"WHAT IS THAT?"
"Really," she said, her gaze turning annoyed.
I smiled innocently. What could I say? I have no idea what a second chance mate was. That was the truth. Before this, I didn't even know they existed. Or would she prefer it if I acted like I understood everything?
Apologies.
Not a fat chance.
I was curious. Hence, I would ask everything I wanted to know.
"Poor thing," Yasha tsked. "You're totally clueless. Gosh. You'll die without knowing anything. How pathetic your life must be. I pity you."
I had no words for that. My life wasn't pathetic. It was average, yes. But 'pathetic', I didn't think so.
"Mate," she said, finally deciding to help my poor self, "is the term we use to call our other halves. And before you ask, we don't decide who our mate will be; fate does."
"That's horrible!" Given without any choice, forced to love and be with someone you weren't familiar with— that was so awful!
"Yes, it is. But… it was blissful for others. Not all will experience mine, where my mate will kill me to be with someone else."
Stunned, I looked at Yasha. She still had her smile. Nothing changed.
"I'm… I'm sorry," I hesitated.
"For what?" she stretched her arms. "For my mate's cold-bloodedness? Or for your friend's wrongdoing?"
"For everything," I replied. "You don't deserve this treatment. No one does." Then, I asked, "But why do they need to kill you?"
"Do you think a second chance mate is that easy to come by?" she rolled her eyes. "If so, every creature would've neglected their first mates in every misunderstanding. No one will see his mate as their most precious since it's so easy to replace her." Then, she muttered, "Every desire has equivalent sacrifices." She took a deep breath and added, "And in order for someone to get a second chance mate, is to sacrifice the heart of his first mate, perform a ritual with the blood of the bloodling, and other ingredients. And bloodlings aren't produced in a single night. They arrive unexpectedly. So, yes. Second-chance mates aren't easy to have."
I did not respond. I was speechless. My existence was unique, so unique I'd think God hated me. But I tried to get that notion out of my head. I was a firm believer. Despite knowing there were supernaturals in this world, walking among humans, I'd still believe He was real.
But I'd really wanted to question— to question my existence. Was I born to become someone else's delicacy? If so, that would be so heartbreaking.
Oh. I was feeling depressed.
I suddenly just wanted to sit here, silently awaiting my death. It'd definitely be painful. But, hey! It would pass! I only needed to wait, and viola— everything would be over!
My self-pity lasted for hours. I regained energy again, but it didn't mean I began hoping that someone would save me. Well... there was a tiny little voice whispering in my heart, wishing that a miracle would arrive and I would live. But for the rest of it, I already lost hope. I just prayed that I'd be lucky in my next life.
Hopefully, I'd be a vampire in my next life. And Brittany would become my blood supply. What a fabulous revenge that was if it ever happened.
When the time felt like forever, we heard another clicking sound. I tried to move, to sit in a comfortable manner, but I felt exhausted. I didn't have the energy to make a single move. When was the last time I had eaten? The seafood. That was my last meal. Should I be grateful to Brittany for giving me a satisfying meal before my death?
And, alas, Brittany and her minions came. This time, however, she wore the same cloak as the cult I saw in the forest.
Brittany didn't look at me. She arrogantly fixed her gaze on Yasha. "You've recovered faster," she said. Then, she eyed one of the men and gestured with her head.
Whatever it was she wanted those men to do--- I was pretty sure it wasn't pretty. And I couldn't help but applaud how right I was. Before Yasha could speak, the bulky man inserted his hand on her chest (Oh my gosh! That fucking hurt!) and took her heart out.
My mouth widely opened, but there were no words that came out. I was speechless! I was— I was— I didn't know! I was trembling! Yasha wasn't moving! She remained lying on the ground, lifeless! And I could see the heart in the man's palm— it was still beating! And all I could think at that moment was nothing! My mind was clouded with fear! And here I thought I was already calm and ready!
"Yasha!" I shouted. I tried to speak. I didn't believe I could manage!
I thought she was immortal. Didn't she say she wouldn't die? Then, why? Why wasn't she waking up?!
Brittany blankly looked at me. She was about to leave the dungeon, but I didn't let her.
"Is he really that important to you? That… that you're so willing to kill some innocent people just to be his rightful mate?!" I asked, anger consuming me once again. And I wouldn't let her ignore me until my death. I would make sure that she would remember my existence. If she still got a little conscience left, she'd remember her cruelty to her friend!
"He is," she answered. Her back facing me. "You will never understand since you don't have anyone to love. You abhor it. You're disgusted with it. You think of men as if they're just some two-legged animals." She paused. "I don't expect you to understand. My actions might be cruel to you. You might not forgive me even in the afterlife. But if I'm given another chance to live in the past again, I will choose the same path. I love Willis. I love him with all my heart. I will never let go of any chance to be with him for the rest of my life."
I sneered. But I didn't respond. I didn't think I need to as she quickly strides away. The other guy then yanked me up, forcing me to follow Brittany outside. Once I left the dungeon, I noticed the moon slowly turning red.
Eclipse.
Then, I looked straight. Surrounding us were people in red cloaks. In the middle was an altar, and standing behind the stone table was an elderly woman, smiling eerily as her gaze fixated on me.
I guess this was it.
My doom.
My end.
My death.