The news of what had happened in Aniktaki flew to the Castle faster than Belladonna had expected.It was late in the afternoon, the next day, and Eli was freaking out about how he couldn't get this information any faster. "I think I should put some people in every village to report back to me as soon as things like this happen." He said as he paced around his study. "I feel like there are so many things that I do not know that I should know.""Calm down. I believe it was nothing much just as the report said," Belladonna said from where she was leaning against the wall."It said their Badura's cave was broken into.""And that they handled it and nothing was missing," Belladonna flashed him a small assuring smile. Eli shrugged, going back to his table and reading the letter for the umpteenth time. "I think it is the One with the White Aura---" he stopped abruptly his gaze slowly moving to her as he caught a glimpse of her move awkwardly. That was something she didn't want him to see
Nadia was missing. Belladonna had discovered that when she had decided to run some things with Nadia, so she would be able to focus on her mission during the day instead. Now, that she knew Lady Kestra was hot on her trail, she couldn't let any second go to waste. Belladonna wanted to believe that after they had gone to the Cave, the Nahiri also went to the cave too, and that was what had led Lady Kestra there. But that was a wild guess and a stupid one to foolishly believe in. Lady Kestra was with the piece of cloth that had her blood on it, she had definitely used that to track her down. By Ignas, the situation was messed up and it got messier when she realized that Nadia was missing. Of all the insane things to happen today, that just had to be one of them. She just disappeared. Belladonna had suspected Lady Kestra for her disappearance, and she had convinced Eli to have her Work Room checked. She just had a great feeling that she had something to do with it.Eli had felt re
Belladonna almost lost her mind when Alaris had told her that the place he had taken them to wasn't where they would get the sunflower but the Village of Nakunriver, the land of water. It was the sixth village of Ignas, with more water than land, so much that houses had to be built on it with strong wooden foundations to keep them afloat. Their transport, their source of livelihood, their customs, and many things were all centered around the water that surrounded them."Take me where I can get the Thanatos' sunflower immediately," Belladonna demanded, her anger toward him almost consuming, as she stood on the wooden deck of the bridge and stared at the boats and ships on the sea, the lights from the lanterns attached to them, illuminating the dark waters as goosebumps pebbled on her skin from the cold.By Ignas, she should have worn something with long sleeves. How dare the Bride Thief mess with her plans? This just wasn't the time for anything that wasn't going to get her that Than
Belladonna didn't know how she had found her way to the edge of the wooden bridge, but when she calmed down, she had found herself there."Don't be too hard on yourself."She didn't need to look to know that was Alaris. Even if she looked, what would she see?Moria Nakunriver. Her family should be the head of the village, but if what she had heard was right, her father had died from grief when the need for another bride had been announced. It wasn't even up to a year yet. It made Belladonna think of how much damage Eli's way of solving his curse had brought to different families. How many people's death had he indirectly caused? Even though, Lady Kestra was the root of this problem, at some point, the King must have given real consent, especially to the Choosing Ritual. He said he felt guilty about the pain he was causing people. He kept coffins for this reason. Coffins that Belladonna believed weren't empty, but Eli thought otherwise of. Even though keeping the coffins was a tr
The order of the King?The words sent Belladonna heart's skipping so many beats, her mind trying to come up with different things to make her not worry about this but failing miserably at it.From the corner of her eyes, she could see a trace of flames move around Alaris' hand as he pulled her behind her, his gaze fixed on the approaching soldiers. That made her feel tense, the last thing they needed right now was trouble. Yet it made her feel at ease that there was someone here that wouldn't let anything happen to her. Of course, it was because she was his way out of here. That was something she wouldn't forget.Finally, the guards got to them and stopped. When they stated their business, it made things even worse in a kind of way. Eli didn't directly make an order against them, but he had sent out an order to every village to search vigorously for anyone that appeared to be a stranger, so that they could catch the witches which they had only recently known about their existence.
The dance was great, the consequences that followed after, however, weren't so pleasant.It wasn't something that a stranger would have known though, so maybe, they had no blame. They should have taken Taku's warning to heart, this mess would have been successfully avoided if they had. According to Nakunriver's custom, the first dance for the village head's heir, during the search for a wife, was a proposal. The acceptance of which would lead to an open intimacy between the couples, to confirm the woman's virginity, and the rejection of which would lead to death in the manner prescribed by the Village Heads.From the looks on Ki's parents' faces, the death wouldn't be quick and painless.The tension that was thick in the air right now, contrasted with the joyfulness that had been present before the presence of Ki's parents.Ki's parents had arrived shortly after their dance, they had pulled her aside and had happily started discussing with Belladonna about the preparations for her
With flames, the thrones crumbled slowly, trapping Ki's parents in the disaster.Taku had come from nowhere, bumping into Belladonna as she tried to escape, while he headed straight into the fire to save the trapped Village Heads.He was able to save them, but before he could find time to save himself, a log fell from above, knocking him down, while his yell of pain morphed into the screams that filled the night. Everywhere had been thrown into chaos, everyone was tending to their business, running away, trying to survive the fire.The screaming, the shouting, the running.It was all too much for them to notice his own need for help.It was chaotic.Ki's parents had also forgotten Taku as the guards surrounded them to bring them to safety, the attention mostly on Ki's mother who had inhaled too much smoke and was now unconscious.Ki was there too. Well, the news of the fire must have spread."Don't go." The voice next to Belladonna startled her, her focus turning immediately to wher
"How's your head?"Ah, by Ignas, the land of the dead must be really noisy.This annoying voice followed her here too?It was a task to move but she couldn't stay still even if she tried. The uneven surface she found herself to be laid upon wasn't comfortable at all. "Careful." The voice seemed loud, in fact, every movement seemed too loud for banging ears and aching head. She sat up, holding her head, as she moved slowly. "Stop talking," she said between pressed lips, as she tried to prepare herself for whatever it was she would find when she would open her eyes. "That doesn't sound like a 'Thank you' to me " The voice said back to her, annoyed and frustrated.She would recognize that voice anywhere.So Alaris had died too?For how much he used to boast about his powers, she didn't expect that he would die by his own flames or if she were to go according to his story, flames from the dragon he was attached to.Different feelings crossed through her veins and the way she could fe
“What is this?” Ny'ka asked, racing up to her feet.“The Stones of Prophecy. I already told you,” Ka'el replied, rising to his feet too. He groaned a little, his ribs hurting from the force that had tossed him aside.The stones had suddenly fallen to the ground, scattered; they were still glowing though. “I mean, what do they do?“I don't know!” There was a bit of panic in his voice, then he started to mumble to himself as he fell on his knees and started trying to collect the stones. “The King believes his daughter is in the Rebellion, and there are rumors of the Heir; he thinks they are working together.” He stopped and stared up at Ny'ka who watched him with a frown on her face. “That is why the Moon and the Sun came up in the sky because she is really here? But you said it didn't happen here, that it was from another Realm. It is from another realm, right? It isn’t true, Is it?”Ny'ka tried to grab one of the stones from Ka'el but it held it away from her. “Is his daughter truly
Then she felt like she was drowning and her words vanished from her lips. It felt like she was right in the lake and above it at the same time, hovering over the water and looking at the drowning child, while the drowning child looked back at her, struggling. Then she was finally in the baby and she could see Xinora floating over her as she felt herself dying in the baby — felt the baby dying. She saw Xinora stare right at her mother, who froze immediately like she had seen a ghost - it was what she looked like anyway, what she seemed to be. Then Belladonna felt the presence slam right into her immediately. Xinora had vanished and was now inside her as one being, the moment of her almost death creating the perfect space for Xinora to fit in. But just as Xinora had merged into her, she dissolved into the back of her mind like a mere pest fighting against a strong host. Her mother pulled her out of the water, her gaze blank and cold. Without a word, she wrapped her in a piece of clo
Trigger warning: Dealing with rape aftermath (from victim’s perspective) on page, and baby drowning on page. _________Belladonna paced the room. Two nights have passed since Alaris and her had discussed about Xinora. The Rebellion was healing, and she had sought out Ny'ka to help her with creating portals; although she knew that it might not work, just as it hadn't been working, but that was just how unpromising Channeling had been, and it had worked eventually. That wasn't the problem though. The thing was that Ny'ka was nowhere to be found. It didn't take long for her to figure out where she was.She was with Ka'el, most likely inquiring about their recent failure.Alaris had confirmed her suspicion, and here she was, in the room, trying not to drive herself mad with every single possibility that was crossing her mind.The Priest had drawn a tattoo on the top part of her chest, a little distance from her neck. He had smeared it with the blood of an animal, chanted some things th
Ny'ka went to Ka'el that night as the Heir had ordered, only to find out that he was with someone. Tsiri?What?What was she doing here? Why was she here? How long has she known about Ka'el? How did she get here?Why was she here?By Ina, what had she told him?!The White glow of the crescent moon above glimmered down on them through the shadows of the scanty leaves of the tall trees around them. The smile on Tsiri’s face was plain for Ny'ka to see, just as obvious as the doubt that dotted Ka’el’s eyes. What had she told him?!“Is it true?” Ka'el asked, his fist tightening around the small bag he had in his hand. She wondered what was in that bag but his next words made her aware of the greater problem she had before her. “Are you just fooling me?” He asked as his free hand anchored around Tsiri’s waist, making her smile widen. Disappointment flashed in Ny'ka's eyes and she frowned, blatantly ignoring Tsiri. “Fooling you? What nonsense are you talking about? And why are you with o
“Nightshade, do you have any memories of Jyris?”He was crouching in front of her. This room suddenly felt too small. Where was the air of ease?“No, except that he healed my ankle, gave me that gold ring that you tossed away and he was at the table with the King. Nothing else. I’m trying to but I don't remember anything else.” She wouldn't tell him about the strange feeling of familiarity she had when she had first seen him. That would be too dangerous. “You were in her dreams even when you weren't in captivity. So can you just go into people's dreams? Can you still do that?”“No. Her dream was the only one I could get into without being in captivity. But My freedom does come at a price. It was hard to lure the brides with my soul, and certainly, I prefer this freedom to that.”“Did killing her hurt you? Since the gems are supposed to be a pair.”“I struck her stomach.”“Why didn't you strike her in the heart or behead?”“I wanted to behead her and take her heart as my own; a litt
He heaved a sigh and sat next to her. “Well, it was after being King. I think the wars I had fought strengthened the connection with my gem; the lives I had taken fed it, and I dreamt of Xinora — well, she dreamt of me. It was the first time I would be in anyone's dreams.”Belladonna nodded, taking a mental note of that. “She was crying and lonely, and because the Gem perceived its master to be distressed, it sought a connection and found me. Xinora was terrified when we met; I was confused, too; it was strange. But then, I realized who she was and why I was there. At that time, I really wanted to come back here, to Vestros, but I knew it wasn’t time, I wasn't powerful enough back then.” He paused, before he continued. “The White King would kill me easily, but being in her dreams was like fate being on my side. She was the only weapon that could be used to kill me—”The only weapon?“Wait. Only a Bearer can kill a Bearer?”“Yes.” “So,” she turned to him squarely so she wouldn't mi
“And you didn't tell me? Why?”“It was over two centuries ago.” He stood up. “She stayed dead during those times, why would I think anything would come out of her now?”Belladonna said nothing and Alaris continued. “With you, I believed she had already been replaced. A new Master, her time was over, gone. The gems will always have their masters, I have discovered. At first, I was worried, but then you proved to be more than one with a mere link.”“I had visions of her. I told you everything.”He shrugged. “I thought it was just her lingering presence since she was the one who was connected to the gem before you. They are just mere visions, they don't suggest a powerful presence to get bothered about.”“You must be joking,” she stated, flabbergasted. “I had dreams of her every time and nothing ever really happened as a result,” he replied with a dismissive tone.“You know that is not true.”“Nothing “real” ever really happened.”With a realization, she stood up. “You are doing it aga
It felt compelling to desire more, it felt right… yet it didn't.Alaris pulled away being the first one to snap back from the spark pulling them together. “I’m sorry, I shouldn't have done that.” He was gone in a flash, leaving her flustered. She couldn't think; the foreign and overpowering feeling was a driving force that sent her out of the room to go after him. She did, reaching the surface, however, and feeling the warm glow of the moon on her skin. Something else seemed to have possessed her, and she went towards the lake instead, strangely seeking the comforting feeling of the water and the floating relief. The reflection of the full moon was cast over the still water and the trees seemed to create a path for her. She walked into the water as a shadow warrior emerged from behind her; the only one of Alaris' shadow warriors that wasn't killed. It swiftly moved into the water, reaching out to pull her back but she turned sharply to it. “Go Back!” She ordered, her voice a gr
Breathing heavily, he turned back to her. “I’m sorry— I just— I was afraid that you’ll shift—”“I have been terrified that this day would come but I thought I was stronger, as strong as I was in your Realm. I knew I would be lacking the moment I saw that annoying thing healing your ankle with his flames,” he laughed, the sound dry of humour as he swept his hand over his hair, pushing it back. “At that moment, I knew there were many things that I lacked, many skills, so many things. I might have been a King there but here, I am like a child. I’m not better than any of those dragon shifters. I’m useless.” “You are not.”With a huff, he sat down next to her, feeling exhausted. “My pretense to know what I am doing can no longer save me. I’m fighting a lost war, Nightshade and you can see it.”He turned to her, to find her shaking her head. “Don't lie to me.”“I’m not.”“Alaris—”“Don't try to inspire me, it won't work.” “I wasn't trying to inspire you, I just want to tell you how disap