Nyka glared, her grip tightening around her sword. She made a move to step forward but someone tossed his sword to the ground next to her.“Saviour,” he said and he slipped to his knees. “Father?” Nyka questioned the man, stunned. “What are you—”“The Heir of the Lost Throne!” He bowed. “Finally.”More and more people tossed their swords to the ground and soon enough the chanting of saviour filled the air. With a glare, Nyka sheathed her sword and turned away. Everyone else might be foolish and desperate enough to believe the words of this “saviour” but she wasn’t. There was something about him that didn't put her at ease.Something about him that didn't feel right. She would find out what that thing was and put an end to this madness. That was a promise.“And I swear to you that every last member of the Houses against us shall I bring to ashes. Their blood will be our wine and their bones flimsy ornaments! This is my oath to you.” With a claw, he slashed his palm and made a blood
They stepped into a part of the cave and a curtain was swept aside gently for them to see the Channeller. Alaris stopped in his tracks, his eyes filled with a sense of familiarity. “You,” he said. The light skinned woman that was lying on the bed looked up at him. Her eyes were deep into their sockets and her skin seemed too light to cover her bones entirely away. Her sickness must be grave. That made Belladonna worried about her abilities, but now with Alaris words, that wasn't the only thing she was curious about. Who was this woman to Alaris? He seemed to know her?“Mother?” The word was a light whisper, there was doubt etched in there somewhere but there was the person presently in front of him that was putting that doubt at a conflict. With the help of Leader Tyrek, she sat up on the bed and she blinked. A gentle smile caressed her lips as she focused on Alaris. “I have no children.”“You look like my mother. An older version of her.” “You must be speaking of my twin sist
“No—” she heard Alaris object to it but it was too late. Something surged straight through her hand, from right right where their hands were in contact. She could feel the strange presence move through her, until it went to her head and she felt it fit into her mind. An odd presence; an added weight. When it was over, she opened her eyes.“Is it done then? You will show me the way.” The Channeler smiled broadly. “Of course. Just go to the Castle and I will guide you.” She nodded, then she stepped out of that section of the cave and headed back to the section they were in before. She could hear Alaris' displeased voice, sharp and filled with anger as he spoke to the Chaneller. She knew this would happen. It was for this reason that she left immediately.Belladonna felt light on her feet. She couldn't tell if it was from hunger or from the possession she had just consented to. Her head felt heavier than ever before. It seemed the presence of a sick Chaneller was greater than the
Lycan’s Realm.Aniya couldn't tell how much time had gone by but she knew it wasn't much. A couple of days maybe, but that was as all that there was to it. However, that didn't make her feel at ease at all. Arlo was doing so much better now and for that she was happy, but that still didn't get rid of her fears. Aniya knew that she was not accepted here, and she was constantly afraid of her food getting poisoned or someone attacking her and Arlo in their sleep; not that she got much sleep to begin with. She also hadn't seen Ikrus since her first day here.She didn't know how to feel about that. He was the only one she knew here, besides Oana - her new friend, at least that was what she called herself.She heaved a sigh as she paced around the room, patting Arlo's back to sleep. Aniya missed her family. She wanted to leave, this place wasn't for her nor was it for Arlo. She needed to get them out of here as soon as possible. There were no real plans in her head and she couldn't tell
Her body remained tense as she waited for him to drive his teeth into her neck and rip it apart; waited for him to give her that pain once again. She could already feel unconsciousness spreading around the edges of her heart. It was hard to breathe. With bated breath she waited for death, her fingers digging into the bed spread, her hands tight around Arlo. How could he be sleeping so soundly in a moment like this?Thump! Thump! Thump!But the bite she was waiting for never came. Instead, his nose rubbed against her skin and his tongue glided over her neck. Protest was at the tip of her tongue but the feeling that spread through her, from the depth of her stomach at this contact, was something completely different. Something she had never felt before. She shuddered slightly and a moan slipped past her lips. She arched her body to him instinctively for more— then she snapped back to her senses and pulled away immediately shocked. She staggered off the bed, moving far away from h
“Maybe the King is right.” Veris’ gentle voice conveyed harsh meanings. It fired up something in Ikrus' heart that even the gentle winds of the night couldn't put out. They were sitting on this part of the roof of the Moon’s Temple, detached from what was below and into the serenity of what was above. Veris loved to sit on this part of the roof, he always said it made him see the moon without any obstruction. His obsession with the Moon could be understood, after all, he would be the next Elder Superior, the one chosen by the Moon Goddess herself ever since birth. He was marked by the image of a crescent moon on his forehead, it glowed softly all the time. Maybe there would be more marks to come when he would finally take his place as the Elder Superior.Right now, he was only in training. It was no news that the present Elder Superior wasn't fond of Veris. He wasn't chosen by the Moon goddess but chosen by the Alpha, which meant that he had no direct link with their goddess. Veri
“So much merriment while we rot in hiding just because of a self proclaimed saviour! A self proclaimed savior that has done nothing for us. The Heir of the Lost Throne!” She hissed, baring her teeth. “For how long will this foolish behavior continue? It irks me!” Nyka said the moment she stepped into the section of the Cave that belonged to the Channeller. “And good evening to you too, Nyka.” A smile bloomed on her face, and she hurried to the Channeller who was standing at one side of the cave. Standing!“Gamama!” She slipped her arms around her in an embrace, overjoyed to see her looking better than she had in years. “You look amazing. Like the sun kissed your skin. The herbs must finally be working. I will go and gather some more…”The Channeller laughed. “There will be no need for that.” Then she pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Instead, tell me why do you hate them so much? It is not like you to hate without reason.” She asked as she cupped her face and tucked a couple of stra
It was a masked ball.By Ignas, that was just perfect. It was as if luck was on their side.However, Belladonna and Alaris weren't attending as guests, that would make things too complicated. They snuck into the castle, disguised as servants. The Royals never really paid them attention. Glowing hair was a distinct feature for the Royal members of the Houses, that was something Belladonna came to realize. So Alaris had to tuck his hair away in a tightly wrapped scarf, hide his scars with a mixture that dulled them away and added black long beards. He looked completely different.Belladonna didn't have to do much. There wasn't really anything distinctive about her to begin with, which she found really surprising now that she was noticing it. Alaris led the way into the Castle and he reported that they were here for duty.“I don't think I have seen you around here before,” a guard at the door gate. “We are extra hands for the ball,” Alaris answered. Belladonna tried to look as conf
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.