[[ NOTE: I'm slowly editing through this story. In case you come across something that has change, that is why. :) Depending on the direction, the story line in previous chapters may change some, as well! ]]
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Cyrus woke to a deafening roar in the room. His head throbbed but he pushed the pain aside, then gathered his bearing to focus on what was going on. He groaned trying to sit upright, blinking the blurriness from his vision then he heard a voice, whom should be safe in the Sacred Chambers. Cyrus tried to remember what had happened but his mind was blank—he must have been ambushed and taken from behind.
"Esther, stop this please!" Cyrus followed the voice, gasping at his fiancé facing against a demon dragon. "Rosie?" He called out weakly, his body ached from the slightest movement. He tried to stand but his wounds were too grave. Cyrus tried to apply self healing but a dark spell seem to be slowing down his own ability to heal.
Cyrus's heart broke, feeling completely helpless in that moment. Upon hearing his voice, Raina turned to look at him with relief. In that instance, the dragon swooped over her, knocking her against a pillar. "Rosalie!" Cyrus cried out, desperately willing his body to break the spell he was under. Finally, he was able to move his body slightly.
Raina coughed up blood but regardless, she rose to her feet. Blinking away the dizziness forming in her head. "Get away from her you monster!" Cyrus struggled to rise onto his feet, his gaze never leaving the dragon. Black clouds began to engulf the creature, leaving a woman, whom he never thought he would see again, in its place. "Esther? Why?" He asked in disbelief.
Ignoring his question, she started to make her way toward Raina. "Look at that sister, Prince Charming is finally awake. He'll get to see me kill you," Esther shifted her gaze toward Cyrus, a menacing smile formed on her face. Cyrus narrowed his eyes, mustering all of the magic he could, he pushed against the ground with his sword in front, aiming for the witch. Esther chuckled, crossing swords with him. "Oh, I'm sorry. Did I hit a nerve there Cy?" She taunted, her grin grew wider as his brows furrowed deeper with anger. "Don't you dare touch her, you bitch!"
Cyrus swung his sword with all of his might, pushing past his limits. Esther laughed, barely breaking a sweat. Meanwhile, Cyrus was beginning to struggle as his body was beyond exhausted. "Don't worry, my dear, Cyrus," Esther stated, shifting her gaze from him and toward Raina, then back to him. Raina watched them with fear, her heart pounding so loudly in her chest. She felt defeated, feeling helpless and useless for not being able to use her powers. She didn't understand why she couldn't use her powers.
Esther threw her head in laughter, interrupting the thoughts going through in Raina's mind. "My sweet Cyrus, you shall bid your fiancé a loving goodbye while you drive your sword through her cold, rotting heart," Cyrus glared at Esther, his fist tightening around his sword. "Are you mad? I would never do such a thing!" He shouted in anger. Esther found the situation comical, feeling quite amused. "Shall we test that out?" She challenged cynically. Not a second more, she raised her hands in the air, weaving her fingers while chanting a spell. "Does love really conquer all or shall it be your demise? We will soon find out," Esther laughed maniacally, as more black smoke began to swirl from her hands and soon surrounded Cyrus, which seeped into his body.
"Let's see how strong your love is for my wretched sister," Esther stated crazily, her expression full of hatred and madness. "Now, Cyrus! Drive your sword into your beloved's conniving heart!" Cyrus's body writhed in pain as he struggled to fight the spell that Esther casted on him. He felt his control slipping away, which then filled his heart with desperation. "My darling, Cyrus," Raina sobbed, tears falling heavily down her cheeks. Turning towards Esther, she begged her once beloved sister. "Sister, please stop this! I will do whatever it is that you want. Just leave Cyrus alone, please!" Esther chuckled, sneering at her sister.
"This is what I want Rosie. I want more than anything to see your fiancé kill you with his own two hands," she stated with a smile plastered on her face. Cyrus, halfway possessed with darkness, cried out to Raina, as tears run down his face "Rosalie," he pleaded weakly "Run!" Raina shook her head vigorously, mustering what's left of her energy to sit up and look him in the face. "Rosie, please," Cyrus's voice broke as he pleaded.
"Kill her!" Esther shouted impatiently. Cyrus screamed in pain, as the spell on him pulsated within, it felt like a thousand fires burning from the inside out. He felt his own free will fading, while her powers began to slowly spread into his heart. Cyrus raised his sword and positioned it over the woman he loved. Cyrus's chest ached with so much pain and anger. "Rosalie," he called out. "My sweet Rosie." She looked up at him with a smile on her face. "Do not worry, my darling," Cyrus cried, feeling defeated. "We will meet again," Raina said softly, placing her hand on his wet cheek, his tears falling onto her fingers. Cyrus trembled, slowly driving his sword through her chest.
"I love you my dear, Cyrus," Raina whispered, just before the light in her eyes faded into darkness. Cyrus gasped as the spell wore off, he collapsed onto Rosalie, grieving the loss of his beloved. "My sweet, sweet Rose," He whispered as tears began to blur his vision once again. Esther appeared in front of him with an evil smile. "That's right, give into the despair you're feeling right now," she egged on, provoking him. "So assumed correctly. Love does not conquer all," her lips formed into a smirk then chuckled over her dead sister's body. "Now, now. You are going to be my little puppet from now on," Cyrus stared at her wide-eyed, just before falling into complete darkness.
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Niko sighed once again, standing beside Raina's unconscious body. "When are you going to wake up?" He wondered, his voice trembled softly. Holding back the tears, Niko clenched his fists before slowly releasing his anger. "This is all of my fault," he muttered angrily to himself. "If only I had been with you! I should've never left your side!" Niko collapsed onto the edge of the bed, holding his body up on his elbows. He held Raina's hand in his then brought it up to his cheek. "I promise your parents I would always protect you," Niko spoke, his voice breaking from sadness. "I broke that promise…" Niko allowed the tears to flow from his eyes. Each drop, falling onto Raina's hand.
"No!" Raina woke abruptly, screaming at the top of her lungs. Niko sprung onto his foot, staring at Raina, speechless, like he'd seen a ghost. She struggled to gasp for air, her chest tightening from immense pain. Raina clutched at her chest, groaning in pain. Her body was covered in cold sweat, to which she began to shiver, uncontrollably. "Raina," Niko called her name softly, still unable to believe his eyes. She had woken up!
"Niko!" Raina cried out, the tears streaming down her face. Her body shook even more, from the immense amount of grief and pain she was feeling at that moment. Without hesitation, Niko climbed into the bed with her and wrapped his arms around her, tightly. Raina then sobbed painfully, her whole body aching. That dream felt so real—painfully, too real.
Niko remained still, holding onto Raina as she cried to the point she had exhausted herself. He didn't dare to move as to not wake her. Niko wondered what could have happened for her to react like that. In all of the time they had spent together, growing up, Raina was not the type to openly react in grief—not even when her parents died. Niko didn't know how to comfort her, to take away whatever it was that had her crying out in pain.
What the hell happened to you, Raina?
Niko sighed heavily. He was still angry, somewhat blaming himself for what had happened. Whoever did this will pay, he vowed to himself. He looked at Raina's sleeping face, brushing a loose strand of hair away from her face, then gently placing a kiss on her forehead. "I will never let you go," he whispered softly.
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