章 6: Your New Home
Valda was taken aback by the beauty of the magnificent creature – it looked like its fur was woven from moonlight and stardust, a combination her mind has never ever really thought of until now.
The fur was ink-blank, with a mesmerizing blend of silver. It felt as if the night had lent its beauty to the animal in front of her, and Valda couldn't stop herself from being hypnotized by its celestial allure.
She's never seen anything like it before.
Twin amethyst eyes stared back at her, and it looked like there was an entire Cosmo trapped in those iridescent orbs. Delicate whiskers adorned with snouts twitched with curiosity – like silver threads that made her want to touch them.
She dropped to her knees, unable to tear her gaze away from the lovely creature, but before she could touch it, her wrist was grasped mid-air, and she looked up instantly to see it was the fox lady glaring daggers at her.
Has she done something wrong?
"What do you think you're doing?" The fox lady swiftly pulled Valda up to her feet, "no one disrespects the young master the way you have in just a few minutes! What right do you think you possibly have to lay your mortal fingers on him?"
"I wasn't, I just wanted–"
"Enough of this behavior of yours," the fox lady released her wrist harshly, "keep your distance from my master, and don't even think about trying anything funny, or I won't hesitate to raise my sword on you." she warned, placing her fingers on the hilt to show she wasn't kidding around, and Valda immediately stepped back, wondering what all this hassle was for.
Was it wrong to pet a fox she found adorable? What's it with this woman?
"That's enough." The fox, who had been watching the show with interest, finally intervened when it got bored, and immediate silence ensued within the chamber.
Valda, who wasn't even sure what she had done wrong to earn such a threat, froze when the deep bold voice silenced the other lady who wanted to pull out her sword.
It's a talking fox?? Valda blinked in awe.
"We can't blame her untamed curiosity, can we?" The fox turned around, its long, fluffy tail swaying with pride. Valda wondered if they felt as soft as they looked, and as if the fox lady had read her mind, she darted Valda a warning glance, keeping her behavior in check.
The fox hopped onto the bed, resting on it, and a swirling, ominous dark purple mist danced around the fox until a human shadow appeared amidst the purple mist, and when the mist vanished, a young man was on the bed.
Valda could faintly remember the name, Master Eryx now, it was like a forbidden incantation that was never spoken in her Kingdom. She had heard of the name as a child, but his name was strictly forbidden in the mortal realm because he defied the gods and did something that was against the celestial law, yet nothing could have prepared her for the sight that awaited her.
Draped in royal embodiment, the princely figure laid casually on his bed. He depicted both regal and an otherworldly feature, a paradox that left her momentarily breathless than when she saw him in his animal form. The room seemed to shrink in on her, and Valda took a subconscious step back.
"Valda darling." He purred, the syllables wrapping around her like a spell, and he mouthed the word; "I've been waiting for you." in her direction, so that only she could understand it, he wanted her to be the only one who hears it, but that only made her skin shiver with a sudden dread.
His fox-like tail swished lazily behind him, a hint of mischief in its movement.
"I've been longing for this reunion of ours, Valda Griggs." He added softly, sitting up on his bed. "Do you need me to come to you, or are you going to head up here so I can see you properly." he suggested, beckoning her over.
"But master Eryx–"
"Leave us, Sayge." He dismissed the fox lady, silencing whatever opinion of hers she wanted to share with him at the current moment. "Inform everyone else to get ready for today's training. I need you to monitor their activities and report to me how well they're developing, go."
"Of–of course." Despite her reluctance to part ways with her master, Sayge lowered her head in a polite bow and turned to take her leave.
For some reason, Valda wanted to go with her, she didn't want to be here, where she felt seemingly haunted by the unknown. Her feet were already starting to move, giving her some false hope that she could make it to the door, away from this brooding darkness, but her body stiffened like a rock when she felt the hands of someone on her shoulder, limiting her movement as he added a little pressure to her tensed shoulder, and then he whispered.
"You're waiting behind."
Valda could hear her own heart beat ring in her ears, and she bristled away from the man's touch. She was looking up at him with a pale face, and when he advanced towards her, she staggered back and fell on her butt. Wait, why can't she run from here?? Why aren't her legs working??? Why was she suddenly so… scared of this man?
Her thoughts were interrupted when the man looming in front of her crouched to her level, and he took her hand in his.
"You're scared of me…" he noticed how cold her hands felt in his, "you weren't afraid of me when I took the form of a fox, you wanted to touch me even, but now… do I look so scary in this form?"
Valda gulped when he brought her cold hands to his warm cheek. She wasn't sure if she was enticed or terrified, but this man's angular and chiseled features defied the mortal standards of beauty.
His untamed midnight black hair framed his face, leaving only a hint of sharp cheekbones and a strong jawline. The rest remained hidden in shadows, and true to the tales, he looked like a deity—a sinful one, banished to the loneliest part of the capital.
His lips were full and dangerous, promising both salvation and damnation.
She wondered which fate awaited her.
He leaned into her touch like it was something natural, a touch he enunciated, and when he opened his eyes, Valda felt a jolt, as if lightning had struck her soul when she looked into them.
His eyes—oh, those eyes—were twin pools of violet mystery, like nothing she has ever witnessed. Yet, there was something more – a hunger, a darkness that threatened to consume all who dare meet his gaze. She couldn't tear her gaze away, even as fear and curiosity warred within her.
Instead, her gaze shifted to his dark attire that clung his form perfectly. Her eyes traced the contour of his chest, the play of muscles and bones. He was no longer the cute adorable animal she wanted to pet, but a power's incarnate, a predator disguised as a harmless-looking prince.
Who was this man? What secrets does he guard? And why did her pulse quicken in his presence like that?
As if sensing her scrutiny, Eryx tilted his head, his keen, fox-like ears twitching ever so slightly. His lips curved into a half-smile, revealing a hint of canine—sharp, like a predator's.
Valda's heart pounded.
"What do–do you want… from me?" she whispered, her voice trembling. She couldn't take her hand away from his face, he wouldn't let her.
"I want too much from you, Valda, that's why you're here." He answered, "I've been watching you, but don't worry about that for now, you'll have plenty of time to understand what is going on, cause you're never going back to that place. This will be your new home starting from today."
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