Taria's father wouldn't let her out of his sight after that, not even after they had gotten to the guest chambers in the Village Head's house. He showered her with so much care and attention that no one would be able to see through his actions and sense the evil motive that laid at the center of it. Her reception of her father's care was cold, and some of the physicians that had come to take care of her, silently judged her for being spoilt, ungrateful, and rude. Zeppus apologized profusely for the incident but she needed no apology from him, but from that nosy warrior that had saved her. Everyone left but her father. Why wasn't he going to his room yet?It was getting harder and harder to breathe. Her heart was racing and fear claimed her chest as its abode. He paced back and forth and she watched, her body tensed, praying with all her heart that he wouldn't turn to her with his usual demand, while at another corner of her heart, she pitied her mother for ending up with a snake

((Trigger warning - violence, physical and sexual abuse))It had been two days since they arrived at Tikivah, and one night since Taria's suicide attempt.Last night, her father had been busy discussing a proposal with Head Zeppus, that he hadn't come to check on her. She hoped that tonight would be the same. She had spent the whole day alone in this guest room that had been allocated to her, and she wished to spend her night the same way. Except that she had never really been alone, not after that night with the nosy warrior. She had even forgotten what his name was, but she remembered his words clearly.In fact, they had been haunting her ever since she had heard them, and the more she thought about it, the more her mind entertained the possibility of her killing her father.Maybe it was because of how he had looked at her when he had said it, like he considered her capable of erasing her troubles if she wanted to. Like all she had to do was snap and it would all be gone. He loo

Belladonna pulled away from him to look up at his face, her gaze fixing upon his mask instead, the image of the expectant look that would be in his eyes, taking form in her head."That you will not take any more brides after me."He stared back at her, studying those eyes that held a sought of fire in them when she had said out her demand firmly.Was it selfish that she wanted to be his last bride so much, that she wanted him to give her his word on it? Maybe. But she certainly didn't want any other woman to have to suffer an unsure fate, also she had every intention to end this curse, as soon as possible, with whatever it was that it would cost her.Promising to do as she had requested right now, would mean that he had as much trust in her as she had in him. With no response still given, she shifted uncomfortably in her seat under his smoldering gaze.Her gaze was fixed on the floor of the carriage, the sound of the carriage's wheels on the rocky road filling her ears, while she w

Although, the point of control had already been decided, Belladonna couldn't help but suspect something else. It was the round blue gem, the one she had seen in the Forbidden Room, the one that was always changing colors and emitting smoke like it was burning anytime it came in contact with her hands, the very one she had seen in her dreams some time ago. Despite the electric feeling the ring gave her, she felt the need to confirm things.Although, the gem seemed to be more linked to Lex than to Kestra, even though Belladonna believed Kestra's link to the ring was indirect. It had been the one in the family painting Eli had shown her. In that painting, 2 years old Lex had been playing with the gem in that picture, at least, the gem had looked similar to it. Eli also said something about Kestra taking over the gems that were in one of the forbidden rooms.To put all doubt at rest, Belladonna went to the forbidden room and grabbed the gem. On her way here, the hallway was empty, lit b

Belladonna folded her arms across her chest, wanting to get out of here as soon as possible. She kept her eyes trained away from the paintings pasted on the walls. They were her's and Eli's.Very intimate paintings. It gave her mixed feelings to be back in here after everything that had happened. Lunch was in a couple of hours, she intended to miss it. She didn't feel hungry, all she could feel was impatience.She couldn't wait for the Blood Moon to finally be here, she couldn't wait for everything to be over, also she couldn't wait for Eli to finally tell her what he had called her here for. Her eyes followed him as he moved around under the candlelight that brightened up the room with its golden glow, busy with something she couldn't see from here, because his frame was blocking her view. Despite it being in the afternoon, the windows were down and the room was a little dark, so candlelight was needed."Get comfortable." He turned to her, his brown eyes glimmering with excitemen