DAHLIA:
Our fated mate bond was still working. I could sense Tristan near me despite not seeing where he actually was.
He must have used his Shadow Rune magic to stay invisible. I’m glad too that he was there. Finding him now would be the least of my worries.
It looked like he was utterly confused when I put Kaist to sleep. I immediately told him my proposition.
“The red ruby – I have it. If you take me to Laudicia on the appointed time, we can stop this war.”
His eyes went round with surprise, and then shortly after, it slated into suspicion.
“What do you mean, Samalah? How did you get the red ruby from Dahlly?”
“It doesn’t matter,” I said, dismissing Tristan’s idea. I did not have time to invent an alibi anyway. “The important thing is I got it, and if we can deliver it to the Apricus king, we can stop this madness.”
“But this is not madness! Kaist
TRISTAN:I looked at Samalah’s eyes as it rounded in fear. This wasn’t like her… The Samalah I knew didn’t show fear in this manner…So, who was this? Who was this new person before me?Yesterday, as Sir Casion confessed everything he had been through and the reason why I was able to find him in the forest, it occurred to me that our enemies had always been one step ahead of us.Count Jeteris knew that Kaist would be led to Laudicia in pursuit of his family, and the Blasted Ones must have had a strong hunch that Dahli and I would be journeying to the plains of Laudicia to extract the spirit stone from her.So in essence, everything felt a little bit premeditated…I looked at Samalah at that point – the only person capable of creating a grand scheme like this. She wanted everything in Talandor to fall down into ruins even at the expense of bringing harm to Dahlia…She would be the per
DAHLIA:Of all the times he would ask for the truth, I didn’t know why Tristan was picking this moment…I wanted to go to Laudicia. No, I needed to go to Laudicia. I cannot come back to Camdress and ask someone else to help me go there lest I encounter papa, and he’d recognize me…I have no other choice but to enlist Tristan’s help to get there.So now, I had no choice but to hide the truth from him too… And yet, despite my dilemma, why was my heart yearning for him to recognize me?“If I… If I tell you I’m not who you think I am, would you believe me? If I tell you I’m really not Samalah, would you take me for a fool or believe my words wholeheartedly,” I blundered even before I could stop myself.His eyebrows shot up in curiosity. “So who are you? If you are not Samalah then who are you?”Sweat began to pour down generously on my back once more…
TRISTAN:“What kind of question is that?”I had known Samalah since we were children. We grew up together. How can she ask me such a silly question?“I know you did… You had only come to like me based on what you see, right?... You haven’t given much thought about liking me for me…”Samalah… Wasn’t she the one who told me I shouldn’t like her? She said she’d never like me back, and that love is nothing but a silly, fleeting illusion… She told me that our bodies are only meant for pleasure and nothing more…Seeing her cry like this, I couldn’t tell her to recall all those things that she had said.Actually, she had been breaking the rules she had set upon herself as of lately, and this included raising a child.She had a very hard childhood, and the real reason she studied potions and spells was to make sure she never conceived a child.Sama
DAHLIA:Finally, the day for my death has come.I watched the sunrise this morning, and although I initially thought I’d feel depressed since this might be the last time I’d see the morning sun, I was more than energized.I used to stay up until morning making love with Tristan, but today, I stayed up with him just talking about the deeper reflections on our hearts.Despite being in Samalah’s body, I was able to understand the depth of Tristan’s feelings for me. Even though this might be the last time I can be with Tristan, I felt my spirit getting lifted up.It also seemed that the relationship between the real Samalah and Tristan were not bad. Perhaps, even if I disappeared, they’d be able to live with each other well.The only thing that I was worried about now was our baby…My child’s survival will dependend on my own survival today. I have spoken before hand with the spirit stone and Eva
DAHLIA:My heart began to palpitate wildly. Why do I always find myself on the verge of getting caught by Tristan?I sighed. I didn’t come this far to be caught. I have to continue to deceive him until the end.“Look, does that even matter? You knew I stole the red ruby from her, so of course I’d get her powers!”I didn’t know why I was shouting. I was so frustrated with Samalah, I wanted to shout at her too.However, she wasn’t here, and it was only I who would be blamed for her endless scheming and plotting.“What else have you got in your sleeves, huh? You were working with that bastard count all along! Tell me, did you also give your body to him? Did you offer yourself to curry his favor like all those whores he kept around, or are you going to tell me he made you do it,” he accused me as he seized me by the wrist. “Tell me, did Count Jeteris father your bastard child?”H
SEVENTH MONTH OF YEAR 992. DAY OF THE TRAGEDY.DAHLIA:“AAhhh!”I couldn’t bear what would happen. I closed my eyes and hoped that when I opened them, we’d still be in one piece.I held my breath, anticipating the painful crash with the bolder Tristan had leapt into. I counted ten seconds, then twenty seconds. Realizing that we were still alive on the thirtieth second, I opened my eyes.“We made it,” I cried a bit in relief.“Of course,” Tristan said in a matter-of-factly tone.Before I could congratulate him further on that awesome way of losing the Falcon Wings, a rope suddenly wounded itself around my arms, and I was immediately pulled upwards and backwards from where I was seated in Tristan’s back.“Tristan!”Tristan immediately growled back at me. “Samalah!”“Shadow Rune heir, I must thank you personally for bringing the beare
DAHLIA: “Very well, King Helion! I will come with you. Please release Lady Livia,” I uttered bitterly. I took one last look at Tristan. His eyes still held the same cold stare earlier. He wasn’t fazed at all… I walked towards Livia, who was still struggling to keep herself on her feet. Our eyes brushed on each other. Suddenly, her gaze widened. “No! No, don’t, Dah -” I put my arms around her still imprisoned arms immediately. “Shh, it’s alright,” I whispered. “No need to tell everyone…” I knew she recognized me. I can see it in her eyes, and that’s what hurt me the most… Perhaps this spell given by Samalah has an actual curse on it – that the very person I would’ve wanted to recognize me won’t be able to do it no matter how many times I try... We’ll, even if he would recognize me, it’s too late for that now. I steeped closer to King Helion’s side. “Good thinking, child,” he said. He turned to one of his
TRISTAN: “No, take her back! Give Dahlia back to us,” I shouted. The vampires around us poised themselves for an attack and smiled. They could sense the blood palpitating in my veins as I tensed up. They were getting excited on the prospect of violence as their true nature dictates. “Finders keepers” was all I heard from the damned king of the vampires. Maybe this was all a lie. Maybe the king of the Blasted Ones was toying with my sanity… How did I end up in this? Why did I give Dahlia to them? It felt like I was in a sort of reverie. Everything felt hazy. It was as if things were coming at me in slow motion. I could only watch as Dahlia’s golden brown hair billowed in the wind. King Helion towered over her. He clutched her by the wrist, and when she refused to tear her eyes away from me, he grappled at her shoulders and took her away more forcefully, twisting her face away from mine. I could only watch as trails of te