AUTHOR
Sebastian walked towards the figure he saw at the front and heaved a sigh of relief. The body outline even in the dark was sure to be her and no one else.
He tapped gently on her back and Domain turned ready to attack until she saw the black hood she was always familiar with. "Hey Nobody, you startled me." She said turning to look at the other direction she was headed to.
Domain was certain she'd seen someone and that was not Seb so who the heck did she see? Something was not right, she was sure the team sent to that particular place with her was the exact number she'd been with so who else would be roaming around the area?
She looked at Seb tempted to to reveal what she'd seen but unfortunately to her Sebastian was just a useless guy who didn't know any self-defense strategies.
Sebastian on the other hand was relieved to finally find her. Not that it eased his fear of roaming the area but because he was worried for her.
"What took you so long?" He asked hugging her slightly and Domain froze in place. All her entire life no one had ever worried about her safety. Most people who knew her and the type of training she'd undergone termed her independent and dangerous.
According to her father's day-to-day logic, she was born a soldier and even if someday she would die, her death would always be remembered by many.
"I came out on a hunt." Said Domain breaking from the hug and turning to walk away. "This way is shorter than the one you used." She explained and Seb followed right behind her.
Domain looked at the weak houses from a distance and smiled. Alexander Yates and her father had decided the most foolish way to transform Sebastian. She could already figure out that the plan was solely formulated by her father.
Seeing him sacrifice her in the name of transforming the poor guy meant two things to her. Either he cared so much for the state's future leadership or he had his ambitions behind everything.
Domains gave thought to her brother and something crossed her mind. Why would her father send him abroad and force him to concentrate mainly on politics?
Domain was sure enough that growing up, Torben had always wanted to be a surgeon and his mind had never changed. She remembered the endless beatings Torben had always received whenever he said he would be a surgeon.
On her part, trouble was never the issue because she had already accepted to join the military as proclaimed by her dad. With that, she became Daddy's favorite but all he wanted was to show Torben the importance of being in his favor.
She placed the old rags on the floor, which had always been their bed, and for some reason, she didn't feel so bad about it. If the mighty Sebastian Yates didn't complain about that, she would be with him until he finally became the good son his father expected out of him.
"Goodnight sister," Sebastian said and Domain froze in place. 'Sister?' She could not recognize the last time someone had referred to her as that. Even Torban her biological brother had always called her by her name Aria.
Revealing her real identity Aria Moana to the public was something she'd always refrained from and always used Domain.
Domain threw her tired tramp right beside Seb and as usual, closed her eyes but this time sleep never located her. Her instincts could never allow her to enter the slumberland.
She was certain to have seen a human figure patrolling the area, it's not like ghosts existed. To her ghosts were just mythical stories narrated by the elderly to refrain the young generation from walking at night.
She tried so hard to be fully awake knowing Sebastian's life depended on her, however, she was woken up by the sound of one bird she feared. She'd heard plenty of scary stories about the owl and for some reason, she felt like believing them due to its satanic appearance.
She was relieved that there was no struggle to search out any surviving plants or small animals for food. They had been lucky to find enough for that day.
Domain's eyes finally landed on their house and she smiled triumphantly. At least Sebastian was not as dumb as her father had portrayed him to be. She was sure to transform him her way and not her father's way because that was waiting upon death.
"Mother," Seb called and everyone froze in place, mother? How was that even possible for Seb? She wondered but still accepted to be called a mother, if he so longed for a mother then she'd act as one they were back in their states.
On the other hand, Domain was somehow scared. What if someday Seb finally found out who they were? She wondered why on earth would her father risk her existence.
She was sure to go through a lot of trouble when Seb took over leadership after his father.
"I need to know something from you guys," He said shifting his eyes from mother and daughter. "what exactly is that human-like creature stone?" He asked carefully placing his butt on the floor and Domain mused at his miserable appearance.
Sebastian could only use his time to find out more about his new environment. No more clubs for him, no more parties. He could guess that was the end of powder and stuff. Oh, how he hated the turn of events but everything was his fault perhaps.
"Bribe me and I'll narrate everything to you." Said Domain and Seb smirked shifting his eyes to himself and back to the woman beside her.
"This was the most blessed nation in the entire world, it is believed that this place was initially the best agricultural center with plenty of foodstuffs. However, due to unpredicted circumstances, the land lost all beauty and was finally reduced to this," She paused taking in some breath.
"Earthquakes hence the terrible landscape, an unknown virus with no cure swept up the land which welcomed heavy rains. The flooded area led to a terrible life loss and finally, a very prolonged drought which is still experienced up until now."
She paused as if done with the conversation but Seb felt something was still missing. "Keep going." He said his hand holding his chin in support.
"The stone-like woman structure is believed to be a woman, the only survivor after the prolonged drought. It is said that other nations came for her rescue but she could not just live to see another day,"
"According to her, those of her kind were no more and it was useless being alive. Tightening her hands together, her eyes raised to the heavens. Her eyes were full of tears, she could only pray to the heavens trusting in its inhabitants. Unfortunately, her prayers were negative." She paused.
"She named this place Valley of Bones because so many skulls were left behind. Valley of death for her prayers were solid, (NO LIFE SHOULD EVER BE SUPPORTED HERE AFTER THE END OF MINE)
She finished her narration and I was all sweaty in an instant. "How the heck are you surviving here?" Seb asked his body all tensed and sweaty.
"Because we will soon add up to the number of dry bones scattered in the entire area." Domain said finally standing to leave. Seb looked at his miserable self, he would not sit and wait upon death. His bones would never be scattered in such a place.
He would survive at all costs, return to his country, and settle as normal. He would never allow his father to locate him ever, he would ensure he lives miserably thinking about his son.