Chapter 25
Chapter 25
But I didn’t say that, instead I blushed red and mumbled,” I’m sorry.”
“That’s ok,” she reassured,” and yes, the King has a very strict law in place for the Cold Ones and it is
that they cannot rule if they do not mate with a fellow Cold One.”
“Does that mean that Xavier is shunned-“
“He lost his royalty status, but they cannot take it away royalty from his blood.”
“And Damon is scared-“
“Damon is scared because he had already witness the dethronement of his brother, he doesn’t want to
have to be next.”
“I know it isn’t my fault but I can’t help but feel bad, like I am to blame for whats happening with him.”
She smiled sadly,” it will all be ok soon.”
“Do you mean that,” I asked, almost afraid of the answer,” did you see that it was going to be alright
with me, will I get to go home and forget this ever happened?”
She remained silent for a couple of seconds before softly saying,” eat some more.”
I sighed and obeyed silently.
After some time I decided to ask the question that I had been most curious about,” What’s the Mark of
Eros?”
“I was waiting for you to ask.”
“Luna said I had it, it’s why she couldn’t do the ritual, apparently she would be upsetting the Council, is
that the King and Queen?”
“The King and Queen rule only the Cold Ones. Every creature in the underworld has a ruler, expect for
shapeshifters, warlock and witches.”
I remembered the security guard at the bar Damon had taken me too and wondered if he had been a
shapeshifter.
I merely nodded and she continued,” the Council rule everyone in the Underworld whether it’s vampire,
werewolf, faerie, witch, shapeshifter or warlock. They consist of 6 people , one from each race of
Underworld species. They are the eldest in their race and they control the entirety of The Underworld.”
“I don’t understand why they would care about someone like me losing her memory, shouldn’t they be
happy?”
“In The Underworld, we believe that the future is written by a race belonging to the Underworld who are
far more powerful then all of us combined, you have god we have gods.”
I nodded and she continued.
“When a witch or a warlock preform a spell or a ritual, we always do it within the guidelines of the
Council who makes the law in accordance to the history of the Gods. One of the many laws is we do
not harm a foreigner who is marked with a symbol of The Underworld.”
“But I don’t understand, I’m not marked, I’m just me-“
“But you are marked, it is written in your story, The Mark of Eros.”
“Which is what?” I shook my head in confusion because although Asia was explaining, nothing made
sense.
“The Mark of Eros is given to a human who is mated on by a member of The Underworld.”
I felt completely confused and was almost certain that she had made a mistake,” I-I don’t...that can’t be
true, that can’t be right.”
“It’s all in your story Holly, you are marked by someone, you belong to them.”
I flickered my eyes open be greeted by yet again, another unfamiliar room. I looked around to examine
that I was stretched out on a Queen bed, white sheets covered my thankfully clothed body. I stood up
and walked around the modern room. Memories of last night flooded my mind and I remembered that I
was at the guest room of Asia and Xavier’s home.
I peeked outside the window and took in the beautiful busy streets of New York. It was a long way
down but it was breathtaking. I took a quick shower in the bathroom inside of the room and spent some
time admiring the place. The sudden smell of familiar breakfast entered my nostrils and I decided to go
out and explore.
Asia, now dressed in a yellow summer dress, stood behind the kitchen island, cooking.
“Morning!” She screeched out without turning around,” would you like some breakfast?”
“Yes please,” my mouth was salivating at the smell of pancakes and syrup. It reminded me of back
home. She turned around holding two plates stacked with delicious goodness and drizzled with fresh
pieces of fruit and maple syrup.
Her beauty was breathtaking in a way that I almost had forgot but I collected myself and grabbed the
place,” thank you,” I smiled.
“You slept a long time,” she said, coming around to take a seat on the black bar stools beside me,” you
must have been tired.”
I nodded, stuffing my face,” I am, I’m really over it. This whole thing with the Mark of Eros, I wish I can
just erase it, or at least find who ever it is that I’m mated with and tell him I don’t want it.”
Asia peeked at me and gave me a sad look,” unfortunately it doesn’t work that way.”
“How would I know, if I were to meet him would I just know he’s the one?”
She shook her head, chewing gracefully,” not necessarily, some people just know, for others the
universe tends to give them a little push to bring their paths closer together, in hopes that one day they
realize.”
“So I could have already met the person?”
“Yes, you could have.”
My mind immediately drifted to Damon. I wondered if there was even a slither of possibility that it could
be him. I remembered how badly he had wanted to get rid of me last night and thought against it.
I think Damon would be the last person it could be.
“He’s a good guy.”
Confused, I left my trance of thoughts and refocused on Asia,” what?”
“Damon, you were thinking of him right?”
How did she know that?
“He’s a good guy trying to make a difference. A little in over his head if you ask me.” Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.
“What makes you say that?” I wondered.
“The Cold Ones, they can’t be changed. They may use the rest of The Underworld to their advantage,
witches like me when they need a quick spell, werewolves to dispose of the bodies of their villagers,
faeries to sleep around with, but they will never see us as equals and there isn’t much Damon could do,
even if he were King, to change that.”
“He can try,” I didn’t realize that what she had said had upset me until the sudden sense of defense hit
me,” if he’s King, they’ll have to listen.”
She smiled gently,” yes, he can try.”
“Tell me more,” I pushed away my now empty plate,” about this life, The Underworld, if I’m eventually
destined to be with someone from this world, I’d like to know more about it.”
She let out a small giggle that sounded like the chimes of a bell,” what would you like to know?”
“Where do the people of The Underworld live? Are they all in New York?”
“No, they’re definitely not all in New York, we’re everywhere, all over the world, some of us choose to
live amongst the foreigners , while others, much like the village where you came from, tend to live only
amongst each other.”
I nodded,” so I could have come across someone from The Underworld, I just-“
“You just wouldn’t have been able to tell.”
“What about the Council, would they have a problem with a human and someone from The Underworld
being together, like you and Xavier.”
“The Council doesn’t care who you mate with. It was Xavier’s parents that had a problem with it.”
“So then what gets the Council’s attention?”
“They are more concerned with all things that include all races of The Underworld like rouge attacks
against humans or non-consenting foreigners being thrown into our world-“
“Isn’t that me?” I said almost sarcastically,” I’m a non-consenting foreigner.”
“Yes, I’m actually surprised they haven’t found out about you yet.”
It was with sudden realization that I realized neither Xavier nor Damon were anywhere to be seen.
“Where is Damon?” I asked, looking around.
“He left this morning with Xavier back to the castle, he mentioned that it was safer for you here, you
might get some visitors at the castle if you were to return.”
I remembered Mathoes and Elizebeth and realized that just be who he was talking about.
I nodded,” Isabelle’s cousin, they’re just as bad as she is, I wish Damon could see that.”
She placed her hands above mine,” I know it doesn’t seem like it but he does, he’s just got that pride.”
Her eyes shun with something much more genuine then concern. I gulped back my nerves when I had
remembered the pleasure I had experienced from having Xavier feed off off me. Before I could utter the
words and as if reading my mind, Asia said,” yes, I know that Xavier fed off of you.”