I watched as the man who called himself Justin, along with his "wife" and child, left my chamber, leaving me anchored in a heavy, suffocating silence.
I sat back on the edge of my bed, facing the large bay windows as I let out a long, shuddering sigh of relief. I lifted my hands, turning them over to inspect the palms, then looked down at my feet. There it was. Skin. My skin was smooth and whole again after a 2 years of literal rot, all thanks to him.
Why am I speaking so highly of him? I shook my head. This had to be a dream of the afterlife. I must be dead; it made far more sense. It was impossible for Justin to be here. For the last two years, there had been no word, no sign everyone said he was dead. So, I must be dead too. After two years of agony and the crushing weight of regret, I was finally free.
"What are you thinking, Alana?" I whispered to the empty room. I stood up, my legs feeling surprisingly strong, and faced the windows.
To prove I was truly alive, I ran toward the glass and threw the velvet curtains wide. I unlatched the window and felt the sudden, sharp bite of the cold wind against my face.
My long black hair whipped back, dancing in the gale. It felt intoxicating to breathe again. After standing at the threshold of the other side, I was finally, truly free. A happy, manic grin danced on my face as I looked down at the lush green courtyard, then up at the golden sun, and back to the solid ground.
I stepped away and sat back on the bed, my eyes landing on the vanity table. My expression immediately soured.
There it lay: Darius's ring. No, my ring. The symbol of the agreement to marry him. After I fell ill, he hadn't even bothered to visit. He didn't give a damn about me; he only cared that the kingdom knew of the union so he could solidify his claim alongside General Yuza. Now, he had exactly what he wanted most.
My face shifted from grim resolve to a spark of hope. If that is really Justin, I have nothing to worry about. He could fix this.
That was why he was back. Everything would be restored to its rightful place. But then, a cold thought pierced my heart: he was married. If he already had a family, I could never bear the heir to the throne as I had always secretly dreamed. That little girl would be the one to inherit everything he possessed.
It was too much to process. I needed to wash the scent of sickness from my body and escape this suffocating room.
I let my nightgown fall to the floor, wrapped my body in a plush white towel, and headed for the en-suite bathroom. I stepped inside, and with a sharp click of my fingers, the tub began to fill with steaming, aromatic water. I tested the temperature with my toe before submerging myself fully.
That was when I felt the true miracle. It was completely gone. The agonizing lump on my chest had vanished. I traced the smooth skin of my collarbone and chest, appreciating the familiar lines of my own body.
"It feels so good to have my skin back... I'm finally free of the pain. Thank you, Justin," I whispered with a small, private grin.
But the suspicion lingered. Why didn't he come back sooner? And after three possible years he decided that now was the right time? It was physically impossible for him to return. Perhaps it was all an elaborate lie a random demon trying to deceive me by using a my hero's name. If he was an impostor, I wouldn't let him tarnish Justin's memory. I had to confront him.
I climbed out of the tub, wrapped myself in a fresh towel, and stared at my reflection in the mirror. My eyes dropped to my chest again. The "second heart" was truly gone.
He was undeniably strong, but could I trust a demon who claimed to be a dead man?
I dried my hair quickly and went to my walk-in closet. I weighed my options carefully before selecting a cold, midnight-blue dress with a slit that ran high up my thigh. I swept my hair into a sophisticated, neat bun and slipped into my high heels, sliding the wedding ring Darius gave me onto my finger a necessary piece of the masquerade.
I opened the door and moved down the hall, passing the first, second, and third doors until I reached the grand staircase.
From the landing, I gazed down at the back of the head of the man claiming to be Justin. He sat there with an air of practiced calm, taking a slow sip of his coffee.
As I descended the first few steps, the household staff came rushing toward me, sobbing with tears of joy. I offered them a small, regal smile to show my gratitude, but my eyes remained locked on him. Once the maids cleared a path, I made my way toward the parlor and sat across from them.
The man sat there with crimson eyes that sent a chill straight down my spine not to mention his revolting white hair. He wore a long black duster over a formal black shirt, paired with tailored trousers and polished shoes. Next to him sat his "daughter." She had long, vibrant crimson hair and matching ruby eyes, just like her father. She wore a black dress that made her look like a tiny, gothic princess, complete with small black boots.
And next to the child sat the woman he claimed was his wife. She was striking, with floor-length, pale blue hair braided meticulously. Her eyes were a rare, haunting grey a shade seldom seen among our kind. She wore a massive white lab coat that completely swallowed her figure, her hands hidden deep within the sleeves as she lifted her cup.
Then, my breath caught. I looked at his hand. On his finger was a skull-shaped ring, a glowing purple crystal clenched between its jaws. The faint, eerie light pulsed in the dim room.
It really is him. That ring was unmistakable. My heart hammered against my ribs, but I forced my face to remain a mask of cool indifference. Keep it together, Alana. He mustn't know you're panicking.