Chapter 6 - Death

Endrée's POV

Dante could barely restrain himself and he forced me to let him out. I could feel Derrick starting to get nervous. My mind raced as I thought of the ways to stop her. She's out of her mind!

“You have to stop this right now, Zenalie. You want to wage war against me? You think you can win against me? Think this through!” I threateningly yelled at her. She looked at me and gave me a hostile expression then she turned her head to look at Rynari and smiled like she's crazy. What happened to her? She's not the girl I used to know. Maybe I don't even know her at all.

Rynari suddenly stiffened. She’s trying to control her! In a blink of an eye, Zenalie was in front of my mate. How did she do that?

"You deserve to die! You witch sl*t! You don't deserve him! He's mine! He and I belong together!" she screamed at her. She was about to stab Rynari in the heart but someone blocked her from attacking Rynari before she could stab her heart. I stood still, frozen.

“No, K-Kairo!” Ryna’s shrill scream echoed across the room as the young boy’s body fell on the floor. She looked up at Zenalie as she clutched his body closer to her.

“What do you want to do? Bring back time? Can you even do that? That's right, you cannot do anything! Useless! You are nothing compared to me!” she said as she continued to mock Rynari and laugh at her. Zenalie's eyes turned to glare at me before I could make a move. However, I was dumbfounded when she suddenly fell on her knees as she clutched her heart. She started to make choking sounds.

Derrick was quick to react and he stabbed her. I flinched. Zenalie was killed by Derrick in an instant. The bond I had with her was severed. She wanted to have everything and she used me to have it all.

Rynari tried to save Kairo with her blood but she could not because he stopped her from doing so.

"If I live then Zenalie could have a higher chance of reviving. I-I found out that she's my mate. She and I are bounded to be together. So if I die, she is bound to die sooner or later," he weakly said. He started gasping for air as blood spilled from his gaping mouth. Rynari held his hand while shaking her head.

“No, Kairo. Please live. Please stay with us. I can’t lose you. I can't bear to lose you, Kairo. You are like a brother to me,” Rynari said to him and wept as she held him close. 

"I am t-thankful that I met you. Ever since I lost Kayla, I never thought that I could have friends because I was always afraid that I'll lose them too. B-but you made me believe that it is okay to be weak sometimes and that made me happy. I was able to forgive myself because you made me realize that I can only be free if I let go of the past. I always f-feared what it would feel like to die but now that it's finally happening to me, I am both afraid and relieved. I am a-afraid of what might happen to me and I am relieved that you are the last person I-I saw b-before I d-die. You are l-like the big sister I never h-had. T-thank you, Rynari. T-thank you for s-saving me t-that day. G-goodbye..." he said while he gasped for air. After a few seconds, he finally breathed his one last breath and his eyes eventually lost its light. Rynari sobbed and held his hand.

"T-thank you, little bro. You c-can rest in peace n-now. You'll meet Kayla and all your pack m-members soon. S-so, don't worry about me, okay? I'm gonna be just fine," she said as she sobbed her heart out while caressing his face. The scene brought back memories and I remembered what happened to my brother, Dendryl. My heart felt like it would burst out at any moment. I could not bear watching the scene in front of me so I averted my eyes. 

In the end, a lot of lives were lost. The war ended but the agony and the cries of the loved ones could still be heard. All of them never wanted these things to happen this way and I was the cause of it all. It was me who started the war.

I suddenly had a premonition that another problem was about to come and I was not ready for the next thing to happen. I am determined to right my wrongs.

“I can’t with this wars anymore. All of this is happening because people lost something but no matter what they do, they will never be able the bring their loved ones back. Zenalie gave us another loss. She was swallowed by her own selfish desire,” Rynari whispered to herself. She exhaled as cold wind blew her hair.

The blizzard grew stronger as we continued to walk. My men carried the bodies of the enemies. We are on the way to a nearby river to burn their bodies and let the wind carry their ashes.

We wil burry my fallen men tomorrow morning. We will let their loved ones say goodbye to them. 

The next morning, my heart was heavy. I was the cause of this. I made my people suffer. I was the one who started the war. Death has always followed me wherever I go and no matter what I do, my brother's death will continue to hunt me. Forever. I shouldn't have blamed the witches for his death. More death leads to more sorrow.

The crown on top of my head became heavier as I walked and no one could ease the sorrow that filled my heart. I do not know where this dangerous journey called life will take me.

Rynari's POV

The war finally ended but my heart does not know what to do. 

Crina is quiet. She was already quiet before but she became more silent. She became sensitive of my feelings for once and did not bother me. I am thankful for that because I don't know if I can take any more of this.

My eyes watered as I watched Kairo's pale and lifeless face. He was just breathing fine yesterday. He was just talking to me and telling me about his childhood just a few days ago. He wasn't supposed to be dead and laying in a casket but he is. He died because of me, he saved me. Kairo protected my life and he lost his as a consequence. But if he were to see me cry, he would surely come back from the dead just to tell me that I looked so ugly when I cry. He'll tell me not to worry about him.

I felt the cold wind blowing on my face and I exhaled. No matter what I do, his death will continue to hunt me forever. But I know that Kairo would not want me to suffer for his sake.

He will never ever want me to suffer for his sake but I still felt guilty. I rubbed my arms as I stared from afar and thought about my last moments together with him.

Flashback

Derrick, Kairo and me began our journey to the territory of the Savage Wolves Pack the moment we're ready. We travelled quietly and quickly because we can't risk the possibility of the Lycan King finding us.

My eyes looked from left to right and I was walking in the middle. Both boys are on both sides of me to protect me.

After walking quietly for a while, I decided to ease my boredom. I looked at Kairo. I wanted to talk to him. I wanted to get to know him and know what kind of person he is. 

"Hey, I'm sorry about what happened to your pack. I have no pack so I don't know how to feel, however, my parents were shunned from my dad's pack because my mother is a witch. That is why I understand what it feels like to feel lonely. I have no friends, cousins or even relatives. My life is so boring. That is why I am a bit jealous because those witches' that your pack helped are so lucky to be under your care because you provided them with a home where they can live peacefully with the others," I admitted to him. He looked at me and smiled sadly. I smiled sadly as well. Life is cruel to everyone.

"When I was young, I met a young witch named Kayla. She was realy nice to me and we instanly became friends the moment I talked to her. I started spending time with her since then. She and I would go down the hills during spring. We would play near the river when winter comes and we would go ice-skating for hours. But one day, a vampire suddenly came and took her away in a blink of an eye. I-I was horrified with what I witnessed that I could never look her parents in the eye when I came back home without her. The pack did not blame me cause I was the Alpha's son but I always blamed myself when I lost her. A few days after she was gone, I found her dead. She died because of me. She died because I insisted on playing in a place so far away from territory," he said to me and his eyes welled up with tears, "I-I just wanted to be away from them. Being an Alpha's only son puts a lot of pressure to me cause the pack members has high expectations for me. I wanted to live my life where I can just be me and not the Alpha's son. But I lost a friend because of my own selfishness," he added. He breathed heavily as tears trailed down his cheek.

I stepped closer to him and embraced him. He sobbed harder and I tightened my embrace around him.

"Don't worry, you are not at fault. It is that vampire's fault. That vampire is the one that killed your friend and not you. You need to stop blaming yourself for something that you didn't even do. It is your right to want to express yourself and show to your people that you wanted to be free from their high expectations and just be yourself," I told him. I'm trying to comfort him. He sobbed harder as he tightened his embrace and I smiled.

I always feel better after a good cry. Maybe it's the same for him too. He cried for who knows how long and I just continued to embrace him.

End of Flashback 

My thoughts drifted back to reality as my eyes trailed from my hands to my feet. What was my purpose? Why am I still alive? Why did he have to die and not me instead?

"You have to stop blaming yourself. He adored you and he repaid his debt to you when you said his life in the forest. He knows that this world needs you. The world needs you, Rynari. So wipe that tears and continue moving forward," Derrick suddenly said to me. I looked at him and he patted my shoulder. He's never comfortable with hugs but I still embraced him tightly and let my tears fall. He stroked my head as I continued to cry my heart out. 

I slowly pulled away from him. I am determined to stop this war no matter what. So that no one would suffer the same fate as Kairo. I have to stop this war or suffering will continue to plague the hearts of the people.

Endrée's POV

“Endrée, are you all right?” Ryna asked me. Her voice brought me back to reality and my eyes gazed at her eyes. I gazed at her cheeks which is tainted with the color of rose. Pretty.

“I’m alright. You should worry about yourself,” I answered her and averted my eyes. I felt her hand grabbing mine and giving it a squeeze.

“Why are you so gloomy? You should be celebrating! It’s the birth of a new king,” she said to me. She was about to let go of my hand but I instinctively stopped her and looked her in the eyes. Her cheeks and ears flushed. I continued to stare at her. My heart thundered against my chest.

Dante was silent. He was waiting for me to do something. I looked at her and did something that I never thought I would do during a time like this. I kissed her and pulled her closer to me.

“E-Endrée, vhat are yo zoing?” she asked me. Her voice is muffled because of the kiss. I kissed her harder and caressed her cheeks. I pulled away and looked her in the eyes.

“Just kiss me,” I told her and reclaimed her lips. My heart that was filled with emptiness was starting to wonder if she could finally be the answer to everything, the answer to all my questions.

She pulled away from me and tried to catch her breath. He purple eyes clouded and Dante was starting to get excited but I sighed and stopped myself from feeling the heat that blossomed inside my heart and my body. I held her hand as I gazed at my fallen men being burried. 

I have to stop this war as soon as possible.