Chapter 9Third POVHelios stood on the balcony of his celestial palace, surveying the splendor of his divine realm. His home, crafted from the purest light and imbued with the essence of the cosmos, shimmered with an ethereal glow. The palace's walls were adorned with constellations, each star meticulously placed to tell the stories of the universe. Columns of opalescent marble stretched towards the sky, supporting grand archways that framed the view of distant galaxies and nebulae.Helios himself was a figure of awe-inspiring majesty. His body was tall and muscular, his skin radiating a soft golden light that seemed to pulse with the rhythm of the cosmos. His hair, a flowing mane of brilliant sunlight, cascaded down his back and shoulders, framing a face that was both regal and harsh. His eyes, deep pools of molten gold, reflected the power and authority he wielded. He was dressed in robes of shimmering white and gold, their fabric seeming to flow like liquid light.Despite the beau
Chapter 10Third POVHelios returned to his grand chamber, his thoughts swirling like a storm. The news of Solas’s latest bride had reached him through the whispers of the celestial winds, and for the first time in decades, Helios felt a flicker of hope. This sacrifice could finally push Solas to the edge, force him to embrace the darkness fully, and fulfill the punishment Helios had intended when he cast his son into the cavern.The plan had always been simple: let Solas rot in his dark prison, his power festering until it consumed him. Every bride sent to him was a reminder of the world he could no longer touch, a cruel jest to push him deeper into despair. Helios had thought that the endless procession of sacrificial brides would drive Solas to madness, to the point where he would either destroy himself or become a hollow shell, completely severed from the light.But this time, something was different. Solas hadn’t killed the new bride. Days had passed, and still, the girl lived.H
Chapter 11 Third POVSolas stood in the shadows, his gaze fixed on Elara as she knelt beside the pond in the center of his chamber. The soft, shimmering light of the moon filtered through the open ceiling, casting a pale glow over her figure. She had taken to sitting by the water’s edge, her fingers gently gliding through the surface, creating ripples that distorted her reflection.It was a curious thing to watch—a mortal with so much quiet resolve, enduring the conditions he had subjected her to with such stubborn determination. Days had passed since she first arrived in his domain, and though he had expected her spirit to begin unraveling by now, she remained unbroken. Solas found it both irritating and amusing.She had been given little food, barely enough to sustain her, and yet she had not complained. The stone floor was her only bed, cold and unforgiving, but she had not once cried out in discomfort. She bore her suffering in silence, her green eyes still bright with that infu
Chapter 12 Third POVElara’s body ached in ways she had never imagined possible. Each morning she awoke on the cold stone floor, her muscles stiff, her joints screaming in protest as she tried to stand. The chamber’s oppressive cold had seeped into her bones, making every movement a reminder of her slow decline. Days had blended together into a monotonous cycle of discomfort, hunger, and relentless fatigue. The meager rations Solas provided barely sustained her, leaving her weaker with each passing hour.Her mind, once sharp and filled with purpose, had begun to dull under the strain. Thoughts that had once been clear and determined now swirled in a haze of exhaustion. Every step was a battle, every breath a struggle to maintain the fragile thread of her resolve. And through it all, her hatred for Solas festered like a wound that refused to heal.She hated him for what he had done to her, for the cruelty he had inflicted. But more than that, she hated him for the games he was playin
Chapter 13 Third POVSolas stood in the shadows, his form blending seamlessly with the darkness that filled the corners of his chamber. He watched as Elara sat by the pond, her delicate fingers gliding through the water’s surface. She seemed lost in thought, her exhaustion evident in the way her shoulders slumped and her movements grew sluggish. Yet, despite her obvious physical decline, she continued to defy him, holding on to a stubborn strength that both frustrated and intrigued him.He had expected her to break by now. He had given her little food, no comfort, and nothing but the cold, hard stone to sleep on. Yet she endured. She clung to her resolve with a determination that should have crumbled days ago. But instead of falling apart, she had found solace in the most unlikely of places—the pond.Solas had noticed how she gravitated toward the water, how it seemed to calm her, offer her some measure of peace in this desolate place. It annoyed him, this small defiance. The pond w
Chapter 14Third POVElara slowly regained consciousness, her mind swimming through the haze of sleep and confusion. The first thing she noticed was the soft, warm surface beneath her—a stark contrast to the cold, hard stone she had grown accustomed to. The second was the gentle sensation of fingers running through her hair, tender and soothing.Opening her eyes, she found herself lying in a grand, four-poster bed draped in dark, silken sheets. The bed was massive, and she felt almost swallowed by its luxuriousness. The room was dimly lit by the soft glow of a few candles, casting flickering shadows on the walls. It took her a moment to realize where she was, but when she did, her breath caught in her throat.Solas was sitting beside her, his pale blue eyes focused intently on her. His expression was unlike anything she had seen before—soft, concerned, almost… caring. He continued to run his fingers through her hair, his touch gentle and reassuring."Elara," Solas said softly, his voic
Chapter 15 Third POV Solas watched over Elara as she lay unconscious on the bed, her breathing soft and even, a faint smile playing on her lips. He couldn't tear his eyes away from her, mesmerized by the peaceful expression on her face—a stark contrast to the turmoil she had endured since arriving in his domain. In that moment, she looked so innocent, so untainted by the darkness that surrounded her, and it stirred something unfamiliar within him.The bedchamber was dimly lit by a few flickering candles, their soft light casting long shadows that danced along the stone walls. Solas had always found solace in the darkness, in the quiet and cold of his cavernous home. But now, with Elara here, the darkness seemed more oppressive, more suffocating.He noticed the way she shifted slightly, her lips parting as if to whisper a secret. Then, the smile on her face grew, and her body arched ever so slightly, as if reaching for something—or someone. Solas's eyes narrowed as he observed her clo
Chapter 16 Third POVHelios watched with keen interest as Elara struggled against the pull toward the shadows, toward his wretched son, Solas. From his perch in the heavens, he saw her will faltering, her steps hesitating before she collapsed into unconsciousness. A cruel smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he observed her descent into the darkness. The girl was weak, just as he had expected.In the golden grandeur of his celestial chambers, Helios reveled in the satisfaction of his manipulation. His home in the heavens was a palace of pure radiance, walls forged from the first rays of sunlight, casting a perpetual glow that would blind any mortal who dared to look upon it. Tall, arching windows opened to the sky, allowing beams of sunlight to pour in, reflecting off the gilded surfaces of the room. His throne, an elaborate seat of blazing gold, was set atop a dais, encrusted with sunstones that shimmered with every step he took.The air was warm, always perfumed with the scent