Chapter 7 Say My Name

"Damn it!" I yelled when my body wouldn't let me get up. Taking to crawling, I made for the stairs while biting my lower lip to stifle grunts.

The rails became my support as I forced myself slowly upward. Then I moved through the hallway when I reached the second floor, dragging along the wall.

I couldn't hold the tears anymore. They started to fall without restraint. A palm tightened against my lips subdued the sound of my bawl.

Through glassy eyes, I saw a group of Firnes approaching from my front, causing me to try one of the closed doors along the hallway. It opened freely and I shut it behind me.

Sliding down against a wall seemed like the perfect position. An arm crossed over my face, my wails with the deafening noise of merriments engaging in a clash to conquer.

My life had always been a mess with a series of uncultured events. But this... this was just too much to handle for a day.

And I was no one's fucking toy!

Back at the Aultik, I grew too oblivious to anything that's not Terin. But coming here snapped me back to reality. Now the feelings I suppressed were merging, causing my emotions to heighten.

The memories of my parents stuck to my mind. Mae used to ask me how I remembered things that happened long ago, but what she didn't know was that bad memories tend to leave an imprint.

I couldn't recall a time when my parents got me something-toys, snacks... anything. I don't think they ever even did. It was always I who brought things to them.

From what I remember, I was sent out to beg for money because we were so poor that we had to live in a shared house. That was partly because their instincts convinced them that a girl kid would stir more compassion in the hearts of 'despicable', rich folks.

As young as I was then, I knew that my parents seldom get along, but they seemed to suddenly have a good rapport when it came to dealing with me ruthlessly.

I often got beaten, threatened, or thrown out at night. Sometimes, I worked in kitchens as the salt and pepper kid because if I didn't bring back the amount of money I was told by my parents, I had to suffer it in cruel ways.

Joining the Aultik later looked like a blessing until Terin came; the girl who was the perfect picture of the person I wanted to be. My admiration went to her and the kind of powerful aura she exuded even at a young age. That was before she became my tormentor and started making the Aultik a living hell.

Training on its part wasn't any better. It was like an emotional torture tool that served as a constant reminder of my parents and the night they died. It made me return to that night over and over again that it'd become the signature of my mind.

I couldn't tell if I was cursed or just unlucky.

I also had so many questions that I needed answers to. Like how that guy from earlier could see me. If that was just another trance caused by whatever was in the casket. How about me? What was really wrong with me? And where the fuck was my bloody Mate?

As I cried, someone's arm crossed my back and pulled me into their arms. I leaned into it, sniffling and bawling my eyes out.

I slowly began to calm down, and I didn't know if it was the creamy scent or the way the person softly held me and rubbed my arms. It felt nice because aside from Mae, I'd never had someone comfort me in this manner.

"Keel?" I mumbled when I raised my head. My voice sounded raspy from all the crying.

Keel flashed me a comforting smile as she wiped my tears with her fingers. "I have a daughter, you see. She should be about your age now," she uttered with an underlying guilt in her voice. This time, her palm brushed back strands of hair that roughened my hairline. "She was six when I sent her to a place where she would die. That's how bad I am; as a mother and a person."

It's safe to say that I was shocked. I used to think Keel and the other young people here were aged as they looked. But this moment reminded me that most of them were ancient.

I quietly stood up and sauntered to the glass window, noticing an ice fence reaching high and wide that blocked my view of the sky. I felt Keel behind me before she held my arms and, gradually, the aches in my bones disappeared along with the migraine.

"Thank you," I muttered as I left her grasp.

Keel perked a brow. "The very first time," she said, her tone had a tinge of amusement. "That's the sea; you saw it when you came," she added while pointing to the ice wall. "We're having a snow and ice event in honor of the snow goddess. It's like a tradition. Hordes of Firnes from around the world gather to merry... tell stories. It's usually fun. Do you want to see?"

I shook my head and sniffled. "I want to stay up here for a while."

Keel stood beside me, her shoulder brushing mine. "Do you need some time alone?" she asked, and I looked at her.

She was staring ahead at the ice. The candlelights hanging against the walls glowed on the thick metal choker she wore, painting her this ethereal image that seemed to agree with the ice wall.

I thought maybe she wasn't so bad after all... or I thought nothing. "Stay," I whispered then added, "tell me about this event."

Keel chortled and nudged my shoulder with hers. My eyes remained on her as she explained. "So, there's this large ring of firewood that'd be lighted soon," she said while making me envision it with her hands. "Inside, the Syfirl is supposed to dance while the Amethyst does the same around the ring. But the Syfirl has been gone for some time so the ring will remain empty. I may be filling in for her, but I don't have the right to replace her in sacred things like this."

Keel looked at me with a sad smile on her face. The glint of melancholy in her eyes didn't pass my notice. It made me want to comfort her. But despite her actions these past few minutes, I wasn't entirely comfortable with her.

"There's this part of the event that I enjoyed since I was a child," she began, her countenance lifting to an exuberant one. As she drew a visionary line with her hands, she chatted, "Firnes who've woken their beasts line up in rows and columns in front of this ice wall at the event's peak. With their collective power, the ice is struck down. You should see it. It will look beautiful."

I smiled when she chuckled. It was the first time I'd seen her grin from ear to ear like that.

At a point, Keel took some time to regard me. Her stare bore holes in the side of my face. I felt it through my side-eye. But because I didn't want to make eye contact with her, I avoided the gaze.

"Let's go down." The lady held my wrists and had me face her. "And try to mingle, some Firnes are nice too."

Nervousness suddenly washed through me. But before I could stop her next action, I found myself amid the festival.

Firnes moving about, the light from blazing bonfires reflecting on their skins and faces. I couldn't help but smile more, but it disappeared after I looked back to find the cave entrance. Keel probably noticed because she patted my back.

"Come on, have some drinks," she talked loudly before she dashed into the crowd. A few Firnes bumped me when they ran after her.

As I stumbled, my eyes caught something-someone.

He stood there, reclining against the pile of boulders, his hands deep in his pockets.

He had the same shirt on, tucked into his pants with the first three buttons left open. Everything else became a blur as I approached him. All I saw was him leaning there watching me with the same magnetic gaze he had earlier.

He looked very tall... huge. It made me feel so small in front of him.

My skin tingled at his presence. I felt this urge to fall into that broad chest of his and let his muscular arms hold me.

And I couldn't restrain myself when I poked the arm to check if he was real. He WAS REAL!

While he stared down at me, my eyes looked at him with wonder at how a person could be so beautiful. I reached for his face without hesitating. Then I slid some hair behind his ears to fully uncover his eyes.

The orbs were silvery. And as the fire reflected in them, I saw just how mesmerizing he was.

Something kept pushing me to cover the remaining space between us, and I did. I felt his breath on my face as I slowly stood on tiptoes, my eyes moving from his lips to his eyes then to his lips again, noting how firm and attractive they were.

"Who... are you?" I asked.

Our faces were really close, our lips and nose brushing. His lips felt warm and smooth. And he parted them before his faint groan reached my ears, hot breath fanning my face.

Butterflies danced in my stomach. Goosebumps rushed over my skin. I haven't felt this kind of way before. It was all so new to me.

He placed warm hands on my nape and gently pulled my head back. Then he leaned down and growled into my ears. "Say my name."

"What...?" I slurred. Bewilderment hanging over me. I didn't even know who he was, and now he wanted me to say his name? Well, fuck me.

"Just say it," he urged while rubbing the side of his face against mine. Our ears grazed, triggering a surge of shudders from me.

A word in my head was left ignored time and again even as it got louder. I closed my eyes and didn't know when the word slipped from my mouth.

"A'xelaan."

"Hmm..." he cooed before bringing his face in front of mine. He muttered the next word against my lips, "Mate."

Then he pushed his tongue into my mouth.

A/N: I don't know if the next chapter deserves this, but I'll add it just to avoid getting judged. Sooo, WARNING, WARNING, WARNING!! Hehe *quietly leaves the chat*