Heiress Of His Abyss: Unmasking The Beast

Sylteena's eyes remained fixed on the Sliqruki's head, her heart thudding violently.

"Oou!... A slave Princess! Sounds like a fictional book title." Aislinn stated with crossed arms.

Aidan rolled his eyes, "How that is the first thought in your mind bothers me greatly."

She tittered.

Returning her focus to the creature that had her suspended in the air, she felt her body slowly lowered to be placed gently on the ground.

Her eyes widened. Why didn't it drop her indiscreetly?

Its hair loosened from around her wrist, leaving her alone in confusion and bewilderment.

Aidan stepped forward. "But you do have a good point, Master. If she is really part of the royal family, why is she so malnourished?"

"When I was observing her, she was alone most of the time." Aislinn walked up to stand next to her brother.

"Interesting..." The Sliqruki's voice seized their attention. "If she was returned to the castle, it means she isn't a fugitive that escaped persecution."

It took a few moments for the twins to finally understand the underlying meaning of his words.

Their eyes widened.

The Sliqruki slowly pushed back to sit on the earth with crossed legs. "It was attempted murder."

Sylteena stilled.

Murder?... The word rang in her head as the reality settled. Even though she didn't know who her kidnappers were, nor was she aware of their motive, the nerve-wracking shock of knowing someone or some people out there wanted her dead triggered an unsettled fear in her.

The Sliqruki rested an elbow on its thighs to support the side of its head by the knuckles. "The question is, who, in their desperate mind, would want the crowned princess dead, to have resorted to this forgotten method of persecution?"

"That's odd..." Their eyes shifted to Aislinn. She pinched her chin, "If she was kidnapped and almost murdered, it didn't seem to ignite an atmosphere of panic in the palace about a missing royal. Not even the guards or servants were put on edge. Everything was so calm and ordinary."

Aidan crooked a brow. "A slave-looking princess void of magic, who was abducted and almost killed. Now that says a lot about your relationship with your royal in-laws." He stared at Sylteena's statued figure.

Her face remained stale of an expression.

"What is your name?"

Sylteena's shoulders flinched at the Sliqruki's hoarse voice despite its calm tone. She gulped.

Gapping her lips to speak, it took a few trails of gaping breaths to finally utter. "S- Slyteena... Benedict..."

"Where from?"

Sylteena's knees were already weakening in fear, wedged between the horror and survival instincts. "El... Elfedon..."

"Elfedon?!" Aislinn repeated. "That's a far southern region. Are you a noble's daughter?"

"Of course, she must be, stupid!" Aidan tutted. "Would a commoner ever be picked to wed the prince and become a royal princess?... Try and use your head for once."

Aislinn's brows twitched with a frown. Her green eyes beamed with wrath. "Say that again, you filth—"

"Aislinn."

She stilled to the Sliqruki's voice, looking up in an instant as it added, "Return her to the palace."

"WHAT?!" Both twins exclaimed.

Even Sylteena's eyes snapped wide at its sudden instruction.

"Wait what?!" Aidan looked up.

"Why!?" Aislinn questioned. "She... She came into our Forest! She saw our true form! She saw you, Master! Why do you want her to walk away freely after letting her live this long to see this much!"

"For the first time since our childhood, Aislinn is actually making some sense!" Aidan nodded. "Master?..." He grimaced, "Why are you letting her go?? She escaped your cocoon! No living creature has ever been able to do that! She's a walking vile to your image!"

"Not to mention she might be a possible threat to you! What if she goes to connive with some other group to come back and—"

"She's suffering."

The two had their lips sealed in the moment of its interrupting words.

"What?" Aidan uttered.

Raising its other hand to point at Sylteena's static figure, it let out a ragged sigh. "A being void of magic and odd skin like hers can never fit into the margins of the sorcerer society."

"Her union into the royal family must have been obliged." It tilted its head, "And forced unto the thorned ladder of the royal family and its politics... Strength is the last thing that will dwell in her to ever come back here to retaliate."

Sylteena remained silent as she keyed her attention on the giant.

"And regarding the taint on my reputation," it turned to face the twins standing side by side. "Sorcery is my cocoon's lifeblood, strengthening its hold with every pulse by antagonizing the level of sorcery in a soul. Yet, she slipped through its grasp like smoke."

Its gaze returned on her. "Therefore, there is no trace of sorcery in her being to feed me..."

Slowly lowering its head to her level, it continued, "Ending the life of someone like her would be a far greater blessing rather than a punishment."

A sharp pang spread across her chest as its words hit her like a blow.

The pinpoint precision of its statement darted at her insides.

Death... Would be her saving grace?...

Her mouth felt dry, her expression slowly loosened to a broken grimace. The Sliqruki stared at her for moments longer before gradually pulling back to push up on its feet and turn.

"Aislinn," it called, "Return her."

Wearing a visible expression of disagreement and hesitation, Aislinn and Aidan shared a glance before slowly turning to the person of importance.

Sylteena couldn't move.

With her eyes fixed on the Sliqruki's figure, she watched it backed their direction to begin pacing slowly in the direction of the trees.

The twins delayed for a few moments as their Master walked further away, before deciding to step closer to her.

Aidan's lips pressed into a frown as he said, "Let's just make this quick..."

"Tell me about it!" Aislinn hissed. "This isn't how I envisioned tonight to go."

Aislinn stretched out to reach for Slyteena's arm — Slyteena darted forward without warning, sprinting in the direction of the Sliqruki.

They both froze in place, snapping their wide eyes at her charging figure that ran in the direction of their Master.

Sylteena raced towards the towering being, looking up to shout at the top of her lungs.

"Why don't you do it!?!"

The Sliqruki halted in its steps.

Sylteena pulled to a pause as well, clutching her fists. "If you know so much... If you've scrutinized my life's misery to the finest detail in just a mere glance... To be well aware of how much agony you are returning me to..."

Her teeth gnawed as a warm sensation slowly trailed down her cheek from her welling eyes.

"... THEN WHY DON'T YOU END THIS NIGHTMARE OF MINE, CALLED LIFE!?"