by Samolu Pearl
Venus walked through the forest, her mind filled with thoughts of Rey… She loved him with all her heart… wanted to live with him… to share her life with him forever…
She leaned against a tree and closed her eyes, letting the tears fall… Her mind drifted to the conversation with Lilly.
“You want to know what my problem is…?” asked Lilly. “It’s you!”
“What…?” Venus looked at her shocked. “How-?”
“Ever since you came here… it’s always you that’s important… Peter… Mia… and even Rey seem to care about you and only you…” Lilly scathed. “I-don’t have anyone… There is no one to care for me…”
“Lilly… Please… Don’t say that…” Venus said. “The guys… they love you. Rey loves you and cares about you…”
“Rey loves me…” Lilly’s voice was furious. “He loved me until you came in between us… I had him to care for me… to love me… to be with me since I lost everyone… He was there for me whenever I had to fight my nightmares and depressions… But now…” she sniffled. “I’ve always lost the people I’ve loved… But… I can’t lose Rey… I need him with me…”
Venus’ eyes were flooding with tears even though she tried her best to control them. ‘I’ve always lost the people I’ve loved too…’ thought Venus. ‘But Rey… Can I live without him…?’
“Hey, come on Lilly…” smiled Venus, wiping her tears. “What are you talking about…? It seems that you’re blaming me of taking Rey away from you…” she said teasingly and Lilly looked at her shocked. “I-we are not er… interested in each other… It’s just… er… he’s just teasing me, that’s all…”
Lilly stared at her for a while. “You’re not making that up…?”
“Come on… Why would I…? I’m definitely not his type…” she chuckled, feeling her insides burn. “And, you want to know something…? I’m already engaged…”
“You are…?” she asked and Venus nodded.
“Yes… So stop this blaming me stuff and go talk to Rey… He’ll definitely know what is better for him… He’ll always love you and take care of you…”
Venus closed her eyes and leaned against the tree. ‘Lilly had gone through so much… Rey is the only one she has… She believes in him… and she loves him… May be that was the right thing to do after all…’
Suddenly, she felt someone move closer to her and looked around startled. Her shock turned into surprise when she saw Rey walking towards her. His eyes, she noticed, were distressed and were reflecting fury.
“Rey…?” she asked, unbelievably.
“The forest is not safe… I should ensure that you get back to your village safely… I’ve-promised…” he said without looking at her and then walked ahead.
“You-you don’t have to…” Venus started but then let out a sigh noticing that he wasn’t even listening to her. She followed him silently.
The time seemed to drag and Venus thought it was taking years to reach her village. Rey was silent all the while.
After a few more hours of tiring and depressing walk, they reached near Venus’ village. Venus stood behind a huge tree, looking at her house to see if anyone was there. But then, she noticed it. There were a group of people among which, one was sitting in front of her door. “Jellal…” whispered Venus, and felt Rey freeze behind her. She moved forwards to hear their conversation.
“You don’t even have a clue about her…? Is she even alive…?” Jellal was asking in a furious voice. His face, Venus noticed, was tired and weary.
The men around him were just staring at the floor and shaking their heads. They looked really different… They were not their village people.
Venus took a deep breath and then turned to face Rey. “Thanks for bringing me back to my village, Rey… I- er… must go now-”
But before she could complete it, she felt herself pushed back to lean over the tree and was shocked to feel Rey lean against her, pinning her hands to her side.
“Rey… What the-” But before she could complete it, Rey’s lips crushed hers. He kissed and nibbled at her lips all the while leaning closer to her.
Venus was too shocked to even breathe at the moment as she stood there feeling his entire weight over her. “Rey…” she tried in between his savage kiss. But he just stopped her by forcing his tongue into her mouth, devouring it.
Venus let out a gasp and then squirmed as she felt one of his hands brushing her side and then moved to her hair and fisted the long dark waves, tilting her head to ravish her mouth.
Rey trailed his lips to her chin, kissing her there before tracing a line to the side of her neck. Venus moaned as he sucked on her neck and then kissed and nipped at the smooth skin there. “Rey…” she tried again.
“I-love you, Venus…” Rey breathed on her neck. “Please… Don’t leave me…”
“Rey…” she gasped again as his lips trailed down to her upper chest. And, her finger nails dug in her palms, still trapped in Rey’s hand. “I-” She squeezed her eyes shut and threw her head back as his lips brushed against her curves over her dress.
“Stay with me…” he whispered.
‘I want Rey… I love Rey…’ She was hearing Lilly’s voice. Venus snapped her eyes open and then struggled to get away from his grip. “Rey… Let go off me…”
She pulled away from his grip. His face reflected hurt and rage. “You know you want to stay with me… Why are you doing this…?” he fumed.
“I don’t… Rey, please understand… You need to take care of the person who needs you the most… You need to be with them. Just try and notice the feelings of others and you’ll know who deserves and needs you the most…” Venus pleaded.
“Are you talking about Lill-” But before he could complete it, Venus heard Jellal fuming.
“Where did you say you saw her…?” he was asking. Venus leaned closer to the tree to listen carefully.
“I didn’t exactly see her face, sir… But I could say that it was a young lady…” a man among his group was saying.
“Oh..no…” sighed Venus. “I must go now, before he informs Jellal that I was with you… he’ll definitely try and harm you…” Venus turned around to walk towards her house but Rey held her hand from behind.
“Venus please…” Rey said and Venus felt her entire heart shatter to hear him plead like that.
“She had her face covered…” Venus heard the man talk. “I saw her in the forest with…”
She pulled away from his grip. “I need to go Rey… I’m sorry… But I don’t want any of you in trouble…” She walked away from him and hurried to where Jellal was sitting.
“Did you really see her…?” Jellal was asking anxiously. “Is she alright…? Was there anyone with her…?” But he stopped and turned to his side sensing something. His eyes widened and he stood up slowly before taking a step forwards. “Venus…” he whispered and then hurried forwards. “Venus…”
“Jellal…” But he had swiped her off her feet and was hugging her close. “Jellal, please… Let me down…”
“Venus… Where were you…? Are-are you alright? Are you hurt…? Who kidnapped you…?”
“Jellal… I’m fine…” said Venus and pulled away from his grip. “I’m alright… ok? I don’t know who took me… They covered my eyes and I couldn’t see where they- took me… They let me go and I came back…”
“I’m going to kill them… Whoever it may be…” Jellal scathed. “They are going to pay for taking you away from me…”
“No…” Venus said in a shocked voice. “I-I’m alright… I’m back now… I don’t want you going after them… It’s dangerous…” she added as she felt his suspicious glare.
He nodded before pulling her closer to him and hugging her tight. Venus noticed Rey banging his fist on the huge tree and squeezed her eyes shut.
Rey stood there for a minute watching Venus and Jellal… feeling his wrath burn his heart. He took a closer look at Jellal and his mind drifted with thoughts.
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Venus was all the while fighting the urge to push Jellal off her. If she does that now, Rey would know that she doesn’t want Jellal… and that can’t happen because, he might come back to take her away that would be really dangerous for him.
“Jellal… I-I’m tired… Let me rest for a while…” she said and he looked at her.
“You can rest at my place…” he said. “You’re going to stay with me from now, Venus…” he added as she looked at him confused.
“But-”
“Don’t argue…” he shook his head and his voice was finalized. Venus sighed and then let him take her hand to walk her to his place. In the corner of her eye, she saw Rey staring at her before turning and walking into the forest… The only thing she noticed in his distressed face was his burning blue eyes that were spitting fire of wrath at the moment.
‘Forgive me, Rey… Please…’ she squeezed her eyes shut.
“Rey… you should’ve at least tried to stop her…” fumed Peter as soon as Rey walked in.
“Just give it a rest ok…?” Rey sighed and sat on the sofa, his hands over his head.
“How can you just sit there, Rey…? I thought you loved her…” said Mia, walking towards him. “You should go and get her back…”
“And…? And then what Mia…? You think she’ll be willing to stay with us…? Knowing the fact that we are the bandits! We are running for our freaking lives for heaven’s sake…” Rey fumed, making Mia wince. “I’m sorry… But this doesn’t concern any of you… It’s for the best… She can stay with her own people… like she always wanted…” Rey’s last words were muffled and it reflected his heart’s pain.
“But Rey… She’d be forced to marry someone whom she doesn’t even like… if she stays there…” stated Mia and Rey was silent for a while.
“I bet she can go with that…” scathed Rey as his mind played him the scenes of Jellal and Venus hugging… She was not even protesting…
Suddenly, Lilly walked in with a distressed face and Rey immediately hurried towards her. “What’s wrong…?” he asked and she looked at him.
“There was another attack in the nearby village and two of the men were fatally wounded… and a woman… was raped…” she gritted her teeth. Rey’s eyes burned with wrath as he heard the news. “It was the other group… I think it won’t be long before they reach our village… They knew that we are the ones who stole the cart with supplies and money…”
“I’d never let them lay a finger on my people… I’ll put an end to them…” Rey scathed.
“But Rey… We still don’t know who the leader of the other group is…” tried Peter.
“I think I have a fair idea about who he might be…” said Rey staring at the wall. And, then, he disclosed his thoughts to his friends.
“What…? How can you be so sure…? But what about-? We should get her away from there then…” said Peter.
“My village and people are the most important things to me right now… And, I would do anything to protect them…” said Rey as he walked towards his room. “We are going out tonight… I need to see what they are really about and how we can get to them…” Peter and the others just sighed.
“But, Jellal…” Venus tried again for the umpteenth time. “I cannot think of a marriage right now… I- give me some time please…” But it seems to fall on deaf ears. Jellal was insisting on having their wedding as soon as possible.
“It’s already too late Venus… We’ve been engaged for a while now… Even though you’ve lost your ring… You still belong to me. And, I cannot let you get away from me again…” Jellal shot back.
“Jellal is right, honey… We could take good care of you, if you stay with us… And, marrying Jellal would make it easier as we can make you stay here with all the rights…” said Jellal’s mother, stroking her hair in a loving way.
“It’s true, Venus… We better have that wedding ceremony soon…” said Jellal’s father and Venus had no other way but to sigh in reply.
“Day after tomorrow is an auspicious day… We can have the ceremony then…” urged Jellal and his parents accepted. Venus just sat there, her mind and heart filling with fury and helplessness.
At night, Venus walked out of her bath in a night robe and sat on her bed, staring out her window. The moon was bright but it had a depressing feel tonight. She sighed and then closed her eyes… her mind drifted off to Rey… ‘Venus… I love you… I want you to stay with me…’ he’d said. She thought about how many times she wanted to shout back how much she loved him… how much she wanted to stay with him… but couldn’t. It would’ve been dangerous to him… and his beloved village… And, Lilly… She needs Rey. He’ll realize it soon… He’d be able to forget her soon…
“Venus…” Venus startled and turned around to see Jellal standing there, leaning against the closed door of her room. He slowly strolled towards her and sat beside her.
“J-Jellal… What are you…?”
“Shhh…” He ran his fingers over her hair and pulled her close, staring at her lips. “I don’t want to wait another night to be with you…” he whispered. “I want to make you mine, now… Venus…” He leaned closer, breathing on her lips.
“Jellal… Please…” she tried to squirm away, but he gripped on her waist.
“We are going to be married, Venus… and it’s not a sin to sleep together with the person whom you’re going to belong to…” he said and Venus read a threat in his voice. “You’re mine…”
‘You’re mine…’ She’d heard it before… But… it didn’t sound this much dangerous that time… ‘Rey…’ Venus closed her eyes to stop the tears.
Jellal was leaning closer to her now, his eyes gleaming with his desire. Her shivering body in his arms was arousing him beyond anything… He cupped her face and pulled her close, staring at her lips… Venus was still lost in thoughts to notice any of that. But when his warm breathe fell over her face, Venus snapped her eyes open and pulled away with all her might. Jellal’s face immediately reflected the annoyance and anger.
“I-I’m sorry, Jellal… But I- We should wait until we are married…” she said strictly and Jellal stared at her.
“Alright then… One more night…” he gave her a greedy look from top to bottom before taking her hand and kissing it. “And, then… You’ll belong to me…”
Venus felt her skin, where his lips touched, burn and she fought an urge to wash the feeling away.
Jellal gave her a smirk and then was out of her room. Venus sighed in relief, but when she thought about their marriage the heart breaking depression crawled back. ‘There’s no way to run from it now… There’s no one to save her from her fate…’ Her mind flashed Rey’s face… but… Venus pushed it away with a sad smile. ‘She cannot put his life on the line… He’s much too precious to lose… even though she’d already lost him… knowing that he’s alive and well would do for her… won’t it?’ She lay on the bed and closed her eyes shut.
One more night and then… her fate’s sealed!
At Rey’s place,
“So… what would we do Rey…? A direct attack might be stupid and even dangerous. It might also help the culprit getaway easily…” asked Peter, sitting beside Rey on the sofa. Rey was just sitting there, his mind weaving on something.
“Er… I think I have an idea…” said Lilly and everyone turned around, surprised by the hesitation in her voice. “I want to straight out something too… So, hear me out and then you can decide if we can go with my plan or not…” said Lilly and then explained her plan to the others.
“That sounds really good… We might be able to clear out things properly too…” said Mia.
Rey nodded slowly and then walked to his room. ‘So… She’s even ready to marry someone she doesn’t even like to keep me away from her… My feelings for you meant nothing at all… right Venus…?’ Rey and the others had visited the village to collect some information about the other bandit group and they got to know that the current villag
e head’s son was getting married to his father’s friend’s daughter, who was engaged to him since a long time. Rey was silent ever since he heard about that. ‘It looks like I was making a fool of myself… I even said I love you, Venus… which I’ve never even thought of saying to a woman before… which I’d never say to a woman again…’
The day and night passed by slowly and painfully for Venus and finally the day of her fate arrived. Venus was sitting before the mirror… and the ladies and Jellal’s mother were working on her bridal make ups and wedding gown. But her face was expressionless… as if she was dead. Her eyes were dull and lifeless.
“You look beautiful, dear…” Jellal’s mother cheesed. But Venus was just staring at the mirror… “Jellal would be really pleased…”
Suddenly, the door opened and Jellal walked in. “Jellal… what are you doing here…?” his mother asked in shock. “You shouldn’t come here-” But Jellal cut her off.
“I wanted to see her, mother…” he smiled. “Please, give us some privacy ladies… I need to talk to my woman for a minute…” The other ladies giggled and Jellal’s mother smacked his arm playfully before walking outside with the others.
“Venus…” his face lit up with a proud smile. “You look gorgeous…” He walked towards her.
Venus was still staring at the mirror. Her eyes empty and emotionless. Jellal went on his knees beside her to reach her face and then looked at her. “I love you…” he whispered before kissing her hand. “I need you, Venus…” He raised himself and kissed her forehead. “Join me soon… dear. I cannot wait anymore…” He raised her chin and made her look at him. Venus nodded slowly even though she wasn’t even sure what he was talking about. Jellal smirked and then walked out.