Offered to the Triplet Alphas

Chapter-69. Dark Room

[Asher]

Why did I bring you here, Xanthea?

Out of all the beautiful places I could have taken you, why did I bring you into this darkness?

Is it because no one in all the three realms knows of this place-not my family, not even Raven and Ezra?

Or is it because I wanted you to know this place? But why?

You make me question Xanthea. You make me question myself, but you leave me with no answers because my mind can no longer comprehend my actions and the reasons behind them. And to ask you directly is not even an option. One question will lead to another and another. And I have only limited answers. I do not know how much of myself I should reveal to you. How much of me would you be interested to know about? Or if you would be interested at all? I don't know how you'll see me beyond the facade I put before you, for there is a darkness in my soul blacker than the one that fills this room. Like a rotten apple, corroded at its core, I keep polishing my outer cover, keeping it shiny and desirable. But beyond it, there's nothing to be desired.

I never had a problem sharing anything with my brothers. But you, Xanthea. You.

I want to keep you all for myself.

I need something from you, expect something from you. What? I can't tell, but it's something only you can give me.

And that is why I can't be with you the way I have been with everyone else all my life, from my family to my peers.

I want to show you the real me, but I am not sure if you'd like what you see.

If I shed my masks before you, would you stay by my side? Would you look for me in my hollowness, the way you are looking for me in this dark room? Or would you want to escape?

***

Before teleporting, Icifer wanted to take Xanthea somewhere private. Somewhere it would be just the two of us and nobody else. I still can't believe this was the first place that came to my mind, almost as if it had been planted there by

someone.

My wolf, my mind, and my body have been acting unexpectedly and uncontrollably when it comes to her. Even so, I found myself humbly surprised tonight.

Even though she was my mate, there was no reason for me to bring her to a place this deeply personal to me. So personal, I never wanted to share it with anyone.

Maybe I was here because Icifer didn't want to share Xanthea with anyone, either.

Xanthea stretched out her hands. Her eyes opened wide as she tried to grope her way through the nothingness of this room. She was breathing heavily, as though the bitter air of this room strangled her.

She strained her eyes, trying to see through the dense darkness that hung heavy around her. A darkness so dense it seemed to have materialized, tightening around her like a shroud.

Although I highly doubted she'd be able to figure out where we were, she wouldn't be able to see a thing in here, anyway.

This room had a touch of cold and stale death, especially designed to impair all the senses of whoever was in here. Especially sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch.

I don't know how she would perceive this place, but a few hours of isolation in this place was enough for an immortal with a powerful wolf's spirit to lose their mind.

From their hearing to their wolf's senses, would be highly impaired. Things like disturbing hallucinations, hearing voices, reliving one's darkest traumas were common symptoms. This place brought to reality one's deepest emotions, fears and memories through the illusion of one's bewildered mind.

And I could see Xanthea already struggling with them as she crumbled to the floor, her eyes wide with horror.

I wonder what she was hallucinating about?

"Please don't. Please don't lock me here again. It's too dark. I promise I'll be on my suppressants all the time. I am sorry! I-I shouldn't have wanted it. I shouldn't have craved it, enjoyed it! Luna! Luna Meesa! Please don't leave me here! I don't want to be alone! It's scary..." she cried, impatiently hitting the air as though she were banging on a door.

She stopped banging as though someone had opened the invisible door.

out! Get me out of here!" she broke into sobs, shutting her ears as

I contemplated her stoically.

wolf, but recently he had been more hers

gasps. She shook her head. Disturbed, she clenched her hair

went through a

of Icifer's restlessness with my silence as I observed Xanthea

down her face. "It can't be real. Not again. I can't be back at the Virgo palace. I can't return to

control me! I won't let them!

shutting her eyes as she chanted Ezra's name, as though

to me, but it

knees closer to her chest. The jitter in

take her out of here,' Icifer

eyes. She was mumbling

thought to him

of my mind. There's

fingers brushed against the wall. She banged on the wall as though she hoped there was

the unknown we fear. If I can't see, I'll imagine something familiar, something known, something peaceful. I won't

pulling away the web of fear that messed up her mind. Her heart

wall. Crouching low, feeling the wall and floor with her hands and legs alternatively, she began trudging. Her hands were shaking, but not from

That was unexpected.

her fingers glided against the wall, gently tracing the ridges and grooves, the texture and patterns of

Trying to find a way even though it's futile because there is no door in this room or a window or ventilation. It

peered at her

here? This is a game, right? You want me

widened my

the darkness' illusions, she created a counter reality. She imagined a scenario where this was all a game I

full experience. You won't find the

my eyes, letting out a

viable option. Considering it was her first time in this room, she was doing pretty well. My eyes relaxed, and I felt

think she hasn't improved?' Icifer asked, his voice charged with

her, when she picked herself up after the car accident. But I can't deny, I am impressed,' I

closer to her and stood

have found you sooner..." I

from which direction

she ran her hands

twice more. Find me before then,

she froze, comprehending what I said. And when she did, she let out a sigh of relief with a subtle whimper. Sniffling,

knew you were here. I knew

is. Don't be scared,

not scared," she smiled, wiping off her tears, stepping away from

lowered my eyes, licking

you in this room. You'll have to figure out where I am," I said,

find you?" she blurted

on

eyes. Although calmer than before, she had

feels like you are everywhere in this darkness," she said. "Senses don't seem to work normally here. From your voice, it seems as

place. Her eyes hovering in the air around me. She couldn't see it, but she was standing face to face with

right behind me all this time, weren't

sense that?" I asked, stepping closer to

deep within me. I just knew you were close