Marina
Opening my eyes hurts my brain. I blink multiple times and whine at the pain slicing through my soul. It’s as if I just survived being thrown into a giant cheese grater. My body parts are tingling, every tendon, every bone.
“Ouch...” I grumble.
There isn’t any complaint in the world to relieve my headache. I sit up with a grimace, hating how sore my muscles feel. Simply sitting is hurting my arse.
“Rough day?”
Alarmed, I twist around to rest my eyes on a girl. Darkness is all around us. Still, I can see her wave her hand before walking up to me.
“Yeah...” I mutter. “Where am I?”
The girl giggles, and I glare harder at her. It’s just my luck running into a sadist. My pain amuses her. Ugh. The urge to punch her in the face is oddly hard to resist.
“Why don’t you find out for yourself?” The girl says.
Good idea, genius. I just look ar
MarinaFor the first time in ages, I end up dreaming about John. He is running away from me, and I'm chasing him. Laughter erupts from his throat."What's the matter?" He stops briefly to flash me his teeth. Somewhere deep inside, I know he shouldn't be this young. Neither should he be a human. "Can't catch me?""Wait!" I'm panting as I pass trees while squinting at the sun. "Stop running!""I'm not running. I'm right here, sourpuss,"Tear-stained cheeks and shaky hands; that's how I wake up. It's bright outside, not super bright since canopies are blocking out the sun, but the light is still way intenser than any light found under the mountain.My mum always used to describe the sun as life. But even if the light is beautiful, it burns like a thousand spread fires over my eyelids.Bothered by the light, I sit up with a building headache, freezing in motion when I spot Beast pulling down his pants further away.What is he doing
MarinaThe cage is moving again. The slight shake beneath my feet prompts my knees to buckle under my weight, and I wobble forward. Fortunately, Bailey is there to catch me.He chuckles in amusement as he grabs me. “Take it easy,”His enormous hands are gripping either side of my waist, and for a second, I’m flying. Without effort, Bailey helps me back on the ground and releases me once I regain my balance. Gazing up at him and witnessing his entertained smile speeds up my heartbeat. Damn him and his gorgeous face.Forcefully, I stare down at the ground. “Thank you,”“You’re welcome,”Bailey smirks at me, and I shake my head, rolling my eyes at his swagger. He is too darn full of himself.“Stop smiling at me,” I growl at Bailey, who laughs in response.“You’re not that bad,” He winks at me.Embarrassed, I look away from him and lift my eyebrows
MarinaStaying away from the middle of the cage is easy. Remembering the earlier scene is all it takes to shudder and wish I was back in my fluffy bed at home.Life was less complicated under the mountain, while the surface is chaotic. I never know what’s going to happen next. And yet, I think I prefer being in the actual world rather than hiding beneath my mountain.My eyes haven’t adjusted to the sun yet. Luckily, our cage is like a tiny forest. It’s a habitat for us humans, with trees and bushes shielding my eyes.Most of the trees are laughably small, though, but there is one tall oak standing in the middle of the cage. It’s probably strong enough to let a human climb to the hatch directly above it, but I’m guessing someone already tried and failed.Everyone must avoid the middle of the cage for a reason. Maybe Dave and Adam eat the people who dare to challenge fate by trying to escape?I shudder uncontrolla
MarinaAs sunlight enters through the canopies and land on the face, I thought I once knew, heat explodes through my body. Beast’s ragged breaths become my own. And unwillingly, I melt under his gaze, afraid this might all be a dream.I’ve dreamt about John for years. My heart used to cry out to him every night, waiting for the day he might come and save me.Beast couldn’t be John, right?Not knowing what to say next, I stare at Beast with tears building up behind my eyes.I’m burning with the need to keep my hands on either side of his face. The determination to find out who he is flush through my entire system while the pure desperation is choking me slowly with anticipation.“Who are you?” Tears stream down my face. “Is your name John?”When my fingers tap his cheeks, Beast flickers his eyes away from mine. Darkness clouds his gaze, and he grabs my hands. Slowly, he pulls my trembling
MarinaPain has become part of me now. Watching John walk ahead of me and knowing he isn't mine, it's agonizing enough to knock the air out of my lungs.I want to scream, beg and ask him to reconsider his choice of being with Amy, but it would be a terrible thing to do.If Amy is the one he truly wants, then I should respect that."You can't tell the others that I can speak,"Shocked at John's sudden stop, I look up with no time to mask the inner torment gnawing at my soul.He looks torn the moment he sees my expression, but my pride causes me to glance away. John taking pity on me isn't something I want. I don't need him, and yet, it's so hard to resist stealing another glance of him."Did you hear me?" John asks."I did," I inform him bitterly. "And may I ask why I can't tell them?"John sighs heavily. It takes every bit of willpower to keep myself from lifting my chin.My mate doesn't want me, so I shouldn't lo
MarinaThe atmosphere is tense and awkward as I watch John pull out the others from the cage one by one from above the hatch.Bailey helps him. He lifts Lily up into the tree, not even glancing at me when he is the last one to climb.I can't believe everyone is so okay with this.There is no goodbye; they shed not even a single tear when I'm left standing alone.My friends don't seem to care about me, not even John. In his defense, Amy is seriously injured, and his expression told me he wanted her out of here as quickly as possible.It still hurts being abandoned, though.I twitch my lips and stare down at the ground. Self-sacrifice was my decision. I wanted this, yet I didn't expect to feel this lonely only seconds after being alone in this cage.Adam promised to look the other way for five minutes. He told me Dave wouldn't question our deal later. Adam assured me my friends would be safe, and strangely enough, I believed him.
MarinaThe nights are the absolute worst now that I'm spending them alone. Even though I know I'm sleeping inside a terrarium, the trees growing inside suddenly feel so frightening. Branches move like ghosts in the night while bushes rattle around me.I shudder. It's only the wind, Marina, I tell myself calmingly.It makes sense for there to be sounds. Adam told me the original use for Dave's terrarium is to harvest insects. Angels apparently eat them when they aren't swallowing humans.Therefore, the handy angel Dave built this terrarium cage—metal bars on top, glass at the bottom.I have to admit, Dave's work is impressive. It sure feels like I'm inside a veritable forest, but since I've walked around every corner and turned every pebble, the terrarium no longer feels that interesting to me.I want to what the world looks like outside of this cage, but of course, I'm a prisoner, so Adam won't let me.He thinks I would escape,
MarinaHot-headed, that has never been a description suited for someone like me. I've always been the quiet girl, the one with books and pictures of the world above.Life, love, freedom, and justice have always been sacred to me, and the only thing able to bring out my fury is if someone questions those three.At least that's what I thought until I met Adam.Now, I'm shaking with rage at the smirking man, glaring daggers into his midnight eyes and cursing him for looking as ripe as an apple, as seductive as a sex-demon."How can you say that after I saved your life?" I grit my teeth at Adam, venting out my anger without thinking. "I gave you my blood; you would have died without it. And yet you sit here-..."Adam hushes me and then offers me a glittering smile, showcasing his teeth. Suddenly Adam has become the picture of calm while I'm struggling not to slap him across his annoyingly sharp-angled face."Calm down," Adam's voice is lo
MarinaNever in my entire life have I been running this fast; not even when my life was in danger did I put this much force into my legs.The sun is lowering behind the trees, painting the scene in this vivid orange and salmon as the warmth of spring fans my hair. I'm sweating; on the verge of vomiting from not being in the best shape after the ice cream I ate after dinner."I shouldn't have gulped down that glass of wine either," I scold myself as I stop to breathe. With the support of a tree, I lift my head to squint ahead.The lake is looking as lovely as ever with glittering water under the sunrays. I keep staring, my heart stopping in my chest at the sight of a large man sitting by the corner of the lake.White wings, the wrong color, clad his broad back as he observes the setting sun. He lifts his chin to the sky, and I sigh at the short white hair on top of his head. The hair is shaved on the sides but more extended in the middle; I honestly
MarinaLooking into the face of my sister isn't easy. She shoved a dagger into the heart of my lover and ate my friends; it's difficult holding back that screaming rage at the back of my head.My memories are still intact, but I remind myself that none of that has happened yet; it never will.Although it hurts me, I know I won't save John, meet my friends, or even have the gorgeous Adam fall in love with me.At this moment, I will change the future."I-I didn't know you were awake..."Jenny's voice is pained, filled with sadness. Her face holds no anger, only loneliness as she keeps her gaze on the floor.I roll out of bed with a smile slowly creeping up on my face. Deep within me, my heart is mending. It's whispering soothing words into my ears, telling me this Jenny wears the face of innocence, that she isn't evil yet."Jenny, I'm sorry," I place my hand on my sister's shoulder to offer her comfort as my eyes convey regret. "
MarinaChaos is the only word able to describe my reality as of now. Lily is staring at John, who is busy howling into the wind and breaking things inside the castle to relieve his agony.So far, John has thrown three chairs and ripped apart every banderol from the ceiling, frightening Lily further with his display of strength and anger."Should we do something?" Lily asks me in concern."I honestly don't know," I reply.As I'm looking up at John, I notice the ground trembling beneath us, and when I swirl around, I detect my furious sister.What a sight.Standing in the doorframe of the throne room is one enormous, ruffled angel.My sister's wings are no longer on her back. It seems the vines did a good tearing them to nothing, leaving her looking like a giant human with burning rage covering her face.Bruises kiss her skin while she is heaving, her shoulders slowly falling up and down as she glares at me with murderous
MarinaSadness is the chance to learn about yourself and your soul; it's when your heart opens its windows and doors.Now, as tears stream down my face, I realize how much Adam truly meant to me, how much joy his smile brought me, and how much I truly loved him.I'm stranded, crashing while my mind calls his name, but there is no answer; Adam doesn't call my name as I shout his. There is only silence slithering around me as memories of us play on repeat inside my head."I think Jenny got the other ones locked up in her bedroom," John pants as he sets me down on the ground. He is shaking, tired from running in his human form in a castle built for giants. His blonde hair is sticking to his forehead as sweat glistens on his skin. "I just need a moment,"Looking around, I notice that we are standing in the throne room. The morning sun is lighting up the walls, blinding my eyes. Old paintings cover the walls; banderoles are hanging from the ceiling, and
MarinaBack inside the mountain, I never felt at home. It felt like I was sleeping, endlessly waiting for my life to begin as the seasons went by.The only thing able to bring a smile to my face was my daydreams about John. I thought meeting him again would save my life, change everything I knew and make me happy.And I was right.If John hadn't broken my heart, I wouldn't have met Adam and fallen in love.He isn't my mate, but does it truly matter?Adam feels like my home, the only thing that makes sense in this crazy world of mine. With him by my side, it suddenly feels like I can do anything.Silently, I peer up at the sleeping angel with my heart swelling in my chest. Adam is cute, although he would probably find it insulting if I said it to his face.But no matter how cute he is while lying all spilled out on the ground, I won't let him fall asleep on me just yet."Adam?" I clear my throat. "This is kinda uncomforta
AdamIf anyone told me there would come a time and day for me to love someone who wasn't my mate, I wouldn't have believed them.In my eyes, the mate-bond is sacred. But I was wrong about how the mate-bond works. I thought the mate-bond made you incapable of loving anyone else other than your mate, and yet, I'm far gone when I peer down at the woman in my hands.It amazes me how such a tiny little thing can make my insides burn, cry and beg for her touch. The intensity of my emotions is like nothing I've ever felt before.Marina.Lord, I've never been this whipped by a woman before, owned, and she doesn't even realize it."Do you think we could somehow use vervain to our advantage?" Marina asks.I lean against one of the walls, sinking down until I have the little mistress pressed to my upper abs. She isn't as stiff as she was a moment ago, even daring to make eye-contact when I peer down at her.It makes my heart swell in my c
MarinaI'm a bundle of nerves when Adam enters my prison cell. Even though I'm imprisoned, the metal bars are doing nothing to hide me from his widening eyes, from the intensity of the aura surrounding him.I feel exposed under his gaze and extremely dirty. I haven't showered in ages, while Adam seems to have gotten his shit together during the time we spent apart.For some reason, he also seems more rugged than before, more intimating somehow. Maybe I'm not used to being around him anymore, or he grew a couple of inches.I bend my neck, once more studying Adam.He is wearing fresh clothes, and his raven hair is back to looking perfect in a new braid. Did Adam put time into fixing his hair before coming here?Irritation chews me up and spits me out."I brought you some food," Adam sounds strange, guarded.I glance past him at the food scattered over the floor. He spilled the milk, and now the bread is soaking it up like a spong
MarinaI turn into Medusa with hissing snakes for hair when a guard takes me to the dungeons. He hangs my birdcage in the middle of a dark room, right in front of another prisoner."You..."My eyes turn vicious as I glare at the person tied up in the birdcage in front of mine.Long blonde hair falls down on the floor, and his head jerks up, revealing a pair of broken blue eyes. My mood immediately turns sour.John."Marina?" John's voice is weak. He barely possesses enough power to keep himself sitting on his knees. Bruises cover his skin, and his muscles look less swollen from a lack of protein. I almost pity him."Yes, John," My bitterness mixes with anger when I feel that familiar pull between us, that humming in the air. I no longer want him, but the mate-bond is trying to force me into loving him. I hate it.John awkwardly laughs, clearly nervous about speaking with the mate he left for another girl."How have you b
MarinaWhen Colton takes my birdcage inside the castle and enters this colossal room, the entire world stops.The sight before me wasn't one I expected.Blonde curls splayed out over an elegant chaise lounge chair, hands belonging to a female angel excitingly reaching into a bowl of humans as she laughs; it all turns me to stone.I'm having trouble breathing as the blonde angel dangles a human in front of her waiting mouth while servants are fanning her face with gigantic leaves, massaging her feet, and collecting empty wine glasses around the marble floor beneath us.The human screams, but the female doesn't care. Her mouth opens wide as her tongue greedily slips the human into her hungry mouth."That's so refreshing,"I wince at hearing Jenny's voice, realizing this is her. Colton clears his throat, and I immediately wish he never had.Jenny, her narrow red eyes, twists her neck to observe first Colton and then flicker down h