Chapter 2
I followed Jacob to the Celestial Realm when he returned to his rightful place as the Celestial Lord after his trials.
I was just his wife who'd stayed with him during his trials in the human world.
He gave me a title, so everyone called me Lady Lowell.
But the very next day, he showed up with Rosalind—the one he'd always loved, the Holy Maiden in the Celestial Realm.
"This is Rosalind. We grew up together, and she's my fiancée here in the Celestial Realm." Jacob introduced, completely at ease.
He acted like it was the most natural thing in the world, not even blinking.
"You two should get along from now on," he said, like it was just common sense.
I was just an orphan from the mortal world, with no one on my side.
My heart ached, but I still went along with it.
I foolishly hoped I could actually get along with Rosalind.
But she wasted no time proving me wrong.
"No!" I cried out, panic flooding my voice.
"I didn't push Rosalind. Jacob, please, you have to believe me. It wasn't me. Don't take my eyes!" I pleaded, trembling all over.
Rosalind got hurt in the forbidden grounds, a thin scratch at the corner of her eye.
She claimed I shoved her in, even though I was just passing by.
And everyone took her word for it.
I didn't care what anyone else thought. Only Jacob's opinion mattered to me.
But he just pinned me down, ignoring my struggle.
"Alison, I told you, if you'd just behaved, things could've stayed the same between us. But you chose to hurt Rosalind," he said, his voice cold and merciless.
"She's the Holy Maiden, and you're just a mortal. You will give her your eyes," he spat.
I struggled like mad, trying to break free.
But how could a mortal ever overpower the Celestial Lord?
I screamed, the pain ripping through me.
"Let me go!" I cried, my voice shaking with fear.
Blood gushed from my eye sockets, and the world went black. The eyes that once saw everything now left me in total blackness.
Maybe I looked so broken that it stirred something in Jacob. He held my eyes in his hands, his voice was thick with pain.
"Allie, don't be afraid. From now on, I'll be your eyes," he said softly.
"No matter where you go, I'll always be right there with you," he promised.
But he broke his promise.
I crawled all the way to the Divine Culling Altar, every inch a struggle.
My nails were worn down to the quick, blood streaming from my fingertips.
My palms were raw and bloody. Not a patch of skin was left whole.
Meanwhile, he took Rosalind's hand as they ascended to the throne of the Celestial Lord step by step.
*****
The wedding ceremony had just ended when, out of nowhere, Jacob suddenly remembered me.
"Drag Alison over here and make her bless our union. If she performs, maybe she'll earn her dinner," he sneered.
Fear gripped the entire hall.
Only Moira, the maid who'd always looked after me, finally spoke, her voice shaking.
She stammered, "Lord Sterling, Lady Lowell... she went to the Divine Culling Altar."
"Today's our wedding day, Jacob. Guests from all realms are here to witness it. Alison making a scene like this is just shameful, isn't it?" Rosalind said, her voice dripping with fake concern.
She covered her mouth in mock disgust, her eyes full of disdain.
"She's just a mortal. No wonder she's so out of place here," she sneered.
Jacob took a deep breath, obviously pissed.
He snapped, "I already gave her a chance, but she won't learn until she's cornered by death itself!
"Fine, I'll go to the Divine Culling Altar myself and see if she's really got the nerve to jump."
Jacob stormed toward the Divine Culling Altar with his men, their presence sharp and threatening.
Moira followed nervously behind, her eyes wide with terror and her whole body trembling.
The path to the Altar was long, but for these immortals, they crossed it in the blink of an eye.
Jacob held Rosalind close, his arms wrapped protectively around her, as if she were the most precious thing in the world.
"When I find that bitch, I'll make her beg for your forgiveness," he growled, his voice full of fury.
"Don't let her ruin today. It's our wedding day," he said, his tone cold but gentle for Rosalind.
Rosalind leaned into his arms, her smile gentle and reassuring.
She said, her voice dripping with mockery, "Don't worry, Jacob. I'm not like Alison—so petty and small-minded. She's just a blind woman. All she can do now is throw her life away for attention.
"She's a worthless mortal. It's not worth your anger."
Laughing lightly, they arrived at the Divine Culling Altar in the blink of an eye.
But when they saw what was waiting for them, everyone was stunned.
There were 100 steps leading up to the Divine Culling Altar.
Each step inflicted its own form of torment.
It was built to punish the unworthy and to break the will of anyone who dared to climb.
On the first step, my flesh was ripped straight from my bones, leaving nothing but bloody scraps behind.
On the second, the agony pierced right through my heart, and the blood that spilled there was from my heart.
On the third, every last bond of love was cut, and all that remained was my unborn children.
Every single step felt like my skin was being peeled away.
I didn't walk. I crawled, inch by inch, dragging my broken body up by sheer will.
By the last step, my whole body was nothing but torn flesh and blood.
All that remained was my shattered spirit.
Jacob stood frozen, staring in shock at the blood-drenched steps, his heart aching with every beat.
At the very top, a vivid green light glowed.
It was my spirit, brutally torn apart and left to shine in the darkness.