The door slammed shut as Kestra stumped into her room. She yelled out her pain and Collin wasn't at her beck and call to receive the aftermath of her defeat. She had already been told about the state of his health and right now he was useless to her. What had he been doing in the woods, anyway? Looking for the Bride, she presumed. Coming to that conclusion due to her knowledge of the pretty little thing's stupid disappearance last night.That was so stupid of him. He had probably slipped and hit his head badly in the dark, the rain must have worsened things. She would have tried to pull up some magic tricks for his sake, but honestly, it looked like nature had kindly helped her get rid of Collin. After everything she had taken from him and all the secrets he knew, this was for the best. The Physicians had said he was most likely not going to survive and he had lost a lot of blood when he had been found. Soon enough, he would be dead. She wouldn't interfere to hasten it, she would
Life as a Tower woman had been hard on Taria. Night and day she was flogged for dishonoring her womanhood and bringing shame to her family. Her punishment was even worse than the others, because she attempted to escape on the night she was to be taken to the tower.She didn't even remember much of that night, all she could remember was that at a point she had found herself in the cave with a strange woman and skeletons running towards them, all around them. It had felt so real but the more she had thought about it, the more she convinced herself that her sadness had made her delusional, and she had imagined the whole thing. But the Cave of Badura had been breached that night and this made everything really confusing. Her mother came every day as she had promised. That was why when her mother came to see her yesterday, crying excessively, she had thought nothing of it.Her mother was always crying during her visits. But no. The Right-Hand woman of the King had come with her, and s
Taria's father wouldn't let her out of his sight after that, not even after they had gotten to the guest chambers in the Village Head's house. He showered her with so much care and attention that no one would be able to see through his actions and sense the evil motive that laid at the center of it. Her reception of her father's care was cold, and some of the physicians that had come to take care of her, silently judged her for being spoilt, ungrateful, and rude. Zeppus apologized profusely for the incident but she needed no apology from him, but from that nosy warrior that had saved her. Everyone left but her father. Why wasn't he going to his room yet?It was getting harder and harder to breathe. Her heart was racing and fear claimed her chest as its abode. He paced back and forth and she watched, her body tensed, praying with all her heart that he wouldn't turn to her with his usual demand, while at another corner of her heart, she pitied her mother for ending up with a snake
An hour after Kestra left the Castle, Eli found his dragon frozen in stone. His first suspect had been no other than Kestra, of course. He was foolish to think that she wouldn't put up a fight or try to make him take back his order of not wanting her in the Castle. But that wasn't all. He found black zig-zag lines on his Donna's hands, blood dripping from the lines as she groaned from pain, in her sleep. His rage collided with worry, he was a catastrophic combination of emotions. The physicians didn't know what to do, of course, this wasn't their specialty. With bitterness thick in his throat, he ordered for Kestra to be found and brought back to him urgently. This shouldn't have happened, the dragon ring should have been able to protect her, but the dragon herself had obviously been affected. By Ignas, he should have seen this coming!So stupid!Kestra hadn't gone far, so she was found quickly. That infuriated him. She had been so confident her evil magic would work. Eli di
((Trigger warning - violence, physical and sexual abuse))It had been two days since they arrived at Tikivah, and one night since Taria's suicide attempt.Last night, her father had been busy discussing a proposal with Head Zeppus, that he hadn't come to check on her. She hoped that tonight would be the same. She had spent the whole day alone in this guest room that had been allocated to her, and she wished to spend her night the same way. Except that she had never really been alone, not after that night with the nosy warrior. She had even forgotten what his name was, but she remembered his words clearly.In fact, they had been haunting her ever since she had heard them, and the more she thought about it, the more her mind entertained the possibility of her killing her father.Maybe it was because of how he had looked at her when he had said it, like he considered her capable of erasing her troubles if she wanted to. Like all she had to do was snap and it would all be gone. He loo
She had killed her father, and she was a witch. Two life-changing things happened to her at once! Taria didn't know how she was supposed to feel but what she knew was that she felt so excited and happy. A giggle slipped past her lips as she watched the blood run down her father's neck and soak into the bed. The splutter of his blood on her white night robe was something she was proud of. His lifeless eyes gave her so much joy that she almost forgot the consequences of what she had done. Even when she remembered, all she could think about was how there was magic at her fingertips, of how she was a woman that had saved herself. Her smile dropped at the corners and she stood up. They would be looking for her soon. She could already hear the gongs in the distance, and some distant screams about a witch being around. They were already looking for her?! Wow, they didn't even give her time to bask in her victory. Quickly, she slipped out through the window and started running. She
Belladonna pulled away from him to look up at his face, her gaze fixing upon his mask instead, the image of the expectant look that would be in his eyes, taking form in her head."That you will not take any more brides after me."He stared back at her, studying those eyes that held a sought of fire in them when she had said out her demand firmly.Was it selfish that she wanted to be his last bride so much, that she wanted him to give her his word on it? Maybe. But she certainly didn't want any other woman to have to suffer an unsure fate, also she had every intention to end this curse, as soon as possible, with whatever it was that it would cost her.Promising to do as she had requested right now, would mean that he had as much trust in her as she had in him. With no response still given, she shifted uncomfortably in her seat under his smoldering gaze.Her gaze was fixed on the floor of the carriage, the sound of the carriage's wheels on the rocky road filling her ears, while she w
The dungeon was never quiet. It was always filled with the voices of people in agony, the cry of people that were starving, or the relentless pleading of those who yelled out their proclaimed innocence. The dungeon was never bright too, it was always too dim to see anything. The darkness was torture and the noise wasn't helping. If they could all just be quiet!He needed silence to plot the death of his brother when he would finally make it out of here. Kenji sucked in a deep breath and the stench of the place, stuck to the roof of his nose.For how nosy he was, this wasn't the first time he would be trapped in a place like this, but this was the first time his brother would be the one tossing him in and locking the bars. He hadn't had a bath ever since he had been thrown here, he stank so much. His hair needed to be washed, and combed, the curls were starting to tangle and he was terrified of how much hair he would lose when this was finally over. Also, the food here was terr
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.