Chapter 109 - Two Lifetimes
[Present - Modern Day.]
Lina heard beeping in the background. All she saw was floating darkness. She felt like she had a long dream of her first life, where she was living inside of her own body. Her head ached at first, but then, she peeled her eyes open. Her vision was blurry and she blinked to clear it.
Lina's fingers twitched at something clasping them. Then, she wriggled her hand. There was a small alarm going off. Suddenly, the noise stopped. A quiet knock sounded in the room.
Lina turned her head. She realized she was in a luxurious hospital. The walls were constructed from sleek brown wood and contrasted with the ivory paint. There was a humidifier over her bed, pumping out moisture scented with soothing mint. The room was so fancy that there were even scenic paintings, a nightstand with flowers and a fruit basket.
"Lina!"
Lina moved her head to see Kaden. Her mouth went dry at the sight of him. Then, her heart plummeted. Why did he look so ghastly?
Kaden's hair was disheveled like he had run his fingers through it so many times. There were dark circles under his phoenix eyes. His honey-tanned skin had lost its glow. When their eyes met, his orbs turned the color of blood.
A Pure-Blood vampire.
Lina was suddenly reminded of her first life, where she had naively thought vampires were just a thing of myth. Yet, here he stood, her husband. He must've been turned into a Pure-Blood, but how?
"My dear dove," Kaden rushed to her side, grabbing her hands.
Lina was startled by the sight of his ruby eyes. When a vampire's emotion was at an all-time high, the intensity of their eyes would brighten. What was he thinking right now? What was he feeling?
Lina couldn't get the image of his human self out of her mind. How did Kade become a Pure-Blood?
The rate of survival of a human becoming a Pure-Blood was little to none. The percentage was so small that there were laws that proposed to completely ban the practice.
Lina heard a human Queen in the Wraith had been turned into a Pure-Blood just a few years ago.
"Dove?" Kaden called.
"You were human," Lina vaguely said.
Kaden was stunned by her words. He knew she remembered her first life. She was not around to see him become a Pure-Blood.
"How did you…" Lina trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.
Lina knew how. To become a Pure-Blood, the human must drain as much blood from their bodies as possible, until they were on the brink of death. Then, a Pure-Blood had to be killed, their blood drained, and then, given to the human. Only then, could a human become a Pure-Blood.
Pure-Bloods were the oldest and most traditional vampires. They were what the entire vampire population descended from. Their blood was as true as its name—the first Vampires to walk this earth.
"That's not important," Kaden demanded, his voice rising a bit. He helped her sit up, ignoring the doctors at the sidelines.
"You were in a coma for one week!" Kaden seethed.
It wasn't her fault. It really wasn't. It was her irritating body's fault for always fainting.
One week?
Lina swallowed hard. So much could've happened in a week. How could this be? She raised her head.
"The media, d-did Grandfather announce—"
"No, he didn't," Kaden said. "I called him before he could. How could I let the media speculate about you when you're not even present?"
Lina's shoulders dropped in relief. Thank goodness. Even so, she flung the blankets off of her legs.
"Then tell Grandfather I am awake. I can get back to work, I—"
"You will stay put," Kaden calmly spoke, his voice flipping like a switch.
Kaden couldn't have her getting out of bed, not when she had just woken up. How could she not realize the state of her condition?
"No, I must—"
"You will stay put," Kaden repeated in a darkened voice.
Lina let out a small sigh. She knew he was worried. She didn't want him to.
Without warning, Lina wrapped her arms around him. He froze. Her face was below his muscular chest. She hugged him dearly, understanding the pain he must've gone through.
Kaden must've thought she had died.
"Fool," Kaden said.
Despite his harsh comment, Kaden hugged her tightly. He refused to let her go. He had waited hundreds of years for her to be reborn. When she was in a coma, she looked like she was dead. He had traumatic flashbacks to her on the battlefield. Her skin was pale, her lips were blue and she looked like a ghost.
He waited 500 years for her and was willing to wait 5000 more—until their separated souls were reunited again.
"I had a dream," Lina said.
"Sounds familiar," Kaden remarked.
Lina peered up at him. Her heart stopped. He was gazing affectionately at her like she was the only thing that mattered to him. In a world of monsters, he was her sword.
This stony man had a heart that beats for her.
"I remembered more details about my first life," Lina said in a lowered voice, noticing the doctors on the other end of the room. "L-like when we first met, when we first—"
"How come you don't remember your second?" Kaden asked.
Lina froze. Her head began to spin again. She heard ringing in the distance, like the sound of a timer going off. White walls flashed before her eyes. She felt something pull her eyelids open and flash a light inside of it.
"Patient Yang… unstable… continue the electric shock."
Something poked her skin again. Lina felt cold leather on her ankles and wrists, as something sharp was placed upon her head. She could see obscured figures in the distance, dressed in white and blue.
"...Lina…"
"Patient Yang, can you hear us?"
Their voices sounded afar like they were at the other end of the room. Chills crawled down her spine. All Lina could see was their blotty figures.
"Patient Yang?" the same voice repeated, but she couldn't respond.
Lina's eyes were glazed over. Her head rolled like a loose doll. Then, she felt something violently shaking her shoulders.
Lina screamed in response, her hand flying in reflex.
PAK!
Dead silence filled the air. Lina had assaulted Kaden. Again.
Lina peered up at him, horrified at what she had done. Her hand burned with the sensation, her skin tingling. There was a bright red mark on his pale face. He slowly turned to her, his eyes at a steady pace.
"I'm sorry, I—"
Lina's voice died in her throat. She had never seen him so calm and composed. It terrified her further.
"Shh…" Kaden stroked the back of her head, bringing her face close to his body.
Kaden hugged her tightly, realizing these were her trigger points.
When Lina had slapped him again, he momentarily saw red. Then, he was reminded it was Lina. His one and only Lina. The only woman that stirred his heart. The only woman he was willing to become a villain for.
"It's alright," Kaden promised her, his grip tightened over her shoulder.
Kaden pressed her head closer to his body. Then, he bent down and kissed her on the head.
"You're in shock, that's all," Kaden reasoned for her.
Lina let out a shaky breath in response.
Kaden decided to not press her any further than that. He had spoken to Milo shortly after she fainted.
The damn brat had kept his mouth shut the entire time. Kaden didn't know the conversation that had taken place. If Milo hadn't been her younger brother, Kaden would've tortured the truth out of him.
In fear he'd lose her again, Kaden didn't press Lina for more answers.
"Sir, Madam," the doctors solemnly said. "If you're ready, we must do a check-up."
Kaden raised his head and glanced behind him. He was ready to tell them to scram. His body had been large enough to shield their interactions.
Lina's grip loosened on him.
"I-I'm ready," Lina managed to say. "For the check-up."
Kaden worriedly glanced down at her. He didn't think she was ready. Her eyes were still hazy like her thoughts were elsewhere. He was worried she'd go into shock again.
"Let's begin," Lina added, in a firmer voice.
Kaden let out a small sigh. It was time to begin the check-up. He didn't know what she saw in their first life, but he hoped she'd remember that man's face very well. The face of the man that caused her death.
In not only one, but two lifetimes.