"If I could go back in time, I'd rather close my eyes to unsee everything. Because the pain I felt that moment scarred my soul. It has always remained in my mind, haunting me in my darkest nights."
The young girl listened as the woman ran her fingers to the girl's hair while reading her favorite book. It wasn't a book supposed to be read to a child, but the young girl insisted. She had been curious what was her mother's favorite book all about. She had a brilliant mind and didn't want to limit her knowledge. After all, it was better for her to broaden her perspective in life so she could use it in the future.
"Do you agree with her, Mother? If you were in her shoes would you want the same?" the young girl asked, talking about the last part her mother had read.
The woman smiled. "Yes, sweetheart. That's why if you see something bad you should do what I've always told you, understand?"
"I understand, Mother. If I see something bad, I will close my eyes so it won't remain in my heart."
"Good girl." The woman closed the book and kissed the girl's forehead. "That is enough for tonight. Now close your eyes, my princess."
The young girl closed her eyes.
But she didn't feel any comfort. Instead she felt as though she was being sucked to an endless darkness. She felt drowning, suffocated.
Emery's heart was beating erratically when she woke up. Another nightmare, she thought. She looked at her room and saw almost everything had gone frozen. It was always the case when she was having nightmares. She couldn't control herself leaving her power on the loose.
Her gaze drifted to who was sitting by her side.
"I felt the palace getting colder again that's why I came to check on you," Eloise said thoughtfully. Her room was far from Emery's but in their family, Eloise was the most sensitive to cold. She could barely manage the winter season even with thick quilts.
"Were you truly worried about me or were you worried you couldn't sleep?"
Eloise tried to hide a smile. "Both?"
Emery shook her head. "I'm fine now. Go back to your room."
"It's true. I was worried. What are your nightmares about this time?"
Although Emery knew her sister was a brilliant child, she was only ten. She was a kid who had yet to see the cruelty of the world. She didn't want to take her innocence at a young age by telling her how dark her nightmare was. She also didn't want her to ask questions if she would tell her the truth.
"Nothing very bad. It was only about Shadow," Emery said, referring to the dog she raised when she was a kid. He died of old age several years after.
"Why don't you try raising a dog again?"
Emery shook her head. She didn't need anything that would only stay for a short time. Attachment will only lead to heartbreak. She didn't need that.
The next morning, Amadeus called for a royal meeting again. Yesterday, the meeting ended when Lanver asked for a little time to think about his decision. They only gave them a night that's why they were gathered now to hear what he had to say.
Everyone was already present in the long table except for one.
"Where is Dimitri?" Weston asked Eloise because her room was just beside Dimitri's.
"Did he go out last night?" Lucius asked. With him busy assisting Amadeus in their kingdom's affairs, he didn't have time to note his brother's whereabouts.
Emery turned to the royal family's chamberlain. "Stuart?"
Stuart felt his pulse racing. "Your Highness… I think Prince Dimitri did go out last night. His horse is missing in the stable. I apologize, Your Majesty. I've reminded His Highness to not leave the palace last night but…"
Amadeus waved his two fingers in the air. Stuart let out a sigh of relief and stepped back.
Amadeus had known his every sibling's character. It took him years to soften Emery as she was as hard as stone. But although she appeared heartless in the eyes of many, he knew her by heart. And there was Dimitri, the hardest one to tame. That sibling of him was giving him the most headache. Whatever Dimitri wanted, he would always get. Lucius was the calmest among them, the most disciplined. Weston was wicked at times but bearable. And of course, the innocent Eloise who was enough to lighten his mood.
"I guess he has another business to take care of, so let's just proceed without him," Amadeus said.
Lanver, who was observing the Von Rellis siblings, thought that there was something about them he couldn't pinpoint. Amadeus was very calm, Emery seemed like a stone in her seat, Lucius looked so serious and formal as if he was taking everything professionally, Weston looked a little playful, and there was Eloise who loved smiling most of the time. Lanver couldn't say that they were synchronized but even so, they seemed to fit perfectly in the picture as if he could feel their invisible bond just by watching their little moves.
"I don't think this meeting is necessary, anyway. Why did we even give him time to think when we have decided to make him do it by force?" Emery said.
Today, Lanver noticed her lips were colored with rouge and her hair was tied up, making her look a little more evil than she looked yesterday. She stood out in that table regardless. Or was it just there was no one to compare her with?
"Still, it is better if we do this way. Courtesy, Emery," Amadeus reminded her.
Lanver set his thoughts straight and looked at the King. He had thought about this last night. It seemed pretty convincing that the prophecy they were talking about was true, which meant they really needed the barrier to protect their people. Truth was, he didn't have the least bit of idea how to help, but like they said, it could be learned. So fine. He will try. After all, there was nothing for him to lose.
Besides, there was another reason why he chose to stay. He wanted to know how his nightmares and that girl in his dreams were connected to him. There must be a reason behind all of that.
"I've made a decision," Lanver spoke.
The delight in the King's eyes was evident. Lanver saw this and realized that Amadeus was a great king who wanted nothing but the best for his people. It was a shame the human world lacked great leaders like him. But then again, life was not fair. It has never been."But I have no idea how to do it," Lanver said."As soon as we can awaken your mage blood, then your training will not be that hard for you since you were a trained fighter who had been through a lot.""Awaken my mage blood?" Lanver was confused. He didn't know if he could ever be accustomed to the terms used in this world."Yes. Right now we can only feel your presence as a human. Princess Anna must have sealed it to hide you. However, your blood as a mage must be so strong that it could resist Princess Anna's spell, that's why there were times, as you've noticed, when something weird were happening to you.""Why would you know what was happening to me back there?""Let's just say we have the means to see what is happenin
Cold and shivering, I slumped to the ground with my head feeling dizzy. It was seven days since I left my pack, Moonraven, and ran to the vast outskirts of Seattle from Vancouver, scared that Benedict's men must be hunting me down. But I guess this is the farthest I could get with no money and food.I leaned on the tree and closed my eyes. The light from the horizon was starting to fade and I could barely see a faint light from where I was because of the tall trees surrounding me. Sure, it was a good place to die, somewhere peaceful and calm. But should I allow myself to just die like this after my parents sacrificed themselves for my freedom? Should I put their efforts into waste by giving up?I don't think I have the heart to do that. But I also don't know where I can get strength in the middle of wilderness.I can't help but ponder about some things. Too much trust and kindness were my father's weakness. He trusted Benedict and the people surrounding him too much that he was blinde
I've always felt the weird demeanor Benedict has all those years of him acting loyal to my father. He's handsome, quiet, I think the quietest man I've ever met, he's most of the time serious, and he never looked at any girl in our pack. He was either training the men or handling the pack's affairs.I didn't have casual conversations with him even though he was often invited to our house for dinners and parties. I'd always seen him in the town, and back when I was still studying, we went to the same school. I didn't give him much attention then, but I knew he was good at academics. Well, he's good at everything he does if my memory serves me right.Although his beta father died early, with his contributions, everyone believed that he was the only man worthy of my hand. They said we were perfect for each other. I couldn't disagree more. I had never pictured myself marrying Benedict Allen. I could stomach Tyler, his geek cousin who couldn't even throw a punch, but not him.Even though he
[Three months earlier...]She was destined to marry the King. Melrose had pinned that in her mind ever since she turned fifteen. Lord Lewis, her stepfather who had been her only family since the age of five, had never been tired of reminding her that.For a lady without a fetish for romance, it was the best the world could offer. The King was, after all, a young man with a pleasant character and outstanding physical attributes. He was crowned at the age of sixteen, and has been ruling the country for six years now. He was doubted by many at first as he was only a palace maid's son, but over the years he had gained the respect and trust of people.Melrose believed he was the best choice among the most eligible men in town. Not only because he was the most powerful and desired by most women, but because she had known him for years. She was sure he'd make a good husband.As Lord Lewis had always envisioned Melrose marrying the King one day, he raised her in the best way he could. Only th
The De Noir manor was situated at the southern part of Arden, near the woods and without any neighboring houses or small villages.The King offered Lord Knight to stay at the palace during his vacation but he refused the offer and told the King that he wanted a place where he could be at peace, and the palace, being the center of political affairs and eyes of many, wasn't a place inclined to the word "tranquility" for him.So the King, as generous as he was, sought for a solution and offered Lord Knight places where he could stay for the meantime, including the De Noir manor, a property owned by his late mother, Princess Celestine.Now that Lord Knight decided to stay in the manor, people were more cautious to not stay near the property for folks felt his domineering and dangerous presence as if he would eat anyone alive just by his look.Besides, the townspeople tend to avoid the said place just as much as how everyone avoided North Ridge, for they believed that the manor had dark en
With a big hat on her head, Melrose followed Arianne closely and asked, "Are you sure I won't be recognized by people, Arianne?"Arianne, who was dressed up the same, answered, "With how big that hat of yours, your face could hardly be seen. Just keep your head low and don't act too stiff or people might get curious.""Are there even women who wear hats inside the club? And we are dressed so poorly that one will think we are lower than servants. Ladies in a gentlemen's club for sure, even those from the lower class, could have worn better clothes than this. I doubt this is your way of keeping low or getting us busted.""Silly girl," Arianne held her arm as they approached the entrance of Spade House. She grinned at Melrose. "Mellie, trust me, okay? I will have this Mr. Harris tamed today that he will forget about the duel he is supposed to have with my foolish brother. And about our clothes, I made this on purpose so that not a single gentleman will bother taking interest in you. I do
"I hate you, Arianne. I really do!" Stepping out of the carriage, Melrose continued her lament. She couldn't get over how embarrassed she was in front of Lord Knight.Arianne only laughed at her fuming friend. "I must say you are so courageous to force Lord Knight to keep your secret. I doubt if I could say a word if it was me! I am bold but the lord is obviously someone not easy to deal with.""And I was crazy for agreeing to your ridiculous plan. Now let's pray that he won't open his mouth or else I will be done.""Fret not, Mellie. If I have to beg the lord not to spread a word, I shall do it on bended knees."That day ended up a tragedy. Melrose could only hope for Lord Knight's vacation to end quickly so he would return to wherever he came from. She wanted to do nothing with him because for some reason she could feel that he hated her.She could understand why those ladies hated her, that was because of envy, but this one, she couldn't think of a sensible reason. Or maybe Lord Kn
Melrose wanted to return right that moment and kill her best friend. The last one who touched her belongings was Arianne and she must have replaced the book she brought with this filthy one. Her grip on the book tightened and all she wanted was to disappear from Lord Knight's sight. She couldn't believe she embarrassed herself in front of him again. What a mishap!"Look, my lord, you got the wrong idea. I don't read this kind of stuff—""But you were reading it before I interrupted you with my words, weren't you?""Yes—no, I wasn't!""What were you doing, then? Staring at a page without reading a word in it, yes Lady Lewis?"Her cheeks heated. How could she explain that she only pretended she was reading because couldn't bear the sight of him and she had nowhere to look?She sighed, reminding herself not to start an argument and spoil her mood further. They haven't even arrived in East Brownsville yet."If I'm reading this kind of stuff, then so what?"His look darkened. "Books like t