This chapter might not be for everyone, but try to read with an open mind 😊 Athena felt as if she was recovering from a ghost possession. Her head was pounding, and she had no sense of the transition of time. She squinted her eyes and tried to adjust to the surroundings, and the last thing she remembered was being in the car with Narcissa. She immediately looked for the girl, but Narcissa was sitting at the far end, seeming unphased. “Cissy, did you get hurt?” Athena was concerned for the girl, but the girl only smiled in return. She put her nail polish container down and stalked over to Athena. “Did they hurt you?” Athena tried to get up and hug Narcissa but didn’t realize she was tied down. The girl still didn’t understand that Narcissa was free and Athena was tied. She shook her hand and realized she was bound, “why am I tied?” Athena was pale but breathing steadily, her enigmatic eyes as wide as a dog’s. “What is going on, Cissy?" now her breaths got erratic. Narcissa’s eyes

“I could squash you all like bugs right now, but I am offering you all choices. Let Athena go, and I will let you all go,” but Hans gave no reaction other than to signal with his eyes to bring forth the girl. As one of the men forcefully placed Athena in a wheelchair, her mouth was cruelly duct-taped shut. Azazel's heart clenched painfully at the sight. His beloved wife had endured a lifetime of suffering, and now she was subjected to even more torment at the hands of this despicable man. Despite her dire situation, Athena's gaze remained locked on Azazel. He bore a visible bump on his head and a bruise on his cheek, evidence of the recent altercation. Yet, he exuded a strength that perplexed Athena, leaving her unsure of what he would do next. Surrounded by enemies who had sought their demise throughout their lives, she found herself experiencing an unexpected sense of protection, as she always did in his presence. “I will get you out of here, Athena. I will not let anything happen

A few months later..... Orange and terracotta hues of canopy lit the maple trees, announcing that autumn had hit her stride. The evening glow cast an orange hue on the beautiful path. The trees are blooming, despite knowing that their days are numbered, knowing that they will fall and turn to dust. The gold and scarlet of the autumn days remind you that there is beauty if you look for it. A lonely woman was walking down the path to the cemetery, honey boots covering her feet, a knit scarf wound around her neck, pretty and matching the autumn vibe. She crunched on the fallen leaves, walking down the street feeling rough cracks through thin soles, the wind moving as if she weren’t there at all, as if it were a ghost whisper, nothing more, nothing less. The woman’s pregnant belly showed through her knit sweater dress. The houses are decorated with pumpkins and apples. A fresh smell of baked apple pies and cider whipped her nostrils. Despite the children and the adults enjoying the bea

“Do you think I should come back?” Azazel asked, sipping his whiskey. “You should,” Tristan knew Azazel and Athena loved each other, but there was something holding them up from being together, he had seen both suffer being away from each other, and God knows they were stubborn. “Although if you come back, I hope she kills you. I am tired of your ass,” Tristan was eager to see Azazel getting ass whopped by Athena. “Do you think she will be angry with me?” Azazel had a worried look on his face. “Oh, I am sure she would end you, and I am so rooting for it,” his brother needs that for following this stupid plan. “Love makes people do things, Azazel. I have never seen you pine for anyone like this. If this isn’t screaming that you love her, I don’t know what does. And as for Athena, I have seen her try and eat flowers instead of apples. She is completely off focus,” Tristan remembered the times Athena forgot to focus and did things the wrong way. The girl put cabbage in the washing ma

Athena and Azazel hadn’t talked about their relationship much. Their relationship was evolving, but into what she didn’t know. She was sure that Athena had feelings for him, but to what extent? She couldn’t figure it out. “Athena,” Azazel yelled, coming home. “In here,” she replied, washing the milk bottles and setting them on the warmer. “Get ready. We are going out,” he turned her to his side. “No, Zae. We need to…” he silenced her by placing his fingers on her lips and closing them. “Not another word. You haven’t gone out since we had our little ones. Let’s go out, besides we have a village to watch, and you already pumped your milk,” he noticed the bottles on the counter. Knowing that there was no excuse, Athena gave in. She entered her bedroom and noticed a dress on the bed. She put on the outfit and put on some light makeup. Hearing the sound of heels, he turned around, and his heart skipped its beat. She looked ethereal in that georgette dress, “I look fat,” she adjusted t