Ariana’s POVWhen I was sixteen, my mother asked me the kind of wedding I’d dreamed to have and then — though hidden — in love with my best friend, Jasper, I blushed, the daydreams of what would’ve been my happiest day flooding in.With a cheeky smile, I answered, “A quiet wedding, where we’re all surrounded by family and peace with good wishes from the people of Warwick.”Six years later, here I stood, dressed in a fully blown wedding gown, with Jasper beside me, a full prideful grin in display.There was no smile on my face, hardly any presence of life within me but when I was asked to read my vows, I did. When I was asked if I took Jasper as my husband and all it entailed, I let the silence hang for one minute before replying - “Yes, I do.”There was a shaky clap that came after, before it grew louder. My parents weren’t here, smiling at me with so much pride and happiness.The wedding wasn’t a quiet wedding as Jasper invited everyone he could, and the whole wedding looked so sour.
Ariana’s POVThere were a lot of questions that roamed through my mind at that moment but I faced the most pressing issue - what did Fenrir’s presence in my room meant and what plans did he have.He continued standing in front of me, smiling, his faint bruises showing.“Even when I was about to steal your entire dream from you with blood dripping down your head, you didn’t look this dried up. What more monstrosities did he commit against you, your majesty?” He folded his arms.I said nothing, watching him with my entire guard on. The way I answered his question would determine what route of approach I had chosen to uncover his mission and his reply would be the key.“I will grant you a simple wish if you help me escape Warwick. After I discover the secret to killing the current king, finishing him off and taking back my throne.”His smirk turned into a wide grin, “You have a deal.”His reply and agreement for assistance came so quickly without hesitation it shocked me. I eyed him susp
Ariana’s POVThe border came in front of us, the heavily oppressive energy causing us to raise our guard and quieten our movements. I walked closer behind Fenrir, watching the intense amount of guards present.“Do as instructed, quickly.” He whispered harshly.I responded with quickness, popping a grape in my mouth, swallowing with a sour look written on my face.My face then began to shrunken, losing all its remaining fire, going very pale. My skin looked tired, down and without the smoothness of luxury. I had gone from royalty to roadside pauper who strangers would actually feel bad for.The grape was a potion that was created to poison beauty, creating a mockery of what was once desired. In my terms, the perfect cover.I then moved to his side, turning my face away although not fully. Fenrir walked firmly as though we had nothing to hide.When we got to the border, each eye watched us as we passed by, either suspiciously or on default as we proceeded to the gate. I found it simply
Ariana’s POVBy afternoon, Sigil and I had reached a small town just before the Central Academy.What fascinated me about this place was that regardless of if being an extremely small town, it embraced a vibrancy Warwick did not have, especially currently. There were decorated traditional lights on buildings as we passed through, and the entire place bustled with activity.“A fascinating place, isn’t it?” Sigil spoke, watching me with a smile.“Yes, it is.” I answered truthfully, filled with a strange kind of warmth.Secretly I hoped for this kind of future for Warwick. Maybe this was the dream my father struggled to actualize.He caught up to me, “You know the best thing about this place?” He asked, grinning from ear to ear.I shook my head, actually interested.“If you’re lost with no place to stay, all you have to do is walk up to someone and tell them. Instantly you’ll be offered numerous places to rest and the active officials will take their time to help you. Amazing, right?”Tr
Damon’s POVEach passing day without news from Ariana crippled me. It felt as though someone had placed a ticking bomb in front of me without knowing when it was eventually going to explode.Some days I could hardly sleep or blink and some times it felt like my sanity was being tethered away from me by the sharp jaws of anxiety. What enraged me the most was the fact that I was insufferably useless.I couldn’t leave, I couldn’t run towards her light no matter how much I dreamed of it, I was doomed to be here, where the shadow wanted me to be.In some ways I had been kept in a maze with the singular entrance and open route inexistent, leaving me searching around in a prison of no escape. But I never stopped searching regardless hoping that I’d still find the exit, and she’d be standing there, waiting for me.“Sir,” A student called from behind me.I paused, not bothering to turn back, “What is it?”“I... just,” He stuttered, clearing their throat, “I’m looking for a book and I don’t kno
(Leo/Damon)’s POVI didn’t think of my existence as a creation or a rebirth because I had always existed right in the pits of Damon’s very soul. I laid dormant in his very core pushed aside for thousands of years and all that I was were simply unworthy feelings that tormented him.As I awakened, I became in contact with Damon’s memories and his feelings, their ferocity simmering into me like lava. The first thing coming into mind was a picture of a woman, particularly, her smile, which was a pooling desire. It overwhelmed me. If I remembered correctly, her name was Ariana, his—my mate.I could feel strongly the intense feelings that came with having a mate. It was more intense than usual because he had become severely attached to her.Even in death, all that his soul craved for was her.She was the first thing he sought after being condemned to nothingness, her memory washing over me like a storm, forcing me to take notice, drowning me in them.One such memory assailed me.~ “Is this
Ariana’s POVSigil turned to face me, excitement in his eyes, “We’re near.” He pointed upward, towards a mountain where the Central Academy was erected.We had been walking a total of five hours. Sigil beside me already had signs of exhaustion on face, sweat dripping heavily. In an instant, he jugged down water, emptying the can in seconds. He brought out another, handing it over to me.I shook my head, declining.He stared at me, perplexed, “How are you not dying to take in water right now? We’ve been walking non-stop for a full five hours under this staggering sun and you don’t even look exhausted, you’re not even breaking a sweat. How do you do it? You have to show me your core workouts.” He wiped the sweat off his forehead. “I’m exhausted. I can’t wait to get to my dorm and finally lay down on something soft.”“If you see me training you can come over and I’ll help build your tolerance. It won’t be pretty though.”“Thanks, I’ll definitely make out time for that.” He smiled at me,
Ariana’s POVSometimes I felt as though my mind played tricks on me, this occurrence being one of them. Had I been seeing things? But there was no way I was capable of mistaking Damon, my heart wouldn’t let me.As Sigil and I walked, I had grown quiet, greatly immersed in my thoughts completely shutting him out although unknowingly.I felt someone tapping me on the shoulder. Stirring, I turned to Sigil who looked genuinely worried.“I’ve been calling you for a while now. Are you sure there isn’t any problem, Ariana? You know I can help.”I paused for a moment, remembering, intense feelings washing over me. “I saw someone I thought I knew. But it wasn’t them or rather it seemed like my mind played tricks on me.”“You mean the dude with the long blonde hair?”I had never whipped my head around so fast in my entire life.“You saw him?” My eyes widened in total disbelief. My mind wasn’t playing tricks on me, it really was him. I really did see him.“The tall elderly man, you mean?”“Elder
NERO’s POV“Nero! Patience!” My grandfather would always yell at me as a child and as I progressed in age, my reaction to that sentence greatly differed.I believe as you must’ve already guessed; for the worst.To be fair, at first, I did deserve it, considering I was a menace in the body of a small child.As the young and only grandson to the leader of the dwarf clan, I wasn’t the innocent, conveniently shy child that people would envision, considering my grandfather was sweet—at least the part they knew and I was accustomed to at the time.I was a mischief, or prankster, whichever you’d prefer to call it.I played pranks on children, and I derived joy in that, seeing their faces contorted in an expression they didn’t like nor could control. I enjoyed bending them in a cage of my own doing.My grandfather, terribly sweet—and loving—never minded my mischief.Thinking back now, his dream must’ve sucked whatever energy he had to reprimand an overly energetic five-year-old.It had alread
Ariana’s POV“What happened to you while I was away? There’s so much tiredness in your eyes,” He lifted my chin gently, meeting my eyes, “I can see your exhaustion, even though you try to hide it.”Guilt came over me and I found myself evading his eyes.Did he get to ask the questions?His palm cupped my cheek gently, pulling me in his arms, his tall frame crouched gently over me. “I worry I’ve failed, I worry I’ve failed you.”My lips pressed together, and tears gathered in my eyes. “I am… tired, a little bit.” My voice croaked and he held me tighter, “I’m here now, you can rest easy.”If not for his arms that held me I was this close to buckling and my body would have surrendered to my exhaustion.It was always so easy for me to surrender to his warmth. Yet somehow, that made me feel extremely pathetic but I stayed regardless.“Something is wrong,” He suddenly spoke.“What?” I pushed away from him.“We need to go in there.” He pointed towards the forge shed where Nero was currently
Ariana’s POVA punch came right at my abdomen, on the same spot I was hit.This time, it hurt a lot worse because the force used was nearly three times faster… and stronger.Instantly I coughed out blood, my eyes going hazy for a moment.Maybe I shouldn’t have just run in front of the door leaving me with no appropriate defense or offense but it was my responsibility to protect Nero.Another punch came flying across my cheek, heavy damage falling on my bleeding gums.If I continued like this without an appropriate defense I was as good as dead.I didn’t expect this degree of power or strength from one opponent, especially one that aimed to kill me as gruesomely as possible.I struck out my fists for a punch when Milo held it, surprising me.Painfully, he bent and twisted my wrists, nearly breaking them when I yelled out.Were these one of his abilities? Predicting attacks.If he was just this good then I was in a serious problem.“I knew you were weak I just didn’t expect,” He stared
Ariana’s POVThe shadows wasted no time in attacking us.The unhinged offense of their attacks made me know that they intended to leave here with our lives under their belt like an accomplishment from work.Judging from the looks of two of the faces it was easy to decipher that they were students.It had already gotten this bad?I quickly ducked, avoiding someone’s feet from connecting with my skull. Judging by the projected force, it would’ve actually hurt.“This is bad.” I said, moving backwards to a safe distance.“What are we going to do?” Bach asked, using his telekinesis.I froze.Yes, that was it. Telekinesis.“Bach, if you can hear me, say my name.”“Ariana.” He responded. I exhaled in relief, “So what’s the plan?”“You’re going to read their thoughts the same way you read mine. You need to be able to tell us their next form of attack before they act on it.”I stared at the only remaining shadow that didn’t come forward to attack. He simply stood there, hands crossed with his
Ariana’s POVFootsteps approached me. “How long have you been sitting there?”I sat under the shade of a tree. Looking up, I stared at Sigil who was accompanied by Bach. “Give or take; five hours.”His forehead creased in worry, “You’ve been waiting that long? It’s hot in the afternoon and we have no idea when he will be done. You could’ve gone home, you look like you need some rest.”I turned my head to the small building where the intense yet consistent sound of metal being beat into resurrection was heard. I squinted my eyes, trying to control the deep heaviness inside them.“He hasn’t come out ever since he laid his hands on that plan. I have no idea what kind of person he is but I don’t think I could leave here knowing how much pain is being put into making that sword.”“That was his decision to make, not yours. Whatever remorse you might feel is not yours to take. You need to remember that you are the one who wields the sword in the end.”I turned to face Sigil, “Do you know he
Damon’s POVFootsteps from behind approached me and instilled.“I thought you’d have left the school by now.”I turned to face the owner of the voice.Klaus.“Then I’d just be doing you a favor I have no interest in granting.” I spat in response.Klaus stepped closer, “I see you’ve figured it out already.”I placed both hands in my pockets, “It was hard not to. The shadows increasing, the lack of interest in how many souls I could acquire for you. You’ve turned this academy into your little breeding nest.”“Calling it a nest would mean something motherly— a thing that needed to be protected. Their souls hold none of such sentiments, at least to the dark shadow’s appetite. Now that I can easily heighten their demise without needing to deal with a lonely elemental werewolf,”—My jaw hardened—“I don’t intend for that luxury to end anytime soon.”“So you came here to kill me? I wouldn’t call that a sound plan, at least on your ends.”“No, I have no sadistic interest in your life. You will
Ariana’s POVI became alert.It was the only right thing to do as I caught a whiff of that ominous smell.Every picture of what could possibly go wrong came to mind and my anxiety returned. Was this a trap?Had Sigil unknowingly led us to a trap?“Who are you?” Sigil questioned and for the briefest second I blinked back in shock.How did he not know the identity of the person whom he’d led us to?“And who are you?” The short boy replied back, and I could only hiss.“I can only answer that if you are Nero, the sword smith.” Sigil shot back, and the look on the boy’s face suddenly changed.A sense of familiarity struck him and he said in a low voice - “Then you’ve come to the right place.”I raised a brow. Sigil did to.“I am Nero.” He said again, and relief followed by a shocking sense of wonder coursed through me.Nero was very short.He was a dwarf—a really buff one.“We have come to the right place, Ariana.” Sigil whispered slightly, moving forward and I followed him. He added almos
Ariana’s POVI stood in front of Fenrir’s door.He’d been discharged that same morning and was now staying at his quarters.I’d spent approximately four hours searching through shops for the materials Darko told me about only to end up here.If there was someone that could help me with finding ‘things’ he was my… only answer.I sucked in a deep breath.Extending my hand, I exhaled through my mouth, molded my hands into fists and knocked.There was no response.I was about to knock again when the door opened, revealing Fenrir.He didn’t look bad physically as he was still recovering from his injuries, but he didn’t look good either.I opened my mouth to speak but he beat me to it.“You want something from me?” He asked and I froze. “Don’t you?” He asked again“I do.”He said nothing.“There’s no one else that can help me with this but you.”“Yet you called me greedy with disdain on your face.”I bit my lip, looking down at my feet and feeling extremely self-conscious.“I guess it is ea
Ariana’s POVImmediately Damon disappeared from my line of sight, I went searching for Darko after.After retracing his peculiar steps, I found myself back at the library. And at the same table where he sat before.He was there, and his focus were immensely consumed by the book in front of him.To the normal eye, it would seem nice—motivational, but to me, I found the way his eye pierced the book as if to consume it whole off-putting.He had successfully created an image of a harmless butterfly, someone unaware of pain and how to inflict it.He looked like the perfect student and not like the scary creature he really was.As though he’d heard all my thoughts, he stopped reading and looked up.Our gazes met.I stilled.His eyes were completely blank, dark, scary, boring deep.I swallowed hard and took a step close.When I got close enough, I took a seat opposite him and sat down.“I’ve returned.” I began.“And no one except for the both of us seated here are aware of this, I believe?”