"The more I got to know you, the more I was caught in between two battles. On one hand," he raised a hand in the air in front of him to desmostrate, his gaze passing over her lightly. "I felt that things would turn out differently this time and on the other, " he raised the other, "I couldn't help but think that it was going to be the same."His gaze moved to the wall behind her and he reached for whatever it was that was holding his interest. She heard a gentle snap and the swaying of a flower pot before she felt him tucking something in her hair, the light weight resting in her corner of her left ear. It was a flower. He pulled back after that. "So I immersed myself in my work to take the thoughts away. It was a moment of self doubt that I regret the most. My actions had pushed you right into his arms. If I had been better, you would have told me the very first time you started having strange dreams about him."Belladonna blushed.Now how easy would it be to tell a King, or even
She felt a sharp burning pain in her hand. A groan slip pass her lips, as she struggled to move away from the King, who seeing that, took a step back immediately. Her gaze darted down at the long sleeve of her gown as a red liquid that was quickly turning black dissolved into it, burning her skin at contact.She gnashed her teeth in pain, struggling to get to the fountain and shove her hands straight into the water for its promised ease.It felt like that part of her skin was on fire. Burning hot!But the King stood in her path and he quickly tucked an opened tiny bottle into her other hand. "Drink," he ordered.Desperate and without thinking, she took the content of the bottle in one gulp. The relief that washed over her right after that was immerse. The stain on her sleeve was no longer black but now red, like blood, also the liquid was no longer burning her.She had no time to wonder at what had just happened though, because the next thing she knew, the King was ordering her t
Belladonna gasped silently. She had never seen anything like that in her life before, oh wait, except for that stone in the Forbidden Room but still, this was different. "I am alright now." The King's whisper snapped her out of her train of thoughts and she blinked. "What was that?" She asked, her voice a little breathy from the shocked state she was still in. "Nothing important," the King replied with his casual dismissiveness and she frowned. Not again. "Your blood..." Her voice trailed off as she tried to look for the right words. "It withered my lily. Like it was some sought of poison---" "It's my sickness." He finally let out with a grunt but she wasn't done. There had to be more to it. "Your hand." She looked down at his hand again but he was no longer bleeding and the contaminated water had now washed away, along with her lily, leaving now in it's place, clean rushing water. "It was bleeding. Why?" "It does that every once in a while." Then he chuckled, his eyes twink
A wonderful name.His lips stretched into a small smile, pleased at how she had said it.It just sounded perfect on her lips, her voice like honey to his ears. Then his lips brushed against hers in a light feathery touch, before he pulled away slightly, his hand tightening around her a little roughly. She gasped from the sudden movement, only now realizing she had been on her kneels for a while now, as she bumped into the King who pressed his forehead against hers at contact. Eyes closed. Breathing heavy. Restraint difficult."Donna. My Donna."She pressed her hands flat against his chest to regain her balance, the warmness radiating from the taut muscles beneath the robe instead seeped right into her palms, sending heat crossing through her entire body, her balance further threatened.His thumb by her cheek moved lower to her jaw, titling her head to a side, leaving her neck exposed and at his mercy. He wasn't merciful.His lips ravished her neck, savouring the taste of her skin, l
"I made a promise a long time ago to myself. That I won't be intimate with someone till I'm married to him. For the sake of the child that I might bring to this world." The King gaze was set on her. Brown smoldering eyes. They made her feel at ease. Then she looked down at her knuckles that she was rubbing against the inside of her left palm. "I want the child to have protection and love, and a marriage guarantees that. I don't want the child to end up not being wanted and loved... like me." That was why nothing had happened between her and Lytio. She was waiting. That was a move she had no regret on. But with the King, it felt different. The dreams she had of the Bride Thief weren't helping too. Why hadn't she thought about her long-standing rule in all those dreams? Why had she not thought about it when she woke up? Was he that powerful that he made logicality so far from her? Was his lure on her that strong? It made her worried. Made her want to tell the King about h
"Do you believe he has a hold on me?""Once he appears, he already has a hold."His gaze became fixed on her necklace before he looked up at her face.When he spoke this time, his voice sounded a little cheerful."But he no longer appears to you in your dreams. You are save, with me."But she wasn't save!Her heart pounded in her chest, the thundering filling her ears. "Have you been able to save any of brides before?"He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, patting her hand that was in his. "No.""Oh."His hand went around her, pulling her towards him in a hug while she rested her face against his chest, listening to the beating of his heart and the vibration of his voice."Please, worry not. You are different. You, my Donna, will be my last bride."Different. She really wanted to believe that but she knew she wasn't.She wasn't different.She really wanted to tell him that, but then again, she couldn't. What if the Bride Thief getting to them had something to do with the King? She
"Lavender oil, Milady." Another said, eagerly pushing a carefully wrapped gift into her hands. The face that looked back at hers had wrinkles by the corners of her eyes that seemed to twinkled with abundant happiness, her grin wide. Which only got wider when she realized that she had Belladonna's attention fully to herself. Her hands became a little shaky in Belladonna's own."You'll certainly love it, Milady.""Thank you." Belladonna smiled back in appreciation, taking the gift, as she looked down at the package. Something caught her attention at that moment though. Right on the woman's wrinkly left wrist, was a tattoo. Moderately small, but artistically and beautifully drawn. She couldn't make out what exactly it was, or where she had seen it before but it did hold a sense of familiarity.A scream snapped Belladonna's attention.Something was heading right for her.Swooshing in the air like---Her eyes went wide and she froze.FIRE.She staggered back in a quick response to avert
Belladonna didn't have to watch the burst of flames for long, the King was in front of her in a flash, blocking the sight away, so that all that was left to see was the golden brightness that reflected from the fire.The agonizing screams from the woman ablaze was something he couldn't prevent her from hearing though. Cries of anguish that cut sharply into the night's former peaceful ambiance, ripping it into shreds, till all that was left was nothing. Then, silence.When the King took a step away, no longer blocking her view, the woman was gone, the guards must have taken her away, even the path that led to her had been filled with people again. The fearful look gone from their eyes, their faces filled with smiles once again like nothing happened, cheers pouring out of their mouths as they directed their gifts towards her. Everything just like when she had first stepped out from the carriage, in fact, more cheerful this time.Belladonna could feel a gift being pressed into the pa
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.