I hesitantly approached the massive doors of the cathedral, their towering height making me feel small and insignificant. Wilhelm has compelled the guard to let me in, but I still feel a bit nervous. What if I am assaulted the minute I enter? What do I do then? Anyways, I still have to enter.
As I pushed the doors open, a rush of cool air greeted me, carrying with it a sense of reverence and solemnity. The sight that unfolded before my eyes left me awestruck and filled with wonder.
Inside the cathedral, the atmosphere was serene and peaceful. The architecture was unlike anything I had ever seen, a fusion of ice and stone that seemed to blend seamlessly with the surrounding landscape. The walls were crafted from shimmering blue ice, etched with intricate patterns that glowed softly in the filtered light. It was as if the cathedral itself was a testament to the ethereal beauty of the Icelands.
Sunlight streamed through towering stained-glass windows, casting vibrant hues of blues, greens, and purples upon the polished ice floors. The contours danced and swirled, creating an enchanting play of light and shadow that seemed to bring space to life. It was a breathtaking sight, one that made me feel as if I had stepped into a realm of magic and enchantment.
The cathedral’s interior was vast with soaring ceilings that seemed to stretch upward endlessly. Elaborate ice sculptures adorned the sides, depicting scenes from ancient folklore and myth. Each sculpture was a masterpiece, intricately detailed and shimmering with an otherworldly glow. The flickering candlelight that lined the pews added a warm and comforting ambiance to the icy grandeur.
The Icelanders waited for me to be familiar with my surroundings before the uproar began. Their protests bounced off the walls, putting an end to the serenity that once enveloped the cathedral.
Pissed, Thjis rose and commanded silence. The congregation hushed, awaiting further instructions from their king.
“Brethren. You have every right to be upset regarding the wolf’s presence on these sacred grounds, but I stand here before you today begging you all to be accommodating on behalf of your Lord Jesus Christ that was born today. I mean, what’s the point of the season if we can’t render hospitality to our unwanted guest? My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I’m sure baby Jesus would have wanted us to accommodate her. Therefore, I ask that she worship with us for now, and after the season is over, I’ll see to it that she leaves my kingdom and yours, for good.”
Their cheers removed my fears. They didn’t want me here, but Thjis did, so they have to be accommodating. Mouthing thank you to the king, I take my seat at the back, surrounded by the prince’s whores. My gold is not sitting well with their glimmering red. Mila waves at me quietly from where she’s seated with her family, and I smile. Everyone had dressed to impress, and I wonder for a split second, who this Lord Jesus Christ might be, and if I would ever get the chance to meet him.
After muttering a few merry Christmases, the priest walked in.
As the priest stepped forward, a hush fell over the congregation, and a sense of anticipation filled the air. His robes were pure white, accentuated by delicate ice crystals that sparkled with every movement. His presence exuded serene authority, and his voice, when he spoke, carried a gentle strength that resonated through the cathedral.
With a solemn tone, the priest began to recite the sacred words of the Christmas mass. His voice reverberated through the vast space, echoing off the icy walls and filling every corner with its power. The words, spoken with reverence and devotion, seemed to weave a tapestry of faith and hope, drawing us closer to the essence of the season.
As the mass progressed, the priest’s gestures and expressions conveyed a deep reverence for the rituals and tradition being observed. His hands gracefully moved through the air, guiding the congregation in prayer and reflection. With each word and gesture, he connected us to a higher realm, bridging the gap between the earthly and the divine.
The atmosphere within the cathedral shifted, as if the very air had become charged with a spiritual energy. The congregants followed the priest’s lead, their voices rising in unison for hymns of praise and thanksgiving. The sound of their collective voices filled the spaces, harmonizing with the ethereal beauty of the surroundings.
Mass ended quickly, and I waited until the cathedral was devoid of people before exiting it. Outside the church was crowded with people saying, “Merry Christmas.”
Eager to escape, I walked to the other side of the cathedral only to walk in on Sia and Pharix making out.
Her back was to the wall, arms wrapped around his neck while he sucked her face off. How could he? I know we had a misunderstanding, but this is just too much. How dare he swap spit with another while I mother his kid in my womb?
Annoyed, I marched up to them, pushed Pharix away before delivering a slap to Sia’s face. He glared at me, eyes purple, but I didn’t care.
“What the fuck are you doing?”, he growled.
“I should ask you the same you son of a bitch! What the fuck are you doing with her? It’s bad enough that you had to show up with her and now you are kissing her? What the fuck, Sia?”
“You look amazing in that dress, Crinka,” Elijah said as he walked by. I glared at him. “Now is not the time for compliments, Elijah, so just leave,” I tell him before turning to Sia.
“Why the fuck did you do it?”
“I owe you no explanation.”
“Of course, you do!”, I yelled at him. “Sia, you were kissing another girl! Another girl!”
“She was just a distraction. I have been feeling a little antsy and I needed relief.”
“And you didn’t think of me? Sia, if you needed relief, you should have come to me.”
“I didn’t want to! I can feel him, Crinka. He wants to make an appearance, and I’d hate for you to be around me when he does. Now leave. Mass is over,” he said, pushing me away. I refuse to go away.
“I’m not going anywhere, Sia. You need a distraction? Then let me be your distraction,” I say, placing my hands on his chest.
“Pharix will do just fine. Now go,” he says, slapping my hands away.
“I’m not going anywhere, Sia. Let me help you.”
“If you wanna help, then leave,” he snarled.
“Do not turn me away on a day like this, Sia, I beg you.”
“Don’t you have anything less pathetic to do other than beg for sex?”
I’m shocked. “Beg for sex? You think I’m begging for sex?”
“I don’t think, I know. I never expected this from you, Crinka. Pharix maybe, but not you.”
I slap him hard. His eyes darkened. “You’ve slapped me twice now. I wouldn’t try a third.”
What fun would it be if I listened to him? I delivered my third slap swiftly, feeling proud. Immediately, he grabbed hold of me, his long and slender fingers wrapped around my neck, and gently he squeezed.
“Sia, you’re hurting me.”
He laughed. “I know, and I don’t care.”
I started to scream, drawing attention to us.
Displeased, he slapped me, and I let out a cry of pain. Goddess, it hurt.
“Sia, let me go please.”
“Why? So that you can hit me? You wanted to be a distraction, didn’t you? Then be a distraction!”
I watched in horror as he ripped open the front of my dress, exposing my luscious breasts to the cold. I should have just worn a bra. Grinning evilly, he took a nipple in his mouth, sucking roughly. Instead of pleasure, all I could feel was pain. The villagers, his fellow Icelanders, watched, and I swear some brought out their phones to take a shot. Disgusting pieces of shit. He replaced his tongue with his teeth, his fangs grazing my swollen breast. I cried out once more, but the onlookers did nothing but add to their internal storage.
“Sia, please let me go,” I begged, not because I want to, but because it’s the only thing I could resort to. Where did Elijah go, anyways?
He laughed, his breath tickling my skin. Somehow that turned me on, and I hated it. I hate how much control he has over me. Over my body. The blood bond was truly a curse.
“Let her go, Sia.”
Ruarc.
Sia turned to his brother. “This is none of your business, so scram.”
Instead of leaving, Ruarc punched his brother. Sia released me at once to focus on him. I stepped away from them and wrapped the shawl I collected from Elijah around myself. So that’s where he went.
“Listen to me now, Crinka. Things are about to get really messy, so I advise you to run. Now go!”
Heart racing, I ran towards the palace, pushing people out of the way. I collapsed at the foot of the stairs leading down to the South wing. Breathing hard, I ran all the way down the stairs, only to meet Sia outside his bedroom door.
“How…did?”
“Take off the shawl.”
“Sia…”
“You have five minutes.”
“Can you at least take this… conversation inside? I mean it’s outside, and people could see…”
He snorted. “Like they haven’t already seen. You have two minutes more.”
I’m pretty sure that it’s more than two minutes, but since I am not in the mood to upset him further, I take it off. “It’s off.”
“Take off the dress.”
“What?”
“Don’t make me repeat myself.”
Trembling, I take off my dress and my shoes as well.
“Good. How are you feeling now?”
Is he serious right now? “How do you expect me to feel, Sia?”
“Just answer the question. How do you feel?”
“Cold.”
“Do you still love me?”
“Huh?”
“After all everything I’ve done to you today, do you still love me?”
“So that’s what this is about? Maltreating me so I’ll fall out of love with you? What sort of sick joke is this, Sia?”
He walked closer. “Do you still love me?”
“Yes,” I whisper. “Nothing you do will ever make me stop loving you.”
“Guess I just have to try harder.”
Before I could ask him what he meant, he yanked me closer, sinking his fangs into my neck.
And then the world goes black.