AUTHOR'S POV
Helena shook her head at Celeste's devious beam. She didn't want to be deceived by her gentleness and apology. Her sweet words were nothing but poison.
Celeste tilted her head to the side, looking fixedly at Helena. "There's something different about.. you", she lifted her finger with an attempt to touch Helena.
"Don't be rude, and back away!!", Galen kicked Celeste by the shoulder. Helena was startled by the sudden ourtburst of his emotion with ferocity, and could only just watch in horror. Without hesitations, Galen continued to kick Celeste over and over. Helena gaped at the dead in Galen's eyes, the madness outpouring as he grunt in every kick.
"S.. stop! Stop!!", Helena finally meddled out of pity. Pity towards an enemy - for Helena will always be guilty with the crime of compassion. It's something she hoped she never had. However, Galen didn't stopped until Celeste sputtered some blood from her mouth. The red hue of Celeste's blood was more like Galen's signal to put himself to a stop.
He then let out a loud sigh of fulfillment after extinguishing his explosive anger. "Ugh! These pests don't ever learn boundaries", he brushed his hair back and fixed his top shirt as he catch his breath. His obsession has come to a point that he never wanted anyone to neither come near, stare, nor touch Helena for whatever reason. He leaned towards Helena with his hands placed on the manchette. "You're mine and I like to keep you to myself. No one shall touch you without my permission", he winked before pulling away.
Feigning the pain after the violent punishment, Celeste stayed curled on the floor smiling and whispering words of gratitude to Galen. There were no whimpers, pleas, or calls for help. Helena then wondered whom between Galen and Celeste is truly unhinged. "Haaa! Would you like to hear a story, my love? Forever is a long time, and I have no plans to bore my wife", Galen panted heavily with a sweet smile as if nothing happened.
It then hit Helena, a thought that never came to her mind. Not even once. "It's… you all along?", Helena suddenly figured. It was like, every piece of the puzzle have come together. Her eyes shifted from Galen to Celeste. "You!?", Helena pointed out the root of all evil… something that's possible but unexpected.
"Surprise", Galen shuddered his shoulders with a cunning smile. "Well, I can't wait to hold the power of this kingdom so I did what I had to do. The theatrics, the jeopardies… dark healers? They were all part of the glorious plan", he proudly revealed.
Helena was lost for words. She recalled every detail, from the beginning up to where she is now. There were unclear notions, and long gaps. Thus, it would never change the certain fact that Galen is extremely out-of-this-world despicable. A lunatic who have clearly gone berserked, Helena thought. "What demon have come inside you?", she said with disdain. "There's nothing more evil than a person killing for amusement", Helena started to fear how Galen is hanging by the thread. To him, everything is a game when in fact, there were so many lives were sacrificed.
"Well.. yes. You're right", Galen simply admitted as he led himself to an olive green leather cushioned seat near Helena. "But you can't blame me. They had it all coming", he sat comfortably on the chair, with his legs crossed. "I was merely drowning from the suffocating love of my whore of a mother, enduring the neverending whines of my adoptive father. They were all driving me insane!", Galen gritted his teeth as he mess his unruly hair even more. Then, he picked up bottle of wine under the chair, and chugged down its remaining liquor before tossing it away. "Luckily, I found myself a witch who's willing to sell her body and soul to a prince. Celeste masterplanned everything for me so I could get to watch a wonderful show", he reached for Celeste, clicking his tongue… as if calling for a pet animal. Hurriedly, Celeste crawled towards Galen and clung onto his leg.
Helena couldn't believe her eyes seeing how vulnerable Celeste seems to be around Galen. Evidently, for some reason, he got her wrapped around his finger. "And you just had to involve the soul travelers..", Helena assumed.
"Celeste here had to make a diversion, so all eyes will be drifted away from me.", Galen fondled the top of Celeste's head. "Rowan, who's stupid enough to be enticed with this angel, sold his loyalty to become a king. He dug Argus for Celeste, with an ambition of getting the throne for himself. It's quite a show, isn't it? Rowan is truly in it", he chuckled lowly. "Haaa… what a very ambitious man", he snorted trying to laugh inwardly. "Ambitious, yet foolish", he said.
"Your plan cost you your family. Your mother, who did nothing but love you. And your father who gave you everything", Helena said.
"Love? Please", Galen scoffed as he shook his head side to side. "I wouldn't really call her a mother... She's nothing but a whore!!", Galen roared furiously, bawling his eyes out.
He then paused, seeing Helena's blank stare. Concerned that Helena would distant herself from him more because of his sudden blowups, he tried to calm himself. Though admittedly, the thought of his mother gets under his skin. Clearing his throat, he sat upright and kept his composure. "I'm sorry, dear. I got too carried away… but Argus in her body seemed to be more tolerable than dealing with her", he said, swallowing a lump in his throat. "And Silvius, our father, you mean? He deserved it! He pushed your mother away, Helena! He didn't even recognized you at first glance, despite speaking of you everyday", he added.
"Anyways, it's indeed fascinating to see Celeste's vision get justified by reality. I get to watch in the front row. You see, Argus, who was buried alive along with his revenge and outpouring rage, woke up to roll out the red carpet for me. It was very convenient, and very entertaining", Galen leaned forward, and seemed like a child enjoying his story-telling. "It took Celeste a while to get me where I am, for Argus had sooo much demands. That narcisistic fuck!", he threw a punch in the air as he remember Argus' difficult demands. "To make a deal with that loon, he wanted his hands on some magic stones, and search for another celestial soul traveler to regain his full power. That's when things got more interesting", he said.
"You wanted the power of the stones", Helena said.
"Who didn't, Helena? I learned there's more to it than meets the eye", Galen lifted his brows, with a smirk.
Certainly, Argus opened the doors to Galen's obsession. Little by little, Helena understands how Galen vehemently got himself fixated not only to her but also the stones. However, she wondered why would he want the stones too?