“Is it really that necessary to fight and kill?” I asked, my lips curving downwards.
“Did you think you had fallen in love with a saint? If you are with me, you will have to see me massacring people by hundreds. I am not going to change just because a wolf pup fell in love with me.”
“It doesn’t bother me; the killing part. Being an Alpha’s son, violence has been an indispensable part of my life….” I looked into her eyes, “It is just that….” I stopped walking, forcing her to halt too. “I know that you are very powerful yet this foolish heart can’t stop worrying about you. I am afraid of seeing you suffer.”
“Oh, Justin….” Her voice got choked and conflicting emotions flitted across her features. She grabbed the nape of my neck and kissed me. With a defeated sigh, I gave in and kissed her back.
Every time we kissed; my heart and mind were sent down a tunnel of turmoil. I didn’t know how many times it would take for my resolve to waver.
I could risk getting lost again. I had to put the plan into action as soon as possible.
****
“Hera, I was wondering if you could accompany me somewhere….”
She looked out of the window. Her gaze lingered on the setting sun momentarily, “It's already late… Why don’t we go tomorrow?”
“Actually… Ummm….” I massaged the back of my neck. “I had umm… prepared a surprise for you.” Her eyes twinkled and I added quickly. “If you don’t want to come, it is totally fine.”
She got to her feet and gushed in an excited voice, “It’s been so long since I got a surprise. Let us go quickly.”
This time, I held back, “Umm, I don’t think it is a good idea… I umm… don’t want to disappoint you.”
“I can never be disappointed by anything you do,” she said as she led me out of the Tavern. “Lead the way.”
I took her to a coach that was parked nearby, “I know that you like to walk but the place I want to take you to is far away. Can we take a coach?”
She smiled and got into the coach without protest. I had already made arrangements; decorating it with flowers and placing desserts.
“I didn’t know that you are a romantic, Justin,” she commented as she settled on the velvet seat; her gaze lingering on the flowers that adorned the interior. The flowers served another purpose apart from adding to the aesthetics of the coach. They were placed here to mask the scent of ephyllium.
We chatted joyfully as I fed her the pastries laced with vitriol. Ephyllium and vitriol couldn’t poison or kill Hera but they could seal her magical powers to a certain extent. This would make capturing her easier.
My part of the plan had gone flawlessly. We would reach Dorwan Meadow in thirty minutes. If Corel managed to carry out her part well, I wouldn’t have to tolerate her anymore.
“Can I ask where you are taking me?”
I shook my head and smiled at her, “It wouldn’t be a surprise if I disclosed the location, would it?”
Her eyebrows furrowed and she made a move to open the flap of the cottage. My heart stopped beating. We were so close to the meadow. What if she got suspicious after seeing the location?
“Hera, please…. Just this once.” I said, grasping her hand quickly. “Trust me.”
Her gaze bore into mine, making my heart race. It was as if my soul was bared to her and I had this feeling that she had seen right through my plan. But then, she smiled and pulled her hand away, “Just this once, I will let you do what you want.”
Her words made the knot in my stomach clench. Something was off but I couldn’t place my finger on what it was. Silence hung inside the coach and the minutes dragged at the pace of a snail. With each passing moment, my apprehension grew threatening to push me over the edge. But, I held on.
“We are here, sir,” The coach driver called out as we came to an abrupt halt. I stepped down first and held out my hand to help Hera out. She looked around curiously, “Where exactly are we?”
The coach took off without any delay. I had already given him instructions to leave as soon as we alighted. There was no point in getting a petty coach driver killed.
I squeezed her hand and smiled, “You will find out soon.” For some reason, my voice came out shaky. Sweat beaded on my forehead. If Hera noticed my nervousness, she didn’t comment.
I led her down the grassy path, “I remember King Andres saying something about your lover. Was his name Cassius?”
Her face turned pale and she nodded, “Cassius was kind, generous, funny; perfect in every way.” Her eyes lit up passionately as she continued to talk about him. “He was capable of loving in a way nobody else can. I could exchange an eternity in heaven for a moment spend….”
She stopped talking abruptly; her gaze drifting across the meadow. Her eyes flashed with hurt. She cupped my face and a weak smile spread on her lips, “Dreki was right. I am the most foolish person in the world.”
I didn’t get a chance to ask what she meant. Footsteps and ferocious growls thundered in the meadow as werewolves bounded toward us from all directions. The leaves rustled, the winds blew stronger and a few moments later a large group of vampires emerged; then came the witches.
The small coven of seven witches drew closer and circled us, creating an orb of restriction around us. My gaze drifted over the large gathering. True to her word, Corel had managed to gather the three factions.
No matter how powerful Hera was, she couldn’t fight with the collective strength of so many werewolves, vampires, and witches. This thought had just crossed my mind when a huge dust storm hit us with full force. I held onto Hera’s hand despite the slashing winds and the dust that was flooding my eyes. My vision soon grew blurry and I was forced to close my eyes by the pricking particles.
I felt a sharp tug as if someone was pulling Hera away. I increased my grip; holding onto her with everything that I had. I sensed someone's presence close to me and a familiar voice fell in my ears, “Are we going to leave him just like that?”
“Yes, I don’t want to kill more people than necessary.”
“You don’t want to kill more people or you don’t want to kill HIM?”
“Let us just leave, Dreki.”
Hera’s fingers slid through mine and my eyes snapped open. I caught a glimpse of something large and green but the sight was so fleeting that I couldn’t figure out what it was.
The storm died out soon after. I didn’t have to open my eyes to know that Hera was gone.
My gaze drifted over the clearing, the extensive gathering of people stood there, stunned out of their minds. Hera had managed to escape right in front of their eyes. She had slipped through my grasp while I stood grappling helplessly.
I tore my hair and I leaned with a thud against a nearby tree. I had failed even after everything I did….