You'd think that someone had sucked the air right out of the room when I had asked the question.
I could sense him shifting and that made me feel more anxious. I clutched the books tighter in my hands.
"Anita, I..."
"Chaviv the only way we can move from this if we are open and honest. You promised me no more lies."
Even though I wanted to know, his reaction made me want to backpaddle and just go with him — helping me out but after the events at the underground library, I feel like I might have gotten myself involved in something dangerous and I need to know just how deep this rabbit hole goes.
Chaviv looked down at his wrists where the two golden bracelets glinted with the embedded emeralds. He traced his thumb over one of them — reliving a memory. With his eyes still trained on the bracelets he finally spoke.
"Do you know what these are?"
I remained silent. He continued.
The first time I saw them I assumed they were a fashion choice or a family heirloom but I get the feeling that question is leading up to something more.
"This was given to me by my mother when I was just a kid. She told me to never take them off. To protect me and those around me."
He stood up still looking down at the golden bracelets. I felt my chest begin to tighten up as I watched him "I don't understand" my voice sounded strained maybe a bit fearful or nervous.
Chaviv smiled softly before looking at me "I need to show you what I am so that you can understand." The air grew heavy with each passing moment. I could feel my heart now pounding against my chest.
"The purpose of these bracelets is to dampen one's power's. My power's. I promised my mother that I wouldn't take them off—" he stopped fiddling with the bracelets "—but I need you to see. I need you to promise me you won't run"
It felt like a desperate plea, like he was afraid of something. Of what? Me? He seemed to be pleading with me but why, how bad is it? I looked into his eyes to find something, anything that could give me a hint of what I might face but all I got were those dark coal eyes searching mine for reassurance.
"I..." Don't run. Stay. The voice came out of nowhere I nearly jumped. It sounded so close as if someone had said it right by my ear. It didn't sound malicious but it didn't sound scared either almost calm, it sounded like mine. My subconscious?
I bite my lip praying that what I was about to say won't bite me in the ass. "I promise I won't run."
I could see him slightly relax and exhale as if he was holding his breathe. Determination now set in his eyes, he took one final breathe, closed his eyes and when he opened they glowed bright yellow.
He began to remove the first golden bracelet —with a bit of a struggle — and placed it on the table. As soon as he did that his appearance slowly changed. His nails grew longer almost claw like and fingers began to slowly fade into black, moving slowly up til his forearms.
His breathing became more rigid. It was like watching a shifter transform. His fangs grew more sharper and his ears slightly longer and more pointed like a half-elf.
His breathing was now picking up, he began to wince almost like he was in pain. My eyes grew wide as I watched black horns slowly emerge from his forehead, slightly curving back as the grew. Suddenly Chaviv dropped to his knees and I heard the familiar snapping of bones.
When he finally stood up he seemed much taller then before, breathing heavy. My mouth gaped as I watched him, he had to hunch down a little so head didn't hit the ceiling. His gaze casted down to his form before slowly traveling to look at me.
I just about caught my breathe when those golden eyes gleamed at me, the same eyes I saw in my dreams.
I gripped by chest, my heart hammering against it. I tried to speak but I could barely get a word out, like they were all caught in my throat. I should be running, I should be screaming to the hill tops but instead I'm rooted to the ground.
"You're hearts racing—"
He searched my eye's, trying to gauge my reaction "You're afraid" it sounded more like a statement then a question, the slight hurt flickering in his eyes.
He moved closer, I remained still, the feeling in my chest tightening but it didn't feel like fear. I couldn't get what the feeling is exactly but I know it wasn't fear, it felt familiar, almost warm.
His eyes began to search anxiously as if I would come to my sense and bolt out the door and my heart broke a little, it cried out to him. Shaking off the daze I was in, I stood up and closed the distance between us. His eyes trained on me, searching through my expressions. I just studied him, his face, the protruding horns from his head.
Despite him slightly hunched over, I still had to slightly stand on my toes. I traced my fingers over his horns, going over the rough ridges and I could hear him slightly suck in his breathe, remaining still. "Are they sensitive?" The words left my mouth before I could even process them.
Warmth creeped up my cheeks, as I realized how insensitive the question must be and I quickly cleared my throat. Without missing a beat he nodded "It's faint but the feeling is there" I nodded and then gripped them "Now?" I questioned, allowing my curiosity to take over.
"Not as faint as before, like a slight pressure." His eyes were swimming with an emotion I couldn't pinpoint but he let me continued my examination. I let go off his horns, tracing my way to his face, his eyes fluttered as I trace my fingers over his face, continuing on with my inspection.
From the edge of his hairline to the ridge of his nose is covered in black substance —like he painted half his face in black— making his golden eyes more prominent. Man, those golden eyes, it's like watching a thousand sunrise burn behind those orbs.
I traced my thumb over his cheek, his hand reached and wrapped around my wrist, being careful of his claws.
We remained there for what felt like forever, looking into each other's eyes, it felt like everything; the world around us just faded away and it was just him and I. The gravitational pull I felt when I met him; growing stronger by the second. It was like I was being crushed by the pressure but not suffocated, almost like a tight embrace of someone you thought you lost before. It felt familiar.
Everything about him felt familiar. This sense of dejá vu washing over me.
The air around me shimmered like heat above a flame. My body felt weightless, and suddenly the world tilted — the present slipping from my grasp like sand through open fingers.