Beneath the surface: Forbidden love

Marisela

Waking up from a coma is a profound and often mysterious experience, and it's a testament to the strength of the human spirit. For me, it was like emerging from the deepest depths of an ocean, slowly rising toward the shimmering surface. Sounds and sensations, initially muted and distant, gradually became more pronounced, like the faint notes of a melody. I felt an unsettling disorientation as my mind pieced together fragmented memories and fleeting images, attempting to reconcile the dreamlike world I had inhabited for what felt like an eternity. The soft hum of machines and the distant murmur of voices grew sharper, weaving together with the beeping of monitors, creating an intricate symphony of the life I was rejoining.

"What is she doing here?" I hear a deep growl.

"I have to see her, you don't understand." The voice replies.

My body, once inert and unresponsive, starts to respond to the faintest stirrings of consciousness.

"Alpha, I think she's waking up." Another deep voice speaks.

I sense the warmth of sunlight filtering through half-closed eyelids, and the sensation of cool, silk sheets against my skin. The realization that I was waking from a deep sleep, that I was alive, surged through me with a mix of astonishment and gratitude.

Every twitch, every flutter of a finger, was a triumph—a promise of returning vitality. As I gradually open my eyes, the world around me sharpens into focus. Faces, both familiar and unfamiliar, stare down at me with a curious blend of relief and uncertainty, as though I was a puzzle they weren't sure how to piece together.

And, in that moment, I understood that I was on the threshold of a second chance, a fresh beginning that humbled me with its sheer fragility and wonder.

"That's it, princess, open your eyes." Kael? Oh gosh, how much I missed him. I wanted to speak, but I couldn't open my mouth. My body felt weak.

"Get the doctor." I hear my mate say to no one in particular. Slowly I try to look around. Kael is right by my side, holding my hand. I see Dimitri standing not too far from behind him. But there was someone else. A woman. Something about her seemed too familiar. Her dark eyes fill with unshed tears. I try to rack my brain as to where I've seen her before.

"Hey, calm down princess, it's okay." Kael says reassuringly to me. I wanted to speak, I tried to move my fingers. Slowly my muscles started to cooperate with my brain. My fingers moved slowly, eventually I was able to lift my arm and lightly scratch at my throat, hoping that Kael would understand.

"Water-"he looks at Dimitri,"bring her some water quickly." Oh thank God! Dimitri hands Kael a small cup of water which he carefully brings to my lips. The cold water was like a dam being released in a desert which is my throat. I hungrily accepted it.

"Slow down princess," Kael says lifting the cup a little away from mouth so I could catch a breath, "take it easy." He brings the cup back to my lips and this time I listen to him. I drink in the water in very small sips.

Finally when I feel like I've had enough, I slowly push the cup away from my lips, and struggle to sit up, Kael sees my struggle and immediately helps me sit up straight. I slowly start to open my mouth and speak.

"What-" my voice hoarse, not sounding like my own. "What happened." I finally get out. Kael gives a small smile and exhales.

"You feinted princess." He tells me, I look at him quizzically.

"How?"

Kael's gaze slowly moves to my neck, immediately the memories come flooding back as my hand shoots up to my neck.

He marked me. There wasn't any pain, but I did feel a slight bump, like a scar was surfacing there.

Just then a man walks in wearing a white coat. His hair was slightly grey.

"Good morning, Luna, I am doctor Blake, how are you feeling?" He asks holding up a clipboard. It took me a second to understand his question, but I answered.

"A little lightheaded, but I feel okay."

"That's good." He checks off something on his clipboard. "Do you feel any pain anywhere?" I shake my head.

"That's good." He walks over to my side. "Do you mind if we do a quick check up on you."

"Ofcourse." I say hoarsely. The doctor turns to Kael looking a little uncomfortable.

"If you don't mind, Alpha, I would need for you step outside for a second so I could fully assess her vitals."

"No, please, I want him to stay." I tell him instead looking briefly at Kael. Kael smiles softly at me and nods his head.

"Alright then," the doctor says," but everyone else would have to leave." He turns to the other people in the room. Just then I remember that we weren't alone. My eyes immediately lock on the woman beside him.

"Do I know you from somewhere?" I ask her. She was about to speak but Kael beat her to it.

"Let the doctor see you first then I will explain everything to you." Kael says, looking pointedly at the woman. With one last glance at me, the woman nods and leaves the room followed by Dimitri.

What was that about?

I look at Kael when they are gone, and I was about to ask him who that woman was but he whispers softly to me.

"I promise to fill you in after the doctor has seen you." I look at him strangely before nodding at him and then the doctor so he could do his job. Kael steps aside allowing doctor Blake to check my vitals. He asked me a few questions and ran a few tests. This went on for about thirty minutes or less.

Finally I was done. Doctor Blake had just left them room when I turned to Kael expectantly.

"Well?" I ask him, "what was that about?" Kael sighs and looks down at his feet before looking back at me.

"Are you sure you don't want to rest?" I look at him pointedly. "Fine." He takes a seat again beside me.

"That's the seer." He tells.

"Seer?" I repeat a little confused.

Kael sighs. "The witch who is going to help us with the prophecy." He tells me and my eyebrows raise unexpectedly.

"Okay," I say a little confused, "but why was she in here, she seemed familiar." Kael turns his head to the side, looking a little confused himself.

"What do you mean, familiar?"

"I mean, I feel like I know her from somewhere. I just don't know where." I tell him. Kael is quiet for a minute before he sighs and looks away. Something was bothering him.

"Is everything okay?" I ask him. Kael looks up at me, his eyes seemed to be having some inner turmoil with himself.

"She wants to see you." He sighs, "she said she has information for you, but only you. I don't trust her Marisela."

I am quiet now, surprised by this. She did look familiar, but not in the way one would assume. Her face isn't one I would remember, but it was her aura, something about it seemed familiar. It was warm, welcoming too. Like returning to a childhood home after a long time.

I know Kael just said he didn't trust her, but something about her made me want to trust her. I couldn't explain it without sounding crazy, and I sure as hell couldn't tell Kael that.

"I want to see her." I tell him instead.

"Princess, I don't think that's a good idea."

"Look Kael, I get that you want to protect me, but you have to allow me to play some role in this prophecy if we are ever to see it through." I tell him, "there's something about her Kael, I can't explain it, but I know I have to hear what she has to say. Please." Kael looks into my eyes, pleading with me to listen to him, that maybe he is right, maybe I shouldn't trust her. But he gives up when he sees that I wasn't backing down from this. He sighs and finally nods.

"Fine." He gives in. I smile at him and he hesitantly returns a smaller one back at me. Kael leans back in his chair while I watch him expectantly. He finally notices and groans.

"Right now?"

"Well yes, shes already waiting outside."I tell him.

"You just woke up princess, you need to rest." He tries to reason. I roll my eyes at him. He can't be serious.

"Exactly Kael, I just woke up. I've been asleep for god knows how long, I've rested enough." I tell him. Kael sighs after sometime. I watch as he stands and heads to the door, as he opens it he nods to someone behind it. With one last glance at me, he leaves.

The woman slowly enters. Her eyes slightly stained with tears. Her eyes instantly find my own, and I am instantly hit with this familiar feeling again. She stands quietly by the door, not saying a word. We both just stare at each other for a while, before she finally speaks.

"My name is Avalon," she clears her throat, as if to pull us both out of whatever that moment was. "Luna." She's bows her head slightly.

"Please, call me Marisela." I tell her. Her calling me by my title just felt... wrong. She gives a small smile and looks to the chair beside me.

"Please, take a seat." She carefully accepts the chair beside me and sits. The whole time I watch her. I wasn't afraid of her. I felt like I knew her. I just didn't know from where.

"I understand you wanted to see me." I ask her. Avalon nods her head.

"Yes. I'm sorry, it's just-" she sighs shaking her head, as if trying to control herself. "I'm sorry Luna- Marisela. I'm just.... overwhelmed." I wanted to ask why.

"Do we know each other?" I ask instead. Avalon looks at me a second longer, a small sad smile grazes her lips.

"Only for a brief moment." She says quietly looking down at her hand. I frown. What did she mean by that?

"What is it that you wanted to see me for?"

Avalon instantly tenses. Her jaw clenched tight, and her entire demeanor turns cold. "Marisela, I need to warn you about something." Her face serious now. I wait for her to explain. "The person you believe to be your mother, is not who she says she is." She says this with so much hatred one could almost miss it seeping through her words.

"You are not the first person to say that to me." I frown. Anger starts to build within me, but I couldn't tell who it was directed at.

"So you've met him?" Avalon asks, sounding hopeful. She realizes this and instantly collects herself.

"You know about the Siren?" I ask her curiously. Avalon sighs and nods her head. "Who is he?" She doesn't answer.

"So you know what he said to me then?" My voice getting a little louder, as the anger within me bubbles to the surface. Avalon notices this too, and tries pleading with me with her eyes to calm down.

"Please Marisela, you have to understand-"

"No I don't understand!" I snap at her. Avalon closes her mouth instantly.

"I know you have questions, and I can give you some answers, but you will have to rest first."

"I already told Kael that I have rested-"

"What I will show you will require a lot of energy from you." She cuts me off, I instantly frown at her words. Then I remembered, she's a witch. "So I can not tell you the answers, but I can show you. Maybe then you will understand." She pleads silently with me. "Please Marisela, it's more complicated than you think."

I look at her, trying my best to assess her features, hoping that a light will go off and tell me where exactly I know her from. But nothing comes, instead all I get is this weird little voice in my head telling me to trust her. I give her a nod and she smiles, as if relieved that would've said no.

"I will come by tomorrow." She says getting up to leave.

"Avalon." I call her just as she was about to step out. "I know you, don't I?" Avalon freezes. Slowly she turns around, a sad smile on her face.

"Tomorrow, Marisela." She says. And then, she's gone. She didn't confirm nor deny, but I knew.

I did know her from somewhere.

Kael immediately walks inside and is by my side almost instantly.

"Did she say anything?" He asks. I look at him and frown.

"Not much," I tell him. "But I agreed to meet with her tomorrow."

Kael's looks a little hesitant at first, but then nods and sits down beside me. We sit in silence for a little while.

"Did the doctor say when I can leave." I ask him.

"Tonight, after a few more tests, but he said everything looks good."

"That's good then." I say looking down at my hands.

"I'm so sorry princess." I immediately look up at Kael. He's eyes are on me, but that's not what caught me off guard. He looked sad. "I shouldn't have marked you."

"Kael you were only trying to help, besides I agreed to it." I try to reassure him as best as I could. Kael sighs but looks down at the bed.

"I have to tell you something." He sighs.

"What's wrong?" Kael slowly looks up at me as if preparing me for bad news.

"The mark didn't help." He tells me.

"What do you mean it didn't work?"

"It has only rushed the process. It didn't help. The doctor said it will give you a least a few more days, but after that it will only get worse." I am speechless. "I am so sorry Marisela." Kael looks away shamefully.

So the mark didn't help, which means Kael and I will have to eventually sleep together... and a lot sooner than I had expected.

I honestly wasn't sure how I felt about it though. One minute Kael and I are okay, then the next he's distant and I'm left confused and angry.

And now, now this mate bond is pulling us to complete the process, and the longer I prolong it, the more pain I'll be in. I don't think I can live through that again. The last time was bad enough, how much more if it only got worse?

"Please say something princess." Kael says quietly. My eyes turn to him and I can see him pleading with me.

"I don't know what to say." I tell him. I mean, what could I possibly say? Okay Kael let's just have sex and get it over with? No, I couldn't do that. I didn't want to do that.

"I know." He sighs, "we haven't been in the best of places lately, I know I've been distant, and for that I'm sorry."

"I mess up, all the time. I think I'm doing the right thing, but I only make it worse. I don't blame you for hating me.."

"I don't hate you Kael." I tell him. Kael briefly looks at me but then turns his gaze away from me. I know he doesn't believe me, but he needs to know that I don't hate him. I can never hate him.

"Hey," I say as a thought comes to mind. " we never really got to spend a day together."

"Yeah." He says after a long silent second. Kael looks at me as a small smile appears, "our day didn't go as planned." Suddenly we are both brought back to that day Rosa and I got "kidnapped"

"Why don't we do that, tomorrow?" I suggest, "or we can even start now. You know, actually get to know each other. I mean it's not like I've got anything else to do" Kael nods and we both smile.

"Well," he sits up holding my hand, "where do we start."

"From the beginning."

And that's how my day went up until I was able to go back to my room. Kael and I spoke about everything and anything, from our most embarrassing moments as a child, to the worst day of our lives. It was great. In a span of one day, I felt a lot closer to Kael than I did since I've been here. We even made plans to have an "official" date tomorrow.

It was good. We were getting good.

Tomorrow couldn't have come sooner.