Finally, the gem was out. The Gardener dropped it on the Cave floor, letting it roll however it would like. He held Gaya in his arms while she drew her last breath. As she moved closer to death, his chains glowed green and began to fade away. “Oh my love, if only you had stayed in love with only me, it wouldn't have been this way.”She smiled up at him, fighting to speak. “Many I may love, but you will always be my Moon.”Fools.Alaris thought at their display of stupid affection for each other. How could they be Iobe after everything they had done to each other? The venom from the snake bite had only paralyzed him for that moment and done nothing more. He had recovered from the bite even before he had been tossed into the lake of lava and had hung on to the snake on his way down. He had heard every single detail of their love story, and he didn't think any of that was worth dying for or grieving the death of another about.However, that was none of his concern. His only concern r
Care?That was ridiculous!Soon enough, Veris would accuse him of loving her. Such madness. Ikrus wanted to stand against that statement but it was true that he cared about her. Only that the way Veris had said it made it seem like it was much more than what the bond they shared had necessitated.By the Moon, such foolery!“Not enough to sway logic and reasoning if that is what you are asking for.” He calmly corrected him. “The little one,” he said in reference to Arlo, “will still stay here and I will stay here too, till it is time to go to the North Border. I will send her a letter to explain the situation and what my presence would signify on the day she sees me. She should have all the peace she needs.”Since Ikrus was himself once again, Veris had undone his chains. He provided him with some writing materials and soon enough, the letter was ready. It wasn't easy to find a messenger to deliver the message. Although, it was always easy to find a messenger to deliver letters in
There was something about his brown eyes that struck something deep within her, like a memory buried far beneath in a place she could never reach. Was this a kind of ability he had? To make people uneasy before him?She didn't like it. It was confusing. It was something she didn't need. Meeting him twice and having him remember her in a place she shouldn't even have called attention to herself was something she didn't need. “You are hurt?”“I am alright… Milord,” she said, quickly attempting to stand up and failing yet again. The fall was definitely greater than she thought it was. Was it a dislocation or a fracture? Why wasn't she feeling terrible pain yet? The glowing brown haired man knelt by her side and that did nothing but heightened Belladonna's worry. By Ignas, what was he doing?!She hadn't been in this Realm for the longest time to know most of their customs but she was certain a person of high status, even in this realm, wasn’t supposed to have this much concern for a
“Have you come here in these flirty and torn clothes for him to dip you in a tub that isn't his and lick you clean with his lowborn wretched tongue?!”“What are you saying, Milord? This is madness, I am nothing to you.”Was this how they behaved in this realm?“Tell me his name!”Belladonna finally lost it and she snapped. “I did not come here to see anyone. I was lost, I’m new here.”His brown eyes darkened with even more rage. Belladonna didn't feel safe with the flames that burned at his fingertips, as they grew. “You smell of another. A male. Don't lie to me.”By Ignas, the insanity!“I don't even know you!”“I don't know you and you torture me! What do you want from me?!”He blinked, taking a step back, the fire that laced his hands dying. “Torture? No. I—” He took another step back, blinking as if in confusion, before taking off one of the golden rings he had on his finger. He reached out for her hand, and she pulled away, but his hand grabbed her wrist still, and before she
“I did what I had to do!” She fired and he raised his hand, his claws sharp and the light from the gem glowing on them. “Ka'el of the Second House!”He stopped. “It wasn't a betrayal! I am using him to get us medicine and help with our survival.”Alaris scoffed, keeping his gaze on Ny’ka so as not to miss anything. “A son of the Second House is helping the revolution against the White King they wholeheartedly serve. Your lie infuriates me. Try again!”“No! I’m telling the truth. Please talk to him—” She tried to speak to Belladonna, but Alaris blocked her gaze. Belladonna frowned. Speak to him? Say what?“Speak the truth and maybe I’ll spare you.” “It is the truth! He is a bastard of the House and they are not kind to him. He is easy to fool.”“What was he promised?” After all, even a fool has to be fooled with something. “The crown when we win… and me as his wife. I intend to give him none but his help is great, so I endure.” Belladonna and Alaris watched her, not convinced bu
The next thing the Priest requested dashed Belladonna’s hope. Something that belonged to Eli?She had lost his ring to the sirens and the necklace she was now realizing wasn't with her any longer. There was nothing she could provide that belonged to Eli. “We have memories of him. That can be used, right?” Alaris asked and the Priest nodded. “If it is strong enough. But memories are tricky, they must not be strained. It is a warning to tread carefully.” Then he looked at both of them.“Or what will happen?”“Madness or worse. It is a thing of the mind, the mind is very delicate.”Belladonna nodded. That didn't scare her, nothing did. “One must volunteer.” Belladonna did. It was the better option. Most of the memories Alaris had of Eli were filled with rage and betrayal. Although the way he felt towards his brother had now changed, that didn't change the memories. Besides, as much as Alaris could now tolerate his brother, risking his sanity for him was something he wasn't prepare
She took a step towards him, but the more she moved towards him, the lengthier the distance between them became. Pain seeped into her joints and her flesh, her head aching suddenly. “Eli!” She cried out but he was too far away, he couldn't hear her. She continued to run through. She just had to get closer. By Ignas, just closer!Suddenly the road stopped moving and she was actually getting closer!A smile crossed her lips, a breathy chuckle of victory. “Eli!”He wasn't moving though, but she was so close, so close she could touch him. Then he turned, his eyes staring right at her. Cold eyes filled with unfamiliarity.“Eli–”“Do not come back.” His lips did not move but his voice echoed all around her. She opened her mouth to ask him what that meant, to beg him to come with her, to tell him that she missed him but suddenly, a tornado wrapped around her, yanking her away from him and breaking the road into two, violently lifting her off the ground as she screamed. The force of
Two days had passed since Ikrus had shifted into his wolf and almost killed her, since she had that argument with the Luna. Ikrus wasn't back yet and Oana was nowhere to be found. Goldie must be really injured. It was a good thing she hadn't ran into the Alpha while touring the Pack House during her free time. As much as Aniya was glad about Ikrus absence, she felt unsettled with every second she didn't see him. Was he simply giving her time to prepare for her death?Besides that, she had caught herself being worried about him. What had become of him? Had he been killed that night? No one seemed to be talking about him. Was this something he did all the time?Why was she worried about him?She had someone better to worry about, like her son. Arlo, her poor baby. By Ignas, she needed to find her son, she needed to go back to Inaymi. The guards were of no help when she tried to ask about how she could communicate to Oana, and with her argument with the Luna, she was certain that
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.