Cher dabbed a tissue at his face to clean the last part of egg yolk that was plastered on his face. She exhaled when she was done.Alex could only sit there, the images flashing before his eyes. The people mocking him and Selena's expressionless face. He clenched the necklace so hard it broke. He felt a soft hand on his shoulder."I know you must be disappointed."Alex frowned. "Disappointed?"She ignored him and went about putting away his dirty clothes and the tissues."I know what it's like getting attacked by these angry mobs.""You do?" He said cautiously wondering if she was regaining her memory already.Although her back was turned to him, he could see her tense."Come now, my Lord, you know exactly what I'm talking about. The people of Forester clearly hate you. I don't know why because from what I know of you, you're the best King one could ask for. And I must say that I admire your courage to face your people even though you know they are very scary.""Yes, thank you," he sa
Settling on the chair at the extreme end of the dining table, Selena grabbed a fork as she tried pushing down asparagus through her mouth. It's been hours since she last ate healthy food.She tried to ignore the uneasiness that was welling inside of her as she thought of Alex sleeping beside Cher tonight. What if they mate? Her imagination was running wild but could she take chances? She'd always assumed the thought of Alex sleeping with another woman won't get her all worked up but this time was different. Thinking of Alex merely sleeping in Cher's room was getting her all worked up a thousand times. She twirled her fingers around the fork as if it was her thoughts.Surely, whatever she'd felt tonight might have been because of her desire to make things work between the two of them only to be disappointed in the end. Wasn't she simply trying to convince herself she could indeed be the wife he wished? Trying hard to satisfy him and help him until he said it himself that he is better
Waking up to her surrounding, she could perceive the salivating aroma of toast, apple pie, and her favorite, mashed potatoes. Who knew about that? She flicked open her eyes and as she looked at the window, she noticed it was late night already but the moon isn't out yet.She tried sitting up but her head throbbed. Touching it, she remembered what had happened earlier."You're awake, Selena. What a sleeping beauty."Selena turned towards the beautiful voice and it was Alex sitting by a study desk in a corner of the room, a book in hand. She wondered if he had watched her sleep. He must have been watching her toss back and forth the bed and how she had been snoring. She gasped as she covered her mouth. Had she been snoring indeed?"I actually enjoyed watching you sleep. The martial skills you showed back there, would love if you tried that with me." He dropped the book he was reading and when he turned to her, his face was dangerously sexy. His eyes had a hidden message beneath and his
"I have a feeling we would be busted soon. The King is suspecting and things are getting out of hand.""Why didn't you strike as I told you to?""Killing the King right away will only bring up questions and suspicions from the people. Although they hate him, I think that's one of the reasons why he's more popular. According to the papers, in the lineage of the Rexes, he's impressively the most sought-after King in the whole country. I'll say we lay low and go on with the attacks instead of killing him. One knife on his neck, I'm a goner, your plans will crash and...""I can't say how impressed I am by your commitment to fighting for what belongs to us. Charlotte, you deserve to be the Queen of the Hyena clans." Krepe shook his head, obviously proud of his daughter who had come visiting.However, her facial expression was distant as she spoke, her cloak sweeping the office floor."But we are not Hyenas. And you know very well, the Hyenas have their royal family who has the right to bec
Alex gingerly picked his way down the gravel path to go outside the palace and check what was going on. The howling had stopped but he needed to confirm. He walked past the royal garden. A garden that has welcomed guests in the years past now and will probably be invaded by their enemies if he doesn't fight this war with his power.Alex gritted his teeth, anger firing his blood as it did when he first saw his sister murdered in cold blood. He could also remember from childhood when his stepmother died. As always, his fury mixed with a grudging attitude to how stupid and weak his father had been to have allowed all his family to be killed. Now they are seeking to kill him but he would make sure he lets them know he is smarter and wiser. Everywhere was silent and when he got to the bushy part where nobody was staying and it was miles away from his palace, all he could hear was the cricket sound."I know you're out there. Come outside and show yourself."If not for the obligation thrust
Alex looked at Bagdana curiously as he asked, "Who the heck is Alichino?" Bagdana chuckled and walked around him graciously. "Why are you surprised? Didn't your mother ever tell you anything?" "My mother is late." He swallowed hard as he said those words. He hated to talk about her since she died before he even knew her. "Oh, dear me. She finally gave in to the mortal end." His reaction looked pained and real. There was silence for a long time before Alex decided to talk again. "I need to know who you are, why you're calling me a strange name, and all other nonsense stuffs you are performing right now. Just fucking tell me!" Bagdana held out his hand towards him. "I am Bagdana, it's nice to finally—" "My name is Alex. King Alex. Alpha of the Wolf Pack, King of Forester." He held his gaze for a while as he said those words as if he was trying to let them sink into his memory. His cold steel-blue eyes fixed on him. Bagdana moved away from him and faced the dark alleyway that stre
He fumbled his way to the window. In the street he could hear the cry of frightened horses stomping in the mud, their hooves crackling against the stones of the walls that kept them in place. Far below him where he could see passers-by, he could see a terrified-looking beautiful lady looking around and screaming loudly. Almost like a screech.The screaming grew louder and louder as the horses kept running about. Wolves rushed out of the palace to surround her and it felt like a war was about to go on. But, she was only a woman in need of help.Rex looked through his binoculars and saw what he had been waiting for. Who, he had been waiting for—the star whom the soothsayer had asked him to wait for."Can it be true?" He wondered aloud as he rubbed his face nervously with his hands. "It can't be. How do I explain to my wife that I'm going to marry another woman? She'll think it's because she hasn't given me a child." He pondered to himself.In the east, the sun began slowly to rise. It w
The clock struck 8:30 am and as Selena woke up, she looked to her side and saw that it was empty. Again, Alex hadn't slept in. She could hear the birds singing and the sun was high in the clouds. She got down from the bed but stumbled upon a large wrapped box on the study table where Alex had been sitting the previous night before they had gotten intimate with each other. Her stomach churned at the thought and if she had done the right thing, Alex wouldn't have left her stranded in the room. She took the large silk-covered package and walked back to the bed, where she placed the object on her lap. As she slowly unwrapped the parcel, her excitement grew. Had Alex dropped a gift for her? What has been going on lately? "You found the gift earlier than I thought it would take." She lifted her eyes and she could see Alex by the door, dressed casually in a grey shirt and black pants. His hair was still wet which indicated he had just gotten out of the shower. Without her. Without her? Why
"Bagdanas?" Alex called at the tall, dark man that stood beside him with his arm outstretched and a huge line of red lightning coming out of his palms. He was gritting his teeth. "You came for me." He muttered and he looked at him gratefully. When Bagdanas would drop his arm and turn to him, Alex grabbed him and embraced him. "You did come for me!" He said excitedly. Bagdanas nodded and took a glance at Sathanas. "You have failed this time again, Father. However, this one would be different from before. You will be erased from existence and your name will no longer be in the mouth of anyone." He said, his face strong and rigid. "My treacherous son. Let's see how you'll stand up against my other children who have proven to be so loyal." Sathanas mocked but Alex huffed. "Really? Let's see what you've got to say about this then." Someone stepped up beside them both and swirled her sword. "I'm sorry Father, but I've chosen this path." "Asmodeus?!" Sathanas thundered. "Unfortun
THIS CHAPTER IS A THROWBACK TO SOME OF CHER'S CONVERSATIONS WITH HER DAD"Come in."A young lady pushed open the door at the landing, holding around her the hooded cloak. Coming to the hyena territory at this time may seem unwise but she had to be in on the plan as she now seems confused. She has heard of the unfortunate fate of many ladies who walk around the place at that time. Especially if they are not shifters. Non-Shifters are people who are purely human.As she stepped into the room, she was met with a comforting smell of burnt coffee and flowers wafting through her nostrils. A few candles burnt in the corner of the room illuminating only a few parts where a man sat wearing a hat. The moon in its half form shone through a long window that overlooked a huge part of the garden outside. The rest of the space is filled with a stool, and two empty glasses that showed a visitor had just left.
Selena opened her eyes to see fire and brimstone falling, together with screaming and crying for help. She straightened but then realized she had been tied to a pole. She was kept in a cage made of huge iron bars. There was no way she could escape. Talking of escaping, she was too weak to even try.She squinted her eyes to see clearly but the only thing she saw was rocks and stones all over with smoke emanating from every area of the place. She knew immediately that she was in hell. But how? Thinking back to when she was at the bar, she could remember a young good looking Italian guy coming over with a glass of chardonnay on a tray."Your order?" She looked from the booth where she had paid extra to sit, alone.She remembered not having ordered anything yet and she didn't want to let down her guard anytime soon. However, this vibrant-looking man was here in a black and white shirt and trousers uniform stretching a tray o
Alex was furious as he got into the room. He couldn't fight this battle alone. He had gone five blocks from Chelsea's house and asked around for Chris's parents but he was told no one around born such a name. And there hasn't been any stranger in the past two months. Chris wasn't Chris or maybe he was and was just used.But what about Selena? Where the hell was she? Even if she was upset, she should be ready to come home so as to resolve the matter. He was worked up even when almost all the bars and every other place she could go to had been shut. It indicated that Selena has been kidnapped too. He had only one way to solve this. Go down to hell. But how? By going back to Forester. He would have to find someone who could channel him there. The last time he'd tried, demons had been freed. It was at this point Alex was beginning to miss Bagdana.He breathed in and out before resolving to go back to Forester and settle this once and for all.
Dressed in a black and white striped woolen top and jeans that stuck to her body, Chelsea walked next to Chris on the street, hands locked. They could pass as couples to anyone looking at them and it made her toes curl. In as much as she was happy that her crush was here, taking her out, she still was worried about him. She had seen what these demons could do, especially to people who are unarmed. But she wouldn't let any harm come to Chris.They branched a cafe and bought two vanilla grande lattes with six pumps that are hot. They got out and walked out, heading to the restaurant."So, how are you feeling, Chels?" Chris asked, their hands still locked and she looked up at him."I'm trying. This is really hard for me but, I have no choice. It's like my destiny to tied to do this." Chelsea shrugged."Or maybe you don't have to worry yourself." Chris urged and she thought about it for a while. Eventual
Selena felt uneasy with what Chelsea told her but she needed to hear from Alex himself so as to be sure if what she heard was right. Was that what Bagdana meant by her being created for Alex? And Sathanas in Krepe's body telling her Alex is nothing without her.It was dinner time and Chelsea had just finished making hot chicken soup. Unlike the city, Edison was quite warmer but with the season, it's more reasonable to have a chicken soup that hot. In the next few hours, the temperature will drop and they will be grateful they had a hot dinner. She also made casseroles and shrimp crackers, spreading them on the dining table. After settling, she waited for Alex to finish taking his shower and join them."I read in the papers today that the number of suicide shot up since last night. About ten people hung themselves this morning." Chelsea announced as she dished out food in their bowls.Selena just nodded but her mind was a
Chelsea punched the number on the phone and Chris picked up. She was shaking all over and her face had swollen up. She raked a hand through her hair as the phone rang which he eventually picked up."What's up, Chels?"She couldn't speak, because as she opened her mouth, water streamed down her cheeks."The...the chants." She sniffled. "I think you told me the wrong one."Silence ensued and she knew he must be thinking. "Didn't you ask me to tell you the first transmission order?"Her heart jolted. "What?""Yes. That was what you told me, right?" Chris asked and her heart dropped so also did her body on the sofa nearby."No." She cried softly."Are you okay, Chels?" He asked, concern evident in his voice."We released hundreds of demons into the world." Her voice broke and she could see the horror look on his fa
Alex looked up over the candles that were lit and gathered to form a circle in the abandoned temple. He had connived together with Selena and Cher to come to the temple just down the street at 4:06 am when it was still early.The temple had ancient bricks and cement that were broken in various places. It looked like it had served as a hiding place for people during wars. Alex looked around and saw the empty place that was in turn filled with broken bricks, rocks, torn fabrics, bags, wooden materials, and so on. They had cleared a small part of the place and lighted seven candles at the center as Chris instructed."Make sure whatever you do, be careful." Alex had heard the boy tell her and she nodded before hanging up.Now they had finished the setup. The seven candles were placed in a circle, two red fabrics were tied to metal and placed in the middle. Chelsea took the olive oil she had grabbed from the store and began t
Alex woke with a start, sweating profusely and his heart thudding against his chest. He gripped the sheets tighter and something churned within him like fire. What had just happened? Sathanas had erased his mother from existence. How could he?Like a thunderbolt, he left his bed, eyes darkening. Selena stirred on the bed and turned on her other side. Good. Because he wouldn't want her to be involved. But how could he call on Sathanas, talk of fighting him? Besides, the book is now with him which he can use to destroy him. He would have read how to kill him. But he still needed to talk to Chelsea. She alone has the answers to most of their questions.He glanced at the bedside clock and saw that it was still at the wee hours of the day, 3:00 am. He grabbed a shirt and put it on, walking stealthily out of the hotel room.Alex got to the room next to his and rammed on the door, waiting for a reply. Despite his plea to Selena for Chelsea to sleep togeth