
"So what? That's the problem?"
"Yes," I answered honestly. "I prefer someone who can listen to me. Someone who's gentle… someone who trusts my lead. Someone who doesn't fight me every step. Someone who doesn't try to take control over everything." I shrugged helplessly.
"It's just the kind of person I'm drawn to."
Her eyes widened like I'd stabbed her chest.
She whispered, "I… I don't understand. Why can't I be that for you?"
"Because if you changed yourself for me," I said, voice lower now, "you wouldn't be you. You'd be forcing a version of yourself you don't even like. And you once told me you wanted to be yourself around me. If you bend yourself just to fit my type… you'd be losing that all over again." I hesitated, then admitted,
"And Celia… the truth is—my type is someone… submissive."
Her whole body went rigid.
She clenched her teeth so hard her jaw trembled. Then—
"I CAN BE THAT FOR YOU!" she screamed, voice breaking in pain.
"JUST GIVE ME A CHANCE!" Tears streamed now, unhidden.
"Why are you doing this, Kai? Why are you pushing me away? I hate this— I HATE THIS—!"
"Celia," I said, trying to steady my tone, "I can't let you force yourself into becoming something you're not. You'd lose yourself. And I refuse to be the reason you break your own nature. You deserve to be who you are—"
She cut me off in an instant.
Her head lifted, tears sliding down her cheeks, eyes burning with something fierce and broken all at once.
"I don't care," she whispered—quiet, but absolute.
"I don't care what I lose. Not if it's for you."
Celia's fists balled so tightly her knuckles blanched, trembling against the ground. Her whole frame shook — not from the cold, but from pure, overwhelming emotion.
And I… I hated this.
Every second of it.
Saying these things felt like stabbing something soft and living inside her. But I had to test something — had to know it. Even if it meant putting her through words I didn't mean.
Even if it meant telling her lies.
Her breath hitched once — then her voice broke.
"I can be like that for you… I can be anything for you… just let me try," she said, voice cracking into a sob. She hit her fist lightly against her thigh, trembling harder.
Then she lifted her head — and her pain erupted.
"SO STOP SAYING I CAN'T!"
The sound tore through the tent, louder than the storm outside.
Her tears streamed faster now, dripping off her jaw as she shook.
"I've already lost so much… I hated myself, I hated living—" She clutched her chest.
Her voice shrank into something raw. "But then you came. You made me happy. You gave me a name, a reason to live, a life…"
Her lips wobbled violently, more tears slipping down.
"You told me you'd stay with me… you promised…" My throat tightened painfully.
"I did promise…" I whispered, "…but I promised to protect you, Celia."
Her eyes snapped up — bright red, furious through the tears.
"THEN PROMISE TO BE WITH ME." She shoved her palms against the floor, pushing herself closer.
"That's all I want. I'll give you everything. Just… stay." Her voice broke completely at the end.
I stayed silent.
I'm almost there.
Her shoulders quivered violently.
"Do you know how much I cried?" she whispered, voice shredded.
"How much it hurt thinking I lost you? I trained until my body gave out every single day — just to get strong enough to drag you back from the grotesques."
She clutched her arms around herself, shaking harder.
"I didn't care how much it hurt. I didn't care if I died." Her tears dripped onto her dress.
Then she whispered with every last piece of her heart:
"Please… just promise me. Give me a chance…"
"Celia…" My voice wavered. "I'm sorry."
She bit her lip so hard I thought she might bleed. Her chest rose and fell too quickly, as if she couldn't breathe.
Then, breaking apart:
"I never believed in love… until you." A sob tore out of her.
"Please—why are you doing this to me…"
I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling shakily.
"Look, Celia… you're better than me. I know this hurts — I know it's cruel — but you have a future ahead of you. Someone out there will treat you right. Someone better than me—"
Her head snapped up instantly — eyes wide, horrified.
I kept going, even though her expression gutted me.
"And they'll make you smile—"
"SHUT UP!" Her scream shook.
Her whole body lunged forward an inch, raw anger and heartbreak tangling together in her voice.
"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING!" Her hands slammed against the ground, shaky, desperate.
"NOT TALKING TO YOU KILLS ME!" She crawled toward me again — inch by inch — tears streaming down her cheeks like they burned.
"ANYONE ELSE MAKES ME SICK."
Celia's fingers dug into the floor as she crawled closer — slow, shaky, hurt twisting her features into something desperate.
Her eyes locked onto mine with a wild mix of disbelief and fear.
"You're lying… you're lying to me. You'd never say these things to me— you're not like that." Her voice cracked as she dragged herself closer.
Then her breath trembled out of her chest.
"I love you. More than anything. I'm only asking for a chance. I'll do anything you want. Anything. Please…"
Her hand reached out — trembling, pleading, aching.
I swallowed hard.
I didn't want to do this. But her previous actions made this necessary… For the truth.
"I didn't… want to say this," I murmured, eyes dipping, "but after what you told me tonight, I have to."
"Please—" she whispered again, voice shredded. Her hand hovered inches from mine.
And I moved my hand away.
The moment her fingers fell into empty air, something inside her broke with an audible sound.
Her face twisted — then she slammed her fist into the ground hard enough to shake her whole body.
"WHY?! WHY DID YOU MAKE ME LIKE THIS?!" Her voice was manic, shaking, ripped out of her chest.
"You made me love you! You did everything— every little thing— you shaped me into this— and now you say you can't be with me?" Her breath came out jagged, like it hurt to inhale.
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
A necessary cruelty.
She wiped her tears with her sleeve — not delicately; angrily.
"It doesn't matter. I don't care." Her voice steadied into something frighteningly calm.
She dragged her fingers down her wet cheek, smearing the tear tracks.
"I want you. And you will be mine. That's final."
"And what exactly do you mean by that?" I asked quietly.
She lifted her chin, staring straight into me — red eyes burning.
"I mean you're not getting rid of me with a few hurtful words."
A slow smirk tugged on my lips.
"…Mhm? Is that so?"
Her shoulders squared, and the trembling slowly stopped — replaced with a terrifying steadiness.
"You made your point." She pointed to her heart, then to me.
"Now I'm making mine. You created this part of me. And I'm not letting go of the person who did."
My smirk deepened. "Seems like you've actually grown."
Her breath hitched — but something fierce lit up in her expression.
"What? Did you expect me to break down again? To cry until you felt guilty?" She shook her head slowly.
"No. I know everything you've done for me."
Her tears finally stopped.
She wiped the last one away with her thumb and exhaled.
"I'm done begging. If asking won't cut it… I'll take what I want."
My eyebrow lifted. "Oh? Letting me go is impossible?"
She leaned closer — too close.
Her voice dropped to a whisper soaked with possession.
"We'll be together. Yes… forever." Her hand slid up to my jaw, fingers gentle but firm.
"We will never be apart." Her smile sharpened.
"You belong to me."
The ground cracked like something alive waking up. A dozen black chains burst around her, shrieking through the air. They lunged for my wrists—cold, fast, hungry.
I didn't flinch. If anything… my smile only sharpened.
Metal slammed around my arms and pulled them back. My shoulders strained for a heartbeat—then Celia's crawl pulled my attention downward.
She was on all fours at first, hair hanging wild around her face, those red eyes shimmering. Then she climbed into my lap with the soft, slow certainty of someone claiming what was already hers.
As soon as she settled, her expression melted into that small, dangerous smile—the one she only ever wore when she felt victorious.
"You're overreacting, Celia," I murmured, unfazed, the chains rattling behind me.
Her fingers trailed up my chest, before she hooked one hand behind my neck and leaned in, her breath shaking—but not from fear.
"Overreacting?" Her smile widened just slightly, the kind that promised trouble. "Sweetheart… if anything, I'm holding back."
She shifted fully onto my lap, straddling me like it was the most natural thing in the world, her dress sliding over my legs as she pressed closer.
Her arms slipped around my shoulders, hugging me tight, burying her face against my throat as if anchoring herself there.
I breathed out softly. "Uh‑huh? So… this is your big declaration that I belong to you?" I teased.
Her grip instantly tightened, her breath hitching as her nails dug lightly into my back—not enough to hurt, just enough to warn.
"Don't test me, darling," she whispered, voice low and trembling with emotion. She hugged me even tighter, her body pressing fully against mine, chains rattling behind her like an extension of her heartbeat.
"I'm keeping you right here." She lifted her head—just enough so I could see her eyes.
The chains tightened around my wrists with a metallic shiver, locking my arms behind me. I tried shifting slightly—only to feel her magic pull tighter, reminding me she wasn't letting me move an inch.
Still, my face stayed calm.
Unbothered.
Watching her.
Celia lifted her head from my shoulder, her breath brushing my collarbone as she whispered:
"Kiss me. Now."
Her command trembled—not with fear, but with hunger.
I tilted my chin just a little, meeting her eyes lazily.
"Beg me."
The way her expression twitched—half offended, half exhilarated—made her look even more unhinged. Her eyes narrowed, glowing a deeper shade of red, but instead of pulling away, she pressed herself closer, melting against my chest.
Her arms wrapped around me again, almost shaking with emotion as she murmured into my neck:
"I love you so much… You don't understand the lengths I'd go to prove it."
Before I could reply, her lips grazed my skin—then she bit down, playful but possessive. My head didn't move, not even a flinch. Only my eyes slid sideways toward her.
"Ah. So we're biting me now?" I muttered.
She smiled against my skin, delighted.
"I can peck…"
Her lips brushed softly along my throat.
"…and bite."
Her teeth sank into me again—harder this time—before she released me with a slow, savoring breath.
Her hands slid up, tracing my jaw, then hooked around the back of my neck. She shifted until her cheek pressed against mine, her breath warm against my ear. A soft kiss landed on my cheek—slow, lingering—followed by another bite, sharper, as if claiming the spot.
When she finally pulled back, her stare locked onto mine—obsessive, unwavering, beautiful in a terrifying way.
"I told you," she whispered, voice trembling with devotion.
I don't care. I want you, and I'll have you."
My pupils followed her movements, tracking her every tiny shift, every tremble of her lips.
"Mhm… I can see how desperate that love is," I murmured. "Is that why you tried to kill every fairy in Sylaphine's labyrinth?"
Her expression didn't falter.
Only devotion.
"I'm sorry, honey," she breathed, lifting a hand to stroke my cheek tenderly—comically gentle considering the topic.
"But you made me jealous."
Her smile curved, sweet as a knife.
"They had to die."
She kissed my cheek again—slow, soft, adoring—her lips lingering as if she were savoring the taste of my skin.
Then she leaned down, her arms still wrapped around my shoulders. The tent shook faintly from the blizzard outside, cold winds battering the fabric while she pressed closer, warm and feverish.
Her mouth dipped to my collarbone.
A gentle kiss— followed by a sharp bite.
She pulled back just enough to whisper, voice trembling with beauty and madness,
"Isn't it romantic…? I feel like I'm losing my mind."
"Doesn't feel that way to me," I said, my tone flat.
She pouted—an actual pout—before diving right back in, marking me again.
Her teeth dragged along my skin, biting and claiming with little bursts of breath. My face stayed neutral, eyes half-lidded, simply watching her work.
After several seconds, she straightened up with a delighted smile—genuinely happy, as if she'd just finished decorating something she owned.
"There. You're marked now. Those bitches will know you belong to me."
I didn't respond. I just kept my gaze on her, unreadable.
She brushed her thumb over the marks she made, admiration flickering in her eyes.
I finally asked quietly,
"Is this the suppressed part of you you've been hiding…? The side you kept buried?"
She inhaled sharply, then grinned with a kind of trembling relief.
"Controlling it… it's too hard now. I'm jealous—so horribly jealous." Her voice cracked.
"I can't let anyone have you. You're all…" She leaned closer, eyes widening with a dark shine.
"M. I. N. E."
Before I could react, her hands slid behind my head—fingers weaving into my hair—and she kissed me.
Passionately.
Her lips crashed into mine with desperate hunger, and she pushed herself flush against me. Her mouth parted, and her tongue slid in, swirling, claiming every inch it could reach. She kissed me like she was afraid I'd vanish if she stopped—breath hot, grip firm, chains tightening around my wrists as if reinforcing the moment.
I didn't return the kiss, but I didn't pull away either.
I let her devour me.
I watched her lose herself.
Seems like my test worked, I thought, feeling her trembling against me. I managed to lure out the side of her that wouldn't hesitate to kill for me. Necessary, of course… though Lucas left me in a far worse situation than he admitted.
For now, I'll let her keep going.
Finally, she broke the kiss with a gasp, breath shaky and lips parted. Her red eyes looked darker—feverish.
I waited a beat.
"Done now?"
Her smile turned slow… wicked… satisfied.
"No, honey," she whispered.
"My parents taught me to finish my food before getting up."
Her fingers trailed down my jaw, possessive and trembling with obsession.
"We have the whole night."
She stared at me for a long moment. Too long.
Her expression shifted between awe, frustration, and something that made the air feel heavier.
"You're not even a little flushed…" Her pout formed immediately after, her eyebrows scrunching.
I lifted a brow.
"What did you expect?"
"I at least wanted to see you blush. Or flustered. Or… something!" She groaned dramatically and hugged me tighter, her arms locking around my torso.
Her lips brushed the side of my neck before she planted a soft kiss there, letting her head rest against me.
"Kaiiii… that makes me wonderrr…"
"About?"
She lifted her head slowly—way too slowly—and came close enough that her breath warmed my lips. Her eyes were obsessed, hungry, desperate.
"You never told me who your first kiss was."
I blinked.
"...What do you mean?"
"In the Village of Soulmates," she reminded, her voice softening for a heartbeat. "I kissed you while you were on my lap. It was perfect. Mine. But…" Her tone darkened like a curtain dropping.
"On the way back, you said 'you haven't felt a kiss in a long while.'"
Her grip tightened so fast my arms twitched against the chains.
"Who kissed you before me?" Her voice cracked into something sharp.
"Give. Me. Their. Name."
"You're overthinking it. It's nothing like—"
"TELL me who it was." Her eyes trembled, fury simmering under the surface.
"Who touched you before I did?"
"Why does it matter? Does it make you jealous even if it was—"
"Yes. It does." Her voice was shaking now.
"I don't care if she's from your past. I care that she put her hands on you. That she kissed you." Her nails pressed into my back.
"How dare she touched you like that… she should be under the ground for that alone. I'll cut her lips off and torture her…"
I didn't respond.
She leaned in closer, lips brushing my jaw as she spoke.
"And the way I've been holding you…" Her mouth ghosted over my skin.
"Kissing you…" She bit my neck lightly.
"Marking you…" She pulled back to look at me.
"You don't even flinch." Her smile twisted.
"So that gives me two ideas."
I tilted my head, watching her.
"And what are those?"
"One," she whispered, voice trembling, "you might just be naturally calm…" Her eyes sharpened into a murderous glare.
"Or two… you've felt all of this before, so you're used to it."
She leaned in until her forehead touched mine.
"Tell me who she was."
"Celia—"
"NOW."
"Even if you knew," I said quietly, "what's the point? They're in my past."
She didn't accept that.
She didn't even blink.
"You can grieve them and forget them," she said, voice dropping into something chilling. "But if they're alive…" Her chains tightened, metal scraping.
"There's a chance they'll talk to you. Or want you back." Her breath hitched.
"I can't allow that. You're mine. Forever. Anything else is meaningless."
She clung to me harder, the chains pulling tight around my wrists as her voice grew possessive and trembling.
"Who is she." Her lips grazed my cheek.
"Tell me."
Her arms locked around me.
"Who touched what belongs to me?"
Looks like it went according to my plan. So…
Time for the next phase.