KING ELIJAH

Groaning, I turned to my left but immediately held my head from the pain that pieced it like a thousand needle

“Fuck!” I groaned, closing my eyes tightly but it hurts. Everything hurts.

“Celeste?” A female voice called. I tried opening my eyes but as I did, I closed it from the glaring light of the yellow bulb hanging from the ceiling.

I tried a few times before my eyesight adjusted to the light and surroundings.

I was surrounded by three people, Hilda, Elijah and a woman with black hair who looks quite familiar.

“What happened?” I asked, looking at them as I saw the sorrow and relief on their faces.

They all looked at each other, contemplating if they should answer or not.

“You died, Celeste” Hilda said, her eyes shinning with pity.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Wh-what?” I chocked out, my mouth running dry and my heart stopped. Literally. I tried sitting up but was gently pushed back on the bed my Elijah who shook his head in a ‘No’.

The woman sitting next to my bed sighed and I looked at her. She rubbed her hand down her face as she looked at me with sadness.

“After my daughter attacked you…,” She started.  Her daughter? No wonder she looks familiar.

“You passed out.. Or rather, died when you could no longer breath in air.” She breathed out.

“We had to perform some rituals, Celeste. To keep you alive” Hilda added.

“What rituals?” I asked, my heart beating so fast.

“A bonding ritual” the witches both said in unison.

I sighed and relaxed on the bed. They bonding ritual couldn’t have been a bad thing right? I mean it did save my life… Whatever it is.

“You don’t know what a bonding ritual is, Celeste?” Elijah asked beside me with his brow in a frown.

“No, but it couldn’t have been a bad thing right?” I asked Elijah and chuckled nervously.

He took my left arm and raised it for me to see. On it was a sign, and infinite sign, it looked more like scared but was more thicker and in red. I brought my right hand and run my fingers on the thick red mark.

I looked at Elijah as he raised the sleeve of his shirt to his elbow and on his left arm he had the same sign.

“What does this mean?” I asked, looking at each of them.

“It means if you die, so does he.”

ELIJAH’S POV

I watched as my lovely Celeste slept peaceful on the bed. I ran my fingers along her brown soft hair. I couldn’t afford to lose her, I knew what I was getting myself into when I agreed to the bonding ritual.

I can’t hide it anymore, I have feelings for Celeste, the moment I felt her heart stop beating mine shattered into a million pieces.

I smiled as she scrunched her small nose. How cute. The smile left my lips when I remembered the soul of my mate.. My real mate that roams around the garden and our secret room.

What would I tell Samantha? Would I tell her that I now love another? No.. No I can’t, I can’t hurt her. I promised that I would bring her back.

I was told to move on, I was told to let the soul of my mate go and be in the bosom of the moon goddess but I couldn’t, I couldn’t let go.

The door creaked and a young male walked in. He bowed and said “It’s time.”

I nodded and he bowed before exiting the room, I stood up and button the jacket of my suit and then composed myself before leaving the room. I am the Lycan king, I am King Elijah and I have a kingdom to protect.

***

The meeting room was packed with elders of the coven arguing among themselves. I sighed and popped in one of the empty seats and watched them closely.

“Hmm” I cleared my throat loudly and the arguments downed as they turned looked at me.

“The Rouge King” I started, spitting at the word King. “And this witch, Mlika,” I added them glance at Hilda but she ignored my eyes. “Has been terrorizing our packs and covens, killing our elders and children like nothing but this has to stop!” I said banging my hand on the table and the elders all nodded.

“I have the warriors and you have the spells. Together, we can track them and bring them down before any more harm is done. But, we need to work fast” I said and they roared in agreement.

After hours of talking war matters, the elders exited the meeting room one after the other.

“Elijah, wait!” Hilda called out to me as I was about to leave the room. I turned to look at her and so did some elder, to see who was calling me.

Hilda stood a feet or two next to me and I waited for her to talk. I raised a brow as I noticed she was waiting for everyone else to leave the room.

“Elijah.. King Elijah,” She said and when I noticed her pleading tone, I stiffened. “I need you to promise me one thing. If my daughter Mlika is caught, promise me you wo-won’t hurt her, promise me Elijah” She plead, her eyes cast down.

I placed my hand on her shoulder and she looked up at me, her eyes filled with tears.

“I promise” I told her with a nod.

She released a sigh and smiled at me in gratefulness, “Thank you.” She said softly and with those words spoken, I left her.

CELESTE’S POV

They said I had been in coma for two day, two days after the bonding and i woke up on the third. I have been in the coven for four days and its time for us to leave. I stared at the mark on my arm as the ladies help clean up the room and pack our luggage, I had offered to help but they politely declined saying I needed to rest.

“Why did she attack me?” I asked the girl with a blonde hair whose name I learned is Piper.

“I d-don’t know” she stammered, obviously not expecting my question.

She’s lying. I could tell because the two girls keep exchanging glances. I sighed knowing I won’t be getting an answer from them.

I relaxed my back against Elijah’s car, waiting for him to come of the house. Hilda walks up to me and held hands.

“I wish you luck on your journey.” She said, smiling at me like how a mother would to her child.

“Thank you” I replied softly and she gave me a gentle squeeze before releasing.

“Oh! Here” She said as she takes out a bottle from her pocket. “This would help down the headache” She added handing me the green substance. I thanked her again then watch as she walked back to the house.

“You ready?” Elijah asked as stood beside me. I nodded and he held out the door for me to get in.

We drove out the small village and passed through the trees.

For over forty minutes of us driving through the woods, I contemplated if I should ask Elijah the same question I asked Piper. I locked my fingers together and take in a deep breath then looked at him, he looked at me back and smiled, then returned his gaze back to the road.

“Why did the girl attack me” I asked Elijah in a breath.

The air tensed and his hand gripped the wheel a bit tighter. “At the funeral..” I added softly so he would know what I’m talking about, which, I’m sure he already did.

When I got no response, I sighed and looked outside once more, the tall and thick trees isolating us from the human world. Spring was near as the leaves on the trees where already turning green.

As the car drives on, Elijah sighed then glanced at me for a second. “Your name,” he started. “Your name was written on the little girls stomach” He said softly.

I didn’t know what to say, “what was written?” I asked, my body going cold.

“That you were next.”