Every action had its reaction.

Their intimidation was their action followed by fear, my reaction.

Several undeniable horrific thoughts ran wild in my mind like thousands of red ants were dropped down on me.

Though I looked serene superficially, my heart was hammering against my ribcage, with a slight shake of my hands now and then. The tightness in my chest reminded me how much of myself I was going to lose.

A slight hiss escaped my trembling lips as the corset over my chest tightened slightly. Though I wanted to pry her hands off of me, I knew the consequences. Her hands harshly pulled the strings attached to the corset, the tightness felt suffocating, and I held back my yelp. It wasn't like she would listen to me.

She was given straight order to get me ready, presentable for them, so that I could perfectly fit the role of their wife-to-be.

Wife.

The word left a bitter taste in my mind. I wasn't sure if I was grateful for being alive. The things they would do to me made me beg for death, I somehow knew that but it made me wonder if they would let me die too.

The hunger, the dominance, the intimidation, the raw power radiating off them was too much. They weren't named the most feared men of all time for no reason. I again hissed.

It was too tight.

My hands immediately plastered over my chest. The maid looked over to me through the mirror, a sly smirk on her lips indicating her hatred for me, her raven hair tied up in a perfect bun with a bandana, her soft yellow-coloured dress covering her body from head to toe, her soft-looking skin made me insecure.

She looked nothing like the maid.

Then again, we shouldn't judge a book by its cover.

"Apologies, My Lady." Her words left a sour taste after them. I merely nodded my head before taking a glance at her.

I didn't know how long it had been, but I could see a change in the position of the sun, it was past noon, I could tell. The soft breeze coming from now opened window somehow managed to soothe my ragging heart.

Claus's words were still ringing inside my head like a death bell. Marriage was the last thing I had expected from them. To be honest, I had initially thought that I was going to meet my fate like my sisters, my father and others.

This was truth, indeed harsher, I knew I was going to die somehow. But I never expected to catch the interest in their eye. I knew they would make me suffer, make me surrender and do whatever because I was one of a kind for them.

My corset was tied with a hard tug, the whole time she was dressing me, I was exploring my mind, testing my options. No matter how much I wanted, I wouldn't be able to escape not when I was in their territory leaving me only restless. I had to follow their words if I wanted to survive the coming storm.

I felt a slight sting in my head as she pulled my hair, I wanted to tell her she was hurting me. I kept quiet, I let her do what she wanted, tugging my hair wouldn't kill me, right?

I felt my hair being lifted and something felt heavy on my head as I felt something attaching to the point. Glancing at the mirror in front I noted how gracefully she had twisted my hair, before attaching a beautiful purple hyacinth flower to the bun. I smiled looking at the flower, cursed my fate at how much this flower represented my situation, my grief.

I still remember, there was this one time when my mother caught me playing me flowers in the garden, she caught a plucked hyacinth in my hand. I couldn't forget how she picked me up before sitting on the patio and tugging the flower away from my small hands. "Why is this flower purple? Why isn't it in other colours like red?" My innocent question took her off guard and she smiled down at me. "Only because it grew from the blood of Hyacinthus, a boy both Apollo and Zephyr loved." At that time, I couldn't understand her words but after her death, her grave was covered with purple hyacinths. A flower that represented sorrow.

"We should go, My Lady." I nodded, and my body suddenly felt heavy as I got up. The dress was not extravagant, it was a simple sheer, lace-covered off-white coloured dress but the weight its meaning carried, was suffocating. With steady steps, I tried not to trip and bunch the bottom of my dress in my hands as I followed after her. She nodded and walked ahead. As I exited the room, two guards, out of nowhere followed on either side of us. The more steps I was taking, the closer I was getting to my ill fate. It was my father's dream to walk me down the aisle, I was supposed to marry the man of my dreams, my knight in shining armour, the one who would love me unconditionally, who would respect me, and love me. My dream wedding didn't include me walking down the aisle the day after my father's death.

Tears stung my eyes as I felt the back of my throat burning. I had to control myself, I couldn't show them my weakness, which would only fuel their amusement. That's what they wanted, to see me broke, completely dependent on them. The closer we got, the more my heart was palpitating. I followed quietly behind down the long-winding stairs. My fingers itched to run along the nicely designed wooden railing as I stepped one step after another. My other hand bunched up the dress so that I wouldn't trip over. I tried so hard to bite back my tears as they fell on the porcelain-marbled floor. My thoughts rocked back and forth, I tried not to remember the trauma of yesterday.

I had never felt this alone in my entire existence. I desperately missed a sane touch. A small hope that everything would be okay, that this was all nothing but a bad dream, a sick-twisted nightmare.

I didn't know where we were going, at that moment, I just knew that if I kept following her, I would meet my destiny, a cruel one.

On exiting the main grand hall, we walked through the large wooden oak doors. The moment we got outside, the atmosphere felt transformed. Excitement electrified the air as I heard music playing in the distance. The maid reluctantly slowed her pace until she fell in step with me.

"The Nithilorc binding ritual has been passed onto our kind for generations." The maid whispered into my ears. I was taken off guard, it was the first time she spoke. I looked ahead and I could see the large statue in the distance that grew bigger the closer we got.

"When a Nithilorc warrior finds his or her soulmate, they form a bond by exchanging their life essence. A part of their body had to be mutilated as a symbol of sacrifice for their loved one." Her threatening words scared me more. It was a beautiful ritual as her words described. Nithilorc warrior make sacrifices for their loved ones but the problem here is that lying is rather sarcastic.

Neither I was their soulmate nor loved one.

"Marking ceremony is followed soon after. Sadly, only a true son or daughter of Nithilorc has the power and blessing to mark his or her soulmate for all the world to see who they belong to. Anyone who tries to violate or exploit the mark of a Nithilorc is subjected to death." My head turned towards her. Her eyes shone with unsaid warning, I knew I was in a mess but her words made me realise how pathetically wrong I was. She bent down before whispering in my ear. "Even if it's their soulmate."

My breathing got heavier as we got closer to the statue. My heart beat faster against my chest as we passed several men and women standing to the side, watching me walk down the stone-polished path.

As the sun rose higher, touching the heights of the crystal clear sky, the clouds of sorrow somehow managed to linger over my head. It was absurd, but my fear was now showing on my face, the warm weather didn't help further.

The moment the maid slowly slowed her pace along with the guards beside us, I saw the statue. It was larger than expected, a huge two-winged statue of a man kneeling, with a hand placed over his heart, like he was bowing down to someone. As I analysed it, my eyes suddenly met with the crystal blue irises of my tormentor.

"Go ahead, My Lady," Soft distant whispers fell into my ears. "Today will be the day you become one with your soulmates...."

I hoped she realised how her every word was striking more horror in me.

It didn't take me long to spot the massive body of Claus and Cassius as they spoke to an elderly man who was standing beside the tall statue. They all looked different than earlier, with clean, bloodless clothes. Claus had a white linen shirt hugging his broad physique, soft traces of his ripped muscles were visible through the fabric. The khaki pants contrasted the powerful aura he had surrounded him.

On the other hand, Cassius wore sky coloured button-down shirt with dark slacks. No matter how soft his look was, I couldn't afford to ignore the ravenous look in his matching blue eyes. Where Veles had a white look, Theodore made sure to contrast him by wearing brown leather-looking boots with matching pants and a light grey shirt. I couldn't believe how peaceful they looked after killing and destroying my whole kingdom. Their serene looks were slowly destroying my sanity.

My eyes averted slightly when a man stepped beside Claus, it took me a minute moment to recognise him. He wore black pants with a matching black shirt on his frame, the shirt was rolled up to his elbows, and his eyes held the same darkness as his clothes. The emerald eyes never failed to make me run for my life. He radiated authority, anger, and hatred. Though feelings were mutual, his were dominating mine.

Ezra scoffed looking at me.

I froze for a second, not wanting to take another step forward. "Come forward, Lady Hazel..." The elderly man said loudly.

I let out a short breath before I started to wade off to my fate. Now that I was in front of them, I could feel the weight of the dress. When I finally was a few feet away from them, I averted my gaze. I didn't dare to look up at any of them who loomed over me like foreboding shadows.

I could hear the elderly man speaking, but turned him out as I thought about my future. Claus was beside me, with Cassius on the other side of me. Vees stood right behind me and somehow I could feel his ripped muscles against my back. I reminded myself to breathe. Ezra was next to Veles and Theodore was on the other side. I felt surrounded.

I was surrounded.

I was so deep in my thoughts that I didn't hear when an elderly man directed towards them. I jumped startled as Claus turned towards me, a crazed look shadowed his blue-green eyes she stared down at me like I was the only water to quench his thirst. A hiss escaped my lips as he solidly grabbed my upper arm before pulling me close to his chest.

My eyes widened with retaliation alarm as he raised his hand. It would've been normal if his eyes weren't continuously flickering between red and his striking blue-green colours. I didn't even get time to recover when I was roughly grabbed by my waist and pulled against the stone-hard body. A squeal left my mouth as I felt myself pressed between Claus and Cassius.

I looked up into the flickering irises of Claus as they stared down at me with such hunger that I questioned myself. He was so close that I could see his light freckles on his tanned skin. My panic she leaned in a sif to kiss me. I closed my eyes tightly as I waited for his lips to assault me but instead, he raised his hand and caressed the side of my neck.

I slowly opened my eyes as I watched him leaning more as he pushed his face into my bosom, nudging the cloth apart covering my breasts to the side. I let out a scream as his teeth punctured my skin as he bit into the side of my breast. Pain resonated through my veins as he loosened his hold only for Veles to take it. Everything was hard to cope with when I was suddenly pushed forward.

Cassius bit my ear as his hands roamed shamelessly over my torso. No matter how much I struggled, he had his firm grip over my waist like a cemented belt. My eyes met Veles's as he grinned down at me before tearing the piece of fabric from the other side of my chest where Claus bit. Another tear was heard when I felt cold air hitting my nakedness.

Cassius had ripped my dress from my back. Painful screams left my mouth, it felt like thousands of hot needles had pierced through my soul. I could feel their sharp canines digging deeper and deeper. Cassius's teeth marked the back of my neck as Veles ripped the skin off my breast. Tears had started to stung my eyes. Why was this happening to me? What had I done to deserve this? Wasn't I an obedient child of my father? Then, why?

"You're mine now," Cassius whispered huskily against my ears. "Wife..."

His grip loosened along with Veles's as I found myself stumbling backwards when another arm was wrapped around my torso. My eyes struggled to grasp the faces of my tormentors but I was sane enough to recognise their features. Ezra's hatred-filled eyes glared down at me as he pulled me flush against his chest.

My lips parted with panic as I frantically placed my hands over his chest to push him away when I heard a deep chuckle behind me. I was about to look over my shoulder when Ezra wrapped his hand around my throat and pulled my body back against his chest. The fact that he was a lot taller than me made me more alarmed.

"Start counting your days backwards, bitch..." He whispered in my ear as he traced his nose down my neck before tearing the skin off my neck. Another body was pressed against my back and I felt another pair of sharp canines elongating on another side. I cried out in pain as I felt Theodore's sharp teeth tearing my neck into two.

"You're making me hard, sugar...." Theodore said licking my neck. I slapped my hand over my bleeding neck as both of them stepped away, the loss of blood made me feel dizzy as I lost my footing and landed hard on my behind. Veles chuckled as he crouched down to my level. My breathing was ragged, chest heaving up and down in panic, eyes watering uncontrollably. A sly smirk plastered on his face as he leaned over.

"You're ours, butterfly." This wasn't possible? What they were? How could his eyes flicker? Were they even human?

"Now that the ritual is fulfilled, the bond between you has become stronger. I may pronounce you as husbands and wives, sons of Nithilorc and... Lady Hazel." Roars of joy and cheers could be heard as people around clapped. I looked dumbfounded at the elderly man as he bowed down to them before motioning towards me, his eyes bored into me as he said.

"You may not love them now.... but you will... they're your soulmates.... your husbands..." He said kindly.

"I'd....rather kill myself," I muttered, my tears refusing to stop.

He smiled. "They won't let you."