When Arella woke up, she found herself on an unfamiliar bed and familiar arms. She looked up and found herself in Adrian's embrace. He had his eyes closed at first, but her light moments woke him up.
"Woke up? Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?" Adrian asked gently as he sat up and pulled her up in his arms again.
Looking at him, the happenings inside her dream like state started flashing in her mind. The boy's bruised face and blood soaked image appeared in front of Arella's eyes, making her tremble.
Adrian stopped asking and soothingly patted her back.
"Did you encounter something bad? You were crying in your sleep." Adrian pressed her face closer to his chest. He rested his head in the nook of her neck. Watching her crying like that had put him on tenterhooks.
Only after she woke up did he feel relaxed and could breathe without any trouble. But before he could sigh in peace, he felt dampness on his chest. It was Arella, she was crying again.
"What happened? Tell me. Someone wronged you? I will help you. We will punish the culprit, Okay?" Adrian felt flustered.
Arella rarely cried. So far, he had only seen her crying once; when he hid the truth about the vials. But today, her eyes were akin to a fountain, watering consistently.
Arella wasn't crying because of the wrongs. Her core felt heavy whenever she thought of the boy hanging by a breath. And to think what could have happened had she not made it in time made her shiver. That boy, Adrian, could have died!
Arella tightened her hold around him, holding him in a deathly embrace. Adrian felt uncomfortable but didn't push her away. Instead, he too, tightened his hold around hers.
He continued patting her and whispering comforting words to her. It took a long time for Arella's sobs to subside. Adrian held her patiently for the entire duration.
Once crying herself to exhaustion, Arella contemplated whether to tell him about the past or not. She still didn't know what had happened to Adrian's parents. She didn't know how he survived afterward or if he remembered anything from back then.
As her mind turned quickly, a numbing exhaustion took over her eyes. Maybe she really wanted to tell him about their first meeting, that is why before falling fast asleep, she mumbled.
Adrian lowered his head to hear her mumbles more clearly.
"I saw you. We met when we were young." Arella was in a half asleep, half awake state now.
Listening to her, he stilled for a few seconds before flashing a slight smile.
"Did you fall in love with me at first sight? I hope I was handsome enough to sway you!" Adrian whispered his deepest desire. He had always admonished himself for not meeting her earlier.
Had they met earlier, she wouldn't have had to face Luke or Arthur. With him around, her Beast could have better chances of awakening. They could have spent more time. To think that they wasted so many years apart was his deepest regret.
"You have always been the most handsome..." Arella softly whispered. A slight smile hung at her mouth, but at the same time, a tear fell off the constrains of her eyes.
Adrian looked at her sleeping face with a complex gaze.
A soft knock interrupted his thoughts. He adjusted the posture of his deeply asleep wife and stealthily left the bed.
Opening the door, he found Lucinda waiting for him. He came out and lightly closed the door behind him.
"Did she wake up?" Lucinda asked.
Adrian nodded.
"Is she sleeping?" Lucinda questioned again.
Adrian once again nodded.
"Have you thought of an answer?" Lucinda queried straightforwardly.
This time, Adrian neither nodded nor shook his head. He still looked like he was in a fix.
"Even when you know that your past is closely entwined with hers? The soothsayers will be generous only once. If you lose this chance, you won't be able to see your history with hers. Choose wisely." Lucinda spoke a few more words and left decisively.
Adrian looked at her fleeting back with a deep thought.
When Arella woke up again, she was all alone in the room. She straightened her back and sat up. After crying and sleeping, she felt much better. She slowly sorted out her complex thoughts and tried to find the gaps.
She was in the dark about Adrian's past.
She knew that Nicholas was a friend and must have come to help her out. She also had an inkling about the Blue Moon eclipse. In her dream, she only saw the Red Moon eclipse; it was when insiders went out.
So, could the Blue Moon Eclipse mean; when outsiders come in? She could only guess. It would be better if she could catch Nicholas and ask him directly!
Arella thought it through. She would tell Adrian only the superfluous things without any details. Her story was ready to be shared; when she was young, she sneaked out of the Star Alliance and met an accident that sealed her Beast. As for the details, she could say that her memory was fuzzy.
Deciding upon the next step, she walked to the bathroom and freshened up. When she opened the door and reached the hall, she found Adrian, Lucinda, and Aaron sitting solemnly. Omar was probably fast asleep by now.
Listening to the sound, all of them looked at her. Arella was ready to tell her piece of the tale. Lucinda offered her some hot beverages. Adrian held her hand tightly. His eyes had complex emotions swirling in.
Before Arella could tell or ask, Adrian broke the silence.
"I got a message from the Prince. He wants me to go on a mission." Adrian uttered succinctly.
Arella understood the gravity of the situation through his few words. Adrian was a Major General. He was under the direct order of the Prince. He didn't have the power to deny or delay. He had to go.