Rose's POV
Time passed and everyone got back to their usual life, the war long forgotten and the vampires wiped out and extinct from the world. This time, we didn't have mercy on them because they already messed up their second chance and there's the saying, 'Being merciful to your enemy is harsh to yourself' for a reason.
The whole kingdom has been going crazy after we announced our wedding a couple days over. I and Tyler decided to take a break and go to Italy to discuss about wedding details with Jess and Luciano as we are going to have a double wedding.
The wedding will be held in a month and we have yet to decide the dresses, the venue and everything. For a year, my parents and Tyler's parents agreed to look after the palace work and we were more than happy to let them take over. After all, they are more experienced in this field than us.
I've been going through various places for our wedding venue but couldn't find any that was to my liking. Luciano and Tyler got along pretty well and they hung out together while I and Jess went shopping.
Jess was busy dealing with some emergency work of her mafia so I was left in my room alone, going through various magazines and sites on the internet to find the best of them all.
I was scrolling through my laptop as I lay in bed when the window flew open. I leaned over from my bed to take a clear look when two black beads flew inside the room.
I frowned as Layla's ears perched up in alert and I got out of the bed. When the beads were inside the room, they transformed into the form of two human beings, except for the fact that they weren't humans.
'It's the empress! And Hecate.' Layla gasped in my head and my frown deepened.
"A nice room." A lady with black hair and fair skin said as she looked around and Hecate just stared at me throughout the time. The so-called empress took her time exploring but her dress was too long and extravagant for her to move around freely as they got in her way.
"Is she the one?" The old hag asked vampire bitch and she nodded her head, still staring at me.
"I know I am pretty but will you stop staring? It's rude." I said and Hecate was surrounded with black aura. It's not like it was gonna scare me away anyway.
"You're pretty indeed but what a pity, you won't live a day to walk around with that face." The old had said and Hecate smirked.
"I will let you know what's the consequence for wiping out my species." Hecate seethed before half of the room was engulfed with her black aura and she used her skills on me.
I dodged her attack by teleporting to the outdoors. They quickly followed and Hecate continued attacking me. With my super speed, I dodged her attack every single time and her patience seemed to be getting out of hand as she attacked me with more power and powerful attacks.
Not a minute had passed and the sky was rumbling. This time, before she could perform her skill, I stopped the thunder with mine and a golden thunder struck her. I know that I won't be a match for deities from heaven but I will have to go full out if I were to survive this.
"You can't even get rid of such a weakling." The hag muttered from behind the shadows and appeared. She mumbled something and Hecate retreated to stand by her side.
They soon joined hands and I realized they were summoning the fusion skill; the skill where two powerful cultivators gather their forces to create an even more powerful attack.
While they gathered their power, I couldn't do anything to stop them and let the thunder disturb them but that didn't seem to have any effect on them. Giving up, I focused on gathering my power too, to create the strongest shield to protect myself.
A golden protective shield was formed around me and the more power I forged in it, the brighter it grew. I then saw them stop mumbling and stare at me. I was suddenly hit with a heavy weight from above and the golden shield started to shake a little.
I let out a little whimper when there wasn't much power left in me but the shield couldn't hold any longer. As I resisted, a crack appeared on the shield and I sank to the ground, not being able to hold their attack.
Looking ahead, I saw smug faces of Hecate and the old hag that didn't even deserve the title to be called the empress of heaven.
I am not sure how many years of my lifetime have been spent on the shield but I couldn't hold on a second longer. When I gave up, the golden shield cracked everywhere before their fusion skill hit me. I covered myself with my wings which regrew as time passed.
It felt so painful, no words could describe the agony I was in. My golden feathers fell out and the wing shielded me from the kill but when my wings fell off, it felt like my spine broke. Till the very end, my wings protected me and after what felt like a century had passed, I fell to the floor, exhausted and shivering from pain.
There was no one and it looked like both of them left, after seeing me suffer so much. They probably thought I couldn't hold on.
I couldn't think more as darkness started to invade my mind and I couldn't stay conscious. After struggling, I finally gave in and darkness overtook my body.
--------
When I opened my eyes, I felt numb all over my body. It didn't feel like my body anymore. When I looked around, Tyler and Jess were by my side, holding onto my hands. Smiling, I tried to move my finger or make any movement at all but I couldn't because it didn't feel like my body and they didn't move no matter how much I tried.
I don't if Tyler noticed me struggling but he raised his head so quickly that I worried he could have sprained a nerve or two. He stood up from the seat and approached me. Jess woke up from her slumber too and had her arms wide to hug me before she restrained herself.
"Gosh, you're finally awake. Did you know how worried I was, when I saw you, lying lifeless on the ground, blood everywhere?" Tyler held my hand and cried.
Jess on the other hand, was scolding me for not asking her for help and bombarded me with questions, asking who the hell dared to mess with me because she would send them to hell. Well, I don't doubt her but what a pity, none of us can punish them.
They calmed down only when the doctor examined my body and the anesthesia was worn out. By then, I felt like my body was on fire. It ached everywhere and I couldn't even sit up straight. My back hurt the most and I doubt I can use them again. Definitely not after that attack.
I asked them to leave me alone because I wanted to talk to Layla about my condition. I know that I might not have much time left for myself. Not when I used my lifetime in exchange for Luciano's life, during the war and this time around.
'I am so sorry I put you in this state.' Layla whimpered and I went to stroke her fur. I know more than anyone that she isn't to be blamed. At least she was with me for years, teaching me how to cultivate, had it not, I would have died long ago.
'But still, it's my fault. You almost died there. I mean you are still alive but you barely have a week left!' Layla cried out, guilt in her voice as she lowered her head.
'Less than a week, huh? How long exactly?' I asked her and she didn't dare to raise her head.
'Layla, it's not your fault. Don't blame yourself, ok? I don't want to see you like this when everything was my choice. Tell me, how long?'
'Fifty hours at maximum.' She whispered and I would be lying if I wasn't upset about it.
I am not afraid of dying, but what scared me was that I couldn't stay with my loved ones, I can't give my parents and Tyler's parents the joy of raising a grandson. I can't do anything for them except give them the sorrow of losing their only daughter and daughter-in-law.
But I won't grieve over it. I will enjoy every moment I have left with them. I will cherish this opportunity I am left with because not everyone gets the second chance and say goodbye.
Calling Tyler inside, I asked him for a super-healing pill. He was reluctant because it weakens our power but I don't care about my power. All I care about is every single second I have with him. I summoned my mom and dad to Italy, as soon as I got the super-heal pill and recovered to my normal body.
That day, I had cooks prepare meals for me and I expressed my gratitude and apologized for being such a useless daughter, who couldn't even give them a grandchild. After learning why, I called them, all of them broke down but soon recovered.
We cried the whole night, talking about our memories when we were kids. I felt even worse when they didn't even blame me for having to leave them without a daughter. They just told me how much they love me and want me to be happy when I leave them.
They thanked me for being their only daughter and being the only source of joy and happiness in the family. It broke me so much to see them crying and afraid to let me go but I couldn't do anything.
Tyler had long left to our room when I told everyone the news because he couldn't bear it. When it was past midnight, my parents told me that they would let me cherish my last time with my mate and I hugged them tight, afraid that if I let it go, I wouldn't get another chance to hold them again.
In the end, my dad smiled, telling me that at least we can have some time to get ready and say our goodbyes because many people don't even get the chance to. The whole night, I heard my loved ones cry themselves to sleep.
When I went to my room, Tyler was crying from the side of the bed and when I got inside, he hugged me so tight that I could barely breathe but I didn't mind at all. I hugged him back and he cried in my arms. He asked me to stay with him, to help him raise our pups, to help our kids get married, in the end, he even threatened me to stay but we both knew, he was just so desperate to let me stay.
He told me how happy he was when he found out that I am his mate, his destined one, the memories we shared. I also took my time, thanking him and apologizing because I would have to leave him alone and he would spend the rest of his life in solitude.
I even gave him permission to be with someone else if he finds someone that he likes in the future but he got angry at me instead. He swore that even if I am dead, I will be his one and only. He scolded me for even letting him to be with someone else.
After everything, I felt so stupid for not appreciating the people around me. It just came to me naturally and I took it for granted but now that my time has come, I can't help but feel so stupid for not appreciating it.
Had I paid more attention, I would have understood how much they love me and all the things they did for me. But for the next possible hours, I am not gonna grieve over the regrets, I am going to spend it with my loved ones, making happy memories because I know for sure,
I will be happy as long as I am with them.