16 Deal with the mysterious figure

Her bare feet made a subtle thumping sound on the stone floor as she slowly walked towards the end of the dark alley. She came to stand before a room and her hand slid forward towards the knob, twisting it open slowly. With a creaking noise the door opened fully, revealing absolute obscurity behind it. She entered the room despite the darkness and walked forward, seemingly knowing the way without the need of a light to illuminate the path.

As she reached a certain spot, she ceased as she witnessed a pair of orange-red eyes flickering in the dark a little away from her.

"I did as you said but he was even more eager than we had expected. He wanted the wedding to take place today so we are fulfilling his wish." She said to whoever was present on the other side of the room.

"Very well, if he wants it sooner, let it be sooner but be sure he doesn't leave the island without her." A masculine voice came from the figure's side.

"I still don't understand, why are you doing all of this?" She asked, hesitation embarking her unsteady tone.

"It's none of your business, Xobaria. You should only be concerned with your payment. Rest shouldn't be bothered.'' The voice sounded heavy.

"As you say," She nodded her head slowly. "However, I think I should be allowed to ask about the fate of my daughter, am I?"

"Your daughter?" The figure let out a low rumbling laughter before returning to his serious state once again. "I think you are forgetting something."

Xobaria bit her tongue to stop herself from saying anything.

"She is our pawn and she will do as we will tell her. Once our purpose is fulfilled, he may do whatever he wishes with her as she is least of our concern right now." He barked. "Oh but why are you so worried, don't you have plenty of daughters to get your business going?" He pressed on the word daughter a little more than necessary and that compelled Xobaria to grit her teeth.

"Alright, I will require my leave now as it's time for the wedding ritual." She informed him and after a brief humming sound, the pair of eyes disappeared.

She let out a deep breath of relief as soon as she was left alone in the room. It all started several years ago; she had been sleeping peacefully in her room when a cold hand wrapped around her mouth causing her to wake up due to suffocation. She wanted to scream and get free of the hold but the attacker was too strong compared to her wimpy attempts.

Another hand snaked around her waist as she was dragged into an empty dark room that was in the very corner of the stone castle where no one usually went. The attacker was covered all over in thick dark shadow and never revealed himself but only a set of burning red eyes that resembled her own were showing. But, they burned even more furiously than hers, like a firefly before the sun.

The attacker placed an enticing offer before her and demanded something in return. In front of the tempting offer, the benefaction that he had asked felt like nothing so she agreed immediately. They had a deal and a vow was given. The mysterious dark figure appeared too dangerous and there was something about him utterly threatening. Something was telling her that even if he hadn't placed an offer before her, she wouldn't have been able to say no to him.

Months passed but the figure never appeared again and she started believing that it was just a dream that she had. Slowly but eventually she had almost forgotten about the incident completely when the figure appeared once again with something that changed everything. But, as she made a deal already, she had to follow what she had been told.

Xobaria was monitoring all the preparations when Aurora entered the hall along with Kiara who held her dress and veil for her. Everyone stopped to look at her and they had a hard time looking away. The dumb, boring Aurora looked…nothing like her old self. They shared looks of jealousy and envy amongst each other as they bitterly followed Xobaria's instructions.

Xobaria observed Aurora from head to toe and once satisfied she said, "You look amazing, daughter." She then turned to Kiara. "Take her to the neighboring room and bring her when called."

"Now let's fetch the bride's groom, shall we?"