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Seven months
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A Castle of Secrets King and Queen of Nymeria
I can’t stop staring at myself in the mirror. Seeing Nymeria’s crowning dress on a hanger and having it on my body was like being in two entirely different worlds. The dress fits like a glove after alterations. The corset had a mesh overlay, showing the creamy color of my skin beneath its green hue. Gold crystals created lines before falling off into a leaf like design on the tule of the skirt. The shoulders were slightly structured, giving the whole thing a more regal appearance. I felt beautiful twirling back and forth. My auburn hair was curled in soft waves, void of any clips or barrettes that would take the shine away from my crown. I’d opted for softer makeup, with warm tones to bring out my green eyes. “You have destroyed that dress for future generations,” my mother’s voice pierced my eardrums from behind. “Would it kill you to bite your tongue when you feel the need to speak your venomous words at me?” I turned to face her, wishing that her words didn’t hold as mu
A Castle of Secrets Memories of the past
“Thank you,” Elliot whispered into my ear, his arms resting on my waist as we moved to the music. This robotic first dance was awful, and I’m terribly clumsy. I’ve tripped over Elliot’s feet at least three times since starting. It was tradition for the new King and Queen to take the floor in front of the Kingdom, dancing to the soft ceremonial melody of a harp. All eyes were on us as we held each other in a loving embrace. From the outside, you'd never know the truth. Elliot and I were great actors. “For what?” “I’d forgotten that we’d have to mark each other,” his voice was low, “If you haven’t figured it out yet, I can’t do that.” My breath hitched, remembering that Chaos was not a Lycan, “What exactly is Chaos?” The question has been weighing on my mind since seeing him that night in the church. I'd theorized tons of different creatures, but nothing seemed to fit and the most likely option was unheard of. He spun me, my body twirling three times before I steadied my
A Castle of Secrets Much needed escape
“What’s it like?” My mind had been moving a million miles a minute conjuring up every single question that I wanted to ask Chaos whenever I’d get the chance. When Elliot had so casually mentioned that he was a demon, like that wasn’t a big deal or anything, I’d been less shocked than I was excited. Chaos had been walking around my oasis for the last fifteen minutes admiring everything in full detail. The way that he’d lean down and look at the smallest of details reminded me of how I was the first time I was here, “You mean being a demon?” He moved to the edge of the pool, peering over the edge at the deep, black abyss before squatting down and running his fingers through the water. He lifted his thumb to his lips, swiping his tongue along the pad before scrunching his nose in disgust. I felt my cheeks heat from watching him, “Yes.” “It depends on the day. Year. Century. I’ve been with Elliot for two years now, but before that, I’d not had a mission in probably, fifty years or
A Castle of Secrets The accident(Elliot POV)
He fucking left me. Right now. At the absolute worst possible moment. Chaos is in hell, for who knows how long, and I’m stuck next to Lilliana in bed. Gritting my teeth, I tried to move my legs, but to no avail. Panic and anxiety are slowly creeping in as the memories of my past create a dark cloud in my mind. “Do you really have to go?” Gwen pouted, sticking out her lower lip for good measure. “I’ll only be gone a few days. When I get back, I’ll make sure to spend exactly the same amount of time, worshipping you, baby.” Talon whistled, sticking his two fingers up and moving his tongue between them crudely. Gwen rolled her eyes, flipping him off but he winked at her, unbothered. Me and the guys were going out for the weekend to ride dirt bikes before I took the throne alongside Emmet and Hartley. Grabbing Gwen’s face, I pulled her in for a sensual kiss. I wanted to bring her with me, but she refused to learn to ride, and told me it would be more fun for me if she didn’t
A Castle of Secrets Created a monster
“I can’t believe you peed on me.” I was only joking with him, but a wash of sadness crossed his features. I can’t imagine a man like Elliot, so strong and full of pride, having to ask anyone for help with something as simple as using the bathroom. After attempting to haul him into the bathroom, I lost my footing, sending us both tumbling to the ground. In my attempt to push him off of me, I accidentally pushed against his bladder. “I’m sorry. I make an awful nurse,” I shook my head, trying to lessen the shame I could see swimming in his eyes. He couldn’t help that he was paralyzed, and honestly, I could care less that he peed on me. But I could see it in his eyes that he felt less of a man.....and it broke my heart. “You don’t have to sit here with me all day. I shouldn’t have bothered you,” he added, not making eye contact. Biting my bottom lip, I contemplated what to say. He was shutting down, but that was the last thing that I wanted. This whole time, I’ve been try
A Castle of Secrets Friend?
“Lilliana, what is the meaning of this?” my mother’s nasally voice interrupted my thoughts. I’d been replaying my day with Chaos and Elliot over and over in my head. The thrill of finally harnessing my magic had my heart racing with the purest form of excitement. Chaos told me there was no way that was everything I’ve got and that was equally terrifying as it was exhilarating. Turning my head, I met her icy glare, holding up the contract that I’d revised for Gwen as well as the new one for Moira. I shrugged, “What do you mean, mother?” My patience for her was incredibly thin anymore. I don’t have the time or effort to put into dealing with her constant berating, and I no longer feel I deserve it either. I realized that allowing her to continuously put me down was a form of punishment I was inflicting on myself because I felt as if I deserved it. “You cannot reverse a contract that I officially signed,” she growled, “I made sure that there were absolutely no loopholes. This j
A Castle of Secrets Family
“You know it wasn’t your fault, right?” None of it was. He did everything he could to save his friend, even when it cost him his ability to walk. I could see the guilt in his eyes telling me the story. He felt responsible. That’s a burden that no one should carry on their shoulders. From that moment on, it was like a trickle effect. He was wheelchair bound and stuck, literally left with his thoughts and no outlet. Gwen slowly realized that she couldn’t get through to him, so she stopped trying. She started finding solace in the arms of another man, who just so happened to be Elliot’s best friend and Beta. I want to hate Talon. I do hate him. Just not as much as before. He was depressed and probably not thinking straight. It’s not an excuse, but a form of understanding I suppose. Elliot shrugged, staring up through the thick layer of trees, “Every day since, I wished it was me who fell down that damned canyon.” An emotional sigh escaped my lips, tears stinging the backs of my e
A Castle of Secrets Always see you
“Are either of you going to tell me what is going on? Why are we here right now?” Elliot basically dragged me to the church after our dinner with my so-called uncle with a cryptic ‘I’ll explain when we get there’. Chaos was pacing back and forth beside the pool while Elliot sat on a step with his elbows on his knees. “Chaos,” he paused his pacing, taking a deep breath as our eyes met, “Please tell me what’s going on.” He walked closer, each step echoing through the expanse of the space and sending my heart into a frenzy, “Kitten,” he whispered, pressing his lips to mine gently, “You are in danger.” I felt his hand graze my chest. Glancing down, I saw him rolling my pendant between his fingers, “Who gave you this?” My fingers met his, grasping the small, emerald pendant. Emotions clogged my throat as I thought of my father. I remember the day like it was yesterday. “My father gifted me this pendant on my thirteenth birthday. He told me that it was special and would bring
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A Castle of Secrets Prologue (THE END)
“I think these may have been the greatest idea you’ve ever had,” I moaned, savoring the taste of another blueberry. My basket was nearing full, despite the fact that I’d eaten probably a hundred while picking them. Elliot had suggested we plant a garden full of fruit trees and bushes so that "we could relive meeting every day." Those were his words, not mine. The moment he'd said them, I swore someone had switched out the man I knew with some strange creature. “Aren’t all of my ideas superb?” Elliot quipped, watching me with a smile on his face. Standing on my tip-toes, I pushed a blueberry into his mouth, causing his eyes to widen, “See?!” “I’m just shocked you’d stick those dirty fingers into my mouth,” Elliot shook his head in mock irritation, “But the blueberry is delicious.” “Such a pain in the ass.” Elliot winked, “You knew what you were signing up for.” Sitting the basket on the wood, I pushed myself up onto the deck before flopping onto Elliot’s lap dramatica
A Castle of Secrets Didn't make it to hell
A soft knock on the door startled me, “May I come in?” Stella whispered, holding out a tray of coffees. “Of course.” She held the tray up, “I brought enough for everyone. Chaos knows he’s welcome to hang out. In the open,” Stella raised a brow, pulling a coffee out and handing it to me. “He says he prefers to be closer to me. Apparently next to me isn’t close enough,” a soft laugh escaped my lips, “Inside of me is the way to go.” 'Don't act like you don't love when I'm inside of you,' Chaos quipped. I could imagine him wagging his brows at the double meaning. He's not wrong. In either respect. Though I couldn't fathom the thought of being intimate right now. Maybe ever if I can't figure out how to fix this gaping hole that I call my heart. She rolled her eyes, “So dramatic, that man.” I nodded in agreement as Chaos separated from me, narrowing his eyes at Stella, “You do realize that I can hear everything. Is it a crime to want to be inside of an amazing woman?” he w
A Castle of Secrets Need him
Do you ever feel like your life is a series of moments threaded together, but one piece pulls away, unraveling everything as you know it? My father’s death created somewhat of a domino effect for me. I was like a rosebud. I had the potential to be something amazing, but without the proper nutrients, I would die before I bloomed. My mother had tried to starve me of everything I essentially needed to flourish. But in the end, she gave me the one thing that would change everything. I’ve been staring mindlessly out this window for what feels like a lifetime, but it couldn’t be more than a week. I've lost track of days, hours, minutes, seconds. None of that matters anyways.It’s stormed every day since he’s been gone. When I was a pup, the storms terrified me. I’d cry until Dallas relented, allowing me to stay in his room with him. Then, when he was gone, I’d welcomed them. Needed the sound of the thunder to fall asleep, like a baby needs a pacifier. Now, it simply feels as if it’s
A Castle of Secrets Good enough
“El..... It.... hurts,” I choked out, as pain spread through my body like wildfire. My body tensed up, feeling as if I’d been tased, “Di.... did I....do it wrong?” Elliot offered me a small smile. Even through the pain, I noticed his eyes were red and glassy, “It’ll be over soon, baby. You did perfect. Just, squeeze my hand.” Screwing my eyes shut, I focused on baby blues in the darkness, feeling the warmth of his hand while I waited for the pain to pass. Then, everything was numb. My body felt as if I were floating on a cloud. Warmth enveloped me as I opened my eyes. I felt different. Like parts of me were missing while simultaneously being filled with something new. Something better. “Fuck, kitten. I’m so proud of you,” Chaos praised in my head, “So fucking proud.” A choked sob escaped my throat, my eyes finding Elliot staring at me with his head tilted to the side. The glassiness was still present in his eyes. Relief flooded his features when I nodded at him, silently
A Castle of Secrets A hero(Chaos POV)
I’m so close to destroying everything. This mortal Earth is nothing without her. It would cease to exist without her presence. Her eyes haunt me every time I close mine. I’d wrap myself in every variation of emerald, green just to feel closer to her. I underestimated that walking fucking garbage can. Cassius was a waste of space and a disgrace to our kind. He’s been on some sick power trip for hundreds of years, mingling with the lowest of our kind. After we figured out what he was doing, my father sent me to murder those who aided him in becoming who he is. It is forbidden to go against the laws in hell. Despite being demons, we are to follow the law of Hades and never stray. We abide by a strict code, where Hades has the final rule. It prevents literal chaos from ensuing. Without order and discipline, Hell would be a madhouse. But we each hold ourselves to a certain standard and it typically worked until him. He consumed unwilling souls, learning ways around the law to bene
A Castle of Secrets The moment everything changed(Elliot POV)
TRIGGER WARNING: Mention of suicide Have you ever thought that you’d experienced the worst kind of pain, but really, it was nothing compared to the next thing? Or something that even follows that? In one moment, you think to yourself, ‘It can’t get worse than this,” but then, it always does? That’s what this feels like. Lilliana asked me what I thought would happen if she sold her soul to Chaos.... Would I feel our souls tearing apart? Would I feel the pain of rejection.... or would it be so much worse? Is she choosing him over me? “Elliot, you’ve been silent for what feels like a lifetime,” her soft voice broke me from my thoughts. “I....I’m not sure.” “Stella explained to us that Cassius wants to combine our magic. Light and dark. If I am the light magic, and Chaos is the dark magic; Do you think it’ll have the same effect? Will Chaos then become the stronger of the two of them?” Lilliana paused for a beat, “It has to be the same. Maybe better, because I’d be willing to g
A Castle of Secrets Need to get out of here
I had a dream last night. I wasn’t here, in this cell anymore. I was back at the little, dilapidated house near my oasis. Everything was as it would have been. No broken walls or rotted wooden floorboards. It was a home with light and warmth. The little home felt like it was mine.In the background, the sound of a record player ticked. Like the needle wasn’t quite hitting the groove as the record spun, creating an eerie sound.I walked towards the sound, lifting the needle, and causing pure silence. The type of silence that created a ringing in your ears. It was too much. Was I all alone here? Carefully adjusting the needle, a soft, haunting melody began playing. When the party’s over by Billie Eilish I stood before the warmth of the fire, hearing nothing but the soft piano in the background of the song. Closing my eyes, I swayed to the beat, humming along with the words. The urge to dance with someone was strong, "Elliot, dance with me," I called out into the silence, turning
A Castle of Secrets Geodes
TRIGGER WARNING:SA Sleep never comes easy when you lose track of time. I’m officially unsure of how long we’ve been down here or what time of day it is. That goddamned light flickering invades the darkness every time I close my eyes. Drip. Drip. Drip. “Where are you even coming from?!” I screamed at the water slowly dripping, then disappearing into the concrete. “Are you yelling at water right now?” Elliot groaned, making me gasp. He’s been unconscious for what feels like forever. “Thank the goddess,” I scrambled over to the adjoining wall. My heart beat rapidly as I stared at him with pleading eyes. Elliot looked like he’d been through the wringer. Dried blood surrounded his mouth as well as dripped from his temple. He had bruise marks around his neck in the shape of hands. The rise and fall of his chest seemed labored with every breath. “Never felt better,” Elliot forced a smile that didn’t quite meet his eyes. His icy blue looked like they’d lost their light, appearing g
A Castle of Secrets Medusa
Elliot looked at the ground before running his fingers through the mess of hair on his head. I stared, waiting for what he was going to say. The more I watched him, the more I realized how nervous he appeared. “The last few days without you kind of sucked,” his voice was low as our eyes met. I couldn’t fight the laughter that bubbled out. Shaking my head, I smiled, “I missed you too.” He relaxed, chuckling softly while shaking his head, “Just call me out like that.” My laughter died down as I shrugged, “If you’re going to tell me a truth. Make it the truth. Deal?” “Okay,” Elliot whispered softly, “Your turn.” “Are we making this a game?” “How about twenty-one questions?” Elliot raised a brow, watching my reaction. Before I could say anything, he read my mind, “I promise to be honest.” Heat flooded my cheeks, nodding slowly, “What’s your favorite food?” “Starting off cutthroat with that question I see,” Elliot winked, “A good burger does it for me. Extra pickles. Pepp
