SPELLBOUND

"So, you're saying… I and Gav… Gavrael was…" Evie could hardly process everything the man had told her. The strangest thing was that she was supposed to doubt and feel that what he told her was hard to believe, but she did not. Instead, she felt an inexplicable pain deep within her. As if her heart was mourning the loss of something that her mind cannot remember. 

"Yes, princess. Please believe that all the things I told you really happened. The reason why you cannot remember is not because you have lost your memories. But it is because Gavrael turned back time and you and he had returned to the point when you were both still children. He did that to save you… This is also why, regretfully, there is no way for you to remember. As there is nothing left to remember…" Claudius explained as he ended a little sadly.

Evie swallowed. Because what he explained, again made a lot of sense. This was why she could not remember that there were any gaps in her memory where she could have possibly met him before!

She buried her face in her palms. She could not believe she was already believing the man's words. Without any doubt at all. However, Evie was still confused. She looked at him again, with questioning eyes.

"You said that Gavrael and I had returned to that time when we were children. It means none of us were supposed to remember what had happened before the time manipulation. Then why does this Gavrael still remember?" she asked.

"Because that's his punishment. In fact, he also doesn't remember he did such a forbidden thing as well. And you were right princess, if only he had forgotten everything about his life as Gavrael as he was supposed to, this problem wouldn't be existing right now. But like I told you, he remembers because this is the price he had to pay for using such a forbidden spell, princess. Not forgetting will make him suffer more. You might not believe it, but back then Gavrael's greatest fear is to be forgotten by you and be hated by you. He thought you had broken your promise and gotten to married someone else and then forgotten about him. That'd be his ultimate torture."

Once again, Evie felt the sharp pang of pain in her heart. It was squeezing in pain. And she could no longer reason out to herself not to believe in this man's story. Because if this was not the truth, why then was she hurting like this? This pain would not make sense if this man was lying. Her heart knows it well.

After a short while of silence, Evie returned her gaze to the man again. "How about Gavriel's memories? What happened to it?" she asked, weakly. Still pained.

"Forgive me, but I don't have a certain answer right now. However, I believe it is not lost forever. I believe the same thing might have happened. When he was Gavriel, Gavrael's memories apparently had remained buried within him and was never really erased. I believe this time, it's Gavriel's memories that is now buried deep within him. Since Gavrael's memories miraculously emerged, perhaps, it's possible for Gavriel's memories to return as well one day." Claudius could only give his deductions on this as even he could not tell for sure what would happen. Never had anyone used this spell and its consequences had nothing to be compared to. Therefore, he could only speculate and give the princess his conjecture on things which were still unknown.

"Do you know what happened to have triggered Gavrael's memories to return and take over?" Evie was curious about this. She guessed something must have happened to Gavriel when they separated after the battle, and it must have been something significant for things to escalate to this point.

"I am not certain, princess. But I think the reason must be because his dark magic had returned. He most probably has returned to becoming a dark fae again and his vampire half is now being completely suppressed. That's why 'Gavriel' is not here but is now replaced by 'Gavrael'."

"Can't both Gavrael and Gavriel's memories co-exist? Do you think they will be able to co-exist and be able to come to a balance if his dark fae side and vampire side don't completely suppress the other?" Evie somehow felt torn for both the personalities. One was the personality that she had married and fallen in love with. The other one had taken on such a massive punishment just to carry out that forbidden spell to save her life out of love for her.

Claudius was visibly surprised at the princess' question. Apart from his surprise that the princess seemed to be easily accepting his words and without much of a doubt, he was also shocked that she was already trying to think of something to solve the problem. And her idea was not bad at all! In fact, it was amazing. That could be the answer to this whole messy situation going on about the prince! If only he could remember both memories, then…

"That's a very great idea, princess. Do you have an idea as well on how to make his vampire side come out?" Claudius asked but before Evie could think of a response, Claudius spoke. "Oh, he's coming back princess. I'll have to say goodbye for now –"

"Wait! I still need to –" Evie called out, worried on how she can get in contact with him again.

"Don't worry princess, if he ever puts up a barrier around you again, I can show up before you again and speak to you. For now, remember what I told you. Maybe, what you can do for now is to speak to him. Make him talk. I have lots of details I could not tell you because I have limited information on it. But if it is him, I'm sure he could tell you more. It might help us figure out a way to bring Gavriel's memories back. But make sure not aggravate him… he is dangerous right now…" his voice trailed off as the barrier surrounding the room disappeared along with him.

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A/N: Two more chaps later ^^