Chapter 3: Anastasia Solus

Anastasia Solus.

The eldest princess of the largest human empire, the Sol Empire. The Sol Empire was established when a bunch of small neighbouring kingdoms came together under a former general of the Arion Empire, Igneus Solus. It has been the oldest declared state since the fracturing of the Arion Empire. Currently, it is ruled by Emperor Adamas II. The eldest and most beautiful daughter of the Sol Empire was Anastasia Solus.

She was known for her straight black hair that looked like the starry sky under the moonlight, with eyes the colour of amethyst. She was a renowned imperial beauty and was known to get married to the crown prince of one of the richest empires on Earth.

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"Anastasia, say my name." He came closer to me,

"I am no-" He put a finger to my lips. "Say my name, Ana."

A rosy hue crept my face. What is this beautiful, ethereal man trying to execute?

"Your celestial grace, I'm afraid I can't do that. I hold a grudge against you."

His face froze. He was in shock. I let out a small smile before I went back to a curt and upright face. I will not fall for a man of this calibre.

"Ana, why do you hold a grudge against me?" He said softly.

"I was taken away by guards, barely said goodbye to my loved ones, and then had to jump off a cliff. I wanted to stay on Earth, I wanted to be home." I pointed my finger at him. "You, I mean your Celestial Grace has made it impossible for me to dwell where my soul is anchored."

He responded back sharply yet softly, with a hint of enthusiasm. "But this will be your new home."

"No. I refuse to make this my home."

Suddenly I felt an aching pain in my heart. Everything went black as I fell to the ground. Then, a voice inside my head started to speak.

"Hello, Sacred Bride." It spoke eerily, creepily. It spoke in a manner in which goosebumps would suddenly appear on your arms and make your legs tremble.

"Who are you?" I said frighteningly.

"I am the spirit of the fractured veil between the Earth and the Heavens. I am the wounds of the World. I am hell incarnate. I am Tartarus."

"Go away!" I said shouting.

"I won't be able to do that, as you were the one who offered yourself into the Holy River Nyx and became the Empress of the Thirteenth Night. I am apart of you. You are apart of me. This is simply the hidden role of the Sacred Bride."

"What? I don't understand?!"

"When a Sacred Bride sacrifices herself for the Celestials to end the Thirteen Nights till the next 50 years, the spirit of the fractured veil between the Heavens and Earth known as the Hell Incarnate enters into a Sacred Bride. The spirit is apart of her and she is a part of the spirit. She carries the spirit until she passes, and the next Sacred Bride becomes chosen."

"Excuse me? Are you calling me Hell Incarnate?"

"You can't deny who you are."

Suddenly I felt a striking pain.

"Live according to your role, don't try to change your fate, nor the fate of others – or else I will change the timeline for you. I can make you suffer, or let you live."

My eyes froze into a state of utter resentment.

Tartarus proceeded to go on, "I control your fate."

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I woke up to see Kaelion hovering over me.

I've lived this moment before.

I was lying down on a white bed, with white velvet blankets. This is the past.

"Your Celestial Grace…" I whispered while breathing heavily from the nightmare.

He looked at me caringly, he came closer to me, his face inching towards mine but I pushed him away. I wasn't ready yet. "Anastasia Solus, why are you pushing me away?"

"This is the-" I was going to say more but I kept quiet. I can't tell him this is the past. "I'm sorry, forgive me your Celestial Grace – I am a bit tired."

"Ah," he cooed. His beautiful face fell into sorrow. He stood up and was about to leave until I told him to wait. "You can't go Kaelion!" I yelled.

His eyes sparkled when I told him to wait. I didn't know what to say next, so I had to improvise. "I have feelings for you!"

Great.

I'll just have to pretend to be Anastasia Solus and fall in love with him until I've figured out how to take control over my own fate again!

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