12 "Strange...nothing," Confused, I urged him with my questioning eyes. "You mind if I may compare, yours is not an open book to read...I must say this is a first," I don't know what to make about that. I close my eyes, letting my thoughts run freely. Perhaps, he could reach into something with a bit of help. I don't want to end this session with absolutely nothing. Wells seemed too focused, his chest heaving and then dropping. By the time he opened his eyes, I had expected an answer, anything that could bring me closer to knowing who I was, but instead, he slunk back in his seat. That alone was very telling. "This is quite mysterious...Did Alpha Chance mention how difficult you were to read?" I try rummaging through my mind. He hasn't mentioned anything, but he does effectively hear my thoughts. "He can read my mind, but not my memories, though," "That I established...," He briefly paused. "—I can't seem to find anything else. And I'm an expert when it comes to unlocking certa
13Peace once dominated this world. And sadly, the only proof of its existence is engraved on deteriorated papers.The once beautiful realm is now divided into four kingdoms, governed by each of their ruling classes. The Vampires from the Northern, the Werewolves from the Western, the Magicians from the Eastern, and outcasts from the Southern. Fates intertwine with each other, and yet they stray far from each other's orbits, almost but never touching.Many yearn for the union, but some terrible mistakes cannot simply be bypassed, and thus, the ruins and the scars inevitably ruin all hope—perhaps, it may never mend. But there will always be dreamers, they say...
14It was wrong. Absolutely wrong to lambaste him with words. And every passing second, I shudder each time I remember.However, that thought caved in. I huffed. What was the point? Lorraine clearly stated the reason for his intentions. He continued to shake my emotions violently to the extent I acted unrulily.My teeth clacked. "Playing with me? You're not supposed to entertain the enemy..." There was a hint of dichotomy in my words. But he knew what I was trying to say.Alpha Knight didn't look pleased when he heard Lorraine speak. Maybe it was the way she intervened or the way she had professed the truth. I felt my heart constrict at the thought they were planning to lure me. Make a fool out of me."Cancel the meeting, Cha
15 Samos Lemir. The man that Chance wanted me to meet, was a rather shabby but enigmatic-looking man. He's a few inches shorter than Chance, with matted hair, and a gritty stubble. I could almost note the wrinkles on his forehead, making his age more apparent. After being invited inside, the door slammed behind us. Samos gestured his hand towards his wooden table and we obliged to his amenity. When we were finally settled, I couldn't help the gush of questions. "Kaleya? Why did you call me by that name? Do you know me?" Samos shook his head, tucking inside one of his wooden drawers. My gaze instantly landed on the bottle of whisk he pulled out of his hand. He held it out mid-air as if offering us a drink. I looked at Chance and realized we were thinking of the same thing, we kindly declined the offer. "No, I don't know you girl...but I may have what you're looking for," Samos replied, popping the bottle cap with his teeth. Absentmindedly, my eyes wandered to Chance who was also
16 "It is in my best interest to keep you both safe," A question briefly crossed my mind: What should he be cautious about? The location we had just visited wasn't remote by any means. In fact, it was only an hour's ride from the castle walls. Although I harbored some doubts and curiosity, the seriousness of his expression led me to believe that there might be something significant to watch out for. "Yesterday, someone was brutally murdered. A pack warrior just outside, guarding the castle walls," A look of startlement took me for a moment. "That—" Hesitation crossed. I couldn't even finish my sentence, and when I did, Alpha Knight took it in his hands to nudge the subject. "That day. The day I sent you to an errand with Wells," I nodded. He was right. I do remember. I distinctly recall our return to the palace, witnessing him dismounting from his steed. It was only then that I began to connect the dots between his absence and the recent rogue attacks. This realization deepene
17 "Yes," I replied, though the true answer remained concealed within me—indeed, I didn't even know the answer myself. When the coldness became more aggressive, I realized the need to go back inside. I was no longer clinging to him, no longer interested in talking with him. For once, I felt oddly empty but fulfilled. Contended? Safe? Clarified for once? Maybe that's what it is. What are you thinking? I want to ask him. Since he was out here, preoccupied in his trance, I knew he was thinking deeply about something. He mentioned there were numerous murders that have been happening lately, besides that, I knew there was something else that was about to happen, things he must've planned. "The ceremony will be sooner than expected. It is better to end us with haste," A frown crossed my features. "What ceremony?" "To break our bond," "You rejected me already..." "Rejection doesn't qualify as an official separation. One must go through the unwinding of two fates and two souls," Bene
18 "Are you sure you had a bruise here?" "I do," I almost exclaimed. The pack doctor, as others often referred to him, cast me a disapproving glance before making his way to his desk. He selected a handful of herbs hanging from a cluster of clay pots, deposited them into his mortar, and proceeded to grind them with the pestle. The gentle crunching sound sent shivers down my spine, and soon after, the aroma filled the air, enveloping my nostrils and surprisingly easing my headache. By the time he finished making a sticky paste-like consistency from his herbs, he walked towards me, his fingers lightly touching the area where my bruise was to apply his self-made medication. He managed to clean my face although he was quite bewildered. I didn't know if he was telling the truth or if the guard was lying, either way, I chose to ignore that matter today. "Nice to meet you again, Kaleya," I hastily spun around, only to meet Chance who was grinning from ear to ear. I dipped in a curtsy,
19I was a bit preoccupied with reading to take notice of someone approaching.Wells came to a stop right in front of me, arms crossed. While my initial instinct was to ignore his presence, a deeper sense of respect urged me to acknowledge him."You've been here for hours. Don't you eat sometimes?"I briefly raised my eyes to meet his gaze and shook my head. "I lost my appetite a while ago, maybe I'll eat later," I replied firmly.Since my encounter with Alpha Chance and Knight, I had chosen to keep a low profile and remain silent—too embarrassed to utter a word, let alone face them. My memories involving them were a jumbled mess, just as our interact
70"Head west of the City; come find me there."The boy didn't hesitate, snatching the letter from my hand. He unintentionally glimpsed at my covered face, the glow in my eyes briefly holding his attention long enough to unsettle him. Pocketing the letter, he quickly exited the dimly lit room. The echoes of multiple footsteps reached my ears as I clenched my hands together, contemplating the day that lay ahead. I needed to act swiftly, preempting any suspicion from the Northern guards regarding the threats I had sent.The flickering light and the tolling of bells disrupted my thoughts. Something triggered my senses, but it faded as Accius' presence became apparent. Too tense to meet him outside, I awaited him within the small cabin. After a brief moment, the sound of hooves ceased at the entrance. I envisioned Accius dismounting, his familiar scowl etched across his features."I was hoping you'd come to the tavern.""I couldn't, not when most of the members are my own, not when I betr
69Trigger Warning"There's always a duality of good and evil. Aligning yourself with great men is crucial if you aim to be the strongest,"Sitting by the fire, I felt a tumult of emotions, none of which carried warmth. Jean held my hand, tracing the lines of my palm with his finger. Despite the platter of food in front of me, I refrained from touching it, repelled by the presence of this monster by my side. Contrary to my expectations upon returning, the room remained empty. I used to dread solitude, but now, I longed for the company of another person."I never declared a desire for power,"Jean released his grip on me. "That is what you sought when I rescued... and trained you. I provided you with everything you needed, and in return, you betrayed us by crossing the line with our enemy."Snatching my wrist, Jean forcefully pushed me onto the long wooden table. I struggled against his hold, and a flood of malevolent thoughts accompanied a frantic heartbeat. "Why are you doing this? W
68"Jean... what does he have to do with me?""What are you talking about?"I urgently seized his shoulders, a sense of desperation taking hold of me. "Tell me who I am... h-how I grew up by Alastair’s side. Who was I before?"He sighed heavily, a weight settling in the air. "You were his aide. His spy... sometimes a champion. You followed orders, you... were manipulated into believing Alastair’s cause. But your mother... well, she led not only a rebellion but gave us all hope. Those of us who were lost and without a home."As Accius spoke, a flood of conflicting emotions surged within me. The revelation about my past hit me like a tidal wave, each word chipping away at the facade that surrounded my upbringing. The connection to Alastair, the manipulation, everything was a bitter pill to swallow. And yet, in contrast, my mother's actions painted a picture of resilience and defiance that stirred a newfound sense of purpose within me. The weight of my past is now intertwined with the po
I gave him a curious stare. Regardless of what he envisioned, it had to be doable. Otherwise, I'm unwilling to do things I am incapable of doing. At the moment, Accius is in full-on mystifying mode. Sure enough, I was correct in my suspicions."You've got this. This is in your hands now. You just need to do the same thing you did in the snowy mountains,"I paused at his remark. How did he know that? Was he among the vampires that attacked the East?Concerned about his involvement, my heart raced. From what I can tell about him, he seems like a sincere individual. I'm not usually a good judge of character. However, my situation does not permit me to be judgmental. I had to make do with the resources at my disposal. That leaves him the only person I can place my trust in at this point in time. It's a gamble, but I'm willing to take it if it means getting out of this abyssal place. I need to find a way to reconnect with Knight.As a response, I gave a nonchalant nod. At the very least, I
66 He said, "The only real reason you can't is because you were in the wrong place to begin with. This is where you belong. Where you once lived. Time is not only the answer to getting your answers, sometimes you just need to go back to the past... go back to where you truly belong." I sighed, acknowledging the truth in his words. "You're right. If I want to remember, then this place is the perfect setting to harness my memories." The decision to confront the past, to explore this familiar yet mysterious place, lingered in the air like a quiet resolution. The surroundings, once overlooked, now held the potential to be a canvas for the fragments of recollection. I stood there, a silent observer ready to retrace steps that had faded into my memories. The air seemed charged with subtle energy as if the very atmosphere held the key to unlocking the doorways to remembrance. The familiar sights and sounds took on new significance, transforming into clues that could lead me back to the mo
65In the midst of the soft whispers of falling snowflakes, I cautiously made my way beyond the grand doors of the snowy castle manor. The air was sharp and cold, and the floors beneath my boots were uniformly blanketed with snow. The entire world around me had transformed into a winter wonderland—so, this is the North. The castle's majestic turrets stood tall, resembling silent sentinels against the canvas of the pristine, snow-covered landscape.I was enveloped in a snug, fur-lined cloak of deep burgundy, its rich hue contrasting beautifully with the surrounding white. In my hands, I clutched the letter from Fionna. The soft crunch of snow beneath my boots reverberated in silence as I ventured into the castle's courtyard, hoping that no guards were lurking nearby.The snowflakes continued their delicate dance, settling on my golden hair and creating a glistening crown. The scent of pine and the distant crackling of a fireplace wafted through the air, enveloping the surroundings in a
64Having regained my composure, I finally took a much-needed break, a rarity in recent times. However, Jean's icy and threatening stare continued to haunt my thoughts, and his words persisted in my nightmares.Following the tumultuous events, Jean, unable to suppress his anger, departed without providing any clarification. The uneasy atmosphere from the brief gathering would have overwhelmed me if Alastair hadn't done the same.I rubbed my temples while squeezing my eyes shut tight. I was overcome with emotion as the snowstorm raged outside. This desolate place was becoming familiar territory for my former self, but that person was no longer here. Thoughts of being involved in such awful acts, the murders, tortured my mind. What if I'm to blame for this? If that is the case, is it too late to change?After a prolonged internal struggle, I managed to regain my composure. Now was not the time to entertain such unsettling thoughts; my immediate concern was to escape.I meticulously exam
63It took me a while to fully process what I had just learned. His words echoed in my ears, casting a shadow over every corner of my mind and emotions. How? How is it possible? A myriad of questions swirled in my head, and none of the answers I could conjure seemed acceptable. Could he really be my father? I used to believe it was the man I saw in my mother's memories—Leo. Honestly, I never anticipated Alastair's involvement to be this profound. Somehow, my mind struggles to comprehend the idea. I can't fathom the truth if he is indeed my father. It just doesn't seem plausible.He won't be...everThe lingering shadow of Alastaire's presence still cast a pall over my mind after his unwelcome visit. However, he didn't depart without leaving a message: 'Tomorrow, you will be meeting someone. Bring your best behavior.'Naturally, I was terrified—terrified of the person I would meet. The horrors of the past and the recent attacks weighed heavily on my mind. And Teresa... how could I forge
62Before I could fully recover, I mulled over what had happened. Unlike the resistance the vampires show in sunlight, the energy burst from within made dying in sunlight a probability. Vampires can have enchantments and that of course was used to diminish their inability to be exposed in daylight. Teresa looked at me in her wolf form, her eyes going wide, as she too was taken aback. I could practically guess the questions streaming in her mind. But besides that, the battle is not yet finished. “Keep your attention elsewhere Teresa!” I exclaimed, and again, she responded with a growl. A flash of angry vampires showing their fangs darted in our direction. As much as I wanted to mimic the burst of power, for some unknown reason, I couldn’t. I don’t know how…I tried to hide my difficulty summoning the energy once more but they were fast, and in a rapid moment, they tipped me over, I crashed and scrambled across the ground Then one vampire approached me. I glanced around me and noticed