Chapter 2:Escaping Fate
1279 Words
I wasn't going to let them sell me off like I was some piece of furniture. Although frantic with worry and my mind filled with fear, I darted to the ceremonial hall in tears. I was ready to face the consequences of revealing the truth to everyone; I was not going to be sold to a monstrous-looking beast. I had seen the devil's pictures - he had huge horns, chiseled teeth, and a hideous face with long claws. He was nothing like a human. The thought of standing before such a beast sent a shiver down my spine, and my skin crawled.
As I ran towards the door, I bumped into a man. I couldn't remember if he was walking on his own or if he had appeared out of nowhere.
"Careful," I heard him say. His rich, guttural voice sent a chill down my spine, and I turned. My gaze fell upon a towering, massive figure with a ruggedly handsome face. His hair was long, shiny, and black. For a moment, the air felt thick, and I couldn't figure out why. His deep ashy-purple eyes gazed deeply into mine, and I could've sworn I felt a great power surge through me. Was he a real human or an angel? If an angel, I pray he saves me, but there was something ominous about his aura - he couldn't be an angel. His majestic outfit made it even clearer he couldn't be an angel; he was clad head-to-toe in black.
And before I could say a word, he disappeared. Then it occurred to me: this man wasn't real. I shrugged off any thoughts about the mysterious man and ran into the ceremonial hall, but it was empty, for reasons I couldn't understand. So I ran upstairs.
"Oh, Alpha Lucifen, we are truly glad she has everything you want. We were afraid we'd disappoint," I heard my father say, and I stopped in my tracks.
"She can never belong to anyone." I gasped in disbelief; that was the voice of the mysterious man I had bumped into. I impulsively swung the door open, and our gazes met. He never smiled or blinked; his face was blank, which sent a ripple of discomfort down my spine. Who was this man?
My mother cast me a warning glance, and my father raised his brows. I understood what they were trying to tell me, and I stood poised, despite myself.
"This is your future," my mother announced, smiling. It can't be! I thought, widening my eyes in disbelief. Alpha Lucifen looks nothing like a human, so who…
"My people are here," he said in a low growl, cutting off my thoughts.
"Oh, yes!" My father exclaimed. "All is in readiness, Alpha Lucifen."
He extended his arm for me, and I drew back in shock. His arms were huge, with bulging green veins, and his left little fingernail was two inches long and deep white in color, glowing. My mother glanced at me to take his arm, and I quickly did.
"Well," my father said. "It is time." And we walked down to the ceremonial hall. My heart raced with each passing thought, and the devil remained silent, his face blank. I was afraid to think of running away. What if he could read my thoughts? The guests smiled at us, some cheered, and others complimented and threw congratulatory gestures at us as we walked past them.
A group of elders, clad in rich black clothes with mysterious faces and black eyes, smiled as they approached us. The way they all stared at me in unison unsettled me, and they appeared to be his companions.
"Lord Lucifen," the oldest of them called, and they all bowed to us. "You have made the right choice; she is perfect." One of the women said and caressed my face. I tried to flinch, but I felt my body go limp. "She is our type," she added and stepped back.
"We wouldn't like the auspicious time to pass; you must dismiss yourselves to do the needful. The earlier, the better," the older alpha said.
"I know," Lucifen responded.
"You shall be escorted by four of the elders and your..."
"That will not be needed," Lucifen said, cutting the elder.
"Lord Lucifen, it is very important, as per tradition, that the elders watch you mate..." My heart skipped a beat.
"I know," he replied. "I have a right to privacy, and that is what I want."
"Yes, yes, you do," the old man said, "but this is a very important ritual, and…”
"I can take care of things," Lucifen said, cutting him off again.
"Well," the old man chuckled, "as his Lordship pleases. But this must be done as soon as possible.”
Lucifen nodded, and they bowed to us. He grabbed me by the waist, pulling me upstairs to the room, and the guests cheered in unison.
"I hope your parents have explained the importance of this moment to you, and you will not make it difficult?" he asked, tightening his grip. I shook my head in agreement, wincing in discomfort as his hold dug into my waist. His grip was strong, and it felt like it was constricting my stomach. "Very well, then," he said, and released me.
"Could you excuse me for a few minutes?" I managed to ask. I could've sworn I felt like he could hear the pounding sound of my heart.
"I have no time," he said.
"I... I need to prepare myself," I stuttered. "It won't take long.”
"I was told all was in readiness," he said, glaring at me, and I tried to avoid his eyes.
"Yes, but..."
"Hmm! Make it quick," he ordered, and I darted to my room. Something inside me told me he knew exactly what I was trying to do, but I didn't listen to that voice. I was determined to escape.
I shut the door to my room and quickly tied my long dresses together, fashioning a makeshift rope. I secured one end to the window frame and threw the other end out the window. With a deep breath, I grasped the improvised rope and began to climb down. My heart racing, I scanned the area below, and I was relieved to see no one in sight. I planned to jump the fence and run as far as I could. But just as I was about to take my first step, a strong arm grabbed my waist, pulling me tightly against him.
"If you have any idea how much I paid to have you, and how important it is to mate with you, you would never attempt to run away," Lucifen whispered, and I felt my heart sink. My body became limp, and the will to escape this fate left me. "The next time you try this," he said, running his fingers through my hair and along my neck, "I will burn your kingdom and trap the souls of all the people in it." His tone was soft, but threatening. "Whatever I plan to do to your people after you become mine will be easy for you to bear, so you'd better act like who you truly are... a weak wolf." He said, and took me in his arms, walking right back to the exact place I had left him; through the wall.
What was he going to do to my people? What was his sinister agenda? He called me weak, but what would a powerful alpha devil like him do with a weak wolf like me? My mind raced with questions, and I was trapped in my own thoughts. Suddenly, my family appeared.
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