The Pure-Hearted Princess and the Kiss of Darkness

-KATALEYA

-

"You know?" I am unable to hide my shock.

"Not much, but back when his father terrorised this place, I always felt that his title of The Crimson King had something more to it than simply a self-given name since the wolves of fire contained magic... magic that was not from the Djinn. I had my theories, but it was not relevant," she replies. But she's looking at the screen, a slight frown on her beautiful face.

"Can you make anything of it?" I ask, looking down at the image once again.

The tiny stark moon surrounded by darkness. The black shadows around the edge are beginning to claw across the page.

Then the man who has tendrils of the darkness wrapped around him, curling around his arms and back, and right in the centre is the wolf with pink eyes, surrounded by pink cherry blossoms.

There is a clear white area around the wolf and where the white part goes, the dark tendrils curve around it, not touching the white.

"Tell me, Kataleya, what do you think this depicts?" she asks, looking up at me.

I frown, "Enrique, and he's in danger," I say softly.

"Yes, Enrique surrounded by a darkness that looks familiar, doesn't it?" she asks.

I frown, looking down at it. "The Crawlers..." I whisper, feeling suddenly cold.

"And what are these crawlers doing?"

"They're drowning Enrique- consuming him."

She nods. "And what is in the centre of this image?" she asks.

"A wolf."

"You."

I nod slowly. "Exactly. The centre of the image depicts the wolf."

"What are you saying?"

"This prophecy isn't about Enrique, Kataleya, it's about you. According to this, the darkness will claim Enrique, but he is not the target. The target is the wolf trying to fend off that darkness. But the moment she fails, she's doomed." Her words make my breath hitch as I look at the image in an entirely different light.

The child witch might have been too young to understand her vision fully, or as I know already, they only get a vision. To understand it, it often takes more.

"So, what are you trying to say?" I ask, looking up at her, my heart thumping.

She looks at me, her eyes saddened. "I honestly don't know how to say this without hurting you, Kat."

"Tell me."

"It's best you stay away from him, especially if this is to happen on the blood moon, which I'm certain of by the way the moon is depicted. It's a rough drawing, but I'm certain. So, I need you to come back." The blood moon... I foresaw my death...

My heart thunders as her words sink in.

Wait, what? Go back? Leave Enrique? No!

I shake my head, "No... No... This picture shows the Crawlers consuming him. What about stopping that? I want to help him. We need to get rid of the darkness. I need to help him. I can't leave him!"

Raihana looks up at me. "Kat, my angel, listen to me. You are not just anyone. Goddess, you are my cousin, more like a sister. Look, I don't want to tell your dad where he will end up forcing you to pack your bags right now, but I do need you to come back. I am begging you."

Her words are only making it worse. She's scared, I can see that. "And what about Enrique? What about the darkness?"

"He... I don't know, we will figure that out later, you are the priority. You are in all likelihood the Asheton Queen, which means you are needed for the final war. I need you safe. We need you safe. The world needs you safe." Her words are firmer, her eyes glimmering. My breath hitches. I will listen, but I need to help him!

"But him, you're worried about me, about my role in the final battle, right?" I whisper.

"Yes, because we need that. We need to win the war that is coming. Don't you get it, Kataleya? This is bigger than any of us," she pleads, her voice soft even if her words are strong. "You have to choose the world over your love."

"No!" I cover my mouth, breaking into tears. "No, I mean I want to but I'm not needed. If I'm meant to die, then that means I can't be the Asheton Queen who will stand behind the Adonai!" I sob.

She's quiet and I look up at her in hopes that she has understood. "Why do you think you will die?" she asks, her voice making a shiver run down my spine. I look at her, feeling a glimmer of fear as I look into the woman who is the most powerful witch in existence. I haven't told them about my vision... but did my tone make her realise that?

"I just... no, I mean, I want to help-"

"Answer me, Kataleya Tamia Rossi! What are you not telling me?!" she snaps, standing up as she slams her hand on the table, making me flinch.

"I'm not - I'm not hiding anything..." I lie, feeling overwhelmed.

"Kataleya..." she warns. "Don't make me summon your father."

I shake my head, regretting calling her. "Please, Rai-"

"NOW, KAT! Tell me or I'm telling him!"

"No! Don't! Please-"

"Tell me now!"

"Ok! Fine! I had a vision that on the next Blood Moon I will die!" I cry out.

She stands there breathing heavily as she looks at me, her brown eyes wide, before she places a hand on her forehead. "Oh, for the Goddess's sake! Really, Kataleya? I was not expecting you to withhold something like this!" Her voice turns from frustrated to worried. "Goddess, if you will hide things from us, then what hope do I have for the younger generation..." There's disappointment in her eyes, and it breaks my heart. "I'm sorry. I wanted to help him before I die. I didn't choose to be the Asheton Queen. Maybe it's not me." I cover my face with my hands, feeling despair.

"I think it is... look at me Kat," she whispers.

I look up at her, wiping away my tears. "I know you love him, but right now, you need to be as far away as possible from him. For your safety."

"But if the crawlers come for him..."

She stays silent and I realise she has no answer. She's only worried about me, not him. Once again, he's being left alone... Once again, my family is turning their backs on him!

"I'm not coming back," I say quietly, yet firmly.

"Kat." There's disbelief in her eyes. "Please, be rational."

I shake my head. "No. A long time ago, my kiké paid the price for the betterment of others. It seems that some sentences in this chapter require you to read the complete chapters on Jo bni b.c om in order to avoid an incomplete reading experience. Right? He lost everything for the greater good. But I will not let him lose everything for the greater good again. Not this time. And if that means that I will die in the process, then I shall willingly die."

"Kataleya... I didn't"

"No. You were crystal clear. I'm selfish, I'm horrible, I don't care anymore. I only want to help him, and I will. I live for him, and I will die for him," I whisper, trying to stop my voice from trembling but failing.

She opens her mouth, her eyes glistening with tears she's learned not to shed, but I shake my head.

"And if you tell Dad, or anyone, Raihana. It will only hurt more people because I refuse to change my mind. I will be coming for the Summit, I suggest you look into what can be done to stop the crawlers, not about saving me. I will do the same."

"Kat..."

"Goodbye, dear sister. I do love you, and I am sorry for hurting you today. Thank you for always looking out for me, but I'm a big girl now. I can take care of myself." My voice breaks as she shakes her head, about to reply, but I end the call, tossing my phone on top of the pile of books as I break into sobs.

I hate hurting people, but why does Enrique have to pay the price again? Why does he have to suffer? Last time the Djinn wanted Dante and his family suffered, this time the Crawler wants me, why should he suffer?

Not on my watch.

My emotions surge forward, my eyes blazing as every single thing Enrique has been through, everything that I know, courses through my mind...

His pain is now my pain...

His past is mine to remember...

His torment is now mine...

His suffering is now my suffering...

This time, My Love will not pay the price, he will not. And that is Kataleya Tamia Rossi's promise.

I swear it!