"Alexis! Dinner is ready," shouted my mother waking me from a deep slumber. I quickly sat straight up in my bed. I don't know how long I was asleep, but my entire body was in pain. The aching feeling of my body the only indication that my dream may not have been just a dream. I searched my room making sure I was actually in it. The normal four purple walls and a raven colored door. I had drawings of various things all over my walls that I have done. I had one window in my room and it overlooked the meadow where our horses grazed. I took in my surroundings and the familiar scents. Nothing appeared different until I looked down at my left arm. A tattoo that wasn't their before stood where I was given one in my dream. It was a black outline of a rose with grey shading on the petals. It was gorgeous. I was frozen in my spot for a few minutes. I attempted to recall my dream, but halted by a splitting headache. That felt as if my head was trying to split into two. I got up slowly and grabbed my sweatshirt in the floor closest to my bed. My parents would freak if they saw this tattoo. I had to conceal it. My entire body ached. Every motion hurt like I was being stabbed everywhere.
I went through the motions on autopilot as I made my way to the dinning room for dinner. My thoughts trying to figure out what all this means. Why can't I remember how I got this? I know it wasn't there when I went to take my nap.
"Keep it a secret," came an eerie male voice whisper inside my skull. Who said that? Where did that come from? I looked around and realized no one was talking at the table except my parents. I quickly looked back down at the meal in front of me. This splitting headache getting worse the more I try to think. I couldn't even remember yesterday with how bad it was killing me.
"Lexi, stop playing with your food and eat," my papa spoke sternly forcing my attention back to the people in front of me.
"I'm not hungry. May I be excused?" I inquired promptly.
"Are you feeling alright?" My mama asked as she fed my little brother another bite of mashed potatoes and gravy. He is only two years old whereas I am nineteen about to be twenty in the upcoming months ahead. I look just like my mama. She has jet back hair and a slim figure. She has hazel eyes that sometimes stand out from her caramel complexion depending on how the light hits them on any given day.
"Yes, I just want to lay down. I have a headache is all," I quickly answered.
"Sure baby girl," my papa answers with a small smile to me. I smile to my papa and slowly get up from the table. I had to walk like nothing was wrong to not alarm my parents. I slowly make my way to my room. I shut the door softly trying to not bring attention to me. Was the voice connected to the tattoo? I made my way to my bed and sat down softly.
"Stop being foolish. You've known me your whole life," came the eerie voice again. It gave me shivers down my spine and goosebumps along my flesh. I looked around to find the room empty.
"Show yourself, who are you?" my voice shook as I spoke from all the pain. Out of the shadows stepped a man. He bowed as he stepped in front of me at my bed. A smirk apparent on his rose lips. He stood at six foot two. He wore black combat boots with black skinny jeans that caressed his muscular legs. A black T-shirt hugged his athletic frame. His white hair came down to his shoulders making his green eyes stand out from his pale complexion.
"Shhhhh, no need to worry. I will not harm you, yet. I can be a very good friend or a very evil enemy to have. I can help you understand what is happening to you, but first, let's learn to speak inside your head instead of out loud. Okay?" His velvety voice sang with a thick Romanian accent. I was stunned by how gorgeous this man in front of me was. The familiar scent of cinnamon drifted into my nose. Why do I know this scent?
"To speak into another's mind you simply have to lock eyes with them and push your thought to the other person, like so," he spoke softly trying not to be heard by anyone, but myself, "Boo!" The last part screamed inside my head causing me to jump making my entire body hurt worse with the sudden motion. I was silent staring at him.
"How do you know me?" I asked trying to do as he explained curious to see if it worked as I locked my eyes onto his.
"Very good. You are a fast learner. You have gained a lot of eyes since your seals broke. Your Grandma is very upset about it. She also knows you have the mark. She sent me here to help you," he spoke smoothly into my head. He sits down next to me on the bed. Putting an arm around me and pressing my head to sit on his chest. The cinnamon smell filling my nose. The familiar touch and soothing embrace.
"My seals? My Grandma? What are you even talking about? This Mark? I don't understand," I spoke quickly inside my head as I start to freak out. He begins stroking my hair soothingly.
"I'm sorry. I thought you would have remembered. Do you still have a headache? If you do then I will slowly try to explain everything and answer all your questions little one," he soothed me with his words and actions. I felt as though I could trust him and I didn't want him to let me go so I wrapped my arms around his torso keeping him in place. The heat from his body soothed my aching everything as well.
"Who are you?" I asked quietly closing my eyes and allowing his calming aura to soothe my anxiety.
"My name is Vladimir. Your Grandma raised me when my parents died. She knew what was inside me when I was born. She tried to help my parents, but they wouldn't listen. Your Grandma is very wise and very powerful. She is considered an elder not just because of her age, but because of her skills. She has raised me since I was seven years old. She has taught me so many things and kept me out of trouble many more. You, Alexis, are very special to her. She made a mistake with my parents that she didn't want to do with yours. Your Mom and Dad wouldn't understand or believe any of this. Your Granny sealed away your power and potential when you were an infant to keep you safe. What that means is that you have supernatural abilities one only reads in fairy tales, but I assure you they are real. That's how we can speak with our minds to one another," I felt him move us on my bed so that we are now laying down with the blanket over us. My head still resting on his chest and he is still stroking my hair. I look up searching his eyes to find him looking at me with so many sad emotions in them. I tried sitting up for him to only pull me back down onto his chest.
"I have hidden my essence from your family downstairs. Even if they come into this room they will not see me. You told them you wanted to sleep so I'm just making it look as though you are. I am very fond of you, Lexi. I know once all your memories come back unclouded that you will understand and that you will be scared. You don't have to be. I will help you. You can speak to me anytime you need me. Your Granny wants you to reach out to her or go see her soon. She can answer a lot of your questions that I won't know the answers to. I don't want you scared of me. I won't hurt you unless you pose a threat to me or your Granny. Do you understand so far?" He asked me looking down into my eyes. My headache is starting to subside and with it, memories are starting to come back to me that I never knew I had. It made the room spin so I closed my eyes as I remembered.
The last time I saw my Granny my mom had gone to lay my brother, Samuel, down for a nap. My dad took my puppy, Ash, outside to use the bathroom which left me awkwardly with her in the kitchen. My Granny wasn't old nor was she young. She has blonde long golden hair to her feet and a slender figure. Her skin is perfectly flawless and she has sky blue eyes that stand out from her pale complexion. That day she whispered something into my ear that I would never forget.
"I love you, Lexi. One day the seals will be taken off and when that happens I want you to run to me, my sweet girl. I will protect you. I am always watching over you and I will always be one shout away. Your parents will not understand. Do not endanger them. Your brother is a normal baby so don't worry. My girl, you are very unique and must be kept safe," my granny spoke sternly, but soothingly at the same time. Why am I just now remembering this? Why are some of my memories locked away from me? What's happening to me?
"Lexi?" a smooth voice pulled me from my thoughts belonging to Vladimir.
"I am starting to remember things. Things I didn't know I had forgotten. Why when this headache starts to leave are they coming back? What is happening to me?" I frantically probed for answers and Vladimir smiled a sweet smile. The memory of how I got the mark came whacking me in the face as it did.
"Good, you will remember me soon then. That headache is all your locked away memories that Granny had sealed to keep you safe from yourself and others. Now, that they know you are special they are watching you. You will remember who they are soon enough. They are the ones that gave you this tattoo on your arm. The magic that was sealed into it allows them to know your every move and check in on you as they please without you knowing they are doing so. Your Granny wants to take that seal from it. You need to see her soon. I am not physically here with you. I can make myself feel as though I am with you however to not alert their magic into knowing my existence. Are you going to be okay? I have to go now, but you can still speak with me when you need to. Drink this potion to help bring back what is forgotten. Sleep baby girl, unlock your memories then we will speak more," Vladimir spoke kissing me on my forehead before evaporating into thin smoke. A bottle was left in his absence with the words drink me on them. I did as he instructed and drank the bottle of the unknown substance. It was so nasty I almost threw it back up, but luckily I held it in. A ton of questions are weighing down my mind, but my sleepiness was overtaking me. My headache was gone thanks to the bottle I drank, but it made me very sleepy. I fell asleep when my dad let the puppy into my room leaving my door cracked. Ash jumped onto my bed and snuggled with me as I fell into a deep unsettling sleep full of memories I didn't know I had forgotten.