Love is just Illusion

CHAPTER 3

Love is just Illusion by Swapie Achilles

CHAPTER III

The three went on their way. But Mori can’t get the horrific scene out his head.

He closed his eyes and tried to sleep again but when he did, he saw a flash of pair of eyes that looks like a wolf, intensely looking at him. ‘Now that I remember, what did I just dream?’ He asked himself.

But he shrugged it off and just continue staring outside. The scenery went from huge buildings into gigantic trees that shadows loom on the road.

“We’re near.” Said Carmel, who’s looking straightly on the road. She grasped the steering wheel tight and she keeps her eyes wide.

She may seem unbothered by the accident but her slightly shaky hands says otherwise. Isabell saw this and she strokes Carmel’s arms saying that it’s alright.

Mori saw through the mirror in front of the car how Carmel smiled at Isabell’s simple gesture. And so, she brought her left hand to hold’s her fiancée’s, while the other is still in a vice grip in stirring wheel.

Mori realized at the sight that anything can happen in a short span of time. That’s why we should cherish every moment that we share with our love ones.

The sun is already setting when Carmel finally said, “We’re finally here.”

The car stops in front of a huge and elegant gate. Mori’s jaw dropped at the sight but before he could comment on how beautiful the gate is, it opened.

They ride slowly as through the huge manor. Mori didn’t realize that he’s going to live in such structure.

“Is this really grandma’s house?” he asked bewildered as he looked outside saw the well-kept garden with a man watering the plants.

And on the other side a magnificent fountain. “It’s not just her house,” Isabell answered him. “This is her hacienda.”

Mori’s already agape jaw widens when he heard his aunt’s words.  “Wow…” That’s the only words that left from his mouth.

The car finally stops in front of a huge manor. With such intricate designs, this will be mistaken as castle of queens and kings.

Isabell was first on to come out and followed by still astounded Mori. Carmel on the other hand is busy taking the luggage down, the moment she unloaded the luggage from the trunk, she went and bead them short goodbyes to park the car.

While Mori is still busy gawking at the sight.

Isabell chuckles at his reaction, “Now that I remember, this is your first time here. Grandma always have the time to visit us and so she did.”

“Yeah, I only see her in our home every special occasion… Nah, I think she’s always in our home every week, so I got a lot of time that I spend with her since I was a kid.” Mori smiled as he remembers how his grandma carried her on her loving arms.

How the warmth of her embrace kept him safe from the coldness of winter. How her smiles bring joy to his heart every time his parents get angry at him.

And how her eyes glint as she looked at the grotesque drawing he did and proudly showed her. Every second he reminisced the past he can’t help but let the pain conquer him again but his train of thoughts was cut off when a middle-aged man in formal suite attire spoke.

“Welcome, Miss Isabell and to you too Miss Carmel, and My lord Mori.” He spoked so formally as he bowed.

“H-hey! W-wai… Oh god, please raise your head.” Mori flailed his arms around trying to make the man that he concluded to be a butler to raise his head. Because he’s never used to this kind of treatment specially from someone who’s older than him.

“I’m Jack Wilford, the caretaker of the manor.” He said with his hand on his chest and his head is still in bow. “Please follow me.”

As Mori lift his luggage Jack spoke again. “My lord, please let the maids take them for you.”

Before Mori could speak two females appeared in front of him in black dresses with white apron. And they smiled at him before simultaneously saying, “Let us carry them. My lord.”

They carried his bags away before he could even deny. Isabell on the other hand kept patted his shoulder and smile, “Just let them do their job.”

Jack and the maids who are carrying their bags accompanied them as they walked on the steps towards the main door. The main door is huge mahogany and though the façade is like inspired by neoclassicism it has a touch of modern architecture.

The combination is beautifully harmonizing each other. As the door opened, the line-up of maids and other butlers welcomed them.

They walked inside and the foyer is decorated by huge paintings of sceneries and paintings of beautiful landscapes. And in the high ceiling of manor hangs chandeliers.

“These,” Jack stops and spoke, “are all late Lady Sapphire’s paintings. Since her husband Lord Davidier died, she kept herself busy.”

Mori’s jaw agape at the statement. He can’t believe that these magnificent paintings were painted by his grandmother.

While Isabell whistled.

“Come and I’ll show you your rooms.” Jack spoke and walked away.

The whole way to their bedrooms is filled with Mori’s whispered of admiration. Which made Isabell smiled at his kid-like attitude.

Lots of paintings hangs on the walls, everywhere he turns his head there’s paintings. Which made him think how painful for her to live in such empty manor, that’s why perhaps she always visits her family.

“This will be your room my lord.” Mori’s wandering mind was interrupted when Jack spoke again.

Isabell patted his shoulder and said, “I’m just next door. If you need something, don’t hesitate to call me.”

Mori smiled and nodded at her.

After Mori’s made unpacked his things, he went into a quick shower before falling asleep.

“What are you?” he whispered at the virile man with his eyes straightly looking at his.

As the moon shines on his back, the wolves around him howling loudly.

“Don’t leave me! Don’t go away! Levi!” Mori yelled so loud that it scraps his throat but the man whom he called Levi turned his back on him.

‘This isn’t real.’ He said to himself, knowing what’s happening around him is not real and is just a dream.

“Come with me.” Said by the other man who doesn’t looked like the one he called Levi.

Howls echoed.

Barks resonated.

Growls reverberated.

Sharp teeth were bared, before a huge wolf angrily lunged at him.

Mori is writhing on his sleep as dreamed. Until the moment when the wolf lunged, a loud thunder wakes him up.

Love is just Illusion by Swapie Achilles

CHAPTER IV

The lightning produces light that brought a wolf-like silhouette from the shadows of leave less tree on the glass door of his balcony. The sight brought him extreme terror which resulted him to scream.

“Mori! Mori!” Isabell called his name repeatedly before hastily opening the door. “What happened?!”

Isabell asked the man, but his petite crying form can’t do anything but to sob. When he saw Isabell, he quickly threw his comforter and run towards her.

But the linen got a grip on his ankle making him stumble on the carpeted ground of his bedroom. But he forced himself to crawl towards Isabell.

The lady saw his eagerness to go to her, so she runs towards him and hug him tight. His little body is shaking and his sweat is cold.

He heaves for air as hugged her tight. Tears falls freely from his eyes due to extreme terror.

She inhaled and gently said to him as she kissed his head, “Mori, I’m here. Don’t be scared.”

But Mori can’t speak and is still shaking so she decided to do what she’s always doing when Carmel is in panic attack. She gently rubs his hair and sang the same lullaby their grandma always sings to them.

“Dear sweetheart, no need to cry. Because I’m here and I’ll hold you tight.” She sang the first sentence and she can feel Mori’s trembling form is easing.

“So, sleep and let go of all your worries. Don’t be scared, because I’m here and I’ll protect you.” She looked at the man in her arms. Breathing heavily.

“I’ll keep you safe and I’ll promise to love you every second of my life, so don’t be afraid to reach your hands in the light.” She sang this part and Mori stops shaking.

“Don’t be afraid to take your future and make it shine. And I’ll be here waiting for you.” As the lullaby ended, Mori peacefully fall asleep in her arms.

Isabell picked him up and carried him to his bed. She laid him down and cover him with comforters.

But before she walked away, she gives him a peck on his forehead. Looking at the sleeping figure of the man, the curtain of the bedroom door that leads to balcony is widely open.

She walked towards it to close the curtains, but what she saw leave her confused. Sets of huge paw footprints of an animal is in the balcony.

“What the hell is this?”