Beatrice
Book III:
The Ties That Bind

Chapter 1: A New Life

Through the extremely cold and balmy air of night, I lay in bed shivering and trembling. I simply could not sleep tonight, and although it rarely bothered me, the gentle snoring coming from my sleeping companion, Matthew simply was not helping me along to the semi-unconsciousness that I associated with sleep.

How I hate this cursed night, I thought, almost worried, as Matthew stirred in his sleep, without waking; a sleeping habit I had grown quite accustomed to-- How I hate any night, I realized.

And this thought was absolutely true.

Although nearly three months had gone by since my successful reincarnation, it, and just about everything that had led up to it was still continuing to haunt me; causing sleepless nights a plenty, as well as long sits during days in which I lamented over it all… I had changed once again because of everything that had happened in D'Nalge… I felt more adult. More mature; I now realized the full extent of the notion that I was growing up. I was not a child anymore, and there were many decisions to be made.

Matthew provided a great comfort for me, but lately, he had taken to getting up right in the middle of the night, and leaving me all alone for days on end while he continued whatever task he had been given by REHtoMna in secret without me.

And upon his return, whether it was twelve in the morning or in the afternoon-- whenever I would inquire about his disappearances, he would just tell me that his whereabouts during them were required to remain in secret for now-- it was simply 'too dangerous,' as he called it to reveal these said 'secrets,' and as always, the lack of information was driving me simply mad.

I heaved a heavy sigh, and rolled over onto my side. Thank God Matthew was here with me tonight… It made things much easier, in a way; at least I did not have to sit up all night worrying about his wellbeing wherever he was-- or the strange sounds that seemed to come along with finally having a place of your own… As long as my Matthew was with me, I was safer-- or at least I felt safer… I wasn't sure which.

I played with the stone that hung around me neck, and smiled as it glowed warmly; providing light in the pitch-black darkness that filled the room; At least you will try to keep me safe, I reckoned, holding it up to my lips, and kissing it-- almost as if to seal the deal, I only wish that Elaine or REHtoMna would have told me of your properties, I sighed. I certainly had been kept in the dark about such matters-- I snorted. Maybe it was for my own 'safety.' That was a laugh. Hadn't REHtoMna told me that safety could never be fully assured, and yet she was making me stay put? It was so very hypocritical that it made me sick with disbelief.

Whatever, it didn't really matter anyway. I was moving on… Matthew and I had rented a nice little apartment overlooking the sea… I had fallen in love with the place at first glance, and although at nearly a thousand bucks a month, the price was pretty steep, money was no problem, as Elaine had arranged for there to be more whenever it was needed. The complex was far away enough from my previous home; nearly two thousand miles away, so I rarely thought of the place. It was actually comforting for me…

The crashing of the waves upon the shore certainly was a beautiful sound; I had always loved it, and if I concentrated on it long and hard enough, I usually would be able to shut nearly everything out that was troubling me--

But not tonight.

Tonight, I could not shut out the outside world so easily-- This could be accomplished by sleep alone which simply would not come to me this evening… I was too busy trying to think about everything that had happened to us again; I needed to shut my thoughts out, and get some good rest, after having not slept for a grand total of three nights in a row. Sure I was tired, but sometimes, no matter how tired you are, you just can't get to sleep. That's how I was at the moment; I wanted to sleep, but I couldn't.

That's how I got sometimes, and there wasn't any way to change that.

I sighed for a second time, and glanced over towards the other side of the bed simply to make sure that Matthew was still there, and had not left again, especially as he had taken to leaving so suddenly and so quickly without warning that it would not have surprised me in the least to find the space beside me empty once again; altogether deprived of his sleeping form.

Thank God once again he was still there, for you see, Matthew is a terrific guy, but he can be the hugest asshole sometimes for no reason whatsoever.

The apartment seemed to shake gently, and I felt a great tensing form in my stomach. Who's watching us? I wondered, but then it stopped just as suddenly as it had begun. I sighed; I guess it was a dream or something… I told myself as my heart continued to race, It's okay, Beatrice-- it could have been a slight earthquake or something-- nothing to panic about… You're just being tense. Besides, Matthew didn't even wake up…

But that shaking is just like--

Shut up, Beatrice-- It's not the same. Just shut up.

I laughed all of my uneasiness away, and glanced at the glowing green alarm on my bedside table; it was already nearing four in the morning. It was pretty much useless trying to fall asleep anymore…

I tossed the blankets from off of me, and glanced at the large mirror that hung in our bedroom; for some odd reason, it was steadily glowing, "Beatrice…" a strange voice was echoing from the other side-- Other side? I thought, How is there an other side…?

I stared at the mirror; trying my best not to lose my head, "Go away," I whispered, gently, "whoever you are… Leave!"

The voice ceased its whispering, and after a few moments of debating whether or not to wake Matthew, and alert him to these strange occurrences, I decided not to, and to leave the bedroom instead; headed for the kitchen. I closed the bedroom door, having decided to keep myself busy by making something for our morning breakfast, as I had nothing better to do, and obviously would not be sleeping in on this fine Saturday morning.

I entered our small, neat kitchen, and flicked on the light switch so that the room was instantly thrown into a yellow and heavenly glow.

I smiled at the task ahead of me, and started a pot of coffee.

Nothing strange, supernatural, or eerie had happened to me in quite a while, and one thing was for sure now: I seriously needed to take my mind off of things.

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Nearly an hour and a half later, breakfast was finished, and with no sign of Matthew waking any time soon, I decided to throw our breakfast back into the oven to keep warm for him, and sat in front of the table with a large mug of black coffee between my trembling hands; nearly burning them, but I paid no attention to it.

I sipped the dark bitter liquid, and nearly spat it out, as it entered my mouth; I had never been much of a 'black coffee' person… I just didn't particularly enjoy the flavor, although both my mother and father had when they had still been alive.

But, black coffee, so loaded with caffeine is all that I can drink after having had experienced a night of unwanted sleeplessness; if coffee is lightened up with sugar and milk it only causes more sleepiness…

As I continued to choke down the steaming coffee, my thoughts returned to all of the worlds that I had recently returned from…

Elaine had not been keeping in touch lately, and I had extremely strong suspicions that she was still 'watching over me,' although she was too stupid to realize that she should actually contact me to reassure me that she wasn't abandoning me or anything.

I was so angry because I had practically been cut off from her, as well as the Queen… However, I also suspected that Matthew was somehow connected to all of this as well

He had been so utterly affected by all that had happened to both of us in D'Nalge that I feared that--

"Beatrice?" he whispered, interrupting my troubled thoughts, as he entered the kitchen-- I had not even noticed our bedroom door opening again, "Did you make breakfast?" he was grinning now-- not grumpy or upset as he usually was during the morning time.

I nodded, and the two of us began to eat.