Chained Souls: Night Fifteen {Book Two of the Chained Duet}

**Katherynn** · 01-20-2012 03:17 PM

Night Fifteen

My heart stopped and I froze, staring down at Death with wide eyes before I managed to make words form and actually come out.
"Tal-Talisen?" I breathed, refusing to move for fear that I would break the spell that was cast.
He lifted his head tiredly and I watched as he opened his eyes.
I was almost disappointed to see his brown eyes looking at me weakly.
"Talisen," I repeated, brushing strands of silver hair from his eyes. "Are you...?"
I felt too afraid to ask the question—was he really alive?
His eyes widened before he cried out in pain, clutching his arms as he curled into a ball in my lap, screaming.
"Talisen!" I cried out. "What's wrong?! Tali—"
I cut off as I heard bones snap and break as his form disfigured itself, twisting and turning.
"Get out of here!!" I screamed. "We have to get out now!!"
Pain was already grabbing the twins and fleeing as Helios waited for me, poised to jump with me at the window.
"Pandora—hurry!"
"I'm not leaving him!" I yelled, holding onto him. "I won't leave him again!!"
"But Pandora you'll—"
"I know!! Go!!"
He muttered an oath before disappearing.
Talisen screams hedged and choked as the pitch raised to the point that I felt the overwhelming urge to cover my ears. I ignored it.
"Death," I whispered. "I'm here—I'm right here."
He let out a final scream before a burst of energy sent me into the wall, knocking the air from my lungs and banging my head off the wall as a result.
Talisen went still, the miscellaneous wounds that came with the transformation bleeding profusely.
Without any warning, he was suddenly on his feet, his hair darkening and lengething.
His eyes opened, blazing green, and I winced, cringing in the corner as those twin emeralds focused on me.
In the next second he had his hand around my throat, holding me by it against the wall.
"De-Death," I gasped, trying to breathe.
His eyes grew brighter and he tightened his hold on my throat until I thought he would crush it.
"How do you know my name?" he growled.
"Be-Be...cause," I managed, tears falling down my cheeks. "I...lo...ve...y-yo..ou..."
His eyes dimmed and he focused one me before dropping me altogether, clutching his head.
I gulped in breaths, my throat burning.
"Pan...dor...a," he managed.
'Kill her!!'
I blinked and looked up at him. Had he just...?
"No!!" he roared.
'Do it!!'
"No!!" he repeated. "Not her!!"
I heard glass shatter before I even saw him move. The window beside where he'd been was shattered and glass was all over the floor.
My heart was racing and I could barely breathe but I was alive. I wasn't supposed to be alive.
"Pandora!!"
I looked up and saw as the others entered through the window. Evie and Tribute were the first to reach me.
"Mom are you alright?" Evie asked, dressed in some of my clothes. They fit her perfectly. "Did he hurt you?!"
"Evie, calm down," Tribute said, dressed in Pain's clothes. "She's fine. Just startled."
"We saw someone leave the house," Helios explained, "so we came back in. All of us thought it was safe."
I looked up at them blindly, not really looking at any of them...until my gaze settled on Pain.
"Pain," I whispered, standing. "Pain...I...He..."
He opened his arms and I staggered to him before falling into his waiting embrace.
"You love him," he said softly. "I know...It's my fault. I told him to take you away and then lost my memory. But maybe it's a good thing."
I pulled back and looked at his as tears fell down my cheeks.
"Maybe it's what you were meant to do," he whispered, wiping away my tears. "Maybe you were meant to be kidnapped and tested so you you meet him. There is a reason for everything. Maybe loosing my memories was meant to put you two together.
"I understand."
"Pain," I sobbed, twisting my fingers in his shirt, "I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry." I looked at Helios. "And...to you, too, Helios...I wasn't fair to any of you."
Pain put two fingers beneath my chin and guided my face to his so he could look into my eyes.
"And Pandora," he said almost coldly. "Whatever happens tonight or whoever Death kills do not let that change anything between you two. Love him just as you have. He'll need you more than ever now."
I nodded and leaned up to kiss Pain's cheek.
"Thank you," I whispered.
I walked over to Helios and kissing his cheek as well before speaking to him directly.
"Helios," I said softly. "If it wasn't for you...I don't know what I would do. This all started because of you. Thank you."
I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him tightly.
"You're welcome," he whispered back. "You've taught me so much. I owe you so much. Thank you."
I smiled and pulled away, nodding before turning to the twins who were looking at me worriedly.
"I love you two," I said, smiling as I hugged them to me. "I hope your lives won't be as screwed up as mine."
"Of course they will," Evie laughed. "We're partially evils and Pandora's children. Obviously our lives are going to be messed up!!"
She paused and bit her lower lip before looking up at me.
"There's a problem," she said finally. "Selene...she's coming after us. There are lots of evils with her...I don't know when she'll come after us but...she is coming."
"It's alright. You're going to be strong," I said gently before looking between the two. "Both of you."
I pulled away and smiled at everyone.
"I'm going to bed," I said finally.
All of them laughed—even Tribute—despite the new knowledge, as I walked to my room.
I didn't know whether or not this would be the last time I would ever be in my room or not. I didn't know if I was going to die tomorrow or if I would somehow, miraculously survive.
Then again, absolutely nothing could happen tomorrow. But that was luck and luck was something I was running very short of.
Tomorrow was it. Tomorrow would be the last day—tomorrow would be the end.
Tomorrow would be the beginning of the end.