CHAPTER 2

Burden...

The first thing I felt when I regained my conscience was this feeling of being restrained as if tied to something.... Or maybe I was, 

WAIT...

Did I get busted already... Doomed, couldn't do one thing properly...

No you are not.... get up already!

Are you okay?

I am fine yeahh... Glad that I am alive to be honest... I moved my arms around to lift myself up from this awkward position that I was lying in. I was feeling sore as if I had just ran a marathon.

" You're up." I heard a gruff voice surrounding me like an echo.. I froze..... I am really hearing things now... No one was suppose to be here.. is my mind playing with me again..

It's not me.... I looked around for my flashlight which had fallen off of my hand when I fainted. I slid down from the sofa without making any sound and picked it up. I held it like it was my weapon and moved it around to find the source...

"Come closer!!" I heard it againnn, it was loud, deep, demanding, definitely sexy.. what... Huh... 

"Who are you? Why are you here?" I asked with a confident voice.. there was no point backing out now..

"I said; Come closer. " He seethed and I could feel his rage in waves. All of these emotions, I could feel them crawling up on me through my veins.. Where is he? I was intrigued, I wanted to see him, I didn't knew why I was feeling this way.... It was unexplainable... I was still looking around to figure out where it was coming from but all I could hear were echoes..

"Where are you?" I voiced out my thoughts as I went deep into the room...

"Few more steps and you'll see" came his voice which was now calmer than before but still demanding. To a good start then... As if on cue, I took a few steps forward and bumped my toe on the staircase hard... Ouchh.. life can't see me happy....You should go back instead of going forward, this is not the right time to be curious..... Dumbo.... I was just feeling it, this pull making me want to listen to his voice....

"Clumsy..." I heard a whisper but couldn't make it out.

"What did you say?"I said still rubbing my toe.

"Nothin' .... I said nothing" ahan, it sounded like he was caught off guarded...

"You definitely did..I did hear something" I replied as I moved up the stairs with the little guidance I had from my now dimmed flashlight.

"You are slower than a snail, Even a snail can walk faster than you..." He gritted out, damn him...

"Yeah!!! I can just snail away then...." I said as I stepped on the last stair case.

"No, You'l--" he stopped midway and so did I as I heard some locks going on and off and the once dark room was basked in light shining from above like a spotlight. It blinded me for a second and I closed my eyes because of the impact...

"What the hell?" I thought out loud as I opened my eyes and the sight in-front of me froze me on the spot.

The edge that I was standing on was now a glowing circle divided into eight portions. Each portion had a writing of its own saying something that was ancient and far beyond me. All of the portions had lines growing out and merging into a bigger circle which had a throne in the middle.The throne was made of the similar material as the door outside along with intricate carvings of dragons and unicorns. Floating above the head of the throne were 8 gemstones radiating energy that was flowing through the entire circle and the seat itself...

Him...

The Voice....

In the middle, on the throne was the most handsome man I had ever seen, not that I was into him or anything.. but one look at those eyes and you could feel yourself falling deep. His handsomeness was like something out of a fairy tale. His features were so striking, like they were crafted by the most skilled artisans in the land, a jawline so sharp it could cut through steel, and hair that fell in perfect waves around his face, framing his piercing blue eyes that sparkle with a mix of mystery and sadness. His skin was flawless, glowing with a natural radiance that seemed to defy any imperfection. Despite the chains that bind him to the throne, his regal beauty shined through, making him a captivating figure. He exuded a sense of fearlessness even though he was tied through and through. He was bewitching, I couldn't take my eye--

"Are you done staring or you need more time?"

Scratch every word I said a minute ago.....

"I wasn't staring...." I lied straight away... No need to boost his ego right .... I don't know why but I wasn't scared maybe it was because I knew he was tied or because I just knew he wouldn't hurt me, more like he couldn't even if he tried. Ignoring myself as usual I started moving around to examine the circle. It did look like I had seen it before.. but I couldn't figure out where. Was it in one of the journals I thought to myself...No... It's not from the journals, this one's different..

"Why are your hair glowing?" He asked surprised when I was busy observing the floor, I looked up to meet his eyes, that were now trained on me..

"What do you mean? I asked alarmed, how did he... 

"You think you can fool anyone if you're dressed like a boy, not me though.... I can see through you" he smirked as he replied.

I was starting to panic this is not right, I was just here to get the book so I could understand myself. This was not the plan.... Glow.. my hand unconsciously went above to fix the hat that I was wearing just to notice a few strands has come loose and were falling off my shoulder and back..

..

So that's how, smartass

..

He really is annoying..

"Yeah right.... Whatever floats your boat." I mumbled as I started to focus on what I came here for..

Time to focus on finding the book ...

Forgetting the man that had captured my attention a few moments ago, I started looking around to get my surroundings. The hall was grand and the energy flowing through the room was so powerful, it made me feel strong, as if I could conquer the world, the waves that were rippling through the floor were something I had never felt before and my body shivered from the intensity as if I was able to absorb it, this feeling was pure bliss. The circle that I was standing in was probably the reason of this pulsation as if that was the core. I could feel a pair of eyes following my every movement while I was awestruck by the beauty of this place. I moved around the circle to notice big black podium around the circle which had stones hovering over that were connecting through the circle.

I moved forward to get a closer look to the one that was right outside the boundary. The stone that I was looking on was a pink stone in the shape of a donut. It had intricate patterns on its surface that seem to shift and swirl like a galaxy. I could hear soft whispers coming from the stone when I was a step away. It's a spell, don't go ne-- Unconsciously I lifted my hand to touch this magnificent-

"Don't touch it." I heard a growl behind me but it was too late.

I heard a high pitched ear piercing scream that made me drop the stone that I had just grabbed. I turned around only to be paralyzed by what I was seeing. The man chained on the throne was sizzling as if he was being grilled on fire. The bruises on his hands were leaving a trail of smoke and his eyes were a shade of fire. He was breathing heavily through his mouth, beads of sweat now traveling though his forehead travelling through his face and into his neck.

"What just happened?" I ran towards him in complete shock oblivious to the changes that were happening around me.

Damn, you never listen to me ....

"I am so sorry, sorry, I didn't mean to... I am really sorry" I kept repeating myself as I knelt in-front of him, trying to look around a way to free him. This was torture, pure torture, no one deserved to go through this, no matter how big the crime. I felt his calloused hand on my cheek as he caressed my face and moved his thumb to wipe away the lone tear that had escaped my eye. I looked into his eyes and we were lost in that moment. His emotions were so raw that I was there with him feeling everything. I knew at this moment that I have to help him get out of this place.... And I was willing to do anything....