Cynthia's Point of view
"Cynthia, when will you listen to me? This man is going to kill you and he will destroy you once and for all. All this care is nothing but a facade. His true intentions are not good!" My mother's voice echoed in my ears, but I couldn't open my eyes or move a finger.
"Mom, what's happening to me? Why can't I move?" I asked, ignoring her warning. Zander had protected me multiple times from threats in the underworld, risking his own life. Why would he suddenly turn against me? I trusted him with my life, and he had never given me a reason to doubt him.
"Cynthia, stop being naive. He's manipulating you with false love. He doesn't truly care for you, he's only using you for his own benefit," my mother shouted, frustrating me.
"Mom, Zander is not like that! I believe in him," I defended, causing my mother to express her disapproval.
"I'm trying to save you, but you're being foolish. This is madness, Cynthia," my mother yelled.
"Mom, just leave me alone. I'll handle whatever comes my way," I retorted angrily, feeling confused by her accusations.
"I'm leaving for good. Don't come crying to me for help because I won't be able to save you," my mother warned before her presence faded, and the numbness in my body vanished. As I sat up on the bed, I realised we were in a different location, having moved frequently to evade danger, losing track of our whereabouts.
" Are you finally awake?" I shifted my gaze to the chair and saw Zander sitting there, as if he had been watching me sleep all this time. I couldn't remember what happened last night; the only thing I recall is him kissing me, and after that, everything was a blur. Maybe my mother did something to make me forget everything.
"Get ready, I have a surprise for you," Zander said calmly. I smiled. Despite his cold and nonchalant demeanor, I was starting to believe that something was developing between us. I couldn't say if it was love, but there was definitely something, and I hoped it would turn out well.
I got out of bed and finally noticed that the place resembled a palace or something similar, adorned with antique furniture. Perhaps it was one of his ancient palaces. After selecting a simple black long dress from the closet, I headed to the bathroom for a shower. Once I changed into fresh clothes and stepped out of the bathroom, Zander guided me out of the room. As we walked, I recognized the surroundings; it was Zander's palace where he resided as the king.
My eyes widened as I saw a man sitting on the throne. He had a pale complexion, like a dead man walking, with sharp fangs visible. My limbs shook and my heart started racing in fear. I looked at Zander beside me, but he showed no emotion in his tone. Instead, he walked to the man on the throne and bowed to him. The room was filled with vampires, their red eyes fixed on me.
"Good job, Zander. I knew you wouldn't disappoint me!" The man's cold and scary tone sent a shiver of fear down my spine. In a split second, I was seized by the guards and tied to a huge pole.
"Zander... What's going on here?" I asked, trying to swallow the lump forming in my throat. Zander stood up and approached me, revealing the dagger in his hand. Tears welled up in my eyes as I watched him advance towards me with the dagger. My mother's warning echoed in my ears. She had cautioned me, but I had chosen to ignore her words and trust the man before me. Now, it seemed he would be the cause of my demise. I didn't need anyone to tell me that today was the day of my death.
"Zander... You're not going to kill me, right?" I asked, a part of me desperately wanting to believe he wouldn't. I still trusted him; he couldn't betray me after giving me hope of survival. I swallowed hard, my breathing became laboured. My mouth fell open as the dagger pierced through my stomach, a sharp pain cutting through me as he continued to stab me. The man on the throne laughed heartily as my blood dripped to the ground. Tears streamed down my face as I gazed into Zander's emotionless eyes. It had been his plan all along.
"Y-You've killed me!" I stuttered, tears welling up. I had thought there was something between us, that he was falling for me, but it was all a ploy to end my life.
"Y-You will pay for this," I stuttered, darkness creeping in as I struggled to keep my eyes open. I was dying, and Zander delivered one final stab through my chest before I succumbed to unconsciousness.
~~~~~~~~~
I slowly opened my eyes and found myself in a beautiful garden filled with white flowers, birds singing all around, and lush green grass. I frowned as I examined myself and realized I had no wounds; I was perfectly fine. Was what had happened earlier just a dream?
"Cynthia!" I turned at the sound of a smooth, melodious voice behind me. I saw a stunning woman who bore a striking resemblance to me, dressed in a white robe with long silver hair.
"Where am I? Who are you?" I inquired, studying the woman as she smiled.
"I'm Cynthia, your guardian angel. You passed away in your previous life, and I've come to offer you a second chance at life. But first, you must give me a valid reason why I should bring you back to Earth," she explained softly. Memories of the betrayal and destruction caused by Zander flooded my mind, fueling my desire for revenge against him and his allies.
"Why did they kill me?" I asked, needing closure at the very least. I can't be killed without knowing the reason. The lady smiled.
"A long time ago, all the underworld creatures lived together in the Carlislean kingdom and they all worshipped one Goddess who resided among them. The creatures coexisted peacefully until one day when the Goddess's life was threatened. Most of the creatures chose to abandon her and refused to aid her in battling the demons who sought to destroy her. However, the serpent remained loyal to the Goddess and fought alongside her against the demons. In gratitude, the Goddess bestowed a pearl of wishes upon the serpent clan. This pearl had the power to grant any wish a person desired. The vampire king, Zakaria, was displeased by the Goddess's favoritism towards the serpents. He coveted the pearl for himself, desiring more power, wealth, and dominion over the world. Zakaria launched an attack on the serpent clan, believing he could claim the pearl for himself. Your mother, as the firstborn of the serpent king and queen, was entrusted with the duty of safeguarding the pearl. She fled with the pearl to protect it, but she fell in love with a human and forfeited her right to use the pearl, leaving it to you. Zakaria learned of your possession of the pearl, which is why they killed you and took it. However, they cannot utilize the pearl without your consent, as you are its sole owner as the last surviving shifting serpent," the lady recounted the tale. My eyes widened in shock, tears welling up. I couldn't fathom that Zander had betrayed me for a mere pearl, breaking my heart over something he couldn't even use.
" I want to return to Earth and seek revenge for my death," I said, wiping away my tears. Zander had shattered my heart, he had killed me, and I couldn't let him escape unpunished. He must pay for what he did.
"I can grant your wish, but you will lose all memories of your past. You must pursue your enemies without knowing who they are, and you must not allow yourself to fall in love with them, as that will only lead to your own demise along with theirs," the lady explained. I knew I would never fall in love with Zander again, not after he had callously ended my life. I was determined to do the same to him.
"I accept the conditions," I declared.
"Your afterlife is granted," the lady said before disappearing in a shimmering mist.