Once Upon a Story [ INCONSISTENT UPDATES ]

Soul Bound II

Trigger warning
❝ contains non-consented touch ❞

Part 3 on the way.

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭:845

AUTHOR

By nightfall, Sybilla still hadn't returned home. She ventured deep into the woods, hunting. Traces of blue danced in her irises as she let her breath escape in the moist air. She had caught a few animals, but simply healed their wounds and set them free: a cruel game to others; a mercy for her.

When she felt spent, she returned to her haven. As she stood by the riverbank, arms extended, water droplets rose like ropes onto her skin and merged, creating hands. First, the himation, then her peplos came undone, leaving her bare in the cold. She uncoiled her hair, deep like syrup, from the basket woven on her head and let it sink to her knees.

More at ease, Sybilla opened the gate to her ichor. Her skin paled, becoming faint blue and the tips of her ear lengthened, now pointed. Her nails grew sharp like eagle talons and translucent webbing spread between her fingers and toes.

"No way."

She froze, meeting her intruder eye to eye. Philippos stood by the clearing's edge, watching from the moment the water had stripped her. Her pupils narrowed to pinpoint, infuriated. Only her brother knew exactly where she was, which meant he had told Philippos where to go.

"You're a nymph," he said, still astounded.

"Yes." Her voice was like a playful touch, slipping down his back. He shivered at the delightful sound.

"Why are you here?" Her tone was firm but gentle, igniting something within him. He kept his cool demeanour, explaining to him how her brother led him right to her. Just as she suspected.

"I do find it weird that you like this place," he added. "Many people have mysteriously disappeared around here. Men especially. It's not exactly a comforting place to be."

He approached her as he recounted the rumours. Sybilla opened her hand and gripped the ball of water in her palm. Her lance materialized as a clear warning. Philippos didn't back down, seeing it as a challenge. He came closer and calmly held her hips, knowing she wouldn't attack him.

"Are you behind all of this?" he asked.

She placed her hands atop his, but couldn't force them off without ripping her skin. They were firmly pressed into her. For now, she let him be.

"A rhetorical question. But say I want to entertain the thought: what do you gain from my answer?

Philippos hummed as he thought. His thumb busily drew small circles on her hip to distract himself from the fact that she was still nude. "It's hard to say," he replied, honestly. "My mind is occupied at the moment."

He eased her closer and pressed his clothed arousal to her bare front. She forced down her disgust, arms tense as she tried not to fish out his guts. "So you've come to defile me. And that would leave me no choice but to marry you to save my family's honour."

"You're smart."

If only you shared that same quality, she sighed. She gently caressed his face, watching him lean into her hand. The touch only fuelled the hunger he'd been suppressing since he saw her. Sybilla could see it raging wildly in his eyes. But she had no intention to let him get his way.

She hummed a song, letting her charm seep through each note. Philippos froze, unprepared. He could already feel the fog slowly covering his consciousness. It was a siren song.

The fight he had was fading faster than he could muster it. Water wrapped around his wrists and ankles, displaying him like an ornament. He wanted to struggle, shout for help, but was unable to. Her song was stronger than his will.

"I hope the underworld sees you favourably."

Her lips were soft and cool, with a sweetness he couldn't describe. But how devastating was the pleasure. His mind faded to a perfect silence, gaze glossed over. He fell against her, his muscles growing weaker with each second.

"Sybilla... Why..." Barely a sound came out as he spoke the last of his will.

"You're a liability. I can't let you go." A deep breath came past her lips and another song began, enthralling him completely. Whoever he was until that moment was now merely a memory.

She lay him back against the grass as her lance raised itself high with water supporting its descent. The act was complete. Iron coated her tongue, the air heavy with its scent. She wiped the trail of crimson from her face, staring at the blood spurt from his gaping abdomen.

"Do you wish to share the same fate?" she suddenly asked. The shadow, standing by the edge of the clearing, stepped into the light. He was beautiful beyond words and had an unmistakable divine glow to his features. But that made him all the more detestable to her.

"I've come to talk, Sybilla." His voice came out, pleading to her. It reached her unwilling heart. She spared him a cold glare, one he nearly flinched at.

"And I have nothing to say to you, Apollo."