I can sense something strange, something that is not pleasant in my feelings.There are pairs of eyes that are watching me among the crowd of people in the airport. I am finally back after my three and a half hours trip from Dallas, Texas, the headquarters of my Uncle Sam's turf. It took me half a day to convince him that I have to go back here to New York to settle things down with Phillius and to let him know I am not here to kill him for whatever he did to me but to try and negotiate with him about Sapphire's situation.But I think, there is no negotiation happening because it’s clear that Phillius made sure I won’t make a single step into the mansion by sending these assassins lurking among the thick crowd. I am impressed by how fast he knew I’m coming back for Sapphire and I wonder if Kelly had also sold me to him. I sigh. I think I should stop doubting people around me. I believe no matter how in love Kelly is with Phillius, just like what she told me before, she doesn’t like se
Kelly…I can’t believe she’s here!Wishing that I could somehow connect to her mind to ask what the hell she’s doing in this place, exposing herself in front of Motley and my former squad members whom she’s also a part of. But since I am now stigmatized as a Rogue, I can’t communicate mentally with any of them because Phillius had already severed my connection with his pack.I have no idea what came to her mind, why she suddenly appeared when we had both already agreed to meet at the port area. I glanced at my wristwatch. The glass has broken but it’s clear that I am already an hour late from the anticipated time.No wonder she’s here looking snarling like mad behind me.“Hey Kelly, I’m sorry I had a situation. You didn’t have to come,” I apologized to her without turning my head to look at her reaction because I could feel she was really upset for making her wait that long. I was expecting that she’ll shift back to her human form and pretend that she has no connection with my plan bu
What I said to Kelly is somehow impossible to execute right now.We both went straight to the port where we met his younger brother, Frix, the kind young guy that serves as guard and watchman at the gates of the Clarkson Mansion. Aside from Hazel and Anna, Sapphire also considers him her friend and I know it is also hard for him to know about the real situation of Sapphire in the hands of Phillius.“Master Xeno!” he exclaimed in a low voice, scared that an enemy might suddenly appear if he kept on saying my name. He swallowed, looking nervous before he spoke again, “It’s been a long time. So many things happened! Sapphire—““Calm down, Frix. He knows what’s going on,” Kelly tried to pipe down her brother who looks like he is going to crack up any moment, thinking about Sapphire and the fact that the three of us are now hunted by the demon Alpha and his Clan of fanatics.I don’t like the sound of it but there is no other description that could match Phillius other than that.“So how ar
I bared my teeth at him and I looked at his face. I noticed that he looked younger than the last time I had seen him and I knew it was because of Sapphire’s mana and her ability to heal. Kelly and Frix are also forced to kneel in front of Phillius too. Like he’s some sort of a god for these stupid fanatics that want the Clan to reign over this continent.“What you’re doing is insane, Phillius,” I grunted and growled when the one who was grasping my hair pulled me more to let Phillius have a good look on my face. I am not used to the way his eyes look at me with coldness and resentment. It’s like the curse has been eating the Phillius I used to know and making him a spawn of a demon, using his body to create chaos everywhere.“What’s insane is you, going back here, Xeno. I am well aware that you have lost your ability to shift to your wolf form and now you’re marching back into this place?” Phillius snickered “I never thought you are that dumb to do that but there you are!” “I need so
"How the f*ck are we going to find a black witch?!”Kelly’s so enraged after she heard everything I have said to Phillius, the negotiation that I settled with him which is the only way that I can save both him and Sapphire. Despite the evil nature that is surfacing in him, there are still people who care a lot about my twin, and one of those is Kelly, whose face is so red in anger.“It’s the only way I know, Kelly. I believe there’s a way we can find that witch.” I averted my eyes from her and brushed my hair with my hands in frustration. “We just have to be more patient and investigate more about it,”“We don’t even know if that creature really exists,” she grumbled and rolled her eyes at me as she leaned against the wide window of the study room that Phillius allowed us to use. Although wolfless, I could still hear the tapping of the shoes of the guards on the other side of the door as they walk back and forth while making sure we won’t get out of the room.If only my senses are str
“I wonder who is this Felrim you mentioned to Kelly, Master Xeno,” Frix curiously asked while we are both heading towards the secret dungeon. Two huge men are following us, preventing us to go from any place other than the spot that I requested to go. I don’t know these two men behind me and I thought maybe they were from other Clans that were sent here for added assistance to Phillius’s growing empire. "You'll see when we get there, Frix. Just prepare yourself for it. I don't think you're going to like what you'll see." I replied to him, wary about the guards behind us. I look down at Frix who is just a few inches shorter than me. What’s his age by the way? I lost track of time since I became the Commander of the first squad. Since then, all that was important for me before was my mission to be successful so that my father would somehow appreciate that I was doing my best for this family. I became the shadow and Phillius was the light that everyone loves to praise. The surroundin
Everything happened that I didn’t expect.A flash of bright, dazzling light filled my mind. The hues of colors swirled like paints mixed in water, and the dark and cold tone with streaks of red gave me an uncomfortable and alarmed feeling about what Felrim wanted me to see. Then the colors moved and smoothly turned into a dark scenery, a picture of barren, stony land with thin clouds that looked more like thin fogs of smoke above the dark, starry sky. It’s being lit by occasional lightning and the booming of the thunder reverberated in the area, the vibration I felt in my bones gave me a strange shiver in my body. It’s a feeling I have never felt before which I cannot tell if it’s fear or amazement or maybe both at the same time. I wonder why Felrim made me see this place and I thought maybe it’s the real face of the Underworld.To my surprise, I felt a tingling sensation in my head and after I blink my eyes, I was transported into a place filled with flowers. I was so stunned by th
"Is everything all set?"I zipped close my rucksack with personal things that I need while we take our journey to the Underworld. Same with Kelly and Frix, whose bags look so big I think they had brought their house inside them. "Don't look at us like that," Kelly complained, scowling at me. Her lips are pulled upward, her face is still tinted with dark makeup. I think it's really her signature to herself. "We have no idea how long we're going to stay in that place so better take as much as I can because I don't want to stink in that place," "For the record, this is mostly her things. Mine's like one-fourth of these," Frix told me while waving his hand to their things and I could only laugh with the siblings, glad that they stick with me even when the situation is uncertain and dangerous. "Are you sure you really want to go with me? Because to be honest I—""Shut up, Xeno Clarkson. We have to make sure we'll get the cure for Phillius so everything will go back to normal," Kelly sto
“Darn it, Sapphire. Stop ruining your make-up. Please hold your tears back until the end of the ceremony,” Kelly scolded me. It was a bit funny though because when she was the one whose tears flowed incessantly down her cheeks as she watched the problematic makeup artist reapply the foundation on my cheeks.“Oh Kelly…” I helplessly looked at her as she wiped her face with a white handkerchief on the mirror, “Please don’t make me too nervous. I feel like I am already sick in my stomach thinking about the expectations of the people outside,”“You don’t have to think about any of them, Sapphire,” Ava uttered as she arranged the beautiful bouquet of white roses in her hands, “You just have to look straight in the aisle and just focus on Xeno. Just focus on him and breathe slowly and calmly. You will be alright,” she advised and held both hers and Kelly’s hand to ease the nervous feeling in my chest. They both gave me an encouraging smile as they helped me with my gown after the makeup art
Everyone was busy preparing for the wedding and volunteered to decorate the whole garden with white roses because they all knew it was always my favorite. Kelly has been busy managing the event with Ava because they want it to be perfect for me. Although they never wanted me in the venue, I still insisted on helping With the decorating because there are not many things to do in this place for me and I never want to go shopping just like Kelly suggested. I would rather stay here and be with them after Felrim gave me the very good news that he will bring my parents and my brother on the day of my wedding.And Xeno has been very busy with other stuff but he decided to delay all his meetings and stay with me the whole day today, organizing and arranging things to my liking. Kelly has been a great organizer though. I guess it was a talent she has been hiding from everyone and I believe it will open a great opportunity for her in the future. She’s a reliable person when you plan parties and
“I have never seen you blooming like this before, Sapphire. What happened?” Kelly asked me teasingly while giggling after she wrapped her arm around my arm and we both walked inside the Clarkson Mansion's garden. After the long trip from the villa back to this place, Xeno became too busy from all the meetings he arranged with all the advisors and staff of their family business and the people of his Clan. He finally embraced his destiny as the new Alpha and many are pleased that he is back, believing that peace will be eventually restored for all the people of the Clan. The ones who were not happy, the people who were loyal to Phillius had already made their exit and that was much better because Xeno believes that opposition in this pack will not be tolerated, especially since those people rely on Phillius’s greed after receiving so many gifts from Phillius just to gain all their support against Xeno.But now that my fiance is in charge, there is no way Xeno would let them continue t
"I can't believe it's almost over, Xeno. That I can finally sleep at night peacefully, without being scared someone would take me away from you again.""I will never let that happen again, baby. Never again, I swear," he whispered to me as he brushed away the strands of hair straying on my face. The party was a blast and I am happy that everyone finally got to enjoy their night even after Phillius suddenly appeared and surrendered himself to the Faes. And despite that Kelly declined Xeno’s offer to take over the Clan, I guess Xeno has no choice but to stay in that Mansion and manage everything until his father returns. I just can’t tell him that it’s ok for me if he would become the Alpha of his Clan but I know that he still has this trauma from his ancestors that he wants to run away from. But that pack was his legacy and so many of his people are counting on him for the changes that their pack needs. And I believe that Xeno is the kind of Alpha their Clan needs. He has more compass
“What is happening?”I didn’t notice that Xeno was already behind me when the three Faes came for Phillius. The confusion was etched all over his face as he looked at the three guards and then at his twin brother who batted an eye at the concerned expression on his face.“Don’t be too flustered, Xeno. I finally dare to face all the things that I did. You are right. Death is not the end of everything so I am hoping we could still see each other if I ever still have the chance to see both of you in the Realm of the Immortal,” Phillius smiled at his twin brother, his eyes full of peacefulness where I never saw any heavy or dark malice in them anymore. It was as if the antidote gave him a rebirth into a person that is now far from the evil’s grasp.“No Phillius… wait—”“No. Xeno,” Phillius furiously yelled at him, but there is no anger in his eyes but pain. I can see clearly that Phillius still doesn’t want to go and that he is scared that he will really be able to see Xeno once he enters
“Phillius—”Xeno’s hands quickly pulled me against him as if he had seen a monster from his nightmare. But I cannot blame him. Phillius indeed came back to his immaculate beauty. His hair was back to its golden color and shone under the lights of the chandelier, his body bulked and grew muscular once again, and his eyes were bright blue as if he had never experienced suffering from the curse all his life. He stood straight in his regal suit with all his focus on me while setting down the spoon and the glass of wine on the table. I never expected it but he smiled at both Xeno and me like he was a different person. All of us in the dining hall froze and even the musicians stopped playing music when all of them saw the terror on all of our faces.“I am sorry to interrupt the party but there is something I need to discuss with Sapphire,” he looked at Xeno with a humble smile which surprised both of us, “If that is okay with you, my twin brother.”Phillius' eyes were steady as he stared a
“Xeno.”“Kelly. I am glad you have already decided. Whatever it is, I want to let you know I respect it.” Xeno pat Kelly and William’s shoulder, “I support you guys whatever it is you want with your life. I am just happy that you’re here for Sapphire and me.”“You know we have been with you since the very start, Master Xeno,” Frix smiled at him and looked at me as he pursed his lips with a smile, “You have no idea how happy I am now that you’re both finally together again. You both have already gone through a lot, and we all witnessed your faith in each other.”“Wow, Frix, that was really touchy!” I chuckled at him and he just winked at me and pat Xeno on the shoulder. Kelly and I’s eyes caught each other and I knew right away that she was nervous to the core. She kept on pulling her fingers and puffing her cheeks as she blew out air, trying to ease the perturbation she felt in her chest. We all decided to make this night a formal theme to celebrate Kelly’s birthday. I didn’t know it
I can’t stay in the hallway and listen to what Xeno and the Fae talk about. I am too scared of what I might learn about Xeno’s past or maybe I just don’t want to hear the pain in his voice every time he has to explain it to the Fae to clear his name. I know this will not be easy for all of us now that the Immortal Realm is working on the matter after Felrim spilled everything to the authorities in that place. I cannot blame him though. He has to explain to them the things that happened to him and the reason why he was gone for so many centuries. I know that time was not too long for Faes who have eternity to live. But that must still be suspicious to them since they went here to check on me and make Phillius pay for all the horrible things that he had done to me and the other Faes that became his victim.Feeling lost in my thoughts, I found myself stepping inside the room where Phillius was sleeping. At first, I didn't know why my feet brought me here. It’s like my head was full of c
I can’t believe what Frix has just said.With a frantic heart, I quickly ran towards the house's main hall, expecting to see Felrim again. But why am I feeling too scared this time? Is it the fact that maybe they might not allow Xeno to go with me if they ever force that I have to go back to the Immortal Lands because I no longer should be in the mortal realm?My silver hair danced behind me as Kelly and I rushed to where the Faes that Frix was wheezing about. At first, I thought it was Felrim who was standing tall and straight in the middle of the hallway because he also had long silver hair as I have. But when the Fae turned to look in our direction, it was a different Fae and my heart suddenly shrank because there must be two reasons they are here. It is either about Phillius, or me. I didn’t realize there are two of them until I scanned the whole area.“Sapphire—”Another silver-haired Fae appeared from the other side of the hallways and was talking with Xeno, whose eyes automatic