Berserk

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MAYA.

Athusha, the sacred conduct occupied the holy ground of our small island in abstract harmony as it took place in consecration, not a hint of murmur, palms in a tight prayer to cease off obscurity.

A fierce meditative aura, voices of solemnity that hummed a boring song but was carried on a righteous route to Havana at every pitch it wandered.

The sacred ritual was conducted to conciliate the heavens for its fortification and peace to our little island.

"A small hamlet in the direction of the sea, deep in the abysmal jungle, just behind the rock of ages."

A murky nightfall with no stars, dim torches to deflect the dark prowling and a trip to nirvana some had slithered in.

The coast water swayed slowly, one guise at the skies and not even an adept would apprehend that a rare storm was coming.

A storm that the divinities understood and piloted. It had been prophesied, so we awaited our fates as we assembled, demonstrating our faith and hope in stillness.

The most esteemed possession of our small island sat beautiful women of celestial beauty.

Our Identities were concealed in an evident veil as we waited for that moment auspiciously, one provided in a humble and silent grace.

The only rule that restricted us..."never show your face, hide behind the veil." I and my sisters prayed, not related by blood but by circumstance of the divination and the burden we carried on our modesty.

Amid all of my sisters, I held the most encumbrances. My body was a profanity to man and myself, sheltered up like a fairytale princess, not knowing a thing about the world I'm occupied in.

My face held an inexpressible, unspeakable and inimitable manner of beauty, body carried seduction and passion, filling every structure of my slim form. Cursed since birth! "Voice so innocent, I mustn't be heard.

It only augments to the cravings of my form and appearance. A child incarnate in the physique of an adult, someone who adored me once said.

An uproar louder than thunder erupted from an unidentified area, the bearing was very well-known and expected. I knew it would come to pass just as it was prophesied.

I had survived for twenty years waiting for this day. The noise burst forth again, so badly that it hurt at a point. I held onto the hands of my sisters who were also predestined in this war. As the leader I tried to placate their fear, "but being the weakest didn't help the situation."

The wail of men followed by the clash of blades against flesh volumed in an agonizing and jovial order. The defenders of the island were on their last legs, we heard the resonances of their defeats but we could only shiver in terror. We were gathered in a room secured by a metal door, dreading our lives as we held our veils against our cheeks. I was searching for hope. It had been portended that they will take over our land, gold, and we ourselves. I swayed my head to every single one of my sisters who were either shedding tears or thinking about what destiny had installed for them.

One of our most valiant defenders, Wind, came in with two other warriors. Blood tainted their faces, but none on their sword.

Defeat.

He observed everyone cautiously but his eyes especially fell on Aya, his affianced and I could see the aching that darkened his watery eyes.

"Keep your faces sealed, he said before turning to leave." Wait! Aya said before running towards him.

Will you c-come back? She stammered.

He didn't reply, tried to walk away but she grabbed him. He looked at her, deeply hurt by the answer he would give, grieved when he saw the flow of transparent tears that fell from her cheeks but he had to tell her the truth.

"I won't come back, he said." Aya's eyes widened when the words came out from his mouth. The clutch on his sleeve agonizingly weakened and she held unto her chest, turning back to the rest of us. She looked particularly at nowhere before she stationed herself back in our midst with her eyes laid on the ground.

"I won't be coming back, he declared loudly." I will lose my life this night.

Take care of yourselves, protect the sisterhood and help each other in every situation as of now. His eyes pierced through mine and I bowed in response to his last word.

"Goodbye." He said. He burst out of the room, the metal door tightly sealed by his accompanies. Shock and fear on all our faces and I immediately held unto Aya who would have landed on the ground without me.

She stretched her hands towards the door, cried silently before closing her eyes and biting the flowing tears. She faced me and held unto my hands.

"He is going Maya, Aya pleaded." We have to do something. She said unhanding me and walking towards the door like it was easy to get him back.

Upon reaching there, another loud thud made sparks with the door and I rushed to drag Aya who was near. The other girls raced behind each other screaming while they all ran for protection. I tried to cover and calm them as much as possible. But who would protect me now.

The loud bang died down and we almost had a relief before the door was hit. It fell and stumbled right in front of us, shadowed by the screams of the girls, and when I raised my head to face what came for us. I wished I never did..

A man as heavily built as trees was standing gothic in front of us. "Ice cold eyes piercing through the surroundings, had the face of forgiving but never forgetting."

His hands were clamped on two heavily looking structured swords which had the blood of the fine people of our island. His eyes wandering around like he was searching for the prettiest of the sisters, he held not a smile, but a devotion of finding something very important. Me. His other men paraded around my sisters, eyeing them with desire as they rubbed the skin of their body making them flinch with continuous screams of disentanglement.

Find me the Sadin! He commanded in a rasp and coercive voice, his eyes still roaming around us in enquiry as he marched towards us. The veils of my sisters were removed one after the other and they waited for him to approve which one of us where his.

I shut my eyes waiting for the activities to take place; weakness flowed in my blood stream. "Never had I fought back or talked back to anyone and even if I wanted to run."

My head thought about it but my leg and heart would never submit. This is it. The cold gust hit my skin and I sensed the veil fall from my head. The man who detached the veil required no one to tell him that I was the one.

He opened his mouth in awe and glowered at the heavily built man. "Not a word able to describe his finding because his eyes had seen it all."

I tried to put my eyes down but I couldn't help it when he marched towards me violently. He dragged me from my sisters' hold and I felt the veil slip, revealing my naked waist to his harsh scrutiny but that wasn't as bad as when I was forced to look into his eyes. Those gray eyes looked at me with anger and reassured me that I would suffer a life worse than a snake. His eyes held arbitrate animosity that I couldn't explain. He hauled my hair in the cold wind with just a hand, dragging me out of the room and instructing his men to do the same with my sisters.

"You see that soft sand tickled my foot and that bright night was everything I wanted to be in."

But now I wish I never did... A solid exterior in the ship's brig shook me till my eyes lit up and certain flashbacks defined the incident once again.

We were in the same corner for the some days now, no view, window or outlet to see outside of the vessel. The cold that ran through my bones was past insufferable.

It was as if my blood had turned to ice with the relentless vibration from my hands and legs. This continuously happened for days now. I would wake up in disarray, cold piercing every pore of my pale skin.

"Everything happened so quickly. I wasn't able to say what was what, but one thing was for sure, the vessel was no wretched asset." The way it stood at the edge of the sea while we were being dragged was monstrous!

The Gaff-rigged sail made from flax canvas had an encryption of a giant flaming dragon drawn on its surface and I trembled as I was dragged to it.

A dark aura grooming around me made me realize that my destiny had started to fulfill its purpose.

That night, we were kept in a slimy, tight, preoccupied brig with livestock. It was cold and disgusting, strange smells and strange noises.

A particular person would come to drop a piece of fungus bread and potato wash water on the same floor.

"At times, I'd want to puke but the base was already so terrible. I couldn't bring myself to do it."

All I hankered for was that very soon; we would reach where we were journeying to. I looked around and the faces of my sisters were what started my tears. I tried to lift my knee up which hung around my chest but it was futile with the opposition of my stiff bones. I started to stretch my legs slowly to maybe stop the vibrations.

Fortunately, my legs started to feel livelier with each stretch, allowing me to crawl and approach each of my sisters who were anxious. The fledgling of the sisters, Sia was very much frightened. I embraced her to my chest, for I had watched her mature from the cradle when I was just a child of ten. She cried more often than the rest of the girls and I couldn't blame her.

"If I were young as she was and saw liberty to hold unto someone and cry."

I'd take it. It's fine. I said, tucked her hair behind her ear, kissed her forehead, wiped the tears from her face and fixed the veil over her face. We were all twelve in number and it was my duty to protect them with all of my weakness.

There became clamor of cheers as we advanced, we had gotten to the destination and all my sisters assembled once more. I observed each of them, hoping this wouldn't be the last time I saw them.

Let's pray. I held my hands in a tight prayer with my eyes closed. I felt their hand pull away from my sleeve; they had started praying as well. The wooden door of the brig swung open, they dragged us out like wads of goods, pulling us out of the tight prison and bending us to the wooden deck where we made contact with real sunlight, and a crowd. The sounds of the men grew louder, hilarity in unison.

"Directed at us, there were cheers enlivened with curses, swears and I knew why." The gigantic man left the ship first, accompanied by his men. He walked towards the people while they all fell kowtowing and celebrating him. Then, he raised his hand to silence them after a while before announcing.

"I have brought back the nine tailed-foxes, he said like he made a devoted promise once before." The ones that fiddled with your husbands, he said reminding the women whose faces held prudish scowls, same ones who tampered with our lands. The gigantic man said turning to me and I immediately detached my face from his before he caught mine.

"And with our kingdom! He finally said, but that wasn't all." He forgot the most important one.

"She, who tampered with his heart." I could swear he said something to himself because his eyes now glinted with reminiscences. "Lead them out, he ordered."

I instantly told my sisters to get up, in order not to give them the opportunity to mishandle us. We all stood, I stayed in front, holding unto Sia while Aya, my subordinate took position beside the other girls.

I took my first step out of the deck and landed with my bare feet on the harsh surface of stones sprayed with glitters of glass. I flinched to it when I felt the sharp pain and so were the other girls.

We were instructed to follow the lane where the men who encircled us trailed with the gigantic man at the front.

The people began to chuck all kinds of spoilt harvests at us, smelling eggs, spoilt beans, fungoid potatoes and vegetables which must have been soaked in the eggs as they all had the same repulsive smell.

We continued walking in front with all the men but now, I feared! As we got close, threatening instruments were thrown, a stone almost landed at Aya beside me but I was ready to shield her with my back.

I wailed at the pain it left and I could see Aya, distraught by my action! Continue moving! The barbaric man beside us shouted. We stopped after a relatively long walk of curses bequeathed upon us and now they instructed us to step into a pavilion with women who stood at the entrance with scowls on their faces. I nodded to my sisters to go in; because I wanted to make sure they were all in before I joined.

"Except you." The built man said, aiming directly at me, his cold grey eyes administered to mine.

"Please don't take my sister, don't take her from us. Sia cried rushing to my aid." The warrior nearby eyed us before staring at the gigantic man, in an instance he slapped Sia's hands off mine and I was shocked by his intrusion.

How dare you! I screamed, devoid of my own words. "And before I could say another word, the man stepped back and drew out his sword aiming at Sia's throat."

My eyes widened and before I could drag her away, I feared if I do, it may really end her young life. She whimpered as the cold steel pressed into her skin. "I'm sorry." I said pleadingly, sinking on my knees. I didn't mean it. I begged, my palms together and tears threshing out from my eyes.

"It isn't me you should seek forgiveness from." The warrior answered with a smirk, he shifted so I could see very well whom he indicated me to beseech from. I stood and walked past him to the man whose eyes were as cold as ice, seated on a horse with his eyes boring into mine. I fell onto my knees once again with my hands in plea.

"Please, forgive my sister." I said cautiously. She is young and has no knowledge about what she did. I am to blame for it.

I didn't give her proper training on how to act, so if you must chastise someone, please do as you wish to me.

He raised his hand, giving signal to the warrior whose sword was now elevated to the sky.

No!

I yelled on top of my lungs as I beheld into his eyes but he still made no instructions. So, I stood, and ran after to shield my sister. Stop! He finally said before it got to Sia. I drew her into my arms, brushing her hair as she sobbed.

This will transpire the next time you do not conform my every command, he said bitterly. His words were worse than the glasses and cold that pierced me. It was scary.

Aya came out, taking Sia from my grasp as she sobbed and reached for me. I looked at Aya once more and reassured her of my safety. My life was important for I had to live to protect the ones under me. I turned back, towards the man on the horse.

"You must get there before me, he advised."

"Get there before him. I thought." I didn't even know where he was going in the first place and he was on a horse. He thrust the horse instantly and started to ride ahead. I ran after him with my bloody feet from the glass that pierced me before. I ran with all my strength as I tried to catch up. I stumbled almost eight times but stopping wasn't an option in this game. I knew he wanted to hurt me because of what she did to him in the past, he wanted vengeance.

It was vengeance of the highest order and what better way than the gods granting him another course of destiny. I couldn't see him nor the horse anymore but, I kept running.

My hair had lost its hold in its braid. It glued to my forehead and eyes because of the sweat that fueled me. Knees ached, I felt the friction and tension in between my legs as I slowed down unintentionally.

My legs couldn't concur anymore movement and I landed on the floor harshly with my cheek scratching the graveled ground, leaving behind an itching sting. I hauled my body up again for my sisters.

I had to conform to him.

Standing again, I continued to run, clutching tightly the thin silk skirt that I was garbed in. "Looking ahead of the road, I knew I was near already."

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RED .

Sadin, a woman of implicit beauty, a man's downfall was a blasphemy to my past life.

I had fallen on my knees to that creature that was beginning to fall on her knees to me. She wandered into my heart without permission and as a man I wanted to feel what it meant to protect someone you cherished.

"A woman who led to the bereavement of many in the past, a change in time now and I was the driver of her destiny.

The foretelling said she will come again to this world; it is on my own accord to find her and keep her under control.

A curse of a woman, I submitted myself to a woman who held no sword, gave her my life and she blemished my soul with her foxy ways, causing destruction over the kingdom I once swore to my forefathers to protect.

The way she acted as a shield for her sisters made me angrier that she wasn't able to protect me then when I needed her, but that was all in the past now.

"In this lifetime, she's under my control, even the air she breaths has to go through me first."

The woman I valued embarked with my enemies and spilled the secret I trusted her with, the secret of a Berserk.

I am a Berserk who is dreaded by my power to shake nations, bringing victory to my kingdom in all glory and admiration. And the people of Ingrey have been waiting for the traitorous fox that went against me, caused my death, and the death of almost a nation! I glimpsed behind my horse, not a hint of her presence was seen.

I simpered to the punishments I could confer if she arrived late. The sentence that would put her back on her knees where she belonged, my main motive was to keep her by my side and satisfy all the promises she couldn't keep.

She once said she would become my wife, recollecting the statement clearly like it was yesterday. I intended on achieving that wish for her now, except it may not be her wish. I saw her lean figure approach me, even in the midst of all the sweat, and dirt on her cheeks.

She was still the finest creature I had laid my eyes on, her hands held unto her skirt while she drew near, stood by the horse breathing heavily and weakly at the same.

She kept her gaze on the floor and I was prepared to reprove her if she had faced me. I mounted from the horse, and she stepped away from me. A wise decision.

The door barged open and the different statuses of workers from my Manor came running out with their faces in glee. Master Red. The man who headed the committee of workers ran and lined up in a straight platform according to their ranks.

"Where_" I wanted to ask before my leader of guards rushed towards me, just the person I wanted to ask for.

Savage, the leader of my men fell on his knees with the others as he positioned his sword beside him.

Rise. I instructed as I walked in, diving into the pathway hastily opened for me by the workers. I strode into my Pavilion with my hands akimbo while I supervised the surrounding.

"What happened here? I asked with an arched eyebrow."

The workers may have gone too far in refurbishing the Red suite. I shall ask them to put things back to place. Savage answered before turning his back.

"Do not bother." I said wearily, my hand brushing over my hair. Have them set me food and a warm bath. Have you spoken to the priest?

Yes, Savage answered.

"The priest gave me the marriage scroll that binds your marriage without a ceremony." "My marriage? I asked with a shift in my tired voice."

"N_no, Savage spluttered. I meant to say t-the marriage."

"Better."

I said giving him an encouraging look before taking out the weaponries in my dressing and placing them on the round table that had the color pink, a floral white curtain behind it. I frowned in distaste before facing Savage who was still standing behind me. What are you still waiting for? What about the lady? She is still waiting outside, Savage replied.

"Ask her to come in." I said after removing my shirt and heading for my pants. She limped in, slowly closing the door behind her and I smirked at her ghastly state with hilarity. It really made me contented. I picked the scroll that was written in red matrimony of our bond and held it towards her.

"Written bonds were a kind of marital signature for people who are going to be living together in Ingrey, especially if the couple were not close to each other in distance during the time of the ceremony."

Although, if the script that the priest had written in connecting them as one was lost before the ceremony then, both partners could be free from the bond if any of them wanted. Read it. I commanded. She reached for it slowly from my hand, before her hand could reach it, I threw it towards her and it hit just about a good amount of her face. She still had her eyes cast downwards when she pretended like I didn't just throw it to her.

"She opened the scroll and I waited to see the amount of fear it was going to cause her but instead, she wrapped it back, carefully." Did she read it or was she not able to read? I decided to make it clear.

"As you stepped into the Red palace, you have been bonded with me by this written manuscript, we are yet to have a ceremony but it will never transpire because a venom like you isn't deigned worthy to be my wife." And you have no choice but to accept, the lives of your sisters are in my hands.

"You are an abomination, an outrage here and nobody will lift a finger to assist you." You have only me! "Obey my wishes, so I wouldn't dispose you earlier than I planned to." "This is our very own nuptial night so wash yourself; you look like a stray dog." Those were my last words before I left the room to the wash chamber. I observed her through the transparent floral curtains and I could see her holding tightly the matrimonial scroll. She walked onward, kept it into a drawer near the fire place, beside the window which was declaring evening.

The Sadin unlocked the other drawers and selected out a lace black gown which she looked at progressively. She looked around, probably making sure that she wasn't approaching the same bath place that I was. Instead, she followed the route that led beside the door, unknown, that the wash chamber she was approaching was still connected near mine.

"Of course, she wouldn't know." I'd forgotten I came here to soak, picking up the bar soap, I eroded my braided hair with its foaminess but my eyes still glued on her.

The other door that linked to my bath place was what she now unlocked and closed behind her. She hadn't noticed me yet. This Sadin placed the garment slowly; she did everything cautiously, probably because she didn't want to make any sort of sound at her own disposal.

She placed her hand into the tub to feel its temperature and didn't notice that I was right in front of her, concealed only by a thin sheet of curtain. I watched her remove the small top that stopped before her waist. She slipped it off and immediately turned her back to drop it; on her back was a bruise that must have stung heavily. I bet it came from the stone that she shielded for her useless sister. I watched as she turned her back trying to inspect the wound by touching it a little; she then slipped the longer skirt off. I had my eyes on her unadorned body, I couldn't take it my eyes off and as she reached the small stand to lift herself into the bathtub, she paused suddenly and her eyes gazed at mine through the thin sheets between us. She fidgeted and paused, unsure of what to do about the situation.

After rinsing the rest of the soap away from my body, I grabbed the near towel and stepped out of the pool like tub.

"Without another glance, I walked out of the room with a covered erection." ................ I savored my tea unhurriedly; my focus was engrossed on the scrolls that needed my consensus as a Prince to the people of my Kingdom.

My elder brother, the King leaves these errands to me with the conclusion that I comprehend what cavalcades outside our home territory. Ingrey, my home is a Berserk Kingdom and ever since I was twelve, I started leading men and commanding them to implement my orders in the manner I desired them to. "And with my brother as King of Ingrey, any single spot of deficiency that could perchance bring about demise to the people."

I was there to avert by presuming the weight of the lower quarters. In other words, I functioned as a link between the king and his people. The Red manor was the place where people could enter to probe or report issues that needed a higher intervention. I released the empty tea cup with the intention of pouring out more from the kettle but it was all gone, I sighed to that. I could see her lean shadow standing miserably behind the fluorescent curtain.

She had been there ever since I assumed the chair, guess it was a good thing that she feared me so much. Are your legs made of wood? I asked, but there wasn't any response.

Come out! I said exasperated at her muteness, I observed her walk slowly towards me with her hands rubbing against each other.

Won't you sleep? She simply turned, led herself to the empty surrounding after my study and sat on the ground. I shook my head when I saw what she was about to do. In annoyance, I stood, walked towards her and seized her by the ankle. I hate you a lot, you know? You've started a new kind of disposition this time. And I guess innocent is the new you and I despise it already.

You cowardly coated crap! I said digging my nails into her wrists. She shut her eyes without even trying to stop me from going further, how blameless was she proving to be when it came to me?

"I had observed you yelled at the one who slapped your sister's hand which you reciprocated to." Why is this different? I said throwing her wrist, and making her fall brusquely.

"Stay on the bed; you are my dear wife after all."

She sat still staring down at her sore wrist and holding quite a sob yet. Now! I growled at her and she stood instantly, sitting on the bed and resting herself to a sleeping posture. The soft sheets collected her into the bed and I couldn't even see her face if she were sobbing or just.... "What better way to find out than to lie myself." I blew out the remaining candles which gave the room an unnecessary amount of light, only a dim fire place attracted enough fire and that was all I needed to close my eyes.

I strode towards the bed, fell into the sheets but her face was curved to the other side, not at mine. I lifted the heavy woolly blanket, but then it wouldn't budge. Immediately, she sat up on the bed removing the residual blanket that she must have laid on. After she succeeded in removing it all, she laid back down with her behind facing me.

✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼

MAYA.

I tried to soothe the cold I felt in my bones. Most of it started from the incident where I had to lay almost bare throughout the journey amid the cold sea. I was trying to shelter myself, even if it were just my legs with the wool blanket, but what if he stirs up when I moved? I would expire before morning if I can't get some heat, then I would be too sick to know how my sisters are managing at wherever they were. I need the blanket. I sat slowly, drew the blanket to my side whilst biting my lips in fear.

I delicately put my legs into the blanket before they became still and rigid like the time on the ship. I persistently, glided the blanket towards me and when the one I could acquire seemed to be fair enough to drown my legs in. I stopped and positioned my legs into it with, my head going down to the bed in relief.

My eyes widened when his legs traversed over mine, held it down and his face just a flutter away from mine.

The heat I felt now was far more needed than the blankets on my legs, I turned my back to break the gaze of his slumber but that was a terrible mistake.

His hands crawled like a spiders' to my waist and he held unto it like he was never going to leave it. I preserved my posture, my plan was to slip away from him again and before I could act. He was on top of me in all ruthlessness and I begged silently that it wasn't going to be what I thought.

I grabbed unto the pillow where my head laid and his eyes were now sullied with red. "The myth of the berserk's agility."

A berserk's agility that could be born at the remembrance of a painful occurrence be it the present or future. It would take over him, and he will inflict terror on whomever he held a grudge on. I said in my mind knowing that all hope to even try to consider this incident not to happen was futile.

My legs he brought up to himself opening it like a book and I flinched to the throbbing at my thigh.

"Not all the pain until he filled me with his instrument accompanied with coercion of the highest order." I screamed in terror as he occupied me, in fact wasn't able to fill me, because I was still a floret that needed a little touch. The pain did not subsidize, neither did it liquidize. It formed a mental pain in my head with the cold I had once grieved from.

All things blurry in motion, I couldn't remember anything else, but yes, the constant plunge aggrieved my inner womanhood before I fell into a bottomless trance of haziness. I imagined it was over but it wasn't, when would the haze subjugate me finish? "Someone who once said I was a child incarnate in the physique of an adult caressed me and said, It was all fine, I listened and I felt no pain any longer." I was inside a tub, I could feel it.

I felt warm water dehydrate my body. The fragrance of petals and oil were what I perceived, I craved to open my eyes but I wasn't ready to do so either. The warm water rinsed my face and orders were spilt in the air.

Was it because of me? A mere Sadin? It couldn't be. I wasn't that significant to them. "Something was brought to my lips, I swallowed it, but it had no taste."

The scent told me it wasn't water at least. I wanted to open my eyes to grasp what it was but it couldn't open. It felt too weighty and I was quite miserable about it.

Another was conveyed to my lips, it had a lemon miscellaneous taste and I detested it. I wanted to taste honey and ginger just like a special person would make for me when I was ill.

She would comb my hair and trim, Tell me about the world I was bound to see, And then with a sip of our tea, She would look me in the eyes as if I was the reason she was bound to live.

She was my mother.

I decided to fall into the abyss of drowsiness until I heard his voice. Is she still unconscious? My eyes shot open even after I instructed it not to and they instantly, met his.

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MAYA

I rose from the cotton bed where I had passed out, this time there wasn't much aching like before. I got up, occupied with anguish about the incident of yesterday and more that would happen to me.

I saw it in his eyes, his Berserk was the one reigning his body, but at the end, it was only after his desires. Is this what the castigation entailed?

Why would he do this to someone he loathed, he could hit and scourge me, but this...why this?

Why not prick me with needles all day! He is meant to be exasperated at me, derided with my appearance and body.

I didn't think craving would still overshadow his loathing, is this how men were? Did they direct all of their anger to this?

I laid back sensing the need to sooth my body against the soft surface once again, the feeling of the pillow against my head brought me relaxation and I managed to close my eyes once more.

In my eyes I tried to picture something, but I could only evoke the redness of his eyes.

Tainted like blood.

Once upon a time, a Sadin called Sage absconded with a Berserk, ended up betraying him and leaking the clandestine of the Berserks.

The surreptitious of how they were capable of surmounting more than hundreds of men in minutes.

"Nations led spies, while others delved into the reason for their strange agility but to no avail."

"Some said it was sorcery, another said it was an unusual remedy made from three preternatural components of the world, and others said it was inevitable in the genes of the Berserk." A female was sent sooner than later, they fell in affection and he told her the groundwork of his powers and then, she betrayed him, causing the demise of many others with him.

Sage was never seen again by the waters of the earth or the clouds that surrounded it, but her story was very much alive. In the heart of the our clan, she did it for the defense of our tribe but in the facade of people, she betrayed her lover to his ruthless enemies.

The unscathed replica of Sage I was, but only in appearance. I was distraught when I found out that he was bounding us together, it was quite perplexing to fathom where his requite was heading to, but now I could comprehend it. This was the type of revenge he wanted, that kind that would break me slowly.

I was alerted by the sound of forthcoming footsteps and I sat up immediately. My heart thumped, palms fretting as I tried to hide my misery when the door opened, his company occupying the room.

He marched boldly into the room, sat beside me on the bed, leaning into my pale figure and placing his hand over my forehead.

"Hmm... I really anticipated your death this time but since you are thriving it means you still want to live long, maybe for those imprudent girls? He asked with an arched brow."

Don't you know a question when you hear one? Answer me! He said with vehement and I shuddered, not able to push forth the words. I was scared, very frightened.

The more I tried to communicate, the tougher it was! I was sweltering profusely and my lips were trembling at his scrutiny. He merely judged me with disgust.

"You are not even a morsel like her or are you just pretending? He said through gritted teeth."

My eyes were beginning to water, but I stayed put, consenting him to read me like an opened book.

"Master Red." A person called from outside, but his face lingered on mine for more seconds before he turned away.

"Come in, he said." The man walked into the room, closing the door behind him before he gave a quiet bow.

"Master Eros is here, and would like to see you immediately." The man said to him, whose cynical glare barely shifted to a comfortable one.

"Show the lady the kitchen so she can help herself." He instructed the man beside him before he took his leave.

The man observed me before granting me a needless sign of respect which was unexpected.

"I'm Savage, Master Red's personal guard and also the head of all the other guards working in the red manor."

I'm at your service, my lady. I nodded faintly, though I didn't expect him to call me a lady.

"Please call me Maya. You really do not need the formal courtesy. I'm far from that approach. I said, recognizing the sound of my own voice, so strange to my ears."

"Anybody who lives in Master Red's shelter is also my master." Lady Maya. Now he made it worse.... "

Shall I show you where foodstuffs are being prepared, he asked."

Yes. I replied, upright up from the bed and permitting him to lead me out.

Please wait, he told me before leaving the room, soon, he came back with a pair of shoes for my bare feet and they were the perfect sizes once I tried them on.

"You are benign, thank you."

"It is my duty, Lady Maya." Savage directed me out of the room and as soon as my eyes met the break of day, I pushed my painful thoughts at a side, even if it were just a moment.

Ubiquitously, the morning zephyr sailed around the vast Manor making the thin curtains that were desiccating in the area breathe in with breeze and swards, worshipping.

It all looked so elusive and heartwarming that I didn't know how to act.

"So, this is what it felt like to be under the sky." I was astonished by the immaculate blue water that the surrounding conveyed. There was an extensive river in the middle of the Manor that was fashioned like a route where pint-sized fishes moved about at liberty.

A spectacle of some girls doing laundry and wallowing water on themselves reminded me of my sisters, red petals in the midst of the thorny greens were appeasing to my eyes, scent of morning dew as I read about, back in my Island where justified.

The day was flawless like the sapphire waters, sky flourishing, beholding like an angel was going to befall and make the sky divide.

My heart swayed, an irrepressible kind of happiness occupied in me, I felt like a child who could run about the surrounding and dance all around like I've never done before. I wanted to twirl until my eyes were dizzy but was it even plausible? I continued to follow Savage until we got into a room jam-packed with people who were cutting, frying, steaming and all other cooking conducts.

They halted their activities when we marched inside. Savage commanded them to continue with their activities, and they did immediately. He stepped aside for me and I looked around once more. I will be fine; you can take your leave."

Savage hunched again before exiting the room and immediately he left, I began to see different kinds of smirk emergent on each person's face.

They were mostly women, old and young in every corner of the room. I picked up a ceramic plate that lay just near the table, and then, moved to the already cooked dishes arranged with side dishes to it.

"And, what makes you think you can just stretch forth for the food, you scheming fox." A woman snarled.

I gazed at her not sure whether to listen to what she said or just leave the premises but I was so hungry. I couldn't take another day without having something to eat.

So, I went ahead, reached for the spoon but she slapped my hand and I withdrew.

Are you heedless? She yelled, alongside her were two other women who stood behind, exercising their power."

"If you are so famished, you generational whore, then why don't you cook it yourself."

Don't think I would consent you to lay your hands on any of these dishes. "You think because you have become Master Red's wife you now have some claim?

She laughed in disgust." You have none, get out before I steam you, and call it an accident. Am I right girls? She said facing the other females who had cheered her on.

Leave!

She shrieked again and I rushed out of the room without anything to say.

It's not like I had someone who I could grumble to. I was on my own. I left the cooking room, and just outdoor, I saw a bag of spuds lying outside of the room. I dug my hands into the misty and oily crops, excitement covered my face when I saw some carrots deep in the midst of the slimy greens, I reached for it.

"And what is a pretty female doing, digging her hands in waste." Someone behind me said causing me to flinch and drop the carrot which I already grasped. I turned in annoyance to an almost facsimile of Red.

He was medium-sized compared to Red but the features were still there. He had the same grey eyes, but the icy frosts in the eyes were missing.

His, were quite warm looking with a shorter hair than Reds'. I was able to detect only these because they were the features of Red that I had seen clearly. I couldn't say I'd seen his face confidently.

"Who are you? I asked."

✰⍣✰

You are Red's Sadin, are you not? The man said taking a step nearer while she took one in arrears.

Are you not? Maya turned, and tried to walk away before he pulled her. Inigo had heard about Sadins while growing, he learnt that they were women of unexpressed splendors but now that he saw one, he was dumbstruck with the words to use to define her image.

The shade of her skin was as honey, glimmering, as the sun made her glisten like gold.

Her thick eyelashes curled up giving the perfect etiquette to her bright, innocent, puppy eyes.

Her nose in a simple and proud format, it arched high, accompanied by her red swollen lips that looked strawberry.

"As if that wasn't enough, her cheekbones smoldered, granting her an esteemed image."

Her black locks swept graciously over her smooth skin as he pulled her, allowing him to feel the smoothness of her honey-comb skin, satisfying the air with the scent of vanilla.

"Oh, wait she's my brother's wife..." Reality reminded him.

Let me go.

Maya snatched her hand away from his grasp, the thought of another man's hand on her skin made her sensitive and insecure.

She glared at him in anger before but after seeing whom he looked like, curiosity grasped her mind.

Why did he look so much like Red?

"You are my brother's wife, welcome to the Red manor." He said to lure her attention but she didn't stop walking.

Why were you digging out of the waste? Don't tell me you were looking for something to eat, because that is not the way to the scullery.

Maya stopped, and faced him, her eyes dissolving to a calmer expression.

Did you say food? She asked tucking an invisible hair behind her ear.

"Yes, I said food. He replied her cheekily; glad he had caught her attention."

Actually, I'm going to have some now. Do you want to tag along? The Sadin shook and he turned to lead her forward.

Along the way, he noticed that she halted, nonplussed about her attitude. Aren't you hungry anymore?

"They don't give food to folks like me in this place; she answered him, ready to leave."

What! Inigo shrieked, he couldn't believe it.The servants dared to send her away with an empty stomach.

"Follow me."

He told her, but she didn't budge. The Sadin shook her head, she didn't belong here and so she didn't fault with those women.

"Becoming a plaything of their master, how did she expect them to treat her?" Like a thing, obviously. Inigo saw that she was bent on leaving, so he grabbed her hand and dragged her back to the scullery.

She was human before being a Sadin and no matter the stories put out there; he believed she had the right to live like one. The moment he opened the door, the workers all bowed and most of them tried to contain their gasps when they saw Maya with him.

"Which of you didn't permit this Sadin to have something to eat?"

There were gasps of truth among each one of the workers and he presumed who it was, as their eyes were all pointed at the criminal.

No one required to confess who it was. He challenged the short woman in front whom was the prime suspect and then leaned downwards, so she could understand the magnitude his words held.

"Master Red sees all people under his fortification as same to him but then you ventured to talk to his wife like you would to those under your ranks?"

He growled silently. "From now on you will serve her food anytime of the day as a servant is supposed to and you shall be leveled to the last rank of the workers."

The woman gasped in shock but her eyes were still narrowed down. "And this goes to every single person in this room." Inigo said pointing towards them.

After seeing the impact he made on the workers, he shifted his attention back to the Sadin whom was already serving herself.

✰⍣✰

RED.

I drew near to the exposed room that was constructed at the midpoint of a river garden in the Red Manor where Eros was expecting my arrival.

He stood in front with his hands held behind his back while he stared at the scenery. The presence of the Sadin had already started to fascinate people to the Red Manor and Eros was here, representing their curious interest, who else would be fearless enough to question my intentions.

And to what do I owe your visit brother? I strode in using a finger to illustrate where the servants should position the tea and he turned after hearing my voice. I visited, because you wouldn't.

He said approaching the globular table where side dishes and scented tea were served. "And also, the influx of the foxes, especially the one you kept in your Manor made me come earlier." He paused and I grinned seeing my guesstimate was right.

"What do you plan on doing and why have you bonded with that woman even when you know it's improper?

First of all, she is a traitor of this Kingdom and second, a marriage in scroll? You are not just a warrior, but a prince, your marriage is meant to be ceremonial and grand."

Too many questions for a day brother, don't you think? I asked in annoyance before dismissing the standby servants away. The king conferred a woman to you before you left and now you bring a mystical creature with you? He said as his voice grew louder.

"Especially one who killed you in your past life as the prophecy says. Why don't you just strike her and render her dead already?

"Too easy, I said fully relaxing on the seat and gazing at my reflection inside the tea cup in front of me."

"Maybe it's because you still feel excess hunger for her even after your past life." He said in resentment. I must have given you this advice back then, right? You ought to remember, but no, it's just the woman you can input in that head of yours. Eros hissed.

"Your mistress must be waiting for you by now; shouldn't you take your leave? I said displaying undeviating irritation towards his presence and advice."

What do you plan to do with her sisters?

Perhaps, grant them to the king's nobles according to their works? I didn't reply to what he inquired, mostly because I didn't know either and I didn't feel the need to clarify anything to them.

I was the only one who knew this Sadin well, why should they impede?

Red!

What do you want me to say Eros? I shouted immediately.

"Whatever befalls has to do with the Red manor, it's not your place to interfere."

This is my destiny! What do you think? He asked resting emphasis on each word.

"You take the prophecy blithely, what if she gets her way into learning our secret like she did before, how would you answer to our people?"

"Very soon, the king will interfere." A fall of a berserk, do you even understand the implications that it would bring on the lives of our people?

The whole kingdom is likely to, and you of all people should know that because it has happened before. The more you think that it is about you, it isn't! It's far more than you can imagine, of course you've seen it yourself.

You do not have to imagine it.

"Get rid of her before someone else does! He said, gulping the now cold tea that lay in the cup." And make sure to see the king, you don't expect him to come down here like me now.

Do you?

We will talk again in court tomorrow, he said before rising and leaving the premises.

Get rid of her?

"Of course, she did it to me once, why can't I do it back? I have to cause her pain just like how she did to me in the past, when I was at my last breath; she uttered those cold words that were the final push to my near death."

I wanted to satisfy everything she feigned that she would be to me. They still haunted me with every blink of an eye.

Getting rid of her would be the best but then, it was too easy. The image of me pounding into her was not how I intended to punish her.

Somehow I couldn't decipher what provoked me, never has my berserk's agility once disobeyed my intention and I remembered becoming a....whatever I was.

It was almost like it had been longing for intimacy in the depths of all my desires.

"Guilt, I felt, but apology, I could never do." After all it was my destiny to punish her, nothing could stop me!