Please Note - An asterisk before the dialogue means the words are being said in another language.________She trembled, her eyes begging. A monster. A Monster!A beast that would kill her!Her mind repeated over and over again. There were claw marks on his face, deep painful lines engraved into his skin, and his eyes… they looked wildly different. There was blood, so much blood.Why was he covered in all that blood?!Tingling feelings spread where his hand met her skin, but her fear was overpowering. It was all she could feel. His eyes seemed to communicate with her and she gave jerky nods to assure him that she would stay silent. He pulled his hand away from her and the first word that slipped out of her lips was a whisper. “My son—” she begged, keeping her eyes fixed on him while she spread her hands around her in a desperate search for Arlo. Her hand touched something —no, someone on the bed. Her son!She pulled Arlo into her arms quickly, pressed him to her chest securel
Aniya flinched, and Ulima quickly wiped the milk away with their napkin. *” Go back to where you came from, you maggot.” Her eyes were filled with apology, her voice was gentle and soothing, while the words that slipped past her lips were nothing but foul.The other maid, Ganisa, quickly knelt by Aniya’s side, getting the other stains of the milk off Aniya’s skin with her napkin. She wiped too hard on nothing, and Aniya flinched. *“The stains that I give the earth are better than you.” She held Aniya’s gaze, like she was giving an apology. Mistaking their words for apologies, Aniya nodded, telling them not to worry about her. She had more things to worry about right now than the stinging feeling in her shoulder. Despite feeding him, her son was still warmer than he should be in her arms. Her worry was consuming her. Hopefully, they would be able to understand her language. “Are there any physicians that can help me? My son is sick.” Tears built up in her eyes. If Arlo were to die
‘From the sky the heir of the lost throne will come With flames and rageFor revenge, freedom and his place.In the ashes of his enemies would he bathAnd there will be none more powerful, none more great.”Those lines had been said to people over and over again, and they had believed.They chanted it to themselves like a mantra. The heir of the lost throne would come…He would fight for them, take for them their freedoms with blood and violence. He would make all their sacrifices worth it in the end.He was their hope. Once upon a time they stood by the Lost Throne because of their utmost loyalty and allegiance to those who had ruled on it before it was lost, but after a while and a lot of suffering that was melted on them by the White King and his followers, even their strong allegiance and loyalty died, all that was left was now was hope. But hope was a funny thing; as powerful as it was weak.As the people from the House of Zoter fought, there seemed to be no hope from the sky
The Heir that was promised?Saviour?Belladonna found those words confusing. In fact, she found many things that were happening here very confusing. After she had stepped into that portal she had been jolted around by the force that transported her to another Realm. She felt weak and could barely stand. Also there were many flashes of different memories in her head, ones that she couldn't even remember right now. But that wasn't what she found to be most confusing. Upon entering into the Realm that Alaris had promised would help her bring Eli back, a war had welcomed her. Not just that, a war Alaris had to intervene in. Not just that too but one that the people called him “The Heir of the Lost Throne”, but still that wasn't all. The most confusing part was the language they were speaking. This wasn't the language they spoke in Ignas but yet she could perfectly understand them like she had been speaking this language her entire life. It reminded her of a time that Alaris had mad
It took about two more days to get to “the rest”. The Priest had led them to pass through a waterfall, right into a cave while making use of a couple of words that were certainly spells that helped to keep this hideout a secret. For Belladonna, each moment felt too long. She wanted to see the Chaneller as soon as possible. She just couldn't stop thinking about Eli, their last moment together and her child that she had lost. Maybe she could use the power of the gem to reverse time, this time around she would do things differently and have everything that she had lost. All she needed was a Chaneller and her life would make sense again. Belladonna clutched her hand around the pendant of her necklace as they stepped further into the cave. She could hear the sound of the water gushing until it became fainter and fainter. They were moving away from the mouth of the cave and deeper into the cave. It was quiet, like there was no one here… and that was when it happened.Suddenly, someone
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
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.