Ensnaring his Dark Moon-Chapter 271: Luciana’s mother

A/N— *cryptic spoiler alert* I came across comments stating that this is kind of cheating on her fiance Jeremiah. This issue is brought up in my draft Chapters already but still, I’d like to explain ahead so that y’all don’t reach conclusions. I am strictly against infidelity and I expressed it when Esme kept pushing Aleister away despite her feelings for him. But the moment she regained her memories, equations changed and the engagement with Jer was null and void because she was already engaged to Aleister before (not through the rituals and even under pretense) but they had the blessings of the elders from both their families, and it is counted as half an engagement in their world. The past year in the sea world was built on lies that Esme without memories cared about despite her being wary about everything and everyone. But ’Esme with memories’ doesn’t give a damn about it.

...

Jeremiah smirked, ’’Always the cat and dog they are. They both care for each other yet they believe that the other person hates them so they keep their claws extended. And, the pleasure it gives me to see them trying to eat each other’s flesh,’’ he shook his head in amusement, ’’It was not that hard to sprout seeds of animosity between the siblings when they were young. Just a few praises for the younger sister and the elder brother felt inferior and cornered. Laughably pathetic things they are.’’

Marcus remained quiet. He did not dare to mention that their animosity might as well be a façade given how Lucian was trying to discreetly protect his sister from him yesterday. The man indeed felt inferior but he did not hate his sister nor did she hate him.

Ever since they were young, they were used to fighting with each other over every small thing so they did not know how else to interact with each other and they ended up bickering even after they grew up. But if one was in danger, the other would not think twice before risking their lives.

Jeremiah slumped on the bed and grunted in frustration, ’’Dealing with that naive woman drains me,’’ he sighed, ’’It would have been better if she just spread her legs for me. Her beauty is the only thing she has at her disposal yet she does not know how to take advantage of it.’’

Marcus swallowed, understanding that he was now talking about Esmeray Reis, ’’I have arranged a few women to accompany you.’’

Jeremiah nodded, ’’Bring them over,’’ he smirked.

Marcus’ lips parted, curiosity taking over as he asked a question that he had asked a few times before but never got a proper answer, ’’Why her?" Why Esmeray? Why are you fixated on her if you do not like her?

’’Her...’’ Jeremiah smirked, ’’That useless woman is the strongest pawn in this game I have been playing. It has to be her.’’

’’Once the wedding is over, I will see under which sheets she would try to hide her naked body. I cannot wait to taste that woman...’’ his gaze darkened.

Marcus did not understand what his younger brother was talking about but then, he did not know anything about his unnerving obsession with Esme in the first place.

His children thought that he went to Visteria because of the movement from the trident and the words of the court officials. But unbeknownst to them, he had always worked under Jeremiah’s direct orders.

The world of mers was dominated by the power one possessed. The more powerful one was, the more revered he will be despite his age.

And he could only blame his mother for giving birth to Jeremiah.

To the world, Jeremiah was a reluctant heir apparent who had sacrificed his childhood for the position just so he could take the Norwell Family’s name to greater heights.

But to him, this man was a beast who strangled his wife to death at the tender age of 12 after she saw him using unusual methods to increase his cultivation by offering young mermaids as sacrifices.

His wife had not died that very day. His strangle left her on the bed while her powers were slowly drained out of her and her body withered until she resembled a ball of flesh that dried gradually.

She died a horrible death.

That was when Marcus realized that his brother... was not ordinary. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Marcus carefully retreated from the room and checked the hallway before he snapped his fingers.

A row of delicate women appeared in front of him, ’’Go inside. You know what to do,’’ they obediently sashayed inside the room.

Marcus wiped the bloodstains from his forehead with his sleeve as he strode out of the castle.

The sky had turned dark by the time he reached the sea.

Before he could step his foot in the water, he was surrounded by a few men who had their swords pointed at his neck from all four sides.

He stiffened.

Marcus did not know why so many people would come after him. He did not remember offending anyone and in Defire, barely anyone dared to approach him, let alone corner him like this.

It was only then did he feel the bearings of the people surrounding him. They were nowhere as ordinary as humans or lower mers, ’’You... Who are you?" As he spoke, his fingers started moving to gather his powers.

The mysterious people stayed quiet and the more they looked unmoved, the more Marcus panicked.

No... could they...? Was Aleister the one who sent them after him?

He had avoided Aleister at every chance they crossed paths. He had not even dared to look into the man’s eyes.

But as expected... As expected, he was still holding that grudge against him.

Even as he thought about it, Marcus’s fingers clenched tightly.

Before he could aim his hand towards the swords that kept his neck in a death grip, one of the swords moved in a swift movement, and in the next moment, his animalistic scream reverberated in the place as the waves crashed against the big boulders.

Blood dripped down his hand as his palm dangled off, stretching flesh with it; his bone peeked from the gap.

"AHHHHHHH!"

Marcus was terrified this time. He did not even dare to lift his other hand, ’’Who... Was it him....’’ It must be that beast.

No one else would dare to do this to him.

It had to be Aleister.

Before he could say anything else, the men captured him and dragged him towards the forest.

Much to Marcus’s shock, buried in the depth of the forest behind Crystal castle, there was another portal that no one had seen.

’’No... No...’’ He screamed, ’’No...’’ his heels dug into the ground as he protested but the men did not bother to slow down as they continued dragging him, leaving a trail of blood with every stone and thorn bush passed through.