GODDESS

FAST FORWARD

I had no idea how I was going to stop his hands from trembling. This was something I expected to happen. I knew he'd be like this when we got back. He was seated and leaning in our palace's bricked wall, suppressing his trembling. I know he's terrified, but being the man that he is, I'm sure he didn't want to reveal how scared he is.

"Mi... Mino," I said softly, approaching his seat. "Please! I am done!" he replied bitterly, his hands quivering while he is hiding it behind his back. I know he's like that because he couldn't handle what occurred previously.

"I'm tired... What else do you want from me?" his sarcastic query to me. I'm at a loss for words since what occurred before will happen again and again as long as he stay in our world.

"Kill me already!" he muttered harshly, looking up at me. I only see anguish, regret, anger, and misery. I just stared at him because there was nothing I could do to make him feel better after what had happened earlier.

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*Flashback*

"Are you freaking serious?" I yelled to him while uncle was outside, feeding Silvestre, our means of transportation back to the palace. "Of course! It's great to be surrounded by your kind!" he said rudely, which I ignored. I knew he didn't want to come, but he only obeys the Goddess's demand because he will serve as her vision.

"Will you quit your attitude for a while?" I couldn't help but retort with annoyance. "Do I have a choice? Huh?" he pondered. "Since you abducted me and brought me here, I've had no freedom at all; even your Goddess is using me against my will!"

"You're just taking advantage of me!" he shouted. Damn! I felt immediate regret for his reprimand. Even if his pronunciation of those words remained cold, I felt his fury. What should I do? I didn't write that my life should be dependent on him. Do I have any freedom, too?

I am not free to choose who I will love and devote my all to. We're both stuck with this debilitating illness for which I have no explanation.

"If only I could do something about this, I would have long ago broke the link between the two of us! Do you really thought that I wanted any of this shit?" I replied forcefully, but he gave me a frigid gaze and an unpleasant sneer as if what he heard was gibberish. "Then just kill me and it'll be over!"

Because of what he stated, I took a deep breath right away. "Do you think death is your only option?" I sarcastically asked him. "Then what can you offer? To love you? To be bound with you forever? I don't even know you, and I have no idea what your purpose is with me!" I was taken aback by what he said. I attempted to maintain a cold glance on him in order to conceal the fact that his remarks had an effect on me.

"For God's sake! I don't want to be anyone's toy, but do I have a choice?" I could sense the exhaustion in his words, as if he had given up on his life.

"Then why are you fulfilling the Goddess's decree? Huh Mino? You can oppose her!" I swiftly replied, but I knew in my heart that I would prefer him to follow the Goddess's wishes because if he refuses to cooperate, I will suffer since he is far away from me and may harm himself when left alone.

"She promised me something! That's all I'm holding on to, so I'm being obedient!" he growled at me, preventing himself from expressing more anguish. What pledge is he referring to?

"What promise?" I asked, because I couldn't think of anything that the Goddess might promise him and why she seemed to be conversing with him until now.

"If I cooperate, she would let me go and return me to my world!" I was taken aback by what he stated. Wait! Will she bring him back? Will he be able to go back to his world? What about me, though? What's going to happen with me? Why would the Goddess offer him something that will make him far away from me? What is going on?

I'm not sure why, but I felt resentful for the dear Goddess. What about my illness , and how can I carry out the prophecy if Mino vanishes from this world? What are you up to, my Moon Goddess? Why did you make such a pledge?

"See how evil this world is? Even my freedom requires condition and torture!" he grumbled, cursing the world. "I will do anything to go back Vreihya! Even if it means enduring being with you and this word, I will do it just to go home!" his words were like daggers, piercing deeply into my chest.

Endure? A royal who has driven many men insane will be considered as a burden by a mere mortal? Wow! Just wow! He's belittling me!

I am adored by many! They yearn to have me by their side, but he simply sees it as a misfortune to be so close to me? Was it on purpose that the Goddess cursed me to be so intimate with someone who would treat me as if I were nothing?

What kind of curse is it that I still have to bow down to him? With his remarks, my jaw clenched and I felt like I was going to burst. This is a travesty!

"Then bite me! So we can go back and end your misery promptly," I reprimanded at him. I don't care any longer! I can't stand a being who appears to be the only one who looks at me this low! I am entitled for better! I'll find a way to eliminate my need for him!

I will not accept this ridicule! Nobody can ever overlook me. Having me should be a blessing for someone because anyone is so fortunate to be my partner, and I will not let it be dismissed as mere endurance!

I approached him, enraged, and drew my neck closer to him. I, too, want to put an end to this! Is he under the impression that he is the only one who feels bound by what is happening to us? I fought for years to prevent the time when I still needed him in this world.

We both appeared to be enraged, and he didn't hesitate to show his fangs. I could feel his closeness and the brush of his lips against my neck. I felt his bite a few seconds later. Devour all of my blood to put an end to it all! Do whatever you want to do so that we can both get rid of each other's burden.

We were both behind Silvestre with uncle above the clouds in a matter of minutes. The forest that had previously been a secure haven for us was gradually fading from view.

I knew that once I left, the trees and plants would wither away. The river will eventually dry up, and the palace will be destroyed. I have always loved the forest, and if I am asked, my love for my mother and uncle comes first, followed by my adoration for nature.

While we're in the clouds, silence envelopes us. We appear to be preoccupied with our own troubles and unwilling to discuss it. I saw our kingdom a few hours later and couldn't stop thinking about mother.

I couldn't stop myself from going down and stepping on my huge garden as soon as Silvestre came down. I knew flowers, trees, and meadows would greet me when I came.

I became even more ecstatic as I sensed my mother's approaching presence. I didn't stay long, and when I spotted her, I hurried over to hug her.

"Mother! I miss you so much!" I said as I embraced her, and she embraced back even tighter. "Vreihya! My little princess! I think of you every day," she tenderly whispered as she lovingly stroked my hair.

We ended our embrace a few moments later before she gazed at the man right below Silvestre. I could see her surprise when he saw Mino standing right in front of her.

"How come I can't smell his scent? What magic did you use?" she wondered as she glanced at uncle, who stood beside her and kissed her on the forehead. "Don't look at me Zaliah, I'm startled too," uncle said quickly, and mother's eyes switched to me in surprise.

"It's a long story!" my brief reply to her. "Later you will have to explain to me," her serious remark then once again cast a glance at the mortal.

"You look stunning in your attire! You appear to be destined to be a prince," my eyes widened as my mother praised Mino. I turned at him, expecting him to raise an eyebrow at my mother, but all I saw was a lovely smile of gratitude. What exactly does that mean?

"Let's go inside so you can rest," I nodded at mother's words because I was exhausted from our voyage as well, but we both looked up when the palace bell rung, signaling the arrival of another kingdom.

ENTRANTE!