Although she already had his blood, Kestra wasn't back yet to be able to do her witchy thing on it, and she felt that being able to describe how he looked like might help the King in his findings. This would be the last time she would allow herself to dream of him and she was trying to get everything she could from this one time risk."I can't. I am--""Weak." She said, her voice laced with mockery and he hissed, almost sounding like a snake.Wasn't that what he was anyways?A snake."What even can you do?"The Bride Thief did not miss her belittling tone in her voice but he was too weak to fight it.Good. At least now he could feel how it was to be consumed by a feeling he had no control over, something he was forced to feel."I can show you the truth. Let's make a blood oath." He rose his head, looking at her and blood dripped from beneath the mask, unto the sand.Belladonna scoffed, staring at him through slanted eyes, to see if he was weak enough to at least show the slightest fea
A knock. Finally out of the bathroom and dressed in her plain, silk, A shape, gold dress with blue designed lace, tapped around the neckline, Belladonna swung the door open, expecting Raquel as usual but instead there were guards at the door, with different boxes in their hands, stacked on top one another, tall enough to cover some of their faces.As if the helmets they had to wear weren't already enough trouble for them to begin with.What was going on?"My Lady. You are up already. Good."Raquel flashed her a smile. "What is going on?""Gifts from the people, from last night. Please, can we come in?""Of course," she stood aside so that they could come in and the guards rushed in, putting the gifts at one side of the room, till they finally put down the last box, then finally left."This is all so much." Belladonna said with a gasp.She had never received so much gifts in her life, it made her temporarily forget her sadness on her earlier wasted efforts.Raquel squealed with excite
She had promised not to interfer in their family affairs but that didn't stop her from seeing what Colin was doing as stupid. Why turn down help for your daughter just because of your ego and have your wife unable to do anything about it because you are the 'husband'.It felt more like a cage than a marriage, but who was she to judge.Different people had their ways of doing things and if she tried to help Raquel out of it, she felt that she would only persumed it as a punishment instead of a favour. This was a life she knew and knew nothing asides from it. Maybe in future, she would change it but I till that one month was over, she must stay totally out of it."Good morning, Colin.""My Lady, the King will not be able to join you for the breakfast this morning. I have been ordered to express his deepest apologies and his promise to make it up to you at dinner.""Thank you. Your wife already told me that."Something ticked in his jaws, his gaze flying to Raquel, who gulped, arching
"Well, thank you for the gift."His gaze moved to her necklace. "I can not wait for you to finally be able to wear it.""Thanks for that too, but I was talking about the sewing machine.""Oh, that." He moved his hand a little, trailing a side of her neck, then he withdraw his touch slowly. "Anything for you. Will you like to learn a little swordsmanship, my Lady?"That just sounded like another opportunity to get closer to him. An opportunity she definitely wouldn't miss. Just as she had said yes, he was giving the order for everyone to leave the training room, the next thing she knew, they were alone, the room was locked and he was behind her, his heat engulfing her, while his hand guided hers as he taught her the basic techniques. The way his voice filled her ears was pure heaven.With how today had started, it was all going so well. Strike.Attack.She giggled and he laughed at some of her individual defenses and attacks.Her moves were really sloppy, uncalculated and either to
"Here is my Family."The black cloth that had been over the painting slip to the floor. The room was just as Belladonna had left it the day she had been here, different paintings had been pulled down and cover and the room smelt a little dusty, but this wasn't the painting she had seen the day she came in.This painting looked different. Looked alive... somehow.In this big frame, there were four people.His Mother, a lean woman with piercing auburn hooded eyes that had a glint of humour in them, bold and black eyebrows, high cheek bones accompanied by a neck that looked like a bit of a stretch. Her auburn hair was made into one big cornrow, leaving only wavy strands out to cover some parts of her face.Next to her, on the small black sofa, sat a man with full mutton chopped beards and long black hair mixed with scattered strands og grey. His gaze was piecing brown, like he knew all the secrets there would ever be to be kept. He also looked similarly huge like Eli. In his hand was a
"They loved Lex's wild spirit more than my tamed one. Found him bathed in blood all too often for his age."Belladonna furrowed her eyebrows.At what age was it appropriate to be found bathed in blood? Blood!"Lex was a lot like my parents than I was. At a point," he chuckled, turning his gaze to her, "I almost started getting jealous, but," then he raised a finger up, "I could not hate my brother. I mean, he was my baby brother after all. I loved him. He made me happy. His presence, his laughter, his troubles, the way I would always have to clean up after his mess in the village when he would go barserk on the animals." He chuckled again, his eyes filled with warmth and absolute love. "I never complained. I took some of the blames of what he did, but like I said before, my parents knew who the psycho was." He looked back at the painting, folding his hands behind him. "At the end of the day, we are still family."Belladonna looked at the painting once again. What a happy family the
"I had not noticed it at first but each of them would always come to her every night, while we were in their little living room, by the fireplace. They would take her hand and lead her out through the door. They were all so kind to her, I did not suspect a thing."Belladonna could sense the rage that he was trying to hard to hide from his voice. Kestra must really mean a lot to him. That gave her mixed feelings.She was sure of one thing though, she felt horrible for Kestra. It explained more about her scars.She folded her arms across her, her face creased into a frown, her gaze planted on the floor, the color of which she couldn't even see since her focus wasn't on it.She shouldn't be feeling this way. It made no sense to."Kestra was good at hiding secrets. Even after I told her, everything about why I was in the forest, who I was and we had stayed tight friends for a whole month, she never told me about how her brothers used to abuse her sexually and physically. Till one night,
"Eli---""I will outline here." His words came out muffled, as he pressed gentle kisses along the crook of her neck. "And here," his fingers moved along her shoulder, up her neck, the rough leather grazing her skin, blood turning into fire in her veins. She bit her lips to restrain herself from making a sound but then his tongue flickered over that part of her neck and her arched her neck to him, tilting her head to the side. "Sadly," He pulled away, looking down at her, her hands holding her thighs, his grip tightening. "I am a terrible artist." He moved closer, his breath mingling with hers. "But I have other ways to appreciate the art that you are, when the time comes. Better ways, I promise you."His hand snaked into her hair, pulling it slowly, making her look right at him. He let out a gasp. "You intoxicate me, my Donna. More than the finest wine."Her hands glided up his robe, up to his neck, as she fought herself on her desire. It was strong. Consuming. But she had to b
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.