The second I stepped into that back room with Dr Elira Thorne, the air just changed. It was thick with this weird sense of finality, like the universe had decided something big was about to go down, and I was the last to know.
The place was dim, sunlight sneaking through stained-glass windows and splashing wild colors across the stone floor. If you ever needed a spot to hide a secret, this was it.
I dropped the stack of records I'd been sorting, my fingers still buzzing from handling that ancient book. There was this low hum in my chest, almost like a magnet pulling at me from the inside. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop my thoughts from drifting back to Zaire.
"You've had a… revelation, haven't you?" Thorne's voice was soft, but she already knew. There was no point pretending with her.
I hesitated, then nodded. "I think… something's changing in me. But I have no clue what it is."
Thorne just watched me, her hands folded neatly, eyes sharp and understanding. "I felt it too, when I first started to wake up. It's disorienting, right? The more you feel, the more you realize you don't know squat."
I slumped into a chair and raked my fingers through my hair. "It's like… everything is shifting. My thoughts, my abilities… even the people around me. Especially Zaire. I don't get what's happening between us."
Thorne's gaze softened, but there was something unreadable flickering in her eyes. "Zaire, huh? He's never been easy to figure out. But that connection you feel...That's not just some random spark, Niah. It's not even close."
Her words just hung there, but was impossible to ignore. I swallowed, feeling this weird mix of frustration and curiosity. "What do you mean? Zaire… he keeps calling me Esme. Says it's who I'm supposed to be. But it makes zero sense. Why does he keep saying that?"
Thorne walked over to the table, pulled open a drawer, and fished out this small, battered leather journal. She flipped it open, and I recognized the handwriting instantly, it was Zaire's, all elegantly written.
"Esme," Thorne read, her voice low. "That's not just a name to him. It's a key. A piece of a puzzle that's been moving for centuries. There's a lot more to it than you think."
I leaned forward, that pull inside me getting stronger. "You keep talking about keys and pieces. What am I supposed to be? Who am I, really?"
Thorne let out a sigh and closed the journal with a soft thud. "You can't just snap your fingers and know your true self, Niah. It's buried deep and lost in time. But here's what I can tell you: your connection to Zaire isn't just about feelings. It's elemental. You're a part of something way bigger than this life. And Zaire… he's always been tied to you, even if he doesn't totally get it himself."
My brain was spinning, trying to piece together all these fragments that just wouldn't fit. "So, Zaire… he's not just Zaire. He's got another name, too. Rain. What's that about?"
Thorne's lips twitched, but her eyes darkened. "Rain isn't just a name. It's a part of him, a reminder of what he was, what he's meant to become. His true form is ancient and powerful. But that's his story to tell. Not mine."
I leaned back, feeling like I was teetering on the edge of something massive, but I couldn't see where it ended.
"Do you remember anything about your past life?" Thorne asked, her voice gentle but digging for something deeper.
I shook my head. "Not really… just some flashes, feelings, but nothing solid."
She studied me for a moment. "That's actually a good sign. The memories will come back to you in pieces. You've got to let them in, even if they're not all sunshine and rainbows. Some things are buried for a reason."
Before I could answer, a loud knock shattered the moment.
The door creaked open, and there was Zaire, filling the doorway. His eyes locked on mine, and suddenly the air felt charged, like a storm was about to break.
"I need to talk to you," he said, voice cool as ever, but there was something urgent simmering underneath.
Thorne glanced between us, her gaze sharp and calculating. "I'll leave you two alone. Don't keep her too long, Zaire. These revelations can hit hard."
Zaire didn't answer. He just waited for Thorne to slip out, then closed the door behind her with a soft click.
The silence was fragile, like glass about to shatter. I couldn't look away from him. The tension between us was so thick, I could practically taste it.
I stood there, heart pounding. "If you're here to call me Esme again, just… don't."
"I'm not," Zaire said quietly. "I came because I remembered something you need to hear."
I watched him, trying to read his face. "Then say it."
He stepped closer, his voice barely above a whisper. "There was a moment, in another life. You stood between two worlds. You chose to close the gate, even though it meant losing everything. Including me."
My brow furrowed. "How is that supposed to help me now?"
"Because we're almost at that moment again. The signs, the rituals, your abilities, none of this is random. The veil's thinning. They're coming for you, and when they do, you'll have to choose again."
I crossed my arms, trying to hold myself together. "You make it sound like I'm some kind of weapon."
"No," Zaire said, his eyes never leaving mine. "You're the lock and the key."
The silence between us was deafening.
"I couldn't protect you before," he said, voice rougher now. "But I will this time. If you'll let me."
I glanced down at the pendant in my hand, then back at him. "If I ask you again, what if I don't want to be Esme? What if I just want to be Niah?"
"Then be Niah," he said, stepping closer. "But don't pretend she isn't powerful."
He reached out, his hand brushing against mine. The touch sent a jolt through me, and I gasped, unable to hide it.
"I told you," he murmured, "You're awakening, Esme. Whether you're ready or not, you're already mine."
His words hung in the air and in that moment, I honestly didn't know if I wanted to run from him or pull him closer.
But one thing was crystal clear, there was no turning back now.
* * *