Ariana’s POVThey all cheered, sounds of people clapping, organized chaos and bright light making me wrinkle my forehead.Right in the middle of the crowd, I saw a small girl, not above the age of twelve, cheering loudly, her face red from so much excitement.I focused my attention on the person next to her. He was the guard I met the day Jasper and I went looking for Lorna.He smiled warmly at me, clapping his hands. I smiled, shifting my gaze back at the little girl beside him. She must be the daughter he spoke about as they did look alike. I gave my brightest smile, blowing her a kiss.She screamed turning to her father as she tugged on his shirt endlessly. He laughed, hugging her, muttering a “thank you” to me while he bowed his head curtly.Seeing such vast amount of people in a enclosed space made me confused and a little frightened. It took me a moment to adjust, blinking rapidly, an ensuing headache coming forth.After a while I tried to shut out the noise, my injuries finally
Damon’s POVThe most laughable thing about fate or the concept of it were the coincidences. The coincidences that transcended a man’s life, either for better or ultimately for worse.Regardless, such occurrences or as I mentioned earlier, coincidences that remained pivotal than man’s own birth and death, were termed ‘fate’.For exiled Jasper, a man now worth nothing, this would be his biggest coincidence yet. Stripped from his former glory, wrapped in bandages of his own undoing, he let himself be taken away grimly by guards he once held authority over.His punishment was exile, a thing werewolves feared more than death. To be exiled from a kingdom or pack meant one’s existence had been wiped, and he/she had no claim to nothing.One would either be torn apart by savage beasts of the forest, or joining feral werewolves who took no account of life and could dispose the person anytime they wished. One could also end up starving to death, plus a whole other gruesome fates that waited outs
Ariana’s POVWarm water enclosed me and I shut my eyes, letting it soothe me. A stinging sensation follows as it irritates my injuries but I welcomed that too.The doctor had arrived earlier, giving me treatment and a full inspection. There was evident shock on his face seeing as I hadn’t passed out already from the brutal force and sheer exhaustion.It was mandated for me to get bed rest of at least three days and of course I refused it, seeing as it absolutely wasn’t necessary.My mother stuck with me through out the examination and she definitely went through several stages of grief seeing the injuries on my body but said nothing. She only clutched her shoulder, and gasped briefly on several instances, especially when the scratches on my back were exposed.Now, she was with me, in my room, right in my bathroom, giving me a bath. She pursued all the maids away and stated she wanted to do it herself, which I saw no reason why but with the look on her face I knew I couldn’t fight it.
Ariana’s POV“What?” I exclaimed.That night, I received news of both Jasper and the guards disappearance. Dressed in my royal attire, seated beside my mother, I faced the guard who came to give me the report.“I will join you immediately to start a search,” I said, standing up, clutching to the ends of the gown I was forced to wear.It was a trade since I refused to get some sleep. But I just couldn’t sleep.“Sit down, young woman.” My mother spoke beside me. “You’re still healing, don’t worry me more than you already have. Pity your poor body.”“Listen to your mother,” My father spoke, avoiding eye contact with me. Always siding with each other, I see.With a defeated sigh and a grumble, I sat, extending my hands, “Alright. Take more guards with you, most preferably higher in the ranks.”“Understood, your highness.” He took a bow, exiting the palace.If Jasper had miraculously escaped then he couldn’t have made it far but last I saw him he was in extremely bad shape, there was no wa
Ariana’s POVI’d realized ever since Jasper’s betrayal or better yet ever since I’d come across the merchant, my life had seized to experience the fortune of calm—except when I was in the arms of the one who was the forth bringer of the chaos.Which made me ponder; had my life ever truly known the presence of calm or were the disturbances something that seemed too small for what I was currently living before my very eyes.Seeing the woman who was at the very epicenter or my rejected mate’s life and my own very agony at a point in time, alive, well and her pregnancy that haunted me at night gone perturbed me.The guards brought her before me and she approached me with a smile which struck me more than anything.“Hello, your highness.” She greeted, taking a customary bow.Stricken by her response, I opened my mouth to say something only for nothing to come out. Her smile grew wider, coming closer to me, holding my arm.“I apologize for the troubles my presence in your life causes you.”
Ariana’s POVLater that night, Lorna came in, handing me a glass of warm milk that I had requested.For some reason I still couldn’t sleep and it was both frustrating and wearing me out. She stood with the tray, her familiar smile plastered on her face. I took the milk from her hands drowning it within seconds, wiping my lips.I almost dropped the glass on the floor as I tried putting it back on the tray. Instantly I was hit with a massive wave of tiredness.Lorna grabbed it just in time and I instantly commended her sharp senses and excused my reckless behavior.“It’s alright, your highness, that was expected.”“What?” I murmured weakly, wondering what her statement deciphered.Before I completely passed out, I felt her hand slowly stroke her hair and her last statement before I succumbed to something I couldn’t control.“May the heavens I abandoned for desolation forgive me and may they who created your starring light console you.”That night, I dreamt of aching screams of death, I
Damon’s POVIt was inevitable, the way I ached to go back to Ariana and her yearning gaze. The redness of her cheeks and ears when she confessed to me, the innocence of her rapid beating heart, and the softness in her eyes anytime I beheld her. The fact that it all belonged to me made this trip all the more bearable.The Central Academy lay erected on a hill, as though it was attempting to stretch across to the sky. When I first learned of the shadow’s plan on coming here to harvest souls, I found it not only repulsive but strangely desperate.Regardless, here I was, like a king’s loyal butler, thinking of strategies to gather enough souls. Except, I was the king.Being an elemental werewolf was knowing the truths and extremities of power, its vast usefulness and ultimate uselessness when it came down to the universe’s commands.Here in this world one had enough to bring everything and everyone to its knees even amongst timelines yet the picture of a good day was a day spent with one’
Ariana’s POVIn a sudden twist of events, I wasn’t dead.Jasper’s sword hung above me, dancing in my face. In a way, if felt like it mocked me. The sharp blade hovering above me, capable of taking my life but just not doing it.I wondered why I wanted to live, why in that moment where I thought my life had ended, I decided not to die.I had no one and the empire my father built was in shambles. But looking at the face above me that mocked me, thrilling in his devious act of mercy, my decision had been made.I knew I wanted to kill him. I had said it, meaning every word as though I tattooed it in my bones.My death ultimately meant nothing when I thought about it so why should I decide to die now? When he’d still be alive, why would I die living in a world where he simply lived and triumphed?In my father’s kingdom, in my own domain. He had no right to be here, he had no right to take their lives, he had no right to defeat me with such power I couldn’t wield to my will, power I couldn’