"Become my wife?", Aria pushes the hunk man away from her with full desperation. She cannot find any words to say about what the man has just said. "Who the hell are you?"
"Me?--Can't you tell where you are right now?"
The man sits on a chair surmounted by a canopy, and set on a dais-like golden walnut seat characterized by a raveled carving of a wolf stamping on its preys. The man lays his head on his wrist crossing his legs and looks at Aria in the eyes. "Now... Can you already tell who you are talking to?"
Aria bluntly lays an eye on the man shortly and instead, let her eyes explore the entirety of the room. She notices the structure of the room clearly as the once dark, now lit up place displays its form.
"You're kidding, right? I can't--" Aria feels devastated realizing the situation she got into. The room is classic and meticulous with the round red king bed placed on the center and the King's throne on the right side facing the balcony. There are shelves of books and a wardrobe with all the King's cape. One thing that has confirm the man's identity is the crown hanging on the left column of the bed.
"I know crossbreeds has no home they belong to. If you agree..."
"Crossbreeds are strong. You people fear me--"Aria made argue hoping to lift up one steel of her prison cell.
"Hmm-mm...Yes, yes, yes! But-" The man stands up and went to her again. He raised her chin using his index finger tip and whisper, "Can you defeat an outlaw King?"
He let go of her and walks to the balcony. "I know you can't still control your powers. I can help you with that. Crossbreeds are wild and uncontrollable. That's why they are to be killed in an instant thinking you are a curse that will bring destruction to the utopia."
"What are you trying to imply? I can still protect myself from you and everyone else!" Aria bravely walks through him and plans to jump from the balcony to the ground full of manticores and deadly beasts roaming around.
Suddenly, a howl of wolves in pack shakes the air and the beasts run off trying to hide from something. Aria back off with a frown forehead, "Wh-why are they r-running away?"
"Oh, that?" The man went back to the room and went to his wardrobe. The alexandrite stones covered the open balcony and slowly changes to emerald as the first ray of the sun casts upon it. Aria was stunned witnessing the beauty of the crystals changing its colors.
"The sun has come out and Neitheria will turn into pure abyss. Darkens can't stand light. They become more aggressive and wild."
"Wh-what do you mean?" Aria starts to feel the agitation again. The man picks up a red cloak from the wardrobe and cover himself with it.
"Neitheria is an outlaw land. The low level beasts hide their fangs and the strong ones -remains in the surface. But, all of them... they only follow one ruler. And that ruler only has one rule -run from the King or you'll be his prey..."
"A-are you t-telling me...that those w-who just run off are hiding from someone? And...That someone is the strongest, right?"
"Yeah, exactly!"
"Is th-that someone h-here?" Aria's voice starts to crack and tremble realizing the situation she is in to at the moment.
"Hm-mm...Yes and you are talking to that someone right now."
Aria quivers in horror that is eating her inside little by little. With her less experience in fights because she only knew how to escape, her mind couldn't think of any options to save herself now except one...
"A-are you-u...sure you're g-going to help me...(clears her throat) you're going to help me c-control my po-power?" Aria picks up all her courage to bring herself out of danger. The man smirks while fixing himself with the cloak...
"Should I take that question as a YES for my question...my Queen?", grinning, the man faces her straightly waiting for her response. Aria then nods and paints a forced smile on her pale face.
"Good! By the way, I am Conri the Vanargand, King of the netherworld."
"I'm A-aria..."
"Your name is beautiful!...come with me. I want to show you our realm." Conri grabs her hand and then transforms into a werewolf. He let her ride on his back and drove out of the room.
Conri is monstrously big and demonic. His wolf appearance is as white as the snow with his eyes bluer than the blue oceans. It is enchanting and Aria couldn't be more astonished by its scent escaping from his fur, sweet and interesting.
They arrived at the main hall and Conri transforms into human again. He holds her hand and enter the big door where what awaits them is the throne of the king. The servants greet them in awe upon seeing the beautiful maiden with their king.
"Welcome back, our liege!", The servants form a line with a path between align to the King's seat. Aria, worried enough, feels anxious of the situation. She tries to erase her mortal scent as much as possible and adopt Conri's smell.
"Behold your new Queen-" Conri sits to the throne bigger yet the same as what he had in his room as Aria stands beside him, trembling in her knees. The servants gossip with other that cover noises in the hall. Everone is shocked for it is the very first time that their king brought a lady not as a food or a prey but as a wife.
"...Aria the Shadow Brandish!", The people cover the hall with applaud. But everyone knew...'Run from the King, or you'll be his prey-' the maiden will suffer from a tragic fate of no escape.
Is there love mixed in his words when he said to marry her? This thought never came to the minds of the ignorant servants. And Aria seems to notice it that made her more anxious but a part of her believe his words. She believes that despite the rule Conri bestowed in his people, he doesn't have a wolf brain who will trick her to prey on her hopelessness.
"Deliver this message to every clan of the beasts. The wedding will occur on the festive night of the red moon, gather in the castle to join the big feast." The deadly beasts growls in joy; everyone is drooling with amusement and excitedly exist the hall.
Aria looks at them with despair, "Am I in great danger right now?" Aria throws a glare at the King beside him wanting to clarify her safety for the coming nights. The man only grins at her and sits kingly in his beloved throne...
That night, Aria's thoughts are clouded by uncertainties. Conri's words has been bothering her since the announcement of their wedding. She rolled over the round bed and look at the enchanting half-moon glowing in the balcony.Conri told her to stay in his lair so that she can be safe without him at nights. There is a legion of hell soldiers guarding her behind the twin dragons’ door and servants that will take care of her while the king and her soon to be husband is away for his duties as the ruler of the nether world.She can't stop thinking about the warning her about to be husband has said before he depart for an odyssey in the south borders. "My queen, my journey will take long. These soldiers and servants will be with you while I'm still away. Take your time and explore my realm but- don't you dare enter the west woods..." What is in that place that I am not allowed to enter; her thought listening to what he said. This has
The blast whirl of sand blows down the empty land of south Neitheria. The place is arid, dusty, and dry. The voice of the harsh winds echo through the unseen horizon beyond the starry night with only the smiling moon as its light. Behind these spectacular view, seven shadows of people in red cloaks are sighted standing in the middle of the borders… “What a sight! They really are going all out tonight, huh?” “Hey, are you hiding with your tail in front, Matt?” “NO! You should be—“ “Everyone…” “ARE YOU READY TO RUN WILD?” The six look at the person in their middle with adornment. It was Conri in his werewolf form, whitest and mischievous looking at the battalion of Lighten armies. “Now…”, he raises both of his hands heightening the excitement everyone is feeling. “Let’s run free!”--- Everyone scatters shouting from the ends of their breath. Each of Conri’s squad take on one army on their own and face them with bewilderment. On th
“Who would visit me, anyway?”, Aria asks the two servants curiously while walking back to the castle. The three are holding baskets of roses- blue, pink, white, purple, and red. Behind them are the hell soldiers that are ordered to give an eye to the soon to be queen of Neitheria.“It must be one of the Darken races who wants to give you their blessings!”, Annie told her confidently. Aria frown her forehead taking second thoughts on what Annie said. She is somewhat afraid of the possibility of the chasers who have been after her life since she escape the black hole, the place with no ends in her mind.“Probably... let’s just put it that way, I guess?” Aria makes herself believe the safest option. It can’t be possible that those chasers can track her this easily. She looks at the two young mortals beside her playing with each other.“I thought we can enter the West woods this time...” L
Aria has been longing for love and belongingness ever since she was a child. She wanders and wanders, hoping that someone will accept her despite her appearance and curse. When King Conri said that he wanted to marry her and become his wife, a part of heart flatters in the calmest way. It feels like an old thorn was pulled out of her numb emotions. For the first time, for sixteen years, Aria feels happy.Yet..."ARIA! What did you do?""C-conri...I-I..." Weaken by her fading energy source, Aria tries to stand up and speak to Conri who's carrying the two young mortals to his arms in distressed. It is evident in his eyes the disappointment and anger towards the maiden in front of him, struggling to make her stance. But what Conri saw already tells everything. His heart and mind already close its doors to listen to her talks.Conri walks back to the castle quilted. Nevertheless, he still took a glimpse of Aria in his peripheral view. She's crying rivers, mum
"Aw! What was that?" Conri murmurs in pain. He stands up from lying head's down on the floor and sees Aria's wide open mouth staring at him in a blow. Then a moment of silence has envelope the room. Conri is the first to let go of his eyes and walks towards his closet. They seems to have develop some distance after what happened in the West woods.On the other hand, dismay is visible in Aria's eyes and is totally bothered by Conri's cold treatment just a second ago. She gets out of bed, confused, wanting to ask about waking up in Conri's bed rather than the icing grasses of the forest, as well as asks for forgiveness about what she had done.She comes near to Conri's wardrobe looking away at the undressed hunky man inside. "C-" She was cut off..."Get dressed. We have an important visitor today!" Conri walks out of the wardrobe without giving an eye to the silent Aria beside the door. He walks straight to the twin doors with no words and not anything. Nonetheles
It is time for Aria to ready herself for the upcoming wedding.It's been weeks after the incident in the west woods and Conri is still on the dark cold mode. Lucia and Annie are no longer serving her but she is trying to get in touch with them. She always asks the other servants where the two young maidens are transferred yet no one would even answer her.Today is her fitting day. The fairies of the eastern borders have come to the castle to take her measurements. The fairy of Rose is the one making her veil. The fairy of Marygold will be for her upper garments and the fairy dust for the lower garments. The dwarves are also there. Their work is to make the perfect shoes for the new queen of Neitheria."It seems to be so busy today, right Rosie?""I can't wait to see her wear the dress made by our race.""21...30...16...24-""Bring it here! Yeah! That! That one!"The whole castle is in absolute mess. A lot of darkens has al
In the small space of an arid cave-like structure in the basement of the king’s castle, the young maidens are seen covered in bandages. The air is filled with herbs and fresh fragrance of the flower garden. As the blow of the wind enters the window, the other one lying in bed starts to get consciousness and slowly opens her eyes. “Oh, you’re awake. Here, drink your medicine An.” Lucia who has bandage in her arms helps the poor Annie that is covered with bruises and bandage to get up from her bed. She guides her until she manages to finish drinking her herbs. “The wind is so fresh. I hope the queen is good right now.” Annie sadly exclaims as she put the glass to her side table. “I heard the preparations for the wedding is starting. Let’s do our best to get better so that we can see her in her charming wedding dress.” Lucia chuckles and help Annie get back to bed. The two are in the castles heal room to receive treatment. They are severely wounded after
Lucia shouted at the top of her lungs. She can't believe that she lost her own little sister in her presence. The cold night has swallowed her voice and only her sobs are left to hear. She can only sulks herself to the freezing ground, just one step on the exit of the woods."Why? Why? Whyyyy?" She yells and yells, asking the world the reason. She knows the culprit and she knows she can't do anything to them because they're more powerful than anyone else."What happened?""Lord Fab-bien?""Lucia, what are you doing here? Where's Annie? I heard a voice from the castle's gate." Fabien helps Lucia stand on her feet carefully. He notices the uneasiness of the young maiden and the odd feeling he has been sensing since he arrived at the area. "Tell me, is there something wrong going on?""L-lord Fabien...help me!" Lucia's voice cracks into tears. She feels like her world has suddenly falls apart after witnessing that tragedy. Her knees are shaking to the