BLESSED BONDS

CHAPTER 09

MORANA

Insanity.

They finally lost their goddamn minds!

“You guys can’t seriously come with me!” I hollered for the nth time, and honestly, my voice was starting to come out hoarse.

“Why not?” The question made me want to pull on my hair harder.

“Because it’s f*****g insane!”

Desperate — was the only thing I can describe them in one word.

“So you’re willing to leave what you’ve worked for over the years just to come with me?”

There was an immediate chorus of, “Yes.”

“Do you guys even hear how stupid that sounds!?”

Hael shrugs his shoulders, “Beats having to keep paying private investigators.”

My god. They’ve f*****g joined forces like a they’re in a damn space crusade!

I swear to god—

“Listen,” I start, “Please think carefully about this, just because I don’t want to stay here doesn’t mean I want to stay with any of you at all!”

“We’ll let you do what you want. So we’ll do whatever the f**k we want, too.”

“You can’t just f*****g reverse card me here!” I didn’t even know I could reach such high notes. Losing your own mind makes you achieve the impossible, I guess.

Feeling my nerves buzz, I wrap my arms around me to stop the multiple crawling happening on my skin.

Calm! I need to calm the hell down.

Blue skies, flower meadows, crashing waves, punching Kylo in the goddamn face—

I let out an exasperated shrill.

“Stop ruining my life!” I’m blaming them if I end up really murdering them. It won’t be my fault.

“Ruining your life?” Calix muses menacingly, “The more better then.”

I run both my hands down my face.

“You’re making this harder than it is.”

“Four years.” Calix further antagonizes, “We’ve stopped not once looking for you. Now that we found you, you really expect us to leave you alone? That’s hilarious.”

The only one who wasn’t laughing was me since I was the butt of the joke.

I change tactics, “You’re all acting like you’re in love with me or something.” Nothing shuts up a man like pointing out their emotions. Right?

Forgetting that Lucian Ambrose was somewhat of a therapist, he sees and eases through my accusation.

“We’re fated. What more can we say?”

Where the hell does he get the audacity after I've brutally chewed him up earlier? Damn, I should’ve started with Kylo first!

I make a move by taking a step back. When they saw it, to my terror, they took a step forward as well.

Fucking psychos!

I was cornered, each of them flanking every way I could escape. The elevator was still on its way up.

With my hands up, like I was stopping a pack of hyenas from attacking me, I try to negotiate to buy time, “How about we make a deal? You don’t have to come with me and stay in your fancy castle on top of the clouds forever. Instead. I can come visit like three to four times a month?”

“Sweet. We can crash back to the penthouse three to four times a month then.”

“No,” I shake my head profusely, “Fine! How about two times a week?”

“I’d reiterate that, but you already know what to expect.” Hael nods.

“Give it up already.” Calix waves, moving forward making me back up until I hit the wall, “We’ve already made up our minds. If you don’t want fated bonds, then you’ll have to be stuck with four stalkers then. I have to warn you, Hael’s the worst out of all of us, despite his pompous poise. Man’s a bit obsessive, you know?”

“Real mature.” Hael squints his eyes at him, not liking the forewarning I had gotten.

“Are you all going to stoop that low that you’d consider stalking me? That’s illegal as hell.” I try to reason already knowing it was going to be in vain.

“That’s how you’re going to have to live life now, baby.” With a wicked curl of his lips, Calix slams his hands next to my head, trapping me like one of those cliché romance clips. “You should enjoy all our undivided attention after having deprived yourself of it for the past years.”

I hated to admit it, but the act and the way he looked made my heart patter, whether it was in the sense of being wooed by his good looks or I was simply starting to have a heart failure from all of the stress they were putting me into. I rather lean towards the latter.

Through clenched teeth, I advise him, “Back off, Cal.”

Being the d**k that he was, he pretends to think about it to mock me further, “I rather not do what you tell me to.” He's all smug and I feel my left eye twitch in irritation.

I feel the anger rush upwards and he sees it clearly in my face. It seems antagonizing me was one of his life’s pleasures now. His red dyed hair frames his face, having not styled it since he was at home. Green eyes glared back at mine, and I could already imagine the golden tint melting the greens away. I could feel it coming from the pit of my stomach and before our eyes had a chance to shift — I duck from his arms boxing me in and swiping my foot under him.

He loses his balance and I take the chance to grab his arm, putting it over my shoulder and with his falling momentum, I easily flip him in the air. Slamming him to the carpet floors around this area, a grin plays on my lips as the air gets knocked out of his lungs.

“f**k!” He croaks along with the audible gasps the other three let out.

Dusting my hands, I feign a concerned pout, “Sorry. Was that a bit too much for you, baby?” I taunted him as I bent my knees to meet his infuriated reaction. Giving one last disgusted look, I whirl around.

“Anyone else want to join him on the floor?” I ever-so-kindly asked, crossing my arms.

No one was up to the challenge.

Hael could only sigh at the sight of Calix catching his breath, still laying flat on his back.

“How many times do I have to warn you to be cautious of her? Her dad’s a self defense instructor for crying out loud.” He shakes his head, disappointed.

Kylo further elaborates it, “Despite using claws most of the time like a damn feral cat and landing dirty shots, doesn’t change the fact that she knows a bit of martial arts, dude.”

Calix just gives them an annoyed grunt, “What kind of father teaches his daughter to throw a man over her shoulder?”

“One that teaches her how to ward off stupid guys like you.” Everyone, including me, agrees with that.

With great timing, we hear a bell chime, signaling the arrival of the elevator. It opens fully and with one of them still on his ass and the others wary of my moves, I effortlessly slip in to escape.

“Hey!”

Rapidly pushing the close button in urgency, I beg the elevator gods to show me mercy. It was a fleeting wish that was smartly bested by a hand slipping between the closing doors. It automatically opens again and I bang the side of my head to the mirrored wall in here.

“God, help me.” I nearly cried, giving into my frustration.

They pile into the elevator from hell. Calix came in last with a grimace, swatting my hands off the buttons.

“Ground floor?” He doesn’t wait for confirmation and just proceeds to hit the said location.

“Oh, drat!” Luca’s eyes were wide, patting over his clothes, looking for something, “I forgot my phone.”

Hael casually dismisses it, “Don’t bother, we can always buy you a new one since we’re leaving anyways.” He might as well write the words ‘rich b***h’ on his forehead.

“Are you all really serious about coming with me?” I still can’t wrap it around my head at how absurd it was.

The answer still doesn’t change.

“Pretty much. You think your place is big enough for all five of us?”

“I live in a shoe box, man. Could barely even fit myself.” The information made Hael’s spoiled ass groan.

“We can always buy the whole building—”

“Stop.” I hiss, going to the front to face all of them, “What do you guys want from me?”

“Isn’t it already obvious?”

Grinding my molars, I growl, “No. Please spare me the damn mystery of all this crap and just talk. I’ll—I’ll listen to what you guys have to say.”

They share a look with one another, before Hael clears his throat.

“The reason why we’ve been endlessly searching for you — so we’ll all be together, as much as how pitiful it sounds.”

I couldn't help but nod, agreeing at how pathetic their resolve sounded.

“I don’t get it.” I bit my lip, muttering my words, “I ran away from you, just like you said. I pushed you all away and am still pushing you to stay the hell away from me. So why? Is this all just to get me to complete the bonds?”

My question hangs high in this cramped space. Hesitation seeped out of them.

“We’re fated together—” Hael basically whispers it, but with how dead silent it was, he might as well have been yelling it, “That’s the only reason we can give you for now. Unless you yourself elaborate your own excuses for the past four years, then we will have a fair exchange.” He announces it, and with the way his voice was firm and dismissive, that was the end of the discussion.

I opened my mouth, wanting to argue, but no words left me.

Fated — that was the only thing tying me down to these four.

If I had found out how to sever our connections, I would’ve not hesitated to do so long ago. There was always that — the only way to void our fates was to surrender yourself to the sweet hands of death.

Although it may seem like salvation, with how crowded it was in this mechanical box, it was too early for me to kick the bucket.

Aside from living a rather painfully plain life — constantly on the run from the law — I still like to think that I have a brighter future:

One where I didn’t have to keep running and hiding.

One where I was ‘girl bossing’ so hard.

One where they weren’t a part of —

They used to be. But that was years ago when I thought the only way to break apart from my mother’s hold was to finally live the life fate wanted me and my four fated to have.

However, the bitter reality of that mandatory life was the tragic fact that I was only being passed down from one control to another — from a past owner to a new one.

My fate as a caged bird was sealed.

I had to get out.

It took me breaking every bone in my wings to break out of that cage, recklessly picking up the broken fragments of myself that I can manage, and crawling out of that inferno with nothing but the fear of repercussion for ruining everyone’s plans. Only one thought in my head — keep running.

So, I did.

I got so good at it, it went on for years — four, exact.

Becoming an expert at dodging all the hoards of law enforcements and private investigators that persistently grew in number. Everytime the missing posters with its reward multiplied, and when they were able to get too close to my tracks, I’d skip yet another city, another life, and renew everything from scratch each time.

My last faux life was my first failure — Rue Copper:

It was only her first year in that new city, doing part time jobs in order to get by. She frequented a local bar which her current fling had owned, and was also the one who rented her a room for cheap. You can tell she knew how to hustle.

Rue Copper was a b***h. One that was stupid enough to get f*****g caught.

Fucking s**t — I should’ve opted for a life as a nun, instead.

That dumb b***h is dead now, and I’m forced to go back to the name I long ago abandoned.

“Morana.”

I let out an absolutely angry fizzle at the call of my damned name.

“What?” Harshly snapping after being pulled out of my deep thoughts. I could tell they were waiting for any answer from me.

If I could answer using my fists, I would’ve happily provided a reply already, but it wasn’t favorable to break out into a grapple inside a descending metal box. Even I knew that.

Sensing my misery, Hael then fuels it, “If you’re having a crisis about our living arrangement on the run. We can always go abroad. Preferably a place where it doesn’t snow too much or none at all during the winter, since you easily get cold.” Suggesting such absurd things, he knew it would get under my skin.

“Shut up.” I massage the bridge of my nose, “Let me think for a while.”

If their plan to follow me around like ducklings was absolute, I need to think of another where I don’t end up wanting to kill myself. The whole idea of them coming along with me was a recipe for disaster.

Imagine how their parents will react when out of nowhere, their sons vanish into thin air. What if they find out that it was all but to join their runaway bond?

How would they react?

How would my mother react?

Holy f*****g s**t — total chaos.

They’d send out a whole battalion for us.

Nope.

Hell no.

There was only one thing I could think of.

“Does anybody else know about me? Your families?” I proceed to ask them. They shook their heads.

“No, we haven’t really got the time to be announcing anything to them.”

“My family?” Wary still, if they kept their promise on that.

“We made a deal, remember?” Hael assures.

Calix huffs out, crossing his arms, “We’re all adults, we don’t see a reason why we have to report everything, less likely anything at all to our mommies and daddies.”

Nodding, I get his point, “Don’t call off the search.” I said, and they gave me confused looks, “You must make it out that I am still missing. Act like you’re still looking, flipping every stone in this continent. Hire more help, hell, even raise the reward money. Just do it.” It came out as an order. A rather desperate one.

“You want us to continue a futile search?” The question came from Hael and I bobbed my head once.

“Make it seem so futile, that everyone would start to doubt if I was still even walking on this earth.”

Luca tilts his head, “What do you mean? What’s all that about?”

Taking in a shaky breath, I shut my eyes, still uncertain with what I was about to say.

They wait in silence for my resolution.

It takes me a minute or two to do it.

“You don’t have to go through your stupid idea of coming with me.” I gather every courage I could muster in my body, and glance at each one of them, “In utter secrecy, I’ll remain here with you all.”

Their eyes slowly widened, “What?”

With a final sigh, despite the shattering of my pride, I concede to their idiosyncrasy.

I give in —

“I’ll stay.”

○○○

CALIX

“I’ll stay.”

No f*****g s**t.

She actually gave in.

Who would’ve thought Kylo’s whole stupid idea would work.

Gotta give it to him — he knew her best. Being the same age and all.

Easily surrendering to the threat of us following her everywhere.

I break out into a snort, and then to a full on laugh at how her face sours.

“No s**t, man. Are you serious?”

The side of her lip raises to a scowl, “Unfortunately.”

I glance at the others, still quite taken aback that she actually agreed to stay. Here with us.

Didn’t think such a day would come.

After how many years — five years from the day she first manifested being blessed by fate, to the day she would turn eighteen. Another four years for being on the run — a total of nine freaking long years.

That’s how long it took for us to get to this point.

She made us wait for almost a decade and here she was presently, looking nauseated in our presence.

I should feel offended. I am, though another feeling is overshadowing being insulted. Was that relief I was feeling?

Towards her, for staying?

I choose not to dwell further on whatever the hell was going on with my emotions.

“So you’re not going to try and run away?” I could tell Hael was reluctant as was I, “Can we trust that this isn’t just a ploy to let our guard down?”

The little s**t chooses to cross her arms, “Then you better not let your guard down.” Taunting, she had c****d her head to the side, “But yes, I won’t run. Especially after you demonstrated how insane all of you are. Shame you guys turned out this way just because I deprived you all from my presence.”

Despite smugly saying out loud, I was sure it was only a front to hide the fact that she lost the whole argument.

Her pride must be taking quite a hit.

She put on a good fight, I got to admit — starting from her defiance at the police station, jumping over the bridge, battling it out with the musclehead Kylo, challenging Hael’s control, mercilessly annihilating Luca, and lastly slamming me to the floor so hard it knocked the wind out of me.

All that, and still she didn’t win.

It’s not a shock she’s acting like a total sore loser.

“Lucky us then. Finally getting all your attention.” I sardonically say, “You better divide it equally, I get jealous really easily, you know?”

She doesn’t use her words, instead she flips me the finger to which I clutch my heart to further mock her.

Dismissing me, she turns back to Hael, “I’ll stay as long as you do your best not to involve any of our families as well as the damn blessed society. I already have my hands full with you four.”

Hael, on the other hand, was scrutinizing her, trying to figure her out.

“If you don’t make an effort to once more run out on us, your return shall just be between us. No one outside the society knows that we are blessed by fate, and we will keep it to ourselves that we are fated bonds, so that no word will reach our families.”

She nods, accepting his terms, “I agree. I’ll stay, won’t run and you’ll keep your mouth shut when it comes to me. And one more thing,” bringing up, she adds, “If there comes a time where we are misfortunate to be found out and I won’t be able to escape…..” with a dire look on her face, her words trail, long enough it evokes my own nerves to spike a bit.

There was no need for her to finish her sentence, as Luca steps forward just enough to loom over her, “If it comes to that, we will protect you. We give you our word.”

I don’t even know where this man gets the balls to even mention that certain word to her, after the whole one-sided m******e just an hour or two ago. Bringing her cake was gutsy enough, for f**k’s sake.

Even she was startled at his unwavering determination. I’d be scared if I were her.

There was no easily breaking Luca, the dude was basically an unkillable bug. Well, he does study how the human mind works for a living, so he knows how to control his own.

Despite his careful and considerate act today, he wasn’t fooling me. I saw the bag of alcohol bottles he sneakily stashed behind a planter in the kitchen. He didn’t go out just to buy her a piece of cake, like he wants to seem.

I continue to watch how she warily dissects him and his words. She doesn’t directly say anything about it at all, refusing to even look him in the eye.

Sensing the incoming awkward tension from a mile away, Hael also comes to the front, placing a hand to Luca’s shoulder. He gives the other a nod before saying to her, “Deal?”

He stretches his hand out to her.

She examines the gesture, her brow arching.

“You’re not the only one who decides things here, Blackwell. I need all four of you for this.”

Jesus.

This girl just indirectly and boldly pointed out Hael Blackwell’s need to be the only one who’s always in control.

Balls of f*****g steel — that’s what she has.

I could visibly see the twitch in Hael’s body language.

The only ones who got to test his obsession with controlling things were the three of us — guess we have a fourth member now. She might even go long and test it to astronomical levels. Who knows. I’ll look forward to it.

“So?” She eyes each of us, ignoring Hael’s handshake to stretch her own hand out.

From the looks of it, she wanted to do a childish version on how to seal a deal — her pinky finger out.

It takes every muscle in me to contract badly so I won’t burst out laughing at how ridiculously cute it was.

She’d freaking punch me in the d**k if I ever dare.

Kylo was the first to connect his pinky to hers, nothing to say, his eyes boring into her instead. She doesn’t let go right away.

The expectant look from her, made us realize it was supposed to be a group thing.

Luca follows, hooking his own finger on hers, just above Kylo’s.

“Are we freaking elementary girls now?” Was my snide remark, joining in. At the contact, my eyes naturally fell down to her in that black hoodie, nearly swallowing her at how big it was compared to her size. Or maybe it was because she was just that small. Might as well fit her in my damn pocket, the little viper.

I continue to ignore the warm sickly feeling still lingering down my stomach that washed over me the moment I saw her step out wearing one of my jerseys with my number on it.

Shit. What was I? Some lame ass guy simping over his girl wearing his clothes? — I hope to f**k I am not.

“Get your sorry ass here, so we can get over it.” I called out Hael who was still silently fuming.

He looks at us with a bitter expression, afterwards he then sighs. He half heartedly decides to join last.

With a tiny curl to her lips, she nods at us.

“Promises are for losers, boys. You better keep your word like men.” She determinedly announces, and with a final affirmation, she drops our joined connection.

Placing her hands on her hips, she gives us a curious look.

“Now which floor was that bakery at?”

I slap my palm to my face, shaking my head.

Morana Sinclair was going to be a pain in the ass.