Page 128 of Obsession

“‘Reunion.’ No, call this what it is.” Aris clears the remaining distance between them. He appears before her so suddenly that her long hair blasts back, revealing more of her stunning features. “An ambush. You disappeared for twenty-four years, leading me to believe that Jaegen consumed you, bringing me back to this planet. Did you or did you not deceive me? Answer!”

“I did not deceive you outright,” she says. Her voice is strong and unintimidated, earning my respect. It’s not an easy feat, standing one’s ground when Aris is like this. “I never lied or tricked; that is your domain, brother. Just as it is your domain to overlook and discredit.”

Brother?

“Perhaps not a deception, then,” replies Aris. “Call it what you’d like—it was stupid. Jaegen has taken over Order, and I have done nothing but destroy. How did you succeed by disappearing? And why have you returned now?”

“To finish this.”

Aris’ face goes slack, stupefied as she brushes past him, walking toward… me. I just stare, stunned to have the attention of such a beautiful and pure creature. My mouth falls open to form words, to try to take Aris’ side and speak in anger, but no sounds escape.

Surprise stills Aris as well, who does not act even when she grasps my hands in her own, softly stroking my fine bones with her thumbs.

“Mary,” she says, eyes shining. Her black hair drapes over her like a cape, moving like there is a breeze. “It is good to meet you. My name is Sem.”

I glance at Aris for direction, waiting for him to tell me what to do. But he is frozen, completely immobile. His hands are suspended at his sides in an uncomfortable position, though no appendage shakes from strain. It’s how Riggs looked just minutes ago.

“You did something. What did you do to him?” I ask, looking back at Sem, proud that my voice doesn’t tremble.

The woman lets my hands drop, taking a step back. “Good. Being in my presence helps you; already, you are thinking clearer.”

I stare at her, unsure how to respond, and her smile widens. This close, her ethereality is unmistakable. Her eyes, which appeared lilac from across the room, I now see are iridescent like the inside of a shell. As well, her hair is not just black but many colors collected together; when she shifts, even slightly, especially slightly, a strand of hair will stand out—blue, red, green—before returning to the dark mass.

She could never be mistaken for a human, the same way that Aris couldn’t be mistaken for one either. Where he feels too sharp and hard, too… much, she is equally too large.They are two sides of the same coin. Sem is everything. Aris is nothing. She starts, and Aris ends.

I blink the thoughts away, confused by them. My temple begins to pound in tune, as if in agreement that I shouldn’t be considering these things.

“You are… very beautiful,” I say. What a stupid thing to say, but it’s what comes out.

She smiles in understanding. So kind and good, it would never cross her mind to laugh at me.

“Thank you, Mary.”

“Can I ask…” I start and hesitate, but she only nods in encouragement. “Um… are you hurting him?”

“Aris is unharmed. I merely paused time for the rest of the world so the two of us might have a conversation.”

“Why?”

Do we know each other? She’s acting like we’re friends, but… Anyone who Aris dislikes is someone that I dislike. He is upset with her, so why don’t I dislike her?

Her smile finally falters, a sadness striking her interesting eyes. “You want to know why I want to speak with you. There are many reasons.”

“Yes?” My hand twitches at my side, yearning to hold hers again.

“Firstly,” she says, “and most importantly, I must attempt to secure what I have worked so hard for.”

“What’s that?”

Her hair flows around her more wildly now, like she’s being electrocuted. “This won’t make sense now, but it will soon. Your punishment will end, and your memory will return. Then, you will understand what this means.”

I stare at her, blinking as I try to work through her statements. Finally, exasperated, I tell her that I don’t understand.

She smiles, eyes again sad. She is very beautiful. “I know, but you will. And, soon, you’ll be faced with a difficult choice.”

A breath shoots out my nose. Now, I’m even more confused. I wish Aris was talking to her instead of me; I just want to sit and be stroked. “What choice?” I ask.

“You will know it when it’s before you,” Sem replies sagely, and adds nothing else.

---