His Nemesis.
The marriage ceremony was loud. There was so much dancing, ancient music and food. From the corner of his eyes, Aaron looked at the bride for a brief moment. He wasn't able to see her face because, according to their tradition, she'd be in a veil till he is all alone with her, and Aaron pitied her.
He pitied her parents too and everyone in the village for falling for his parents' charm. If only they knew who they made a pact with. Seething his teeth silently, Aaron's eyes forged ahead, and the thought of his surroundings clouded his mind. He was right. Women dominated the village, and he thinks this must have to do with the pact his parents made.
“Must they have sold him to the people of the village?” He thought. But for how much? He questioned.
“No, it mustn't be money. It must be something else. Something they need.” Aaron thought more before his train of thoughts was interrupted.
£=gjs!S@^fhj#fcu$lik!(It's time for the husband and his wives to mate) One of the village elders said, and everyone screamed in happiness.
“Wives?” Aaron repeated. No, that must be wrong. He was sure only one lady was wearing a veil, then how come? Maybe he heard wrongly. He thought before he was tapped.
A few men came toward him and hugged him, cheering him on, and Aaron was lost. He saw his parents from the corner of his eyes talking to some elders, and Aaron could have mistaken, but he thought he saw their eyes lit up with happiness. It was strange still warm that he wished they had genuinely shown that emotion to him years back. But all was lost, and now, he has a duty. An unknown duty to perform for his parents to benefit from. A duty he was ready to jeopardise if it'd make them happy.
“Yes. They have to go down with him. He has to pay for his crimes for killing an innocent soul, and his Nemesis must suffer. He has to make sure they do.” He vowed.
****
Aaron had to stop himself from staring at the home given to him and his… Shaking his head profusely, he bit his lower lip as gently as he could.
The room was enormous and adorned with glittering gold. There was this sort of masculine smell that filled his guts as if the room was sending a message to him. A message that only a male child was expected but that was just a crazy assumption Aaron thought with a chuckle.
Letting out a huge sigh, a knock was heard. Opening the door, he saw the two ladies again, and he just knew where they were headed.
Bathe…
He walked into another cave. A waterfall cave adorned with glittering gold where he took his bath and brushed his teeth for the second time.
The villagers truly do not joke with cleanliness, and he hopes it leads them to god or so the phrase says, “godliness”. Shaking his head, he smiled. It's not a big one, just a little, and it meant so much to him.
He realised that ever since he came to the village, his mind has been a little calmer, and he wished he truly got to live life, but his sins are too much to give him such. Being born by those two vile beings, “his nemesis” was a big sin he could never wash his hands from. They have stained him since birth, and with that, his life has been exactly how they wanted.
Chuckling lightly, Aaron wore a sad smile, not to his recent bride, but to himself. How he got to stay alive despite the beatings, constant lockups in the dungeon, mental stress, physical pains, and emotional turmoil he went through, he still lived. He lived in pain and misery, watching how other children grew up. An opposite to his lifestyle.
“Kgh^_fg!#₩(Your wife is waiting for you). One of the ladies said, leading him back to the room he had left earlier and Aaron… his leg became stiff and every step felt heavy as he moved toward the room. The same room which he had adored. His eyes glistened with unshed tears as his chest heaved upward and downward in sync.
How dare he forget what the village elder had said. Mate…Mate? How is he supposed to do that? How is he to stay next to another human, a fragile being at that and perform the physically attached ritual of coitus with her? He questioned with a shaky breath.
Every cell in his body screams “retreat” to his ears like he was a rookie soldier with fears of what the enemy would do to him, only that, he is the enemy. The enemy in a village where women dominated every angle. An enemy in a land marked by his nemesis. He knows deeply that whatever pact his parents made with the villagers isn't for his sake or his wellbeing. They only care about themselves, and it hurts him badly that innocent people are going to get hurt just like her…
“Ah” he mildly screamed, holding on the adorned gold glittering wall of the familiar path to the room.
He held his chest tightly, and his step paused as memories of that night hit him again like the waves of the sea. His breath quickened, and his heart went on a marathon. His legs buckled under him as darkness became his comfort.
****
Strange voices echoed around him, and Aaron wasn't sure where he was, heaven or hell, though he genuinely hoped for the former.
Opening his eyes, he was hit by the blinding ray of sunshine adorned with gold. He tried standing up but noticed he was too tired to even lift a limb. Closing his eyes, he breathed in the air to calm his nerves. For some reason, he felt choked and couldn't explain the heaviness that tainted his heart.
Placing his left hands on his head, he rolled to the other side of the bed as if waking the cells in his body. However, he froze midway at the voice that interrupted his ritual.
“I see you are not dead.” A familiar voice spat out with a deep grunt.
Opening his eyes, Aaron forced his body to sit up before turning over to look at his dad, whose face was in a deep regret of some sort.
“I think you need a lesson. You must have forgotten the pleasure of the whips on your wet skin.” Said another familiar voice coming from the doorway.
Aaron didn't understand why he wasn’t shitting his pants at his parent's statement. He doesn't need anyone to tell him they are pissed which means the villagers or his supposed wife must be too.
Chuckling deeply in a silent whisper, he shook his head as memories of last night hit him.
His fainting last night must have ruined their plans, he thought, letting out a huge sigh.
“You are a disgrace! You never get things right until your skin bleeds, and if that's what needs to be done again to make you do our bidding, then so be it.” His dad added with a crazy amount of hate oozing out from each sentence, still, Aaron sat there, in silence, as he watched his parents speak to some people.
Maybe her family, he guessed. When he looked at them, he saw fears in their eyes, and it made him think again about what the villagers could have wanted from him.
If not having coitus with their daughter fears them and makes his parents think of carrying out the dungeon method on him, it means they all expected some sort of mating session last night which means that they sort of needed her to be pregnant? It can be to make sure she's a virgin, right? And his parents… he was sure they didn't need money. They are wealthy, so whatever pact they made with those people must …
“You should thank your stars that your wife and the other maidens are coming in now. But that doesn't matter. We will surely put you in your place soon for embarrassing us.” His mother spat before walking out and then, silence.
But the silence didn't last as feet walked into his room, closer to his space, where he could smell the person.
A lady with glittering skin walked towards him with a smile, and Aaron was taken aback by her beauty. She was flawless and walked with so much grace. Placing her hands on his skin, she spoke, and Aaron was lost in her voice.
“Ghu@•¤$₩, df£♤ss¥¤¤pl?”(My husband, did I offend you last night?)” she asked, and Aaron could hardly stop himself from crying. Her voice was soothing and so warm. Her touch was electrifying that he couldn't understand the strange movement in his underpants.
He tried to breathe, nod his head, or even speak, but the cat must have visited his tongue. His voice seemed lost, but his hands were not. Like a snake on a ladder, Aaron found his hands on her soft skin and …
He yelped!
He couldn't believe he did that, and he was sure she couldn't as well. For some reason, he lost his senses. He couldn't explain how he had the gut to touch her, smell her, or even feel those emotions around her.
She staggered but moved forward like a predator, ready to pounce on its prey, and Aaron didn't understand what was going on. He wanted to touch her more and even feel her, but his curse was stronger.
Blood… "That was all his eyes could see.” Tears stained his eyes as he stared at his hands. He is a killer. A woman killer and no lady should come closer to him. Memories of that night swam his head again, buzzing through his cells like bees, and Aaron was lost once again.
****
A tingling sensation stirred him from slumber, and Aaron couldn't help but groan. His eyes flew open, and he almost jumped off the bed like a deer caught in a headlight.
Next to him was the same lady again. The one who had spoken with such…
Gulping loudly, he moved away from her, but she stood up from the bed before he could move further.
He watched her walk out of the bedroom, and his eyes moved over her figure. Closing his eyes shut, Aaron shook his head.
“What is wrong with me?” He thought with a deep sigh. It felt like there was something in the air. No. Not in the air but the air around her. It was electrifying like she wore a smell that was meant to arouse him. It was strong and daring. But with her out, he could breathe well without his thoughts on wrapping his hands on her small frame and nibbling on her…
Clearing his throat loudly, Aaron stood up and went to the open window. The moon was out, and the stars shone beautifully around it. For a moment, Aaron thought about where his star was. If it was close to the moon or even in existence.
Placing his hands on his forehead, he let out a long sigh, and a rubble from his stomach followed suit, reminding him of the need to be fed. As if on cue, a knock came in before the door opened and before Aaron could turn, the smell of home cooked meal drifted into his nose ushering him toward where the food laid and the two ladies who came to serve him.
They left as quickly as they came, and Aaron wasted no time in gulping down each bite like a horse on a race. He stopped midway as he mind wandered to his bride.
Letting out a sad smile, Aaron couldn't believe he would see the day where he'd be married. He felt pity for her again as he ate. He knows he couldn't love her, and neither can he be loved. The word is sacred and is meant to be shared among people without a curse.
People who aren't him or grew up like him. As he ate on, Aaron felt somewhat intoxicated either by the food, side dishes, or drink, he couldn't tell. But what he does know was that the food heightened his emotions just like the air around her… His wife. It was addictive and he just couldn't stop eating or drinking until there was nothing left from the heap of food but empty gold adorned plates his food was served in.
Closing his eyes, Aaron heard the door open again. The plates were taken out, and a familiar smell drifted right into his nostril again. It was her smell, and it was driving him crazy.
Opening his eyes, Aaron swallowed loudly, and he wished his eyes weren't opened to see the lust in her eyes or notice the way her nipple pointed out of her dress or how plump her lips was.
Aaron wasn't sure who started the touching, and he didn't care. Not at that moment. All he wanted was her. Her touch, her breath on his exposed skin, her kisses below his waistline, and down into no man's land. His sacred jewel.
He groaned, explored, and danced with her. It was a ritual the moon applauded. It was satisfying though he wanted more, and he was given every curve and line. His breath quickened as white clouds of milk exploded from his third leg, but he didn't stop. Not when she moaned deeply or when other faces joined their cause. It was a night filled with adventures he didn't understand and didn't care to with a lot of cloudy milk flying around like planes in the sky.
****
Aaron wasn't sure what woke him this time around. Maybe it was his curse or his thoughts, he wasn't sure. All he knew was that his body felt weak, and his eyes rolled back and forth as he looked around what felt like his room but wasn't.
Three… no four… five? Or was it six or seven? Aaron couldn't tell. The truth was that he lost count of the ladies inside his room. He clearly couldn't remember how or when they all did, even though his mind mocked him by sending flashes of images of a few hours ago that felt like a dream.
Standing up from the bed, Aaron wore his clothes and tiptoed… Well, he wanted to tiptoe, but he walked instead, opening the door and closing it with a silent thud.
He wasn't sure where his feet were leading him, but he knew what his stomach wanted, and that was food. A lot of it.
Circling around from one cave to another, Aaron finally found it. Food and drinks, and he didn't waste time exploring what seemed to be a kitchen until he was filled up.
A moment after eating, Aaron relaxed on a gold stool before a silent clap of hands echoed around him.
Turning around, he saw his parents staring back at him.
“It's a great pleasure knowing you were predictable. With the amount of “herbs tasteful” food you ate, we knew you'd wake up in search of food soon. With the way you are relaxed, it must mean you've eaten to your fill and that's nice. Now is the time for us to do the same. Let's go, boy.” His father said, walking out of the cave he was into another, and Aaron followed him but not without sneaking a sharp knife into his clothes.
For some reason, he felt energetic. He didn't know why. Maybe it was the herb thing his dad spoke about. He wasn't sure.
After a few turns, Aaron let out a long, quiet sigh as they stopped at the waterfall cave side. Beside a rock was a neatly placed whip.
“You should thank us for giving you such an opportunity to meet a lady. But you disgraced us so badly that she had to spray a lust filled powder on herself. It is what they used to awaken the libido of weak men, but that didn't work until they had to spike your food with more of it. You embarrassed us… You have always been a failure.” His mother spat picking up a whip from the floor before striking it on him.
The familiar pain hit Aaron's skin, and his breath shuddered. His hands felt weak and useless.
“We didn't ask much of you. Be like us and be respected in society, but you failed at that. You just had to let that small incident shake you. We could have covered it up, but you called the police. Not us, but those public servants we feed our taxes. And we could have left you if not for the pact we made with these villagers. A pact that will save us from your immature troubles and give us something better. All you had to do was to mate with the wife you married and the other maidens as well. Since you were a failure, all we needed was a girl born from any of the girls that produced first while the villagers kept the boys since it was what they lacked, but you…. You insolent fool! We had no other use for you. Sleep with the women and give us baby girls we can train to be better. How hard is that!” His father screamed, rolling his whip and landing it on…
Aaron didn't expect what he did. Never had he in his entire existence ever raised his hands up to stop the whip on him. No matter how painful it was, he always endured it, but not this… he would rather die than become their factory.
Holding tightly on the whip, he drew it closer to him, thereby drawing his father too. Aaron didn't know where the strength came from, and he should have surprised him, but his heart was filled with pain gutting hate to even care.
He saw the look in their eyes. His mother's mouth slightly opened, and his father with wide eyes as he pushed the sharp pointing object into his skin.
Blood… they should have scared him, but Aaron wasn't scared of this particular blood. Instead, he was filled with intense rage when he pierced his father's neck with the knife and pushed his mother away when she touched him. The sound of her head hitting a rock filled his senses, but he didn't look. All he cared about was killing them. His Nemesis.
His eyes were bloodshot as he screamed loudly, banging his hands on his chest repeatedly.
They are sick. So sick that they didn't deserve to be in the world. They don't deserve it. The pain they caused him and the curse that surrounded him. If he had known, he would have done something earlier. But now it is better.
He watched his father sputtering out blood from his mouth while holding his neck. His eyes were pale still, he looked forward to where his mother's open skull laid open like a watermelon, and Aaron laughed. The sort of evil-like laugh that sent chills down the pit of his stomach.
…. And he wanted to speak. To tell them of how they destroyed his life. How other children grew up differently, but no words came out. Instead, rain of tears rushed down his face like a dam before he pierced his heart with the same knife he stabbed his father with.
Smiling heartily, Aaron thought he saw the face of his bride rushing to hold his hands. She was crying and he wanted to clean her face and tell her a lot of things. How beautiful she was and how she was the first female to ever touch his skin in a way he loved. But darkness overtook him, and Aaron was sure it was a darkness he'd never wake up from.
*****
Images used were generated with Meta AI.
******
The End.
If you read this point, thank you. I appreciate every second spent reading, and I am always open to feedback.
