Chapter 3. Gifts

He was very hot and lovely to look at. In plain view before my very eyes. Half-naked. Sweating. It's almost as if I've already met him in one of my nightmares before. Almost. Or was it all just a dream?

I had the impression that we were connected in some odd way. Why do we become brighter whenever we are in each other's presence?

Who is he?

He was either a god or a fallen angel who had been sent from the mystery mountain of Noah to torment me by scorching the surface of my flesh. As I was still outside the Tribus, it appeared to me that the legends were true and that the gods actually resided in this location. They were not an illusion.

I tried to take a small step backward, but as soon as my legs were able to lock with the rest of my body in what seemed to be an incomprehensible sensation, they stopped moving on their own and I was unable to go farther. Once more, the lights started to come on. It appeared as though we were unable to see the moon at all when we were in the bush. His gaze was so powerful that it was able to encompass both me and us, creating the feeling that the two of us were destined to be together.

I was immobilized and unable to move. I had no feelings of dread or impending danger at any time. My physical being and my spirit both wanted nothing more than to look at him, get closer to him, and touch him right at this very moment. All I could think about was him.

Am I hypnotized?

I think so.

Do I like what is happening?

My mental self was fiercely opposed to how it reacted, despite the fact that my physical self aggressively wanted the connection that could be created between the two of us. It seemed as though I had no resistance to it at those times, regardless of what thoughts or actions I was having at the time. He exercised authority and control over me.

My mind.

My body.

He owns me.

He blinked. His eyes glowed with a golden and silvery tint at the same time, creating an iridescent effect. It was as though, with the mere blink of an eye, he had successfully destroyed the connection that held the two of us together.

I suddenly sensed my own body. Every inch of my body is beginning to shake as the dangerously handsome man moves closer to me, and I can feel him getting closer. His gaze moved all over my body, taking in everything from my head to my toes. I gave his left arm a savagely hostile look and glared in that direction.

"Who are you?" he asked. Then he moved closer until there was only a foot between us, ignoring his glowing body.

As it continued to make its way through my body, the acid's strength, which had previously begun to stream through it, grew. My stomach was in knots because of the charming man who was only wearing part of his clothes and was sweating.

"I'm Stel—" I was really close to disclosing my identity. I had the good fortune to be able to think for myself, which contributed to the accomplishment of my covert operation. It was identical to what my mother had always advised me to do. Never under any circumstances will I let a stranger see my hand of cards. The person in question was a total mystery to anyone who knew anything about them.

He frowned, and his jaw darkened. He looked impatient, waiting for me to say my name. His jaw tightened. "I'll give you one last chance to talk," he sighs immaculately and then continues, "I'll ask you again, stranger. Who are you?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat from where I stood. I couldn't help but stare at his handsome face, hit by the moonlight that filtered through the tree leaves.

"H-help me." After a brief pause, that was the only thing I could think to say to break the silence. Once more, the shaking permeated my entire body from head to toe. The response mirrored the anxious look that had begun to form on my face, and my expression mirrored the terror that I was feeling.

I saw his tightened jaw fall. The muscles in his face somewhat relaxed to accommodate the curiosity. His thick eyebrows receded from a crease. "What's going on?"

"Someone's after me. Someone wants to abduct me… or even kill me!"

The left side of his lips rose to form a smirk. He saw it as a hoax. He cleared his throat and gazed back at me. Then he asked, "You are Stella Suarez?"

My air supply to the tube in my throat was abruptly cut off. My reaction was to withdraw. Suddenly, I was terrified of this man. My complete name? How did he know it?

He frowned when he noticed my reaction. This guy could read minds. Literally, "I heard those guys talking about you. They've been dispatched."

"Dispatched?"

"Dead? Jailed? I don't know what would happen to such people if they go against the Trinity or anyone who is a friend, guest, or important to the prime clans."

I swallowed. My throat suddenly got dry from being so nervous. "That fast?"

He chuckled softly. I think I look ignorant in front of this.

"Hell yes. Welcome to Tribus!"

He retreated from me in an instant and turned his back on me. As I watched, oblivious to the situation, he turned his seductive back on me. I couldn't help but cringe whenever I saw her wonderful back, and especially her round butt. You should thank god for this barbaric deity who never resorts to anything more polite than making threats and giving the cold shoulder.

The man's bulk was gradually consumed by the shadows cast by the trees. I could hear the branches and leaves that had been compressed into the ground cracking as he went through the mulch-covered ground. He didn't give a damn whether or not I was watching, and he certainly didn't care that he was walking away from a helpless female.

"S—sir?" I called.

It came to a halt beneath a willow tree. The moon's reflection arrived once more at its destination. He looked divine even from afar. It was staring at me.

"Go back to the ceremony, Miss Suarez. I may not sound convincing and compelling, but my word is the only thing you can trust."

"Tell that to a new girl in a mysterious Tribus."

"There is nothing to worry about, Miss. Take a deep breath and worry about nothing. That fear is just in your head, I guarantee. The Trinity will keep you safe." His voice, now convincing and compelling, echoed in the forest.

How is it that he appears to be tied to the three families that he has been involved with? What is it in what he is saying that gives him such confidence? Why I should believe what I hear is beyond my comprehension.

During that time, I was temporarily unable to express myself verbally. My attention was immediately drawn to the dazzling light emanating from a flashlight that was being held by a member of the uniformed staff, most certainly from Trinity. When I turned around to examine where the mysterious man had been standing, I discovered that he had already departed.

I sat there in silence as I awaited the arrival of the two top clan butlers, each of whom sported a unique patch on the left chest of his uniform. Everyone there was a hulking giant of a man, rippling with strength and sporting a scowl of defiance on his face. Who or what determines the members of the Holy Trinity's family, and what process is used to do so, are mysteries to me.

Why do they remind us of gods that came to earth to adore the Holy Trinity, and how did they get there? Santi, Aragon, and Leviste appear to have two times the amount of potential as Leviste. It has come to my attention that several of their forebears were featured in commercials that were published in periodicals and displayed on billboards.

"Miss Suarez, it's a good thing we found you. Your mom is so worried; we have to go back."

The man didn't say a word as he guided me back through the trees and up the rocky section. Neither of them said a word as they took my hand and walked me back to our designated table.

On my way back to the Baristo circle, I saw a group of Tribian officers quietly patrolling a nearby section of the woods. The man in the woods was probably correct. There was peace now.

Nonetheless, I have yet to learn the true motivation behind anyone's desire to place someone like me under arrest.

My mom's face lit up with relief as she spotted me and the butler approaching. As he perplexedly studied me, my father got up from his chair. The grin on Avi's face was highly sheepish.

"Oh god, Stella!" My mother immediately turned to hug me.

At first, my dad rubbed my shoulder and tapped me on the back. It was unsettling to hear nothing from him. Whenever my dad started having trouble communicating, I knew. He began to suspect that there was more to the story than was being told.

" I g—got lost, mom. I didn't know that this place was so big. " I lied.

"I know. I know... We were just worried," mom innocently uttered under her breath.

"Love, she's fine!" my father said, smiling back at her.

"Someone saved her. I have seen the strings finally connected! Glowing strings..." my sister exclaimed shrill but happy manner and started to chew again in her seat.

I cocked my chin to the side and looked at my dad. Once more, my younger sister started making up string sentences that were very weird. It is absolutely taboo for any member of our family to bring up the fact that our clan has been given the opportunity to settle within the Tribe since the invitation was offered.

Even now, whenever I am experiencing extremely powerful feelings, I exude a radiant sheen. I haven't been successful in finding a way to stop doing it yet. We were trained to do that by my father. Both my present and Avi's were kept hidden from the rest of the family for their own protection. My dad saw it as our passport into the perfect world, with with all of its nuances and obstacles, including getting along with the enigmatic people who lived in Tribus. He was really excited about it.