When I was a child, I had abilities that I kept hidden from everyone, even my twin sister didn't know of it and then my entire memory of them was erased by my mother. Despite having no recollection of having these special abilities, I still felt different, I knew I was different, but now it's all making sense.
Silas and I were connected since my birth, he came to me and warned me of the future and if only I had my memories, I would have avoided all the bad things that happened to me, Arya would still be alive but what's done is done.
In order to find the answers to my questions, I must face the person I have been trying to avoid, the truth I cannot absorb. Doing this might break me but I need the truth.
Still in Camelia's office, I closed my eyes, took a deep relaxing breath and I pictured myself standing in the middle of a field of flowers and when I opened my eyes, I am really there.
'You have finally mastered the arts of astral projection.' A familiar voice echoed behind me.
My entire body started trembling. Slowly, I turn around to face her only to find the old woman standing before me. My brows knit, 'How come you are here?'
The woman shrugged, 'I was disappointed because you didn't recognize me but I understand, I wouldn't have been able to either. You were gifted Aria, but so was I. When I was murdered, my soul entered the body of this woman because I had to tell you something very important, I couldn't protect myself but I will protect you no matter what!'
I gasped shockingly, 'Arya?'
Softly, her lips curved into a beautiful smile. The old woman transformed into Arya. I couldn't believe I am now looking at my sister in the eye.
Why couldn't I recognize her? She'd been trying to warn me in the body of this old woman and yet I still couldn't recognize my own sister.
Breaking into tears, I pulled her fiercely into a tight embrace. She hugged me back, 'I missed you too and as much as I would love to spend more time with you, I am afraid I can no longer dwell in this world, my time is up. But before that …' she pulled away, 'You have to know that Mikael Gras is a liar, he is the trickster. He is a dragon hunter and his biggest dream is to take the throne and Silas's place as your husband.'
'Why did you marry him?' I had to ask.
Arya took a deep breath, 'He approached me and I believed he truly loved me but it was all a lie, Mikael had been always obsessed with you and approached me just to get closer to you. The soldier who slain me in the market was none other than him. You will find the eagle tattoo on his wrist, he is your culprit!'
'I can't believe I trusted him blindly.' I sob regretfully.
Arya took my hands tightly, 'Listen Aria, dragon hunters are also gifted with abilities and besides, Mikael is a very skilled hunter. Any slight change in your attitude towards him will alert him.'
'How do I defeat him?' I inquired.
She smiled weakly, 'You are a dragon keeper. Your role is to protect your dragon at all costs while his role is to take over your dragon's place. To end this cruel fate of yours, Mikael Gras must die and then there won't be another version where he is the king!'
'So no matter what I do, Silas will have to disappear from my life?' My heart ached, Arya noticed, gently stroking my cheek,
'You truly love him, that's good. Love him in such a way that even destiny will have no choice but to yield to your wishes. But to achieve all of that, first, you must defeat the trickster.'
'And how do I do that?'
Arya leaned, whispering the answer in my ear. She was done, stepped back with a warm smile, 'You are flourishing Aria, I am glad that you are the chosen one, the dragon keeper, and please, stop blaming yourself for my death. I didn't die because of you. Mikael Gras murdered me so he could get closer to you and the throne. He is a liar and has people roped in his web of lies but I know you will prevail in this fight. I know I will miss you so much.' She began sobbing, 'It's only a shame I won't be there to see you win. I love you so much Aria and I am so sorry you had to go through so much because of me.'
'No, please don't.' I embrace her tightly, sniffling, 'I love you too and I hope you find peace and I am also so sorry for what Mikael did to you because of me. I will surely make him pay dearly.'
She pulled away, smiling, 'See you on the other side, sister.'
At the blink of an eye, I am back in Camelia's office.
'Arya!' I couldn't control the tears and started weeping till I dropped down to my knees, 'I am so sorry Arya. I am so sorry.'
I returned to the palace, everyone got tensed when they saw me return alone.
Lord Ayke escorted me back to my room. I settle down on the chair, eyes heavy with regret, 'Do you really think our mother abandoned us?'
Ayke sighed, 'Don't lose the respect you have towards her. No matter how she is, she is precious to you.'
'Precious?' I chuckled briefly, looking up to meet his concerned gaze, 'Why didn't you come for us even after knowing that we were here, suffering? No matter how you were, we would have understood and made peace with it but now, now there is no possibility of constructing a proper father-daughter relationship with you. I can't pretend like I have forgiven you but I do understand. I get it.'
He smiled bitterly, taking a deep breather, 'As do I!' With a nod, he sailed out.
My eyes follow his retreating figure, heart sinking further into obsidian, My family is already broken beyond repair, the only way I can find peace is by punishing Mikael accordingly.
I dressed beautifully and invited him to my chamber. He walked in majestically with a strong calmness to his aura that can easily deceive the viewer.
'Do you need anything?' He asked, studying my facial expression closely.
I looked away, gazing out at the sky, 'Do you believe in destiny?'
I hear him exhale sharply, taking slow steps towards me, 'Do you?'
'I asked you a question, I expect an answer not another question.' I warned, found myself turning around only to feel Mikael's lips pressed against mine, his arm curling around my waist, pulling me over, deepening the kiss as he tilted his head.
I began kissing him back, running my hands through his thick dark hair. He leaned and groaned in my mouth as he thrusted his tongue deftly into my mouth.
And as he pushed me against the wall, pressing his body against mine, kissing me as if his life depended on it, I was concentrated more on the dagger held tightly in my hand.
Mikael was carried away kissing me and all he felt was the sharp awareness of the dagger in my hand piercing into his chest.
He sharply pulled away, stepping back, eyes widening in shock.
Before he could react, I grabbed and pushed the dagger further deep into his beating heart.
He gasped, dropping down to his knees, 'Is this your choice? The answer to my unasked question?'
I answer him through gritted teeth, 'I want to see you dead for all the things you did to Arya. You are a monster Mikael.'
'The only monster here is none other than your husband.' He raised his voice, 'I did nothing but love you unconditionally.'
'And that gave you the right to hurt my sister? How dare you kill Arya!? You are the monster Mikael.' I snared.
He chuckled bitterly, pulling the dagger painfully out of his chest and tossed it aside, keeping his head down, 'The truth is, if you want to see me dead, a dagger to the chest won't do it.'
With those words, he stagger to his feet and grabbed me, ramming me into the wall.
I groaned, struggling under his iron grip, 'What are you going to do? Will you kill me too?'
'I don't want to kill you, I love you.' He screamed, 'Your husband will disappear tonight and before you realize it, I will become your husband and everything will be alright.'
'Despite all the bad things you did, you still have no regret. How can you be this monstrous?' I questioned tearfully.
He scoffed, 'It wouldn't matter what you think when I finally become your husband. Just a few more hours and then you won't even remember this. I will love you in such a way that you won't have a reason to complain.'
'Lies!' I looked away, 'You are a liar.'
Mikael forces me to look at him, boring his eyes deep into mine, 'I promise you that I will love you forever and I will gladly lay my life to you.'
His sincerity towards me doesn't matter, especially now that I know of his true colors.
I hold his gaze, 'I trust you and I know you can die for me which is why you are going to die and I am not sorry for it.'
Mikael felt like his insides were being cooked, it's as if his heart is being squeezed. He sharply released me, flopping onto the cold floor.
'What did you do to me?' He asked breathlessly.
I smirked, 'I just played your own tricks on you. The dagger was laced with poison. I never really wanted to see you die so fast, I want you to suffer, you will die slowly, your insides will feel mangled and there is nothing you can do. And while you suffer, I want you to remember all the bag things you did to Arya and even lady Camelia, remember it and at least repent before you meet your inevitable end.'
He chuckle weakly in disbelief, 'Killing me will not change your destiny and while you are here, your dragon husband will disappear from this world and you will never see him again so I guess, I have won and you …' he laughed wickedly, 'You will have no one.'