When a rose turns black Chapter 18.
A/N: Gif isn’t mine. I found it in pinterest. Also, mentions of blood, So reader discretion is advised.
“The Hand of Darkness”
A large Obsidian Castle was in the heart of Tle’ktiva. An abandoned land of Virginia. Its people abandoned due to the harsh conditions, and the shortage of water and food. Thus, They better abandon it for a better place to live.
The Obsidian castle didn’t lose its charm and beauty. Even though, It had been centuries since it had been built. It’s still the same as the people who had abandoned it. Unaffected by time or erosion.
The Castle is decorated with Obsidian from top to bottom. Silver accents on the windows and doors, giving it a touch of dark royalty. Its towering spires, adorned with intricate designs, pierce the heavens as if reaching out to the celestial objects. The castle’s stone walls are imbued with Andesine gems. Which gave a glowing effect from a distance - Making it look as if it was kissed by the eerie glow of red lights that dance like ethereal spirits.
The winds of the north howled and whispered. As if it were singing of pain and melancholy. The sands that covered the place are dark and unforgivable as if were kissed by the Virginian sun, Much for Mariuz’s taste and style.
In the Obsidian Castle, Mariuz sat on his throne. The throne room is similar to the Castle’s outer design. The walls are covered with various of red-blood gems and paintings of Mariuz. The floor is covered with red as if were a sea of blood, And the dais on Mariuz’s throne room, Is decorated with black gems and small blood-red spirals, giving it a dark royalty vibes to match the Castle’s dark aesthetic.
Maruiz was still sitting on his throne like a King. He was looking at the paintings of him. He was bored and unhappy.
Then she came, A beautiful, tall woman with long glossy black hair decorated with the finest gold hair accessories – A face that makes the hardest of men falter easily, A curvy figure makes the mouth water, She wears a dress of old Kuwaiti fashion trimmed with gold sequins in a line from top to bottom. The golden embroidery on her bodice resembled thousands of dancing fireflies. Long, graceful sleeves, Edged with frothy golden lace, Flowed like waves lapping at the shore. The neckline of her dress, just like the dress of a temptress, was adorned with the finest of gold jewellery. And finally, Paisley shawls patterns on both sides of her red dress – Just like a gracious tapestry woven with golden strings, That was made with love and passion. That dress — It exquisitely fit her smokey brown eyes. She was desire-given form.
She trekked confidently to Maruiz as she smiled widely at him. Her lips – As red as blood. The clacking of her red heels – A sensual song to the ears.
She stopped in front of him. “You called for me? Sir.” She asked seductively.
“Are you done with your ‘playing time’?” He pointed and asked. His tone is unamused.
“Yes, My lord,” She smiled innocently at him.
She blinked, For a second, She saw beautiful red houses nestled in a small village and their vibrant warm hue shimmered in the sunlight. In a place far away somewhere. For a second, she thought she recognised it – just like somewhere far in the deep recreational of her mind. She blinked once again. Then it was all gone, Just like a mirage. She is adamantly sure, She saw this place somewhere. Somehow.
Her mind is an empty canvas. Despite, The glimpses she couldn’t get the whole picture.
Maruiz's loud and piercing voice cut her unending stream of thoughts. She looked at him and smiled once again.
“I see.” He finally replied as he surveyed her to every single detail. “You are free to go,”
She grinned. Showing her pearly white teeth. “Thank you, My lord,”
And with that, She walked away, her heels clacking, their sounds fading into the distance.
Mariuz, His gaze was on the direction that she she departed from. Much to his dismay, She started to have glimpses of her past — her memories refused to fade, As her old, real self.
Maruiz cursed loudly. He didn’t care if he was heard. His plan is starting to crumble — His world is crumbling, Sooner or later, She will remember who she was. And — She will comes for blood.
The early morning sun quickly climbed in the sky. Its warm orange-yellow ray bathed the sky in golden radiance. The orange glow of the vibrant sun spread throughout the sky, quickly filling the sky and warming the early morning air.
Aliyaa groggily woke from some noises nearby. She was disoriented due to her just waking up minutes prior. She stifled a yawn, extreme grogginess and fatigue were weighing her down. She suppressed the urge to go back to sleep because she didn’t want to hear these annoying sounds again.
In the distance, An animal, perhaps a goat, bleating hauntingly, It reminded her of the horrible story she heard from her uncle a day prior. It was about a goat that had eaten its owner. Aliyaa’s body shook, Her skin crawled and she is uncomfortable. Her body trembled with fear.
She forcibly closed her eyes. Her mind, Instantly brought an image of a scary goat – blood dripped from its teeth – Its white fur drenched in blood too. Its face was an image of horror, black beady eyes devoid of emotion – razor-sharp horns ready to pierce her and kill her.
The sound of the goat's hooves hitting the ground echoed through the air, growing louder and louder with each passing moment. As Aliyaa heard it approach, her heart began to beat faster and faster, almost threatening to burst out of her chest. Her breathing quickened, coming in short gasps as she struggled to keep her composure. Despite her efforts, she felt herself becoming frozen as if she were a block of ice.
she saw the silhouette of a goat, its eyes glowing with an eerie light. Trembling with fear, she could hear its hooves scraping against the ground, creating an ominous rhythm. She quickly buried herself inside her blanket. She couldn’t bear to look at that goat – Just like it was possessed by an evil spirit. As she lay frozen in terror, the goat's haunting bleats echoed through the place, sending chills down her spine. Aliyaa couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched by something malevolent, something far more sinister than any ordinary goat. She recited every prayer she remembered. She hoped beyond hope that the goat leave her alone.
Sheer curiosity took the better of her. She peeked her head outside of the blanket. She saw a white goat. It stood 20 feet away from here. It seems young and lively, Its white fur glimmering in the early-morning sun. It has slender and delicate legs that it seemed the slightest breeze could send it flying away – small and short horns that undoubtedly would not be sharp enough to pierce through something, perhaps, Like a skin, Its eyes are a pool of glowing topaz.
Unexpectedly, Aliyaa laughed out loud. Her laughter was due to her realization that her fear of a harmless and cute animal like a goat was unnecessary and stupid. She had panicked for no reason, her fear and panic were irrational.
She took some leftovers of rice and bread. She offered it to the goat. The goat happily ate the food offered by the nice human in front of her.
She was looking at the goat while it was eating. She was smiling and happy. Admiring the cute animal while it is eating. Her attention was focused on the goat until she heard the voice of a man.
A man in his late 40s came. He has light brown eyes. A Khaki skin tone as the sand of a Virginian desert, He has a comforting feeling to him. He is handsome - A bit taller than an average male Virginian - He is standing 6 and a half feet tall. Making his height almost 190cm. He wore traditional shepherd attire. Simple brown robe and white pants.
He smiled at her. “My name is Samer and I apologise for the inconvenience.” He said sincerely. “My goat always roams away from the herd.”
Aliyaa smiled back at him. There was no harm done, The goat was peaceful and harmless, It made Aliyaa happy; having it around her. She was familiar with goats and sheeps. She always helps her father in herding them. So, she isn’t new to this whole herding thing.
“My name is Aliyaa, nice to meet you Samer and don’t worry.” She replied. Her tone is calm and soft. “There’s nothing to apologise for,”
Aliyaa’s father: Hadi Aepel, He came with his brother Massoud, In tow. They looked at the man and his goat. They didn’t look they just woke up from sleeping.
Hadi surveyed the scene in front of him with his eyes. “What’s going on here?” Hadi asked.
“Sir, I just came to return the goat.” The man answered. His tone is genuine and sincere.
Hadi nodded, His brother Massoud didn’t say anything. He just looked back and forth between his brother and the man in front of them.
The man bid them farewell and left them. His goat trotted behind him. The trio smiled as they looked at Samer and his friendly goat.
The trio, blissfully unaware that they were being watched by a dark entity — Two hands holding an onyx crystal ball, His cold, unforgiving slate-eyes gluded on it, Anzir, grinned cruelly as he saw the scene in front of his very eyes.
“Truly, Ignorance is a bliss,” He muttered to himself, Then he burst out laughing. His laughter resonated around the place. It was so loud as if it was shaking the place with its intensity.
Anzir, The current aspect of Darkness, decided spy on the trio for a little longer. He rarely shows interest in people. But unfortunately for the trio, They piqued his interest; and his attention isn’t something that one should attract. When they do, It is about to get devastating.
May the Remained-One helps whoever Anzir set his gaze on. For, No one can help them and save them for his darkness.
