Seth's POV

The sound of my feet furiously hitting the cold and hard sidewalk echoes through the quiet streets. My heart thuds in my chest at such a pace I'm shocked that it hasn't fallen out of my chest. My ears ring with the sound of my heavy breathing and my lungs are begging me to stop and lay down, but I can't. I'm too close to home to stop now. Besides, if the incentive of nearly being home isn't enough then all I have to do is turn my head ever so slightly and look at the two very angry soldiers chasing me. 

"Come here you, little shit," one of them hisses at me, it's probably the one I burned earlier when he tried to stab me... again.  

Turning slightly to look behind me I smirk at them, "Why would I want to do that, I'm quite enjoying this little chase."

Snarling at me like ravenous dogs they pick up speed, but it's still not enough to catch me. These idiots don't know that I've been running from people like them my whole life. Well, technically both of my lives. I may have been a prince a thousand years ago but that didn't stop me from getting into some trouble which often landed with me in many situations like this.

Turning onto my street I push myself to a full sprint reaching the steps onto my porch in no time. Unlocking the door in record time I rush into the house slamming the door shut behind me and locking it just as the men reach the porch. 

Leaning with my back against the door I listen carefully as the men walk up onto the porch whispering to one another, probably weighing the risk of trying to enter. Just as I'm about to start talking to them through the mail slot I hear my mom running down the stairs. 

"What on Earth is going on?" she asks her voice still groggy from sleep as she ties her gown closed. 

As I open my mouth to answer loud bangs echo from the door swiftly followed by a man saying, "Mr. King you need to open this door right now."

Looking back at my mom I shrug. "Isn't it lovely to have such a famous son?" I ask with a smirk. 

"This is hardly the time for jokes," she hisses while crossing her arms over her chest. "Please just tell me that isn't the cops again. Okay, you and I talked about this." 

I scoff. "I wish they were the cops they're at least a bit more reasonable and don't try to stab people." 

With her eyes wide with worry she rushes toward me and places her hands on my shoulders. "Who tried to stab you?"

"Soldiers of the ice council," I respond nodding toward the door where the knocking continues. 

Sighing she rolls her eyes. Pushing me behind her like a mother bear trying to protect her cub she walks closer to the door and opens the mail slot. "Gentlemen, it's the middle of the night so it would be much appreciated if you stop trying to break my door down."

It takes a second for the knocking to end but as soon as it does a voice travels through the mail slot, "Mam, are you the owner of this house?"

"Yes I am and I would very much like to know why one of you boneheads tried to stab my son."

One of the men clears their throat before carefully responding, "Mrs. King, your son was spotted harassing one of our kind. My partner and I intervened so that the girl could get away. Your son then proceeded to attack us and burned my partner's arm." 

"That's bullshit I wasn't harassing her I was walking the poor girl home when you guys jumped on us. And the only reason I burned your partner was because he tried to stab me... twice!" I yell unable to control my anger. How dare they try and accuse me of harassing her! How dare they try and tell my mom that the love of my life needed to be protected from me! If anything she needed more protection from the likes of them. 

Looking back at my mom I know she's mad at me for being around one of them the red shining in her eyes is proof enough and her clenched fist already tells me she has a good idea of who I was with. I know she'll talk to me about that and it will no doubt blow up into an argument, but for now we have a common goal: get these fuckers off our porch. 

"With all due respect, gentlemen, I think your story is false, or as my son called it a bunch of bullshit. My son knows better than to attack a soldier, and I believe his account of the event. Now, if you would both so kindly get off of my property so that I can go back to bed." 

"And with all due respect, Mam, we're not leaving without your son. He harmed a soldier and he must pay for his crime," the man growls. 

With anger blaring in her eyes, my mom leans right down to the slot. "Last I checked ice soldiers have no jurisdiction when it comes to the punishment of firebenders. If you want my son to face any sort of consequences you will have to take the legal route of filing a complaint with your council-"

"Mrs. King—"

"I wasn't finished," my mom snaps, and it takes everything in me not to burst out laughing. "File a complaint if you want to because I will not open this door and hand my son over to you. Now I am going to ask you once again to leave my property before I take action."

"Is that a threat?" the man hisses. 

Lighting a fireball in her hand and holding it close enough for them to see it. "Keep standing there and you'll find out." 

Silence reigns through the house and outside for a moment before eventually we hear the sound of their boots walking away. Running to the window I pull the curtain back and sigh with relief when I see them walking down the street neither of them looking back. 

"Thanks, Mom, you have no idea how much that meant—" 

Crack! 

The sound of her hand connecting with my cheek bounces off the walls followed by my exclamation of pain. With my hand cradling my burning cheek, I look up at my mom immediately noticing the anger that was still there. 

"Ow!"

"What were you doing with that girl again?" she screams. 

Looking deep into the fire blazing in her eyes I know it would be stupid to deny the allegation. the smart thing to do would be to admit what I did and take whatever punishment comes my way. 

"What girl?" I ask throwing all logic out of the window and inviting my death. 

"Don't you dare lie to me, Seth King, I'm not stupid. They said you were with a girl, and you admitted to walking her home." Sighing she lowers her head and shakes it almost defeated by my simple action. "I told you to stay away from that Vega girl because she will destroy your life. Your stunt at training was bad enough, and I really had to convince the council to not kick you out because they wanted to, Seth. They wanted to kick you out, but I saved you and all I asked for in return was that you stayed away from her. Why," a sob breaks out of her, "Why couldn't you just do what I asked?"

Looking around the room I shake my head, "I can't... I can't give you an answer," I sigh. I want to tell my mom what is going on, I want to tell her who I am because, at the end of the day, she is the woman who raised me. But, I can't. I can't take the risk of her not believing me and kicking me out or sending me away for help. I need to stay here so that I can be close to my love. 

Scoffing she points to the stairs. "Please just get out of my sight. I'll deal with whatever complaint comes our way but for now, I don't want to look at you."

Without another word, I trudge up the stairs toward my room shutting the door behind me. With my head hung low I think back to the crazy hour I just had but out of everything, the one thing that seems to stand out wasn't spending time with her or even the kiss. No, the only thing that my mind wants to circle back to was my name slip up. In my moment of panic, I called Vega by her other name. I called her Vanessa. She doesn't remember who she is yet and I called her by her old name. What if she thinks I was thinking of another woman? What if I single-handedly ruined everything? 

Sadly there is nothing I can do about it now. All I can do is wait and pray that I'll get my love back soon. 

Vega's POV

Sandriel. Sandriel. Sandriel. Sandriel. Over and over again the name rings in my ears. When I was walking into my house and getting into bed. It was my final thought before going to sleep and my first thought when I woke up. The whole of Sunday as I sat perched up in my studio it was all I could think of as my pencil became one with the paper. Why did I call Seth that? Where did I pull that name from? Combine this with the fact that Seth called me Vanessa and my brain has a real mystery to keep it busy. 

With the cold Monday morning air pushing past me as I walk to school my eyes can't help but look around with a small part of me wondering if some soldier is going to jump out at me again. Sandriel, Vanessa, soldiers attacking too much for one night and too much for my brain to handle. I need to talk about it and at the end of the day, there is only one person I can talk to. 

As I reach the parking lot I sigh with relief when I see Seth climbing out of his car. As if he sensed my presence he turns around his eyes widening with fear. Just as I'm about to run up toward him he turns back around and runs inside. 

"Seriously," I sigh. 

"What's wrong?" Nicci suddenly asks from behind me. 

Turning to face her with my eyes still wide from the shock of her sudden appearance. "I... I just realized that I forgot my earphones at home. Anyway, how have you been?"

Slinging her bag onto her other shoulder she shrugs. "Honestly I still feel bad for leaving you all alone. It was your birthday and we're your friends we should have stayed with you."

Chuckling I place my hands on her shoulders, "Nicci, I told you guys it was fine and it was. Besides I didn't stay there too long after I was home by eleven." 

Breathing a sigh of relief she wraps her arms around me and squeezes me to the point where I feel like I'm going to explode. Thankfully she lets go of me before that can happen.

"Wait, how did you get home?" 

Flashbacks to the lovely walk with Seth that was so rudely interrupted by soldiers rush forward and looking up into Nicci's crystal-like eyes I decide that it's probably best to not tell her about any of that. 

"I just took an Uber," I say as nonchalantly as I can hoping she won't see through my lie. 

The pause between my statement and her answer felt like it was dragging on for an eternity but thankfully she didn't make me wait too long and with a nod and a smile tugging on her lips she says, "Okay, listen we should go get our books before the crowd gets here."

So with a smile on my face and relief surging through my body, I follow Nicci into the quiet hallways. 

* * * *

To say that the day went by slowly is an understatement all on its own. And if the long and boring lessons weren't bad enough every time I tried to talk to Seth he would run away. Now with the day over and the opportunity for me to speak to him drifting away, my determination kicks in bigger than ever. 

Looking around the packed parking lot I search for the spot where I saw his car this morning. Thankfully I spot him just as he's about to get in. Without so much as a second thought, I sprint to the car and grab him door before he can close it. 

"What the hell are you doing?" he whispers as he looks down at me from his seat his eyes wide with surprise. 

"I'm sorry about this but I wanted to talk to you this morning and you pretty much just ran away. And you ran away all the other times I tried to approach you and I can't just go home with all these questions still swarming around in my head. I... I need to talk to you and I'm not leaving until you say yes," I ramble not even caring how crazy I might sound to the people passing by. 

 Looking between me and the people walking past who I'm guessing are looking at us like we're crazy people or at least like I'm crazy just as I suspected he reluctantly nods and motions for me to get into the passenger seat. Sighing with relief I rush to the other side of the car and jump into the passenger seat. The second my seatbelt is clicked into place he sets off racing out of the parking lot and onto the busy street. 

"Where are we going?" I quietly ask. 

"The park, I figured if we want to talk then we'll need a private place to do it." He chuckles. "Let's just hope we don't get jumped by soldiers again."

I want to laugh and I feel like I should but the memory only brings up the thoughts that have been muddling my mind all day. 

"Okay, I can see that joke was a bit too soon," he whispers after about a minute of silence from me. 

"Sorry, it's just... I've had a confusing two days," I mumble as I shake my head. 

From the corner of my eye, I watch him slowly nod. "Yeah, me too," he sighs, and once again we are plunged into silence. 

Eventually, Seth and I reach our spot at the park, and he quickly lays the blanket onto the soft grass for us to sit. The silence continues as we sit opposite one another staring into each other's eyes. Pulling at my fingers I try to think of the best way to start whatever this conversation will be. It's funny to think that even though I know he's going through some of the same shit I've been going through I'm still too nervous to fully talk about it with him. 

"What's so funny?" he asks pulling me from my thoughts. 

Looking back up at him my brows pull together "What?" 

"You were smiling and chuckling, so I was wondering what's so funny." 

If I could slap myself right now I would. "Sorry, I didn't realize I was doing that," I laugh but it's all from nerves. "I was just... I was just thinking about how funny it is that we're both so nervous to finally talk. Well, mostly how nervous I am to talk about everything. We've been going through some stuff ever since we met and now we're finally about to talk about it and I'm nervous."

A smirk tugs on his lips. "I think that's normal. And I think the best way to do this is not to think too hard about it and just start talking." With his eyes still locked on mine he shifts closer to me. "So, what do you want to know?"

"Have you been having any strange dreams?" 

His swift nod fills me with a sense of relief but also more confusion. "Let me guess your dreams have been set in a tower and always involves some faceless person and has lately involved the woman dying." 

Shock and relief swarm through me as brief flashes of my dreams shoot past my eyes. 

I nod. "Yes, only in my dreams I am the girl who is dying," I chuckle. 

"That makes sense."

I scoff and shake my head. "Why have you been saying that a lot lately?"

With his head hung low and his gaze drifting toward the floor he quietly mumbles, "I don't know what you're talking about."

The coldness shoots through my veins as anger courses through me. "Are you really going to lie to me about that?" I scoff. 

"I'm not lying to you."

"Oh really," he nods, "Look me in the eyes and say that." He doesn't, instead, he keeps his gaze firmly on the floor. "Why should I talk to you then if you're going to lie to me?" I ask only to get no response. "You know what if you're not going to be completely honest with me then I'm just going to go home."

I quickly pull myself up and just as I'm about to walk away he calls out to me, "I told you about the dream, isn't that enough?" 

Stopping dead in my tracks I hastily turn around with small icicles forming in my hands. "No, Seth, that's not even close to enough. Why," I scoff, "Why won't you just tell me what makes sense so much?" As he looks up at me my heart rips ever so slightly at the tears trickling down his cheeks. I want to run back to him and comfort him but I won't not until I get the whole truth.

"Because I can't, Vega!" he sobs. 

"Why not?" I yell. 

"Because I just can't," he says quieter this time. 

The icicles in my hands drift away making way for tears to start pooling in my eyes. "I'm sorry but that's not a good enough reason." And so turning on my heels I start to walk away. 

"Don't leave me!" 

Stopping once again I storm back over to him. "Then don't make me," I beg. Dropping to my knees in front of him I grab his hands forcing him to look me in the eye. "Please, Seth, don't make me leave. Just... just tell me the truth."

With a sad smile tugging on his lips, he cups my face running his finger across my cheeks and wiping my tears away. "I need you to remember me. Please just remember me," he whispers as he leans forward closing the gap between us.  

As his lips touch mine a jolt of electricity shoots through me and while my body may be in the moment my mind is nowhere close. 

Standing in the endless and cold room I spin round and round hoping that I can find any way to escape this unusual prison. 

"Hello!" I call out my voice bouncing off the grey walls and while nobody responds my gaze is immediately drawn to the door which suddenly appears in the center of the room. 

"What the hell?" I mumble as my feet sprout a mind of their own and start to take me toward the door. 

The second I get close enough to it my hand flies toward the door handle turning it and flinging the door open with more force than I thought it was capable of. As light sprays from the now open door images flash in front of me on and on and on until I wake up. 

"Vega, are you okay?" Seth asks his voice dripping with worry. 

Looking up into his doe-like eyes my heart skips a beat. Placing my hands on either side of his face I press my lips to his throwing all of my passion into it. 

"Sandriel!" I exclaim as I pull back. 

At the sound of his real name, Seth tackles me to the ground planting kisses all over my face. "You remember me!" he cheers. 

"Yes, Sandriel, I remember you. I remember everything," I giggle as he keeps kissing me. 

Laying here on this blanket looking up at the trees with the streams of sunlight pulling through giggles stream out of me as he keeps kissing me. We haven't been together for a thousand years but not even that could change anything. They say that death is final, that it wipes everything away but it couldn't take away our love for one another. At the end of the day, we are soulmates and not even death himself could erase that.