I run straight to the garden, escaping the suffocating place of crowded strangers inside the mansion. I sit behind the tall arborvitae trees, obscuring me from the eyes of anyone lingering around the mansion.
With haste, I took off the corset with fast fingers and filled my lungs with fresh cold air as soon as I got rid of it. I don’t want to leave Phillius in the middle of that exuberant and glamorous event but I can’t be with him when my mind is filled with Xeno’s thoughts. I don’t want to be that cruel to Phillius and I hate myself for it.Finally released from the agony of being tortured by the blasted thing I feel like slowly killing me, I leave the corset on the grass where I removed it and think of strolling inside the garden. The wind is chilly against my skin and I need the fresh air to calm my nerves. I still can’t take Xeno’s face out of my mind when I saw him inside the ballroom, hiding in the shadows.Why is he glaring at me l“Make your back a little straight but don’t be too stiff! Relax your mind! Always on alert! Rely on the scent and focus your eyes on your target!”Scent?! As if I have that kind of ability for him to yell at me like that.I can’t help but scoff and sneer and mumble to myself while avoiding having eye contact with Xeno. His voice is like needles piercing through my neck, irritating to the feeling as the memories of our last night’s situation came back to my memory, making it hard for me to concentrate more, especially when his glare casts upon me.He has been teaching us proper posture and how to execute a deadly strike. They need it even in their human form when the enemy is too fast for them to morph. “Demons will never wait for you to transform! You must practice how you’ll do it in a split second, and execute a surprise attack! Always aim at the back of their heads. And if not, then strike hard in the middle of their chest!
It feels like the first time I got into Phillius' car, the day he had found me in the middle of the forest…I sit beside him on the passenger’s side, my knees on my chest as I curl myself into a ball while looking at the busy streets from the window, wondering what kind of jobs these people have. Do they hunt for their food? This place is too wide but I haven’t seen any vacant or farmlands around it. It’s a mystery to me how these people acquire food on their table.Embracing myself more tightly gives me a feeling of sort of relief, glad that Phillius led me out of that embarrassing situation with Xeno. I never thought riding on this thing and looking at the beautiful structures of this place would take a bit of my stress away for a moment.“I’m so sorry for what Xeno had done to you, Sapphire. How is your wrist?”Remembering it, I checked on my wrist and saw that the bruises are already gone. I think my mana had healed the inj
Yesterday’s moment with Phillius is… indescribable.It was beautiful and moony and I can’t understand why I can’t just accept his proposal so I could completely forget Xeno. But if I do, will I really forget Xeno? I am scared I will only regret the decision after I accept his offer being his Luna and that will only complicate things. Besides, I still have no idea why I got into this time and place after all. How I got inside a crystal in that mysterious cave. What I have felt yesterday is truly amazing but I am not sure about my feelings for Phillius yet. Sure he’s kind and gentle but I can’t take Xeno out of my mind and I hate myself for being like this all the time.To let out the upsetting feeling inside my chest, I went straight to the dojo after I woke up, training with a dummy. My physical strength isn’t my strongest aptitude but I am fast and I always take advantage of it. With kicks and punches, I pour all my vexation
“I told you, you don’t have to go with me.”I can’t let you drive on your own, Miss. You’re not familiar yet with the controls and if anything bad happens to you, I have no idea what Master Phillius would do to me.” As much as I want to glance back at Frix and look at his ridiculous worried face while he’s talking, my eyes couldn’t look away at the forest where I came from. It’s like something is pulling me to come and enter it… take a stroll under the tall woods.The morning sky is blue and clear and you could hear the birds merrily chirping around the area. The wind is cool against my skin so I embraced myself as I walked slowly, slipping down a shallow slope down on the edge of the forest.“Miss, where are you going?!”I heard Frix’s panicking voice as he made his attempt to run after me but I eyed him and gestured to him not to come. “NO, Frix, go back. You don’t have to accompany me here. I will be alright!”
“Don’t—““I know!”Xeno and I exchanged hissing words as we listened to the strange sound moving inside the cave. I tried to make my breath more even, concentrating on whatever danger that might come to us. The hideous face that I had seen might still be sleeping and it would be a disaster if it wakes up for we have no idea what level of demon it is.Xeno pulled my hand. I knew immediately that he wanted us to leave the cave. But resist the urge to leave the place for a feeling there is something more in here that is familiar to me. I can’t get out, knowing I’ll miss something important that might help me recover my memories back.I could feel the tension building in Xeno. Before I could even tell him to go away and leave me here, he had already pushed me against the cold, rocky wall of the cave, his topless body pressed against mine as he leaned down on me, his face so close that I could feel his breath on my face.
Xeno’s fever came back again, his skin is getting cold and I’m scared that at any moment, he’ll get a seizure from the poison.I took my jacket and wrapped it around his body. I knew it wasn’t enough so I lay next to him, embracing him with my arms around him. It’s embarrassing but I have no choice. He needs warmth while my hands are on his chest, using my remaining mana to stop the poison from spreading more in his body.He’s already shivering, moaning. I am already in panic and almost lost in mana. There is no living thing inside this cave that I could absorb for life energy. It’s hopeless… but I cannot let him die here…“Xeno… please don’t die on me…” I sobbed at him, wiping the
"Saph— Sapphire?!"I feel my pointy ears perked from the voice that is calling my name but I cannot distinguish it well since I already feel lightheaded from having almost no oxygen. The air is getting thinner and muggy and the only thing that keeps me surviving is because I never want Xeno to die. Not because of me."Hey! We're here! Help us! XENO IS DYING!"I was about to scream again when I heard an explosion from the tunnel and a flash of white light illuminated the place. Frix called for help! I heard several footsteps coming towards us and Frix's voice calling me and Xeno's name desperately.
Phillius pushed me inside my room and I dropped to the floor with tears in my eyes."Stay there until your mind is clear enough to accept the fact that you can never get away from this place, Sapphire. You're MINE! and no one can ever have you!" Phillius snarled at me, his eyes glowing with anger, "Don't make me kill my brother, Sapphire! You know I'll do it if you keep on fighting me!”The tingling sensation on my right cheek must have already blackened after my face hit the floor, the moment Phillius threw me inside. He glanced and gave me a cold look before he slammed the door shut, locking me in my room.I was left staring blankly at the door. My bod
“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