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.

Open the 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. 'Asher! She's gonna lose her mind! Take her out of here!' Icifer

I contemplated her stoically.

my wolf, but recently he had been more hers than

She shook her head.

are hurting her!' She went

all of Icifer's restlessness with my silence as I

face. "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. No. This makes no sense." She scrubbed off the tears

control me! I won't let

her eyes as she chanted Ezra's name, as though it were a source of

much difference to me, but it seemed to have pissed Icifer

she curled up her knees closer to her chest. The jitter in

go close to her. I'll take her

narrowed my eyes. She was mumbling something to

thought to

of my mind. There's nothing to fear.

against the wall. She banged on the wall as though she hoped there was someone beyond those walls to hear her plea. But there was no one

imagine something familiar, something known, something peaceful. I won't be trapped again. Not even in my own mind! Never again!" She sounded like she was challenging

eyes glared through the dark, pulling away the web of fear that messed up her mind. Her heart raced, her breaths ragged

of the wall. Crouching low, feeling the wall and floor with her hands and legs alternatively, she began trudging. Her hands were shaking, but

That was unexpected.

against the wall, gently tracing the ridges and grooves, the texture and patterns of the wall. She was looking for

way even though it's futile because there is no door in this room or a window or ventilation. It is just a big box, holding the world's

peered at her

right? You want me to find you?" Her

my

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

to visit 00005s.org for the full experience. You won't find the

letting

unknown darkness made sense, given the circumstance she was in. Most viable option. Considering

his voice charged with pride for his

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

to her and

have found you sooner..." I

which direction my voice was

she ran her hands through

twice more. Find me before then, and you win,"

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

here. I knew

be scared, wife."

scared," she smiled, wiping off her tears, stepping away

lowered my eyes,

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

you?" she blurted out,

won't work on me and

Standing in her place, she shut her eyes. Although calmer than before, she had lost her sense of direction towards

to work normally here. From your voice, it seems as though you are standing at some

me. She couldn't see it,

but you were right behind me all this time, weren't

you... sense that?" I asked, stepping

don't know. It came from deep within me. I just knew you were close because with you, everything feels... different.