“So… what’s your plan when you get back to the human world?”The questions made William frown. I never wanted to pressure him about things but I want to know what is in his mind though. Maybe if we survive this mission, I could have the chance to look for him and if everything about us works out, I think I’m going to lie low first as the second in command in the hunting corps. I want to live a life and try not to worry about a lot of things including the issues of the Clan. I want to live a normal life at least once with William where we can both travel wherever we want in the world.“I have no idea exactly. I have no family to go back to, though, so maybe I’ll just try and figure out what I really want to do with my life.” He replied, squinting through the dusty wind of the rocky pathway towards the mountain. “I’ve been here since I was fifteen and been stuck for a decade so I guess I have so many things to catch up on,” he chuckled awkwardly, and I know he’s just thinking about my f
"Jackson!!!""Here, take this!" I said to William after I took off the rucksack from my back and pushed it to his chest. He quickly took it with confusion, having no idea what I'm going to do and I just smiled at him, making him know that everything will be alright."No, Kelly! What are you doing?!"I lose my grip on the stone that I was gripping and let myself plummet down the cliff. I saw William's terrified face as he watched me fall, his hands stretched in a desperate move to catch me.While in mid-air, I took off all of my clothes and bit them between my teeth. Then, I shifted to my wolf form, the muscles and bones adjusting to the size of my wolf, snapping, reorganizing inside my body as I shut my eyes, ignoring the pain. I always think that shifting is just like changing clothes for me. A daily routine that I need to do whenever I or any of my friends and family are in danger. It's the form where I am safe the most.[Kelly! What are you doing?! Are you mad shifting in mid-air l
“Tell me, Kelly, how are you able to manage a life where you don’t rely on someone else?”I turned my head to Sapphire who was sitting beside me, her white skin looking ghostly on the lights of the campfire that gave us enough warmth to survive the night. She’s still using her mana to cover us from the demons around this place and while we are all looking like little mice watching these creatures walk or fly past us, there is this feeling of uncertainty if we could really get into that peak of the mountain, whole and still breathing.Her eyes are melancholic as she stares at the fire and I wonder what made her feel so sad like that when she’s with Xeno already. But then, maybe it’s because she still can’t remember her past. I know that kind of feeling though… a feeling like there is something missing in you. Something that you can’t have or tell anyone because it only sounds absurd when you speak about it. I hesitated to talk at first but then she made a barrier around us so others
Everyone is getting ready for the most dreadful part of this journey.Last night's conversation with Sapphire was so emotional but I am happy that it made us closer to each other. I wish I never had to tell her about those things but I think she has the right to know as Xeno’s mate and the only person that cares for him. Xeno will not be thrilled that Sapphire knows the truth already but I don’t think he’ll be mad with me anyway. He didn’t lie to Sapphire anyway. It’s just he didn’t tell her those things and Sapphire has to know to understand his situation more. There is no day or night in the Underworld and we could only predict our time because of our body clock. No gadgets are working here and I don’t think it’s safe for all of us to use flashlights inside the cave to see the surroundings. It will be pitch black inside and only I, Frix, and Xeno are the only ones who could see through it because of our night vision ability. I don’t know if Sapphire could do the same though but ha
“Let’s go!” I concentrated well enough to distribute my mana to everyone under my spell. It isn’t easy though. I have to maintain the amount of mana I give just so I won’t run out of it while I am trying to replenish it by taking the life force from every living plant in the area. The forest had plenty of it while we were marching towards this place and I can renew the lost power I used while maintaining the barriers around us. But in this place, I don’t think I will have enough for all of us until we get to the top. I didn't think too much about it when we were outside the cave but now that we’re entering it, the fear is slowly overwhelming me that I have to breathe deeply just so I won’t get distracted by the disturbing thoughts in my mind. Xeno is holding my hand and it's the only thing that helps me get on with my anxiety. All of our lives are dependent on my ability and it's a lot of pressure. But without it, I don’t think there is another way to get to the place where these p
“You can do it, Sapphire. Just don’t look down, okay?”I tried my best not to get overwhelmed by my fears. It just occurred to me that I am scared by the fact that we are inside the monster's body and just taking the wrong step, we will literally plummet down straight to the acid of its stomach! We have to be so careful not to trigger any sense of the monster because we have to avoid being caught by its terrifying tentacles. Since we started walking up the ladder, we have already witnessed five demons being pulled down the green lake of acid. The monster is like a flower in the human world called a pitcher plant. It must have moved to this place at the center of the portal to lure more demons and think it's a mountain so it could feed on the ones who are trying to climb up to the magnetic pull of the portal.It's an intelligent monster. A tier two!My knees have been shaking because I could feel its presence everywhere. I could feel its veins throbbing against the walls, the flow of
How are we going to escape from this place after we manage to help Sherman and the other four humans?“Don’t get too overwhelmed, Sapphire. We will manage to survive these demons. Just breathe slowly. I won’t let anything happen to you…”I swallowed hard, trying to concentrate on what I can do to make the barrier stronger as we get closer to the top. The gravity in here is getting heavier and heavier and soon, it will be hard for Xeno to carry me anymore. But I am thankful that at least I had time to replenish my mana. Although the air in this air is getting thinner, I can get life particles from the mouth of the demon mountain coming from the forest.“How long is it until we get to the top? I don’t think I can walk anymore. My body feels heavier than Jackson’s!” Markan complained with his rough voice and I glanced at them to see their red faces, struggling as they almost just climbed on the ladder. Even Kelly who’s physically stronger than these humans can’t take the heaviness of the
I feel like my blood has gone cold after hearing three consecutive snaps of bones coming from Frix.“Sh*t! That sounds bad!” Markan cried in horror.“XENO!!!”He stretched his arms up, a gesture that he doesn’t want me to come near them. Kelly’s sweating terribly, the neckline of her shirt is already wet and Xeno’s trying to hold down Frix he won’t roll down the pit.I feel like my heart is already in my throat. I can’t imagine how painful it is for Frix. I watched his eyes bulge wide in agony as more snapping of his bones happened within just a minute. But to not set us into danger, Frix still manages not to scream, thinking that it might catch the attention of the demons around us. I feel like we’re in actual hell as I watch the three of them help Frix strengthen his mind. Kelly is already crying as she rubs Frix’s back, while his young brother’s body stiffens, his muscles expanding, bulging against his clothes slowly ripping them apart.“God, Jackson can’t watch anymore. Jackson fe
“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