ZEIAH || CAPITULO UNO : ALTHEA'S TALE

-WORLD OF ORION- MEDI FOREST (MOUNT ORAYA)

Althea

THE dark was still as the blow of the wind was cold. The moon shone so brightly above the sky along with the sparkling stars. The ambiance of the forest was quite eerie. The trees were swaying back and forth slightly as the wind passed. This night should be perfect, but I guess my anticipation was wrong. 

Panting, I continued to run together with my husband, striving for our lives to be safe. We kept on running, seeming like it's been forever. I could feel my feet aching. The time we spend dragging them on the ground with a heavy step and quick-paced is lethargic.

I attempted to keep my feet firmly on the ground, afraid of falling. My feet halted as I tried to reach out for support. To my dismay, my hand didn't find a thing to hold onto, instead fell over. However, big strong arms were quick enough to catch me before knocking to the ground.

"Althea, love, I'm sorry... I shouldn't have kept you running for so long," Alfonso said. 

When I looked up to meet his gaze — guilt and worry are written all over his face.

I gave him a sweet smile, eyes glittering while looking at him. I touched his face. "I'm fine Alfonso, don't worry it's just that I needed a rest for a while."

Nodding his head, Alfonso said," Yeah, I should remember you are having our child inside of you." Alfonso whispered. He guided me into a big and wide oak tree a couple of feet to keep us hidden from those bloodsuckers coming after us.

Alfonso helped me to sit up straight and then straddle down beside me as he offered me his shoulder and wide-open arms to be comfortable.

"I'm sorry Alfonso, because of me, we still need to stop."

Alfonso gave me a pecked kiss on my forehead and told me, " It's okay my love, they won't going to find us so easily." I smiled at him. "Just take a rest and nap. I'll stay awake to watch over you."

"Alfonso..." I replied as I touched his handsome face.

"Shhh... everything's going to be okay. I promise." Alfonso reassured me then he touched my stomach and kissed me on my lips. I kissed him back, and when he pulled away, I rested my head on his broad chest and began to close my eyes. A moment later, a sudden aura has just dwelled somewhere.

That made me open my eyes and found myself alone, laying down on the ground with a soft cloth bag at my head as a pillow. I rosed suddenly then averted my eyes in every direction, to find Alfonso but I couldn't find him anywhere. 

Fear and worry crept into my heart.

[Alfonso, where are you?]

Mind linking to Alfonso, I've waited, but he never responded. Uneased, I stood up, picked up the bag, and shoved it in my arms. I started to get worried--- too much. I can't feel Alfonso. It seems like he shut me off from his connection to mine.

[No, it can't be. Alfonso, please hear me out---oh please.]

I was pacing back and forth and started to think stupid. I sensed an aura coming closer in my direction. I am trying to calm myself and stay focused but I just---can't. Thinking Alfonso's safety got me distracted.

I began to step forward as my body trembled when the ground started to shake. Keeping myself from falling, I managed to get a hold of a big trunk near me. I tightened my grip and was shocked when I heard a loud growl followed by a big explosion.

[This is not good! I have to be quick!]

When the shaking stop, I got on my feet and started walking. Carefully, listening to find the source of the growls and explosions, I'm thankful to the Great high Abba, able to search where the sounds came and, while getting nearer in the direction where the explosions were, I started to panic.

I started to run and run until I saw an ugly murderous, furious monster growling before Alfonso. The horrible creature is bleeding. The stripes that Alfonso did with his sharped pointed silver sword in the monster's gigantic body were evidence that it was weak compared to us.

Somehow, that gives me relief. I looked at Alfonso as he was heaving hard and had only a few scratches on his right arm.

So this is the reason why Alfonso cut off our connection? He's in a battle with a monster, and he doesn't want to get me worried. But how could he do that?

Taking a deep breath, I stopped a couple of feet away behind Alfonso and yelled at him, "Alfonso, why you have to leave me and let yourself faced that monster's alone!" 

Alfonso didn't turn his gaze towards me and replied. "You should have stayed where you are Althea!"

"What?" I retorted with dismay. "Did you expect me to let you face that monster alone, Alfonso!?" 

Tears escaped my eyes. I wiped it then stood up beside Alfonso while facing the gigantic monster.

I can't believe that a creature exists like this one. Those lifeblood creatures connected to Lorraine at the Dark City were doing their best to create something like this. 

An able-bodied and dangerous beast. The beast is not an ordinary werewolf because of its supersize.

Alfonso's side turned to look at me and asked, " Althea---what do you think you're doing?" It's almost a whisper.

"Of coursed, fighting with you!" I hissed.

Alfonso tried his best to convince me. I didn't listen. We kept on arguing until a loud growl made us jump together. We almost forgot about the monster as we kept retaliating with each other. We both turned our gaze in the monster's direction as its eyes were so dark and evil, flexing his large canine teeth. 

It's ready to attack.

The monster sprinted towards me in a swift motion that made Alfonso pull me off directly into his back, placing himself in front of me. The beast attempted to swipe Alfonso, but he failed when Alfonso ducked and slid under him while slashing his sword directly into the beast's belly.

The beast growled, agonizing and Alfonso placed himself behind it. Before the beast could turn around Alfonso, I, on the other hand, directed the roots of a flanking tree to crawl towards the feet of the gigantic creature.

The roots moved and crawled like a snake moving faster in the direction of the beast's hairy feet. Unconsciously, before the beast could make another move, I motioned the roots swirling slowly into its legs and wrapped them tightly until the beast couldn't move it anymore.

Compassing my hand up high, I shifted the roots to move upward, which made the beast hang upside down above a tree. 

[Alfonso, it's your turn to cut his head and strike your sword into its heart...hurry up until the roots can keep him still!]

I communicated telepathically with Alfonso. Without any further argument, Alfonso did as I told him. A loud growl escaped the lips of the gigantic creature while struggling to disengaged. Alfonso did the last strike by beheading the beast, and the head fells to the ground, rolling over straight into Alfonso's feet. 

After that, I loosened up and directed the roots to let go of the dead body. The lifeless body hit the ground and was bleeding. Before Alfonso could run towards me, he formed fire in his hand. He picked up the head of the ugly creature using his free hand, threw it beside its dead body, and burned them.

The smell stank me that it could make my stomach sick. My sense of smell is much more sensitive because I'm pregnant.

I covered my nose with my hand and ran towards Alfonso. I am grateful because we're both safe. I jumped on Alfonso's arms, encircling my arms around his nape as staying there always gives me relief for a while.

I remained in the same position while burying my face in his chest, smelling his sweet aroma, and making myself much closer to his. It makes me secure and perfectly fine.

"It's now over---let's go," Alfonso said.

"Don't you ever leave me again and blocked me---okay?" I said while looking up at him like a toddler.

Alfonso looked down to meet my gaze and replied. "Promise, I won't do it again and I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to get you involved with my battle a while ago as I am only trying to keep you safe and the baby as you both are my precious."

I can't help myself not to sob. It's terrifying seeing Alfonso facing that monster a while ago, and somehow I was relieved because we defeated that creature.

"I can't lose you Alfonso because I love you so much." I told him between my sobbed and buried my face deep into his chest.

"Hush now my love, I only did that as I don't want you and our child to get into trouble," Alfonso said. 

He lifted my chin to face him. His orange eyes were glowing while looking at me keenly, "I can't afford to lose you either because I love you so much."

After telling me those words that flattered my heart, Alfonso's lips landed on my lips. He gave me a deep and intensifying kiss. Alfonso placed his hands around my waist to pull me closer to his body, leaving us no space in between. No one dared to break the kiss, not until someone disrupted us.

"How touchy and so sweet for both of you," someone said sarcastically behind us.

We both gasped as we pulled ourselves away from each other for us to see the most annoying creature who interrupted us.

Damn that creature! He will pay for interrupting us later!

When Alfonso and I shifted our direction were unable to see the intruder's reflection.

But I have the assumption that he is a man. 

My anticipation did not disappoint me as suddenly, a man's silhouette uncovered from the shadowy area approximately to Alfonso and me. Alfonso wrapped his arms around my waist protectively as the dark figure approached us.

I swallowed a lump several times in my throat. When the dark figure is in the process of revealing himself, a dreadful aura coming from whoever is in front of us is so evil and powerful, and I can't help myself not to being alarmed.

[He's not an ordinary creature. This creature possessed strong powers. I can sense it and see a great danger facing this one.]

[Calm down, my love...I can manage him. I won't let him hurt you and our child. So you listen carefully...]

I look at Alfonso with an arching brow. I gritted my teeth. I already knew what Alfonso wanted me to do. I hate it!

[No, Alfonso! If you were trying to tell me to leave you--- Sorry but it's not going to happen!]

[You have to! Althea, please---just this once, listen to me for the sake of our child. It's not the same creature we had fought a while ago. I know you can sense that for sure.]

[That's exactly my point! I know Alfonso! That's why I want to help you!]

[Please don't make it hard for me, I love you so dearly and our child... so please go and hide at the nearby cave behind the falls. No one will ever find you there.]

[ But Alfonso... please ask me anything but the option of leaving you!]

[Althea... please, listen to me, I know it's hard, but I promise I'll do my best to defeat this one. I'll go after you once done.]

I was breathing heavily for the idea building up inside Alfonso's mind and hated the fact that I can't do anything to stop it. I have to agree with Alfonso for the sake of our unborn child. 

And while contemplating on what to do, before I could step back to escape first, the figure in front of us reveals its face.

The light reflecting from the moon replicated and shone towards the dark figure like a spotlight as we both stood frozen and gaping at the dark figure. 

When everything is clear before us, my eyes widen in shock. 

"It can't be! Serge, you're alive?" I growled with a surprise in my voice.

"Oh well..well..well..hmmm...what do we have here huh?" Serge said while grinning devilishly at both of us in response.