KILLING ARES

- MARILIA -

"Lady Marlene, please calm down. It's just the aftereffects of the accident.” She tried to hide the pain in her voice.  

‘The accident,’

Memories began flashing before my eyes. I grabbed my head and winced in pain. I remembered the carriage falling off the cliff. I remembered the sound of my skull crack. I remembered the blur sight of the beautiful lady covered in her own blood.

I looked at the plump maid. It didn't make any sense. Why is this woman calling me her name? Our resemblance was uncanny but still can’t she tell the real princess from a look alike?

Something was wrong here and welding a hairbrush was not going to get me the answers I need.

“Do you know me?" I asked

“Yes. Yes of Course. You are the Lady Marlene, Daughter of Alpha Daven Rodrigo, and King of White Snow pack and soon to be Luna of Alpha Ryder Klaus.”

My face paled. I was right. She really thinks I am the beautiful lady.

 “Can I be left alone?”

“My lady,” 

“Please.” She looked into my sullen eyes and sighed. “Okay but Just for a while.”

I watched her leave the room. Immediately the door shut, I slumped on the bed. My gaze reverted to the mirror. Gently, I touched my face with my trembling hands. My lips parted and I let out a shaky breath. A tear rolled down my cheek. ‘I should have never run. I should have died in that house. Lady Marlene is supposed to be married soon. This is her life not mine. If I hadn't stopped her carriage, she would have still been alive.”

I covered my mouth, tears dripping down my fingers, wetting the sheets.

‘I must be cursed. This is my entire fault. I should have just died”. 

I buried my face in the pillow and wept. The headaches came down hard, veins popping up on my forehead. I couldn't stop the tears. It took me a while before I managed to stop wailing. I struggled to get off the bed, folded up the sheets and tied it around my body. I went to the window and threw it open. I touched the pane. My hands were trembling. I tried to force a smile, to assure myself. I was doing the right thing. 

It’s only a matter of time before they figure out I’m fake. I will die immediately. My faith is sealed, escape is the best option. I looked out the window again and heaved. ‘Yeah, this is the only way.’

“Are you sure about that?”

“Holy goddess!” I exclaiming, grabbing my chest and darting my eyes behind me.

A pretty big smile met my flustered gaze. “The ground is harder than it looks.”

“Who are you?” I looked at the door. “And how the hell did you get in?”

“Don't think too much about it dear.” She said confidently adjusting herself on the bed. 

“Who are you?!”

“The moon goddess,” she spread out her hands as if to make a grand revelation.

I stared blankly at her with my wet eyes.

“What? I don't look the part. You expected white flowing robes and an incandescent crescent moon floating above my head. Well, too bad. Theatrics is not my thing.”

“What?” I blinked in confusion.

“You know what, forget I ever said anything. Let's focus on you."

It took me a moment to process everything. I looked at the door again. It was shut tightly. There was no way anyone could come in, unless they appeared out of nowhere.

“Are you really the moon Goddess?”

“Yes, darling.” She smiled again, patting the bedside next to her. “Come sit.”

I did, obediently.

“I guess you have questions for me, well…”

“Why didn't you save us? My father was devoted to you.” I tried not to glare at her.

She was silent for a moment, her smile dwindling. “There is an extent the gods can go in controlling the actions of creatures in the realm. I am sorry.”

I scoffed – it was a pathetic excuse and she knew it “Why did you not let me die then?”

She sighed and looked past me. “You asked me to."

“How?!" I yelled at her. My anger spilled out a little.

“Calm down dear. Your family is not the only family that has suffered in his hands. That's why I am here. To make sure, it doesn't continue.”

I let out a sharp, humorless chuckle. My lips curled up as if mocking the absurdity of what she just said. “… After the harm is done; perfect timing.” I stood up, walking away from her.

“Don't you want to ask what this had to do with you?”

I stopped and turned.

“You have been chosen, Marilia, chosen to replace Marlene, and to be the one who makes sure that the deaths cease. Alpha Magnums Lucien Klaus will not kill again. But his son, Ares will. He will be the ruin of all realms. Princess Marlene died so you could take her place and save Ares from himself.”

I took a long look at her then laughed. “Is this some kind of joke? I would never do that. I reject your prophecy. I’d rather kill him. Save everyone trouble.”

“He is innocent, for now. The gods wish to keep it that way.”

“Well I’m sorry, goddess but choosing me is a mistake.” I drew a little closer. “By the way, thank you for stopping me. I realize now that it would be worthless to die without hurting the bastard who killed my family. He should know what it is like to lose a loved one.”

The goddess grimaced. “Well, it's okay. Since you feel that's the best way, go ahead. Although I doubt you will be able to do anything when you see him.” She rose from the bed and turned around to leave.

“Oh, one more thing; don't try to run away, don't try to do anything contrary to your destiny. You cannot escape your fate.”

My eyes widened. ‘Did she just strap a prophecy on me by force?’ She opened the door and went straight into the passage. 

“Hey, wait.” I ran after her, leaping out of the room immediately but she was gone the moment I stepped out. No one was there anymore. I turned and returned to my room, sitting back on the bed. For a moment, I shut my eyes. The headache was gone, the foggy memories too. Everything was slowly coming back to me; Mandy’s limp body, mother's torn face, the way he hit dad and the beautiful lady, covered in her own blood.

‘No way,’ I rose from the bed immediately. ‘Never; I don't care who the hell he is. The Klaus are all monsters. I have to rid the world of this devil. Damn the moon goddess, I’m going to do it my way. 

I rose from the bed and looked around. There was a hairpin on the table, near the box of jade jewelry. I picked it up, hid it in my dress and left the room. 

If I am correct, it was the rule of the Lycans that the guests would all sleep in the second palace. He isn’t the groom so according to tradition, Ares will sleep next to the room prepared for the bride and groom. I strolled calmly through the hallway, drawing no attention to myself. No one queried me as to where I was going surprisingly but I still made sure no one saw me enter the second palace. I glided through the garden until I was standing before his room, clenching the hairpin in my hand.

I pushed the door open and I slipped in, tiptoeing up to his bed. He had the sheets over his head. I clenched my teeth and raised the hairpin above my head. ‘Good bye, you monster,’ I went for his face but something happened .

A pair of hands grabbed my feet. Before I could react, It pulled and I fell, landing hard on my back. I sharp groan burst through my lips. The figure climbed over me and pinned me down. He grabbed my hands. I struggled but my body was weak. He bound my hands with the bed sheets on the floor. I was breathing fast; he was too. He kept his eyes on mine. The moon’s glow lit up his face.

I gulped. I had messed up, big time. The face before my eyes, I had seen it before at the slaver’s den.

 “Is this Prince Ares?"