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"Suzanne Collins gave Coriolanus Snow a tragic backstory and made him sympathetic!" So close. Actually, she put the reader in the POV of an extremely privileged character whose thoughts and views and morals still ultimately aligned with fascism, who constantly fell back on those philosophies no matter how many brief moments of humanity he felt for the Districts. She wrote a realistic human being who aligned himself with the status quo and benefited from it. She demonstrated a character who did not become kinder or more empathetic through his suffering, but instead became angrier at the indignity of it, and punished the ones he saw as "deserving" it sevenfold. She showed you, the reader, that those in power know exactly how much the oppressed suffer, and do it anyway, even if they briefly suffer the same.
Synopsis: Y/n is a protocore researcher who is looking for answers about how an aether core got lodged into her heart and why is it messing with her brain. In the midst of this elaborate maze of dead ends and false answers, she encounters a man who seems to be very interested in her and is willing to find ways of providing her with the answers she's seeking.
Author's note: Y/n is not a hunter; she is a Master's student (not based on myself at all) and a part time protocore researcher at the Association. No changes to Sylus, although there may be situations in the story where he might be a little out of character. Mentions of the other LADS men, but they are not the love interests here.
Chapter 24: Memories Resurfaced
“Keep your eyes open. Y/n, don’t you dare faint on me.”
A groan escaped my mouth, but I followed his orders as best as I could and tried to stay awake against the mind-numbing pain. Sylus had immediately removed the shard and plugged the gaping wound with his evol. He had somehow stopped the bleeding, but it was nowhere near enough.
“Have I underestimated your determination or overestimated your intelligence? Why the hell would you do that? Have you forgotten that I can heal myself?”
He never raised his voice, and he still wasn’t raising it, but the anguish was visible in his expression. I didn’t reply, using all of my energy to keep myself awake. Sylus slowly gathered me in his arms, heading towards the elevator shaft. I clung to him, trying to keep breathing. His men were already waiting for us downstairs, and he slid into the backseat of an SUV, arranging me on his lap, his eyes monitoring my wound.
The pain eased a little, and I didn’t know whether it was because Sylus’s evol was somehow managing to heal it or I was dying because of the poison. I brought a palm to his face, cupping his cheek. “Don’t fret. It’s just a stab wound.”
“It’s just a stab—Luke, hurry. She’s losing her mind.”
“Yes, boss.”
I rested my cheek against his shoulder. “How the hell is your jacket still on your shoulders? We were in a fight!”
That earned me a small smile. “I’ll let you know my secret, only if you stay with me.”
I nodded, my eyes following his to my wounded area. Something was not right. It should be red, right? But the skin around the wound was turning black. Before I could ask about it, Sylus cupped my face and turned it towards his. “Nothing’s happened. Okay? I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
“But—“
“We’re here.”
Sylus climbed out of the vehicle in record time and carried me to straight to his bedroom where medical equipment was being set up. He laid me down on the bed, and a maid helped him cut through my gown with a pair of large scissors for easier access. I was saddened to ruin such a tasteful piece, but it was ripped anyway. The maid saw herself out as Sylus covered me with the silk sheets, living my mid-riff exposed. The doctor and his team were finished with the equipment just as Sylus was done.
The doctor examined my blackening wound as a nurse needled in an IV through my hand. “We can’t give her a general anaesthetic for this case. She has to be awake as I drain the poison and stitch it up. Mr. Sylus, please stay here and keep her talking.”
Sylus came to the other side of the bed and sat down next to my head, caressing my hair gently. “Keep your eyes on me, dove. It’ll be over soon.”
My eyes started watering on seeing him in such an anguish.
Sylus kissed the tears away. “It’s okay. There is an antidote. Dr. Arabel will take care of you.”
Maybe it had already gotten to my brain, because I was not panicking about it. I didn’t care that there was currently poison running in my veins. All I could think about was Sylus and his fingers caressing my face and hair, keeping my attention on him. The doctor giving instructions and working on my side faded into the background.
“When you were dying in our previous life, I sang to you.”
He nodded. “But you’re not dying.” A tear rolled down his cheek even as he said that.
“I know. I just remembered a song, in the same language I named Mashi. Do you want to hear it?” I reached up and brushed away the tear.
He nodded. “Yes.”
My voice was low and wobbly as I started singing. Sylus grabbed my hand, listening to me sing as if his life depended on it. I kept my eyes on him, not quite reaching the high notes but continuing anyway. I wasn’t singing for a contest.
The edges of my vision were fading as I neared the end of the song. I tried my best to stay awake, but I just didn’t have it in me. As my eyes closed and my consciousness faded, someone’s voice said, “It’s done. She’s out of danger.”
🗡️🐦⬛🗡️
“You see, there was a time when the fiend looked like a normal human. When his horns started growing, he used a blade to repeatedly saw them off until he couldn’t anymore, leaning into the transition.”
“What’s your name?”
“It’s an ancient Philosian word that you wouldn’t understand.”
“I will call you Sylus.”
“Call me whatever you want, but don’t expect me to answer you.”
“You are not an adult dragon. You’re still young, aren't you? That’s why you can’t hide your horns, wings and tail.”
“Dragons have no use for song or flavourful food. It’s mere frivolousness.” “….sing that song again, you sound.…heavenly.”
“You have to kill me before the mark on your neck fades.”
“A dragon’s fate is to kill his soulmate. But his beloved saw past the layers of a fiend and showed him human love. How could he succumb to fate after receiving such love?”
“The entire meadows of Taurus city will bloom if you will it to be so, my beloved.”
“You’re a young dragon who just grew her horns.”
“There’s…so much…blood. What have I done? My dragon is gone. Called a fiend by the people, who was my beloved.”
“Don’t know where to aim? I can tell you.”
“I curse you, Sylus, to be bound with my soul for eternity.”
“Who dares to summon me?”
“I, a sorceress.”
“A powerful one I dare say.”
“Congratulations for the two victors in this inter-galaxy tournament. For the final round, you have to fight…each other!”
“I promised that I’ll get you out of here, Y/n, and I will keep that promise, no matter what.”
“Your majesty. I’m here with compliments from my planet, Khaosi.”
“And in the end, I am your husband, and you are my wife.”
“I’ll find you in every alternate reality, my wife.”
I think all writers have experienced the feeling of getting a new story idea into your head, but it's just vibes so when you actually sit down in front of an open document, the idea disappears into thin air.
To combat this, I made a three page worksheet kit with guiding questions that help organise those 'vibes' into a proper plot.
This kit includes:
Questions regarding the protagonist and their goals and stakes
Additional notes and comments section
Story highlights from the beginning to the climax
If you're interested in obtaining this, comment/reblog to get notified when I upload the final version <3
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality
Anya is LIVE right now
FREE
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
Synopsis: Y/n is a protocore researcher who is looking for answers about how an aether core got lodged into her heart and why is it messing with her brain. In the midst of this elaborate maze of dead ends and false answers, she encounters a man who seems to be very interested in her and is willing to find ways of providing her with the answers she's seeking.
Author's note: Y/n is not a hunter; she is a Master's student (not based on myself at all) and a part time protocore researcher at the Association. No changes to Sylus, although there may be situations in the story where he might be a little out of character. Mentions of the other LADS men, but they are not the love interests here.
Chapter 23: Another Attack, Again
“Relax, dove. It’s all part of the plan.”
I smacked his arm. “Why the fuck wasn’t I informed of this plan beforehand? You literally created a fucking explosion!”
“It was an improvisation. The aether core wasn’t there.”
“So you made the whole place explode?”
He glanced at me sideways, his hands full of my skirts to keep me from falling as we navigated the neon lit streets on foot. “No one who didn’t deserve it was hurt. Don’t worry about them, concentrate on the task ahead.”
No one who didn’t deserve it was hurt. That placated me a little and I stayed silent as he led me into an abandoned skyscraper. The elevator was still working and we took it to the rooftop.
The wind was stronger here, I had to squint to see the dusty bits of tech and other equipment scattered around.
“So, where is the aether core then?”
There was enough light to see by and Sylus raised my chin to the sky above us.
I gasped. The whirling vortex of the deep space tunnel was right above our heads. I’d never been this close to it before, and it gave me vertigo.
He took my hand and we walked towards a cracked pillar. I had a vague recollection of seeing it somewhere else. “Resonate with it to get the core. Be warned, once you take the step, there’s no going back.”
I hadn’t come all the way here to hesitate. Taking another breath, I placed my hands on the engraved surface and closed my eyes.
Logically, some minutes passed as I resonated with it and cracked the pillar open. However, I felt like it was only a second later that I opened my eyes to a thundering deep space tunnel, flinging out sparks of visible metaflux. Sylus stood next to me, his coat still somehow draped over his shoulders despite the wind. “Guardian wanderers alert. Ready?”
I stepped out of my heels and stood barefoot on the cement and tied up the skirts of my gown, grabbing the gun strapped to my thigh. “I was born ready.”
A large bird wanderer flew from the tunnel, spreading its wings and screaming at the top of its lungs. The only interesting thing about it was I couldn’t sense a protocore within it, it seemed to be fuelled by the aether core I just awakened. I started shooting it, dodging the stone feathers that dropped around me. Sylus didn’t need a weapon, he used his evol and did some kung-fu moves, fighting the bird with his bare hands.
Sexy.
I danced around the bird, bare feet kicking up dust as I shot it with my gun and dodged its attacks. A piece of flying shrapnel caught the side of my face.
“Are you alright?”
“I just got sloppy.”
"Be alert, there's poison in those wings."
We kept up the fight until it stopped attacking us with its feathers and we could move more freely. Sylus was on the other side, flinging his evol at the bird and got hit by one of its wings.
“You got sloppy.” I blasted away one of the wingtips with my gun.
Sylus turned and gave me a grin. “My eyes were locked on you.”
This man, I swear. The bird was weakened, but it gave no signs of giving up. Our individual strengths was not enough to defeat it, and I was beginning to grow tired. For one last time, I concentrated like I had never before, focusing on Sylus’s evol and willing it to flow through me.
There. Our evols finally responded, and the resulting resonance knocked me off my feet.
“Finally.” Sylus’s voice came from somewhere to my left. “Get up, sweetie. Let’s finish this in one fell swoop.”
He was there beside me the next moment, helping me up to my feet and wiping the dust off my face. Reddish black mist surrounded us, and the bird was suddenly wary. Sylus took my hand.
With the other, he created a giant mass of energy mist, ready to throw it at the bird. I used my evol to strengthen it multifold, and he took aim to attack. The bird got hoisted into the air once before crashing to the cement, unable to get up. It made a horrific noise as it realised it was about to die.
We watched as it started disappearing, and maybe it was more sentient than the regular wanderers, because it used the last of its diminishing power to throw a parting attack at us, specifically at Sylus.
“No!” I didn’t think, immediately shielding him with my own body. Just as the wanderer disappeared and the deep space tunnel went silent, a sharp shard of the remains of its wing pierced me right in the abdomen.
Synopsis: Y/n is a protocore researcher who is looking for answers about how an aether core got lodged into her heart and why is it messing with her brain. In the midst of this elaborate maze of dead ends and false answers, she encounters a man who seems to be very interested in her and is willing to find ways of providing her with the answers she's seeking.
Author's note: Y/n is not a hunter; she is a Master's student (not based on myself at all) and a part time protocore researcher at the Association. No changes to Sylus, although there may be situations in the story where he might be a little out of character. Mentions of the other LADS men, but they are not the love interests here.
Chapter 22: Illegal Met-Gala Part II
Sylus was seated on the sofa in the villa’s living room, flipping through one of the girl’s textbooks.
Her beautiful handwriting was all over the page margins, jotting down notes and her understanding of the material. She was really smart, and the hard work she had put in had gotten her a seat in one of the most difficult courses at the university. Mephisto had noted that she always started studying months before the tests and exams so that her protocore syndrome didn’t interfere with her memory. Hopefully it was better now, with those empty protocore shells stabilising the aether core in her heart.
Two weeks had passed and the night of the aether core auction was here. The twins were bickering between themselves at the other side of the room, but they kept their voices low to not disturb him. They were all waiting for Y/n who was getting ready in her room. He’d ordered a custom-made gown for her which she had accepted after a bit of complaining and grumbling.
Fifteen minutes later, she emerged from her bedroom and stood in the archway. The twins went silent, and he looked up at the click of her heels. The sight of her took his breath away, and he took a moment to properly admire her.
The gown was made from black silk with an off-shouldered, fitting bodice flowing down into waves of the skirt. A galaxy was captured on it using crystals and diamonds that swirled in shades pink, blue, and green. The crow brooch he had given her glinted from its place at her breast. Her hair was up in a chignon, a couple of strands framing her face. She had tucked in some crystal pins amongst the strands to match the gown. Her makeup, necklaces, the bracelets and rings over the gloves on her hands were perfect. She was holding the skirt of the gown in one hand, a matching clutch in another. Sylus glimpsed the midnight black pumps on her feet that were lacquered with royal blue at the bottoms.
He had the sudden urge to take her in his arms and kiss her senseless. His fists un-clenched, and he gripped the arm of the sofa to keep himself in check. She was looking at his attire too, the way he had matched his suit to her gown, and the miniature version of the galaxy embroidered on the blazer he had draped over his shoulders.
He didn’t open his mouth to compliment her, lest he say something that was over the line. But he knew she understood. Their gazes met in a culmination of mutual admiration and no words were needed.
When he finally allowed himself to stand up, he didn’t offer an elbow. Instead, he snaked his arm around her waist, holding the gown’s skirt with his fingers and lifting it up a bit so she could rest her hand and walk freely.
Thus, the twins opened the doors and he led her to his car.
🗡️🐦⬛🗡️
This particular auction was held in a huge, looming ballroom and doubled as a party.
No masks were required this time. The entrance doors opened to a wide staircase that cascaded down to the hall below. From our vantage point, I saw the guests mingling and dancing together in the middle, waiters and waitresses sneaking through them with trays of hors d'oeuvres and champagne glasses. The sides of the hall held the items that were being auctioned inside glass display cases. In one corner of the room an orchestra was playing for the people on the dance floor. Everyone was attired in their best, and Sylus’s taste in fashion was as impeccable as always.
A waiter holding a silver bowl filled with liquid gold approached us as we neared the staircase. I was confused until I saw the other guests dipping their hands in the gold as some sort of a ritual. Another glance down the staircase and I saw all of them having some mark in gold, whether it was dripping down their arms or smeared suggestively across necklines and hips. Extravagant to the core.
“These auctions are…very different,” I whispered to Sylus.
He nodded. “Most auctions are disguised as extravagant parties to keep away your kind from the Association.”
“Ah.”
“Do you mind?” He pointed at the silver bowl with his chin.
“No. It looks like fun.”
Sylus let go of the skirt of my gown which he had been so thoughtfully holding away from getting caught in my heels and dipped the tips of his fingers into the bowl. I stayed still as he gently grazed my neckline and dragged down his palms down the sides of the bodice and stopped at my hips. He hadn’t drawn much but it was clearly visible that I had been touched by gold. I thought it was done, but then he swiped a golden thumb over my lower lip.
“Now the other guests will know that I belong to you.”
My lips curved into a menacing smile. “Not yet.”
I dipped my gloved fingers into the gold, and the waiter bowed before attending the next guest. I used one hand to colour Sylus’s hair while the other suggestively trailed across his belt, smearing the zipper of his trousers. “That’s more like it.”
Shaking his head in amusement, he coiled his hand around me again and helped with the enormous skirt as we descended the stairs. Though he didn’t outwardly show it, I noticed his ears had turned pink.
The paint dried as we reached the hall, taking in everything. It also looked like something that didn’t ruin fabric and came off easily, so I wasn’t worried. We had two goals here and had to part for a while. I was to go and check the wares displayed while Sylus took care of some men who were impeding in his arms business. He let go of me, reaching into his wallet and handed me a black card. “Take your time and enjoy. I’ll be back soon. Press the diamond on your right earring to communicate with me in case of any problems.”
He gave me a long glance before disappearing in the sea of glittering dresses and champagne bubbles. I took a deep breath and walked over to the display cases.
All of the protocores on display looked like normal ones, and I passed by them without too much inspection, dodging the overly enthusiastic bidders. The hall was huge and there were so many items, I took my time with them until I came upon a core that looked different. I was initially excited that it might be an aether core, but a closer inspection revealed that it was a modified protocore, but it looked very powerful.
My initial urge was to buy it so that I could submit it to the Association for research, but I had told them nothing about this auction. Informing them would mean them infiltrating this place and raiding it, and I didn’t want to give them Sylus on a platter.
I stayed in front of the modified core long enough that a person holding a tablet appeared and asked me if I’d like to bid. It was a pretty core, and maybe Sylus could have some use for it.
I pressed the diamond of my earring, static crackling through my ear canal. “Sylus, I want to use your card to bid on a protocore.”
His voice was curt. “Don’t bother me with such trivial matters.”
I rolled my eyes even though he couldn’t see it. The information screen below the display case showed the starting bid and the amounts bid by other people. The last one was hundred thousand. “One million for this protocore, under the name of Sylus, please.”
A hiss of static through my ear again. “Five million.”
“What?”
“Don’t forget, it’s my name that you’re using. Your offer will make people think I’m broke, sweetie.”
He was so arrogant, this man. “Fine,” I replied.
To the auctioneer, I said, “I changed my mind. Make it ten million.”
“So pompous,” crooned the voice in my ear before fading away.
I remained standing there like I’d done previously, waiting for the allotted ten minutes but there was no higher offer. I handed card to make the purchase. The protocore would be packed and we could take it while leaving. After that, I grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing tray, sneaking in bites of the food offered as I made my way to the other items, occasionally smiling at other guests who greeted me. As expected, no man approached me. The gold smears and the crow brooch were effective as man-repellents.
Not all men stayed away, unfortunately.
I was inspecting a protocore that was floating in liquid inside a glass cylinder when this guy approached me, his eyes stuck to the crow pin at my chest. I raised an eyebrow, and he bowed at me in greeting which I didn’t return.
“Hello, miss. Pardon my forwardness, but I find your brooch very unique and would like to buy it from you.”
I was about to tell him to fuck off but a warm hand snaked around my waist and pulled me into a familiar body. “The pin is a gift from me. It’s not for sale,” Sylus’s voice thundered above my head.
The man’s eyes widened and he stumbled upon himself trying to make apologies and slinked away. Sylus’s palm gripped my waist a bit tighter. “You were going to sell it?” He asked me.
I sighed. “No. I was going to tell him to fuck off before you appeared.”
“Good.”
I glanced at him, fresh as a flower, not a hair out of place. The gold highlights of his hair made him look ethereal. “Is your work finished?”
He nodded. “And yours?”
I shook my head. “No aether core here.”
“Hmm.” He seemed to be thinking about something. “Well, then. Why don’t we take this moment to enjoy a dance?” He let go of me and bowed formally and extended a palm.
“Why not?” I placed my hand in his after hooking a part of the skirt of my gown to one of the bracelets on my wrist. He put my purse in one of the pockets of his draped coat so it wasn’t in the way and clutched my waist while I placed my other hand on his shoulder.
The current song ended and the band started another one. It was perfect for a slow dance, and Sylus gracefully twirled me and led me to the middle of the dance floor. He was a little off-beat, but that didn’t matter. I drowned in the depths of his crimson eyes as we fluttered around, many people pausing what they were doing to watch us. It was mesmerising, being in the arms of a man who so equally dangerous as he was powerful. We paused and he led me into a perfect dip at the end, attracting a round of applause from the onlookers. It ended as we bowed and curtsied to each other.
When we straightened up, the place exploded into smoke.
🗡️🐦⬛🗡️
I'm still alive, people; was just caught up with real world responsibilities. Anyway, a new, relatively long chapter to finish the year! How're you all doing?
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality
Anya is LIVE right now
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Synopsis: Y/n is a protocore researcher who is looking for answers about how an aether core got lodged into her heart and why is it messing with her brain. In the midst of this elaborate maze of dead ends and false answers, she encounters a man who seems to be very interested in her and is willing to find ways of providing her with the answers she's seeking.
Author's note: Y/n is not a hunter; she is a Master's student (not based on myself at all) and a part time protocore researcher at the Association. No changes to Sylus, although there may be situations in the story where he might be a little out of character. Mentions of the other LADS men, but they are not the love interests here.
Chapter 21: Of Horns And Tails
The crystal chandelier in the bedroom swayed gently in the breeze flowing from the window.
I watched it move, the crystals making a soft, tinkling sound. The grandfather clock in the sitting room had announced that it was two o’ clock in the morning about ten minutes ago.
A nightmare had woken me up, but it hadn’t been related to my past memories. It was just me feeling useless and frozen in my place as a wanderer stalked towards me, gathering up to tear me into pieces. My eyes had opened just as it laid its claim on me, and even Sylus’s comforting scent hadn’t eased my racing heartbeat.
I stayed like that for a while, but sleep was a long way coming. Giving up, I pushed off the covers headed to the sitting room. Someone had placed my discarded coat on one of the couches, I slipped it on and exited the wing, moving through the carpeted corridor.
I didn’t know the way to Sylus’s study, and I’d almost convinced myself that I was just wandering the hallways until my feet stopped in front of the double doors that were as ornate as the doors that led to his wing. Sighing, I turned the handle and stepped inside.
The room was large, themed in black with gold accents. A large wooden desk rested by the window with a comfortable chair; papers and other stuff were arranged neatly on the surface. The other side of the room held a fireplace where the fire had been banked down to red hot coals with plush couches and chairs surrounding it.
Sylus was seated on the couch, his feet on the matching footrest, extended towards the warmth. He had his glasses on, a bunch of papers on his lap. He was reading those as his hands polished the pieces of a dismantled gun spread on the coffee table nearby. He glanced up when I entered, but didn’t reply and went back to reading.
I hesitated at the entrance, but he hadn't told me to leave, so I went ahead and took a seat at the other end of the couch. He didn’t pause his reading or polishing, but a few moments later, someone opened the door and handed me a tray holding a cup of peppermint tea and some chocolate cookies.
I sipped on the tea and nibbled on the cookies, watching Sylus read. I’d glanced at the printed pages earlier, it was intel from the various areas in the N109 zone. Silence reigned, the only sounds coming from the rustle of the papers, the clinking of the gun parts and the popping of the dying fire.
“Can’t sleep?” He asked without looking up, after I drained the tea and finished the last of the cookies. They had been delicious, with melted chocolate in their centre and sprinkle of sea salt on their surfaces.
“Bad dream.” I replied.
“I see.” He turned over a page before putting down the gun’s barrel and the polishing cloth and picked up a remote. A thin screen above the mantel came to life. He flicked through the channels and stopped when a cartoon came on. Then went back to his papers and the gun.
“How did you know—“ I started and stopped. Of course he knew about the cartoons. Mashi was always there whenever I couldn’t sleep and switched on cartoons to help ease my anxiety. I brought my knees to my chin and wrapped my arms around them, watching as the cat chased around the mouse in a hilarious way.
“I have questions,” I stated after some time, keeping my eyes on the screen.
“Ask away,” came the reply.
“Do you still have the horns and the tail?”
A chuckle emanated from him. “I do not. The dragon parts of me transferred to you after my life essence weaned away. I guess you can call me a human now, though I am not one completely.”
I started. “The dragon parts transferred to me…what?”
He was finished with the papers and the gun and turned those intense eyes to me. “When I made you stab my heart with the sword; I thought you remembered that in the armoury.”
“I…I only remember that you made me kill you. I don’t know what happened after.”
“You uttered a curse and bound our souls together. The human part of me welded to your soul, the dragon part gave you horns, claws, and a tail. You cursed us to be together in all lifetimes, for eternity.”
“Ah.” I didn’t know what to say to that. To be cursed and bound together for eternity…
“However,” Sylus interrupted my thoughts. “I don’t consider it as a curse. It’s a blessing to me, and I hope you will see it the same way.”
We watched the cartoon together for a while, sitting at the ends of the couch. I could see him glancing at me from the corner of my eye. He considered our soul bond as a blessing. That was the only thought running in my mind as I scooted over slowly towards his end of the couch. He put an arm around my shoulders and I leaned against his side. No words were exchanged. We watched the cartoon until the sun came up, holding onto each other.
🗡️🐦⬛🗡️
Author's note: I deeply apologise for disappearing. I was so busy with classes I couldn't even open this fic. However, you guys know the drill, support me on instagram and wattpad: _writtenbyshama. Happy reading! <3
Synopsis: Y/n is a protocore researcher who is looking for answers about how an aether core got lodged into her heart and why is it messing with her brain. In the midst of this elaborate maze of dead ends and false answers, she encounters a man who seems to be very interested in her and is willing to find ways of providing her with the answers she's seeking.
Author's note: Y/n is not a hunter; she is a Master's student (not based on myself at all) and a part time protocore researcher at the Association. No changes to Sylus, although there may be situations in the story where he might be a little out of character. Mentions of the other LADS men, but they are not the love interests here.
Chapter 20: His Bed, My Home
Sylus grasped my wrist, his gaze intense as he stared at me.
“Sneaking into my bed after midnight, kitten? Looking for a bedtime story or…” a finger slid across my skin suggestively, “…something more scandalous?”
My face flamed in heat, but I didn’t give up. “I’m just completing the task you’ve assigned me with. Also—“ I pointed to his cuffed hand, “—you cannot use your evol on me.”
Unfortunately for me, he didn’t even blink. “Really?” He drawled. “And what will you do now, since I’ve become your prey?”
“Where’s the brooch, Sylus?”
His mouth curved in a sinister smile. Letting go off my hand, he gestured at himself. “Help yourself.”
I glanced at his chest and the top of his abs peeking through the robe. My first thought was, as always, something wicked. I wanted to unravel the sash that held the robe together and have my way with him. A second later, I shook those thoughts off and ran a hand over his shoulder, bringing it down to his waist. I might have done it a tad slower than usual, but could you blame me? He let go of a breath as I did so, eyes burning into me.
I moved my palm across his stomach, feeling the muscles beneath and inwardly fanning myself.
“You know,” I said, to distract myself from my filthy mind, “I thought we had a thing going on. We have aeons of history between us. You literally came to my villa to…” his eyes were watching me so intensely that I stuttered to a stop.
“Go on.”
“Um…” I resumed my search. “As I was saying, you helped me out of a harsh panic attack. I ran all the way here to check whether you were alright. And yet, after all this, you put me to this menial task.
“What’re you doing, Sylus? Do you, for some reason, harbour any hate towards me?”
That earned me a chuckle. “Astonishing misunderstanding.”
I raised an eyebrow, languidly feeling his other shoulder. There. Near his neck, my fingertips found metal. My expression melted into a grin when I finally had it in my palm. “Got it.”
He leaned forward, not interested in the pin. “Does it matter to you, what I think?”
I decided to be honest. “Yes, it does.”
He smiled. I returned it. Then he used his evol to break the handcuffs.
🗡️🐦⬛🗡️
The one thing about running away from someone is you should never try to outrun a fucking beast.
I gasped as Sylus dragged me by my waist and slammed me down on the mattress, straddling my hips and pinning my hands above my head. I was going to kill Luke and Kieran for tricking me with those handcuffs. I held onto the brooch, but Sylus was trying to pry it from my grasp. “No! I won it.”
He didn’t listen, so I struggled and tried to point the tranquilliser with my other hand, finger pressing the trigger. Sylus ducked, but the gun was useless. It exploded in burst of pink cloud and heart shaped confetti. My heart immediately sank down my chest, and I didn’t struggle as much and Sylus grabbed the crow brooch.
He sighed, flicking away some confetti that landed on his silver hair. “You’re so gullible, kitten.”
Tears sprung up in my eyes. I should never have come here. I should have stayed and never even thought about this man.
But of course, he was frustrating because he noticed everything, even the tears in my eyes. He eased up and let go of my hands, reaching up to brush away a stray tear from my face. “I didn’t mean to be condescending, forgive me.”
I turned away. “Fuck you.”
He didn’t reply, and I felt his fingers at my neckline. Turning back, I saw him pinning the brooch to my collar. He looked at me. “Don’t lose it, alright?” He moved away from me, standing up and brushing away stray confetti. I sat up, feeling the cold metal at my throat, letting the useless gun clatter to the floor.
“There’s a suite prepared for you,” he informed me. “You can use that, or if you are more familiar you can sleep here. I don’t mind.”
I looked up at him from my position. “Would you have given me the pin and taken me to the auction if I had failed this little game?”
“Yes,” he said without hesitation. “It’s not ideal, but I know you are capable enough to take care of yourself. I’d never leave you behind if you’re that adamant about going somewhere. I won't imprison you, Y/n.”
“Where are you going to sleep if I stay here?”
He took a step back and rolled his shoulders. “My schedule isn’t like most people. I sleep in the morning and afternoon. My ‘day’ begins at dusk.”
“I see.” My anger was deflated. The reassurance he’d given me had done wonders to my mood, and his bed was very comfortable. I shifted until I was underneath the covers and pulled them upto my chin, breathing in his scent. Sylus watched me wriggle around with a small smile on his lips.
“Since you’re settled, I’ll leave you to sleep. I’ll be in my study if you need me. Good night.”
“…Good night.”
🗡️🐦⬛🗡️
Support me on Instagram and Wattpad at _writtenbyshama. Happy reading!
Synopsis: Y/n is a protocore researcher who is looking for answers about how an aether core got lodged into her heart and why is it messing with her brain. In the midst of this elaborate maze of dead ends and false answers, she encounters a man who seems to be very interested in her and is willing to find ways of providing her with the answers she's seeking.
Author's note: Y/n is not a hunter; she is a Master's student (not based on myself at all) and a part time protocore researcher at the Association. No changes to Sylus, although there may be situations in the story where he might be a little out of character. Mentions of the other LADS men, but they are not the love interests here.
Chapter 19: Midnight Heist
“I’m not playing your games, Sylus.”
His mouth curved into a smile. “Is that so? Then you won’t be attending that auction with me?”
I took a deep breath to keep myself from screaming in frustration. “That’s unfair. I came all the way here, in the middle of the night I might add, to see if you were all right and this is what you give me in return?”
He wasn’t moved. “I never said I play fair. I make use of every advantage I have. Besides, you don’t get a medal for being fair.”
I crossed my arms and stewed in my anger. A minute later, Sylus continued: “It’s a necessary test, Y/n. I need evidence that you can pull it off. Swiping an aether core in the midst of a crowd isn’t an easy thing to do.”
Sighing, I leaned back against the plush chair I was sitting on. Sylus had ordered a late dinner for himself, still in the same clothes from before. We were in one of the numerous living rooms, the empty plates and utensils on the table between us. A fire was lit in the fireplace nearby, and Sylus was glowing in the light. I watched with a frown as he twirled a crow-shaped brooch in one hand and sipped from a cup of herbal tea in the other. The ruby encased in the brooch glinted in the firelight.
The task was simple: I had to steal the brooch from him before dawn arrived, thus proving myself to him.
I was seriously considering abandoning it all and returning to my villa, but the possibility of a real aether core being dealt in an upcoming auction had me hooked.
Sylus raised an eyebrow, smirking over the rim of his teacup. “Have you decided, kitten?”
I rubbed a hand over my forehead. “Fine. I accept the challenge.”
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Even though we couldn’t resonate, we could sense each other from kilometres away.
How the hell was I going to get that brooch without his knowledge?
Sylus had excused himself to retire for the night (not really), and I was sitting in one of the lounge rooms right outside his wing and staring holes at the double doors. I was thinking about making a plan but then decided to fuck it and dive in. Standing up, I looked around to see if anyone was there before inching towards the doors. I pressed an ear to the wood and could only hear a faint classical music.
Quietly, I turned the brass handle and opened one of the doors just an inch. The sitting room within was lit with old fashioned stained glass lamps. The vintage record player in the corner was playing a sweet melody. I turned to the left, where an archway led to his bedroom. Carefully, I tiptoed inside and closed the door behind me and crept up to the archway.
The sheer size of his bedroom astounded me even though I’d been here before. It was almost as big as my villa. The bathroom was through another archway on the far side, and I could hear the sound of running water.
Hoping that he left the brooch in the room somewhere and didn’t take it to the shower with him, I tiptoed inside, immediately freezing when I locked eyes with Mashi. He was perched on his metal frame by the window, eyes fixed on me. He didn’t move a centimetre and I unfroze after the bird didn’t make a racket and alert Sylus.
I noted a bathrobe spread on the bed as I went to the nightstand first. Meticulously searching through the drawers, I closed them and skipped to the vanity next, running my fingers through Mashi’s feathers just in case. Next were the freestanding lamps around the room, then the planters on the windowsills. The brooch wasn’t anywhere here. Just as I was about to head back to the sitting room, the shower stopped. Even the record scratching at the music player ended.
The sudden silence caught me standing right in the middle of Sylus’s bedroom.
🗡️🐦⬛🗡️
Mashi’s eyes were staring at me hiding behind a freestanding dresser, but he stayed at his perch, not uttering a sound.
I was frozen into a crouch, shallowly breathing as Sylus entered the room with a towel around his waist, another one drying his hair. The telephone, which was sitting on a small table right next to the dresser I was behind, rang at that moment. I stopped breathing altogether as he stood right in front of my hiding place to answer the call.
“Mr. Sylus, the prince has been airlifted to his private hospital. Reports suggest that he’s going to live.”
I could only see Sylus from his chest above. He stayed silent for a while and finished the drying of his hair before throwing the towel into a basket.
“Mr. Sylus, sir?”
“I heard you the first time. Anyway, him dying wasn’t my intention.”
“Yes, sir, noted.”
They might have held a longer conversation, but I slipped, creating a small creak sound. It was just a tiny, tiny move, but it was enough for Sylus to turn around and directly lock eyes with me. Fucking hell.
The smirk on his face when he noticed me hiding sent a shiver down my spine. I tried to take a step back but his evol was faster, blackish red mist looping around my body and hoisting me in the air.
“Ahh!”
The man on the other side of the line stuttered at my voice. “Uh, Mr. Sylus?”
“It’s nothing. A little kitten entered my room. Keep an eye on the prince and notify me in case of any further updates.” Ending the call with a click, Sylus turned all of his attention on me.
“I did not agree to get hoisted into the air if I got caught!”
He smirked again, but let me down with a thump on the bed. “You make a terrible thief. I hope you’re good at what you do at the Association.” Taking my hand, he pushed me out of the archway. “Leave. I’m going to bed.”
The auction be damed. I was leaving this place and never coming back.
🗡️🐦⬛🗡️
The twins stuck to me as I traversed the hallways and corridors to reach the elevator.
“Are you seriously leaving?” One of them asked. “The game hasn’t even started yet and you’re already giving up?”
We reached the elevator and I dashed inside and tried to shut the doors, but they pushed in and pressed the stop button. I sighed, annoyed. “I’m done playing games with your boss. With that attitude, he can fuck himself with the brooch.”
“Aw, you took it to heart. Don’t be mad, miss. Besides, you came all the way here to check if he was alright! Don’t give up so soon, we’ll help you obtain that brooch this time!”
I felt a bit trapped, even though the elevator was the size of a lobby. Crossing my arms across my chest, I focused on one beaked mask at a time. “Listen here, you little shit. Just because I care for him a tiny bit doesn’t mean I will dance to his tune. Either he gives me the brooch himself, or I leave. I don’t have the patience to play cops and thieves.”
They both took a step back from my onslaught, but they didn’t appear to be fazed (who was I kidding, I couldn’t even see their faces). “Alright, alright,” one of them placated me. “Please, calm down a little bit. Now tell us, miss. In all of your meetings with bossman, have you ever felt that he’s going to deny you anything?”
I paused, they caught onto that and pressed on. “Treat this like a game. If you win, you win, If you lose, it’s not the end of the world. You’re getting frustrated because you’re taking it literally. Just give into it and loosen up. We’ll help you this time.”
And that’s how I ended up in front of Sylus’s wing again.
This time, the twins (their names were Luke and Kieran), had supplied me with evol-nullifying handcuffs and a mini tranquilliser just in case the cuffs didn’t work. No music could be heard from within, so I was extra careful while entering and made sure the door hinges didn’t squeal. It was mostly dark, all the lamps were switched off, and it took me a few minutes to get adjusted to the dull light streaming from the windows.
I squinted at the bed from the archway. Sylus was wearing a robe, but he wasn’t lying down. He was sitting propped against the headboard, eyes closed and head partially turned the other way. Hesitation seeped into me for a second. What if he was still awake? And even if he was asleep, who the fuck slept like that?
The twins’s voices came back to me. Their words of encouragement spurred me to walk across the carpeted floor towards his sleeping form. From his perch, Mashi’s eyes were dimmed: maybe he was in power-saving mode.
I carefully nudged Sylus’s hand but there was no response. Alright, this was my chance. Climbing onto the bed, I took one of his hands and cuffed it to the bedpost. He didn’t stir, his breathing even. There was literally nowhere else for the brooch to be, it had to be present on his person. I was about to touch the lapel of his silk robe when he suddenly opened his eyes and caught my wrist midway.
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I turn 22 tomorrow. Yayyyy! Also, today was the first day of my masters' degree, and I'm shocked that the challenging degree I chose for myself has already started being challenging.
Happy reading! You know where to find me(on instagram) if you want to support.
Synopsis: Y/n is a protocore researcher who is looking for answers about how an aether core got lodged into her heart and why is it messing with her brain. In the midst of this elaborate maze of dead ends and false answers, she encounters a man who seems to be very interested in her and is willing to find ways of providing her with the answers she's seeking.
Author's note: Y/n is not a hunter; she is a Master's student (not based on myself at all) and a part time protocore researcher at the Association. No changes to Sylus, although there may be situations in the story where he might be a little out of character. Mentions of the other LADS men, but they are not the love interests here.
Chapter 18: The Throne Room
The road changed as I left the cityscape of Linkon behind and entered the N109 Zone’s outskirts.
The neon lights became sharper, the wind more aggressive as I traversed the empty tarmac, trying to remember the way to the base. I first found the warehouse where my aether core’s energy had been stabilised. From there, I retraced my path, losing my way a couple of times until I reached the skyscraper.
I climbed off my bike and removed my helmet. Not a single soul was in sight. Keeping a palm on my gun, I looked around once and headed to the entrance, my coat flapping in the wind.
There were guards inside, thank fuck. It was eerie to be alone here. They recognised my face and let me in, pointing the way without a word. I nodded gratefully, since I didn’t have the time or the patience to start exploring now. I headed down the hallway and through the open archway in the direction I was shown. The core fragment in my heart pulsed as I paused in front of a closed set of double doors. My hands shook a little as I placed them on the mahogany wood and gave it a push.
It was a grand throne room.
Standing at the threshold, I took in the high arched ceiling, the polished obsidian floor and the crimson marble bordered windows at the sides. Long, billowy curtains flowed like damsels in the wind. No furniture except a high backed chair at the opposite end where the silver-haired emperor held his court. A roaring fireplace was on one side of the hall, flinging enough heat to warm the entire space. No carpets, the hall’s only ornamentation being a huge crystal chandelier that was resting on the floor instead of being hung up.
Sylus was sitting on the throne, and the relief I felt on seeing him unharmed (mostly) was so intense it brought tears into my eyes. He wasn’t alone, the masked twins were standing on either side of him. They all looked up to see me when the doors cracked open.
Sylus’s eyes widened in shock and surprise. For the first time, I’d truly caught him off-guard. He seemed to have arrived just a few minutes before me: his suit was smoking and scratches decorated his face and hands. Before he could utter a word, I ran, sidestepped the chandelier and tackled him on the throne.
He didn’t flinch or wince as I threw my arms around his neck and my knees folded on either side of his hips. “Idiot,” I whispered. “Do you know how worried I was for you? I saw the news of the explosion and thought something happened to you!”
I couldn’t control my tears, so I buried my face into his shoulder, inhaling his comforting scent mixed with a hint of smoke and the fabric dampened. There was the distant sound of retreating footsteps and the closing of the doors. We were alone now, with crackling fire as our only company.
Slowly, as if he were afraid that I would break or vanish, Sylus brought his arms around me and pressed me to himself. His breaths were shaky at my hair and our heartbeats synced with each other. We stayed like that for a long, long time. One of his hands rubbed my back in a soothing manner.
I pulled back after my eyes were dry to look at his face. His eyes were filled with so much emotion I almost started tearing up again. The clothes he was wearing had stopped smoking and the fabric had mended. The cuts and scrapes on his skin were still being healed. He looked completely exhausted as if he’d used the last of his energy reserves to come here and slump down.
“Y/n.” He uttered my name as if it was a prayer, his knuckles gently brushing my face.
The cuts on his face were still present. Shifting back a little, I placed my palms on his chest and closed my eyes, trying to resonate with him once again and give him the energy to heal faster. My evol surged through me—and halted. I couldn’t sense Sylus’s power at all. Then I remembered what the warehouse keeper had said about my own evol: my mind had to be free from blockages to do so.
“Sylus doesn’t scare me. I find him completely attractive. He’s hot. He’s handsome. I can resonate with him easily.” I chanted these sentences under my breath repeatedly but it still didn’t work.
When I finally gave up and opened my eyes, Sylus was watching me with amusement. “I can hear you, you know.”
I rolled my eyes playfully, but I was relieved that the last of his scratches were just about healed. “Enjoy it while you can. I’m not saying that again.”
I was still on his lap, but I wasn’t that mortified anymore. And anyway, when I did try to get up, his hands slid down to my hips and kept me in place. He leaned back and settled comfortably against the back of the throne, watching me with a soft smile. “You dropped everything and ran to me when you found out about the explosion. Should I think that you’ve started to care about my well-being?”
I rested my hands on his chest and looked at my fingertips, unable to meet his gaze. “I was worried, yes. But it seems like your smug self is alright.”
“Have you forgotten that we are alike? I cannot die that easily.”
“I know. But being a near immortal doesn’t mean you should run into danger head first.”
The amused glint in his eye turned sharper. “I know a person who should take her own advice.”
Instead of continuing the banter, I cupped his face with my hands and looked into his eyes to know that I was serious. “You are okay, right? Completely?”
Sylus closed his eyes, leaning into my palms. “I am.”
🗡️🐦⬛🗡️
Posting this from a new city. If you want to support me, I'm here on Instagram/Substack at _writtenbyshama.
Synopsis: Y/n is a protocore researcher who is looking for answers about how an aether core got lodged into her heart and why is it messing with her brain. In the midst of this elaborate maze of dead ends and false answers, she encounters a man who seems to be very interested in her and is willing to find ways of providing her with the answers she's seeking.
Author's note: Y/n is not a hunter; she is a Master's student (not based on myself at all) and a part time protocore researcher at the Association. No changes to Sylus, although there may be situations in the story where he might be a little out of character. Mentions of the other LADS men, but they are not the love interests here.
Chapter 17: Returning To The N109 Zone
Sylus walked me to the front doors of my villa.
“Take care, and try to stay away from any further workplace explosions.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’ll keep that in mind. But you have to promise me that you’ll return from Tulla island in one piece, with your head and limbs still attached.”
He made a small show of rolling his wrist. “I don’t know. Maybe I’ll get a robotic arm instead.”
“Sylus!”
“…Fine. I promise, kitten.”
His nonchalance was unnerving. Obviously he’d be fine, but I couldn’t let the thought go after he’d filled it in my head. Finally, I unbuttoned the holster at my waist and handed my Association licensed gun. All members were given two identical weapons, and I had both of mine altered by Sonia, a weaponry tech expert. “Please take this as a token of good luck and to put my mind at ease.”
He glared at my outstretched palm as if I had offered a dead mouse. “Tch. Don’t insult me. My fists are better than that.”
I sighed. “I know. But please accept it for my sake. I have had its ammunition enhanced so that a wanderer with a low metaflux will be dead with a single bullet. And the prince..is just human.”
The glare disappeared and his mouth curved into a smile. “A government worker handing a weapon to a criminal to help kill her own prince. Interesting."
“Just take it, please.”
He finally deigned to accept my demands, his large hand closing over mine. “Alright, then. Thank you. I’ll make sure its returned to you, irrespective of whether I do or not.”
🗡️🐦⬛🗡️
“How’s it going between you and Skye?” Tara asked between bites of her chocolate donut.
I wiped the crumbs off my lips with my napkin. “It’s going well, I suppose.”
Our department’s work had finally resumed, and I was sorting out the paperwork at my desk when the bag of donuts appeared in my vision.
Tara was a hunter working in Captain Jenna’s Alpha team, but we were friends from the time we’d attended the basic training together. She stopped by my desk whenever she didn’t have any missions to catch up on gossip and what not. She had ranted about her crush on her captain for half-an-hour while I listened, and now we had moved to my (non-existent) love life. All of my colleagues considered Sylus as my boyfriend and I didn’t have the heart to tell them otherwise.
Speaking of Sylus, it had been a week since he’d left for Tulla island. I had sent a tentative text and it had gone unanswered. The prince’s party was going to be two weeks long, so I had to wait a whole another week to hear from him. I desperately wanted to know what he was doing and whether he was alive.
“I saw the way he looked at you when he had visited to pick you up,” Tara’s voice brought me back to reality. “He’s utterly smitten with you, Y/n.”
Heat rose up to my cheeks. The intense way he watched me had not gone unnoticed by me, but I didn’t want to discuss him now. I steered the topic to generic banalities and Tara left after we finished eating and I returned to work.
In the evening, I unlocked my front doors to see Mashi greeting me with a peck to my shoulder. I held the mechanical bird in my arms, breathing him in, trying and failing to detect any scent of its owner. Mashi smelled like cold metal and loneliness.
I went about my days like I had before, my body going through the motions of muscle memory throughout my classes and at work. But my mind was occupied with was Sylus, Sylus and Sylus. No other person had consumed my thoughts this much. There were upcoming exams and I was trying to study but all I could think of was whether the silver haired man was doing okay. Had he used my gun on anybody? Did he gift the prince that dagger? Had he gone alone all the way to Tulla island?
The next week passed in meetings, assignments and conferences. On the day Sylus was supposed to return, I kept checking and rechecking my phone to see if he had called or texted. He hadn’t. And the blasted bird was nowhere to be found. I had woken up that morning to see Mashi’s nest empty.
I floated through the day and ended up on my couch in the evening, curled up with a forgotten mug of tea and blearily watching the news channel. My phone was on the coffee table. I had swallowed my pride and triple texted him which had gone unread.
It was late, but it was my day off the next day, so I didn’t get up from my place. Each thought swirled around my mind and blew away like smoke, to be replaced by another thought. I didn’t give much attention to anything.
An explosive noise from the TV startled me awake. The normal newscast was interrupted by a breaking news. I sat up, my horror growing inside me as the newscaster read from a report that there had been a bomb blast in Tulla island and it had caused injuries and casualties.
I grabbed my phone and dialled Sylus, but he didn’t answer. I tried again and again, my eyes glued to the screen where they were showing the prince who was severely injured in the blast. There was no official casualty count as of now. After the fifth time of empty ringing, I threw on a coat over my night pants and t-shirt and grabbed my motorcycle keys and gun, switching off everything and locking the main door as I ran out to my driveway.
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Author's note: This is my last update for this month. I'm moving to a new city and starting my master's degree soon. And September 2nd is my birthday, which I'll be celebrating far from home, lol. I'm a bundle of excitement and nerves at the same time. See ya soon!
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Synopsis: Y/n is a protocore researcher who is looking for answers about how an aether core got lodged into her heart and why is it messing with her brain. In the midst of this elaborate maze of dead ends and false answers, she encounters a man who seems to be very interested in her and is willing to find ways of providing her with the answers she's seeking.
Author's note: Y/n is not a hunter; she is a Master's student (not based on myself at all) and a part time protocore researcher at the Association. No changes to Sylus, although there may be situations in the story where he might be a little out of character. Mentions of the other LADS men, but they are not the love interests here.
Chapter 16: A Tour Of The Dragon's Lair
The Protocore Research Wing of the Hunter’s Association was a mess.
A protocore storage unit had exploded and all work was halted until the debris was removed and the hall refurbished. It was suffocating to wear protective gear and spend the entire time clearing crystal shards and mopping up hazardous preservative liquids.
On top of this, the weather had turned. Atrocious rainfall coupled with ear-splitting thunder shook the entire city and turned it upside down.
After two weeks of soppy classes and hands smelling of sanitiser from handling the clean-up, I was ready to sleep away my days off. Exiting the storage hall, I removed all the gear and threw them in the bin, washing my hands and face before stepping into the locker room to fetch my raincoat and purse. Some of my colleagues were present, chattering and locking up for the night. Closing my locker door, I said bye to the nearest person and headed for the exit.
Maria ran into me just as I was about to cross the threshold. She excitedly grabbed my arm and turned me around. “Everyone! Our dear Y/n’s ‘bestie’ is waiting for her at the reception with a large bouquet of flowers!”
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Sylus was in a silver button-down tucked into midnight blue trousers, a matching coat elegantly draped across his shoulders.
He was seated near the revolving door, seemingly unbothered in the tiny, uncomfortable metal chair and scrolling through his phone. On his lap was a circular bouquet of black forget-me-nots with silver veins running through the petals, similar to the ones I had blooming on the windowsills of my study. The reception hall was filled with pointed whispers in his direction which increased when I stepped into the area. Sylus looked up at me, scarlet eyes softening a little.
Standing up, he pocketed the phone as I traversed the space till I was directly in front of him. I was a tall person myself, but I reached only upto his chest and had to look up to meet his eyes. It was a strange and wonderful feeling at the same time.
“Very daring of you to just saunter into the Hunters’ Association, Skye.”
He handed me the bouquet, taking my coat and purse to lighten my load. “I’d walk into hell if I knew that was where you worked. What’s the Association in front of that?”
“I don’t know, but hell does seem easier to walk into, since you crawled your way up from there.”
He laughed at my statement, and I found myself smiling too. Everyone was still gawking, so I grabbed Sylus’s elbow and steered him towards the doors. “Let’s talk somewhere else.”
“As you wish, sweetie.”
He let me tug him outside where the thunderstorm was still raging on and used his evol to create an air bubble around us against the rain. He took the lead here and I followed him towards a car that I had pictured him in before: a sleek, black supercar, armoured to be impenetrable like its owner. How many cars did he own?
Sylus opened the passenger door for me and helped me inside. I placed the flower bouquet on the back seat and strapped on the seat belt. He entered through the driver’s door and placed my coat and purse next to the flowers and strapped himself in before switching on the engine.
“Have you eaten?” He navigated the car smoothly into the flow of traffic. I shook my head in response. “I own a restaurant nearby. Do you want to dine in or order a takeaway?”
Of course he owned a restaurant. Sylus was someone who owned one of everything on the planet. I mulled over his question as we crossed the bridge to the other side of the city. “Let’s get takeaway. I’m not in the mood to apply table manners.”
“Alright.”
Ten minutes later, I watched with an open mouth as he pulled into the parking lot of a fine-dining restaurant. The same one that I had discovered years ago, one of my favourite places to eat for special occasions. “What the hell?”
I saw the host walking towards our car with an umbrella and stopped at Sylus’s open window. “Good evening, sir. A table of two has been reserved as per your earlier request.”
“Cancel that. I’m going to order takeaway instead.”
The host’s eyes widened in surprise for a moment. Obviously, a fine-dining place didn’t cater for takeaways. Still, he nodded. “Sure sir, just a minute.” He went inside and returned with two menus and a tablet. He’d hooked the stem of his umbrella to take our orders, but Sylus waved a finger and he was encased in a dry air-bubble. “Thank you, sir.”
After our orders were placed and he was gone, Sylus closed the window and turned up the heat a notch for my benefit. The thunderstorm raged on, the water flowing down in thick rivulets on the windshield and drummed the roof over our heads. I turned towards Sylus to see that he was already watching me. He looked absolutely ethereal in the soft, smeary light.
“So, you own this restaurant.”
“Yes. I got reports that a certain someone really liked their menu and was a frequent patron.”
No wonder their selection of menu was mostly vegetarian. Sylus had been controlling it all along.
“How are you doing?” He asked softly.
“Alright, I guess. It’s been a hectic couple of weeks.”
“Mephisto said there was an explosion in your workplace.”
“One of the new hunter recruits didn’t seal a protocore unit correctly. It destroyed everything in the blast radius. Only the walls and the ceiling are undamaged.”
“My condolences.” His smug face said he didn’t give a fuck about my workplace.
I sighed, burrowing into my seat and finding a more comfortable sitting position. “Why did you pick me up tonight? I appreciate the flowers by the way.”
“Well, I’m leaving the continent for a few days.” He shifted in his seat. “Thought I’d inform you so you wouldn’t miss me too much.”
I opened and closed my mouth like a fish for a few times as I processed his words. Me? Miss him? Sure, we had history, but this was such an arrogant assumption. The host arrived with our parcel just then, giving me more time to think. Sylus paid the bill and added a hefty tip to the man before closing the window and starting the engine.
A note to add into my book of knowing Sylus: He was neither rude or polite to other people, just assertive. But he made sure that they were compensated accordingly.
“Where are we going?” I finally found my voice when he merged into a road going out of the city.
“One of my armouries. I’ve been invited to a birthday party, and needed help in choosing a suitable gift.”
I unlocked my phone and did a shallow search on high-profile/notorious people who were hosting a birthday party. The search ended when I noticed the prince’s obnoxious leering face. His birthday was in two days and he was apparently celebrating it in the faraway Tulla island. Switching off the device, I gazed out of the window, thinking about the information. The prince, in addition to his royal duties, was a merchant of military grade armaments and protocores, a famous rival to Onichynus. He did exactly what Sylus did but in the open, surrounded and protected by the state laws.
“Are you going to gift him a gun? Rifle? Bomb?”
“You tell me. What would be best?”
“I recommend not attending in the first place. Why are you going anyway? He hates you and you hate him.”
“I don’t hate him. His entire existence of worthless luxury is a minuscule particle of dust underneath my shoe.”
That made me laugh. Sylus glanced at me before looking ahead, a small smile gracing his face. “Then don’t go,” I replied. “Why are you undertaking this task of finding him a gift, and gods above, risking me miss you in your absence if he’s not that important?”
It took him a minute to answer. “He hijacked a shipment of mine and burned it in the middle of the ocean. I’m attending the party to show him the consequences of what happens to people who try to destroy what’s mine.”
“I see.”
The thunderstorm had eased into a gentle shower. We’d left the city limits and were cruising at a comfortable pace among the agricultural lands and tree orchards. The smell of hot food filled the car’s interior and made my mouth water. About half-an-hour later, he pointed to the left. “Vineyards of the famous black crystal grapes, used exclusively for making wine. I own this property.”
I nodded, even though I couldn’t see much of anything in the dark.
He circled around the property and stopped at the far side, in front of a latticed metal gate which looked abandoned. He grabbed the takeaway parcels and climbed out to open the door for me. The rain had completely stopped by now. I left my belongings in the car and we walked through the gates, along a paved path to a broken down warehouse. The area was void of other people, but I noticed the security cameras watching our movements as Sylus unlocked the door and we stepped inside.
This abandoned look was a facade. I followed Sylus into a camouflaged elevator which took us almost ten stories underground, a sultry voice welcoming us into the armoury.
I stood in what looked like a lobby, looking at the multiple entryways into other halls filled with everything from the most ancient to the latest tech and arms available to humankind. The place was fitted with high ceilings, good ventilation and museum level lighting. The air smelled like the open pages of a freshly printed book. I was about to walk into a room when Sylus gently grasped my elbow and walked me in the opposite direction to a control room of sorts. “Dinner first. Then you can roam around to your heart’s content.”
“Right.”
We sat down at a marble table across from each other and Sylus opened the parcel boxes. I opened a soup container and brought it directly to my mouth since it wasn’t very hot. Sylus, the ever-elegant persona, used a spoon and chuckled when a bit of the broth dribbled onto my blouse. He unfolded a tissue and wiped my mouth before handing it over. “Careful, kitten.”
Blushing, I used it to wipe the stain on my blouse. The rest of the meal was eaten in amicable silence, our silverware tapping against the containers.
One of the numerous effects of the aether core in my heart was a large appetite. I normally ate less in the midst of company, but Sylus’s appetite matched mine. We each had two large containers of soup; my main course was one large plate of roasted cauliflower on a bed of garlic hummus along with another plate of white sauce mushroom pasta. He had ordered an entire oven-roasted fish which was as large as my forearm with a creamy salad on the side. I had Greek yogurt topped with blackberries and a drizzle of honey for dessert while he polished off a thick slice of chocolate ice-cream cake.
We cleared away the empty containers and washed up before he gave me a tour of the place. It was like being in a honeycomb. I had assumed that it was just a place to store weapons, but it had other things too.
The weapons ranged from ancient armour, swords, shields, bows and arrows, to high-tech guns, rifles, revolvers. The other halls housed jewellery collections, rare books, ancient maps, and protocores. Sylus walked me through their display cabinets with a hand on my lower back (he’d asked my permission) and watched me carefully to observe my reactions. When I had glanced at everything, we retraced our steps into the weapon storage so he could select one as a birthday gift.
Sylus’s large palm slid over my back to clutch my waist and pulled me a bit closer to his side. He glanced at me once to check whether I was alright with it, and I didn’t have any complaints.
“So,” he said as we walked into a room that held one of every weapon created by man. “What do you think?”
“It’s like going through a dragon’s lair to see the hoard it has collected.”
That was not the answer he was expecting, apparently. He looked at me, trying to discern something from my face before sighing and removing his hand from my waist. I immediately missed his warmth as he stepped towards the display cases and flourished an arm at them. “Assist me then, in deciding a suitable gift.”
“I need a few more pointers.” I took a step to the side and leaned my hip against a table stacked with different types of bows. In combat, my preferred choice was a bow and arrow, I even had them back in my villa and practiced when I had the time. Obviously, the Association-issued gun (handed to even non-hunters, just in case) was more practical, but holding a bow made me feel confident. It took me a minute to come back to the topic we were on.
“What do you mean by gifting him? Say I chose a gun, will he be accepting it in a bow-tied box or will he only see the end of its barrel?”
Sylus laughed, the deep tones of his voice making me tremble. “It will be in a box, don’t worry. I additionally plan to get myself another weapon in any case.”
“Right.” I did a thorough examination of all the weapon rooms again, pausing and perusing the items at display. Sylus followed me patiently, the overhead cameras pointing at us as we did so. I was mainly thinking of daggers more than guns, because they were so much prettier and more practical to be given away as a birthday gift.
One of the display cabinets set into the wall had curved scimitars and long swords and I went up to it to have a closer look. There were five individual pieces, the longest double edged sword placed in the centre. I stared at it, the aether core in my heart pulsing a little bit stronger.
Sylus paused next to me, and I could feel his stare at the side of my face, but I couldn’t take my eyes off the sword. The double-edged blade seemed to be made from silver, ending in a bejewelled hilt encrusted with rubies and diamonds. A fist sized fire diamond was at the place where the blade and the hilt met. This was not an everyday warfare sword, it was forged for ceremonies that birthed and killed planets.
“See something you like?” Sylus’s voice sounded faraway, as if he were cast away in a dream.
The sword beckoned to me, and I stepped closer until my face was pressed against the glass, my breaths fogging it up a little. I was sure that I’d seen the sword in the broken memory nightmares I kept having. My hands knew the feeling of wielding it, and I simultaneously wanted to hold it and destroy it. I racked my brain to remember, but no specifics came to me. Just vague feelings of uneasiness and sadness, as whatever had occurred when I had that sword was not a good memory. I stumbled back from the cabinet, but not before a sharp slice of memory flashed through my mind.
“Don’t know where to aim? I can help you.”
“NO! Please, Sylus.”
“This is the only way. It’s the fate of a dragon which cannot be changed, no matter how much you fight it. Come, Y/n.”
The sword in my hands weighed heavy. I tried to step back, away from my beloved, but he caught my wrist and in one fluid motion, the sword was embedded into his heart.
“Sylus!” Tears streamed down my cheeks and I let go of the weapon’s hilt, falling to my knees so I could cradle his head as his body thundered down. I was crying and trying to speak but it was incoherent. His claws came up, gently running down the side of my face.
“Don’t cry for a fiend, my love. I am but a monster.”
I showered his face with sloppy kisses, afraid to speak, to move. He looked nothing like a fiend, a monstrous entity. His vermillion eyes looked at me as if trying to see me for one last time before they closed.
“Sylus! Open your eyes!”
“I am not dying,” he murmured, his life essence oozing out from his chest. “I just want to rest my eyes for a little bit.”
My fingers trembled around his face. I wanted to hold on to him as long as I could.
“Will you…sing to me?” He whispered, his eyes still closed. “I…quite like the sound of your voice, my beloved.”
I couldn’t deny his soft-spoken request. Wiping my tears and clearing my throat several times, I took a deep breath before launching into song. The first ever song that I had sung to him, which had deepened our relationship and brought us closer. By the time of the end notes, Sylus had stopped breathing, a smile on his serene face.
There was so much blood. What had I done? My beloved dragon was no more.
Sylus produced a silk handkerchief from his pocket and gently wiped my tear streaked face. I looked around, dazed. We were still in that sword room in his underground armoury. Sylus had caught me during that memory flash and sunk down to the floor with me, cradling me into his lap. The sword winked at me from its place in the cabinet above our heads.
I put my hands onto Sylus’s warm, breathing chest. His face was solemn, but his eyes roved over me with such concern it made my heart melt.
I had killed him. My hands had wielded the sword that led to his death, yet he didn’t stay away. He had sought me, sent Mashi to watch over me and stepped in to help me when needed. My head felt heavy and I was desperate to remember everything that had occurred, but I knew it wasn’t going to be tonight. With trembling hands, I slowly extracted myself from him and he let me go, his palms sliding over my shoulders and waist as he did so. I stood up, using my sleeve to wipe my face. “I apologise.”
He stood up, digging his hands into his pockets. “Hmm.”
We watched each other, suddenly awkward in the space. I thought about my life before meeting him, just me and a lonely mechanical crow seeking each other’s company as I had naively believed. It was an unassuming life, lonely and memory-corroding as the core worked into my mind. I was able to harness its power properly and realign my memory only after I met Sylus, but it came at a cost of remembering everything, even the fact that I had once considered him my beloved and yet had pierced his heart with a sword.
“I sometimes wonder about how my life would’ve been if I had never been rescued by you the other day,” I mumbled. But I couldn’t imagine my life without him now. Even the brief period after our first meeting had me wait for him subconsciously.
He chuckled humourlessly. “If his highness sets a trap and I never come back from the birthday party, your wish may be granted. Don’t lose hope.”
I was more perceptive to his eyes now, since they showed the emotions his face and words didn’t. They were narrowed as if in pain, and he didn’t meet my gaze. I took a step towards him. “I didn’t mean to say it like that. I can’t imagine my life without you now. It wasn’t meant to hurt you.”
He didn’t reply.
“Do you really think there might be a life-threatening trap for you there?”
He shrugged. “Who knows.” Then he turned to one of the cases holding a curved dagger. “I’ll take this as the gift.”
I was worried. If something happened to him on the island… “Take me with you,” I blurted out.
He raised an eyebrow. “That’s an interesting offer.”
I reached forwards and grabbed his hand. “I mean it. Take me with you.”
He shook his head and pulled back from my grasp. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. Anyway, it’s late. Come on, I’ll drop you home.”
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