Eli had been puzzled when he had found Belladonna this morning, sleeping in her study and her gown damp, slightly ripped at some parts, with the hem of her dress, burnt a little.Suspicion had hit him like a swinging brick, but he hung onto denial.She couldn't possibly be dreaming of the Bride Thief. That was impossible. He would have known way before now if she was. He had tried to convince himself that the dampness was from sweat. He had even deluded himself into thinking she was pregnant and excessive sweating was a sign of pregnancy.As for the burnt hem, maybe she had read overnight again and caused a fire, which she had already put out. It wouldn't be the first time his Donna was causing a fire from her nightly readings. As for the ripped parts of her dress, he had told himself that her dress had suffered that, while she had managed to put out the fire all on her own.With half his mind believing that she was sick and hiding it from him so he wouldn't have more to be worried
Eli wasn't supposed to be asking her. Her words were corrupted, her mind had already been swayed by the Bride Thief's manipulation for too long a time, yet he couldn't help but ask. She didn't say a word, Why speak anyways? It wasn't like he would believe her. Besides, the memory of what had happened earlier when she had tried to explain herself, was still fresh in her memory. If she were to speak, what would he do next? Kill her?By Ignas, the horror! She told herself it was because of Kestra's manipulation that had gotten to him, and when she would finally kill Kestra, this would finally all be over. Belladonna's focus was on how she would be able to get Thanatou's Sunflower tonight.The Blood Moon was still a problem but she would worry about that later.When Belladonna felt his finger slide underneath her chin, she froze, till she was looking right at him. The dim light of the room giving an illusion of his scales glowing, the sadness swindling in his brown eyes, along with t
Belladonna had prepared herself for anything but a boat ride on musky waters, the crickets of the night, the fog, the dark starless sky, and the eerie movement of the boat as Alaris paddled it quietly on the surface of the open dark river.The water rippled gently as the paddle move through it again and Belladonna rubbed her arms from the cold, looking in all directions, searching for something, anything.There was nothing, only darkness, and the fog. They were alone. Sometimes, it even felt like she was the only one. "Going to a realm is different from going to another village." Alaris had said when she had asked why they were taking a boat there, instead of just shifting there. "The rules here are different." He had concluded. When she had countered him with the "How do you know about that? Didn't you say you haven't gone out through anyone's dreams before?"He had replied that realms were different, and he knew the realm Thantou stayed in, because he had once been there. He di
By Ignas, it was from the dream Alaris had shown her. Eli's brother had been the one to say it in that dream, after killing their father's Black stallion and holding the creature's heart in his tiny hands.She could still remember the little white humanoid creature Alaris had created in the child's place because he had been invisible too in that dream. She could remember him jumping around excitedly and talking about a heart Collection. They had both been invisible in that dream. Was it really because of the connection he claimed they shared or something else? Something stronger. A shiver ran down her spine, goosebumps laced her arms and this wasn't from the cold. Maybe Alaris was Eli's dead brother and he had just been lying to her to hide his real identity because he didn't trust her not to tell Eli or Lady Kestra about it.After all, despite Kestra being the reason why the brides disappeared, Alaris was still in the Brides' dreams and Kestra had pinned her crimes on him. So
"I can't see," Belladonna mumbled before she started crying out frantically, blinking as fast as she could. "I can't see! Alaris, I can't see.""I know. I'm right here." She felt him hold her hands and she relaxed a little. "You'll be fine. The light is blinding for mortals. It skipped my mind to tell you, sorry about that." There was no teasing in his voice. This must really be happening. She asked him if her hands were still bleeding and he assured her that she was fine. She wasn't feeling the pain anymore or hearing those deafening voices, so she believed him. It was strange to see nothing, and have to completely trust Alaris. At the same time, it didn't feel too strange to trust him. He helped her off the boat and she felt cold beach sand kissing her feet. Did they just go back to her subconscious mind?"We are here.""Where is here?""Me'k, the In-Between."Belladonna let out a shaky breath. The in-between of what?"We just crossed over into Thanatou's Realm. Listen careful
A trade was made.A fair exchange. Belladonna in place of what Alaris desired the most, his freedom.After all the time they had spent together, his desires never changed, no compassion ever made its way to his determined heart, he never swayed. Belladonna had watched chains snap to the ground, heavy metals clanking against the red glowing floor. She still couldn't see him, which meant that whatever freedom he had received from Thanatou wasn't complete. There was only so much that Thanatou could do then, after all, he wasn't the one that caged him here in the first place. This meant that Alaris had been a spirit all along, his body must be somewhere else, and the strength of her mind had never been the problem. Also, this had better be a plan to get the sunflower!Alaris would never leave her here? There was a Bloodoath between them, she was his true freedom and that was why he always came back for her.She held onto that though and spoke. "You made to me a Bloodoath."If this wa
They suddenly stood up, and pulled her to her feet. Then the door to the room pushed open and Thanatou came in. He was just as scary as he had been in the hall."I have made a trade with your Gifter," his voice made her skin crawl with fear. She shouldn't be here. His words reminded her of Alaris and hatred made her throat hurt, fogged her sight with angry tears. She heard Thanatou taking in a deep breath. Maybe they could really smell feelings after all. Weird. She hated all of them. "And now, I shall make a trade with you, for fairness."Something was off, his words didn't align with the movement of his lips. It looked like he was making clicking sounds, something similar to what she had heard before they had been pulled down here through the red water. It was strange that they sounded like words to her. Strange that she could understand them. There was certainly some magic here doing that work. In a second, her necklace was ripped away from her, the loosened grip around
((Note - Alaris is still in Belladonna's body, so please have that in mind anytime he comes up in the story for now. Also, please note that every other person sees him as Belladonna)). Alaris had woken up in Belladonna's body with a jolt. Just as she had told him, she had fallen asleep in the hallway. It didn't take him long to find out where her dear King was.He was still laying down on the floor in the Special room, his body cold. Alaris smirked.This fucking bastard!He could feel the maddening urge to kill him. Unable to control his anger, he delivered a kick to the King's leg.Eli coughed, slowly regaining consciousness.That didn't please Alaris.He needed him out cold a little longer. Eli's movements on the floor were weak and disoriented, and even though he was staring right at Alaris, he couldn't see him. A sick smile played on Alaris' lips at the stupid King's helplessness. His misery was pleasing him, and as much as he would love to stay all night and entertain himself
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.