Page 21 of Forbidden Knots

"Love is a sick thing, yet it cures the most broken mind and makes it whole again," I said, meeting her eyes. "Isn’t it beautiful?"

"It can be ugly too," she said, and I knew that was true as well. But with her, I wanted it to be the most wonderful thing, even if it broke us both. I needed to make her believe that too.

"I have to go," I said, standing up. "I changed the sheets," I added with a chuckle. "Have a good night."

"Night," she said, and as I left the room, I noticed she was already lying down. As much as I wanted her to sleep, I needed her to be awake as well.

I sneaked out through the hallway to the front door, but just as I was about to open it, Thalia came out of the bedroom.

"Tristan, can you stay?" she asked.

I turned to her, our eyes meeting. She looked scared, her face almost pale. As I stared at her, I knew tonight I wouldn’t be the Shadow. I would just be Tristan, her neighbor, and her friend’s brother. Maybe this way, I could get to know her better.

With a smile, I walked back, slowly approaching her. I placed my hand on the door frame, and as it closed, her shoulders jumped in fright. But then she gasped and blushed, stepping back, leaving a fresh scent of lime and basil, one of those fresh perfumes women wear during summer. Hers reminded me of this place, of summer.

I chuckled, "So you want me to stay, huh?"

She just nodded, moving towards the balcony.

"Where will I sleep then?" I asked, coming closer. Just then, Sophie walked in, banging the door behind her. She answered with an evil smile as if she knew Thalia was a forbidden fruit for me.

"Couch," she said.

Thalia smiled but turned away, looking through the window. I noticed her smile fade, replaced by a sad look in her eyes as she turned back to us.

"You can stay here. Maybe I should just go home..." Thalia started.

"Are you serious?" Sophie interjected. "Do you have a death wish or something?"

"No, I just want to look him in the eyes and tell him to leave me alone," Thalia said. "I’m usually not like this. It’s like he’s breaking something in me, making me lose myself."

Sophie walked over to her, squeezing her cheeks with both hands. "No one is worth your peace."

Watching them, I sat down on the bed and then collapsed on the changed sheets. The fresh scent of her perfume lingered, intoxicating me. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. I wanted to break her—in all my selfishness, I wanted to. I wanted to shatter her so she would trust only me. I knew this worked; I had done it so many times before. Then I would leave them, and they would run after me. They looked at me like some god, but I was just a selfish, narcissistic bastard who craved attention and love.

But looking at Thalia, falling for Shadow, I realized I was the one who would fall this time. She was like a poison seeping under my skin, breaking me. She was an addiction I wasn't ready to give up, and she was becoming the only woman I might ever love. I couldn't let her go. I would never let her go.

"Thalia, you don’t have to leave," I said, sitting up. "You need to stay here where it’s safe."

TWELVE

Storm

Tristan was downstairs, comfortable on the couch, while Sophie and I were in his bedroom. Despite his absence, I could still feel his presence, as if his eyes were on me. I was shaken, but not blind. I knew he was sending mixed signals, and I knew he was forbidden for me.

I would never hurt Sophie like that.

Sophie, wearing her pink pajama set with a little kitten drawn on the front and her hair still in a messy bun, looked at me with a knowing smile. I had changed into her blue satin pajama set, feeling the smooth fabric against my skin. We had planned to sleep in Tristan's room together, but her'new boyfriend'wanted a late-night chat, so she tiptoed out of the room, closing the door quietly behind her.

When she left, I stood up and turned the key, locking myself in. I needed the security, the isolation. I lay down, covering myself with the blanket. When my head hit the pillow, I felt peace over me. I felt safe enough to sleep for the first time since I arrived in La Maddalena. My eyes closed, and I drifted off almost instantly.

I woke up with a sudden pressure on me, and before I could scream, his hand clamped over my lips, silencing me. This was the first time he had ever been this close to me, and even though my heart pounded with a mix of fear and a twisted longing for his closeness, my body was screaming to escape. His face was buried in my neck, and he whispered, "You areMINE, Storm."

My body was paralyzed, unable to move under his weight. I tilted my head and realized my hands were bound to the bed. The knots around my wrists were so tight that I had lost all feeling in them. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I struggled in vain. My legs were pinned under his body, making any movement impossible.

I mumbled against his hand, but he just replied, "Shhh, be quiet."

His scent was familiar and intoxicating, and it held me paralyzed. I thought he was finally here to kill me, to end my misery, but then he lifted his head, looking at me with eyes the deepest shade of green. His face was half-covered in a black and white skull jaw mask, but I could see his dark brown hair this time.

---