Oona sat on the cold ground staring at the tombstone, she had no idea where she was. Having walked for almost what seemed like an hour she sat on the ground helpless and scared.
She felt goosebumps all over her skin, being surrounded by so much tombstones. She turned around reading the name on tombstone she sat beside.
"Greisis Dugan" she whispered. "a valiant soldier"
Her hair spread round her body covering her back. She buried her face in between her legs, she didn't want to do this but what choice does she have? It was either do or die.
She stayed put for the longest time without moving an inch. All her life she had been subjected to murdering lives like it was her duty. Her thoughts were not needed and weren't put into consideration. After all, who would pay attention to a killer about sparing lives.
Oona could hear the screams and cries of the souls she took with her so called gift. Many whose bloods have cursed her under the sun and moon.
No matter how many times she tried to get used to the last shrieks of death, it ran down her spine like ice.
OONA'S POV
I had no idea how long I had been thrown into this graveyard, my eyes were heavy and my back ached. The cold breeze brushed through my exposed skin and bare arms. Although spring had already settled in. It still felt like the peak of the winter season in here.
I laid down gently on the grass, it seemed Sage was serious after all, but how was I going to speak to dead humans. I could only interact with unearthly spirits, like demons not humans.
I closed my eyes and tried to sleep, it wasn't comfortable but I had to get used to it. I already failed the test from the moment I was thrown in.
"Oona!!"
"Oona!!!" Who's calling me? "Open your eyes Oona!!"
My eyes snapped open when I heard his voice.
"Nohr" blood dripped from his face and fell on mine. He looked younger, no he didn't look younger, I've been here before. It's just a dream.
"You killed her" I turned to see my father gripping her. When was I finally going to lay rest to this dream. "You killed her you monster" I could see it once again. Death, her pitch black hair falling over her shoulders like waterfalls. Her night eyes that were as black as tar. Her pale skin just like that of a dead man. Black substance like tears rolling down her cheeks and her dead lips shivering. Her once white garment stained with the blood of the many lives she had taken.
"I'll kill you!!" I stared at my father, his eyes held the evidence of his immense hatred towards me. Nohr looked at me sadly, pity and self hate.
No matter how hard I tried to forgive myself I couldn't. I broke the household of Gareth and I had no way to redeem myself or atone for my sins.
"Oona, you left me" I turned to Nohr, blood still flowing down his face.
"Nohr?" I touched his face gently but that only made him wither. He turned to dust and a gush of wind blew him away.
"Alone again?" She asked. I could feel her back against mine. "They never last do they?" I could hear the pain in her voice. "What a life we are succumb to"
Tears blurred my vision "to think we were getting used to it" she continued "but then again we proved who we truly are once more"
"Nohr wasted his sacrifice" I choked. Married, it all seemed like a dream to me. "What was Sage thinking when he saw me?"
"Our lethal beauty, possibly he mistook our curse for a gift" Death replied.
"Tell me Oona" I curled up like a ball "why were we born?"
"So I could take lives and you could smile like we're doing fine in our guilt"
"I see" I closed my eyes. I have long accustomed myself to all my dreams to know who was sitting behind me. Since the very day I killed my Mother, he has tormented me on a daily basis. But for today, I'm not interested in his game of pain.
"ye Demon from the underworld, possessor of bodies, destroyer of souls, tyrant to destinies, begone from my sight and never be seen again"
Death's body curled and twisted till he took his real form. "You forget we're one, but oh well" his pale skin and dead blue eyes bore into mine. "I'd always come back" he's body began to burn like paper and turn into ash.
Oona opened her eyes gently, sunlight basked on her face. Sitting straight on the floor she dusted off the dirty stuck to her gown. She turned to the rising sun that was peeking through the fog in the graveyard. She looked round and sighed.
"I guess it's time to go home" she jolted when she heard Sage's voice behind her.
"What are you doing here?" She asked while calming her racing heart. " I thought you left"
"I never said I'd leave did I?" He shook his head and walked down a path.
"But I wasn't able to accomplish my task" Oona but her lower lip.
"It's a graveyard for legendary heros, most of the people buried here died long before my grandfather was born" Sage continued down the path.
Oona still hadn't moved her feet "does that mean I have proved my worth by attempting the task?" she asked.
"Oh no, you're still worthless" he replied calmly but his words echoed in the lonely graveyard. "Come on let's get home, I tired of the stench here" he stopped walking and turned to her.
Oona sighed and followed him.
Sage had a grim look on his face, he clearly saw the crack on the tombstones close to Oona. And worst of all the grasses she laid on were all dead. He was certain about her now. She is the one written in the note.
MANASSEH'S MANOR
Manasseh walked into his room, his room was decorated in a more manly way. The drapes were brown with golden threads woven at it's edge. His bed stood at an elevated platform at the end of the room. It had golden pillows and a black blanket.Below the elevated platform was a huge bear rug, which had its head facing the large fireplace at the other end of the room.
Pulling off his russet, he slumped on his bed and closed his eyes. Just then Callie stepped in, she had completely ignored Manasseh and just undressed behind the dresser. The room was silent and cold even with the warm cozy design of the room.
Manasseh opened his red blood thirsty eyes. He sat up and walked to the door.
"Running off to your concubine huh?" Callie scoffed as she stepped out of the dresser wearing a red nightgown with it's silk jacket.
"Are you jealous that I'm paying more attention to her than you?" He hummed coldly.
"Jealous?? Is that supposed to be a question" the calm and happy Callie was now replaced by an agitated and sad Callie. She glared at her husband with anger, sadness and a pinch of hate. "What does that woman have that I don't?" She yelled angrily.
"Alot" he replied. Manasseh backed the door and leaned on it. Arching one of his legs on it. "Tell me Callie what do you want and I'll give"
"Send her away, she's a nuisance to our marriage and you know it" she flung her hand at a direction in the room. "She's beyond diabolical yet" her hands turned into balled fist "yet you indulge her, you please her, you..." She bit her lower lip and walked to the bed.
Manasseh tilted his head as if his wife had just talked to him in a foreign language. He scoffed loudly with an irritated look on his face. Slamming the door harshly he walked away from the room.
Callie turned to the door which her husband just left. Tears rolled down her eyes, for the past six years of their marriage she had never felt so much pain. All this happened when her husband brought back that woman.
Larkin, origin unknown, past unknown, goal unknown. Larkin was a black devil and a vicious beast who didn't hide her horns. She performed rituals and some abominable acts right in the manor. The more Callie thought about it, the more she despised the woman with every ounce of her blood.
"I'll bring you to your feet, Larkin" Callie clenched the blanket tightly and glared at the huge window that was in front of her. "I swear by Yaweh, I will"
Manasseh strode through the empty hallway of his mansion. The full moon reflected it's light through the windows. His eyes were blank and uninterested, yet his jaw twitched angrily.
He had walked for a while before coming to a halt, he turned to the path he had just followed. "If you want to talk make it quick, I'm thirsty"
Erik stepped out of the shadow like a lantern in the night. His eyes were glowing brightly and his hair was flowing like eaves about his body. "If you came to say goodnight, then goodnight" Manasseh said and was about to walk away when Erik smiled.
"You look tensed" Erik hummed like a bird. "Has the effect of the grimore began it's course or is it something else"
"Firstly"
SLINK!!!
The manor shook lightly, Manasseh had a sword in his hand inches away from Erik's neck.
"Haven't I warned you to stop monitoring me" he glared at Erik intensely.
A slight line drew on Erik's neck and blood rolled down. "I'm sorry, that I can't do"
"Apart from the silent madman, Sage, you're another potential beast in the family"
"Hmmm..." Manasseh pulled his sword away and the sword died out like a lot candle. "You don't say"
Erik chuckled, his smile was the brightest yet his eyes were as dead as night. "What masterpiece is Sage conjuring up this time?" Manasseh asked.
"Don't know. No, even if I wanted to know I can't" Erik sighed, he adjusted his white garment and dusted it like there was dirt on it.
Manasseh scoffed and walked away from his brother. "Why do I even bother?" He hissed irritated " you're as blank as the things you read, get out of my house and get you stupid spies out of my manor" Erik stood there silent. He seemed to be contemplating something.
"Watch your back though" he finally said, he turned to leave " Sage might silence you one day, just like he did to my spies" he disappeared in an instant.
Manasseh's eyes were blood filled, if Erik hadn't left a second early he would have had his hair and part of his skin on the floor. Manasseh sighed and walked deeper into his manor. At the end of the hallway was a door.
Opening it he shut it and walked in. "So?"
He turned to Larkin who was holding a fresh flowery crown. Tears rolling down her peach eyes, she mumbled some things to herself and turned to Manasseh.
"Stay away from her" Larkin's voice anchored by several other voices yelled at him.