Dawn was just to break as Scarle wrapped her hands in soft cloth, her body was trembling from exhaustion. The brothers had pushed her harder than in the last few days, a tough training schedule that left her muscles sore but her spirit surprisingly was strong.
Kier entered the training room first. "How's your form coming along?" he asked, motioning to the staff that she'd been practicing with. Scarle grinned, taking her position and raising the staff with confidence. She ran through the steps he had taught her, each movement growing more and more controlled. As she moved, she caught the sight of Maddon standing by the doorway.
"She's getting the hang of it," Maddon said, an approving gesture in his eyes. "Maybe she'll be ready for a real weapon soon."
Kier's gaze softened. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves," he murmured, but there was pride in his eyes. "For now, the staff will do. It's important you learn its control before anything else."
Daman entered the room last. "Focus on your footing," he said, his tone was firm. "You'll need balance above all else." She nodded, adjusting her position under his watchful eye. The brothers might have had different styles and approaches, but they shared a singular purpose, to prepare her.
After hours of training, she got exhausted, her body protesting as each move became more difficult. She finally lowered her staff, gasping hard as she glanced at the brothers.
"Is… is this enough for today?" she asked, trying to catch her breath.
Kier chuckles softly. "For now. You've done well, Scarle." Maddon handed her a water bottle, his fingers brushing against hers. "Rest up," he said, his voice was low. "We'll need you at your best tomorrow."
As she drank, she noticed Daman watching her, a rare weight was in his gaze. "You're stronger than I expected,". "Most would've given up by now."
Scarle felt a blush in her cheeks, surprised by his words. "Thank you… I think." Their eyes met, before Daman looked away, his expression hardening. "Don't get comfortable, Scarle. This is only the beginning."
Next day, the house was in a stillness that felt more peaceful. She stretched her body which was sore from yesterday's training, a reminder of how relentless Kier, Maddon, and Daman had been in preparing her. Yet, it was more than the physical ache keeping her awake now. Since last night, her dreams had been filled with strange and fractured memories, visions that felt too real, as if they weren't hers at all.
Descending the staircase, she found Maddon. He was the one who challenged her the most, his words are laced with sweet arrogance that left her feeling both unsettled and… drawn to him. Something in his eyes told her that he saw through the walls she'd been putting up.
"Up early?" he asked, his voice carrying a lazy amusement. "Couldn't get enough of us yesterday?" She rolled her eyes on ground, masking the flutter on his face. "Actually, I couldn't sleep," she replied. "I kept having… strange dreams."
Maddon tilt his head. "Dreams or memories?" The question made her pause. "I… I don't know. They felt so real." He took a step closer, the teasing glow in his eyes replaced by something darker. "Dreams have a funny way of showing you things you're not ready to face in daylight." He leaned in as he whispers. "Things you won't admit you want."
Her heart raced as he studied her, his gaze sweeping over her as if he could read her thoughts. Before she could respond, kier enters. "Are you bothering her again, Maddon?"
Maddon shrugged, straightening up, never leaving her gaze on her. "Just making sure she's… fine," he said with a smirk. Scarle forced herself to look away, the tension between them was almost suffocating. Kier cleared his throat, "You mentioned your dreams," he said. "They're bound to happen. A light chill goes through her. "So… the dreams are part of me?"
Kier nodded, crossing his arms. "Sometimes, they show you things that happened in the past or things that will happen in future. I had them too, years ago when I was younger." His gaze grew distant, as if he got lost in a memory he wished he could forget. "They can't be ignored. They're warnings, in a way."
Scarle swallowed. If that was true, what were her dreams trying to tell her?
Later that day, she was in the training room with Daman, who silently guided her through hand-to-hand combat moves. His usual appearance had softened in recent days, as if he was beginning to let his guard down around her. "Focus on your center of gravity," he instructed her, adjusting her body with his firm hands. His closeness, the touch of his hands, boils something within her, something she wasn't ready to name.
As they complete the training they sat but the moment was broken as Daman's hands lingered on her shoulders, his thumb tracing a gentle line along her collarbone. "We will do everything we can to keep you safe." Before she could respond, he leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead, a gesture so tender that it took her heart away. He pulls back, his eyes tense as they held hers. She felt a warmth in her chest, a growing connection that does not want logic or reason.
That night, as Scarle was in her bed, her heart filled with confusion and questions. Her feelings for her brothers were shifting. They were possessive, yet protective and she was beginning to see the cracks in the walls each of them had built around themselves. But as she sleep, her mind returned to the dream she couldn't shake.
In it, she was in the library, shadows seeing across the walls. A voice, one she didn't recognize, whispers her name. The book fell open to a page filled with symbols she couldn't read, but somehow, she knew they held a terrible truth.
Suddenly, a hand gripped her shoulder, pulling her back to reality. She turned around, Daman eyes were staring, his expression was filled with horrible fear, and… something else. His fingers dug into her skin. His voice was a whisper.
"Run, Scarle. Don't let them find you. Don't let them…"
But before he could finish, the dream dissolved, fading into darkness.
Scarle jolted awake, her heart was pounding hardly, sweat on her skin. The dream had felt so real, Daman's fear was almost tangible. She could still feel the pressure of his hand on her shoulder and his voice.
Her door creaked open, and kier comes inside, his eyebrow furrowing as he look at her state. "Are you all right?" he asked, feeling concern.
She nodded, though she wasn't sure she believed it herself. "Just… another dream."
Kier approached, sitting on the edge of her bed, his hand reaching out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. The warmth of his touch sent a calming wave through her, easing her racing heart.
"Whatever it was," he murmured, "we're here. You're safe with us." But as she looked into his eyes, she couldn't shake the feeling that something dark was starting to close on them all, a force that neither was the curse nor the brothers could protect her from.
To be continued...