(Rigel)

Amaia should have never been able to cross the barrier which always forms when my tormentor comes to hurt me.

And yet, my resilient mate did. She came for me. It seemed like this was also planned. The hideous Spellcaster knew Amaia would come.

A new curse was cast on me—the curse to hurt her, the curse for my bloodlust and rage to heighten every moment I lay my eyes on her and the curse of being unable to speak with her.

Due to these curses, I am obliged to obey, my bloodlust was heightened and I was made to hurt Amaia.

I wanted to scream, beg and lament for Amaia to leave. My insides sawed, heart shredded like paper under scissors when I was made to grab and hurt her...

I should have died. My hands should have broken, my teeth fallen out and yet I continued to hurt her.

What wrecked me completely was how she didn’t use her powers to stop or hurt me.

I would have killed her with my wretched hands and teeth had Alnilam and Saiph not intervened.

One thing, the only thing I was afraid of. I had promised her, taken a Blood Oath to protect and never hurt and yet I did.

Amaia, my light—I almost extinguished her today and for that I will never forgive myself.

They bring me to a dark, closed room with a single red light and nothing else. I am chained to the wall using charmed chains, very similar to the ones that had been used on me before.

Seems like they were ready for me to make this mistake. I think my time is up. They will execute me, and finally end my miserable life. It’s for the best, I deserve to die after hurting Amaia.

Breaking the Blood Oath has consequences and since I used my body for it, I am seeing a black line appear where I had cut myself to take the oath. This will be permanent and any injury to Amaia will reflect on me from this day forward. She will bleed and I will bleed with her. She is cut, and the same part of my body will be cut.

I think it’s only befitting after what I have done. I can never face her, can never be with her and I will die here in this cell or maybe forgotten just like I was for the last 19 years.

My brothers forgot me...

My father forgot me...

No one came looking for me..

The way they stared at me today when I hurt her, like I was a monster.

I am a monster. I was transformed into a monster, a bloodthirsty creature.

I have been so alone and yet she came for a blissful period. The most memorable time and the cherished memories I made with her.

Yet, I was made to hurt her. Her blood still clings to my hands, clothes and face. I can’t stop staring at my bloody hands. I bang them on the floor, breaking them again and again.

Is she even okay?

I feel her through the bond and all I sense are her worries.

Why is she still worrying about a pathetic loser like me?

"Amaia!" Her name leaves in an apologetic whisper.

I should have stayed away from her but my selfishness brought us to this moment.

Still battling my unfiltered emotions when the door to my new prison squeaks open and in walks, Saiph, followed by Alnitak and then Alnilam.

Their emotions are heightened, I sense them through the bond we have developed after the Blood Oath.

Why are they here?

Alnitak watches me with pity, and guilt. Or is it some other emotions? I am not always very good at reading them. Why is he staring at me like that?

I had anticipated him to yell at me, call me a bloodsucker who has hurt Amaia but he does none of that.

Saiph is tight-lipped but certainly intrigued. But it’s Alnilam that has the most curiosity and remorse clinging to him.

"Amaia?" I question, although I am not even worthy of taking her name after what I have done.

"She is awake," Alnilam says in a tone I have hardly seen him use with anyone. Soft.

Why?

"Am I going to be executed?" I ask, seeing and judging from their reactions.

"No," Alnilam takes a step forward but it’s not cautious or hateful, it’s almost gentle. He comes to kneel in front of me.

"You are Rigel, our brother." He doesn’t question, he states. A warmth weaves into my broken and cold heart.

I sense one of the crosses on my abdomen dissolving away.

Did one of the curses where my brothers couldn’t recognise me even though I was right in front, disappear?

My eyes waver from Alnilam to Alnitak and back to him.

"Yes, it took you a while."

Alnilam lets out a fractured breath at my words, his pupils dilating to the fullest. Behind him, Alnitak covers his mouth in shock and bends down to refrain from screaming.

Saiph tries to remain poised but his eyes and the bond between him, me and Amaia betray him.

"What was the quote you always said to me whenever I was afraid of the darkness?" Alnilam despondently questions.

The answer to this is only known to him. It was like our secret code. Whenever he was frightened I consoled him with that. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"The light always comes after the darkness but it stays with those who have open hearts. Always keep your heart open."

My words make the most extraordinary thing happen. Alnilam’s lips stretch and he gives me a mournful smile. It’s the first time I have seen him smile since our childhood. He used to smile all the time, both of us did. Now, we were just two broken men who had lost so much.

"How?" Alnilam asks, hoarsely. The pain has not only descended into his voice but also his eyes.

"Someone attacked us. My mother and all her sentinels were killed and I was taken captive. I was placed in a dungeon, isolated, tortured, and cursed until Amaia found me. She could finally see me."

Woundedly I smile at my brother. He leans in, opening his arms.

Alnilam embraces me, fully embraces me with his open heart. The coldness in me, the hatred inside me, vanishes as he whimpers.

"I am so sorry. I never knew."