Nora opened her eyes and found herself in a strange bed in a strange room. She had no idea how she got here. She remembered entering the carriage and that was it. Had she dozed off?? But she didn't drink any wine at her wedding feast. Was she too tired?? Maybe. But where is she now??
"You're awake..." A deep but calm voice without a bit of emotion came from the entrance.
Nora raised her head and met with the man she had just married.
He was still dressed like the wedding and with the mask still covering his face.
"Did I pass out??" Nora asked looking around and at a loss.
"Yes...So why did you want to marry me? Because you wanted what your sister had right?..." Nathan asked calmly
Hearing this, Nora was dumbfounded. He had seen through her so easily?? Guess she had to come clean. This man was not to be trifled with.
"I... I ... I did at first, but now I like you, and I... I want to be with you..." Nora said looking guilty for being seen through. But she honestly felt she liked him now.
Nathan smirked, who wouldn't like a body like this? It was his net for catching his fish...
"But am still not convinced, I feel like I've been used... I'd rather keep waiting for Anna than feel this way... Who knows, if you find out Anna has something better, you might leave to obtain that too... It doesn't make me trust your loyalty " Nathan said feigning sadness.
"No...no I admit I did wrong. But after seeing you, I realize I liked you... I'd do anything to prove my loyalty... Anything" Nora said looking frantic.
"You will??" Nathan asked, his lips curving up into a devious smile. That was so easy...
"Yes..." Nora responded, vigorously nodding her head.
"Here, drink this. Since you are willing to be loyal to me, I'll make you powerful. Even more powerful than your father..." he said emotionlessly handing Nora a flask.
At the mention of powerful, Nora's eyes glittered. She had always wanted to be powerful enough to control everyone and she was willing to do anything to become that. She didn't doubt the man before her could do what he had said. After all, she noticed how her father treated him at the wedding. There was a hint of fear in his eyes. Her Father never showed fear towards anyone, but he did before this man who was now her husband. That meant he was more powerful than the king.
She collected the flask and opened it. A foul smell shot through her nostrils that almost made her puke. For a moment she didn't want to drink it, but at the thought of losing his trust and being powerful, she mastered her courage and gulped down whatever was in the flask. It tasted sour and the smell still lingered in her mouth making her want to puke the more, but she held it in.
Realizing she was done drinking it. He got a seat and sat crossed-legged. The worst was about to happen...
Nora was about to say she was done drinking when she suddenly felt pain in her stomach. She didn't have time to think of why because it become excruciating, crawling to her heart. The pain crawled to every part of her body and she began to scream clutching the bed. Her whole life, apart from menstrual cramps she didn't think there could be something so painful that she wanted to wish for death. It felt as if every vein in her body was being forcefully expanded. She held her body and screamed with her nails digging into her skin.
On the other hand, Nathan sat there unconcerned. It was as if there wasn't a living being in the room. As if he couldn't hear the screams at all.
Nora screamed for a few hours until the pain subsided and she fainted drenched in sweat.
A woman with a black veil covering her entire face entered the room afterward.
"Wipe her clean, she would be under your training from henceforth. Any mistake and you lose your life..." Nathan ordered, leaving the room.
"Yes, my lord " She responded with a bow and headed towards the fainted Nora on the bed.
In the woods, two boys were drenched in sweat after running around for so long. Arthur had made them do some weightlifting despite the weight they carried around their waist. He had also begun to give them some martial art training and it exhausted the boys to the core. The good thing was that they were getting so used to it. And the whole thing instead, began to excite them. The most astonishing thing was the improvement of their senses. It felt as if they had finally blended with nature. Every twig sound on the ground somehow gave them a meaning
Arthur stood watching. It has only been a few days since he started training the boys, but he couldn't help feeling proud. The lads were good and in every single thing they tried, they improved on it at a faster rate. Smiling he approached the tired boys.
"We'll end here since I'll follow you two back to Lucian's house. Nate, I'll go with you tomorrow too. Is that okay..." Arthur asked looking at Nate.
"It's fine. My dad is not around but my mum is. She's better than my dad..." Nate said groggily.
"Nate your dad isn't back yet?" Lucian asked
"He isn't, and I can't be any happier..." Nate answered earnestly.
"Do you hate your dad that much?..." Arthur asked with a chuckle.
"You have no idea..." Nate answered causing Arthur and Lucian to laugh.