It's been just ten hours and I feel like it has been forever since I was tied with chains here in this dungeon.My body hurts all over and I feel like my arms are going to be torn off my shoulders for staying standing for so many hours without being able to sit or rest. Every thirty minutes, Phillius men who I knew from our training days come here to torment me by kicking and punching me wherever they desire. Motley, the one who raped Hazel, Sapphire's poor maid, has been enjoying hitting me since I got imprisoned and chained. The physical pain is the least of my worries now. It's the agony of knowing Sapphire is in the hands of Phillius and I knew him better enough that she's not safe with him. I feel terrified to think of any possible way that Phillius would do to Sapphire and all I could do is just scream my lungs out here in anguish, knowing she's vulnerable, just like the Fae I am with here, the ancient Felrim who's imprisoned by my family a century ago.The horror of my family
I woke up with a splash of water on my face. Some entered my nose I cough as I try not to breathe, filling my lungs. The effects of the painkillers that Kelly brought me are starting to fade and the soreness and sharp stings on my back are coming back to my senses again and it got worsened when the water dripped down from my hair down to the wounds. The burning feeling of my would almost make me lose my consciousness.One slap on my face and the sting it made took me back to my consciousness. I could only see the blurry, ugly figure of Motley in front of me as the water dripped down from my eyelashes. Just how long did I sleep? I am not sure of the time because since the pills started making the pains numb, I drifted into a deep sleep right away.“Wake up! You don’t want to miss your twin’s wedding, right?” Motley’s irritating gruff voice echoed in the dungeon and I heard the clanking of chains from the other cell where Felrim is. Motley’s yell must have scared him.“Pray I won’t get
Cold. I feel something cold pressing on my forehead, on my face, and down to my chest. I opened my eyes and was baffled to see Sapphire smiling at me so sweetly.“S-Sapphire?”“I am glad you are finally awake, Señor. How are you feeling?”My brows met at once.That’s not Sapphire’s voice…I blink my eyes twice and my vision, as if covered by a fog, cleared and an unfamiliar young face of a lady come into my view. Confused and disappointed, my body moved to pull myself up when the realization came to my senses and the pain gradually emerged, making me wince from the stabbing, throbbing, and searing feeling in every part of my body. I am not supposed to feel them anymore if I could regenerate normally but the poison seems too long to get out of my system and the option I have now is to endure them until I am completely healed. I feel like every movement of my muscle is an agony to me and I just fall back on the bed and lie still on the soft bed.“Y-You shouldn’t move too much, Señor, yo
“I’ll leave now, so you both can discuss the matter privately.” Ava excused herself as I followed her with my eyes while she made her exit from the room.When I turned my attention to Uncle Samuel, I saw his eyes squinting at me teasingly and I just frowned at him and pushed myself up into a sitting position, grunting as I felt my muscles aching in unison.“Tell me what you find out, Uncle. I didn’t think anomalies are happening in New York that are beyond my knowledge. I’ve been defending that city for two decades already and I couldn’t believe something like that could happen under my watch." "I can't blame you," Uncle Sam tried to sympathize with the disappointment I feel in myself. "But this is not your fault, Xeno. Phillius used you to fulfill his own desire and now that he has a Fae, we have no idea what else he could do just to satisfy his hunger for power." "I know… but I still let him do it. And I have to fix every mess he made. I just wonder where he took father. No matter
It’s almost midnight and I feel like my regenerating ability is going back to normal and the speed of my recovery is getting better.The need to get some fresh air drove me to walk outside my room and look at the stary sky above, wondering what is happening now at Sapphire. No matter how badly I want to go to that place, it would be a bad idea because I know Phillius would surely kill me at his first sight of me. He is my twin but I feel like he’s a different person already. He’s not the brother who used to protect me whenever my father used to lash out painful words because I grew up being so incompetent, unlike Phillius who enjoys all the attention that every people gave to him.The wind is blowing softly on my bare skin. I didn’t take time to grab a shirt from the closet because I have no idea if any of them would fit me so I walked toward the wide garden of Uncle Sam’s bungalow house and tried to remember this place from the last time I have been here. Nothing much has changed tho
Just to not hurt her feelings, I agreed to have a drink with Ava and she begged me that we stay in her room because my Uncle's wife, Aunt Victoria would check on her if she was in there. It made me a little suspicious why my aunt would check in on her in the middle of the night but I guess they are just as strict as that especially since teenagers nowadays are a little bit liberated and always looking for fun.But I don’t think Ava is that kind of girl at all. She’s timid and gentle and she always talks in a formal way. I also find her too polite to me and it makes me feel like I am so old when we talk. Well, I’m just a young one for the shifter’s family but when it comes to looks, some would think I am in my late twenties. Mostly because I always look strict and gruffly while Phillius looks so younger than me. He’s always the bright one, the smiley face, and the popular guy. I preferred hiding in the shadows because I always hate when people compare me to him.Her room is adjacent to
“XENO!!!”The loud shout startled me as I made an attempt to get up from the soft bed I was lying. The first thing that I felt was the excruciating pain in my head that made me grimace and the blinding light from the open window struck my eyes. I had to squint to look clearly at what was going on.Pulling myself into a sitting position, I felt something heavy on my left shoulder and saw Ava, sleeping and embracing me with only the white blanket covering our naked body.F*ck!My eyes widened upon realizing what is happening. Then when I turned to look at the door, my Aunt was already there with my two other cousins. All their eyes are wide with surprise with my cousin’s heads poking out from my Aunt Victoria’s shoulders.And then I feel like the blood in my body drained, petrified and confused, remembering what happened last night and when I came back to my senses, I look at Ava with disbelief in my eyes.So this was her plan!“This is not what you think it is, Aunt Vicky!” I frantical
I borrowed a phone from Uncle Sam, hoping to contact Kelly as soon as I can. I need to know what’s happening in the mansion and I have to know if Sapphire’s still breathing in the hands of Phillius.With hope, I waited for her to pick up the call but it only just keeps on ringing. Then I thought she must be inside the mansion’s premises so I just hang the call and leaned the back of my head on the trunk of the tree behind me. I shut my eyes tight and knocked my head against the trunk as I savor the bitter taste of impatience growing in my chest, not wanting to think that I, also, was trapped on this turf because of Ava’s incredulous lies. When I opened my eyes, my brows automatically frowned that Ava was already standing in front of me, staring at my face with her innocent eyes as if she had never done something that ruined my Uncle’s trust in me.I turned my back from her, not wanting to see her face after what she did but I felt her hand stopping them from getting away and I exhaled
“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