Calhoun, 1720
“I'M BEGGING You. Please save Levana. When You took my family away from me, I tried to understand Your reasons. But if You will take Levana as well, I don’t think I could understand You anymore. She is all I have,” I prayed with tears in my eyes while holding Levana’s hand. She was still unconscious. And I didn’t know what to do anymore.
According to Alvira, Levana’s mother, only a miracle could save her daughter now and I was holding on to that miracle no matter how impossible it seemed because I didn’t know how to live without Levana. We had been together almost our whole lives because we were childhood friends.
Alvira was my mother’s best friend. That’s why she was the one who took care of me when I was fourteen because I had no other relatives to count on. Both of my parents died after going into the woods to search for Indigo, my older brother. He went there with his friends only to hunt animals. But the next day, all his friends were found dead.
According to the authorities, a wild animal must have attacked my brother’s friends. Their necks were slashed and their chests were ripped. They also had bite marks in their necks and in their wrists and had experienced a significant amount of blood loss. Indigo’s body wasn’t found that’s why my parents thought that maybe he was still alive somewhere. But what happened in the woods frightened the people of Calhoun. Nobody wanted to go there anymore that’s why nobody tried helping my parents.
Despite the warnings from the authorities, my parents still went into the woods. The next day, their bodies were found in the river near the woods. They were dead. Indigo’s body was found there, too. It’s been years but until now, the animal that attacked them hadn’t been caught yet.
During those struggling times, Alvira and Levana were the only ones who had helped me cope. Alvira was a single mother. She was poor, but she managed to raise Levana on her own. When my family died, I allowed the two to live in the house that I inherited. My family owned many lands and the income from those had helped the three of us in our living expenses.
The two were very loving people. And as time went by, Levana and I found ourselves in love with each other. In my case, it was difficult not to love her. She was gentle, kind, smart, and thoughtful. Her beauty was just an added bonus. We became a couple when we were eighteen and was glad that Alvira gave us her blessings.
But a year after that, Levana’s body had weakened drastically. That was when we found out that she had a brain cancer. According to the doctors, they could not operate the tumors in her brain because they were located in parts that was hard to reach. Levana could die in the middle of the operation. Other treatments did not work either.
Levana was aware of her situation. She was the one who told us to accept her fate than to see us suffer. But we couldn’t let her go. And I don’t think I could ever do that.
I’d feel like there was a dagger stuck in my chest whenever I’d see her in pain. The doctors gave her only a few months to live. That’s why every day, I feel scared as hell.
“I can heal her for you. And with me, you would not have to beg.”
I was surprised to hear that unfamiliar voice. I lifted my head and tried to find where the voice came from. I saw a man standing behind me. He was probably about six feet tall, the same as me. He was glistening in his white trench coat and his eyes were as dark as the night.
I released Levana’s hand for a moment and stood up, looking utterly bewildered. Where did this man come from? Both the door and the windows were closed. I did not hear them open. I wouldn’t even have felt his presence if he didn’t speak. “How did you get in here?”
He clacked his tongue. “Wrong question. You should have asked why I am here instead.”
My brows furrowed.
“It does not matter who I am. What matters was that I heard your prayer.”
“Are you... God?”
I was startled when the stranger burst out in laughter.
“I am no god, Ingram. I am just a Prince in a kingdom a little far away from here. Just call me Sullivan. I have this terrible habit of helping the needy. And I have been watching you. You are lucky. Out of all the mortals who needed my help, I chose you. And I am going to help you. I will heal your beloved Levana,” the stranger said after he recovered. He looked at Levana’s direction. “But before that, there are two rules that you need to comply first.”
“Anything,” I responded eagerly. “I will do anything that you ask me to.”
“I like you. You are so easy to talk to.” Sullivan smiled. “You see, there is this man who did something utterly horrible to me. Now that I have finally found him, I want to retaliate. But for me to be able to do that, that person has to be like me. He has to at least, match my level. And through you, I will be able to achieve my revenge.”
“I don't understand.”
“Don't worry, you will understand one day.” Sullivan shrugged as his gaze went back to me. “Now, are you ready for the rule number one?”
I must have been out of my mind for actually believing in Sullivan, but I was desperate. I needed a miracle and if this man could give me that, then I would not mind doing anything. “What is the first rule?”
“It’s simple. It’s nothing you can't handle.”
To my surprise, Sullivan suddenly bit his wrist. He grinned when he saw my reaction. Blood was still dripping from his mouth when he walked towards me.