Prologue

Lorna stood still in the depth of the woods. Her hairs gradually stood on one end. Her tears were gradually drying up. The memories were traumatising in the worst of ways. She shut her eyes tightly as if he was standing right in front of her, merely inches away. If she hadn't messed with Noah Van Moscovitz she wouldn't be knee-deep in this Godforsaken situation. "That's what I get for being social, I guess" she laughed sarcastically at herself.She trekked across the dark woods,knowing where to go but not which direction to take. The castle was way out of sight. She couldn't even see the tower at the very top. "Atara, please,catch my voice with your super vampire thingy or something" she whimpered.It was freezing and all she had was Atara's oversized black cloak over her tiny frame. Warm but not warm enough. His scent was fading and hers was dominating. She didn't mind but hoped it would still last long enough to guide her to him. "Didn't I already pass this tree?" She questioned herself. Her feet were swollen from all the walking and running, which wasn't a petty task. She sat herself down at the base of a huge tree and let out a shaky sigh. "Lorna! Are you there!?" a male voice shouted. She stiffened. Was it... Her eyes widened in terror. "Lorna! What are you doing here!?" Oh phew, it was Atara. Relief washed through her and she flung herself at her best friend. "Hey, go easy Doll," he chuckled. "You heard me," she whispered. "Yes, but Noah happened to ring me up with a small job to take care of. What were you thinking, running away from the king?" he scolded with a slight smirk playing on his lips. She scowled like a little kid, sensing his playful mood. "This isn't like all the other times, Atara. This time you're taking me with you. I'm not going back," she said fiercely, crossing her arms over her chest. Her head throbbed furiously. She was enraged. How could she go back, after all she had been through?But he only chuckled, and the sound of it made her frown falter into a ghost of a smile. She tried with all her nerves to prevent it but the smile grew into a huge grin. She wondered if his vampire powers did that to her too.

"The more you talk the more he hears you." he smiled. The scowl she had earlier on returned. "And the more I don't care", she retorted.

Her arms went around her torso and a glistening streak of liquid rolled down her cheek. Her eyes were glassy.

"What he's done to me..do you have any idea what he's done? I understand your loyalty to him but you have to take me away from him, Atara. I can't take this. I can't pretend after all he's done to me." she was rambling in between choked sobs.

He just sighed and sat down beside her, holding her in his arms. How was she surviving out here? It was like negative nine degrees currently, which must have been really cold for a mortal human like her.

"Look, even if we ran and never looked back," he tilted her chin upwards, his stormy greenish gray eyes boring into her soft hazel ones.

"Do you think we could run far enough? Without his knowledge? My mind is practically linked to his, Lorna. He would kill me after a good torture and you'd be his again," he told her truthfully.

'You'd be his again'

The words rang in Lorna's head. Those four words hit her like a ton of bricks.

"I was NEVER his" she muttered darkly.