“Wh-who is attacking us?” Keith asked breathlessly. He knew he should be frightened — and he was … somewhere deep inside his heart — but for some reason. He felt more ill rather than scared, more nauseated rather than terrified. Something felt wrong. Something evil was coming towards them. Something dark and unknown. He could feel it – he didn’t know and he didn’t care to guess but it was almost like waves of evil were emanating from somewhere ahead of them. The forest — the trees and the bushes before him seemed to gape open, and the sound of trees crashing against the ground made him take a step back. A sound so loud resounded and it hurt his ears, making his ears ring and he gritted his teeth. The sound was so loud that it resembled a cannon being fired. And when he saw the creatures — the monsters that were responsible for all the commotion, Tyrone had to blink a few times to make sure that he wasn’t having a nightmare. The light from the stars and the moon were obscured by a w
He had imagined that he would have felt remorseful or even the slightest bit shocked but it surprised him, and scared him — that he felt a sense of defeat and a great sense of loss. It almost felt as if seeing and hearing that he wasn’t the only beast around left him completely mortified and yet he was not. He saw an illusion of another beast. It appeared then it was gone in a snap of a finger. Calleb thought what could be or what could have been the best thing that he could have done. For he was left motionless, and almost felt number when the Shadows fists landed on his jaw and stomach. He heard another sniff and then another one of the Shadows moved into the light. And then another and another … and another. Within moments, six more of those creatures appeared, twining their bodies against one another, coating each other with more blood and more human remains. Rotten flesh, absolutely putride and gut wrenching. The stench was unbearable and Calleb had to hold on to his breath fo
Calleb growled, there's an unexplainable ache in his heart and he wonders why he is remembering his mother’s face right now. "Don’t play with me..." “And why would I play games with you, hm, Calleb Shaldan?” The Wicked Witch raised one eyebrow in mock surprise. “I’d never play around with royal blood. After all… I was one of the anointed ones to serve you.” Ursula let out a loud cackle and it made Calleb grit his teeth in sheer frustration, obviously the witch was playing with them. And he did not like it one bit. She flicked a quick glance at Luntian, which surprised the Shaman after seeing how much Ursula had changed. “And you… my dear sister, Luntian. I’ve heard that you’ve been taking care of the young Prince ever since the day his parents died. Then… Why didn’t you tell him about me? About why his parents died. How many years have passed since that day? Hm? 600 years or more, perhaps?” “What is that twisted woman talking about, huh, Luntian.” Calleb growled through gritted teet
“Calleb, Accashia… run.” Luntian cracked, her throat being crushed by the powerful shaman’s power. It feels as if everything is a dream. The battle under the moon. The blood. The Shadows, the beast. And now… Luntian was dying. “Luntian!” Calleb screamed as he caught a glimpse of the ragged edge to the wound on the old Shaman’s neck. He could feel the bile rising from his stomach to his mouth when he saw the Wicked Witch’s long sharp nails piercing Luntian’s throat and slashing it until blood gushed out. His eyes widened when he saw the woman who raised him losing her life. No time to be scared, no time to be freaked out. He had to rescue the Old Shaman. “We have to help her. We have to help Luntian.” Calleb said with much conviction that his lips trembled. The young man was immense and focused on fighting and killing off the Shadows that he did not notice he was wounded as well. “We have to get to her, now!” “But how?!” Accashia asked as she raised her hand. Brandishing the sw
“Are you prepared to see your mother, hm, Calleb Shaldan.” Ursula told Calleb quietly, greeting the young prince with a cordial smile. Both Calleb and Accashia stood some distance away from the door of the castle where the Wicked Witch stood. Calleb’s eyes were burning with anger, and he was staring at Ursula with such killing intent that Accashia felt it on his soul. Calleb’s soul, which was a beautiful kaleidoscope color changed, and was laced with something dark. His anger was taking over him slowly. Accashia could hear from the distance how loud Calleb’s growl was. The young man cracked his knuckles and the sounds were loud and soft and shocking at the same time. “You’re going to pay for what you’ve done!” Calleb screamed aloud. And his voice reverberated around the center of the forest. Tears fell from his eyes, and in a swift motion he wiped off the tears away and his face contorted to something dark. Almost menacing. “I’m going to kill you!” “Yes,yes,yes… I’ve killed the poo
“You tricked me into it, you fooled me!” Accashia screamed like a deranged woman. Not because of anger, but because of guilt. Because whatever the Witch had thrown at her were all true. “You’re the one who tricked me and you’re the one who killed Luntian! You're the one who is guilty!” Calleb watched and witnessed first hand how the young lady ran towards the Wicked Witch’s direction. Everything happened in slow motion, like fire burning slowly and embers were dancing on the bonfire. Accashia’s eyes burnt with anger, and yet — the Wicked witch had a cold smile on her face. “Oh, Accashia… you’re as guilty as a rat. And I see it in your eyes. For that — you die, along with your mate!” There was a loud chiming sound and then the Wicked Witch flexed. With a resounding crack, she slammed her staff against the ground and fire began to combust on the dry, withered grass. The Wicked Witch vanishes from the gate as she lets out a loud cackle and only embers of the fire remain. Flicking, disa
Accashia knew she had to do something but what could she do? The young lady glanced around fitfully, looking for something – anything – that could help. “Mother — no!” Accashia screamed — a cold voice ringing on Calleb’s ears — seemingly scraping and piercing against his eardrums painfully when the blade pierced Ember’s soul and released her from the spell. But when she was released from the spell — her soul disappeared as well.. Accashia placed her finger against her mouth — trying to hush the raging anger and regret inside of her. “Mama!” The young lady cried out loud. “Mama, I’m sorry — I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to!” Calleb watched as Ember’s soul disappeared into nothing. The bones that had protected and shelled the soul had already fallen on the ground. A part of him thought that it would all be over; that Accashia had successfully aimed the blade towards the Wicked Witch’s heart. Never did he imagine that the witch would stoop so low to shield herself with such a fragile soul.
The young lady barely escaped death with her mate. Everything happened so fast that Accashia could still feel her fingers, toes and cheeks tingle, a sensation that was foreign to her. She pulled a kind of strength inside of her that the young woman thought was never possible. She has a gift. A power that was bestowed upon her by the Goddess of the moon. She felt a ring on her ears as the vines protruded and shot up from the ground. Dried vines with thorns appeared from the earth on her command. “I am Accashia Corbok, mate of Calleb Shaldan and I will not let you hurt him! Now, let go!” The thorny vines latched at the arms, legs and snout of the beast, preventing him from doing any more harm to her and Calleb. After she saw the opportunity — the chance to escape, Accashia did not think twice and ran towards her mate, wishing that the vines were strong enough to hold the large beast. And she did. She managed to grab a hold of him. But when she turned towards the Witch and the beast’
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