-Adonai-The curse.It was a glaring myth I always preferred to tug in so I did not have to worry about it. It lingered in the air and I was conscious of it. But I would rather think of other things than dwell on it and give it a form in my thoughts.It was the same thing Jasmine’s mother brought up, thinking she would get me caged with it. Yes, it worried me. It was a reality I could not do any with, but I refused to have it as a weakness. When a man is laced with a situation like this, it becomes a burden and what people would term it as a weakness.It would be what his enemies would use against him to get him so I refuse to let anyone see that I cared, less they use it against me.“What are you trying to say, Ellen,” I frowned at her. “Go straight to the point. I do not have any time to waste.”“Of course Adonai,” she adjusted on the seat. “What I am trying to say is not farfetched from the reason I had offered you my daughter to be your wife. Because just like I have said earlier,
-Prisca-Something is not right somewhere. Jasmine is acting weird and I must get to the bottom of it. There was just something off about her and the way she acted since she had recovered from the last incident that almost claimed her life and she did not want to open up to me.I arranged my clothes carefully into the dresser. This was my favorite thing about the dry season. My clothes would always dry when I air them. I had better enjoy it now before the rain comes because it always does in great torrents and the sun barely has the chance to shine.I did not like the way Jasmine had withdrawn. We were not like this. How did our relationship go down in a space of less than two weeks? If it continues this way I might lose grip on our friendship. There was nothing wrong with her except she had been acting off.Was she suspecting anything? And why would she not tell me then? Well, since she kept insisting she was fine I had better let her be for now.My thoughts were interrupted by a sud
-Aria-I did not know for how long but I had slept off while laying lazily on my bed. I yawned and stretched on the bed. Hell no, is this how my life is going to be? Sleeping every day and doing nothing productive? I was not used to it.Back there in Moonbeam, I was a maid and I worked my hands out from childhood and it became a part of me. Here I woke up to being served, my clothes washed and meals prepared by the maids. It was a boring life to live especially not that I had decided to slow down my relationship with the only person that had kept me company all this while.No, Prisca had done nothing but it was the sudden awareness that I was not safe even with her that gnawed me. I would not be spared if Prisca should have a hint that I might not be her friend. Just like I had thought it would be easy for Ms. Ellen to find out, perhaps it would be easier for Prisca to since she spends more time with Jasmine than anyone else.How would I have been able to explain how I did not know m
-Aria-I swallowed hard and began to think of a way I could quickly cover up the mistake I had made. How could I have forgotten and told them my real name? Now the two were looking at me questioningly wondering who Aria was. Why had I even offered to introduce myself in the first place? I almost hit myself. I am sure they knew who I was without any introductions.“Oh, can you just imagine myself?” I laughed nervously. “Did I say I was Aria? Please disregard that. That is a name I had given myself which my friends call me with. I am Jasmine.”That was lame but I smiled and hoped they would buy it. They seemed to and the tense atmosphere became light again.“Yes I know my lady,” Maria said and I wanted to hit myself again. Of course, she knew.“Well what do you want to make?” she asked me while the other lady I had walked in with left to join the others as Maria led me to a space I could use.“Mmm,” I hummed thoughtfully. “I had not thought what I wanted to make though.”“Are you cookin
-Ariel-Jasmine cooked? Do miracles happen overnight? Jasmine does not even know how to light a fire to boil water.We were not allowed to do any of those while growing up. Though Jasmine had always been the rebellious child who would sneak out to join local children in their chores of fetching water and firewood, I was still better than her when it came to work.“I did, with the help of the maids,” she said and I nodded. Thought as much.“Well, you don’t have to cook, do you? You have maids who do everything for you,” I stated.“Well yeah, I just wanted to,” she said. A question popped into my mind and I did not think it was necessary to ask but curiosity got the best of me.“Who did you make it for?” I asked.“Uhm, actually I…,” she stuttered and coughed. “It’s not like I made it, especially for someone you see, but I just thought to share it with Adonai.”I cocked my head in a direction with an amused smile on my face.“Wow tell me about it,” I said and she shook her head, waving h
-Aria-While the guard was explaining to him I could not get my eyes off him. They had said he was meditating but he looked like someone who had just come out of the bathroom with a towel around his neck and water dripping from his hair.“What is this Jasmine?” he asked me and I had to struggle to maintain my composure so I could reply to him.“My lord, good morning,” I greeted warmly. “I am so sorry to have disturbed your morning but the guards would not let me see my Lord. I tried explaining to them it was important I see you but they would not let me.”He held my eyes for some seconds with no expression in them and I fidgeted a little. It was all I could do not to look away and be intimidated. His eyes moved to the tray the maids were holding and it lingered there. I hoped he would not do something crazy like ask me to leave or even go back to the room and close the door in my face.“Let them in,” he finally said and I silently let out a breath I had not realized I was holding, bar
-Prisca-I paced around the room restlessly thinking about what Dante had told me and trying to figure out what he had meant by all those things he had said. Was he trying to blackmail me? And on what grounds? It seems he does not know who I am and he thinks he can threaten me because I am a scarred cat.Well, he must be mistaken and making a very big mistake because he was messing with the wrong person. Of course, I had no intentions of doing what he wanted me to because I would not be forced to do anything with force.And I know he does not love Jasmine as much as she loves him. Whatever his intentions are, he is not going to get it from me. I must not let him think he has a hold on me.I sat on my bed. Just who the hell does he think he is anyway? Coming to my house to tell me all that rubbish.I had stayed away from the empire for some days now because I wanted to give her some space but I had hoped she would come looking for me just the last time and as always. This was the thir
-Aria-The red stoned ring! She was wearing the ring on her finger. What is going on?I blinked my eyes rapidly and swallowed a lump in my throat. Or was I mistaken? I recognized the ring because how could I ever forget the memory that flashed in my mind about Jasmine’s death? It looked just like it.Prisca did not notice the look on my face as she unpacked the food she had brought from the basket while I just kept staring at her in what felt like fear and shock all in one. But I did not have the time to think further when a sudden nauseated feeling hit me and salty saliva gathered in my mouth.I held my stomach and ran to the bathroom to throw up.“Jasmine,” Prisca called out, running after me. I threw up and leaned on the wall, gasping for air.“Jasmine, what is it?” Prisca asked with concern on her face, placing her hand on my shoulder. I recoiled unconsciously, moving away from her touch.“Jasmine…” she looked worried.“Did you put garlic in the food?” I finally found the strength
- Dante -I looked around at the faces of everyone present and all I could see was pity. Yet no one could stop Adonai, not even Damon.I did not hold it against my brother as I understood his feelings. He has been pushed to the wall and forced to retaliate.I take this as a punishment for all I have done to him and every other person. My only pain is that Sierra would have to die along with me for my crimes."You don't have to do this," She said, looking me straight in the eyes. "You don't have to die with me. I will face it alone.""You don't understand Sierra," I shook my head at her. "You did nothing wrong but loved. I have committed so many atrocities, and I believe I am paying for them. I thought it had all passed, but I was wrong. Just like I feared, I couldn't run away forever. So I should be the one, apologising for putting you in this.""Before we die, I want you to know that I love you," she smiled sadly. "I have never experienced this kind of love before. I grew up with a m
- Aria -"Are you sure about what you just said?" I asked her and she nodded."I did not see her face, but I am very sure she was the one dressed like that," before the maid could finish the statement, Adonai had bolted out of the room.Good thing Damon and his men had not set out. Adonai went straight to the guest building and almost broke the doors open."What's happened?" Damon asked."Where is your sister?" Adonai asked him icily."Is anything the matter?" Damon inquired."I have no time and patience, just answer the damn question. Where the hell is your sister?" Adonai shouted and by now, the entire royal house was awakened.Sierra appeared behind her brother and Adonai dragged her fully out."Where is my child?" He asked her and she looked puzzled."I don't know what you are talking about," she said with what seemed to be a feigned ignorance."Are you insane?" Adonai growled violently. "You came to my wife's room when she was not there, attacked the maid and took my baby away an
- Damon -Damn it! Damn it!!I hit my fist on the wall severally until blood gushed out of it."Brother!" Sierra called in alarm and tried to move towards me but I held out my hands to stop her."This is fucked. Fucked!" I half yelled. "I was humiliated and almost killed and those bloody warriors did not fucking show up.""Something must have happened, brother," Sierra said in a bit to calm me down but that angered me the more."What could happen on a day like this? "And you," I walked to her menacingly and she moved back. "I asked you to drug Adonai, didn't I?"I grabbed her by the neck with the last sentence and she choked."I did," she coughed, trying to get out of my grip. "That was the reason he was weak from the beginning of the fight.""Then what happened at the end, huh? Where'd he got that sudden burst of energy from?" I shook her violently."I don't know," she said. "But I did according to what you said. Madin was with me you can ask him."I loosened my grip on her and turne
- Aria -The entire pack was gathered outside for the fight, and my heart beat along with the drums that played. Damon walked to me just before the fight began."So you choose to do this the hard way," He said into my ears."You will not have the better of me," I replied. "I believe in my husband."He smirked and walked away."Did you keep the warriors at hand?" I turned to Zafa and Loveth who stood behind me."All set and ready," they affirmed. I had asked them to prepare the army in case something went wrong. I cannot risk it. They had advised me against it as that would be cheating, but if Damon wanted Adonai dead, then I would bypass every traditional rule to save him.I did not sleep all through the night and I was sure Adonai didn't either. In the early hours of the morning, he had crept up behind me and spoken into my ears."I hate to admit that I fear as much as you do. But I wouldn't hide my face from this. Even if I die, I would die trying to preserve our love. I need you to
- Adonai - Damon took his time before answering that, and I knew his every move was intentional and to get me upset as well. "It means that she would have been my wife," he finally said and I charged at him. His men were immediately alert and stood before him to counter my attack. My men also stood ready, but Dante and Zafa held me back. "You watch your mouth you demon," I warned angrily. "Don't you dare sit to my face and tell me shit! You don't speak about my wife in that manner while I am here." Damon did not even move a limb, and his eyes remained on me steadily. "I'm not going to forcefully take your wife," he said, raising his hands in mid-air and throwing them back. But she is going to have to choose between me or you. And the prophecy speaks of us ruling together. I don't see how that is going to be possible if she doesn't get married to me." I was fuming with anger but had to remain calm. I sat back on my chair. I was pissed more at Aria, who just sat there and li
Aria -I sucked in a deep breath after Damon was done talking."I cannot leave my husband for you," I told him."And you cannot bear to have him dead. Look, either way, I would still have you. That is the only reason I am killing Adonai, to be with you. You will be a widow after his death and you cannot be alone. You see, I'm a very open person. I would have harboured this in mind and done it, but I am telling you now so you can have a choice of saving him or not."He waited for an answer, which I did not have."I think your husband is coming," he said, his voice low. "You have the whole of this night to decide that. Goodnight pretty."He walked away and Adonai appeared behind my back. He held my waist."What was he telling you?" He spoke into my ears gently."He wants to convince me to willingly give in to him so he doesn't have to fight and kill you. He intends to kill you if we insist you fight with him.""And what did you tell him?""I did not give him a reply...yet," I told him.
Zafa -I lurked around the guest's building, hiding in the dark corners and looking for someone I would like to have a conversation with.Luckily, not long after, I saw him and approached him just before he made a turn into the open."We meet again," I said and his eyes widened."Zafa," he called my name."Madin," I called back with an unsmiling face. "Beats me what you are doing here.""The same goes for you," he threw back and I scoffed."You cannot say that because you are the traitor," I told him. "So this is where you have been all this while. You ran away to be with them.""No I did not run away," he corrected with some traits of pride in his voice. "They came for me.""So you knew about them all these while and did not say anything to anyone," I was boiling with anger."Now why would I tell you when you kept associating yourself with the other packs and not sticking to your assignment? You know more than everyone else what the other werewolves did to us. Their bitter hearts di
- Adonai -"And then what would happen to me?" I asked as I walked in on the conversation and they all turned to look at me. I knew there was more to this visit than what they had spoken out there in the courtroom and this just confirmed it. "So you knew more than you were saying in the courtroom?""Alpha please don't get this wrong," Zafa said pleadingly. "We never planned for all of this to happen. "Just like I told the Luna, this came as a surprise to me.""Adonai, we'll handle it," Aria said."So what do you expect me to do? We are still in the dark about everything that's to happen. I need you all to come out clean about these people and what they are doing here," I said impatiently."Please be calm," Aria placed her hand on my shoulders. There was always a way her touches had effects on me. "We'll find out everything but we need to take things slow to be able to do that.""Now you tell me what we are to do," I demanded, but my voice was softer than it was before."They are our v
- Aria -I had just put the baby to sleep with the help of Diane when Loveth walked in with a long face. I sighed wearily because I thought this was a usual bicker with Diane. Ever since I had my baby, the two had been acting like cat and rat."Something's wrong," she said before I asked."What may it be this time around?" I asked."You have visitors," she told me and I stopped what I was doing."What visitors," I wondered aloud."Visitors from Moonfill," she said and I raised my brow questioningly."Never heard that name before," I said with a frown, but Loveth did not look like she was going to give me more information, so I assumed that was all she knew about them."So where are they now?" I wanted to know."Adonai was attending to them, I came here to tell you," she said. "But they are here specifically for you.""Oh," I mouthed and turned to Diane. "Please watch over the baby. I will be right back.""Sure Luna," she said hurriedly. She was listening to the conversation between me