Accashia sat on the bedrock where she could see the view of the vast forest. The sky was clear, and the stars shone and sparkled like diamonds in the night sky. She wondered if the stories told to her when she was young were true. The Village Shaman told them that those pretty little things are balls of fire that burns billions of miles away. And the beauty of the moon was unfathomable as it changes phases every night. Man’s naked eye would not be able to understand or comprehend its beauty. For in the stars and the sky lives the Gods and Goddesses who bless and curse this land. Accashia looked East at the towering trees of the forest and thought about her family. But she misses her mother the most. She never got to hear Ember sing that birthday song. The song her mother composed for her on the day of her birth. Since she had journeyed with Luntian and Calleb, there were nights when she’d dream of her mother. Her touch, her embrace. The way she sings that soft lullaby. The smell of
Accashia, Luntian and Calleb ran across the fields, the Shadows attacked again — this time during the day even as the sky was painted red from the sunset. It was still hours until the full moon, and Luntian thought that the Shadows couldn’t attack them until it got dark. Until now, the theory she had was proven to be wrong. “Run. Faster!” Luntian screamed. “Accashia!” The Shaman screamed with devastation in her voice. The carriage was destroyed by the Shadows and the horse they found was killed as well. A blade straight to the heart killed the poor animal in an instant. The Shadows behind them snarled and hissed, cursing them and saying a lot of vile things. “Kill them — kill them all!” Katalka, the leader of the Shadows, commanded the troop. The three of them managed to escape when they broke through the edge of the trees. They’ve reached the edge of the Central forest. They were saved, hidden by the boundary that separates the Eatern and Central forest. At a far distance, Calleb
The question Accashia asked remained unanswered that night. For the silver wolf could only stare in her eyes. So the young lady decides to ask the question again some other time. The wolf and Accashia leisurely stare at the moon and the stars. They were staring up to oblivion, both were quiet and yet were drowning in their own thoughts. That night, Calleb showed Accashia how he hunts for food. Accashia jumped and settled on Calleb's back as the young wolf ran and began to chase the deer. The young lady had to hold on to the wolf's fur as tight as she could so that she wouldn't fall. And with every jump and jerks, Accashia laughed and smile. "It's like I'm riding a horse!" She said with a smile and the white wolf yipped and barked. When Calleb finally managed to catch up to the deer, the wolf galloped and trapped the animal and bit its deep, not letting it escape. The young lady had to cover her eyes when Calleb gnawed on the deer’s neck — the wolf’s strong jaw breaking the bones in o
In the hidden Valley of Karoonah, the Sorceress paces back and forth as she eats her favorite tuna. Her brows were furrowed and her glasses hung on the bridge of her nose. She stays up day and night, wondering why the spell that rewinds — she cannot seem to impose. She hummed and then she sighed. She looks at the table again where the Black Blade lies. Mayari Tabbu stomped her feet, and felt a great sense of dismay. For she forgot the spell, causing her a great deal of delay. “Where did I place that stinky old book!” She screamed as she stomped her feet. “I’ve looked everywhere! Every cranny, every nook!” With a loud groan she grabbed the glasses and threw them on the floor. The glasses bounced and landed close to the door. The rats from the shelf ran and paced, fearing that the great Sorceress would number their days. For she was fuming with anger, every animal inside the hut felt their lives were in danger. Even the two birds were getting scared for their life. For Mayari Tabbu
Luntian hummed as she hugged the weaved basket full of fruits and vegetables. But when she came back to the campfire where she left Accashia and Calleb, she witnessed something unexpected. The two were staring at each other’s eyes. And from the looks of it, it was something intense, but not the good kind. She heard Calleb screaming, and soon Accashia was crying. “You think you’re the only one who’s in constant pain?!” Calleb screamed as the young lady in front of him fidgeted and became silent. The old shaman hugged the basket tighter, as she lowered her head. She had always known what Calleb felt towards his parents and their demise. He was always holding it in and was trying to stay strong for he wanted to reclaim what was rightfully his. Somehow, the old Shaman felt responsible. She was so busy keeping Calleb alive and healthy during his youth that she had forgotten what he needed the most during his younger years. Warmth. And then she heard Calleb screaming again. “I don’t eve
At first he thought it was all a fluke. The Witch trusts him, she does and his soul believed it with all of his heart. The promise she made, that one day — if Katalka does what she told — his soul will be released peacefully. Not to the underworld, but to the Spirit world. And for years, the leader of the Shadows believed that lie. It's not like the Shadows to concern themselves with things that aren't related to the Witch, Calleb or the old Shaman, and yet when the leader of the Shadows saw Luther — a part of him knows that the soul inside the rotting corpse’s soul was darker than his. While his soul chose that very moment to stage a mutiny, the spell that binds his soul to Ursula stopped the Leader from doing so. And yet it was an idea that he had been tempted to execute a couple of times. Another Shadow bumped against his shoulder as he paved the way against hundreds of boney creatures as they marched towards the nearest Village. The Shadow — a lot smaller than Katalka bowed his
“Are you sure about this, Mayari Tabbu?” The Gatekeeper asked, fixing his stance. “Are you sure that what you’ve seen is all true?” The Sorceress frowned and groaned and rolled her eyes. She even let out a frustrated sigh. “As much as I wish it wasn’t true, I saw it with my own eyes! You and I are practically the same person — you came from my thighs! You and I, we can never lie! So why would I?!” It’s an epiphany, of sorts, a step so logical and illogical. She’s amazed she didn’t realize it sooner. Calleb and Accashia. Luntian and Ursula. The bad and the good. Anger and mercy. Hatred and empathy. Love and obsession. Why didn’t she think of it sooner? ‘Here goes nothing’, Mayari Tabbu thinks, and waits for the instinctive recoil, the psychological and physiological equivalent of the natural exchange. And then she begins the transportation spell, to send the Gatekeeper straight to wherever Luntian, Calleb and Accashia dwell. She sprinkled feathers and dust at the feet of the gateke
Luntian wasn’t so sure what to make of this. It must be written all over her face, for the Gatekeeper was giving her an incredulous and ridiculous looking smile. A smile that’s so reassuring yet damaging at the same time. It makes Luntian more nervous than she already was, and the nameless Gatekeeper tries not to make a face at how Luntian’s face looks so sour and dire. The Gatekeeper just told the old Shaman the truth. About her sister — Ursula whom she thought was just a Phantom in her mind and was dead. But now, she believes that her twister sister might actually be alive. But where is she? Luntian swears she can almost see that damn smug smile on her sister’s face. “You know, I didn’t believe it at first, for the rewinding spell could be a blessing and a curse. But since it’s Mayari Tabbu whose visions and spells are always true, then your sister — the Shaman named Ursula was the maker of the Blade, and she sold her soul to the Devils from Cassis and requested for their aid.” T
Accashia must have fallen asleep while the two Alpha’s were interrogating the old Shaman. She sits up straight and there's a blanket across her body until her chest. She pulled the covers up, bringing it up to her face. The young woman inhaled, smiling wide right after. It smells like her mate, warm wood and a hint of musk. Calleb’s scent reminded her of sunrise. It smells a little like her too. Accashia was not the type of person who always wakes up on the right side of the bed. Before, she’ll wake up with Luther’s face right in front of hers. Her older brother would always taunt her. Tease her, borderline torment her. Somehow she wishes he could erase it. The memories. "Why the long face?" Calleb appeared out of nowhere, shocking Accashia. Her soul almost left her body, and became a bit grumpy because of it. “Calleb!” She whined, screaming his name as she did. “You know that I startle easily! Don’t sneak up on me like an animal!” The Alpha grinned. “I am an animal though.” He wa
"Ive heard Galathea saying she heard the song of songs, whisper of whisps. But not a cry of a child." The King stared at Accashia’s ghostly pale face. The Luna was still in shock. She was only wearing a thin bathrobe, contrasting the dark thick cotton robe that enveloped Calleb’s body. "A shrill cry. A woman singing an eerie lullaby. I’ve heard of that before. But not from a newborn child —” He looked at his son, then smiled. “None, except from you, son. The day you were born.” "Maybe we should have the Castle blessed?" Calleb had asked. "Before being rebuilt, this place was heavily guarded by Shadows. Dangerous skeleton-like creatures who are brought back to life by Ursula’s power. They carry an ember of soul in their chest. Lost souls." Bathal shuddered in the memory. "I remember. Maybe the Castle needs to be blessed." "It’s not a soul." Accashia opposed. A frown on her face, disliking how the two Alpha’s are dismissing what she heard. "I know a soul when I feel one, see one. When
"I’m not hallucinating, Calleb! I heard a loud cry of a child!" Accashia paced back and forth after pushing Calleb away from her. The cry of the newborn sounded terrible against her ears. “I must find the baby — it could be lost, or worse — it might’ve been abandoned by its parents!” The Alpha sighed as he pinched the area between his brows. It feels like he’s wiggling out of a tightrope and he’s bound from his wrist down to his ankles. “Maybe it’s just your imagination, Accashia. You’re carrying my child after all. It may be the cause of your hallucinations.” Accashia was heading towards the door when Calleb’s spoke. She spun and marched towards her mate. By the looks of it, the young lady was deeply offended. “I know the sound of a crying child when I hear one, Calleb. I’m the one who took care of Jill when she was a newborn. I’m familiar with the cry of a wailing child looking for his mother — Calleb.” “And I’m not dismissing your judgments, Accashia.” Was Calleb’s calm reply. T
What it all boils down to is a simple thing. Human beings, creatures and beasts alike are all sentimental beings. Filled with empathy. Love and affection. And in turn, are always seeking for it. The first time Luntian laid eyes on her sister was after Amihan had just given birth to her. The little one had a head full of black hair, and had this blank stare. Ursula would cry from dusk till dawn. It was thousands of years ago, but her sister’s shrill cry would still resound in her nightmare. The idea of having a sibling was one of the things she wished for in life, though at times she wished her mother would shove the thing back to where it came from. Luntian loved Ursula, but there was something about her that she didn't like. She doesn’t like the crooked smile on her lips. The oddly long nails. The dark, dark cowl on her head. And the odd paint on her face. She was a yellow Shaman, but did not act like one. Not even a little. Had it been the way she talked or the things she said? O
Bathal remembers his father with his head back, soaking up the heat like a plant. At dusk, his wide gray eyes go half-mast, and he yawns and stretches and puts his arms around people who he thinks will lead him back to the right home. Banaua is solar-powered, a self-sufficient sun. And his mother Hiraya was like the moon — the Luna catches the excess light of the King until she could light up on her own. He wonders if Accashia and Calleb would be the same. For his son and his mate reminds him so much of his late parents. And now there they were, going up in front of thousands of people. He thinks this is a must, for this will be Calleb’s future once he passes on the power. His son is the next King and an Alpha. Calleb will be the next ruler of this Kingdom, and the people will follow him. They will love him and be loyal to him whether they want to or not. Once, when his father was still alive he'd asked Bathal a question. He'd asked, 'What do you feel after seeing the humans, the B
Bathal comes back after a long meeting with the Shaman of the nameless Village. It was time for the Betas and Omegas to live within the Castle. For them to go back to the way it was before the ‘Great Downfall’. The King was wearing thick black longsleeves made of cotton. A white cowl covered his head, partially covering his beautiful long hair of black and white. Usually he wouldn’t be riding a horse if he was to go alone. But because he needed Luntian’s wisdom to negotiate with the Shaman — he opted that it was for the best. Bathal preferred to transform into his beast. He’s not the type of ruler who radiates glitz and glamour, crowns and jewelry. As a matter of fact, the King had always liked to be with the Betas and the Omegas. The soldiers, as the late King Banaua calls them. They liked him for his smile and his strong sense of leadership. Everyone called him awe inspiring and charming. While his son Calleb… Luntian often wonders where the Prince, the son of Bathal, Calleb, get
Ursula shut her eyes shut, not wanting any more of this inhumane torture. She was deemed to be facing sudden death, more like she begged for it. Impregnated and treated like an animal. This was beyond humiliating. What she hated the most was how her body betrayed her at times. How the demons take her and fuck her until she cries and begs for mercy. She hated herself from feeling good. It almost felt good. Almost. Until she realized that the birth of the demon child would mean the coming of a bloodshed. Death in amounts no one could fathom. The woman laid her head on the makeshift pillow Kieran had made for her. Kieran was laying down beside her, the demon was caressing the bulge on her stomach. “Just leave already.” Ursula whined, lifting her head up upon the request. “I want to be alone.” Kieran laughed, then held up a thick leather strap in his other hand. It was studded with spikes, like everything else. A spike that would slam against Ursula’s thighs or arm, whichever part it w
The Kingdom of Shaldan has changed, and with a few more refurbishments, the Kingdom will be standing in all its glory once again. Almost two months had passed since they banished the evil Witch from their land. Bathal and Luntian sported a wide smile on both of their faces while greeting the Hunter’s village and the Betas and Omegas. The news of Accashia’s pregnancy gave them a new kind of hope for their Kingdom’s survival. She was four months pregnant, and in a few months their bundle of joy will see the world. Days have turned into weeks and weeks turned into a month. But instead of being happy after receiving the news of her pregnancy, the young lady became jarded. She became quiet and barely spoke to anyone. Anyone except her mate. Everyday Accashia would go to Calleb’s room and she’ll tell her mate what is going on in her everyday life. Whether it’s exciting news or just a mundane day. She does it as a routine, hoping that her mate would wake up. Even if it's about the changes
Luntian leads Bathal and Accashia towards the room where the sleeping Prince was kept safe. A few Beta’s and Omega’s lurked around the Castle, fixing the interiors and fixtures. All needed to be done to bring the ruined Castle back to its glory. The sound of nails and hammer hitting and banging against the wall resounded as Luntian closed the door of Calleb and Accashia’s chamber. Bathal, who was standing next to Accashia, told the Shaman to lock the door, to make sure that no one sees them. Even though his influence is scattered throughout the Castle and its borders, it does not mean that everyone is on their side. A King can never be too complacent, Bathal learned that the hard way. “It’s locked.” The Shaman announced with satisfaction in her eyes. Once they were free to move, the old woman foisted something from her pocket. A mixture of minerals, and once she’s satisfied with the ingredients on her hand, the old Shaman crushed them with their bare hands. She turned them into powe