“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
We're all silent until we get to the edge of the Forbidden Forest where the Portal is. I could see the anxiety and worry in Frix's face while Kelly watched the rain and the dark scenery outside the window impatiently. I tried to stay calm, to keep my mind in control while my eyes were closed. When the car stopped, I knew it was already time and the long wait was over.“How far is it exactly?” Frix asked, grimacing under his raincoat.The rain isn’t as hard as before but I could feel its heavy fall underneath the coat and my clothes. My ears filled with the spattering sound and I knew my boots will get soaked later on but hopefully, the ground that the portal is isn't flooded. I have only been twice to that place and that was years ago already. The last time I came here, I almost died in demon venom and it happened twice when Phillius imprisoned me in the dungeon of the old manor. Sometimes, I want to think that he has nothing to do about my suffering in that place and that it was onl
I couldn't believe I had found him here.My body shivers from the coldness as the rain drenches my clothes, my hair soaked, sticking flatly against my skin and on my face. But the second I saw his liquid golden eyes, I could feel my body being electrified back to life, my heart pounding so hard against my chest and this time, it's not because of fear. But because I feel so overwhelmed with happiness after finding out that he's in front of me and alive.Before I could even react after he whispered my name, he had already wrapped me around his strong, muscled arms, pressing me tightly against his, making sure I'm real. Warm tears cascaded down my face as I sobbed against his chest, my knees started to wobble and I felt the weakness of my body as I felt his comforting warmth. I'm safe…! I am finally safe!...When I found out that Xeno was alive and appeared in front of the Mansion, Phillius became so needy of me that he canceled all his business meetings a few days ago just to stay in th
The blood-curdling fear I feel right now obscures every thought inside my head. He climbed down from the bed and started walking toward me at a slow, agonizing pace, his every step synchronized with the hammering of my heart against my chest and my knees started to wobble. But then I thought of Xeno and he’s here and alive and I can’t risk being so weak in times like this when I know he also risked his life to go to this place for me.I stood firm and prepared myself for whatever he’ll do and tried to remember all the hand-to-hand combat that Xeno taught me. It wasn’t much because we had this kind of misunderstanding before but I remembered all of them well and I am ready to use it against Phillius if I have to. I won’t let him do things to me and I will never forgive him for what he did to Hazel and how he almost killed his own brother. He brought so much misery to the people close to me. When I remembered Felrim, his suffering for so many years at the hands of Phillius's ancestors,
“SEARCH THE GARDEN!!!”I think Phillius’s mind had already been conquered again by the demon's curse inside him. Funny that it hasn't been 30 minutes yet and now he's already after me again.Despite the freezing cold, I made my best to get to the gate and saw the padlock as big as the palm of my hand! I know any minute, those werewolves would surely know that the first place I'll go straight is in here, of course because there is no possible way out in this place when the walls are fifteen meters high unless I could fly over it. I wonder how humans imagine that we, faeries, have wings like those of butterflies. Sometimes, the imaginations I read in the books from the library inside the mansion are a little bit scary and disturbing. With quick hands, I used my power to destroy the lock by using an invisible force. The metal clank opened and I hastily took it off from the gate. My hands, despite my determination to get out of this place still shake so badly that I have to suck in my br
Humans are strange…But the kindness that Josie showed me and her mother-like smiles and the worry in her eyes gave me a different kind of warmth that was so good. It would be nice to stay with her longer and listen to her talk about her daughter and her stories about her work but then I don’t want her to get involved in the trouble I am in and if anything bad happens to her, I will never forgive myself. The rain was starting to recede and the smell of the fresh forest overwhelmed my nose. I started to run again, mostly to regulate the heat in my body as I feel my lungs expand and burn more oxygen. My body shivers under the cold but Josie’s jacket gives me extra heat to fight it. The water splattered under my feet as I stepped on the wet grass, looking for the place where it all began. To find any trace of a door to another world where I must really belong. A place where I can find my mother… and the man in my memory that is called Benny. Maybe I’ll remember everything when I am fi
“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