Blood of Immortals

I was moaning in pain when I heard someone entering my cell. I tried to open my eyes, but they were so bruised that barely opening them caused me terrible pain.

“Aroa,” I heard the voice I desperately crave.

I cried, silently. Why is he so late? I tried to speak, but my voice box had already been crushed from strangulation. I could no longer speak.

“Father ordered the search of your room.” he started. “They found wolfsbane in your drawers.”

I tried to understand what he was saying.

“Those are enough to incriminate you.”

What is he talking about? Isn’t he here to save me?

“I am sorry Aroa, but they decided to kill your wolf demon.”

Kill my wolf demon…

“If I don’t obey, they will kill you instead.”

Why would you want to kill my wolf demon?

I’m innocent.

Alaric?

Didn’t you believe me?

Then I remembered all the times I asked him to believe me. I was innocent, but he didn’t believe me.

He never did.

Suddenly, I felt a knife piercing my chest. It was so painful I felt like dying.

He was killing my wolf. The man who promised to love and protect me was killing my wolf.

I also heard someone sobbing. It might be me or Alaric. It didn’t matter.

“I promise you, Aroa,” he said. “I will save you. Just bear it until I receive my title. I promise you.”

Why? Why did he do this to me? For days, I was crying, mourning for Alaric had finally abandoned me. I had my worries in the beginning, but his words made me lose my sanity. I blindly believed him, his words, his empty promises.

But when the time came for him to stand up for me, he became a coward. He chose the title and power over me.

He betrayed me.

He insulted me.

He killed my wolf but what he didn’t know, he also killed my love for him.

So, this will be the last time I will cry for him. I will grieve for my lost love. Then, I will bury it forever.

I had been sentenced to be exiled to the tower of eternal sorrows, a place where high-profile criminals are jailed. This tower has the power to make any demon suffer without inflicting physical pain. Instead, the inmates will be punished with feelings of frustration, hopelessness, and misery. Most demons who had been inside for so long would rather have chosen death.

The tower was found between the mortal and the demon realm. To reach the tower, a long and narrow bridge should be crossed. One should be cautious though, for under this is the river of hellfire. Any demon who fell on this river would instantly be burned to death with no chance of reincarnation.

Thirteen days had passed when finally, I was released from the dungeons. Some of my wounds had already healed. I could now see, move my arms, and even walk. But some wounds would never heal. My wolf would never be back, just like my love.

“Criminal!” said one of the jailers. “It is time to leave.”

To ensure that I couldn’t hurt anyone, they bound my hands behind my back. They also covered my eyes. What they didn’t know was that restricting me was useless. I had already lost my will to fight. To live.

Before we began the journey, I heard a familiar voice, I never wanted to hear again.

“I will be sending the prisoner personally,” Alaric told the warriors. “Be ready, we will depart now.”

Throughout our journey, Alaric had been nothing but caring to me. He tried to assist me in walking as I was limping. He made sure I was well-fed and had warm blankets during cold nights. He even scolded one of the warriors who had been so rough with me. He was truly a gentleman.

Then one night, he whispered to my ears.

“Aroa,” he said. Then, he hugged me, but I no longer felt anything. There were no butterflies in my stomach or the tickling feeling in my chest. There was nothing. I just wanted the embrace to end so I could finally put my battered body to rest.

“Just wait for me. I will rescue you soon,” he said softly.

They were the words I would have wanted to hear before.

But not now.

For I no longer believe them. Him.

So, I just ignored him. I never responded not only because I had already lost my voice, but because I had also lost my trust.

When finally, he released me, I immediately pulled my covers and went to sleep.

It was the third day of our journey when we reached the bridge connecting to the tower of eternal sorrows.

“Aroa,” Alaric called my attention. “We are now crossing the bridge. We will remove your blindfold and release your hands”

It is time.

When we reached the middle of the bridge, I stopped walking. Everyone was confused for a moment.

“What’s the problem, Aroa?” asked Alaric.

I turned around to face them. I looked at him for one last time. I smiled at him. He must have realized what I intended to do for he tried to grab me.

Goodbye Alaric.

“Aroa!” shouted Alaric as I jumped into the river of hellfire, praying it would burn, not only my flesh but also my sorrows.