Chapter 3
1902 Words
All eyes were on me as I walked along the corridor and down the stairs. Their stares were bearing holes in my body. I looked like a criminal being escorted out...
Oh, wait. I am a criminal. Falsely claimed.
I took a final glance at the cells where I had spent days there. It was timeless as sense of time was a nothingness - that was enough to leave an everlasting memory in my life. The tortures, sleepless nights, mice and rats swarming around, and... Juliana.
"My Lord, the payment..." The warden trailed off when I snapped my head at him and back to the scary man. He then pulled out a pouch that looked heavy and handed it to the succumbed warden.
The warden's face contorted disgustingly which made me flinch feet away from him.
"Thank you, thank you." He greedily took a peek into the pouch and his face lit up, making it tenfold uglier and rage boiled inside of me. Was it that easy? That easy to let me out?
I mustered all patience, ignoring that sight, and held back the urge to punch the light out of the psycho warden when his eyes trailed on me, scanning me from top to bottom with a contorted grin.
"Come."
Silently, I followed his lead, into the woods, walking with no lights and paths ahead, just blindly following this man as the trail was solid rock wherever I stepped. The air was damped and cold with a hint of stench I would not dare try to recognise.
The trees were in gray shades and hues, different from the outside world. My fingers shivered at the chilling cold, eating my bones and my eyes sauntered into the scary man's wide back.
I knew him briefly - too brief that I doubt he was the man I knew.
My memories was a jumble mess, tempered and recoiled with the nightmares haunting me here and from my past. Even now, deep down, I think, I may be dreaming. Or maybe... this was all a long nightmare.
I stembles on a stone, founding myself hitting a solid frame, hands were tightly gripped and I hot air landed on my face. Shaken me from the useless thoughts.
I am tired, I am hungry - I truly am.
I felt hands snaking around my waist and knees, then lifting me off the ground.
"W-Wait..." I muttered but it was stuck in my throat. This is too sudden and I pushed him away as hard as I could but to no avail. A growl escaped his chest and that alone cut me off my next words and the pushing.
The scent he emitted was amazing like the morning mist mixed with sunlight.
Dim light was poking out of trees ahead and I couldn't resist stretching my neck, anticipating what was beyond.
"This is..."
"The Dark Sea " The scary man took the word out of my throat as he gently put me down. I ran my foot off the green grass, enjoying the feeling of having them.
The sun was not there, replaced by a large magic crystal - warming little of the land.
"How..." My eyes wandered to the endless sea where my mind trailed off on how to cross it? How to get out of here? Helpless shrouded my body and then out of nowhere.
A wolf spirit beast stood on its paws, looking back at me. Its frame could take dozens of me whole yet it would still be insufficient when my eyes landed on the scary man sitting on its back.
He looked majestic despite the camouflage magic conjured.
"Angelica, come." He offered his hand and I placed my hand in his. In one pull, up I went. Then, he placed me between his crotch with my back on his chest.
I scooted slightly forward, distancing ourselves. Felt uncomfortable at the proximity.
The wolf spirit jumped on the 200 feet drop, sending cold air slapping my cheeks and my hair was pushed back dramatically. I held back my breath...
"A-Amazing." and breathe it out once we landed. I did this with Undine before but ... it was never this ecstatic.
"Hold on tight." A hoarse voice softly reached my ears and I held back a breath. My back was leaning against his chest as his chin landed nicely on my side.
The wolf took its few steps slowly but soon it turned to a run. The cold sea breeze caressed my face as we rode through the night, across the sea.
Time felt like it stopped being in this stagnant weather all this time, caressing through the night. This is nice. Why didn't he just summon the beast earlier? My legs were about to fall off from all the walking.
Stingy!
"I heard that." The scary man growled and I bit down my lips, realizing my slip of the tongue.
"Don't do that." Again, he growled and he pressed himself on my back, making his heat spread on my back. I tried to scoot away but it was useless.
"Hold on tight." His hand gripped the beast tighter and his body pressed to mine, leaning down as the wolf speeded up, sending a gust of cold breezes freezing my skin.
"Where are we going?" I managed to ask when we slowed down.
His hand went up, finger-pointing to what seems to be an... island?
I focused my eyes on the island which soon became clearer. It was a small island, surrounded by the dark sea and there stood an abandoned building on top of what looked like a hill.
Once we reached shore, the beast let us down and I slipped down instantly, still focusing on the building. "What is that?" I muttered while closing the distance.
Tower? Pointy roof? Glass Windows? Large entrance? A church?
"Why are we here?" I asked, eyes fixed on the church.
"We are getting married."
I see marriage. Marriage? What?
"M-Marriage? No!" Shocked, the words flew out of my mouth while I stood rooted in the sand.
The scary man had walked ahead of me with raised eyebrows and ... no more camouflage. Making his blonde hair and emerald eyes brighter under the night sky.
"I won't." My voice quivered as my knees went weak.
The scary man tousled his hair back, revealing the frown on his forehead. His shoulder moved up as if taking a deep calming breath and strode towards me.
I didn't realize when I had kneeled, gasping for air when he approached me and lifted me off the ground.
"No! This isn't what you said in the prison." I muttered in between heavy breathing. Trying to break free.
The scary man threw me on his shoulder and climbed up the stairs without losing a sweat despite my efforts to let loose and free myself.
"Let me go!"
A loud thud rang in the air when my back hit the ground. I frantically scanned the surrounding for an escape but none came into view.
"Angelica."
"My body and soul! Why? Why should I get married to you?!" I snapped and bit my lips. Feeling extremely weak and timid.
"Then tell me, what is the best way to have your body and soul? What other options?" The scary man slid off his hood and threw his mantel away to the side.
Other options? My hazy brain rainscked itself... thinking and finding.
"There's slav..." My words stuck in my throat, realizing the only other option was 's*****y'. It was the worst possible way to have a bond.
"Slavery."
I was left alone in the middle of the church. The scary man strode away as if giving me spaces to think.
Think? What could I possibly think? I was freed yet to be locked again but this time it was to be wed to a man I barely knew... not barely. I really don't know who he is.
God! Did I sinned so much that I deserve this? I did what I had to survive. I never did harm people directly did I? Mother, how I wish I have you by myside now and every moment after.
My eyes fluttered open, I probably blacked out from all the accumulated fatigue and I took a quick look around this abandoned church. A small stream of river flows beautifully, flowers in all sorts of colors bloomed on the floor, covering the cracked tiles, and the moonlight that I missed so much shone beautifully above us, sending reflections of lights on my sides.
"Are you awake?" The scary man waited patiently as he sat on a broken pillar, watching me in mixed emotions reflected in his eyes.
I took a deep breath and gave him a weak nod. The scary man offered his hand and I took it, needing little help to get up.
"Is it just us?" I took a deep breath, inhaling the sweet scents up in the air, steeling my heart for the unknown future ahead of me.
"Yes."
"But how..." When my eyes landed on the knife in his hand I flinched, the sounds of sharp edge cutting human skin rang in my ears, sending my skin trembling.
"Marriage by blood, witnessed by the Spirits and blessed by the Moon Goddess." My eyes went wide and my mouth slightly parted.
Shocked? No, astonished and impressed.
A marriage by blood, witnessed by the Spirits and blessed by the Moon Goddess was an ancient marriage ceremony done during old age where two kinds of kin united for marriage. Blood was offered when the bond connecting the two souls was created and spirits celebrated along with the lullaby that the goddess sent as a gift.
The most unique part of it was it require no magic essence yet it was magical.
And it allows the contractors to have the ability to bear offspring since two of different kinds cannot do so without the Goddess's blessing.
"Shall we begin?"
I looked up to a pair of emerald eyes and nodded. My hands reached for the sword edge, slightly cutting my thumb and when blood trickled down, I ran it into my lips.
"Moon Goddess, bear the witness of our unity and blessed us with your lights." We said in unison.
"Angelica Le Ador, do you accept me, Reon Lahen de Valko as your trustfully wedded husband?" The scary man's voice was low and clear, his lips didn't even quiver while saying the words one by one.
I took a soft deep breath, taking in the appearance of my soon-to-be husband.
Long blonde hair that cut off at his waist, broad shoulder, thin lips, and most charming emerald eyes.
Am I worthy of him? Of course, no. This is my punishment.
"I, Angelica Ador Le Estrique, accept you, Reon Lahen de Valko, as my truthfully wedded husband."
Small colorful lights floated into the air when my vow leaves my lips. I was captivated by the lights until a hand went to my waist, pulling my body closer to my now-husband.
He then cupped my cheeks and caressed them gently.
"It's not complete yet."
'My husband' brought his face closer till his warm breath was mine, slowly placing our lips together. taste of blood filled my mouth when his tongue made its way in, dancing against mine.
Lights engulfed my soul, creating a bond between us.
'I now pronounce you, husband and wife.'
- Writer
