Chapter 4 Tale of The Wolf’s Land

"You're summoned"

The light was dimmed, yet I could still see her features. She was tall and slender and beautiful even though her face was covered by the mask. The black exquisite masquerade mask decorated with blue crystals at one side around the eyes. Her unusual green eyes seemed to glow under the black mask along with her long red hair that was tied delicately. I didnt know it was their tradition for servant to wear mask, in fact, I wasn't sure if she was a servant. Her long black silky gown wrapped smoothly around her body. It was simple, yet it appeared to be elegant on her. The light of the lantern  on her hand revealed her cold emotionless face just as everyone live in this place I had seen. 

I was surprised to have someone in the confined space with me and I blanked out for a minute before I realised she was waiting impatiently. I reluctantly approached the prison door as she moved out of the way.

I was walking, towards the light, towards my death. I knew they didn't just send someone to escort me. They have decided to execute me for sure. The wet cobble stone cladded on my steps, amplified the sound with each move I made as they synced along with my heart beat. I had to keep my calm. I can't show them my weakness. I'm still a goddess. No matter how low the werewolves think we were, I couldn't let them get their arrogance and that obnoxious smuggling face. I had my pride and no one could assault it.

The fire danced with my shadow as we made our way up and up the cold stairs. It was already night at the time, and the surroundings were too quite for my liking. I thought a place like prison would've troops storming around to watch for any attempt of escaping. Oh well, what am I think? They would hunt me down the moment I step out of the dungeon anyway. Maybe the set up was just a bait.

The sky was clear and the stars flourished with their beauty, trying to perform their dance of lights as they sparkle like diamonds on a blanket of black. The moon was gone now, hidden by the clouds or the unknown powers in this place. I felt lonely and vulnerable without it. Perhaps it was part of me, my companion and protector. The thought of protection clenched my heart again. I thought of him. Of how he promised to accompany me, to protect me and never leave me. Yet that promise was broken just after a month. After a month the promise was made, and it was broken by our separation.

The touch of grass and soft ground reassured I was still alive and encouraged me to step forward in this dreadful place. I love the nature, the trees and animals. Their presence enlighten and exhilarate me and I tried, at that moment, to devour down their scents, exhaling in and filled my lungs full with the cold air I love. Because I knew I wouldn't have a chance to enjoy it much longer.

I was surprised their headquarters weren't built to be connected. We walked for a pretty long time, covering the edge of the forest until finally I saw lights afar. I thought the prisons and barracks (if they preferred) would be close together. But they were all located separately and far apart, isolated by trees. Their infrastructure was magnificent that I have to admit Olympus would not be able to compete. They build houses on trees. I knew those trees were not grown there, they were plugged from the ground and was transported across the Alaskan land here. Their heights I could not guess, for they were tall and ancient, but they stood up in the twilights like living towers. Their roots were supported by the silvery and purplish light of magic, twirling and twisting around the base. The bark was smooth and pale like the colour of my skin. Their old branches twisted like arms, supporting the halls of green leaves above. The werewolves lived in flets, kind of elegant and massive tree house around the main trunk and the joints of branches. The fine craved and designed white wooden stair coiled around the trunk to the platforms above. Bridges dangling on the air, connecting one tree to another amazed me. The place was lit with thousands of lamps, of silver and gold as their magical flames danced before my eyes. I looked in astonishment, at the fair city that was built entirely on trees. (Lol I'm trying to create Caras Gallahon or Lothlorien in the Lord of the Rings???✌️) If only they were not my enemy, I would've chosen this place to live.

People wore tunics, smooth of silk and and walked as a cat upon the soft ground. I could hear their whispers, murmuring from above as they looked down at me and now I started to feel uncomfortable. The girl had been walking behind me nudged my elbow, telling me to continue on my way. We walked for another ten minutes, on the road paved with white stones surrounded the city. Its slope inclined and we kept heading West.

Slowly but surely, the magic flames came to my vision from afar as the gates slowly showed itself. The mightiest guard towers looming dark before me, it casted a shadow of intimidation upon my presence. The entrance was an archway of stones, hew in the shape of a bent tree. The gate was made of silver, high and decorated with diamonds, emeralds, rubies and other gems. It closed at the centre, created a head of a wolf. It shone before me their power, its intimidation as if pass here and your world will change. The guards wore silver mails and white-crested helms, their armours looked elegant as their people with design of the seven pointed stars I had seen as their symbol and a wolf head, swallowing a moon. The girl stepped forward and the guards lowered their spears to stop us from advancing. She immediately drew out from her long sleeve a black card and the guards widened their eyes. They stepped aside and immediately had the gate to their great city open.

I was gestured to follow. As I tagged along the wooden flag path, swirling around the roots of the trees. I noticed there weren't many people staying on the ground. It appeared strange to me when werewolves prefer to live on tree instead of caves. We kept going, follow the wide long path deeper and deeper into the city.

Suddenly, the servant stopped made me nearly knocked her to the ground when I was paying my attention to the buildings above. She stiffened, yet her face remain calmed and it appeared not to be good for me. From afar, I noticed someone was walking towards us.

He was tall, muscular as the red tunic wrapped tightly around him. The red hair he possessed look like streams of fire running down from his head. His red eyes like the globes of flames, shining and darting for careful inspection. His eyebrows knitted, a face of impatient and easy to get angry type of person eyebrows. Looking at him reminded me so much of Ares, the jerk he was. The person came to us, his eyes widened in surprise.

"What do we have here?" A conceit voice that irritated my ears.

"Prince Tharnor" the girl took a step back and bowed. She appeared not to be comfortable with this person presence. Yet she remained her calm

Tharnor waved his hand casually. A smirk came from his face. "No need to be formal. We are that close already, your Lord wouldn't mind if you have more affection towards me"

"Please don't say it Lord...I'm belonged to the Shadow Wax. Milord wouldn't be pleased to here this."

Despite the direct and obvious rejection, he still winked at her. I wanted to roll my eyes and mutter 'boy', but considering the situation and where I was in. I kept my mouth sealed. I couldn't believe he was on of the princes. I heard they were mighty, wise and fair. But this prince appeared to me more like a jerk. Guess rumours aren't always true.

He traced towards me, his smuggling face really irritated me yet I folded my fists and kept them close to my sides to prevent punching him.

"Who's this beautiful lady?" his finger lifted my chin to face him, his smile made me to shake my head in disgust. His touch was poison, like acid that corroded my skin. Those hands of such a male are never allowed to touch me.

"Ah a goddess" his face lit with amusement yet a little disdain. "I thought they were all ugly. Guess there's an exception."

He attempted to get a hold of a strand of my hair, yet I stepped back and his eyes were twisted with disappointment. But I knew the disgusting look, that lustful look he had and it stink.

"Lord Tharnor" the servant suddenly stood in front of me and faced the pig. "She's the subject to entertain Milord tonight. I'm sure she's his possession and without Milord permission, I can't let anyone spoil it first. I know you wouldn't like this gets to the ear of the High Prince about your quarrel with Milord. Please consider your action."

The moment the High Prince was mentioned, Tharnor eyes turned nervous as he retrieved his hand from touching me. My shoulders suddenly and unknowingly dropped. He still had that smirk at the end.

"Well I hope he enjoy his spoil of war then." He gave us one last wink that I nearly gag and walked on the opposite direction, to where the gate was.

I looked back at the servant, and again I was faced with a cold wall. She didn't say, nor smile or blink. Instead she just gestured her head for me to continue on the path and I obeyed unhesitatingly. I didn't have a chance to say my thanks.

The city was massive, yet it finally came to an end. We approached slowly towards a mountain side, North of the city. There was fewer werewolves to be seen here. In fact, there was none except the servant and me walking on the wooden flagged path. The sky was clearer now, since the canopy was lessened as the stars kissed upon my mantle and cheeks their lights, glittering upon it.

We stopped in front of another entrance, to a cave. A large arch that was polished and craved in runes I could not read, and images I could not comprehend. Two large pillars of stone that were hewn from living stone, resembling the Beech trees at either sides of the arch. A gate of stones that was already opened, awaiting me. On the other side was an endless darkness, of losses and despair.

I was wrong about it. A great hall was was craved deep inside the mountain. A long platform that was once asymmetrical and rough stone now flat and polished, coiling around the bases of  huge pillars. The pillars were hewn from living stones, imitated beeches, with branches and leaves. Heads of wolves were craved onto the cold stones with jewellery eyes and teeth of bones. The ceiling was a vast of multi-galaxies, glittering with gems as stars upon the sky. There was also tapestries that were hung their, depicting the deeds of the High Creator Chaos and the history of werewolves as well as the world since the beginning of time. The halls were lit by silver lanterns and there were silver fountains, and many figurines of animals. A few feet below the platform I could hear running of water as plants flourished here. There were Nightingales, Orchids, Moonlaces, Lilies, Night Gladiolus and many other flowers that only blossom at night as they coiled around the pillars like vines or covered the cracks on the walls of stone.

Many werewolves walked passed, and they paid little deed to my presence. They mostly looked similar, tall and slender and cold. Their long black hair and pale white skin as if they had never seen the sun. They wore mostly black, of tunics and robes and gowns and dresses. Some bore masks upon their faces, and some faces were completely covered by helms. They all had that elegance, calm and ethereal looks. No matter how I hated to admit it, they always appeared to be so superior.

The door creaked open and a warming of the room blasted at me. The servant entered first, walking slowly and carefully into the room without a sound. There was someone in there besides us. His back was faced to me, a tall and familiar figure. He had the Raven black hair that was unusually cut short unlike other werewolves. A black tunic he wore amplified his broad back, decorated with glittering of dark blue crystals at his wide shoulders. Black pants he had and long boots up to his knees. A dark and mysterious aura was dancing and wrapping around him and yet I found it compelling and fascinating. He appeared to be analysing something on the table, possibly a map until the servant came up and whispered to his ears.

His head popped up and went frozen for a little. He nodded at the servant and gesture her to leave. She walked passed me, a cold look still assembled upon her face as she quietly closed the door. Now I was more afraid than anything to be honest. I didn't know why I was. I had fought hundred of beasts and immortals and yet, in this room, before this very mysterious person I felt...vulnerable. Even though the servant was not the best type of person to hang out with, at least my company would be a female if it was her. In a room with a male and ALONE made me anxious. I remembered the servant mentioned to Tharnor that I was the subject to entertain her lord, which mean the person before me. What would he possibly do to me I could not imagine. If tonight something terribly happen, I'll finish myself for good. I'd rather die than to let my pride and purity be broken.

He suddenly started to move as I went rigid. His back slowly turned and my heart thundered against my chest. I hiccup with breath, clutching my fists close.

A gasp escaped my lips like a gust of wind in an enclosed room.

He was standing there, cold and handsome and all. That sea-green eyes still solid, icy and emotionless. That sealed lips still a horizon across his ethereal face, on that pale skin. He stared at me, a look of conceit and apathy.

"Percy...." It came just like that, uncontrollably.

I don't know why all the wall, the courage, the determination, the range, the icy and stone I'd built in my heart collapsed at that moment. I don't know why my heart broke again, bled again the moment I looked at his face...his eyes. I wanted to burst into tears. I wanted to run up and hug him, to cry on his chest, to ask him that all of the terrible things he had done until now was just an act to fool his kins. I wanted to hit him...to kiss him. My lips cracked and cold without his touch. I was a fish in a drying pond, a flower in a discarded land. My feels turned concrete, frozen like poles as if they were connected to the floor beneath me. I just looked at him like that, my eyes sparkled with tears as they threatened to fall.

"How do you know my name?" His eyebrows knitted in a way I remembered so clear. It was cute and unusual, for he never actually concentrated hard.

I didn't say. I was shocked. I was still paralysed by my own self, inner thoughts.

He walked closer, so close that I could feel his warmth, the warmth that wrapped me to sleep.

"How do you know my name goddess?" He asked again, this time was more serious and intimidated. I took a step back in surprise.

"W-what are you talking about?" I stuttered, my brain was a hay of coiling wires. "Don't you remember me Perce. It's me your Stubborn Girl. Don't you remember the day we first met, the cave you took me in, the pain we both shared, the promises and talks...the happiness."

"I don't know what you are talking about goddess." He leaned his face closer to her, his breath flared at me like a beast upon its prey. "But don't try to deceive me with your witchery talks."

He caught himself being to close and leaned back, making a distance between us. The air filled between our gap was so cold.

"You're now merely just a prisoner and object."

"What have they done to you Percy?" Tears now we're really setting the runs down my cheeks as I looked at him, a strange man and familiar perhaps. "You were not like this"

"Then who was I according to your words?" He raised his brows expectingly.

"You were...." I couldn't answer. A lump stuck at my throat, preventing my words from escape. You are my lover, my boyfriend, my brother, my protector. Those words I wanted to say yet I could not. Because those were selfish, were ignorant. He was something with me, to others he was nothing. How could I possibly say it to him, considering his state now. He would just look down on me even more.

"I was and am still Perseus Ithilethiel, the Seventh prince of the Seven Clans and Alpha of the Shadow Wax Clan." 

His words struck my ears like lightning, rang through my soul the discovery. He was one of them, the seven princes of the North. The ruthless and merciless beasts and commanders everyone had been so terrified of. My knees buckled as if it could break, I suddenly felt fragile and weak. I felt disoriented. I knew they had done something to him, something terrible that it wiped out his memory. I knew they had made him to devour in that hatred for gods and for me. I just didn't expect it to be this much. I tried to look into his eyes, hoping for any sparks of the old Percy that I loved to be in there. They remained cold. I wanted to laugh. Laugh at the Fates for making an excellent story, a plot that was set for me. They made me to choose, when he was powerless, was nothing to others and yet he had a warm hear. Now he had position, ranks, respect amongst his kins and fearsome to others. Yet his heart forever remain cold. Now he was safe, amongst his people. I don't have to endure pain, to worry about his safety, to take on the responsibility. But what he inflicted on me was greater than thousands of blades stabbing me. He yanked my heart out before him and watched them bleed. I didn't want this, I wanted him to be the old Percy, the kind and cheerful. I accepted the endure pains, to be worried, to carry on my shoulders the doubled responsibility. But reality was reality, he was changed forever.

I sat on the for for how long I did not know, blank out and lost in space of my thoughts. I was surprised he didn't react to me. I was desperate for his regards, for at least touch me gently like he was before, to speak smoothly with me.

"I heard your voice when the moon was high" a soft and familiar sound came to me, like a violin in the dark. The space I was lost broken in thousands of pieces and I was pulled back to reality. I looked at him confusingly.

"You have quite a lovely voice I can give it to you" he said casually and played with the hilt of his sword.

"Is that why you brought me here?" I replied coldly. "Or is there another purpose?"

At that point I did not care anymore. He could do anything to me and I'd just close my eyes and endure. I was dead inside and forever it will. My heart now was just a ground of Autumn, where leaves fall upon and rot. I've fenced myself, amputated parts of me and buried it in the confined spaces in me. Only consciousness was what still controlling me. If he indeed did something, then at least that was the debt I'd pay to him for saving my life. I was ready to sacrifice my body, my purity for him to repay the debt I was still holding on. Once that was over, we would be stranger and nothing could hold me back from leaving this miserable world.

"The song you sang was in our language" he lifted my chin to face him. "Tell me who taught you it"

"My mom" I jerked my face from him and spatted at the ground.

"Hmm interesting." His eyes were a mixture of amusement and fascination. "And who might she be?"

"Your mom!" I snapped at his face. He stared at me in shock, his eyes blinked several time as if I had just splattered a bucket of cold water to him. I now I've realised how stupid I must be and blushed. The sudden range have taken the wise part of me. He suddenly started laughing and that surprised me even more

"Oh goddess" he wiped his tears. "I didn't know you had just good sense of humour."

He crouched down and grabbed the sides of my cheeks with his fingers and forced me to face him.

"Do you know you are the first person that ever dared to call my name and spat at me like that?"

"I used to do it before you got compelled by them and lost your brain so why can't I now?" I replied with a cold look, matching the tones he initially gave me.

I didn't know why I was angry at him. He thought I was stupid and lowly. Even though I was determined not to care regardless his action. But that annoying smirk always threw me off the cliff and no matter how I tried to resist it, I'd end up spatting at his face. Even though my heart now was stone, the pride of it was still as high as Olympus. It irritated me when he used that voice, an arrogant jerk. I loved and hated him so much that I wanted to keep him in my pocket and rip him whenever I feel frustrated. I wanted to punch the face he was giving me now, but i didn't have to right angle to hit him. By punch would need up caught by his hand anyway.

"I want you to sing for me goddess" he demanded, an annoying smug.

"Yeah" I tried to give him a sarcastic smile. "In your dream"

He stared at me, silent and fell back in disappointment. Yet an amusement was still there in that eyes, as if he was deciding what to do with me. He suddenly lunged at me, hooking his arm around my waist and pressed his face to the point our nose touched. I went rigid like stone. Blood crippling up my cheeks, turning the pale colour to red. Our breaths crashing and fanning each other faces as I took in that sea scent coming out from him while experiencing a hyperventilation.  I felt hot, his touch felt like fire burning the mantle around me, guzzling my skin and bones and ingurgitated me whole.

Click

My eyes widened in shock as they stared at his smirking face. Something cold closed around me ankle, and enough to bruise the sole, because of the new weight. I was wearing a Celestial Bronze shackle, and trailing a chain. He snapped his finger and the other end of the chain stretched out as if a spirit was pulling it and clipped itself into a ring in the wall.

"Welcome to your new home" he shrugged with a smile.

N/A he he how was it. I'm pretty sure it'll get exacting from now. So many Moe will appear the next few chapters. Gash I'm excited ????

Anyway, if you guys enjoyed this chapter, please leave a common or a vote below. I really appreciate it you guys and see ya next year week. My sincere love ❤️❤️❤️????