Prologue:
*Edited 25th Nov. 2025
Flames licked the ebony sky, as thick billows of smoke wafted through out the air. Some houses were already scorched to the ground. Some were still burning. The heat crackled along the walls, catching onto trees and grass; continuing to wreck havoc on the small town. Crops were destroyed, memories were destroyed, lives were destroyed.
Painful screams struck through the air, screams of agony permeating the night sky. Mutilated corpses littered the ground, some burnt beyond recognition, some torn to shreds.
The village was harbouring a criminal, and it was the Royal Guards duty to ensure that they were found by any means necessary. Their operation was to search and destroy, and that's exactly what they were going to do.
Death-defying roars echoed around the ruins, blood curdling cries and crunches marred the surrounding as another life was lost. Beasts that stood on two legs, over seven feet tall, shook the town on its axis. Their sheer ferocity and power was enough to leave a full grown faery crawling at their feet. Those who lived long enough to tell the tale spoke of their overwhelming sovereignty and lethal aura. They say that their presence is enough to make your feet crumble and hands shake. The strength of their ambience is enough to make you nauseous, queasy and downright insane. This however, was overlooked by their beauty, prestige and tremendous wealth. Shimmering balls, crystal chandeliers and an army strong enough to take down an entire country was enough to intimidate their neighbours and let their potential for chaos rain down. Taking what they saw fit, including mates, or as they call them: inamorata.
They are tailored specifically for your chosen half. To fit each other, compliment each other, to love and cherish till death do them part. It is not usual to feel a connection on the first encounter, however the chance to find one's mate is so rare that most often dismiss the feeling to a temporary obsession. Only once skin has been touched can a beast determine its counterpart. Once the possessive creatures' find their destined, they will never let go, killing anyone who dared to step in their way no matter the cost.
A small girl stands in the wake of the destruction, clutching a tattered bear to her chest, tears streaming down her innocent freckled cheeks. A cut on her right cheekbone streams with crimson blood, dribbling down her neck to soak her night-gown. She cries not out of fear- but of agony, for friends and town who now suffers in destruction. She is too young to know of the story of the beasts, but old enough to feel the agonising fear of losing everything you hold dear. Her eyes are still puffy from sleep, her pointed ears twitch at each roar and scream, each loss of life still heavy in the air like the smoke heaving from her eradicated home. Where she was born, where she'd had her first steps, said her first word, cast her first charm.
She knows that there is no use of crying out for her parents, her friends, for she could already feel their aura slip away.
Her soot covered hands rubbed her eyes slowly, covering her forehead and cheeks in dirt. The cut still drizzling blood from the wound. Her cat-like pupils expanding to observe her darkened surroundings, the only light from the remains of the burning buildings around her. Small sobs racking through her chest made her body convulse and shake uncontrollably, her tiny knuckles going white as she clutched the teddy bear to her chest.
She dropped down, covering her knees and clothes in gooey mud and dirt. She was crying so much she failed to notice the beast looming in the shadows around ten feet behind her. It's blade-like claws dripping in crimson blood, sooty fur matted with dirt and claret with the stench of death surrounding him. Its jaw was clamped shut, eyes glowing a rich golden in the night like two fallen stars.
Elijah stood in the obscure shadow, fighting everyone of his instincts. He wanted to comfort her, tell the small girl it wold be alright. He knew he couldn't, not like this. Not covered in the blood of her people. He quickly shook his head, slicing his claws into his hands before they reach out for her. That night, his mission was to find Grinnah, they were his direct orders. He'd always been one to follow them, that is after all is how he'd climbed the ranks, easily becoming one of the most efficient killing machines in the entire fleet. He had earned countless medals, a seat with the council and an actual say it what was considered a good opportunity for the kingdom. And how? By leaving his emotions and getting it done. Disconnecting from himself to achieve the best result. So why now did they decide to sneak up on him? To make him feel an ounce of guilt.
Another sob raked through the girl's chest. It broke him out of his trance and made him jump so much he shifted back to his human form completely. His body going into auto-pilot and taking a step towards the girl. Elijah forced himself to remain stark still, careful not to alarm her.
What the fuck is wrong with me? He inwardly snapped, a tiny growl being released from his chest, vibrating the ground around him.
The girl's ear pricked in his direction, her body instantly going rigid in fear.
Elijah felt a deep slice in his chest, some part of him didn't want this little girl afraid, especially not of him. A hot heat spread throughout his chest as he forced his feet backwards, slinking back into the shadows, into the unknown. His chest wrenched painfully at each step he took, his heart clenching.
What the fuck? Elijah gritted his teeth together, the pain in his chest increasing in every passing second. His beast was clawing painfully inside him, it's claws piercing through his stomach as though trying to create a gash along his skin. He growled lowly, internally struggling with the beast. A gradual pressure was building in his mind, making him flinch and claws extend. His body was beginning to lose control but he had no idea why.
His beast roared in his chest, the clawing and slashing got worse, now trying to tear through flesh at every chance it had causing Elijah to stumble. Each slash was painful, like white hot knives searing along his abdomen.
The pressure in his temples increased, edging him forward, towards the little girl. The beast continued. Each rip, claw and slash creating more panic in Elijah's head.
Something was wrong.
The beast roared again. Forcing his head upwards when he heard a small snap.
The small girl was still crying, her salty tears filling the air but there was a new scent. Another beast.
His own beast went still, the pressure remained, if not getting worse, but the clawing stopped. The beast's attention was on the new arrival. He was here to finish the job Elijah had not yet started. The beast thundered in his head, stabbing pains shooting through his body.
Lycanthropes and their beasts cannot communicate by words, only emotion and pure driven instinct. So to feel such strong, heavy emotion towards a faery was unheard of... Unless. Elijah shook his head immediately. No. A person like him was undeserving of a gift like that.
His head pounded again as his beast shook with fury.
The pressure got worse.
His eyes snapped back to the new beast, silently prowling in the shadows. He knew their next moves, and it made a surge of decimating anger pummel through his chest. The beast would do it's job then leave the little girl.
Leave her in an unmarked grave, never to be heard of again. The imagery made his whole body convulse. Something about her intrigued him. She wasn't going to die tonight. Not on his bloody hands.
The beast was just about to lunge when Elijah emerged from the shadows, his aura made the beast hobble slightly on its feet, half emerged from the shadows. He growled, his chest vibrating.
"Leave. Now." His deep voice was thick with command, no room for argument.
The other lycanthrope shifted back, revealing his comrade, Mason.
"You heard what he said, Elijah. No one makes it out of this village alive." Mason stated, his eyes darting towards the little girl who was now as white as chalk and shivering in fear. He could feel it rolling off of her in waves. Her wide cerulean eyes stared straight at Elijah.
Alessandra shook with fear, it gripped her stomach and made her feel nauseous, the two men in front of her were staring at her and talking, she didn't speak their language. No one in her village had. The only language she had known was that of her ancestors: Torobic. Anything else sounded like gibberish. Especially whatever they were speaking.
The man with bright golden eyes suddenly stiffened, his whole body shaking, his ambience made her cower, forcing her to bow her head in submission. Quicker than her eyes could follow he was towering over her small frame, facing the other man whose eyes had turned murderously black.
Something about the man with the golden eyes made her feel safe, she didn't know why but a sense of calm and peace slightly eased her shaking form. It wrapped around her like a blanket and she felt strangely... protected. The feeling of safety when her Mama let her in the house after being shut outside during thunderstorm.
Tears prickled at her eyes as she was reminded that their aura was no longer there and she was alone, but it confused her that she still felt an odd sense of serenity. Her body felt as if she were possessed when she edged closer to him, his long-tree like legs edging back themselves. The feeling intensified as more gibberish-like words were exchanged, she assumed they were arguing from the harsh growls, but somehow, she didn't feel as afraid. She was no longer shaking out of fear, but was now clouded with confusion. She wondered what they were discussing that seemed so... angry.
Soon, the man standing in front of golden eyes snapped their jaw, growling loudly. Golden eyes said nothing, only glaring at him. Then he turned and walked away, tense in anger.
Elijah turned to the little girl, crouching down to her height. He'd just told Mason that if he were to even think about hurting her that he'd snap his neck... he didn't take the threat too well.
"What is your name?" Elijah asked in Torobic, knowing they wouldn't have taught Latin in this village.
Alessandra's eyes widened, he could speak two languages? She could only now see is face. The dried blood coating is chest and stomach. He had a scar that ran from the top of his shoulder down his chest and a tribal looking tattoo on one side of his neck. His eyes were a bright golden that illuminated his face in the darkness. His teeth looked perfectly straight and his jaw was as sharp as a knife.
"Al-Alessandra." She stuttered nervously.
Elijah nodded, and held his arms out to the girl ushering her towards him so he could pick her up. He was certain a young girl would not be involved with Grinnah's attempt at a revolution. She was just a child, of whom he felt oddly inclined to save.
Alessandra's inched forward, nervously reaching out for the man, "Are you going to hurt me?" She whispered. Everything she knew was gone, she felt broken and lost.
Elijah crouched, placing his hand under her arm pits and lifting her onto his hip, "No, I'm not." He replied gently, "We are going to find you a new home. A safe home."
"I think I would like that." Alessandra sniffled, "Mama and Papa were always angry, I don't think they liked me." They didn't get along, she sometimes questions if what they had was love, because if sure didn't seem like they were living a happily ever after like the story's she read. Papa was always angry and drank a horrible smelling liquid that seemed to latch onto him for days. And Mama always seemed to be burdened by her presence, finding any excuse to pick at her. Alessandra had once asked if Mama could put a braid and flowers in her hair for the Solstice celebration, Mama just sneered and said if she wanted something nice then to do it herself.
She was always told to hide in the closet and be quiet when papa's brother came over, he would stay all night long and they spoke in such hushed whispers she could never hear what they were saying no matter how hard she listened. Mama would bring her blankets and a pillow when it got to her bed time, but she would never get any food on those nights. It was as though she didn't exist. She was only allowed to come out and have breakfast once he was long gone.
"Well you're going to like your new home, I promise." Elijah stated, he understood her dysfunctional family a little too well.
Alessandra was tentative, unsure if she should believe this man. She was told never to trust a stranger. But she was too tired and her eyes stung too much for her to give it much thought. "Can I stay with you? You seem nice." She yawned rubbing her eyes, smearing dirt across her cheeks.
Elijah paused, he felt an oddly paternal sensation come over him, he wanted to make sure she was safe and well looked after. And for a brief horrifying second he considered what contacts he had in the capital to get her enrolled in the Royal Celestial Boarding School. He shut the thought down, he was a bachelor. A single man with no inkling of a love life, nor a maternal bone in his body. He couldn't raise a child what in the Goddess's name is his thinking.
"You can stay with me for a little bit..." What was his mouth saying... Her tired eyes seemed to light up, ever so slightly with briefest twinge of hope, "But," He rebutted, "It's just temporary, just until I can find somewhere nice for you."
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. He was stupid. Why did it matter? Why does it matter where she ends up? He's not even meant to be helping in the first place and now he's trying to find her a cushy place to live. Against his dismay, a sense of satisfaction settled in his chest.
This was temporary. He reminded himself. And then she would be on her own. How it needed to remain.
***
I am editing this story very very slowly, so I am so sorry if you read on and get confused, I am trying my hardest... It's literally been 6 years, praise a girl for coming back, I literally have a full time job, a dog and bills now :')
Anyways love you lots xoxo
-Maddie
