-32
ASLAN’S POV
“Zarina, tell me honestly. What do you know about the recent attack on the baby?” I asked, gripping her shoulders.
“Are you getting worried about that tiny tot now, brother? I have already written death in her destiny. It is just a matter of time.”
It took every ounce of my self-control to speak the next sentence. Zarina was trying to test my intentions and I couldn’t fail her. “We have been pretending for FIVE whole months to care for Aurora. Now, if Tiara dies before we get the Heart of Magic, won’t our efforts go in vain?”
“Don’t worry, brother. I have already warned Logan not to attack Tiara again.”
I felt like someone had punched me in the gut. “What the F***! Did you say… Logan?”
“I often forget how little you know about witches. Celeste’s soul was bound to Logan’s body. So, she can channel him as and when she wants.” Zarina said, shrugging her shoulders as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
“Bloody Hell, Zarina! Do you have any idea what you are trying to say?”
“I know my silly, ignorant brother. Celeste made Logan poison the milk.”
My eyes widened in realization. “Is that why you burned the bottle of milk?”
“Ummm…hmmm, I didn’t want Tyson or Aurora to track Logan. I can’t wait for the day when I finally get to take my revenge.” She chirped and walked away with a slight bounce in her steps.
The moment she left I rushed to Tyson’s den. The broken locker stared at me reminding me of the fact that no one had visited it over the past five months. The only reason I came here was to shield myself from Zarina’s magic.
My hands trembled slightly as I fished out my phone and called Tyson. I had decided to tell him all about Logan. I couldn’t take chances as far as The Heart of Magic was concerned.
AURORA’S POV
“Holy C**P! I could have never thought.” Tyson’s exclamation jolted me out of my sleep. My eyes snapped in the direction Tyson was staring.
My eyes remained glued to the screen as I saw the scene unfold before my eyes. My doppelganger, Serena was laying on my bed with a baby close to her.
A few moments later, Logan trudged inside the room. His eyes were clouded as if he was in a trance. He walked straight up to the baby. His hands formed an imaginary chokehold in the air and moved it closer to the baby.
Before he could even touch the baby, Zarina teleported behind him and stabbed him with an ancient-looking dagger. My eyes widened in horror as he screamed and dropped to the ground.
A cloud of black smoke emanated from his body and rose in the air. Soon, there was nothing left of him.
When my brain finally registered what had happened a blood-curdling scream escaped my mouth. “Why? Tyson… Why? Why did Zarina kill Logan? He was just a young, innocent boy…”
“That very innocent boy tried to kill our baby, Aurora. He was the one who poisoned her milk. He was the one who cast the death spell in the bedroom, he was the one who tried to hex Serena into killing her baby. All the mishaps that have happened over the week were all staged by him, Aurora.”
The sweet, helpful boy I knew could never do such a thing. “I don’t believe you, Tyson. Remember I stayed with him for a month. He is far better than any of you.”
Tyson sat down beside me and held my hand. “Celeste was controlling him Aurora.”
“Why didn’t you tell me, Tyson. I could have at least tried to save him from Celeste.”
“You don’t understand, Aurora. He was bound to Celeste’s soul.”
My heart almost stopped beating when I heard this. There was indeed no way out. As long as he lived, Celeste could channel his life source and make him do whatever she wanted.
We could not rest peacefully knowing that she could attack my baby any moment. This had to be done.
Tears flowed down my cheeks recalling the light moments I spend with him while I was stuck in Celeste’s world. He was so sweet, lively, and caring…
“It is all my fault, Tyson. I never noticed the difference in his behavior. I never noticed how aloof he had become after coming to the Pearl Palace” I croaked out and burst into sobs.
Tyson didn’t say anything in reply. He just held me in a tight embrace while I cried my heart out and this was precisely what I wanted.
At that moment, he wasn’t the pigheaded, self-entitled moron; he was just someone who was there to share my grief.
ASLAN’S POV
”I can never understand you, Zizi! Until yesterday you wanted to protect that boy, Logan, and today you killed him just like that.” I said tearing my hair.
If I hadn’t watched her drive that dagger into Logan’s heart, I would never believe that Zarina could do something like this. He was just a young boy who hadn’t even seen the world yet.
Zarina let out a long, deep sigh. Placing her hand on my shoulder, she said in a dangerously low voice, “You may not understand me, brother but I know you well. With Tyson watching us, I had to do something to prove my loyalty to him. How else would he trust us with Tiara?”
F***! How did she find out about my phone call? I had called Tyson from his den. No magic could work there or had she found a way to do so?
My heartbeat accelerated in anticipation. God knows what she would do now.
“I knew that you would make that phone call. You want to get the heart of Magic’ as much as me. I don’t mind that I had to kill Logan. After all, Celeste had to be taught a lesson for disobeying me. ”
I heaved a sigh of relief. She must have her suspicions but as far as she didn’t bring them up, I could pretend too. I smiled at her and asked, “What is the plan now?”
“All we need to do is wait for Tyson to arrive…”
“Do you think he will come?”
“Now that the threat is eliminated, he will…”
As if on cue Tyson’s voice sounded, “Aslan! Zarina! Caleb! Come to the hall.”
“Let’s go… and yeah… support me in whatever I suggest,” Zarina called out as she trotted to the hall.
I followed her slowly, my mind spinning with a million thoughts. Once we get the ‘Heart of Magic.’ Zarina will kill Tyson and bring the witches back to power. The dragons would need someone to look up to. With Zarina’s support and my skill, I can be that person.
My feet stopped in their tracks when I caught a glimpse of Aurora sitting with Tyson. They both were engrossed in playing with Tiara, just like a happy family.
There was once a time when I could kill to see this sight but now… but now, this sight didn’t give me any joy. I knew he was my brother but he was also the one who killed our mother.
The hatred, anger, and pain that had faded in Tyson’s absence resurged with full force. I wanted t make him pay for his deeds.
“Aslan! Where did you get lost?” Aurora asked snapping her fingers.
This pulled me out of my reverie. I joined them at the table and said, “Umm…. I was just thinking about something…”
Forcing myself to fake a smile, I said, “So glad to see you back, Teddy.”
He exhaled deeply and said, “Feels so good to be back. Living in isolation sucks.”
Aurora placed her hand on Tyson’s and squeezed slightly. I was surprised by her gesture. Wasn’t she angry that Tyson didn’t even come to see her baby?
“Though I was happier without you bossing around… Welcome back.” Zarina said, clapping her hand lightly.
Zarina’s face was calm and composed. She looked genuinely happy. I had to say that her acting skills were far better than mine.
Tyson cleared his throat and said, “The number of attacks on Tiara would only keep increasing. So, Aurora and I have decided to set out on the Quest immediately. Once we have obtained the Heart of Magic, we will keep it in a safe place away from this palace. This will keep Aurora and Tiara out of this mess.
I was stunned by Tyson’s announcement. Hadn’t he returned just now? When did they get the time to discuss something with Aurora?
The way his eyes lit up when he spoke about Aurora and Tiara showed that he cared for them. I was sure that I was missing something but I decided to let it slide. We had to focus on finding ‘The Heart of Magic.’
.