“Well, you have to listen to me attentively.”
His finger pointed to me, firm and bold. “You have to stop coming here. I don’t have plans to have you in my bed anyway.” The way my right hand instantly flew to his face made a clapping sound in the air.
But he’s still chuckling.
My fist turned into a ball of flaming fury after that, and I saw the redness on my skin as it sting me painfully.
His jaw clenched, but there was still the amused face I beheld minutes ago. “I was just helping you and—” I spoke to him in a louder voice now. “I hate you. I hate you so much!”
“My pleasure. My name is Zarion by the way.”
With that, hot tears pooled down my cheeks and I found myself running away from him. Again. But this time, I know I’m not going back to that cabin anymore.
Not after what he said to me. Never mind if that is my own cabin, I will not return there again whether he leaves or recovers. That’s not my problem anyway.
Yet…I still found myself—telling myself—that no matter how hurt I am with his vulgar gestures and words, I will still be at Zarion’s side.
What he said to me yesterday was like shooting a bullet directly at my heart, yes. He thinks I’m a pathetic kid who’s just bored and doesn’t know what to do with her life. He even asked why am I doing it to a stranger, and concluded that I have a crush on him.
“Hell no!” I shrieked, covering my face with pillows. Damn my soul if Mamita heard me.
I’m getting aggressive, and now… I’m feeling guilty. And angry, and sad. I don’t know why. He’s making me uncomfortable every time I go there, but I couldn’t help my body to go near him. It’s like my body is always drawn to his like a magnet.
‘Get a good grip of yourself, Cassidy!’ I scolded myself silently.
“You’re not going out today, honey,” my Mamita leaned by my door as she gestured to me to get down for our breakfast. I don’t know how she did that but she always appears and disappears in places I least expected. In places I never expected she’d be.
After finishing breakfast, since I’m grounded, I decided to watch television in the living room while eating homemade popcorn my grandmother made.
Unfortunately, she managed to find out that I sneaked out last night. My eyes are still not peeling away from the rope dangling in her hands that I used yesterday.
“It’s cold outside,” I defended.
“Even if there’s a blizzard, you still went out.”
“Do you want me to?”
Mamita smiled and shook her head. She heaved a deep sigh and sat beside me. “What’s with the gloomy face?”
Pouting, I shifted on my seat and looked at her. “Is it that obvious?”
She nodded and grabbed my hands to put it on her thighs, rubbing her thumbs on my delicate skin. “I actually…” I trailed off, staring at my grandmother’s face, because if I told her about what I’ve seen in the cabin, she would definitely freak out. Who would want their granddaughter to spend her leisure time with a grown man in a secluded place?
“Cassidy, are you okay?” she asked, face wholly looking concerned.
“Mamita, what do you think about adopting a dog?”
“We have a lot of it already.”
“But I want another one,” I tried to remain composed.
“Have you found one?” she challenged, tone raising.
My eyes bulge out, feeling guilty all of a sudden. “I didn’t!”
She gave me an exasperated look. “I promise, Mamita. I didn’t!”
Yet, it was no use. My grandmother knows me too well, and I can’t say I’m a good liar—a liar enough to fool her. But I wasn’t; I am not.
Mamita squeezed my fingers and sighed again. It’s like she’s been wanting to talk about this all along. “Was that the reason why you keep going there, Cass?”
“Yeah, but I did not see him anymore,” I lied, even though deep down, I hope he never left.
“Why not bring that dog here in the castle?” She puts emphasis on the word. I shook my head side to side. That’s impossible. The dog is not there anymore. It was replaced by a strange man. And it’s obvious that I can’t bring that strange man inside our castle.
I will get enough grounding of my mamita for sure.
“Mamita, how did you find out you like Papito?” I asked, referring to my deceased grandfather. Her eyebrows furrowed but she answered anyway. “Well, your Papito was a good person. He was wanted by many girls in our hometown, but he still chose me.” She paused, pointing a finger in front of my chest. “Do you feel the same thing there?”
My heart started beating rapidly. One look on her face and she knows the answer already. Zarion’s face—the man’s face and body—flashed on my mind. He keeps on appearing in my dreams actually, even when I’m awake.
Believe me, I want it to stop. The only thing is, it’s only me who can actually will it to stop.
My innocent thoughts were tainted because of him. My daydreams become images of his powerfully-built body. Even when I’m sleeping, it’s him I think of.
This isn’t me. This is so not me.
I have never felt like this before. It feels so foreign to think about a guy all the damn time. I want to make it stop. Yet, I cannot.
“Yes, it’s something like that, Cassidy. You’re now a grown-up woman. You should know that anytime soon, you’re going to fall in love and marry someone whom you wanted to spend your life with.” My mamita smiled, teary-eyed. “That just means I’m becoming older,” she let out a shaky laugh and squeezed my hands. I looked at my mamita and returned her smile with all my heart.
I’m still pissed off at Zarion. I never managed to go to the cabin like my usual morning routine. Instead, I cleaned most of our castle because cleaning would always clear my mind.
Yes, it did work for only a few hours. I never thought about Zarion—until now. Until when I fall on the comfort of my bed to get a good sleep after a long and tiring day.
It seems like he loves to keep appearing in my dreams.
“Does he have some sort of magic or superpowers?!” I bellowed, my voice bouncing on the walls, vivid colors swirling.
In my fantasy, I could hear Zarion’s thoughts. He was the one dominating my body, soul, and mind. This is why I like to dream, my imaginations were unfathomable. Wild and passionate. He caught a faint strand of my scent. And it only gets stronger and stronger as he enters through the window of my locked room.
I think he likes my scent: the sweet aroma of flowers entrancing him in a haze, the fragrant smell of freshness and youthfulness that even I can taste it myself. He eagerly lifts his head, trying to sniff out where the trail leads to. I saw myself sleeping in my bedroom as he made his way towards my bed. Each step getting closer and closer that I could feel his mighty presence.
Something inside of me whined, urging me to hurry and go. His scent was driving me mad. Since when did the scent of a human make me obsessed like this? I was never like this before. Zarion changed everything. He has done something on my body, affected it in the least way. I’m sure of it, but I couldn’t explain how.
My small, meek body heaved up and down slowly as I breathed. Eyes closed, I didn’t know how I could see Zarion’s body in front of me. It was like his image just flashed at the end of my bed, beckoning and seductively beautiful. His body tensed. Although I couldn’t see his face, I still know it was a comforting sight.
Immense pleasure and tranquility, that was what Zarion laid at my doorstep as he stared down at me. So much so that he practically burned the image in my head and commanded me to get closer and open my eyes.
Pushing him down in the depths of my mind, I found a small smile blooming across my face.
“Cassidy…” he whispered my name erotically.
I stiffened, body tensing.
Zarion’s thoughts of me made my heart beat rapidly. He described my face as beautiful contorting in frustration; eyebrows pinched together, plump pink lips pouty, and a small barely visible dimple showing.
Heat rushed into my body from how needy he sounded. The pure husk in his tone as my name rolled off his tongue like a forbidden fruit. Alternately, Zarion envisaged that his skin burned with desire to touch me, to trace the lines of my body with his fingers. To feel the supple skin under his fingertips as they wander across my body like a constellation drawn in the night sky. He described my skin as a map where only Zarion could uncover and unearthed.
My eyes were still closed as Zarion’s fingertips wandered around my skin. And from that moment, I somehow knew that…that he might be the one I want and need to spend my life with.
“Please, Zarion…” I moaned, my pink lips parting as a soft breath left me before he tempted me once more.A shudder rakes down my spine. Running the tip of my tongue over the opening of my lips, I let out a sigh of relief when the side of my bed pushed down because of his weight. Zarion’s thoughts were lewd, I know. He wanted me so badly just like what I wanted. I’m innocent and young, yes, even a virgin. But this thirst flooding my soul…he’s the only one who can quench it. He needed me so much, wanted me so much. I can feel he never wanted or needed anything or anyone so much in his life the way he needed and wanted me. For him, I was his personal sanctuary—the only one he could go to and feel calm, relaxed. Just being around with me was enough to take him out of his worst moods. Slowly, his hands covered the right side of my neck as the tip of his nose traveled down the nape of my neck. Erratic pulses of my heart beating from my chest resound in my ears. There’s no turning back n
“Y–yes…” I finally answered his question as he slowly lifted me up.“Hmmm, differentiate it, then.”I was so delirious just because of his touches, the heat radiating from his sweaty palms. He’s touching my body everywhere that I couldn’t help but stifle erotic sounds I’d never know I could hear from myself. “D-Differentiate, what?” I exhaled.“The difference between romantic and sexual feelings.” The fuc—what? I couldn’t understand anything anymore because his calloused huge hands were touching my tits. He was teasing it, the way he wanted it to, and damn if that doesn’t make me feel things inside my thighs. He was so good at making me feel these foreign things.These strange things that are making me delirious. “Now I think you don’t understand the difference,” he giggled darkly. “Do you want me to show you instead? Show not tell, as they say….” I gasped. No, I gaped. This man—he’s everything I hated. Yet, still, I ached for him, every inch of him. I wanted and needed him in all
I shifted, my curiosity taking over my body. Why was he injured and wounded in the first place? “Where do you live? Do you even have a family?” “I don’t have a house. And no, I don’t have a family.” That was all he said—that was all his answer to my question. “Please, just stay…” I begged. “If you don’t have a house, then maybe you could live in one of the rooms in our castle. We have a lot of empty rooms that you could use and occupy. I promise I won’t tell my mamita.”“No, thanks.” Zarion’s throat bobbed. “That’s not a good idea.”“Why not?” Before I could say anything, he cut me off. “I’m on a quest.”“A quest…” my brows met. “Like a mystery to solve?”He nodded. “I’m looking for the witch that will give me the information about who’s my mate.” Mate? I don’t understand. A witch? I don’t understand either. I’m pretty sure that only exists in fairy tales and fantastical stories. “Okay, but—” I scratched my head. “You could do that while living in our castle, right?” I hate how my
Her jaw fell open, silence possessing her very being now. I saw how her breathing quickened the moment I said those words. It’s true—I love Zarion. Deeply. This is not just some puppy love that I used to have when I was fifteen.The moment I laid my eyes on him, I knew he’s the one who will take care of my life the way my father took care of my deceased mother. They may not be here with me, but based on the stories my grandmother shared with me, I know my deceased parents lived their life to the fullest.And I want to live mine with him. “Mamita, please listen to me—” “I am not listening to any of these absurd things again, Cassidy!” “But—”“You are just eighteen years old!” She bellowed, veins bulging in her forehead.“And I’m old enough to indulge in these things!” “Oh yeah? You already knew it? Then, you tell me then—” She heaved a deep sigh and pointed the walking stick at my chest. “What do you know about love, child?” I was taken aback because of the term she had called m
My heart won over my mind, my emotions took over any rational thoughts swarming within my brain. Nothing can stop me from going out into this castle now. Nothing—not until I find Zarion in the woods.Or in this city. Even if I walk barefoot across the world, I will find him.“Wherever you go, I will go, Zarion,” I whispered, letting the wind carry my words to wherever he is.“One step outside the castle, Cassidy, and you’re gone from our family.” I paused, bones stiffening. It’s as if I felt someone pour a pail of icy cold water amid the harsh winter weather. “If you go out tonight, I will abandon you—leave you. I will forget that I had known a family that goes by the name of Cassidy Salem Blythe.” Bile rose in my throat. Fear, not for myself but for the promise that—for eighteen years—I just broke now. You will take care of your grandmother, Cassidy. My mother once wrote in her journal, directly addressing me. I exhaled, willing the air to enter my lungs again. Pain etched in my ches
“Zarion!” I paused for a heartbeat to let my voice echo. “Zarion! Zarion!”But it was no use. I’ve been walking around the woods with an almost frozen body, a coat made of sheep’s skin is the only thing between me and the cold while shouting Zarion’s name. The snow kept falling, the wind whipping my hair as if it was dragging me back to the castle. It seems Mamita also has power over the wintry weather.There was a blizzard already shoving its here from the western horizon. I couldn’t find the right path anymore. There was no trace of him, his footprints might have faded with the wind’s harshness. Earlier, I caught his scent, a scent of cinnamon and vanilla, so I followed it. I know his scent is very feminine but I don’t even know where he got that too sweet fragrance. But to my dismay and misfortune, even before I could completely follow, it vanished. Just vanished, with no idea how.“Zarion, Please…” I prayed, coughing when a snowflake landed on my tongue. I don’t know why I’m utt
It’s warm and cozy here, my eyes smiling when they found the fireplace. A piping hot bowl of venison stew beckoned me to sit beside the blazing fireplace.I ate half of the food for ten minutes. Noticing the lavish royal blue curtain, I scooted away from the fireplace and pushed aside the curtains. I just realized that it served as the door between—“This place is a village,” I breathed, wiping my mouth clean from eating. From just the look of the surroundings, I’m pretty sure this village is in the middle of the forest. And near a lake, the briny scent could never hide the smell of fresh forest rain. I watch the people who are busy doing their own businesses as I tend to my own business—being busy scanning the surroundings on where the fuck I am. The name of the place, who carried me here, and—“Zarion,” I realized, calling his name as if he’s around. “ Zarion must know where I am, and probably the one who carried my ass here.” My eyes darted to a small cottage in the corner—to wher
“Really? I don’t think so. You seem to be…” her voice sounds suspicious now. She keeps on stepping forward while I step backward. My breathing started to narrow, bile rising up on my throat. This girl in front of me, she may be human in form. But once she finds out I’m not like them, I will be as good as dead. “I really do need to go.” I cleared my throat, and when I get out of the borders, I will look for a safer place from this weird village. I should probably look for Zarion first.But where the hell am I going to look?! Delilah’s suspicions deepen when we hear the crowd fall silent. Looking around, I could feel all eyes on me. The crowd suddenly stopped. On the horizon, I saw a strange man whose body looked exactly like Zarion's. However, looking at his evil smirk, I could sense that they are the complete opposite. Zarion’s was always mocking.The man has a cunning personality, a sarcastic beast, for sure. Zarion’s cold, brutal, and dangerous aura is nothing like this man. He