Chapter seven

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RED

I conquered my heavy eyelids, opened my eyes to the flamboyant bright morning, carrying the scent of lemon and the blurs of faint pink. I lifted my arm to know how far the injury was and when I did; it felt restored than when it first hit me and how it felt when the arrow was pulled out. The pain woke me up from unconsciousness; It must have contained poison to put me into such a beautiful sleep.

There was another scent that I was getting habituated to, and I sensed it right there. The scent of vanilla, only the Sadin carried that scent that drove me crazy." I looked around, trying to inspect my surrounding before realizing the person who lay beside me, curled up. Her head rested before me, while her body remained on the floor.

The tousled and obedient nature of her hair was the first thing I couldn't decipher, her calm eyes that stirred the waves in me, so peaceful, like she didn't have a care in the world. My eyes caught her smile, her complete teeth and bright set of eyes. It made me contented, as if everything I lost was restored back to me.

"Was she happy because I was awake? Did she think I would die? What a stupid Sadin.

I tried to stand up, but the arms of an angel held me back. In pursuit of the being that held unto me, I was able to see parched tears around those cheeks of hers'.

"An angel cried."

"Please do not move too much, she pleaded."

I was going to oppose her till I stood, however, when I met with the obscene sight in front of me. I was appeased. Just a thin layer of cloth remained on her skin, giving me a spellbinding foretaste of her caramel skin; it beheld such smooth and warm feeling and I wanted to run my hands through it. My eyes scrutinized her, longing for an embrace that I'd been daydreaming of for long until this moment.

"An embrace that she would feel safe in, not thinking about destiny or the lives of her sisters."

She somehow, traced my eyes and comprehended where my mind went. Slowly, she sheltered her body, stood up to leave but I held her back.

"You didn't allow me to leave, so how can you leave now?"

"I want to get you the herb potion, she said slowly, hardly meeting my eyes"

I removed my hand that seized her arm and nodded. She came back and had worn the proper thing on and I just lost all interest to the herb she brought, I mean what was the expediency anyways.

She released the dumb liquid down on the table near me.

The physician said to take it while it's hot, she said.

"I don't want it again; I reacted, adding a bit of unfeelingness to my voice."

"But.....you do need it, you need it to feel better and make you heal faster."

Are you deaf Sadin? I said I do not want any of those potions. I replied, already pretending to stand.

"Wait, she said and I paused, uncertain of her motive." She traced her hands behind her back and pulled the zip holding the cloth she wore and detached it from behind, left with the indecency, again."

I rested in reverence at the sudden move she made towards me, I was beginning to yield to her magic, to her innocence and I wasn't scared. In fact, I felt secure and sheltered in her presence and I wasn't thinking if the past repeated itself, just living and relishing the moment.

Shall I feed you? She asked picking the bowl from the table. I nodded to her, felt so stupid, but happy. I can't believe I have submitted to her, and it felt like victory to me.

She brought the spoon closer to her mouth, and blew it before tracing it to mine. I sipped, only looking at her eyes as they held so much care. I wanted this. I really wanted it.

Master Red? Savage called from outside and she panicked, in fear of her modesty. I collected the bowl from her and persuaded her to lie with me, covering her up with the sheets so her face could only see only mine.

"Come in, Savage came in and gave due respect."

We caught someone! Master Eros said he will be expecting you at the Dungeons of souls."

"Very well." I acknowledged him still concentrated at the tender prey in my arms. Savage left the room after reporting the required information and I could see she was neither calm nor comfortable beside me.

Do you hate me for maltreating you? I asked, turning to her while she sat up, still not daring to meet my eyes. Did I still look like a monster to her? Will she always be frightened of me?

Her fingers began to shake and her lips were quivering in fear, it really broke my heart. I will always be the monster who separated her sisters away from her and nothing else, even if my feeling for her were real; she would be forced by fear to say the same.

"I understand if...."

"No. I do not." She cut me off still shaking, but trying to control her fear. Her eyes were already red and teary while she was still trying her best not to break into further tears.

Do you love me then? I asked.

Isn't love the reason why I choose to sit with you while you were injured? Isn't love the reason why you took that arrow for me? Loving me, despite the revenge you have been planning for all your life.

"Your heart is too magnanimous. I would never be able to repay you, therefore let me use my body to appreciate you, just the way you sacrificed yours for me."

I was utterly shocked to my bones, this were the longest words that she had ever spoken and they were about love.

"Y...you have to finish the medicine, she said trying to get up, but I held her down still trapped under me."

Your injury? She said but I didn't give it a second glance. I placed my hands on her thighs but she slowly pushed it away, confusion written on her face as she held unto my hand.

Are you okay? I asked feeling her uneasiness under me.

"I...I'm not recovered yet, please spare me for today."

For a moment, I supposed we were in a good place and that there were no more restrictions but this was a reminder that I violated her before and it would still remain that way. Her heart was not ready to accept me, the words in her speech hurt me to the extent that I didn't think I would ever recover from it."

I lifted my weight from her carefully, and bitterly. I began to conjecture how she felt about me; did she picture me to be someone who wanted her to warm my bed as a punishment for being a Sadin?

"Seeing the discomfort on her face made me realize that I could be the only one in support of the relationship, how would she ever embrace me?" I killed every one of her people and shipped her down to Ingrey, estranged her sisters away from her with no news of their well-being only to claim her into my bed.

"Perhaps, this is it."

This was how it was ever going to be, if all that happened in the past didn't take place, I would have never stooped to such a level. I told myself watching the Sadin stand and leave the room, wondering where all the hatred I once felt was. If I knew I would fall so fast and easy, then I wouldn't have......

"Actually, I don't know..."

✰⍣✰

I took my first step into the Dungeons of soul, a prison that was created since the beginning of time by my father's ancestors and the ones before them. It was built for Ingrey's former and present enemies, alive or dead. They were caged in their skeletons.

Waking back into this place reminded me of Ralph when we were growing up."We were still young then, but the burden of being a ruler rested on his young shoulders."

He was born in agony and anger, and it followed him in all his younger years. So often I followed him here in anxiety, locking the doors and watching him hit himself in these cages. The biggest burden was resisting the dragon in him, it wanted to kill and destroy.

I took a good look at the stony walls as I marched into the terrifying surrounding, hearing the sound of painful cries and I knew I was getting closer to the suspect. A man so dare. He attempted to take my Sadin's life.

Did I hear myself well?

My Sadin.

That berserk resentment now congregated in my mind when I remembered how it all happened. The glass fell and broke, a part of it displaying the image of a man behind the limpid curtain where I was able to see the reflection of the bow ascending towards her. If I hadn't been quick witted, it would have eventually hit her. I don't even want to envisage the pain on her face if it did. It would be a nightmare.

I reached the enclosure made of thick metal bars and it was opened for me, where I met with Eros who was seated, enjoying the show.

What took you so long?

He said putting a metal surface back into the burning firmament with roasted flesh on its edge.

You seem to have started without me? I said nearly reaching the suspect who wasn't an Ingreyian citizen, the color of his skin was like bronze and his ensemble was nothing like what an Ingreyian would put on. In fact, looking at him closely, it felt like I'd seen him before, at the time when I brought war to the Sadin's little Island. How exactly did he cross the terrains of Ingrey dressed like that, was he on a suicide mission?

His eyes held valor and I was certain that he hadn't disclosed his offence, yet.

Who are you? I asked knowing fully well that my eyes were glittering red.

He opened his eyes at a slow pace and when he met mine! I perceived extreme veneration that caused his heart beat to rise and fall impatiently. He hates me.

Who sent you!

He coughed out blood and urged himself to say the words.

"I...will rather kill the Sadin than allow you godforsaken mishap cause destruction to her modesty."

I was astonished by his confession, it wasn't what I expected to hear from the beginning of the interrogation but it sure made some sense.

So this is about the Sadin, huh? And how do you plan to stop me now? I asked the bloody man who was drained in sweat and injuries.

He laughed hysterically till he felt the urge to heave once again but held it in. "Do not covet what isn't yours, boy." His face turned serious and defiant, his eyes full of animosity and hate.

"Very soon, you will have to let her go; her destiny isn't to remain in your bed." You are messing with the wrong one; she is destined for the dragon, not you, boy.

I froze at what I was hearing and in front of me he bit his own tongue and that took his life. It all felt cold, sudden, his words...Dragon.

What did he mean by that; destiny said she will return back to me. She is my Sadin, no one else's.

I heard Eros chuckle from behind but I was already heading out of the Dungeons of soul.

"If the king hears about this...he said."

"He wouldn't, because no one will tell him." I said with a scowl.

I arrived into the exposed space where she was supposed to be since our usual encounter was delegated to here. It was empty and I used the time to settle all the thoughts that crossed through my mind. I felt the paroxysm of extreme emotional pain when my mind wandered to what the suspect said.

What does he mean by Dragon? The only dragon in Ingrey was my brother; he was the owner of the royal seat and a direct heir from his parents who were matched by the gods themselves.

The title, dragon, was his. Why would the Sadin be attached to him? She was mine in the past and present. Destiny sent her moving in my path, I was born to find her again!

I paced the room in fear and anxiety, why would she be destined for someone else? She was the Sadin! The one that killed me in my past life, except that she was completely different from whom she was.

"I can't lose her. She is mine; I can't lose her to anyone, not even my brother."

"No, no Red." It's not true. Don't believe the words of that man, he is nuts. I tried to get the words into my mind even when I had fallen into the ditch.

Her graceful nature walked in full of spirit, warmth on her face as she stepped in and her face fell on mine. At that moment, it felt as if there were a million things I knew nothing of, could she be all that innocent? What really went through her mind, did she know if her destiny was with my brother. What am I saying?

"I_I went out for some fresh air," she said dusting her hands on her gown.

I was lost in thoughts, everything felt surreal, like I had a short time to spend with her and watch it all end. I didn't know what to believe anymore.

Every second of stillness shook me as I continued to stare at her face; I wasn't able to read it. Ralph was not someone who was capable of loving, the only thing he cared about was his legacy, and it was the only thing that he had been taught throughout his life. He was still battling the dragon in him that didn't know how to love. The dragon only saw people as enemies; it only wanted to dominate, leaving no space for friendship, trust or intimacy.

He would never be proficient of returning love to someone else, the dragon had made him a tyrant, inside and out, he had grown to be like it. Deriving pleasure from pain was where he found his own comfort, covered in his own insecurities.

His heart is a wreck, his thinking has been taken over by his Dragon for far too long, it would take a lot of sacrifice for his dragon to bow and allow him make decisions.

"If the Sadin where to have ties with him, I fear she would give up on life."