Zorien’s POV.-I have to risk interrogating a single Darkling survivor with Ashton present. He’ll get suspicious and know I’m hiding something if I send him away. As I stand back and observe him torturing the fallen being, I keep my lips lined and my face straight. Eight-foot-tall with wide shoulders that run down into a thin twisted body, the Darkling’s eerie body flares out in place of feet and into centipede-like legs. It’s got no spine nor ribs, having a blackened round face with eyelids sewn shut and a wide mouth with an uneven galore of sharpened dripping black teeth. It’s the perfect embodiment of a nightmare.The Darkling drops to the ground, writhing from internal and external pain as it gives out trembling shrieks of terror. Ashton faces me, presenting it before my feet and the Ghouls with lit torches in their hands, bow their heads.Ashton speaks, “It should be ready to answer you now, Zorien”.I lower my gaze to the filthy squirming worm and harden my eyes as I
Himari’s POV.-I place the hairbrush on the dresser, wincing at a nagging voice booming from the rear areas of my mind. “Runa, you’ve kept up with it till now, I can’t suddenly do something about it” I frown simply, staring at my reflection in the mirror that frowns back at me in Runa’s image.‘I know...however, it’s becoming unbearable. I need to go out, I’m losing touch with you’ She replies in distress and my chest scrunches a little. I understand Runa’s worries, it’s been long since she woke up and I must let her out so we can cement our connection better.I bite my lower lip in dismay, Zorien will have my head on a steak if I dare attempt that. ‘Then how about this? talk to him about it. The forest is in his estate after all, and he’s the master. You should explain the urgency to him, don’t you think?’ Runa makes a suggestion that plunges my perplexity and a sigh rattles out of me.“I’ll think about it- and don’t pester me, please.” I stand up to go get ready for schoo
Himari’s POV.-Runa’s shout has me whipping around and without thinking what I’ll do next, I’m springing out of the bar and returning to the street where the snow is raining hard. In this flood of white balls, I can’t see much and my palpitating heart is obstructing my hearing ability. How do I know if Ciel is getting close at all?‘Himari, we don’t have time! They’re coming, get a move already!’ Runa’s blaring order gives me no time to think anything at all. In the next second, I’m running down my left, beating through the snow shower and panting. It’s so cold, the ground is slippery and my vision is impaired. I don’t even know where I’m heading in this white blindness.In my alarm, I pick up heavy hurrying feet, listening keenly to identify three pairs of varying paces that sinks my heart. They’re right behind me! Who are they and what do they want from me? I don’t think I’ve been here long enough to attract such untoward people. And Flynn? Could he have known? I can’t tel
Himari’s POV.-I get off the bed to enter the restroom so I can examine myself in the mirror. All traces of injuries are gone as if I never got involved in a car accident at all. “My head doesn’t hurt either” I pack my overflowing hair up, turning my face this side and that.After washing my face and stepping out, I meet a worried Tessa who runs up to hug me upon sighting. “Oh dear, it’s the second time I’m seeing you badly hurt...I was so worried. Are you okay now? Get back in bed at once.”I get no room to reply as Tess tucks me back in bed, calling three other maids into the bedroom to help me get around with whatever I need. I’m fed breakfast and bedridden for the rest of the day. Zorien and the others are apparently at school, so it’s just me to myself for the whole day.I wonder when Talon will return. Sigh, he’s been gone for so long. I hope he’s okay. I roll on my side, staring into space and eerie silence. I can’t remain like this. Obstinately getting up, I slide d
Himari’s POV.-“H-hey! What do you think you’re doing?- Hey!”Panic spurts me up to grab the top of the driver’s seat as the car begins to accelerate away from the curb we’re to wait for Ciel’s return. “Stop the car! My boyfriend isn’t back yet!” I argue with the driver that’s suddenly pretending not to hear me at all, ignoring my hands and slamming his foot down hard on the gas pedal.The driver speeds past a car in front, making me yelp from the swift curve he makes around the car as I fall back and hit the back of my head with a wince. I groan and look forward, touching the back of my head when a foul aura hits me suddenly. It’s the same rancid aura those men from that bar had exuded.Did they come back for revenge? My paranoia explodes over me as I give up on trying to fight the driver and focus on how to get out of the car myself. The windows are rolled up, so I jump to the left door and tug the handle roughly.“Open up, please- Dammit!” The handle breaks and all bloo
Himari’s POV.-Can someone just make this Demon kill me instead?Soulfully dejected, I’m sent away as a savage Zorien hinges his imposing aura in front of the mansion to watch me leave. I glance at the way I had to cover to arrive here, the street lamps leading in a straight road down the distance.I gulp tearfully, I’ve had to go through so much in one evening and all he cares about is my lateness? Does he have no heart at all? What am I even saying, weren’t Demons initially heartless and vile creatures with no emotions?Although these ones seem more rational and human-like, Zorien is no different from those Darklings. I bite my lip to prevent my sobs from expelling as I drag my aching body and stinging feet away, in the direction of the barn, maybe. I know Spring and Storm won’t mind having me with them.Zorien can swallow his mansion for all I care.‘Are you whining, Mari? Haha! This is so unlike you’ I hear Runa and roll my teary eyes as I growl at her, ‘Don’t make my
Himari’s POV.-“Well, what do you expect? There’s no way that filthy pup could stand to do it with someone else other than her beloved”.A cold shiver races up my spine at the haunting voice, and I glance aside to see Zorien stepping out of the wall close to the bedroom door. What? Did he just walk out of that wall? It’s the first I’m seeing him in slacks and a button-up formal dress shirt and an overcoat on; everything in his usual black. His hair is worn all back with a couple of strands dripping down his neck.When I brush the faint crimson in his orbs, I’m reminded of the words he had just spouted, and panic grips me. I whip my head to Ciel who’s frowning Zorien’s way, fisting his hands as he asks, “Would you mind explaining what that’s supposed to mean?”The energy between the two is foul and sinister, and Zorien does a casual shrug, tossing his intentional smirk my way as he parts his malicious saucy lips, “Why don’t you tell him yourself, pup? How that scummy thing ha
Himari’s POV.-Zorien? Why is he here? I scoot as I pace past the other tables in the lunchroom and am lucky to find Flynn with his hand in the air signaling at me.I quickly settle in like some criminal on the run and Flynn blinks at me, leaning to ask in a low voice as if he’s trying to consider me. “What’s with the hurry? Is someone on your tail?”I hold my hands to ease my shaken state as I tell him squarely, “Zorien and Loren are in here” I whisper-yell and watch the shock dye into his face. Flynn falls back in defeat, expelling an exhausting sigh. “Dang it.”Wait, why am I feeling this way? It’s not like I’m indeed doing anything bad, is it? I’m only here to have lunch with a friend and catch up for the time we’ve been apart. Why do I have to allow that Demon in so much? ‘It’s a good improvement. You’re starting to see things the way I do’ Runa commends and I frown, turning to peer down at his position further by the glass wall. I didn’t come here for him.“That’s