Chapter 6: Destined to be cursed

Aria’s POV:

I tried my best to act normal and ignore the weird things that is happening around us. I don’t want to ruin everything that Dylan worked hard for. He put his best effort to make this date work even if I am just a human and he is a powerful demon. This is my only chance to go out away from the hospital and I want to make the best out of it.

We go to the Crescent River where everybody gathers to release hundreds of floating lanterns onto the river. "These floating lanterns are meant to guide the spirits back to their world," Dylan carefully explains.

As much as I wanted to continue our date, some things can be ignored, so I decided to be honest with him.

"D-Dylan, can we skip this part of the tour?" My voice was thick with fear.

Dylan noticed that I was starting to feel uncomfortable when he saw that I was freezing in terror. My hands were sweaty and clammy. My eyes were gazing at the floor and were too frightened to lift my head. He cupped my face and lifted a little and saw that the color drained from my face.

"Why, is there a problem?" he asks me worriedly.

"The spirits, there are too many of them lurking around this place and I'm scared." Fear clawed up my throat as I speak while looking at the spirits staring at me and wanting to come near me.

They must have sensed something in me that they are all drawn to me and wanted to touch and hurt me.

"You can see them?" he curiously asked me. "I shouldn't bring you here. There are thousands of spirits present in this place. Some spirits feed on the life force of the living so that they can stay longer in this world, they must have found your life force enticing that's why they are all drawn to you," he worriedly explains.

"Yes and I've been trying to ignore them at first but this time, they knew that I can see them and I'm afraid that they...." I was not able to finish my sentence and was in total shock by his action.

He placed his arm around me and looks deep into my eyes. "Nobody can harm you when you're with me. I won't let anybody touch you," he reassures me. "I will protect you no matter what."

"How could he say that he will protect me, does he forget that he will soon take my soul once our contract ended?" I said to myself.

Those kind words sounded so sincere, and it was the sweetest thing he ever said to me on our entire date. I feel my heart beating so fast and my face feels so hot as if it is burning. I wrap my arms around him and press myself onto his chest to hide my tomato-colored face. I can't believe that I'm falling for his flowery words, and I can't let him see that I'm blushing. I'm pretty sure that he will not stop bragging and will tease me for falling into his irresistible charm.

He waved his hand and created a dome-like barrier around us to protect me from the spirits. I was about to let him go by gently releasing my arms around him when he pulled me closer and holds me tightly.

"Stay close to me and don't move a muscle," he warned me. "Let's wait until the floating lantern ceremony is over. All the spirits will vanish along with the floating lantern so please, bear with me and let's stay like this for a little while," he softly speaks.

I said nothing and simply nod my head for confirmation then wrap my arms around him and bury my face in his chest to prevent myself from crying. I've been keeping this secret for as long as I could remember and for the very first time, I was able to share it with someone who could protect me from the spirits that I feared the most.

Some vengeful spirits are desperately trying to penetrate the barrier that Dylan created, but they drastically failed. Blue flames crawl upon the spirits as soon as they touch the barrier.

"I know that they were supposed to feel nothing since they are already dead but why do they look as if they were screaming from the excruciating pain?" I curiously ask while looking at the spirits squirming in pain.

"The dome-like barrier is what we called the cleansing fire. It helps to purify the vengeful spirits," he explains to me while we watch the spirits vanish before our eyes. "They will now go to purgatory not to repent, but for them to continue the cleansing and purification of souls. Some souls are destined to go to heaven."

After a few minutes, all of the spirits slowly vanish into the thin air. The place once again looks quiet and peaceful. There are no more vengeful spirits around us and Dylan lifted the barrier that was surrounding us.

"Thank you," I said to him then gently remove my arms around his waist.

"How long have you been seeing the spirits?" he curiously asks me.

"Ever since I was a child," I quickly replied.

"Did you try telling it to anybody?"

"Yes, but they just laugh at me and call me crazy," I sadly said along with an audible sigh.

He places his hand and lightly pats my head. "It must have been tough?"

"You have no idea," I said to him. "It took me a while to get used to it, but it's okay now." I force myself a fake smile.

"You may think that your ability is a curse but it can also be a gift to help out the spirits to settle their unfinished business," he tries to comfort me by looking into the positive side of my situation.

I was touched by his comforting words and never thought that he is capable of being serious and saying kind words to others. I thought that is he full of mischievous thoughts. I like this side of Dylan it's more human.

"I wonder how he ended up being Djinn. I feel bad for him for being trapped, how I wish I could do something to help him," I was thinking about it when an idea pops out in my head.

"Missy, you've been spacing out again. Are you okay?"

"I have an idea!" I excitedly said to him.

"Are you okay? You're acting weird all of a sudden," he worriedly said to me.

"What if I wish for your freedom, will it work?" I happily suggested it to him.

I was expecting him to be happy to know that there was a chance for him to get his freedom but all I can see was sadness in his eyes. He was staring at me for a few minutes motionless and passive. I don't understand why he doesn't feel happy, and he looks as if he is having a feeling of guilt and remorse.

"You are going to sacrifice your wish for my freedom?" He looks shocked and could not believe what I just told him.

"Yes. Why not?" I confidently replied.

"Aria, even if you gave me my freedom someone will take over my post and still take your soul," he worriedly said to me.

"My soul will be taken away from me one way or another, why not do something good and unselfish act for once?" I said to him.

"Your soul for my freedom," he whispered. "Why does it have to be you, Aria?"

After saying those words, he leans closer to me and sealed me with a kiss. His fingers trailed across my face, and then he gradually licks my upper lip and sucked it to gently pry my lips apart. It’s like he is begging for an entrance to slip his tongue inside me as we intensify our kiss. I couldn't help but release a gentle moan while we continue to kiss.

I can feel his energy spreading all over my body like there are hormonal changes or chemical reactions in my brain. The temptation is too hard to resist like a magnetic attraction that is so hard to repel. I want more and I'm hungry for more. I pulled him close to me then we start kissing like crazy, devouring each other as I cling to him while he wraps his arms around me pulling my body close to him.

The deeper we kiss the more powerful I feel like I'm totally in control until I felt that he is slowly losing all of his energy as if it were sucked out of his body.

"Am I doing this to him?" I ask myself.

I tried to part my lips and let go of our kiss to check up on him and as soon as we ended our kiss, he drops down on his knees. He stared at me while we are both catching our breath. He looks weak and lifeless.

"I can't breathe," he said in a trembling voice.

"Dylan, what happened?" I worriedly ask him. "Am I responsible for this?" I burst out into tears.

He is experiencing excruciating pain. I feel so helpless and worthless. I don't know what to do. I wanted to touch him, but I'm afraid that it will worsen his current condition. All I can do is watch him suffer and cry my heart out. Even if I call out for help, nobody can do anything about it since he is a spirit and not a human that we can bring to the hospital for treatment.

"It h-hurts," he stuttered.

"Dylan, I'm so sorry," I depressingly said. I get down on my knees and hold him close to me. "Please, Dylan, don't die on me," I begged him.

I shut my eyes close and keep calling out his name until I notice that I am no longer in the Festival but back in my room once again.

"What is going on with me?" I ask myself. "What am I?" Doubts and uncertainty started to cloud my thoughts.

Just when I met someone who can truly understand me and can relate to my situation, then this thing happens. I was so happy to be with someone who can protect me only to find out that it was only temporary. I can never forgive myself if he will be gone because of me. Is my ability a gift or I am destined to be cursed?