[Anthrose’s POV]I sit in the living room, listening to the chatter that is taking place, but not registering anything that is said. Although I know I should be focusing on this stuff since it involved our saving Diego and Rosalie, all my mind could stay on was Chanel.Fuck. This was frustrating, but it was something that needed to be done; after all, there was just no way that we could ever be together. Not only because she was my pupil and I was her teacher, but because, as someone with no title or anything to promise, I didn’t deserve her.Sighing, I lean back and let my wander back to a time when I thought that maybe there could be something. Where I still had hope of the future.I’ll never forget the day when my respect for the leaders of Crystal Fang was destroyed completely.“If you’re that worried, why don’t you go look for her?”The voice comes from directly beside me, snapping me out of my head and pissing me off at the same time.“I don’t know what you mean.” I mutter, lett
[Anthrose’s POV]I wait as Chanel continues to stand in front of me, clearly staring me down, debating whether or not she should attempt to push again, but in the end deciding against it.“Alright,” she mutters, taking me by surprise. “Since my ego can’t take anymore hits this evening, I’ll let you off.”Sighing, I let a small chuckle out as my adoration for the woman in front of me grows.“That’s wisest,” I agree. “Now, how about you try to get some sleep.”“I don’t wanna,” she pouts, returning to the Chanel that I know. “And I’m not tired.”“You sound like a child,” I point out. “Be good and go lay down so you can sleep off your drunk.”“I’m not drunk,” she announces, attempting to move but stumbling. “Whoops,” she giggles. “I guess maybe I am a little.”“More than a little,” I counter, unable to ignore the smell of alcohol in the air. “Come on, to bed with you.”“Alright, alright, dad.” Chanel sighs, beginning to move but stopping as I reach out and grab her wrist. “What is it?”“I
[Geo’s POV]I listen to the sounds of the adults quietly talking, their conversations going on even late in the night. From what I could hear, I knew that they were in a state of waiting for the one that Aunt Chanel and Uncle Giddeon sought out today would be able to get the answers that Willy was currently seeking for me. As a ghost, he was able to travel anywhere, and right now he was certainly on that island and roaming through the temple.Sighing, I look out the window beside me, taking in the area below, noting the different entities that walk there. They’re a mixture of ghosts and humans, but none of them are Willy.“Hurry up,” I grumble, crossing my arms. “You’re taking too long.”As the words leave my lips, lightning flashes, drawing my gaze to the sky to find it is glowing a crimson that it wasn’t previously.“What?” I gasp, causing Landon to jump up in bed.“Wah, what is it?” He gasps, looking around wildly. “What happened?”As the words leave his lips, another round of ligh
[Geo’s POV]I try to break free of Aunt Chanel’s hold as my parents and the man start to fade, growing more and more transparent until they look like specters like Willy.“No!” I scream, clawing at her. “Let me go! Let me go! Mommy! Diego!”“Geo,” Aunt Chanel hisses as the old man helps her try to keep hold of me. “You’ve got to stop, otherwise...”“NO!” I scream. “Mommy! Don’t leave me, mommy!”Despite my pleas and my best attempts to break free, my parents still disappear, and when they’re gone, I feel like they’ve taken a piece of me with them.“No,” I whisper, a sob escaping me. “No.”“Geo,” Landon whispers, reaching out and grabbing my hand. “We’re going to save them, remember?”For a moment, I can’t process what he is saying. All I can think is that they were here with me just now, but I couldn’t save them. I couldn’t even stop them from leaving me once again.“We’re going to save them.” He repeats more firmly. “With the help of...”Eyes widening, he looks around, taking everyon
[Rosalie's POV]“One.”I swallow down the knot that is beginning to form in my throat.“Two.”My body comes alive in anticipation of the chase that is about to come.“Three.”I burst forward, throwing myself into the labyrinth ahead of me while the blare of trumpets ring out around me.Together with many others, I rush forward in hopes of gaining my freedom and escaping doom. From this point on it is every man and woman for themselves and if you dare get in anyone's way they'll trample you.“You better run and hide, because when I catch you, you're mine, little criminal.”I don't look back as the cold voice echoes around me. It causes my heart to leap and my stomach to churn while I continue to move further into the labyrinth ahead in hopes of evading capture.This was how it worked at the auctions. You were sold to the highest bidder, but before you went to them, you were given the opportunity for freedom. Once you are sold, you are sent to the labyrinth and set free. Then it all cam
[Rosalie’s POV]“Rosalie, sweetie, this is your father,” my mother cooes, urging me from behind her. “Come out and say hello.”In the beginning, life wasn't so bad. I lived a modest life with a loving mother who worked hard to give me the things that I needed. It wasn't bad and we had each other, but even that wasn't enough and eventually led to the start of a dark spiral into despair, lies, deceit, and a struggle for power.I was born to a maid who lived in the countryside. This particular maid fell in love with a handsome warrior who just so happened to have a secret identity that he never revealed to her. And because of that, I didn’t meet my father until I was five years old. All I knew of him were the stories that my mother told, and although I hoped one day he would return and save us, I knew deep down that he wouldn't, and I had in the end convinced myself that he was a liar who tricked my gullible mother.Slowly, I began to move while clutching my mother’s skirt so that I had
[Rosalie’s POV]“You're shaking like a limb,” Diego chuckles, finding amusement in my fear. “What exactly do you fear I will do? Do you think I will fuck you here in the open for all to watch? Or do you think I will kill you?”Opening my mouth, I prepare to respond with the latter but remain silent, knowing my response didn't matter.“Just do it!” I hiss, closing my eyes. “Why waste time taunting when you've already won?”For a moment, Diego doesn't speak, and all that can be heard are groans and guttural snarls that indicate that the hunt is over and all those who have been auctioned lost. And when he continues to remain silent, I open my eyes to find that he is looking down at me with disgust in his eyes as he too listens to what is happening around us.“Is that what you want?” He suddenly asks, taking me by surprise. “For me to rape you right here and now?”My eyes widen as I take in each and every one of his words, which are laced with venom. Wasn't that why he bought me so that h
[Rosalie’s POV]My first week in the Moon Storm pack was exactly as I expected it to be. I was treated like nothing more than a pet, as Diego promised.When I wasn't leashed to his side, I was in a cage in his room, where I had to bear witness to everything from him fucking to his daily routine—wake up, workout, shower, disappear for a few hours, return, and repeat—and even his nights alone, where he seemed to be haunted by unseen demons when he tried to sleep.It was always the same no matter how many days passed, and I couldn't help but wonder why exactly I was brought here.To this point, he didn't say another word about my being a tool, which made me question if what he said from the start was true or not, but by day seven, instead of leaving after finishing his morning routine, Diego came to get me.Remaining silent, I wait until my collar is put in place before getting up so I won’t be dragged.“You're obedient this morning,” he murmurs in satisfaction. “Are you trying to get on