The Vengeful Masquerade

Shadows of a Forgotten

“ Where am I?” Stephan’s heart beat fast against his chest. He looked around to see where he was, but it was a stark contrast to the world he had known. The bed he was on showed he was not in his home, and definitely he wasn't seeing his wife beside him. “ Is this a dream? Is this real?” Stephan exhaled slowly, trying to understand what was going on.

His hand brushed against his head slightly trying to think, but then he felt something strange. He was always on a low cut which Elena Gilbert was attracted to, but he was touching his head and god, they felt so soft.” This isn't me.” Stephan said, slowly getting up from the bed he slept on.

Stephan looked around, trying to make a meaning of everything he was seeing around him. The conformity was overwhelming. Stephan gazed around to see lots of shoes nearly arranged and a closet full of clothes that weren't his. He stumbled backwards, feeling like he was in a nightmare. Where was Elena? Where was his life?

Stephan's eyes landed on a mirror attached to the closet door. He approached it cautiously, afraid of what he might see. The reflection staring back at him was unfamiliar. The hair was longer, the face softer, and the eyes...the eyes were a different color.

"Who am I?" Stephan whispered, his mind racing with questions.

He turned away from the mirror and saw a piece of paper on the bedside table. It had a note scribbled on it: "Welcome to your new life, Stephan. You are now James Madison. Good luck."

Stephan's heart sank. What did it mean? Why was he in this strange body? He looked around the room again, searching for answers, but found none.

With a sense of determination, Stephan decided to explore this new world. He opened the door and stepped out into a hallway, unsure of what lay ahead. The soft carpet felt strange under his feet, and the silence was deafening.

As he walked, he noticed pictures on the walls. They were people he didn't know, smiling and happy. One picture caught his eye a girl with curly brown hair and green eyes. She looked familiar, but he couldn't place her.

Stephan continued down the stairs, his heart beating in his chest. He reached the bottom and saw a kitchen that was spotless. A woman with the same curly brown hair and green eyes was standing by the counter, sipping a cup of coffee.

"Good morning," she said, looking up at him with a warm smile. "I'm Caroline, your sister."

Stephan's mind reeled as he tried to process this new information. Sister? What did she mean? He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. “You are my sister?”

The word came out of his mouth. They were strange because Stephan knew he had no sister but James Madison did. Holding his head and slumping into a chair right in front of him. Stephan tried to remember how he got trapped in the body of James. “ What happened to his old life and why is he here?” That was all Stephan could worry about, as the scent of the delicious dishes strung up in his nose.

Before Death.

“I wonder why I married you in the first place. You are unworthy of me.” Elena barked at Stephan, who was feeling apologetic the instant she started to raise her voice at him. “ You know you are at fault, don't you? I was just looking out for you?” Stephan defended, even though Elena was just playing a smart one on him.

This was the third man he had caught her with and each time Elena claimed it was just a business meeting. “ Don't you see what you have done here? I just lost a multi-billion contract just because of you.” Elena shouted again, strapping the white towel that was about to fall off her body.

Stephan’s eyes were wide open. He didn't know what to say. Ever since he had married Elena, he hadn't had a peace of mind. It was one problem over the other.

Stephan was tired, but he did not dare divorce her. He knew how powerful the Gilbert family were, they could make him disappear just by saying the word. He would always remember Elena's threat each time he tried to speak up and he would stop. “Your life is in your hands.”

That was the only motor Stephan remembers, and it scared him alot. “ You came here to finalize a business deal in a motel?” he forcefully said the words, even though it sounded more of a question than him venting his anger.

“ Yes, haven't you seen anyone finalize a business deal in a hotel before?” Elena looked at his face.

Stephan glanced behind her and looked at the man who was holding a cigar. His hair was rough although he had lovely skin. He saw the look in his eyes and he knew he was discharging his duty to him.

Ever since Stephan got married to Elena, it had been on a contract and things he shouldn't do with her. Both of them haven't had sex for over three years now, and they didn't even kiss. Stephan was dying silently but it was worth it.

He could enjoy the richest and the wealth that came along with him bearing his family's name, but it was now getting to him. “

“ You are leaving with me right now!” Stephan shouted in anger.

He knew their marriage was a marriage of convenience, but he wouldn't be disregarded in that way. Stephan grabbed Elena by the hand, not minding she was with a towel around her chest.

“ You are hurting me!” Elena shouted, trying to forcefully remove her hands from his firm grip. “ You are going to pay for this!” she yelled as he dragged her and was about to slam the door behind them. “ We are going home and that is finally!” Stephan shouted back at her in anger. Stephan felt a hand on his shoulder and she turned. His face went pale.