Symphony of Death

Anastasia’s POV

I held the outfit to my front and checked it from every direction in the mirror. Angie suddenly decided to have drinks. It was bound to happen.

Angie created a problem out of something every day and then we had to listen to her yapping until she calmed down.

If she was like this at her brother’s wedding, I wonder what she will do at hers?

The thought was scary.

“I don’t want to go,” I wailed and whined but got ready nonetheless.

I had nothing better to do. This was the first relaxing weekend I got after so long. I completed our dresses and the other orders. So I had plenty of free time on my hands.

I didn’t want to see Cain.

That was the main reason behind my decision to go out right now.

It was hard enough to act apathetic. I was still angry at him for behaving so crudely and coldly with me. I planned on staying mad if he intended to behave like a jerk.

He had no right.

He wasn’t the one suffering. I was.

I was the target of his hate and animosity when I did no wrong. I was the one suffering immense and excruciating pain. Those Blue Bloods and Harold with the gang never went after him. I was the one being attacked every second he was not looking. I was the one who fainted and almost had my heart stopped.

I should be screaming, yelling, getting angry, and throwing fits, not him.

Bastard!

I fixed my hair and gave myself one final check in the mirror.

“Perfect,” I went to the bed and grabbed my purse. My smile faded when the door opened right when I reached for the knob. I found myself standing before Cain.

Why now?

His eyes did a quick scan of my body before settling on my face. His brows creased and an angry scowl added to his ruthless expressions.

“Going somewhere?” Cain asked, forcing me back on my steps.

God! His voice was rich and deep.

It affected my heart and body against my wishes. I wanted to listen to him talk all the time, that’s how alluring his voice was.

His expressions hardened and darkened further at the lack of response from me.

I was not to be blamed.

I was truly surprised by his civilized attitude and this surprise made me wary as well. I made sure to steer clear of his path and vision after that horrible night.

I never saw Cain bring another woman home after a few days. His murderous glares stopped as well. Cain never said anything humiliating to me when our paths collided by accident.

The volcano of his sudden resentment seemed to have calmed down. But he was still cold toward me.

“Yes,” I snapped out of my stupor. “Excuse me,” I tried walking past him. He didn’t let me. “Can you?” He didn’t move an inch. “I’m getting late.”

“It’s evening,” Cain responded sharply. “You cannot go out.”

“I’m taking Shae with me and I’m wearing your ring.” I showed him my hand. “It’s not even that late yet. I will be back in time.”

“Where are you going?” Cain stepped toward me intimidatingly. I couldn’t move my limbs when I tried to maintain the distance between us.

Bloody monster!

He used his power on me to keep me in place. My heart started beating furiously when Cain invaded my personal space. I was forced to crane my neck back to look at him.

There wasn’t even a hair’s breadth between us.

Too close.

I was actually scared by his towering figure and piercing eyes. I felt so small before him and powerless under his presence. His gaze was searing me and his expressions were sinister and dark.

“Ana!” Cain whispered darkly and seductively.

“I’ll let you know if I sensed trouble,” I breathed out shakily when he broke the hold on me. I didn’t stop and ran out of the room before he could have said or done anything anymore. “What the hell was that?”

My heart was pounding furiously. I couldn’t breathe normally. My body seemed on fire and was trembling like a leaf.

He didn’t even touch me.

Damn it, Cain. Just stay away.

“Angie is here,” Shae informed me when I came down. “Are you okay?” She asked. “Your face is so red.”

“Let’s go before she starts her charade,” I walked ahead of her as quickly and calmly as possible.

“Hey,” Angie greeted us when we got in the car. “Nat is coming directly to the bar. Don’t worry, we are not going for anything heavy.” She looked at me and frowned. “You alright?”

“Yes,” my answer came out like a squeak. “Just drive. You know I have a curfew.”

“Calm your hormones, girl. Geez!” Angie started the car.

I breathed in relief when we drove out of the estate.

****

“Over here,” Nat waved at us. “What are we drinking?” She asked when we sat down. “No alcohol for Shae. I’ll order a pomegranate mojito mocktail for you.”

“I’m going to start with Sex on the beach,” Angie grinned. “We’ll see where to go after that.”

“You said nothing heavy,” I said incredulously. “I should have known.” Angie winked mischievously.

“Cosmo for me then,” Nat finalized hers and looked at me. “What about you?”

“Don’t even think about it.”

“What’s wrong?” Angie questioned when I looked behind me. “Ana?”

“Yeah!” I replied sheepishly. I swear I heard Cain.

“You know you have been acting weirdly.” Angie arched one brow at me. “I noticed in the car as well. Something happened?”

“No,” I said dismissively. “I’m tired. That’s all.” They didn’t seem convinced by my lie. “I’ll have Blue Hawaii–”

“If you dared to touch alcohol” I froze when I felt the caress of his breath on my cheek. “I swear you will be solely responsible for my actions.” I fisted my hands when I felt his fingers skimming over my thigh. “One drop and I’ll fuck you right here.”

“Ana?”

“I’ll have a Shirley Temple,” I stood up abruptly. “I need to use the restroom. Excuse me.” I ran away from there. “So now he will psyche me out,” I muttered under my breath.

“As if what he was doing was not enough.” I locked the door once I was sure I was the only one inside the restroom. “Great! Just great.” I slammed my purse on the vanity. “How much more despicable he wants to be? Why can’t he just leave me alone or better get done with me.” I turned on the faucet angrily.

I want to meet you, Laurel. I want to know what you said to him that he is acting this insane towards me.

“What the!” I stared at the water in disbelief. It was frozen. Not only that but the air felt still as well. “What is this now?” I frowned when I checked my watch.

Time stopped.

“You called?” I turned to her wildly.

“Laurel!” I tried hugging her but I went right through her. “What?”

“I told you I’m just a fragment of time.” She smiled woefully.

“Why did it have to be this way, Laurel?” I whispered dejectedly. “Why did you have to die?” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Nothing is making sense to me.”

“I know,” Laurel sighed. “It’s not your fault. If any, I am to be blamed for everything.” She looked at me guiltily. “I’m responsible for how Cain is behaving with you.”

“What?” I frowned.

“I’m sorry, Ana. I was not entirely honest with you. I hid a lot of things from you. I thought I was protecting you by doing so but I guess I was wrong.”

“What are you saying, Laurel?” I was confused. “What did you tell Cain? What did you two talk about?”

“That mirror,” Laurel began, “It was helirum. It shows one’s past life.”

“What?” I looked at her in astonishment. “But it showed nothing but white light instead of any reflection. It didn’t even show Cain’s.”

“It showed exactly what you were,” Laurel answered. “Light and dark. The existence of one is incomplete without the other.” I was dumbfounded. “That’s right, my child. You are created out of goodness and purity to balance his evil and sinfulness.”

“Laurel,” I grabbed the vanity to support myself. “You are not making any sense.”

“I time traveled, Ana.” Laurel looked dead in my eyes. “I was not of this era. I opened the time rift and crossed it.” My head began to spin. “I was left with no other choice. I had to fulfill the responsibility I was given.”

“What responsibility?” I asked fearfully.

“Yours,” I felt as if someone punched me in the gut. “I took you with me to protect you from the Blue Bloods and Harold.” The sorrow was visible on her face. “You are not of this time as well, Ana.”

“No,” I shook my head. “You are lying. It’s not true.”

“I’m sorry for hiding this from you, Ana. I had no other choice. Aisling asked me to keep you safe. I couldn’t let her down.” Laurel breathed deeply. “She was Omisha’s cousin but that evil woman barely considered her one. She hated Aisling and she took out her contempt towards her kin in the worst way possible.”

“Ana!” Laurel knelt before me when I fell. “I never thought the truth would come out like this. I never wanted you to know. I wanted you to live a normal happy life. But I failed.” She raised her hand to my face but stopped.

“You are very special, Ana. Your birth was nothing less than a miracle. Divinity created you for something bigger.”

“Something bigger?” I repeated. “It doesn’t sound like a miracle to me, Laurel. It’s a curse and I am bearing it on my wrist.” I raised my wrist for her.

“We didn’t know Sorush would go that far,” Laurel said grimly. “When he learned that the divinity wanted to give Cain a chance by giving him you.”

I felt like someone dumped a hundred buckets of cold water on me.

“He went mad with fury. He couldn’t bear the thought of his power increasing so he manipulated his daughter into casting a forbidden curse on you and Cain when she failed to lure him. He wanted to kill you two so he could get his hands on his wings and the eternal flame.”

Created me... For Cain!

What kind of cruel joke is this?

“Ana!” Laurel called me cautiously. “Ana, please.”

“He knows?” I asked calmly. “Is that why he is behaving like that because he learned the sick game God played on us?”

“You don’t understand–”

“Just answer the Goddamn question, Laurel,” I yelled angrily.

“No,” she answered. “It’s because of the curse.” I scowled at her. “You didn’t faint that day, Ana. You almost died.” I knew it. “Because you felt something for Cain.”

“I don’t”

“It’s inevitable, Ana.” Laurel cut me. “The purpose of your creation was to love him. You cannot change that. You two have already triggered the curse by coming closer.”

I looked away from Laurel.

“I’m not blaming you, Ana. It’s not something in your hands. But now this curse has become a chokehold for both of you. For you to be exact.” She said bitterly. “Your life is the only way to break this curse for now.”

“What?”

“The stronger you will feel for Cain, the more he will be able to draw out the powers of his wing from you. But you will pay the price for it. The moment your heart starts beating for him, you will start losing your life.”

“If your blood from this wrist,” she pointed to my left one, “came in contact with his shoulder blade, the curse will break and he will get his wing back.” Laurel’s voice cracked at the end. “But you will die.”

“So that’s how it is,” I chuckled humorlessly. “So my life is nothing but a sick joke for God to laugh about.”

“Ana!”

“Because he wanted to test Cain or something?” I yelled at her. “How is that fair to me? How is any of this justified? Why do I have to lose either way, Laurel? Why create me when he was going to do this in the end?”

“Ana, please” Laurel begged. “We will find a way to break this curse.” I scoffed at this. “Cain is looking into it. He said he is going to find a way. There is one,” her smile pricked me like thorns. “He is going to save you.”

“Forget it,” I stood up. “I don’t want to listen anymore.”

“Ana!” Laurel appeared in front of me. “I know you are angry and hurt. You feel betrayed.” I looked away. “You have every right to be.” Laurel sighed. “Just promise me one thing. Promise me that you won’t fall in love with Cain.”

I looked at her incredulously.

“I know I’m being selfish. I have no right to tell you this but I don’t want you to suffer. You don’t know how painful it is going to be.”

“As if I’m not hurting enough?” I mocked. “By all the lies and manipulations.” I raised my hand to stop her from saying anything further. “You don’t want me to fall in love with him but God created me exactly for that purpose.” I chuckled sarcastically. “So, I am not given any option. Is that right?”

“Ana!”

“This is unfair, Laurel. This is cruel.” I sobbed. “I’m not going to forgive you. I’m not going to forgive Cain. What was my fault?” I wiped my cheeks furiously. “I didn’t ask to be created for him. He has no right to behave like I’m a burden he needs to tow around for life.”

“It’s not that–”

“I don’t want to hear anymore, Laurel.” I ran out of there.

Could this get any worse?

I came out of the bar. I couldn’t go back to my friends. I couldn’t tell them anything. What could I even tell them? I never felt this helpless and alone before.

I never knew how alone I was until this moment.

I stumbled forward and fell on the hard concrete. My knees scraped and started bleeding but I didn’t care. I sat where I was in the middle of god knows where. I had no energy left to get up.

“What am I supposed to do now?” I hugged my knees. “This is not fair.”

“Isn’t it?”

I froze in fear when I heard the same haunting music. My eyes widened in horror when the mist started appearing around me.

“I can make your pain go away, dear Anastasia.”

“Cain!” I screamed his name. “No,” I rubbed the ring furiously while looking around wildly. “Cain!

“Ana!” The music stopped and the mist dissipated the moment Cain appeared. “What?” He rushed toward me. “What’s wrong?” A dark scowl marred his face when he examined my knees. “How did you get hurt? What are you even doing in this dark alley?”

“I-” I stuttered, “I don’t know.” Why was I tearing up while looking at him? “I heard that music again. That Xoran–I thought he caught me again.”

“That’s why I said not to leave,” Cain helped me up. “I’m carrying you.”

“No,” I stopped him. “I’m fine.”

“You look shaken.” Cain pinched my chin and pulled my face up. “And distraught. What happened?” I pursed my lips. I could feel the sting of tears once again. “Ana?” Cain frowned. “What’s wrong?”

It’s better to act oblivious.

“Nothing.” I tried averting my eyes but his hand didn’t let me. “I’m tired.”

Why did it have to be this messed up?

“I need to go back,” I pushed his hand off my face. “My friends must be worried.”

“Did you meet Laurel?” His question stopped me dead in my tracks. “She came to you, didn’t she?” I fisted my hands when I felt him behind my back. “She told you everything, didn’t she?”

I shuddered involuntarily when a loud rumble shook the sky. It was unfair how everything was going against me right now.

“So you know,” Cain chuckled darkly. “And here I thought she planned on keeping you in the dark to the end. Well, I feel sorry for you, Ana.”

“You feel sorry for me?” I faced him. “You should be laughing at me, no? I mean my entire existence is nothing less than a joke for you super beings.” I scoffed. “You can laugh, Cain. Really, you can. I don’t mind. I am a divine joke after all.”

“Ana!”

“You monster!” I pushed him back. “It’s all because of you, Cain.” I shoved him back again. “I hate you so much. I hate you so much.” I attacked his chest with my fists. “I hate you. I hate you. I hate you.”

Cain grabbed my hands and held me against him when I staggered.

“Why me? Why did it have to be me?” I clutched his jacket tightly and cried loudly. “I don’t want this. I don’t want any of this.”

Cain stayed silent while I cried my heart out on his chest. The sky unleashed its fury at the precise moment to add salt to my wounds. I had no strength left in me to take refuge from its harsh coldness.

I don’t think there was any shelter left for me in the world.

“Get a grip of yourself,” Cain said coldly.

His voice was enough to push me back into my senses.

His voice.

I loathed it with all my heart.

I tore myself away from his hold and glared at him balefully.

It was all because of him.

“It’s all because of you,” I said spitefully. “I wouldn’t be going through this hell if you were never born. It’s all because of you, Cain. It’s all because of you.” I fell down in defeat. “It’s all because of you.” I wept loudly.

“So, you hate me?” Cain asked impassively. “That’s good. Keep on hating me if you want to survive. It will do both of us a favor.” He knelt before me and brushed the wet locks out of my face.

“I don’t intend to fall in love with you. I wouldn’t have even if we were not in this predicament.” Cain smirked. “I don’t know what your God thought of achieving by sending you to me but whatever it was or it is,” he grabbed my arms and pulled me up gently. “I don’t intend to let him win.”

Cain grabbed my left wrist and rubbed it softly.

“I am going to take my wing out of you. I am going to become the utmost power I was born to be.” He wrapped his fingers around my wrist and pulled me close.

“But I am going to get it back my way. No fucking force can make me dance to their beat. No curse is strong enough to make the great Dalazar Daemmone bow down.” His gaze bore into mine.

“I will break this curse and set you free, Ana.” My lips parted when he kissed my wrist softly. “I don’t intend to keep you by my side in any way but I don’t intend to let anyone toy with me through you.” He whispered darkly.

“You won’t be losing your life. Not on my watch. That’s my promise to you.”