LILY
I looked at Ozai, who was just staring up at the stars. I pondered on his words. Was I being too judgemental? But how could I not be? I mean they're the Hellhounds. That word alone says enough about them.
But then talking with Ozai now, he doesn't seem like a cold hearted murderer. He seems sad. They all do. All three. I know that Zeus is a very broken man. And he has done horrible things I'm sure. But as I remember the day when I was a little girl, and I didn't see him as a Hellhound, I saw him as a wolf, like me. And I believed that he was still good, despite the things he did.
I don't know if he could love me. I mean, mates are supposed to run into each others arms instantly. There is nothing instant between me and Zeus. He has made it clear that the mating pull does not affect him. But then tonight, when I sang to him, I saw a side of him that I didn't know exist. His humanity. Maybe I did know it was there. Maybe that was what I saw when I was a little girl.
I think that he has had to harden himself to cope. In a way, it's fair enough. He has had to endure so much. He has had to do horrible things to try and free himself. I guess that's what made me realise, the Hellhounds still desire to be good, to have a good and light soul because they are still fighting for it. Them committing horrible deeds is their ticket to be free of their darkness. That was their goodness. That's of Zeus I saw tonight. And for the first time, I had hope for them.
They still scared me of course, but I guess not as much now that I understand them.
I touched Ozai's arm and felt him tense. I smile softly, "Thank youi, Ozai. For talking to me."
Ozai returns the smile, well more of a small grin, "Your welcome, little Lily. I've always enjoyed our talks."
I stand up to go inside. I took a step, but realised I couldn't see where I was going. I blinked a couple of times and tried to see through the darkness, but all there was was more darkness. I felt my heart plummet. I was blind again. I stood there still. Disappointment was a cheap word in describing how I felt at that moment.
I felt my eyes well up with tears. Finally getting to see was an amazing experience. But it being ripped away from me in an instant is so heart wrenching.
In a quivering voice I said, "Ozai?"
"Mmm?" He grunts.
"C-c-can you p-please guide b-b-back to m-my room?" I was stuttering again. I stutter a lot when I get too emotional. And right now, I felt hollow.
I heard Ozai stand and walk towards me. He sigh as he gently holds my hand and wraps it around his arm as he slowly guides me back to the castle.
My throat burns from holding in my sobs. I kept gulping and taking deep breathes. Once he had taken me to my room. I quietly and quickly thanked him and rushed inside, slamming the door shut. I crawl on my bed and under the covers. I hold the pillow tight to my face as I cried. I loved seeing. I loved seeing colours. And now I am back to this, to the darkness. I couldn't see anything. And I hate it. I want to see so bad. I wanted to look at Zeus again, but I couldn't. I wanted to see his eyes. But I could't.
ZEUS
I sent Ozai outside to watch her, I didn't want anything to happen to her while I was gone. I sat on my bed and watched them talk from the window. I was shocked when I heard her singing. She sounded just like Lucy. Just like Lillian. All in one. It took me off guard. I did not expect such a voice to come out of her. It made me fall into a trance.
If it was true, and this was the last time...then I need to break this curse asap. I am done waiting. I need to do something about it now. I need to protect Lily, I need to keep her alive to help break this.
I watch Lily get up from her chair, but she stumbles a little. Ozai approaches and helps her. I see her shoulders shake. She's crying. I stand up and growled. I stomp out of my room and down the stairs to one of the lower levels. Just as I see her close her door to Ozai, I walk towards him. I grab him by the collar of his shirt, I pull and slam him against the wall.
"Why is my mate, bloody crying? What did you say?" I growled lowly.
Ozai was calm as usual. He did not fight. He was the most composed and controlled out of the three of us. He pushes me back firmly and adjusts his shirt, "I did nothing wrong. She is blind again. She just wants to be alone and so I guided her to her room. That's it."
I took a step forward, "What did you talk about?"
Ozai shrugs, "Nothing important. Just small talk." Ozai kicks off the wall and casually walks off, and I let him.
I growled and punched the wall. Sniffling was coming from Lily's door. I walk right in front of the door and laid my ear on it and listened. I could hear her whimpering and crying. A part of me wanted to go in and comfort my mate, but the other half stopped me. My heart was screaming for her's. I wanted nothing else than to crawl in that bed and comfort her. But I knew better than that. I needed to stick to my plan, or else she will be gone and for good this time. I'm not going to let that happen.
LILY
I rolled over in my bed as I felt myself crawl out of my deep slumber. I opened my eyes, but closed them immediately from the sun streaming through the window, I assume. I rubbed them and sat up. I climbed out of bed and into my bathroom. As I blinked I felt my eyes were still swollen from my crying all night. I got dressed and found my way downstairs.
I didn't feel good today. I didn't feel positive. I just felt numb. I finally got to see last night. But it was taken away from me quickly. Too quickly.
"Lily?" I heard Donny say from a few steps away.
I smiled in his direction, "Hey, Donny."
I heard him walk to me. He took my hand and wrapped it around his arm, we began to walk when he said, "I heard something special happened last night?"
I sighed, "Yup. And it was taken away just as quickly. I really don't want to talk about it."
Donny patted my hand, "That's okay, Lily. I'm here if you want to talk, though."
"Thank you, Donny. That's very kind of you."
We entered the breakfast room. I heard the clanking of utensils against the dishes as they ate. Donny sat me down, and by the feel of it, I was next to Zeus. My usual place.
I took a bite of my food, but nothing in me wanted to eat. I rested my fork against my plate and silently sat back against my chair and was playing with my hands.
"Eat." I heard Zeus command.
"I'm not hungry." I said in a soft and low tone.
"I don't care. Now eat." He was getting irritated.
A spark of slight resentment developed. I think I deserve a LITTLE bit of sympathy considering what I went through last night! "And I don't care. I am not hungry." I snapped at him
I heard him drop his knife and fork. I could feel him lean in and growl, "You are my mate, you do as you're told."
I turn towards him, "Yes I am your mate, I am glad you're smart enough to realise that." I was a little shocked at how I reacted. I had never really been sassy or snappy before. But being treated like this has brought a different side of me. A side I didn't even know existed until now.
Zeus growls, "Are you deaf as well as blind?"
"No," I growled back, "I just need a translater because I don't speak Asshole!"
I heard him scoff, "No, I'm not an asshole, you're just a sensitive little girl that takes everything personal! You can't handle when people talk blunt. You just run away and cry because you're weak."
I lean in and snarl, "You think I am sensitive? You think I can't handle it? I am very sensitive to the fact that you're a complete and utter dick! And I hope you know that being a dick won't make yours any bigger. So stop trying."
I heard Sozin choke in his food.
Zeus laughs without any humour, "Oh I'm sorry, Lily? Is that what you wanted to hear?"
"Yes!" I yelled
"Well I am not sorry!" He yells back, "I am not sorry that I hurt your feelings! I am not sorry that you're never going to see your family AGAIN! You wanna know why? Because I don't give a damn! I don't care that you're miserable! I don't care that you're blind again! I don't care about you, Lily! You're just a means to ending my curse! You are just an ingredient to my plan."
Everyone went silent. The hope that I had left for Zeus was gone. He truly didn't care. He was a Hellhound, through and through.
I stood up, "Like I said...I'm not hungry."
And I walk out of that room.
ZEUS
I saw the hurt when she stood up. I looked down at my plate until she walked out. I didn't want to look.
"You're doing real well, Zeus," Sozin said sarcastically.
I roll my eyes, "Shut up. Sozin."
Sozin scoffs, "You better have one hell of an apology to win her back."
I didn't care, I needed her to live. I was sick of waiting. I finished my breakfast and went outside. I walked towards the East Wing of the castle. I haven't been there for a couple years actually. Not since Lillian.
I climbed up the stairs to see the familiar doors. I pushed them open and a wave of memories rolled into my mind. The bed was made, Lillian did it before she died. She was the last one to touch it. I walked around the bed and saw it was slightly wrinkled. I smirked. I remember she had to go somewhere, but I pulled her back on the bed, creating a couple of wrinkles. I had not touched it since. It made me wonder what it would feel like to hold Lily.
I walked out of the room and into her favourite room, the music room. There was a grand piano sitting in the middle of the area. Chandelier was hanging up high, dust settling upon it as well as everything else in the room. The candle stands surrounded the oval room. The roof was painted beautiful colours and designs, in the very middle of it was a glass circle that the light shine down on the piano in the day.
As I stand here I imagine us dancing to the piano. I had a few tricks up my sleeve, the only perk of the curse is that I can possess a small amount of magic. I would show them off for her. I could only do small tricks, like making designs in the snow, or making a flower bloom, or make a piano play while me and my love would dance.
The memory danced in my mind as I stare at the room. I had not been in this room for a hundred years. I closed it up, never wanting to see it again. But seeing Lily has only revived my heart. I would find an end to this curse, I promised her that we would be together forever. I intend on keeping that promise.
LILY
I was sitting in the library reading. I didn't want to be around the Hellhounds or Donny right now. I wanted my family. I wanted to see my parents, My sister, Xavier, Kieth, Milo, all of them. I wanted my pack. I felt so alone here. I feel like no one understands me. I leaned against the window and pulled the blanket higher as a tear fell from my eye. I wanted to be with them again. But the thought that I may never see them let alone talk to them makes everything worse.
I hate Zeus for taking me away from my family. It would be different if he cared for me, even loved me. But he doesn't. He is cruel as he is cold. He is a Hellhound. He will not budge from his emotionless state.
I closed my eyes. I just wanted to escape, I wanted run away and never return to this forsaken place.
A woman with beautiful blonde hair, almost white, with eyes as blue and as clear as the sea. She was sitting outside on the balcony, looking at the clear winter sky. She needed air. Her father was a rich man and he was throwing an extravagant ball to welcome the new important men in town. They were powerful men who were interested in my father's whaling business. She never liked what her father did, but she had no say in the matter.
She thinks that her father also wanted her to mingle with the men. Most women her age would be married by now, she think her father is worried she will never marry. But she did not want to marry for sake of marrying, she wanted to marry when she wanted to, when she found someone worth being with.
"Are you not cold, Miss?" A beautifully deep voice sounded behind her.
She turned around and saw the most handsome man she had ever seen. He had black hair slicked back with glowing green eyes. He took a step forward towards me, and she stood still, stunned by his presence. He had an air of dominance and power and for some reason, she was extremely drawn to this man.
She gulped and smiled politely, "Oh no. I just needed air."
He smirks. The man made his way towards her and leaned against the railing, "Are you not interested in parties."
She looked down at her hands and shook her head, "No, not very much so. I do not particularly enjoy them, it is more acquired of me to go, so I do. My mother says, it is for our social status."
The man nods his head understandingly, "I am not much of a party man myself. I look forward to more on who is attending, " He turns from looking out in the openness to me.
His stare was so intense and so direct that she had to look away. She looked up at the sky and asked, "So why has my father invited you?"
"Me and my brothers are interested in his whaling business."
She then whipped her head around and looked at him wide eyed, "You're the men my father wanted to talk to?"
He nods his head, "Yes, but he was busy and I was sick of making small talk with all of the social climbers. Sometimes I just want to talk to someone that's real, that's genuine."
She coughed in my hand, "You are not what I expected, sir."
He smirks, "And what did you expect me to be?"
"A power hungry old man who wanted to have my father's company, not a-a...well a-"
"Someone like me?"
She shook her head, "No. You'er different. You are not like the men I have met."
"Believe me, seeing the kind of men you have met, I am probably the only real man you've come in contact with."
She frowned at him, "I have met many good men, I have had many opportunities to be with honourable men, why would you assume you are the only real man I've met?"
Her breath hitched when he leans in. His eyes scan her face till they focused on her eyes as he said more quietly, "Because no could love and protect a woman like me. No one would provide better than me. I would make her my queen. I would move heaven and earth for her. That is why, Miss."
She looked into his eyes and saw he was serious. There was no flirtation, he was being genuine. Was he trying to pursue her?
"I am a single woman, sir. It is not appropriate for us to talk of such things alone."
He steps even closer, He kicks of the ledge and stands to his full height. He was a very tall and broad man. He looks down at her and smirks with a mischievous glint in his eyes, "Yes, you are a single woman, Miss. But I intend on changing that."
And for some strange reason, she wanted him to.
"I do not even know your name." She said breathlessly in a slight daze.
The man takes her hand and says, "My name Zeus. Zeus from the Hounding Brothers Incorporation." And then he presses his lips to her skin. Her heart was hitting her chest hard as she felt the contact.
He lets go of her hand and asks, "And you are?"
The woman curtsied, "Lila, Sir, Lila Rose Dawson."