Bound to Remember, a Paranormal Romance (Book 1 of the Spellbound Series) (15 page)

“
Antonia Nikos, your father hid you well for many years. He even found a witch to erase your memory, so you would not remember me. But I remember you. You loved me before and you will love me again.”

“
What? Are you delusional? Where am I? And where is Ben?” I hissed as I took another step back from him.

“
Ah, Benjamin, the charming Benjamin, he knew there was something special about you, but he didn’t know what it was. He thought it was your blood, but he was wrong. He also knew that if you came to me, you would not leave again. Come, my sweet Antonia, let’s look in on your charming Benjamin.” He took my hand into his, then he waved his other hand over the black glass on his desk and it turned into a TV of sorts. I could see Ben stepping foot into the house in the early morning. My heart fluttered at the sight of him and I wanted to scream for help, but from the looks of it, I was somewhere that Ben could not help me.

“
Antonia, are you awake?” Ben yelled as he poured his blood into a coffee mug. He took the cup and walked toward the stairs when he noticed her sitting on the couch.

“
It’s been some time, Benjamin,” The woman spoke as she walked into the light now dressed in my clothes but she still looked familiar.

“
Catherine!” he whispered, shaking his head. “But you’re . . .”

“
Dead? Yes. You thought I died, but no, I was turned into a vampire. The one that died that fateful day was Joanna. She foolishly tried to save me. Neither of you ever offered me the chance to be turned. You both just watched me grow older,” Catherine said as she touched his chest. Ben looked like he wanted to cry, but he turned his head in shame.

“
I couldn’t,” he choked. I felt his sadness as I watched the look on his face. He touched Catherine’s hand, the one she placed on his chest. She wore the ring that belonged to her, which he was never able to give her.

“
Benjamin, I loved you and you could have helped me; you just never tried.” She ran her hand up and down his chest.

“
How? I mean, who made you a vampire?” Ben asked, still shocked by this revelation, frozen in the moment.

“
Oh, let’s not worry about the details. Love is what matters, I still love you, and I know you still love me. This way we can be together forever.”

“
Forever?” he questioned as a small smile began to illuminate his face. My heart dropped because I knew she was right; he
did
still love her, his face gave that away. But he looked at Catherine directly in her eyes and his expression of happiness changed to concern. “Where is …”

“
Antonia?” Catherine finished his thought. “She is where she belongs, with the one she loves; you must’ve known that she belonged to him.” She wrapped her arms around his waist as she pulled him closer.

“
To whom?” he asked as he withdrew from her and headed toward the stairs.

“
Hades, of course, my love. She has been his since ...” Catherine stopped as Ben was in her face, fuming with anger.

“
Never!” he said between his teeth.

“
She didn’t tell you? I’m not surprised, because she didn’t know.” Catherine sat back on the couch and patted the seat next to her for Ben to sit. “You see, Antonia’s father made a deal with Hades in exchange for riches and wealth. Well, when the time came for her father to pay Hades back, he didn’t; so Hades took Antonia. She fell in love with Hades the minute she met him. I mean, who wouldn’t? Even though she was betrothed to someone else. Well, the night before her eighteenth birthday, her father stole her away from Hades and hid her for years until you found her.” Catherine smiled as she unzipped Ben’s jeans.

“
No, I don’t believe it! Only immortals can go to and from the Underworld.” Ben shook his head in disbelief as he pushed Catherine’s hand away.

“
You should start believing me. She’s with him now, and as long as she is under the spell, she is immortal. That’s why her blood was so tasty to you, love. She is with her true love, so that leaves you and me together, forever.” She climbed on top of him with a seductive look in her eye as her mouth touched his.

“
Enough!” I screamed. Tears flowed down my face as I listened to a story that seemed so strange to me about my own life.

“
The charming Benjamin is not so charming when his true love is mounting him,” Hades said as he waved his hand over the desk.

“
Okay, if what you and Catherine have said is true, and then make me remember for myself.” I wiped away the tears as I thought I might regret those words.

“
Your wish is my pleasure.” His malevolent smile and kiss on the back of my hand led me to believe he had other pleasures in mind. “Send in the witch,” he commanded over a small intercom. Two large, black glass doors slid open revealing Annie standing behind them dress in the same Greek clothing I wore, holding a single unlit candle.

“
Annie?” I gasped in disbelief.
I dragged her into this mess, my mess.
But Annie did not look scared; in fact, she looked smug. She frowned when she saw the look of terror on my face.

“
I’m sorry,” she mouthed to me. Annie looked over at Hades and bowed her head in reverence. Could this be the man that she admired?

“
Since you are sorry, please help my sweet Antonia remember.” Annie nodded and touched the wick of a white candle she held in her hand, lighting it. She looked my way and nodded before she began to speak.

“
Guiding spirits hear my plea, lend her your focus and clarity; come now and walk her through the veil; let truth uncover and truth be said; restore what's forgotten in memories past; make Antonia who she was in the past.” Annie fell to the ground as if the incantation had knocked the wind out of her.

A breeze began to swirl over my head, gaining in intensity. Soon, it looked like a tornado was above me. Annie’s head dropped as Hades steadily smiled and stepped away from me, allowing the magic to work. The wind swirled around my head, making me feel as if I’d been swallowed into the eye of a hurricane. I wanted to scream, but the wind stole my voice and I couldn’t. As the strong wind gusted, I began to see fragments of my life. I saw the things I could never remember, like my birth. Strangely, it looked as though I was born during another century, maybe even in Europe. My thoughts were just as bewildered as my eyes while the wind spun to completely envelop me. I felt myself transform. The dress that I was changed into was ripped off me. I wanted to cover myself as I stood naked, surrounded by swirling eddies and scenes from my life.

I saw my father’s first meeting with Hades and the riches that he acquired. Another gust revealed me as a teen, but I could hardly recognize myself. I had a small frame with dark brown hair and green eyes, which was not how I looked now. MY hair was ginger and MY eyes, brown.
How could I change so drastically?

I saw myself in a field, running and playing with a young man who looked like Kevin!
How was Kevin in my life then?
Another scene revealed Hades, with me totally mesmerized by him. A warm sensation washed over me as a white gown made of pure silk draped my body. My hair began to grow long, so long that it passed my waist. Then it turned a rich dark brown, the same color I’d seen on me as a teenage girl. The dark hair was swept to the side and curled as my wrists began to fill with gold bangles.

I saw myself again, this time in Hades’ arms. He was dressed in a robe that was all white, with a red and gold sash over it. I was still dressed in a white silk dress, with gold bangles and a gold tiara atop the mounds of soft curls. As we stood wrapped in one another’s arms, he took my face in his hands and kissed me passionately, plunging his tongue so deep, I could still feel it as I watched.

Slowly, the wind began to calm, I saw myself asleep still clad in the white dress with only the light of the moon. My father entered the room with a woman. They were both in dark hooded cloaks. I could hear a chant spoken by a familiar female voice. As I slept, the woman continued her chant and when she lifted her arms, the hood of her cloak fell back … It was Zelma! She was casting a spell on me. The wind calmed down and finally stopped and the dust began to settle. I felt different, and I know I looked different, but some part of me was still the same. I looked at Annie, who stared at me in amazement, and then I looked over at Hades. He just smiled. I felt my body turn toward him but I wanted to run to Annie.

“
My love,” I said as I ran into his arms. Along with the cosmetic alterations, my voice had also changed to a softer tone and a foreign to my ears accent.

“
My sweet,” he said as he embraced me. His lips crushed mine, sending sparks that felt like fireworks throughout my body. His kiss was just as passionate as it was when I watched him kiss me. I broke away to look over my shoulder at Annie who now stood and appeared awestruck.

“
Love, who is she?” I couldn’t place the accent coming from my voice. I pointed my long, skinny finger at Annie and noticed that my usually pale skin was now smooth and tanned.

“
My sweet, she is a witch,” Hades answered as he pulled my hand to his lips and kissed it.

“
Send her away; I do not ever want to forget you again, my love. It was my father and his witch that took me from you before. I will not let that happen again.” I looked over my shoulder at Annie.
NO!
My voice was saying things that I didn’t agree with.
I can’t send my best friend away.

“
No, Toni, please!” Annie screamed as a wind began to swirl around her. The black glass doors of Hades’ office flew open and the wind grew stronger. A small gust of wind wrapped Annie, binding her, then moving up her body and around her face. As the wind completely enclosed Annie, another gust of wind swept her away and closed the doors behind her.
NO!
I thought. However, I heard myself laugh sadistically as she disappeared. Hades and I wrapped ourselves around each other and, as I became mesmerized with him all over again he said,

“
I have waited centuries for your return, my sweet. Welcome home.”

To be continued in:

Unbound, Book Two of the Spellbound Series

(2012)

Acknowledgements

Thank you to the people who encouraged and helped me as I wrote this book.

To my Editors, Critique Partners and Beta Readers you guys ROCK! To my closest friends, thanks for not laughing at me when I said I was going to write a book and thanks for buying it!

To my Grandmother, Mother, Brother, and Sister, thank you for loving me regardless of my success or failure!

To the three little people that live in my house, I love you Tootsie, Chumpkin, and Yaya!

To my Husband, thank you for your patience while I spent every day and night working on this, and for your love that reassured me that this was possible.

To my Readers, thank you for accepting a bit of my heart and soul.

About Lola

Lola is married with three children and lives in Southern California.

In her spare time, she travels, reads, and cooks!

Discover other titles by Lola James:

Fate’s Design, Book One of the Fate Series
(March 2012)

Unbound, Book Two of the Spellbound Series
(2012)

If you are interested in learning more about Lola or her books, please visit her website
www.lolajames.com