"You-- how---"There were too many questions she had to ask and they were crashing against one another."Listen to me," he turned away from the window, looking at her once again. "...a person planned a fire to kill the whole family, one survives. Definitely the fact that one still lived would, in some way, affect the plan of the one who wanted every one of them dead," then his voice dropped and became even darker for emphasis. "What do you think would happen if this killer finds out about this one that survived?""Come for him," she answered immediately."Exactly! That is how I know who the Bride Thief is. His reason, everything! I finally know it," then his voice became lower as he got lost in his thoughts. "That is why he wouldn't leave. He is torturing me."Belladonna staggered back, the more she knew about the Bride Thief in her dreams, the most she hated the times that she had allowed him to be so close to her and how her body had reacted to his touch, how her body had wanted eve
Two weeks had passed and Lady Kestra was still not back. During this time though, a lot of things had changed in the Castle... for Belladonna and the King.Ever since the night in his room, that he had told her about his certain death intent for the Bride Thief and what had happened to him and his family in the past, they had grown closer and closer by the day.Now, they were even more closer than they had been after he had gifted her books for apology and taken her to see his Dragon.Talking of seeing his dragon, she had asked him sometimes if she could see Pamela again but the King had refused, saying that she was being very violent these days and it would forever haunt him if any harm were to come upon her by the claws or flames of the beast. Also he had backed up his reply with the words that Belladonna was starting to believe was his best way of expressing his affection and care for her, while tucking a strand of her curls behind her ear, an act she believed meant the same thing
Belladonna eyes widened, her face focused on the mask that was being pulled off. What she saw was nothing that she could have ever imagined, something more and beyond.She had been right, he did cover it for a reason, but it wasn't the reason that she had thought.His face wasn't scared but it was different, different from any face she had ever seen.The King's skin was dark, not as dark as hers though, his eyes were the same as she had always seen it through his golden mask, seductive brown, his nose was straight, pointed and firm. Now, here comes the difference. On both sides of his upper cheekbones, were scales, they looked like they were a part of that part of his skin. Also, something about his skin seemed to be glowing lightly."You are not---""Human?"She gulped, nodding. There had been many speculations about it, even to the point that sometimes she had convinced herself that he wasn't human, but actually finding out that it was true, put her in a different headspace."I am
It was his hand. She could have never imagined it to be something like this within the gloves. From the tip of his fingers down to his wrist, underneath his skin were black zigzag lines like ink, spilling everywhere, tiny and connected like cobwebs. On a closer look, it seem like as if the ink was slowly spreading."Don't touch!" His voice startled her and that was when she realized that she had been reaching her hand foolishly to his, in order to take his hand in hers and access it. "I'm so s-sorry, your M-majesty. I didn't mean to--" the words tumbled right out of her mouth as she quickly folded her hands behind her immediately. "It is alright. It has the ability to lure.""Like magic?" She looked up quickly at him, her eyes begging for answers, explanatory answers but he only nodded."Precisely," he paused, before he added, looking back at his hand, "just like magic. Although, I am not sure what type of magic it is.""How-- what is this?""There are many things, my Bride," he s
She was on the verge of asking Raquel that question when a knock had disturbed them.Raquel stepped away from her immediately, her face blank, a quick switch. "Come in," Belladonna said as she stepped away from Raquel, walking towards the door to attend to whosever it was, only taking her eyes off her when she was close enough to the door already."Good evening, my Lady," Colin's ever calm and collected face greeted her. "His Majesty, the King, says I should inform you that it is time for the dinner." Then he looked up just in that time to catch a glance of Raquel standing in the room."There you are," he called out in relief, over Belladonna. His face fell immediately he remembered himself and he quickly apologized. "I'm really sorry, my Lady, but it is time for Raquel to take her medication once again. The Physician is ready for her."Belladonna turned back just in time to see Raquel go stiff, her shoulders tensed before she relaxed just as quickly, and started walking towards th
She swallowed.Despite the rain pouring outside, it suddenly felt hot.Really hot.When he spoke again, his voice was barely above a whisper and although he didn't move an inch closer, she could still hear him."Be at ease. This is the wrong room." He smiled lightly then he straightened up, walking away from the bed to sleep on the sofa even though as Belladonna had said, the bed was large enough for both of them to share without colliding. That was as long as either of them stayed at their respective sides.It took a while before Belladonna's heart slowed down it's wild racing, so that she could finally be able to sleep. It was almost like as if it would never stop, but it eventually did and her eyelids slid closed effortlessly.Once again tonight, she was sleeping.Only that this time, she felt safe. ***Belladonna could have never suspected that her going up to the King's room would eventually turn into an habit, but it did turn into that.After that night, it had rained the foll
"Please come I--"The door flung open and Raquel rushed in, her voice almost inaudible with heavy breathing."My Lady, I brought you this really--," Belladonna turned to her at that time and Raquel stopped abruptly, " you are dressed." She stated flatly.Belladonna nodded with a smile, twirling around, giving her a full view of her long sleeves, V-neck and flare ankle-lenght gown.She didn't even know why she had done that but she was feeling a little giddy tonight. What was wrong with her?"A blue gown?" She asked, her face scrunched up, her voice flat, absolutely questioning and low with confusion. That was when Belladonna observed the gown she had in her hand that was still hanging in the air. She flinched internally seeing that, despite how beautiful the gown was, it was the usual color Raquel always suggested once again.Red.By Ignas, no! Not again."Yes, it matches with my eyes.""Oh, my Lady."Raquel smiled nervously, pushing the red gown she had in her hand forward, while t
"With your condition, everytime I'm with you, I'm putting my life at stake. If you really want me to help, you mustn't put me in the dark."Raquel's gaze fell to her hands that she had placed on her kneels, her tears streaming down her face, dropping to her uniform, and dissolving right into it, leaving wet patches behind."Ahhh, alright then." Belladonna sighed, holding down the doorknob.Raquel said something at that moment but her voice was too inaudible for Belladonna to hear and understand what her jumbled words meant. She dropped the doorknob and took a step towards her. "What did you say?""They have her," she repeated herself, a little audible this time, her voice a bare whisper. "They have our daughter and till my husband and I pays, they won't let her go."Belladonna's eyebrow arched up, questioning.Raquel had a daughter? That was an interesting thing to do out. Never had the thought of Raquel having a family crossed her mind. Belladonna had been too occupied with the th
“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