The introductions were over and some guards came to take the presents away. The Princess headed back to the Stone Bleachers and Aniya followed. While she did, she contemplated pulling the Princess aside and telling her about her suspicions but then she would have a lot of explanation to do.She would have to tell her about the earring and it came into her possession. On the other hand, what if she was overthinking this? What if she was wrong in her suspicion? She would have to give up the only thing she had power over and then she would have no means of escaping this Realm. Besides, this was a Realm she was new too, she didn't know much about how they did things here. What if what she was suspicious of was something completely normal. She kept thinking about this till they were seated at the Stone Bleachers once again.when she finally concluded that she was just overthinking this. The Princess’ friends welcomed her with a smile and open arms. Aniya was once again seated right n
Aniya frowned, hiding behind one tent to another, as she moved so that she would get closer and find out about the discussions going on in the tent. It was probably about an attack, an information she would sell at the price of the freedom of her and her son. “---e cannot keep doing this.” Ula protested in a low whisper. “---promised… if I win.” Aniya smiled, glad that she could finally hear them and hoping that they would be too busy to notice her still shadow. Hopefully, the tent was thick enough to hide that away. “There will be consequences if they find out.” “No one will know,” a husky voice said.There was a rustle. Movements. Then muffled sounds that Aniya knew all too well.Aniya rolled her eyes. By Ignas, this was disappointing. Of course, not every volunteer would be sincere with the “sacred vows”. She burst into the tent, catching Ula and her lover, who was behind her, holding her to him with his palm over her mouth.He had his pants down and her dress hiked up to
“Who gave you the earring? Who is with the other pair?”Ula pointed at the man and he scoffed.Aniya smiled, and adjusted Ula’s scarf. “Good.” Ula trembled slightly, still afraid and unsure of what this interaction might bring. When Aniya offered her a hand, she flinched slightly, eyed it with suspicion and fear before she took it. The moment she was on her feet once more, she let Aniya’s hand go immediately and took a step back. “Face me with whatever accusations you have and let her go.” Aniya ignored him, instead she asked Ula if any child had been brought to the Temple recently to which Ula confirmed that it was true. “He cries a lot.” That brought Aniya no comfort at all. Arlo wasn't the type of child to always cry.By Ignas, what were they feeding her poor son?! Were they even taking care of him?“The Head Mistress tries her best.”That still wasn't enough. It didn't feel enough! The urge to see him rushed over her but from what she had learnt so far, sometimes others wer
Fuck.He didn't have time for this!Alaris covered the distance between them as swiftly as possible. He wasn’t as fast as he used to be and she had managed to take a couple of steps back before he finally grabbed her and threw her over his shoulder as he looked around in preparation to confront any beast that might come out to attack them. “You lied to me. You betrayed me.” Her voice was broken now. She wasn't even fighting him. “Why?” She asked as he continued their journey with her on his shoulder. He just couldn't wait to get out of here already. The thought of ending up with that ugly looking star-shaped creature made him recoil.“We had time.”“Yes and at the cost of a small part of my soul. I think I get to decide on how we use that time.”“They asked for it. I didn't want to give it to them, I told you every–”“I’m losing my dragon. I don't think I can live without him. The quicker we get to the gem, the better for me.” There was silence before he added like an afterthought.
There was no beast to be fought at the turning point to the Resurrection Ground, which Belladonna was most grateful for. Then finally, she was here. The place that promised to bring back everything to perfection in her life, only that it looked nothing like she had expected. She didn't even know what she had expected but certainly it wasn't a wooden bridge that had everything starting from the middle of it, concealed in a fog. The air was strange, it made her nostrils dry and it felt like the wind was whispering. Heart pounding, she took a step on the bridge and immediately a voice spoke from the fog, making her come to a halt. “Another Wanderer.” From the fog a lantern appeared mid air and a flame sparked to life in it, providing light. Still that light was too dim for her to see into the mist. “Tell me, who is it that you seek?”No one appeared to her yet, it felt like the mist itself was the one speaking to her. The voice was ghostly and cold.Words rushed out of her mouth. “
Aniya blinked, confused until she realized that the covers had slipped away from her body and her breasts had managed to find their way out of her blouse while she slept. She quickly tucked them away, adjusting her dress. After the guard had helped her to her room, she had started preparing to express her milk but strangely, she had fallen asleep. Ula must be gone by now.Aniya got out of bed to help the man on the floor. When she extended her hand to him, he took it but ensured that he kept his gaze to the floor.“Who are you?”“An omega, a servant. I saw nothing—”“It is safe to look up.”He did. Blood was running down the side of his face, the black curls that fell over his forehead hiding the cut away. He was just a little taller than she was, and he looked like he was around the same age as she was. His clothes were enough to tell of his status, he also had the leanness of a servant.“I ran here because I heard you screaming but now that you are alright—” he pulled his hand awa
The lantern slipped out of her grip and hit the ground. For a second it felt like everything had gone still, so still she couldn't even breathe. For that second, her world crashed down and built itself back up again. Eli. Her mind whispered but her lips were too still with shock to speak. Tears raised to the brim of her lower eyelids.“Donna.”Her body moved on its accord and she broke into a race, afraid that if she didn't get to him fast enough, he would disappear with the fog. Scared that he might even be actually there.She collided into his embrace as his warm arms slided around her, tears streamed down her cheeks and her lips met his that readily moved against hers in a gentle rhythm.Slow and filled with so many unspoken words.Her heart tightened with how overwhelming this felt but to pull away and feel his breath warm upon her face made it feel like everything had finally fallen into place.A bittersweet feeling.Her hands were around his neck, her fingers slipping into hi
She stumbled backwards as she pressed her hands against either side of her head. Her heel hit a rock and she sat on it, her legs feeling too feeble to hold her up. Afraid. Vulnerable. Overwhelmed. The words kept echoing in her head.A Life For A Life. Her hands trembled as she tried to force herself not to cry but think. Think, Belladonna!Think!At that moment, she felt his hands over hers, warm. For a second, the war that raged on her mind died down and when the tears that fogged her sight steamed down her cheeks, she saw that he was on a knee. His eyes looked like they understood what she was going through, even with his recent absence in her life, but that wasn't the only thing in his eyes. She cupped his face in her hands and he took in a deep breath. “Your eyes are a shade that I do not know.”They were black, completely black. It was surprising that she was just noticing it. “Death does make its changes, but I am still me, Donna.” His hands slipped down her waist. “I am
A pregnant woman's unwanted friends were swollen feet. Eli would usually help her massage them just as he was doing now. She was reading a book to him and he listened with rapt attention. His paintings adored the room, a piano at one corner, her sewing equipment at another corner with two studies joined to the room.He chuckled at something she read and she rolled her eyes. She had become quite irritable lately, little things would get on her nerves. It was just an interesting change to watch, especially because food was usually the cure, all kinds of food in their weirdest combinations. He had tried one once, it was terrible. She snapped the book shut. “By Ignas, do go on. I take back my laughter.”She seemed to have something else on her mind though. “Do you think I’m fat?”He smiled, “Like I always say, you are not fat, you are just pregnant.”“So you would want me like this?”He chuckled, the sound throaty as he buried his face into the crook of her neck. He moved quickly, she c
Eli and Belladonna had come a long way. After death pays a visit, who would expect a joining ceremony?The trail was only hours ago and everything still felt shocking to Belladonna. She was the Kore and Eli was the right-hand man to the UnderLord. She was no longer a ghost but a High Realm that could move from one realm to another, and grant to only those who deserved it a second chance at life. She was a Kore with no realm of her own but one she must build from scratch. The Fate had dissolved the Kore’s realm after they based their judgment on the previous one. Luna and Ama had promised to help her in all ways they could and Belladonna was grateful for the offer. She was more excited about her ability to move from one realm to another though. She couldn’t wait to see her sister, Arlo, and Alaris even though they might not be able to see her. As Eli had told her, the UnderLord didn’t have a right-hand man for a very long time. Many Thanatos had been trying to acquire the position.
“She passed two tests!” Ama sprung up from her seat., “There must be something—““You are not one of this council,” the Ghost High Being turned to her sharply, “so keep your voice out of the decisions.” Belladonna's eyes widened. Two tests! So Eli—- Ah by Ignas, she had been right. Where was Eli? Why hadn’t they let him come in yet?Ama smirked, “Still holding a grudge, Phosi? I see.”“Passed the two tests? It is obvious that she has failed. The rules are the rules,” The Sea High Being spoke, “she has failed. Pass the judgment, I have places to be.”Failed? Belladonna felt that painful jolt in her heart. What were they even talking about?!The hall seemed to share the same confusion as Belladonna, they whispered amongst one another. “Failed?!” Luna snapped. “How did she fail? It is not her fault that her soul didn’t align——““The rules are the rules! And you are not a part of this Council, stay out of it!” The High Being of the Sea snapped. “End this already,” he said to the Fates,
The days that followed were fast and the training was tedious, Luna helped as much as she could, probably more than any mentor ever would. Life in the Moonrealm was wonderful, but for the things that shattered her peace. After training in the Moonrealm for two moons, Luna had not-so-pleasant news for her. Eli was to undergo a test too, a single test.“He has to fight the UnderLord and defeat him.”“Who will train him?”“The UnderLord.”There was no way the UnderLord would train Eli enough to be able to defeat him. “He chose him to be his master.”Belladonna paused. Eli was definitely plotting something.“Also, the failure of one is the failure of both of you.”Belladonna blinked, the times and the trails were against them but Eli was no fool. He definitely had something planned. ——-——-[TRIAL DAY]The first thing Belladonna saw when she stepped into the hall was a woman on her knees screaming in agony, while three faceless people with the staff in their hands stood around her, the
Preparation“It is believed that holding the title of the Kore is a curse and there is a reason for that. Everyone that becomes the Kore always has a terrible end.” Luna paused as if considering her next words before she finally spoke. “Reincarnation should be beautiful, not filled with so many problems. Reincarnation and second chances, do you not think so, Belladonna?”Belladonna nodded, wanting to know about the Kore already, but instead of continuing with what she had to say, Luna drew a line in thin air, and a floating lightly illuminated map unraveled between them. There were different floating objects on the map, probably to signify places. “For your third test, you must be chosen as an apprenticeship for one of the Realm Lords.”“Chosen?”“It is quite tricky as it is your soul that chooses for you and if the Realm Lord of the one your soul along with thinks you are fit, then you will have passed the third test.”“I don’t understand. Something seems to be missing. What about t
“What?!” Belladonna yelled, grabbing Ama’s wrists tightly with rage. “How could not tell me?!”“How dare you disrespect me?!” Ama snapped her hands away from Belladonna’s grip, fury blazing in her eyes as she started getting bigger, losing the frame she had fitted herself into. Belladonna stayed firm, her anger refusing her to feel fear. How dare they drag Aniya into this? How dare they? If she had known, she wouldn't— By Ignas, she wouldn't have done this!To ruin another’s life for the sake of her happiness? Never!No.Then Ama stopped, looked at the castle, and was back to normal in a flash as if a thought had flashed into her mind to make her reconsider. “I will spare you the wrath of my mate only this once. You will not disrespect me again,” She said firmly but those were words Belladonna couldn't hear.They sounded like echoes in the background. Anger changed into fear, not for her but for Aniya.She fell to her knees and wept. “You must reverse it. Please, I am begging. Ask f
“Eli.” Tears were streaming down her face now.Finally, they could touch but this moment wouldn’t last forever, and they intended to exploit it for as long as they could.“Do you love me, Donna?” His hand cupped the side of her face.“You know I love you.” She slipped her fingers through his hair which had grown longer than she remembered. She had certainly not seen all of the real him when he possessed Jyris’ body. Now, he looked so different. “By Ignas, I do. I love you, Eli.”“And I love you too. No amount of this torture, nor of passage of time will take that away. I grant you the permission to forget me. You need not feel any guilt, it will be the best way of loving me.”Belladonna wiped her tears away. “It is ironic, you begged me to choose you in Gaya’s garden and I did not, and now that I want to choose you, you are begging not to.” The words spilled quickly out of mouth, as they tried to make the best use of their borrowed time.A glimmer of a smile snaked into his eyes. “It
The journey to Eli’s dungeon felt like a repeat of past events, it was like a flash of what had happened after the Red Moon Ritual, a reminder of the time Alaris had led her to his dungeon. She had followed Alaris with worry and love for him in her heart, then she found him in chains and finally, she left his presence betrayed, sad, and a grounded hatred for him.It felt sickening to be in this type of situation again though under different circumstances. She wished it was over, she wished she had seen him and saved him. She heard his voice before she saw him. A shout filled with agony. Her heart clenched with pain as she prepared herself to see the worst. Ama stopped walking and Belladonna who was following her did the same. Why had they stopped? She couldn’t see Eli anywhere, in fact, she could barely see her surroundings; she could still hear his voice though, and that in itself was too painful to bear. What type of torture were they putting him through? Suddenly, the growls of
The next thing Belladonna knew, her blindfold was ripped away from her and she was tossed roughly to the floor, her hands and knees bearing the brunt of the action. She expected pain but that never came. Oh, of course.The room was lit with red dim lights, however for Belladonna who had stayed in the dark for too long, the light felt blinding. The structure of the hall seemed like a throne room but it was of such an intricate design that she had no time to access it, the only thing that caught her eye was the strange, massive, dangling bed-like structure with curtains, connected with a chain to the roof of the hall; she could only assume that, it was too dark to see into the distance above. She rose to her feet and froze when she heard growls and gnashing behind her and she turned to look back, frightened. This beast, she had seen it before. Four-legged with three heads of mighty wild dogs, rough rocky skin with visible maps of the lava contained within. Vicious and ready to kill.