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.

Get me out! Get me out of here!" she broke into sobs, shutting her ears as though she was hearing too many voices, catcalling her at the same time.

I contemplated her stoically.

he had been more hers

her head. Disturbed, she clenched her hair into her fists, shaking her

She went through

kept peering at her, replying to all of Icifer's restlessness with my

"It can't be real. Not again. I can't be back at the Virgo palace. I can't return to that life. No. No.

me! I won't let

as she chanted Ezra's name, as though it were a

to me, but it seemed

to her chest.

I'll take her out of

my eyes. She was mumbling

watch,' I thought to him

to be an illusion of my

inch, she crawled on the floor until her fingers brushed against the wall. She banged on the wall as though she hoped there was someone beyond those walls to hear her plea. But there

familiar, something known, something peaceful. I won't

that messed up her mind. Her heart raced, her breaths ragged with determination as she scrambled

hands and legs alternatively, she began trudging. Her hands were shaking, but not from fear, but the adrenaline rush. I could

That was unexpected.

ridges and grooves, the texture and patterns of

adapting. Trying to find a way even though it's futile because there is

peered at her

is a game, right? You want me to find you?" Her

widened my eyes

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

full experience. You won't find

eyes, letting

The known she created in this unknown darkness made sense, given the circumstance she was in. Most viable option. Considering it was her

hasn't improved?' Icifer asked, his voice charged with pride for

because she has always been mentally strong from the moment I first saw her, when she picked herself up after the car accident. But

closer to her and stood right

should have found

figure out from which direction my voice was coming

ran her

before then, and you win," I

what I said. And when she did, she let out

knew you were here. I knew

Don't be scared, wife."

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

eyes, licking my

to you in this room. You'll have to figure out where I

find you?" she blurted

but these tricks won't work on me and maybe

reach me. Standing in her place, she shut her eyes. Although

in this darkness," she said. "Senses don't seem to work normally here. From your voice, it seems as though

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

were right behind me

that?" I asked,

within me. I just knew you were close because with you, everything feels... different.