The Lonely God novel Chapter 43

-HER-

After some moments, I find myself peeking inside the well just like yesterday. A rough and cold hand pulls me inside before I am sucked inside the well by the gravity.

This time, I fall willingly.

I close my eyes and anticipate the fall. The sound of the wind whooshing past my ears is the same as that of yesterday. The sense of uprightness is lost. I can only feel myself falling before the ground makes its presence known to me when I feel it's hardness under my feet.

Slowly, I open my eyes and look around me. I am standing by a river bank, surrounded by trees. The sun is slowly disappearing behind the horizon, taking the light with it. The birds are returning to their nests and the distant murmur of some children, playing by the river floats in the evening air.

"Arles!" A deep male voice booms in the air before I hear footsteps approaching me. In the next moment, a little boy climbs up the steps to the river bank. He's carrying a heavy bucket with him. It's heavier than him and he's having trouble to lift the bucket so he's dragging it with all the energy his little body has.

"Coming," Replies the small boy with a panicking tone. I forget to breathe for a moment when realization dawns upon me. It's... Arles. The unmistakable resemblance between them. His head is covered with a mane of black, curly hair, which platers to his neck and forehead with sweat. His silver eyes look colorless as if he's blind. He's wearing nothing but a pair of shorts that are drenching in his sweat as well.

Every time, he manages to drag the bucket behind him, the muscles in his small hands and body contracts, showing off the bones underneath the skin. He's barefooted. The expression on his face speaks that he's tired and out of breath but he couldn't spare a moment to catch up upon it.

I am so overwhelmed by the scene that I couldn't help but rush to his aid but as soon as I touch him, my hands travel through him, reminding me that I am only a spectator. There's no way I can part take in this scene and help the little child. With close inspection, all I could conclude is that he looks somewhat close to six years old.

"ARLES!" The same male voice thunders, raising another wave of panic in him. The bucket he is carrying has water which seems to be trying violently to escape the bucket given his rough moments. It's after some moments when I notice that he's carrying fishes in that bucket.

Seeing him struggle, I can't help but feel empathetic to him. I want to help this little kid in some way. It's hard for me to see him struggling like this.

"Where do you think you're going?" A voice speaks from behind us, making us both turn around. A boy who seems to be in his late teens is standing by the trees, looking down at small Arles with his hands resting on his hips. There's an unmistakable glint of amusement and slyness in his eyes that has me doubting his motives.

"I caught these fishes for the day. I am taking these to master," Little Arles speaks. Although his voice sounds innocent, there's an edge of power and authority to it that doesn't go unnoticed by me. He seems to have inherited this from Luna.

The older boy slowly approaches the younger one. He stops in front of little Arles and towers over him.

"Hand me the bucket and leave," Threatens the older boy. Little Arles has to tilt his head back to have a better look at the older boy. For a moment, I see his silver eyes come alive.

"I caught them. So, they're mine," Speaks little Arles grimly. It surprises me how he's standing up against a boy far older than him. Had there been other kid at his place, they'd have been intimidated by the height and maturity of the older one.

"Don't speak to me like that, you filth. Hand me the bucket and I leave you alone for today," Warns the older boy again. Little Arles simply shakes his head before he turns around and continues to drag the bucket behind him.

This makes the older boy growl before he jumps at little Arles. He lands a powerful punch on his back, knocking the young boy to the ground. The bucket trips and spills its contents. The fishes inside the bucket escape while the water moisturizes the dry ground.

Even before little Arles could recover and get upon his feet, the older boy starts to beat him brutally. A scream escapes past my lips when I rush to my feet and try to interfere them but reality makes its painful presence known to me when I remember that I cannot interrupt the vision.

I cover my mouth and tears stream down my face as I see little Arles getting beaten up. He tries to fight back but he's very small and weak compared to the older boy. With a severe blow to the head, the older boy leaves. The weak body of little Arles continues to lay upside down on the muddy ground before he rises with a tortured groan.

His face is smeared with blood and he's finding it hard to keep his balance after those severe blows to his head. His little body is shaking uncontrollably. By this moment, I am sobbing uncontrollably. I just want to hug that little kid and nurse his wounds but there's no way I can do that.

He sighs deeply as he looks around to find the fishes gone. They've jumped back into the river. With a small growl, he walks towards the trees. I follow him until we reach a hut.

"I called you several times!" Growls a tough looking man emerging from the hut. Little Arles simply hangs his head and listens to the man. The man looks very angry at the little boy.

"I heard you, master," Speaks the little boy.

"Where's today's hunt?" He inquires as he steps nearer to the boy while he crosses his arms on his chest.

"There's no hunt for today," Speaks the little boy.

"Why not?" Growls the man angrily as he steps closer.

"I was playing all da-" Before little Arles could finish speaking, the man wraps his strong hands around his small neck and lifts him up. I find myself screaming for the second time today as the frustration of not being able to save him consumes me. This is so wrong. A little kid shouldn't be treated like this!

The little boy is choking for air while the man looks at the brink of ending the former's life. My body is shaking and I could feel the same burning sensation spreading over my mark. My sobs are loud and violent. I don't know if anyone can hear me.

"I missed you more," I hear him mutter and my heart stops beating. His deep and husky voice sounds so musical in the dead of the night. He holds my hand that has been draped over his body. Slowly, he turns around to face me. His silver eyes are glowing in the dark, reminding me of his younger self I encountered in the vision.

He wraps his arms around me and buries his nose in my hair.

"Where did you go last night?" I ask again which makes him look down at me pensively.

"I'll tell you if you tell me where do you keep going in the evenings," He negotiates. I narrow my eyes at him as I ask, "Are you seeing someone else?" My voice comes out as a low growl. Amusement flickers in his eyes as the corner of his lips twitch up.

"Are you jealous?" He asks as he raises an eyebrow at me.

"Of course not," I lie as I feel the heat of jealousy fill my chest. His smile widens instantly and realization dawns upon me that he could sense half of my feelings through the bond.

"You're so adorable, Neffie," He comments as he places a gentle kiss dangerously close to my lips.

"I hate you," I comment but he chuckles lowly instead. His sleep seems to have vanished all of a sudden which makes me doubt if he were asleep in the first place.

"So tell me..." He trails off as he perches himself on one hand and looks at me while he continues, "What did you miss me for?" He sounds cocky which pisses me off instantly. I glare at him and try to roll away but he pulls me into his arms instead.

Unwittingly, I find myself smiling from ear to ear for no reason. I find myself liking his touch and giving into the bond. He's sitting up while I am sitting on his lap. "My Neffie," He whispers in my ear and a chill runs down my spine.

In the next moment, I tilt my head at a side and before I know, his lips are on mine and we're kissing. He turns me around so I am facing him. I wrap my arms around his neck and deepen the kiss. The mark on my neck is buzzing with sparks, igniting strong flames of desire inside me.

My mind seems to have gone numb, making Vesta take control. My hands leave his neck and slowly start to unbutton his shirt. He takes my lead and undoes his shirt in a blink before he reaches for my pajama top.

He pulls back before he attacks my neck. Kissing, sucking, and nipping. I feel this urge to do the same with him. The next thing that I find myself doing is opening and closing my mouth around his neck and pressing my canines against his skin before nipping.

He lets out a moan and starts to unbutton my pajama top faster. The cold air of the night kisses my skin as my pajama top slips off to reveal my skin. His fervent mouth descends down my body, tasting me as if tasting honey for the first time...