"Thank you. Tell me what I should do to help you" he asked, changing the subject.His heart is heavy to the point that he is experiencing immense pain. For as long as he remembered, he only ever heard good things about Irina. But little did he know that she is an evil woman under the mask of being sweet. He wanted Valerie. Only her company can make him feel marginally better. Nothing and no one can ease the pain he is experiencing. The soul is kind enough to try to console him. But nothing matters now. Things are gone too far. He has to make his heart hard and do everything that is for the betterment of his people.The souls are taken aback by his abrupt change in subject. They too felt sad for him. But they can do nothing to ease his burden."Irina tied us to this land and to this world. She made sure that we can never cross to the other world and meet our maker. She will take us all inside her body, soon. If that happens, we will become her slaves forever. And she will become unstop

In the Ernest palace, Valerie is feeling uneasy. The sun has gone down for the day. The darkness has descended upon them. The moon is nowhere to be seen on this particular day. The early mornings and the evenings always give her a pleasant feeling. Unlike every other day, she is feeling a sense of uneasiness in the pit of her stomach, as if something bad is going to happen. Her thoughts are filled with Raphael. She is worried about him. "Where is he?" she thought out loud worriedly. Prince Hector promised that he will be close by and her security is increased as well. The corridor outside her room is filled with the Ernest guards, who are there for her protection. As Blake is not here to resume his duties, her father arranged for tens of guards to replace her bodyguard. Her eyes caught the commotion outside the palace gates. She noticed that her senses are growing stronger by the day, and now she can clearly see the man standing outside the gates. He is saying something to the guar

"No, please don't kill him" Her voice is like music. Her words feel like music. Her scent feels so soothing from the darkness that is trying to pull him down into its dark embrace. He is trying to stay afloat. But the struggle is becoming tiring. He wants to give up until he feels her presence. He doesn't remember who he is. Everything feels like a blur. The only thing he is feeling is rage. His need to kill someone is like a living and breathing thing inside him. He wants to see blood. His gaze is focused on the angel in front of him. So pure and so beautiful. Her eyes, they are focused on him. Her eyes are filled with tears, but there is not an ounce of fear in them. But he saw fear in the other two people.Now, he is close to her. His senses are filled with her scent. The darkness seems to be going down. Glimpses of the same girl flashed in his mind. Her smiling face, Her red-tinted cheeks, Her anger, she looks breathtaking in every way. He lifted his hand to touch her cheek, onl

"Valerie? What are you doing here?" he asked with confusion. All he remembered is that dark globe being pushed inside his body by Waldorf.When Valerie noticed that he was looking and acting normal, she jumped into his arms with joy."You are back. I was so scared and worried for you" she confessed with happy tears.He hugged her tightly, while his gaze was trained in his surroundings. He is surprised to see that the forest looks almost normal. No angry souls are seen and no shadows are dancing from tree to tree. The heaviness in the air is absent, which he felt before. But still, there is something wrong with the forest, which he cannot seem to pinpoint exactly what it is.'Waldorf's sacrifice worked?' he wondered. The dark forest is not so dark anymore. 'Looks like it did. I am glad that Waldorf's idea worked. But, why am I feeling so strange? How did Valerie end up here? That too alone' he thought to himself."Valerie, what are you doing here?" he asked her softly, while still wr

Valerie is stunned by his angry words. Her eyes welled up with tears of sadness. "I didn't mean to upset you like this. I am just worried" she tried to explain. But he doesn't want to listen to her words, which would only make this harder."Leave," he said firmly.Valerie slowly stood up to her feet and approached him cautiously. She doesn't want to upset him more than she already did."I am sorry" she whispered softly when she stood a few behind him.His heart is aching with pain. He can hear the sadness in her voice. She never has to apologize to him for anything. He wants to take her into his arms and console her. But that will not serve his purpose."Now don't waste my time more than you already did. I told you to leave. Is it so hard to understand? Go away" he said with a heavy heart. He is still not looking at her.Valerie raised her arm to touch his back but hesitated a little. In the end, she pulled her hand back down to her side. 'How can I tell him that I didn't mean to hu