The last saint (Guardians of Red moon city #5) {In Progress}

Chapter 1

“Where are the goods?”

I find myself standing in front of a pair of dark eyes that exude an intense anger, capable of reducing even the strongest of individuals to tears. Yet, I remain unfazed. Disappointing glances are nothing new to me - they've been a constant in my life since childhood. No matter what I accomplish, no one ever seems to be satisfied with it. Instead, they relentlessly compare me to my sister, who seems to have it all. Our parents dote on her, showering her with love and respect that I know I'll never be able to attain. It's not just their favoritism that sets us apart, however.

My sister and I have vastly different views on what's right and wrong, and unfortunately, this has only served to cement my status as the black sheep of the family. They avoid socializing with me whenever they can, preferring to spend their time with their golden child. But when they do have to be with me, it's always an exercise in frustration - they force me to do things I don't want to do and constantly remind me of how disappointed they are that I can't be more like my sister. It's in those moments that I feel the most alone and misunderstood.

As I reflect on my relationship with my parents and sister, I can't help but feel a deep sense of detachment. Despite my best efforts, I have never truly felt like I belong in our family. It's as if I'm an outsider looking in, always searching for a way to fit in. Even though they can be harsh and critical of me, I can't help but love them because they are my family. I know that somewhere beneath the surface, there is a love that binds us together. I just haven't been able to find it yet. But I refuse to believe that they hate me because I know that love runs deep in our family.

“In safe hands,” I reply, not having time to react until his palm meets my cheek with incredible force.

I raise my hand to my cheek as I gaze up at my father, the man whose actions are responsible for my very existence. Despite his occasional outbursts of violence towards me, mostly in the form of slaps when he feels I'm speaking to him with an attitude or not following his instructions, he has never caused me serious harm. Over time, I've become somewhat desensitized to the pain, even finding a strange sense of comfort in the physical contact, as it's one of the only forms of human interaction I'm allowed. Due to the nature of my profession, I'm forbidden from having any contact whatsoever with the outside world.

“Stop that cheeky attitude and answer my question properly, girl!” he growls, and I notice that his eyes begin to shimmer with light blue shades, a warning that I shouldn’t continue to push him if I don’t want to expose myself to his wrath. “Why can you never do as we tell you to do? I knew it was a stupid idea to trust that you could cope with this little mission. Natalya would’ve coped with it flawlessly!”

“There are more important things than following the confused worldview you choose to dedicate your life to,” I reply, despite knowing I’m playing with fire.

I know I create problems for myself, but that’s the only way to get him to throw me out temporarily before they start looking for me again. He takes a firm grip with his long, thin fingers on my black hair and pulls my head closer to his.

“There’s nothing more important than The Order, nothing!” he says in a low and threatening voice that makes my arms’ hair rise because I’m aware that I’m now in a dangerous situation. “We dedicate our lives to The Order and receive infinite powers that can take over the world in exchange. What is so difficult to understand?”

I find that way of thinking quite baffling since I’ve never desired control over the world. All I crave is a tiny piece of it where I can establish something of my own that would allow me to be self-sufficient and not depend on anyone else. Unfortunately, life doesn’t always allow us to choose our circumstances, and that’s certainly the case with me.

“I’m tired of you, Anastasia. Get out of my house before I kill you myself!”

As I exit the office, my footsteps echo through the dimly lit corridors. The spiral staircase comes into view, and I approach it, the darkness enveloping me with each step. As I approach, I notice Natalya standing before a soldier, her body language flirtatious as she twirls a strand of hair around her index finger. I can’t help but feel disgusted with her indecent ways, wondering how our father could possibly view her as more mature than me. As I approach her, she greets me with a sarcastic tone and a mocking laugh.

"Oh, look who's here again. Thrown out once more, I see," she says, her eyes flickering with amusement. "It's beyond me why Father insists on bringing you back when it's crystal clear that you're more suited to be with those dogs of yours out there."

Without dignifying her cruel words with a response, I hastily make my way through the heavy wooden gate, the kind that even the strongest soldiers in my father’s army have trouble opening. The guard stationed at the entrance, Andrej, offers a quick smile in my direction as I pass by, and I pretend, as I always do, that everything is fine. In this household, Andrej is the only one who treats me with kindness and respect, unlike the others who regard me as nothing more than a beast. Andrej and I have been friends since childhood when his father was my father’s trusted bodyguard.

Although the plan was for Andrej to become my bodyguard, my parents had a change of heart and chose Natalya instead. As a result, Andrej became Natalya’s protector. I was deemed too weak to hold such a position, but truthfully, I’m indifferent to the matter. However, what concerns me is that poor Andrej will have to endure my sister’s flirting and screaming daily for the rest of his life. That’s not okay, but since I’m not the one taking over, I have no power to influence their choices. With a resigned sigh, I make my way into the dense forest, trying to put on a brave face despite feeling overwhelmed by all the obligations that have been weighing me down.

The sun is shining down on me, and despite the heat, the raindrops that are falling from the sky feel refreshing against my skin, washing away the sweat that has accumulated on my brow. After what feels like an eternity, I finally arrive at the hidden location, and I pause to take a deep breath before entering. As soon as I step inside, my eyes are drawn to her, and a huge smile spreads across my face.

“Hello, honey. I’ve managed to keep you a secret yet again!”

-

A/N:

Hello everyone, and welcome to “The Last Saint”!

This book may contain parts that may be offensive to some. Keep reading at your own risk, and be aware that I can no longer be held responsible for your choice. I’ll probably keep the chapters relatively short in the future, as I’ll also have the time and opportunity to update more often. In previous books, I have slavishly followed a minimum of 2000 words, often more, which made the process difficult for me. I think it’s better to give all the information about this now. Some chapters will be around 1000 words like this, while another may be triple, and I can’t currently answer how it’ll be.

~ What do you think so far of the story?

~ From what you’ve read, how much is realistic?

~ How do you think the story will unfold?

Hugs and kisses!