EVANGELINE.
Here we are, standing side by side like nothing happened last night. But thatâs only what the outside world thinks because I can feel the walls that Zedkiel has put up around himself.
My mate⦠The man I once dreamt about and waited for, the man I was hoping would find me, and claim me before reality opened my eyes.
However, not once did I expect that man to be Alpha Prince Zedkiel Vilkas. Yet⦠isnât that what he has done?
Heâs claimed me, protected me and made it clear Iâm his⦠but then why are there so many conflicts and misunderstandings between us?
I once thought the mate bond was beautiful. You find your own fairy tale story when your mate steps into your life and you live happily ever after, but itâs notâ¦
Glancing sideways, I peer up at the handsome man beside me. A man who o0zes power and dominance. I never expected someone like him to be my mate.. I always thought it would be someone of low rank, maybe a lesser guard at most. But Zedkiel..
His eyes are hard and cold, and he is so much more than me. Iâm just a lowly Omega by comparisonâ¦
He hasnât treated me like that though, sure heâs been harsh and lost his temper, but heâs the only one who defied all and actually defended me.
His sharp jewel-like eyes snap down, locking his gaze with mine, and I swallow nervously, remembering how he stormed out last night. He raises an eyebrow questioningly, and I quickly look away.
Without further distractions, let?s take a look at the scores for the first round of the tournament!â High court member Coleâs voice booms over the speakerphone.
My heart skips a beat, and I turn to look at the screen above us. The eight couplesâ images flash on the screen. As the numbers next to them begin spinning.
How did we do?
Iâm nervous as I watch, wondering how I did on my part..
Come on⦠Come onâ¦
Chasyn and Marykaâs result pops up 7.1 beneath it. Thereâs a breakdown of their pointers and I see itâs Marykaâs clue that left them rather low on their average. My stomach twists as I wait patiently for mine.
Sinclair and Celia.. 6.8⦠Amar and Vienna, one of the couples that were married before the contest, are at 8.4.
I grip onto Zedkielâs arm, not even realising I have done so until I feel him tense, but I donât let go, noticing Sinclairâs eyes on me. Ignoring him, I stare at the screen flashing beside our names.
9.4.
A few of the couples look at us, and I let out a breath of relief. That is a good number!
We did it!â I whisper to Zedkiel, who simply glances at mÄ before looking back at the screen.
The rest show up, but Iâm no longer that concerned knowing we have done well. When the final numbers come to a halt. I realise we are the highest with Amar and Vienna second.
âCongratulations to you all.â Franco says. Last night, a serious life-threatening situation took place and I know that we have all heard about it.
âAll we would like to say is, stay vigilant and stay safe.â
Alpha King Ambrose steps forward and gives Franco a nod and I try to ignore all the looks that I can feel on me. âFurthermore, if I find out that anyone who is part of this contest or anyone acting on their behalf is behind this, rest assured they will be expelled from the tournament immediately and punished severely.
A silence follows, and the king continues after a couple of moments. Thank you and congratulations to you all. Tonightâs match will be one that Iâm certain we will all enjoy. Hand-to-hand combat between the Alphas!â
Claps and cheering break out behind us and I hear Zedkiel mutter foolishâ and I canât disagree. Do they realise the winner of this contest shall take the throne? Is this really a wise way to choose? We need a king who cares for his people, one who will be best for the kingdom. Is this tournament really going to prove that? Is this contest just to please the people, when we need to choose a king, not a championâ¦
I keep my thoughts to myself as the eight alphas look at one another. The rules and time for the matches for the evening are announced and the excitement builds. The opponents will be paired randomly tonight.
Prepare to eat dirt.â Zedkiel says, turning and walking out. I follow, trying not to run but still trying to keep up. You donât need to follow me.â
I freeze at the coldness in his tone, but after what I said to him last night, I canât blame him. I need to apologise for that.
Zedkiel.. about last night⦠I didnât mean what I said. I donât even know why I said it.â I whisper softly.
Yet you said it, but youâre not wrong. I am basically a cold, heartless monster.â He sneers, walking off. âStay away from me.â
I sigh softly but donât follow him. I need to go to see the Oracle, and if Zedkiel needs space, then Iâll give it to him. Until tonight, when Iâll be here to support him.
Glancing around the hall, I head down the hall toward the Oracleâs quarters. Itâs time I got those answers.
I reach the Oracleâs room soon enough, however, with every step I take, I begin to doubt myself strongly.
Youâll regret it.â That voice again.
No. I wonât, and I know what Iâm going to ask.
I say coldly.
I knock on the door lightly, taking a deep breath.
Turn around!?
No.â
I can feel the pull from inside of me, the determination that she wants me to turn back.
âNo, I actually have something very important to ask her.â I say with determination.
You need to listen to me Evangeline, you owe me!â She hisses.
No, I donât.â I reply, knocking again.
Please answerâ¦
Donât trust her. She isnât who you think she is.
Iâm trying to look out for you, heed my warning.
She whispers menacingly.
âEnterâ. The Oracleâs voice comes, and it takes all my willpower to reach for the handle and open the door. Almost as if some force is trying to stop me.
I have so many questions I want to ask the Oracle but right now the one that seems to scream at me is what is the voice in my head? What am I?
Isnât that what Zedkiel wanted me to ask?
Suddenly I wish he was here. I feel so alone and the unease that is eating up at me is becoming suffocating.
The Oracle is standing there, her long hair open, and she looks almost⦠paleâ¦
âSo you have come.â She says, her eyes boring into mine.
âWere you not expecting me?â I ask, shutting the door behind me.
My head is hurting, and a dull ache is beginning to form at the nape of my neck.
I came to ask you my one question.â I say, unable to walk closer. Something is stopping me.
She observes me silently, and I feel as if sheâs looking into my soul.
Thereâs something inside of me⦠â I begin, knowing this sounds crazy.
What is your question?â She asks, not bothered about what I just said.
My question.
Letâs leave. The voice comes again, but beyond the anger, I can feel a glimmer of panic.
The questionâ¦
I close my eyes, trying to think of everything I knew, what Zarachiel has said.. of Zedkiel killing me⦠Zarachiel hating him for killing me. The darkness within me, the darkness that I truly believe, starts with that voice that makes me feel uneasy. Zedkielâs ordeal. Who I am, and where do I come from⦠The mystery of my past and I suddenly realise what my question is.
It may not be the one that will give me all the answers, but I believe itâs the right oneâ¦
H-how doâ¦â
What are you about to ask?! The voice hisses.
Canât she hear my thoughts?
I try to close my mind off, hoping Iâm doing the right thing.
âYou have your question⦠just remember every truth comes at a price.â
I nod slowly, determined that my question is the right one.
âHow do I stop history repeating itself by breaking this curse of whatever it is that is casting its shadow upon us?â I whisper hoarsely, suddenly feeling a painful tear through my head.
I clutch it, crumbling to my knees, but I continue to fight. Iâm so close to getting some answers, I canât let anyone stop me from getting the answers I seek!
Sheâs awakeningâ The Oracle murmurs. âBut I applaud you for asking the right question.â
My heart thunders and I know by sheâ, she means the voice in my head who is fighting so hard to take control of me, but I refuse to let her.
With desperation and determination, I force myself to listen to the Oracle.
Go back to where it all began. Do not run from the Gemini Bane, for only then do you have a chance. You are a curse and a blessing, and only one may survive. To break the centuries-old calamity, learn who you truly are. When that answer comes before you, only then can you rise from the earth and take your true place. Pay for the Goddessâs crime and the cycle shall end, but remember⦠you must do so before the stars align or your time shall come to an end.â
Her words resonate in my mind, and Iâm suddenly being ferociously pulled from my body.
A scream of panic leaves my lips as I feel darkness enclosing around me.
ORACLE.
Evangeline stiffens when I stop speaking, her head hanging and I turn away, I know whatâs happening.
There. You have your answer.â I say emotionlessly.
I do⦠but that was supposed to be a secret between us, was it not?â Evangeline says sinisterly as she stands up.
I turn slowly, feeling the mass of darkness surrounding her and gaze into her eyes, which are pure black.
She isnât Evangeline though, and the truth makes my stomach churn. I have never felt emotions for so long⦠Itâs foreign. But something about the woman before me instils fear. Masking the fear that is making my heart thump, I know I am no match for her⦠but I was commanded to keep an eye on her. For the moment, she shows signs of the moon. And I saw it that day when she was brought to me as a child.
She is the one.
âNot this time, this time I care not about your threats.â I say, readying myself.
Do you have faith in her this time?â She whispers, closing the gap between us. Her two onyx pits hold such darkness..
âOnly the mother goddess knows.â
âYet you throw your life away.â She hisses and a flare of darkness wraps around me.
For the greater good.
I donât cower in fear but look her challengingly square in the eye, because I believe I have made the right choice.
Do your worst.â I hiss with confidence, my own eyes glowing as I raise my handsâ¦