Chapter 18: Chapter Eighteen; In Silence
His body was as light as a leaf, as he float in the small lake, it was peaceful and quiet. More like his own paradise, his face was filled with happiness and satisfaction, it had been a long since he has ever felt this kind of peace.
"It's been long, so it probably is a dream," He thought as he opened his eyes and darkness was the next thing he saw.
Suddenly, he found himself in that place where the most horrific thing in his life happened.
Their blood flows over to him, their screams, their cries filled with pain, tearing his heart apart.
"Simon" The voice called with so much affection, trying her best to hide the fear in her.
He looked terrified, a blade was placed on his mother's throat, ready to slit her throat but what terrified him was the person who was holding the blade to his mother's throat. He already knows the person, but why is this showing someone else? Why does he see himself at his mother's back with a knife to her throat?
"Mother" His voice shakes as he called her name.
"It is ok my son, whatever happens, knows that none of this is your fault. Your father and I love you so much, thank you for being born me...." She couldn't finish her when he cut her.
"No....." He screamed and found himself in the darkness again.
He ranted as he covered his ears with his hands, afraid, lost and broken. "No, I didn't do it. It wasn't me, it was Lucien. I didn't kill my mom"
"You are wrong," A voice said in front of him, Simon looked up and saw himself covered with blood and his eyes so dark.
"You killed her, you killed my mother and everyone"
Simon shook his head in denial "It wasn't me, Lucien did it. That bastard killed her, I didn't do anything. I didn't kill mother, I didn't kill anyone"
His dark self scoffed and bend in front of him, removing his hand from his ears. "You are right, you did nothing and that is your crime. You saw her killed, and deep down you enjoyed it. That bastard killed your mother, but you did nothing. He is still alive, breathing happily with that wretch that betrayed you, knowing that you still did nothing"
"What? You have changed? The dread lord? You are still the same boy who is powerless and also a coward, that night if you haven't gone to Annabelle that night, then you might have saved your mother or better die with her. That will have been better, than staying alive and being useless, do you hear them, their cries, you caused this, you killed them"
"No... no, I didn't do it"
"This is all your fault, your fault Simon" His dark self proclaimed and let go of his hand.
"No...no" He shook his head as tears welled in his eyes. He did it, it was his fault, if only he had listened to his father and not gone to see Annabelle then it won't have happened, they won't have sent their trustworthy guards after him, and Lucien won't have been able to infiltrate the castle.
It was all his fault.... "it isn't your fault....it is no one fault, so don't blame yourself" Her sweet voice echoes in his head, and he felt peace, even in that lonely dark place, he saw light and hope.
He stood and face his dark self "It is not my fault, it isn't no one fault. So stop blaming me for mother's and father's death, I have suffered enough" He said while his dark self stared at him for a second then cackled into laughter.
"Did you believe that, just because a slave said that? Just because she said that, doesn't mean it wasn't your fault..." His dark self yelled.
"It doesn't matter, all that matters is her words. She said so, she was the first person to console me and tell me that. No, it doesn't matter, as long as she is there"
"Ah, the slave that you tried to kill many times. That same slave, who hates you more than anything. Whenever she looks at you, do you know what she sees..... She sees a monster and that is what you are, that is what you should be"
Simon shiver and get on his knees "I can change it, I can make her love me, I can be loved by her"
"No, you are wrong. She can't love you, that day she only said those words because she want to live. She can't love you, no one can, why? That is because you should never be loved. What happened to those who truly loved you, what happened to father and mother?"
"Whoever loves or cares about you is going to face death, that is why you can't be loved. All they see is a monster, not a broken lonely boy who wants to be loved. To them, you will always be a monster they should never have met. That is your fate, that is who you are, a monster"
"No...No...No" He screamed and woke up from his terrifying nightmares.
"No, that isn't true" He sobs and covered his ears. "I didn't do it, it isn't my fault. I...I tried to save her, I begged him but he still killed her. I...It is all my fault, I caused their death, am a monster" He said, crying in silence.
*******
Imogen roamed outside the slave's quarter, she couldn't fall asleep and decided to get some air outside her room. She was so anxious about what happened earlier, what if her master end up knowing she lied and have her killed?
Thinking about it gives her chills, she didn't mean to lie but it isn't like she can tell him the truth also. Her dread master will have her behead if he knows about their meeting, she doesn't want to die now.
Unexpectedly, someone held her hand from behind and covered her mouth preventing her from screaming.
"It is ok, it is me," He said and she recognized that voice instantly and calmed down. "Am going to let you go, so don't scream" He ordered and she nod in agreement.
He removed his hand from his mouth and turned her to him, he also let go of her hand.
"Follow me, it isn't safe for us to talk here," Edward said and move ahead, while Imogen followed him like a puppy caught in the act.
He took her to a place where there was no one except them.
"I..." Imogen scratched her neck uncomfortably.
Edward cleared his throat and smiled surprising her. "For how long have you been a slave here?" He asked while Imogen looked at him strangely. That was not the question, she expectedly him to ask.
"It hasn't been long" She answered.
"I see, it must have been hard for you, being my cousin's slave. I heard he is very brutal to his slaves, are you alright?" He asked shocking her again. 'Is he not angry? She lied to him, anyone in the right sense will be?'
Imogen nod to his word and he smiled. "Pardon me, but are you not angry? I lied to you, I admit I was a noble lady when I was just a slave, so why aren't you angry?"
"Should I be? It isn't like you told me yourself that you are noble, I said that myself, and I understand why you said nothing. You had probably thought, that it doesn't matter since we won't be meeting again, right?" He answered but Imogen said nothing.
Edward scoffed disappointed "I was right, that is bad. Since the day I saw you, I couldn't stop thinking about you. I even had my servant search for you, hoping that I'll see you again"
Imogen looked at him pitiful 'To be honest, he was the last thing she thought about, it was so hard living in this castle, she almost died countless times, so how could she think about him? But her moment with him was probably among her cherished memories, it was fun and nice, and with him, she feel something she never felt before, and she want to feel that again.
"I guess, I was the only one who missed you after all," He said about to leave but Imogen held his clothes.
"I...I missed you too, but it is wrong for me too. You are my master cousin, saying I miss you is the same thing as saying I want to die. And also you and I live in a different world, you are a noble while I am an s3x...." She couldn't finish her statement, when he hugged her, she gasped shocked by his actions.
"Am glad that you missed me, it doesn't matter if you are a slave or noble. Being with you like this is enough" Edward said and hugged her tight.
"It doesn't matter, if you are a slave, it doesn't change what I felt for you" He admits to himself.
Imogen was completely startled by his actions, but she feel so happy. Edward is completely different from her master, he is warm, nice and not dreadful.
She feels butterflies in her tummy as she hugs him back, it feels so different from when she was with her master.
Her master hug was so possessive, claiming and also dangerous, but with Edward, it felt great, nice and it doesn't seem dangerous at all.
She likes it like this, warm and nice. But why does her body say something different, she felt joy in her heart, but with her body, Edward's touch seems wrong, and disgusting.
It makes her feel like she is betraying someone, and it is so unfamiliar, unlike her master's touch.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone