Abbey's POV

I wake up in a dark room on a soft, plush couch. A fire was burning brightly in the grate across from me. The light from the fire hurt my eyes and added a headache to my already pounding head.

I vaguely remembered what had transpired before I had been knocked out. I was finally getting my revenge on Kai when I had let my wall slip and the Black Magic had taken over, putting my body on autopilot. I had nearly killed him until someone busted into the room, breaking my concentration.

Slowly sitting up, I realize that my throat feels raw and my muscles are sore. I felt different. I felt stronger somehow, even though I felt weak.

"Good, you're up," I voice behind me says.

I look over my shoulder to see my father standing behind the couch, hands behind his back. Kai was standing behind him, his posture identical to my father's.

My father walks around the couch and sits in one of the many chairs in the room, facing me. Kai mimics my father's actions and chooses a seat a few feet away, not even looking at me. Must be pissed at me for almost killing him.

"Abigayle," my father says, taking my attention away from Kai. "I told you that disobeying me had certain consequences, but you didn't listen. You almost killed Kai."

Way to point out the obvious.

"He deserved it," I answer, no emotion in my voice.

"I don't care if he did," my father sneered. "But you threatened one of your own and that has consequences."

"One of my own?" I question. "I'm nothing like either of you!"

"Oh, but you are," Kai whispers.

"Shut up, Kai!" I yell.

"Dear Abigayle," my father says. "He's right."

"What?" I ask, confused.

"When you tried to kill me, all your walls came tumbling down," Kai explained. "You let the Black Magic take you, and you're becoming a Black Magic wizard."

"What?" I was incredulous. I had spent so much time building up those walls around me, making sure the Black Magic wouldn't get in, all to have them crumble around me in one brief moment of anger and hatred. I couldn't believe it.

Which brings me to my next point," my father clears his throat. "Your punishment. Usually when something like this happens, there's a death penalty-"

"Oh, please," I drop down onto my knees, cutting off my father. "If you're going to kill me, do it now. Put me out of my misery."

I was being sardonic, but my father didn't find it funny.

"Abigayle, stop being so dramatic," he hisses. "And get up off the floor. Sit in the chair straight."

I did as he said, fearing that he'd make whatever punishment he had for me even more severe.

"As I was saying," my father continues as if he hadn't been interrupted. "There's a death penalty, but since you're my daughter, I'll be lenient."

"Oh, how generous," my voice dripping with sarcasm.

"But," he says. "You're not completely off the hook."

I should've expected this. My father was never lenient without some sort of catch. I remembered from when I was a kid and did something wrong, he'd let me off the hook, but not completely. Good to see that he still had his parenting skills intact.

"So what're the conditions?" I ask.

"He linked us," Kai spoke up, looking quite grim.

"Excuse me?" I ask.

"He linked us," Kai says again. "We can't hurt each other without hurting ourselves in the process."

"What. The. Hell." I say, getting pissed, my teeth gritted in anger.

"Language, Abigayle," my father scolds.

"Why did you link us?" I ask, still pissed.

"To make you think twice about killing him," my father answered. "If he dies, you die."

No problem with that. I'd just try to reverse it after I was alone.

"Don't even think about trying to reverse it," my father says, as if he knew what I was thinking. "It's far too strong to break, and I'm the only one who can break it."

Great.

I was linked to that idiot for who knows how long.

Ugh!


Abbey's POV

A few hours later, I was laying on the bed in the room I had been brought to. It felt more like a jail cell. There was a guard outside my door and I could only leave the room with an escort. I felt like I was a criminal. I'd almost killed someone, so what? It's not like he didn't deserve it. I didn't need to be babysat by some hulking guard outside my door.

I did think about trying a spell to knock him out, but I was pretty sure he could deflect it. So I was trapped until my father decided I wasn't a threat to his precious coven of Black Magic witches and wizards. He could be so frustrating sometimes.

I was staring up at the family crest on the canopy above my bed. I could now clearly read the name under it: Sinistero.

Everywhere I went it seemed like I was reminded of how I was a Sinistero. Nothing good ever came out of that. Nothing good came out of having Black Magic. Nothing good came out of trying to fight who you were supposed to be.

I thought I'd found who I was supposed to be when I married Benny. I loved him so much, I believed that I'd found my other half within him.

However, now I wasn't so sure of who I was. Everything had seemed to be turned upside down in a matter of days. It seemed to happen when Kai came into town.

All of my problems centered around Kai. Too bad I couldn't kill him without killing myself.

There was a short knock on the door.

"Who is it?" I ask loudly.

"Kai," a voice answers. "Can I come in?"

Speak of the devil.

"Sure," I answer. "Whatever."

The door opens and Kai enters.

"What do you want?" I ask, still looking up at the canopy.

"To apologize," he answers.

That caught my attention. I look at him questioningly.

"I know what you're thinking," he says. "But I also know that you still won't trust me after I do."

"Trust is something earned, not given," I answer. "You lost my trust the second you blurted out we kissed."

"Again, I'm sorry," Kai says. "I don't know what came over me. I was jealous."

"You were jealous?" I ask, incredulously. "Of what?"

"Benny," he replies, looking down.

"Why?" I ask.

To me, it seemed like he didn't care if he upset anyone that night.

"Because he has you," Kai answers. "And I was jealous because I wanted to be him. I wanted to be the one who you loved like that."

"Kai…" I trail off.

"I love you, Abbey," he confesses. "I always have."

I didn't know what to say because I was speechless.

"I know it's too late," he continues. "But I just thought you should know."

I start busting out laughing.

"What's so funny?" he was getting defensive.

"Because that's how I felt about you for the longest time," I say between chuckles of laughter. "But I was too scared to say anything."

So we both felt something for each other all those years ago, but didn't want to admit it.

"Maybe if I hadn't moved away," Kai says. "All of this would've been different."

"No," I answer. "Fate is fate. Nothing can change that."

"Are you saying that we're not meant for each other?"

"Yes," I reply. "I love Benny. It's always going to be Benny."

Kai was vulnerable; he'd just confessed how he felt about me, only to realize it was no use.

"I do love you," I continue. "As a friend. I'm sorry it's not the way you want."

"I guess I understand," he says glumly, turning towards the door. "But I'll always love you Abbey."

He leaves without another word.

As soon as the door closes, I felt guilty. I knew I shouldn't, but I did. And I couldn't explain it. I did love him, but I loved Benny more.

Sorry I haven't updated. Everything gets crazy at the end of the year. Also, I went to the beach for a week and forgot my laptop (stupid move on my part (I could've updated! The hotel had wifi!)).

ANYWAY, I hope you guys are having a great summer so far and continue to.

As always, please continue to read and review :)