AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Come at me,” Gabriel yelled, turning around and searching for more opponents to fight. “If you can hurt me more than what I feel inside, you’ve done your duty.”
It didn’t take long for his next victims to appear. This time a mob ofstrigoiattacked him from all sides, subduing him in an instant. Instead of fighting, Gabriel began laughing.
“Fight, Gabriel. Fight,” I said hopelessly.
The unnatural creatures began scratching and biting him. It looked like they were ripping him to pieces. But the most hurtful of all was he let them. Gabriel let them gnaw at his skin if only to ease the burden of his soul. Why didn’t Gabriel tell me any of this? He hid the most devastating parts. Did he believe I would feel better not knowing the agony he went through?
Though I was conscious my actions didn’t matter, I lunged to save him. I couldn’t just stay there helplessly. I had to do something. When I touched Gabriel, I didn’t feel anything. His body, as well as his mind, went numb.
“For crying out loud, Gabriel. Wake up, fight, feel. If not for you, then for our love. For everything we had together.” I leaned my head on his shoulder and cried like I never had in my life. I mourned his pain. I mourned the life he had to endure without me, I mourned the life we could’ve had together. If only…
“You give a good fight, young man,” an echoing voice reverberated between the trees.
Who was that? I didn’t quite register who could be talking. Butstrigoiiretreated and stood in a row next to Gabriel. With his clothes shredded and bloodied, Gabriel propped himself on his elbows. He and I looked around to see where the voice came from, but no person appeared.
“Who are you?” asked Gabriel.
“The answer to all your problems,” the voice said.
Chapter 2
The voice rippled in numerous echoes every time it spoke. “There is a way to reunite with the one you pine for,” the voice said.
Upon hearing those words, Gabriel stood up and turned around to catch a glimpse of the mysterious apparition.
“Why should I trust you?” he asked.
“You do not have a choice. You’re already fraternizing with death. What is there to lose?”
“After everything I saw in the Celestial Forest, death might grant me more mercy.”
“Ah, but you have yet to seal your fate,” said the voice. “Life might linger within you for far longer than death could reach you. Do you wish to spend it in the hell that you call soul?”
“Nothing you say can mend it, so leave me alone, unnatural creature. I must return to my fight.”
“Who said I am an unnatural being?” The voice’s echoes began gathering in one place, and out of nowhere, a woman’s figure appeared––Vedoma’s. She looked exactly like the first time I saw her. She looked the witchy part quite well, dressed in a black corseted dress with large bell sleeves. The blond hair braided in an updo contrasted with the black gem crown on her head.
“I do not recognize you,” Gabriel said, the alcohol making him more brass. “Are you from His Majesty’s castle?”
“My power exceeds any mortal territory. I am Vedoma, Queen of The Other Realm, Keeper of Time.”
“It is you who destroyed my life,” Gabriel said and lunged at her. To his dismay (and mine), the witch vanished and appeared in a different part of the grove.
“Your mortal ways are ignorant at best. But I am not here to fight you. I am here to save you.”
“Save me from what?” Gabriel asked furiously as he turned toward her.
“From your misery.” Vedoma snickered. “I could bestow upon you the greatest power no human had ever held. You could rule over lands far greater than Wallachia.”
Gabriel laughed at her words. “Is this what you assume of me? A human hungry for power and land?”
“But this is only the beginning,” said Vedoma, unwavering in her intent. “You could live long enough to see your beloved.”
Suddenly, Gabriel’s cynical sneer halted. Vedoma grabbed his attention. “What do you mean live long enough?”
“I’m glad you’re beginning to see what I mean. If power isn’t what you wish for, then how about immortality?”
“You wish for me to become astrigoi?” Skepticism sketched on his face.
