The Lycan’s Bride

Chapter 2

“Are you ready, Lady Yelina?” asked Shiela, one of my mother’s youngest attendant, as she placed the crown made from white roses on my head. She had this exciting smile plastered all over her face while grooming and beautifying me. Such an innocent smile. If only she knew what would really happen to me, I bet she would not have that smile at all. “The whole Avlarez Clan is waiting for you at the Hall. Everyone is excited to see you depart and be with the divine being that keeps our safety.”

I faked a smile to avoid spoiling her mood. I want her to keep her belief and be happy even after I am gone. I want her to think that I left to help in keeping the human realm safe. In that way, she will never grieve. That’s the best I can do to spare her from pain and regret since all she ever did was keep me company and made me feel that I somehow belong to this realm; that I am just like anybody else. She and Ruth are the only persons that somehow made me feel alive.

“Are we done?” I asked her in a gentle manner before I stared at myself in the mirror.

I am wearing a pure white dress with some touches of gold. On my head rests a crown of white roses. I looked so beautiful. I wanted to smile and praise Shiela for a very good job, but I can’t. I just can’t. My emotions are raging inside me. I want to explode and burst into tears, but I can’t afford to spoil everyone’s excitement.

“Yes, Lady Yelina,” she responded with such enthusiasm. “Let’s go?”

I just did a nod before I stood up and let her guide me to the Ceremonial Hall.

“Yelina, you’re stunning,” I heard one of my cousins commented as soon as I reached the hall. He looked at me and gave me a warm smile. “Live a good life as you cross the other world,” he added.

“Lycan’s Bride!” my young cousins cheered before they rushed toward me. “You’re so pretty, Yelina!”

I just gave them a smile before focusing my eyes to the path ahead from me. Only a few really knows about the truth of this offering. Most of the people in this household believe that I will still be alive after I cross the other world. But that’s fine. That way, they won’t grieve on me.

I reached the hall and was welcomed by the whole clan. The young ones greeted and cheered on me, but the old ones look at me with neutral stares, as if they already got used to this kind of happening. Of course they are.

“Yelina, step in the middle of the hall,” my father instructed me. He spoke like he is not afraid to lose me; to offer my life to a beast. His eyes showed no traces of emotions, as if he has completely detached himself from me. “This is the day we all have been waiting for,” he said, travelling his gaze all over the place, completely ignoring me.

I took a deep breath to calm the storm inside me. My heart feels so heavy and I can already feel the edges of my eyes burning. I looked at the center of the hall and saw a little altar filled with white roses and scented white candles. The altar was also illuminated by the light coming from the full moon.

“Today, we will witness another Alvarez who will cross the other world to keep the human realm safe,” my father announced to everyone. “Let us all pray for Yelina’s safe crossing,” he added.

I looked at my mother who was standing beside the elders of the clan. I looked at her and waited for her to react or just show some emotions; I wanted to hear her say something to me, but she just gave me dead stares. She looked at me like I did not come out from her womb; as if she did not carry me inside her for nine months. She stared at me like she never carried me in her arms. And that hurts like hell.

I was hoping she would stop me; that she would embrace me and tell me everything’s gonna be alright, but she did not. She is just like my father. I don’t even know if they ever saw me as their child, nor felt like they have to begin with. Maybe the moment they saw the mark on my hand, they already considered me dead.

Like, who would get attach to someone who will be gone someday, right? Maybe the reason why my parents decided to act cold and distant to me is to make sure that there will never be attachments between us. It’s their way of cutting off my roots, so if the time comes that I will leave, no attachments would ever make me hesitate to go.

I bitterly smiled.

So my time has already come, huh. I wonder if the former brides or should I say, offerings, felt the same way I do right now or they felt worse than me; or if ever there was someone who was glad to cross the other world and meet the beast.

I bit my lower lip when my heart started to feel like it is being crushed. The edges of my eyes started to burn as I feel the beads of tears forming. Regrets started to flood my system as I let my tears roll down my cheeks.

Out of all the girls born in our clan, why me? Because of this goddamn mark, I wasn’t able to really feel like I had a life worth living!

Because of this mark, I was separated from everyone. They made a separate world for me to live in. My existence was viewed as something that should never be mixed with theirs. Even my parents who have their blood and flesh in me do not want to involve themselves to me. I was robbed of all the things I should be enjoying as a normal person. I was robbed of even the most basic thing I should have—freedom.

Maybe it was all part of their plan? They made me feel those things for me to let go of my life easily; to throw it without hesitation when they demand me to. Maybe that’s why. Because right at this very moment, I really don’t have anything in my mind other than giving up my life. I am just waiting for someone to claim it—and that’s none other than the beast they worship like a god, the lycan.

“The time has come!” my father announced as the moonlight shined brighter. The white roses reflected the light and made everything around me to be filled with bouncing lights. “Let us witness Yelina’s crossing!”

After my father said those words, I felt a pang in my chest followed by a searing pain at the back of my hand where the mark is located. And when my eyes landed on the mark, it widened in surprise as the black ink started to turn into a glowing golden color.

I heard the crowd react as they get astounded by the magical sight. I wanted to look at them and see their faces one last time, especially my parents. But I am too occupied to even move my eyes. I was too focused on what’s happening to me.

The lycan’s mark started radiating golden streaks of light, intensifying the burning sensation I feel in my hand. I winced in pain as I take a deep breath to manage the raging mix of emotions and sensations inside me. I tightly held my wrist, hoping I could lessen the pain, but it didn’t.

I fell on the ground when I couldn’t take it anymore. I gasp for air when the searing pain reached my heart. I soon noticed the light soon turning into specks of golden dust, dancing in the air until it formed into a massive, glowing pentagram.

I reached for something to grab when I felt a force coming from the pentagram pulling me. The force became stronger and stronger as the light of the pentagram grows brighter and brighter until I had no choice but to close my eyes or else I might get blinded.

And when I sensed that the light has already faded, I opened my eyes only to be welcomed by a woman with golden pair of eyes. She smiled at me, revealing her sharp-looking canine fangs. She then gracefully bowed at me, “Welcome to our domain, Lycan Bride.”