Hh-3

I could hardly concentrate anymore, not that I was not attentive but my attention was solely stolen by the dark-haired man sitting across me with a prosaic look of boredness on his face. Despite his attractive features and arctic blue orbs that held depths deeper than an ocean, his attractiveness evoked a wave of anxiousness inside me.

This man had succeeded in attaining my notoriety with the stunt he pulled in the garden earlier. Liana had somehow convinced me to join the family and give some time to our father, whom she still believe would make everything better. Even though, I knew it was near impossible. Even after giving him time, the time I had lost waiting for him would never come back.

Also, there was one other problem.

I would not call it a problem but it was closer to one.

Cassius's brothers.

It took me a long minute to recognise them. Veles was the complete opposite of his brothers. His icy white, shoulder-length hairs, twisted in a low bun, just above his neck, spoke for snow. His golden eyes were enchantingly alluring, they held the power to provide you warmth when needed, and the same eyes dared to burn you into ashes. Veles had a fire in his eyes and darkness within him. The top few buttons were undone as his upper chest was left bare for my sister's eyes to feed upon.

"Lord Veles," my father bowed to pay his respect as the said man smirked.

"No need for formalities Harward, I'm not one to get easily lured."

He strode towards where Cassius sat in two long strides, his muscular arms flexing as he pulled the chair. Annoying laughs and high-pitched voices of my dear step sisters were making me hold back a laugh.

My brows furrowed. My father cleared his throat uncomfortably as he chuckled nervously.

"How is everything going? Hope everything is going fine in Nithilorc-"

"Everything's fine." My father was cut rudely by other brothers. I narrowed my eyes at his audacity. My father was a king, the leader of a prestigious kingdom.

And he was talking to him like that?

His long coat flapped as he took the seat next to Veles. His coldness matched his dark blue eyes, his tight-lipped expressions created more awkwardness. But despite his handsomeness, he had no audacity to talk to my father like this, he should respect to take respect. I was getting annoyed by his rebellious behaviour.

"Oh....glad to know." My father was ashamed, I could see clearly. And trust me I didn't miss the slight twitch in Ezra's lips. He seemed rather amused.

The three of them were talking to themselves, slowly so that no one could hear. It was rude, to ignore a king, and exclude him like this. On other hand, my sisters were trying hard to gather their attention.

I rolled me when Isabella knowingly pushed her chest upwards, the tight corset made her cleavage more transparent.

Well, if her lewdness could lure Cassius then that would be a match made in heaven. Since both of them were shameless.

"So, where are others? I wonder if they are as handsome as you are." Tiana asked, biting her lower lip seductively. I almost gagged.

Cassius purposely ignored her question, as he chewed up his food.

"Why, sweetheart? Ain't I doing enough to hold your attention?" Veles smirked, slightly leaning back, his hands resting on his thighs, as his eyes looked at Tiana.

God!

Tiana blushed.

"Just hoping to meet them also....you know, I wonder if they're as good as you." My eyes immediately landed on my father, who ignored Tiana's comment.

She was shameless.

I choked on my food when Veles rubbed in between his pants. It was too late when I realised all eyes were on me. Feeling ashamed, and flushed, I mumbled a small excuse. I could feel everyone's eyes on me.

It was getting too hot in there.

My feet automatically bobbled up and down, the longer I feel their eyes on me, the more anxiousness engulfed me.

"So, about the offer?" My eyes snapped towards my father as he placed his spoon down and looked towards the trio of brothers.

"It was a beautiful evening, Lord Howard," My breath hitched when Cassius suddenly looked my way and my cheeks flared with shame remembering what he did to me in the garden.

"But there's something you need to know."

My father's brow furrowed along with every other member present at the table.

"I-I do not I understand, My Lord."

Cassius sighed and my heart hammered as he pushed his chair back. His tall frame towered over the table as he motioned towards the hall.

"We are not interested in your offering." He said and my father followed his action.

"What do you-"

"But we would love to offer something else." Veles interrupted, standing behind Cassius as Ezra followed him.

My father expression changed into one of happiness hearing their words as he raised a toast.

"It's my pleasure to fulfil your request, My Lords. Toast to our raising bond."

Ezra was standing beside Cassius and Veles was just behind them. Now that they all were standing close enough, I could see differences in their physiques.

Ezra was a quiet one. His dark hairs not only represented the canvas of night but his icy blue eyes spoke for summer skies and those calm, deep oceans. And any number of crystals you could name, you could drown in them and you wouldn't even care. He had his hands embedded deep into his pockets, the off-white linen shirt clung indecently against his torso, the outlines of his pectoral muscles faintly visible.

I somehow felt bad for the girl who would marry Ezra.

I also noticed that three of them shared similarities also. Other than their tall statues, and muscular physiques, the trio possessed the power to allure any woman. To make her beg for them till they have their fill. My brows narrowed as the three of them leaned into each other.

Loud cheers were echoing through the hall as my father raised a toast.

"Tonight is an authentic moment," he said raising his goblet. "Lords of Nithilorc will not choose my five daughters as their brides but also it represents the union of two kingdoms."

I sadly smiled. Of course! My father would always think about his other five daughters.

Cassius clasped his hands behind his back as he stared at my father. His face was stoic and emotionless as usual.

"Union?" Veles stepped forward as he took my father's hand. I looked confused at him for a second when my father groaned in pain as his bones cracked from the sheer strength of Veles crushing his hand.

"This isn't union, you old bastard," Veles snarled with a sinister grin. "It's a fucking CONQUEST!" I looked at him wide-eyed as he raised his sword in the air and before I could process it, my father's head was rolling on the floor.

People screamed at the abrupt attack as the doors of the hall were opened, many unfamiliar men stormed the banquet hall as the invaders charged at the people. I stared wide-eyed as people screamed and cried.

Irene let out a blood-curdling scream.

My mouth dropped open in shock, I shook with terror as I quickly rushed towards his cascade trying to avoid the hooded invaders. I could hear frantic crying and screaming behind me as I tried to move through several scrambling bodies.

"HAZEL!"

I looked over my shoulder just in time as Liana grabbed me by the arm. Her once perfectly styled hair looks dishevelled, and the tears cascading down her face had ruined her black kohl. Her clothes were torn from places as he looked terrifyingly at me.

"We need to leave! We need to leave!"

My heart raced as she turned around and dragged me with him.

"F-Father."

I whispered as more tears dripped down my eyes. I couldn't believe what was happening. The once supposed to be a memorial evening turned out to be this way.

"He's dead, Hazel! He's dead!"

She cried whilst we both rushed to the nearest exit. Scream, terror-filled cries, echoed through the castle. Swords clashing against each other, growls, gasps.

"HAZEL! LIANA!"

We both were stopped when the familiar voice of Dominic pierced through my wars. Looking back, he was already coming toward us.

"Dominic!" I gasped. Taking my dress into my hands, I ran towards him. He caught me in his arms just as I jumped on top of him.

"They killed him, Dominic! They killed him." I cried in his arms as I hugged him tightly. He quickly pulled back and looked at me seriously.

"We need to leave. Nithilorc has betrayed us. We need to leave immediately-"

"And I thought she was available."

Blood drained off my face as Dominic snarled whilst pushing me behind him. Liana was quick to wrap her arms around me. In front of us stood Veles and Ezra, their gazes hard and sinister. They were not alone, an unfamiliar man with short silver hair was standing beside them. I would have admired his features if it wasn't for the terrifying situation.

Dominic looked at us before mouthing three and pointed towards the door to our left. At first, I didn't understand but Ruby quickly jerked me towards her.

I took a deep breath.

"Available? Who's she?" The unfamiliar man said, his brows narrowed as he looked at Veles.

One.

Veles rolled his eyes.

"She caught Cassius's interest."

Two.

I gulped.

Ezra scoffed.

"Probably his dick."

Three.

I just took a step when I stopped short as a sword went careening past my face and lodged into the wall adjacent.

I glanced over my shoulder in shock and saw the unfamiliar man grinning at me. He tsked as he waved his fingers at me.

"There's my girl," Veles grinned.

I lost all the feeling in my limbs. I couldn't move. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't speak.

Dominic groaned behind me when I turned back. He had blood seeping through his shoulder when I looked shocked at him.

I was about to step towards him when an arm was smacked securely around my torso. My screams filled the hallways as I was harshly pulled away from him.

"Leave me!" My ears twitched when I heard Liana's screams. Veles had her dragging by her hair. He threw her against the wall as she cried in pain.

"Who's this lover boy?" The man with short silver hair asked as he narrowed his eyes at Dominic before pressing his foot on his wounded shoulder. Dominic cried in pain as he tumbled over.

"Let me go, please!" I sobbed as Ezra dragged me away. His arms around my waist seemed to get tightened as he tugged me away.

******

My back collided harshly with Cassius's chest as Ezra pushed me towards him. Before I could move, he had his arms wrapped around me.

"Let me go!"

I screamed when Cassius grabbed my face before tugging me towards his face. My breathing shortened, he was too close for my liking. My heart skipped several beats as his stormy eyes pierced through me.

"Obey, little one." There was something dangerous about his words. The roughness of his words scraped my courage, my mind stilled with fear, I didn't want to know what he was capable of doing to me. I instinctively froze out of pure terror. His voice was so loud and icy that it made my heart skip several beats.

I looked up at him in both fury and fear. His eyes had lost their shine which was present when he confronted me on the balcony. His face looked stoic, his body looked tensed and his eyes were a dangerous combination.

"It took longer than expected...." Ezra said from behind me.

"It was a bit fun," another voice interrupted as Veles walked through the large doors. My eyes moved towards his hands, bloodied hands.

Ruby!

I looked wide-eyed at him as he smirked.

"W-what did you do to her?"

My words were caught inside my throat. I feared the worse.

His smirk widened as he raised his hands in the air before showing me blood.

No! No! No!

It couldn't be! He didn't-she isn't!

"You bastard!" I screamed with all the energy I was left with. My arms flapped around in a desperate need to get free. Cassius seemed to be stronger than he looked. His hands reflexively grabbed my arms before pulling me towards him again.

"She's a feisty one, unlike your type, Cas." I was too paranoid to recognize the last voice. My tears shed as I kept thrashing in Cassius's arms. The screams of my disparity intensified their entertainment.

I couldn't understand why was this happening when it became like this.

"I like me some challenge." His voice fueled my anger ten folds. I cried and screamed and kicked but my strength was too low compared to him.

Their laughs filled the whole room, I could see several corpses laid on the porcelain marbled floor, mothers, daughters, sons, and warriors, and even the few corpses of people I used to know. Our chef, Morrie lay lifeless, besides her, I c, could see her daughter's body, still clutching her mother's hand though her dead eyes were wide open and looked lifelessly towards the ceiling.

I cried. I couldn't control myself. I felt both petulance and agitation, wondering if some of my family was alive.

I couldn't hear a single sound. The crying and screaming had stopped long ago.

My knees weakened as I found myself slipping down in Cassius's arms.

"Where's Claus? He said he would be here long ago?" Veles interjected. And for a moment I wonder who this Claus was. But then I found myself in reality, probably one of their brothers.

My arms were aching from the grip Cassius had. My tears were like a free waterfall, continuously falling without care. I grieved, for my family, for my sister.

My fate was undecided.

"Stop crying, sugar. Your voice is exploding in my ears." I suddenly looked up to find the man with sparkly silver hair and strikingly alluring grey eyes, with pale white skin and a body built like a warrior, scoffing.

He looked dangerous.

He snarled at me.

I jumped back slightly only to back against Cassius's legs.

"We need to leave." Ezra interrupted.

I screamed as I felt lifted off the ground like a sack, and muscles collided against my stomach as Cassius carried me over his shoulder. I cried, begged, and screamed but it didn't help either way.

What was going to happen to me?

~~

A terrified gasp escaped her lips as she scooted closer to the trees. Her feet were bleeding and her hands trembled with unexplainable fear. Her eyes looked widely towards her tormentors, barking at others.

Ezra looked from the shadows, his white linen shirt soaked with blood. There were a few light scars all over his bulky arms. He sighed as he noticed the faint healing brown marks appearing. He was about to step towards the lake to wash when he landed on the quivering frame of a fragile woman sitting while hugging her knees closer to her chest. He couldn't help but feel captivated by the way her body shook with each sob reverberated through her.

Initially, he had no plans of taking anyone let alone this woman to his lands, but he couldn't deny the fact that she could make a perfect little slave salivate his hunger. He knew he hadn't shown any interest in her earlier but now that he was examining her carefully, he could see the flecks of desire for her ravenous body.

The way her hairs shielded her crying face, the intensity with which she was shivering, her cold chapped lips trembling in the cold air of night, he could feel his body reacting accordingly.

"Fuck!" He cursed under his breath as his blood rushed towards his groin. The tightness seemed uncomfortable to him.

"And I thought I was the only one who had the power to make you feel this way."

Ezra huffed as he saw a lurking dark figure stepping out from his side. The silver hairs of a man with equally pale white skin glimmered with beads of blood and moonlight. Ezra couldn't help but saw the way his muscles flexed as he pushed the wide tree branch aside.

A deadly combination.

"You still have," Ezra said mockingly.

Theodore chuckled amused. "Still? Is this supposed to make me feel better?"

Ezra rolled his eyes as he stepped towards the front with Theodore lightly chuckling behind. "Veles!" He snarled. "Could you stop making those mortals scream! It's annoying."

Veles ran his bloodied fingers through his hair as he nodded his head. "Did you enjoy the massacre, Ez?" Veles asked amused as he grabbed a large axe from the side, his grin widened when the screams came from a few surviving victims.

"Their voices irritate me to no limit," Ezra grumbled when he heard a startled scream from behind. He looked over his shoulder when his eyes again fixated on a woman wearing torn the p golden-hued dress.

Hazel's eyes were as wide as saucers, her hands were tightly wrapped around her dress. She breathed heavily as she watched Veles swing the axe in the air before landing it perfectly on the old man's neck followed by two startling screams.

Cassius smirked, his back resting peacefully against the bark of a tree. He was enjoying it like always screams and blood.

It didn't take Veles long to kill the last few remaining people. By this time, Hazel's screams were muffled. Her mind stopped processing anything, her hands trembled uncontrollably.

She was in shock.

Ezra again glanced her way before scoffing. "Where's Claus? What's taking him so long?"

"He would be here-"

"Get ready." Theodore looked over his shoulder when a deep voice interrupted him.

Hazel scarcely looked towards the left when a tall, fiery red-haired man with lightly tanned skin, stepped from the shadows. She gulped hard when she realized who this man was. Not only did the scar over his face look scary, but the man itself also radiated evilness.

Ezra rolled his eyes.

"You missed all the fun." Veles grinned.

Claus took a few long strides as the muscles of his arms flexed with movements. Hazel could see the faint bloodstains all over his clothes, she feared the reason.

"I was having another kind of fun," Claus smirked as Veles threw his head back, his laughter echoing wholly in the forest. Hazel gritted her teeth as beads of tears accumulated in the corners of her eyes. Within a few hours, her whole family was dead, her sisters, her father, her friends, and her kingdom. The sorrow swept her memories away, she realized how fastly she had lost everything, not only her kingdom but also the place she called home.

Claus's laugh stopped when his sparkly blue-green gaze landed on the folded figure under the tree to his left. His eyes narrowed as his brows scrunched together.

"What about 'no spoils of war law, huh?" He gritted. The gruesome thoughts enabled Hazel to hear anything, she felt herself becoming more and more accustomed to her reality.

Veles's grin slowly faded as he followed Claus's gaze.

"I demand a fucking explanation," Claus growled making hazel jump. She fearfully looked towards the voice when she met with angry pair of enchanted eyes.

Her soft brown eyes locked with his blue ones. For a second, Hazel forgot about her situation, the atmosphere seemed to thicken with the intensity of his gaze, and the hairs on her body stood accordingly as his eyes slowly caressed her soul.

Claus felt something strange dwelling inside him as he looked carefully at her face, the soft tanned skin reminded him of soft summertime, the doe-like brown orbs replaced his memories of Earth's surface. The perfect heart-shaped lips eager him to taste their plumpness, and their teary-soaked face hers dwelled a desire inside him to witness her tears.

He felt strange.

His eyes scanned her body.

Shattered clothes.

His lips upturned in an evil smirk as his gaze landed on the valley of her breasts.

"Or maybe we can make an exception." Hazel's breathing shortened, she knew that look, she was familiar with that look. The hungry look in his eyes scared her, she immediately moved back on her bottom when she felt rough tree bark scraping against her back.

Claus's smirk widened as he took a step towards her, his eyes assessing her every move.

"Where do you think you're going, slave?" Hazel felt fear crawling through her veins, her scared eyes looked up at him with pleas.

"And here I thought this one had to die." Veles chuckled. Claus hummed without letting his gaze wander away from her face.

"It would have been an honour to kill her." Ezra gritted his teeth as he felt his pants tightening more. He couldn't understand the way his body was reacting.

"Anyways, we have a long way to go." Theodore interrupted as he dusted his hands. He looked down at his clothes before mumbling.

"And I need a fresh set of clothes."

Ezra rolled his eyes before following after Theodore not before taking a glance at Hazel, he could faintly feel her fear, the unshed tears.

Hazel gulped down the lump of saliva as Claus averted his eyes with a small smirk of warning. Veles took it as an opportunity and grabbed Hazel by her arm making her shriek as he pulled her towards his chest. Her wide eyes looked at him with a plea for mercy.

Veles grinned before raising his hand to touch her cheek, she flinched.

His piercing gaze pinned her, as he trailed his finger down her cheek.

"Welcome to hell, little mouse."