In the clutches of an unyielding arranged marriage, Journee's life takes a treacherous turn as she ventures into the unknown. Leaving behind all she holds dear, she embarks on a journey to wed the enigmatic Montgomery Lewis, a privileged heir with secrets untold. Amidst the overwhelming chaos, Journee seeks solace by a secluded waterfall, unaware of the ancient forces that lie dormant there. In a moment of desperation, she unknowingly summons Ma'oz, the King of Demons and the Master of Death. Drawn to her unique aura and the irresistible pull between their souls, Ma'oz bestows upon her three coveted wishes. Yet, as each encounter binds them tighter, Journee finds herself ensnared in a perilous web. Ma'oz's abyssal eyes haunt her, captivating and chilling her to the core. Their connection, a mystery woven by the hands of fate and the whispers of destiny, ignites questions of true love, enslavement, and an eternal bond. As the stakes rise, their choices become fraught with consequence. The price they must pay, unbeknownst to either of them, looms larger than they could ever imagine. Will they succumb to the intoxicating allure of their connection? Or will they resist the entanglement that binds their very souls, braving the untold sacrifices that lie ahead?
View More"Kinar! Pokoknya, Ibu gak mau tau! Kamu harus cepetan cari jodoh. Adikmu itu udah dilamar, Kinar ...!" ujar Widya begitu memasuki kamar anak gadisnya. Wanita paruh baya yang masih tampak cantik itu baru saja menerima calon besan dari adiknya Kinar.
"Kenapa, Ibu jadi sewot gini, sih, Bu? Lah, biarin aja Dayu menikah duluan, orang dia udah dapet jodoh, kok," sahut Kinar yang merasa kesal karena ibunya terus saja mengintimidasi dirinya.
"Gak begitu, Kinar! Pamali kalau kamu sampe dilangkahi sama adikmu. Apalagi, Ibu, tuh, ya ... pusing dengerin tetangga yang bilang kamu perawan tak laku-laku," jelas sang ibu membuat Kinar diam-diam semakin kesal.
"Ibu gak usah gubris omongan orang, Bu. Nanti kalau waktunya udah tepat, pasti Kinar juga dapat jodoh, Bu. Ibu, tenang aja, deh!"
"Pokoknya Ibu pengen kudu kamu yang duluan nikah. Jangan sampe kamu dilangkahi adikmu, Kinar!" pekik ibunya lagi. Sesaat kemudian Widya keluar dari kamar Kinar dengan wajah bersungut-sungut.
Kinar merebahkan badan di ranjang, meringkuk. Diam-diam dirinya juga merasa kesal. Ocehan tetangga yang menganggapnya perawan tak laku hingga kerisauan hati sang ibu, membuatnya jengah.
Sementara di ruang tamu, suara berisik terdengar hingga ke telinga Kinar. Ia lantas bangun dari rebahan untuk mengintip siapa yang datang ke rumahnya.
"Bukannya calon besan Ibu tadi udah pulang, ya? Siapa lagi, sih yang datang, berisik amat?" gumam Kinar dalam batin sambil berdiri di bibir pintu kamarnya.
Rupanya orang yang datang ke rumah Kinar adalah sang paman dan istrinya. Kinar pun menutup pintu kamarnya sedikit, kemudian ia menguping pembicaraan sang ibu dengan paman beserta istrinya tersebut.
Sayup-sayup terdengar di telinga Kinar, jika sang paman dan istrinya akan menggelar resepsi pernikahan untuk sepupu Kinar yang bernama Kayla. Mendengar kabar tersebut, Kinar menelan ludah seakan-akan ancaman agar dirinya segera mencari jodoh bertambah saja.
"Ah, gimana dong ini? Masak iya, aku harus ngerayu-rayu cowok terus aku jadikan pacar, gitu? Oh, my God, gak gitu kali! Astaga!" sungutnya saat di dalam kamar.
Kinar mondar-mandir sambil sebelah tangannya bertolak pinggang. Jantungnya berdegup kencang, seakan-akan sebentar lagi mendapat intimidasi bertubi-tubi dari orangtuanya, terutama sang ibu. Bagaimana tidak? Sepupunya yang notabenenya usianya lebih muda dari Kinar, sebentar lagi juga akan melangsungkan pernikahan.
Kesal. Kinar menghela napas dalam kemudian menuju ranjang untuk merebahkan badan lagi di sana. Kinar ingin tidak peduli dengan semua keadaan yang menimpanya itu. Ia pun tak ingin ambil pusing, karena baginya jodoh, rezeki dan kematian sudah diatur oleh Sang Kuasa.
Ia menatap langit-langit kamar dengan tatapan nanar. Kemudian di pikirannya terlintas mitos yang selalu dipegang erat oleh keluarga besarnya, jika anak perempuan yang usianya lebih tua tidak boleh dilangkahi menikah oleh sang adik perempuan. Hal yang dipercaya itu, katanya akan membuat seorang perempuan yang dilangkahi menikah akan justru semakin dijauhkan oleh jodoh.
Kinar bergidik ngeri, batinnya menjadi bimbang. Meskipun dia belum mendapatkan jodoh, sebenarnya banyak cowok yang ingin mendekati dirinya. Namun, trauma cinta masa lalu membuat Kinar lebih menutup hati untuk saat ini. Ia belum sepenuhnya bisa melupakan mantan kekasihnya.
Setelah beberapa lamanya berada di kamar dan pamannya telah pulang, Kinar lantas keluar kamar menuju ruang keluarga. Di sana terdengar obrolan antara orangtuanya dan sang adik. Sebenarnya, Kinar enggan berkumpul akhir-akhir ini karena selalu didesak untuk segera menikah. Namun, tidak mungkin juga ia terus menghindar dalam satu rumah. Mau tak mau, Kinar harus menjaga kewarasan untuk tetap tenang.
"Kinar! Dayu! Besok malam, siap-siap ikut Bapak sama Ibu ke acara pertunangan anaknya teman Bapak. Kita semua diundang ke sana!" Ridwan saat berada di ruang keluarga.
Batin Kinar seketika ciut mendengar ajakan ayahnya itu. Berbeda sekali dengan wajah Dayu yang begitu semringah, seakan-akan antusias sekali untuk menghadiri acara tersebut.
"Acaranya di rumah atau di gedung, sih, Pak?" tanya Dayu kemudian.
"Coba, liat di undangan, deh! Denger-denger, sih, di rumahnya. Tapi, nanti pas resepsi pernikahan baru di gedung," balas sang ayah membuat Kinar semakin tak nyaman berada di ruang keluarga.
Kinar beringsut meninggalkan ruang keluarga. Namun, gelagat tak nyamannya diketahui sang ibu yang segera membuntuti langkahnya menuju kamar.
"Tuh, Nar! Anaknya Pak Dibyo, terus sepupumu sendiri juga udah mau nikah. Kamu kapan?"
Kinar menoleh ke arah sang ibu begitu tiba di kamar. Widya yang berdiri di bibir pintu tampak menatap sang anak dengan geram. Batin ibu mana yang tidak risau melihat anak sulungnya tak kunjung mendapatkan jodoh di saat usianya telah wajar untuk menikah?
"Biarin aja, Ibu! Ibu tenang saja, kalau perlu bantu doain Kinar biar cepat dapat jodoh yang baik, ganteng, setia dan kaya. Itu yang Kinar cari, Bu. Kalo harus sembarangan, sih, banyak, Bu!" balas Kinar semakin menaikkan volume suaranya karena merasa kesal.
"Ibu juga berdoa tiap saat, Nar. Tapi, Ibu itu risih kalau ditanya-tanya tetangga, kok gak Kinar duluan yang nikah!" ujar sang ibu dengan tatapan merajuk.
"Coba Ibu pikirkan! Ibu gak mau, kan, anak kesayangan Ibu ini mendapat suami sembarangan? Ibu, gak mau, kan? Makanya, Kinar minta, Ibu tenang," sahut Kinar sembari merangkul lengan sang ibu.
"Ya udah. Besok malam siap-siap ikut Bapak sama Ibu. Dandan yang cantik, siapa tau anak Ibu ini dapat arjuna di sana, nanti!" ujar sang ibu sembari tersenyum. Sesaat kemudian wanita paruh baya itu keluar dari kamar Kinar, kembali menuju ruang keluarga.
Kinar menggeleng pelan saat menatap punggung ibunya berlalu. Setidaknya, ia merasa sedikit lega telah berusaha memberikan pengertian pada ibunya. Ia lantas membaringkan badan di ranjang karena lelah fisik dan pikiran.
Pikiran Kinar mengembara ke masa lalunya saat menjalin hubungan dengan Haykal. Cintanya dikhianati saat baru mekar-mekarnya. Alasannya hanya karena saat itu, ia harus melanjutkan kuliah di Bandung. Jarak antara Jakarta dan Bandung nyatanya memutus hubungannya dengan Haykal. Namun, dalam batin Kinar saat itu, bukan jarak penyebabnya. Melainkan Haykal terpikat hati pada adik kelas Kinar saat masih SMP.
Trauma cinta itu yang menyebabkan Kinar malas membuka pintu hatinya. Ada ketakutan jika akan terjadi hal yang sama menerpanya. Putus cinta saat telah merasakan nyaman dan sayang itu rasanya begitu menyakitkan. Kinar tidak ingin itu terjadi.
***
Malam pertunangan anak rekan kerja ayahnya berlangsung meriah. Namun, batin Kinar tidak merasakan euforia dalam acara tersebut. Dia justru merasakan sepi yang menggerogoti batinnya.
"Mbak Kinar ada salam dari Mas yang berkemeja marun di sana itu, Mbak!" ujar Marisa, anak Pak Dibyo saat menghampiri Kinar mengajak bersalaman.
Kinar mengarahkan pandangannya mengikuti arah telunjuk Marisa. Seorang laki-laki tampan sedang duduk mengobrol dengan tunangan Marisa begitu acara berakhir.
"Terima kasih, Mbak Marisa. Salamnya sudah saya terima, ya. Tolong sampaikan salam saya kembali kepada dia," sahut Kinar kemudian di sela-sela musik yang mengalun indah di ruangan itu.
"Mbak Kinar, gak pengen tau nama dia?" tanya Marisa sambil tersenyum.
"Oh iya, lupa. Siapa namanya?"
"Mas Galang namanya, Mbak."
Kinar lantas tersenyum padahal dalam batinnya kesal. Lagi-lagi ia merasa minder jika ada laki-laki yang berusaha mendekat, meskipun itu hanya sekedar memberikan salam.
"Oh ya, Mbak Kinar, terima kasih udah datang. Jangan lupa saat resepsi nanti juga datang, ya," ucap Marisa kemudian. "Moga-moga Mbak Kinar berjodoh dengan Mas Galang. Dia tadi sepertinya naksir pada pandangan pertama, lho, Mbak," imbuh Marisa berbisik di telinga Kinar.
Kinar menatap Marisa dengan kedua alis berkerut hampir saja saling menempel. Ia kemudian mengedarkan pandangan mengarah pada laki-laki yang dimaksud.
"Ganteng. Boleh juga deh, kayaknya?" gumam Kinar masih menatap dari kejauhan laki-laki bernama Galang itu.
Journee’s POV I don’t know what happened. One moment, I was putting on fake smiles, introducing my father to some guests whose name I don’t remember. Next, I find my father in the pond. It has been freshly stocked with Koi. It’s a lucky thing, I guess. At least he didn’t hit his head and have a concussion. However, no one seems to understand that my father cannot swim! A few of the household staff have come forward to help him, urging him to reach out to the rescue buoy they have thrown in. I scream and lunge forward to dive in and save my father. Several hand hold me back. “You’ll only soil your dress. Wait for the servants to handle the matter, dear.” A distinguished looking man told me. “No harm, no foul. Every party needs a little drama to make it exciting.” A lady around my age winked at me. I felt like screaming at them, but no sound escapes my lips. What on earth is wrong with these people?! How cruel can they be? Is that how they garnered their wealth? By having a sadi
Journee’s POVHow could I have forgotten the legal binding vow I made? We continue to walk in silence. Ma’oz can fly us to the portal within seconds, but I know he is giving me time to think.Guilt builds up within me like a rising mount of bile.I have never cared for Montgomery, not even when he went into a coma…I was preoccupied only with what would happen to me instead.“That is not how a righteous person behaves. You must care for everything thing, even the smallest ant.” I imagine my mother reprimanding me if she were still alive. “Disgraceful! Unrefined! Faithfulness and loyalty are the key principles of our family and you dishonoured them!” My paternal grandfather would surely voice his displeasure and potentially disown me.Even though I would never love Montgomery, I should never have had an affair with Ma’oz. What was I thinking?! My steps feel heavy as I ponder my sin.Ma’oz chuckles suddenly. Turning to face me, he places a soft kiss on my lips and lifts my chin to face
Journee’s POVI was in my inner world, watching the most romantic end to a beautiful couple, only to be woken up to a fowl memory. As I am waking up, I feel hands all over my body and a pair of lips kissing me.UGH! My first instinct is to punch this son of a bitch. Opening my eyes, I am surprised to see that my molester is Ma’oz.“WHAT THE HELL?!!”“Just what do you think you’re doing?!” I yelled at him. My voice echoes through the room., creating ripples in the stream of water near me.Without answering, he simply blinked. Unsure how to react next.“You better have a good excuse for groping me like that while I was passed out!”The darkness in his eyes change. From a raging tempest of desire, it has become smouldering cores of hell. Every molecule in my body screams danger as it shakes and shivers. Fear grips me again but I refuse to cave in!“Don’t you dare intimidate me!” I rise up to face him squarely. Standing toe-to-toe, I am now staring fiercely into his eyes, daring
Journee woke with a gasp. Cold sweat ran down her back and the sides of her body. Where am I? The last thing she remembered was watching the past unfold with Ma’oz. “Hello?” She called out but the echo seemed to only return in her direction. It is as if I’m calling out to myself from the other end of this emptiness. “Is anyone there?” She tried again. This time, there were multiple versions of herself staring back at Journee. Nearest to her, was a mid-teens self. “Greetings, Journee. Isn’t this wonderful? You have pulled yourself out of depression. Good for you!” She smiled and faded away. On the right was 10-year-old Journee. “Did you ever meet our Dark Prince? Who is he?” Cheerful and filled with hope, her eyes shimmered with love. “Are you married to him yet?” In front, far-off in the distance, Journee could hardly make out who it was. She was dressed in white and gold. Hair teased into a low bun. She knew the situation might be dangerous. Keeping my distance would be the
It was a bright morning. Journee awoke to the smell of brewed black coffee and freshly toasted garlic bread. Climbing out of bed, she was led purely by her stomach’s instinct as she walked out the door and headed towards the delicious scent of baked beans, roasted tomatoes, grilled sausages on a bed of button mushrooms and she sincerely hoped there were sunny side ups too! “Good morning! Isn’t it a lovely day for a tour?” the host beamed at Journee as she set a large plate of breakfast down. “Good morning. These smell absolutely delicious.” Journee dug in and little moans escaped her lips as she relished each and every bite. After some moments, she realised that in her hunger daze, she failed to check her outfit. Embarrassed, Journee hesitantly looked down. This kind lady hasn’t said anything or looked at me weirdly yet. Maybe I got dressed without realising it? Did I lose parts of my memory? She remembered her conversation with Ma’oz on how demons had been wiping out memories to
Chapter 19: Questions “I am still here. Am I dead? Did Ma’oz kill me?!” Journee paced the large room, slapping her face repeatedly, hoping she was just in very deep sleep. “Shit! Shit! SHIT! SHITTT!” Abruptly she turned and sat on the cold, hard floor. Massaging her temples, Journee breathed in and out through her mouth. “Calm down. I’m sure there is a logical explanation. Ma’oz can’t kill the human he is bounded to, I’m sure. Good kings don’t take risks. He wouldn’t do anything without confirmation.” A weird thought then crept into her mind. What if Ma’oz isn’t a good king? Or worse, what if he has found out he doesn’t need me alive! Her head reeled. She tried to regulate her breathing. “No. Definitely not. If he was sure, Damon wouldn’t be here searching. It is only logical.” Like usual, the little voice on her shoulder just had to be the devil’s advocate. “Perhaps it doesn’t matter if my physical body is alive or not? Maybe that is why I am here. Stuck here in his realm!” Sh
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