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“Are we?” I asked as I made a closer step.
“Of course,” he said excitedly. “We will have the family we always dreamed of. Aren’t you elated?” He opened his arms to hug me.
I sprinted toward him with the greatest speed I could muster and stabbed the silver-coated dagger into his heart. Both of us fell to the floor. He gazed at me with an array of emotions, from surprise, disbelief, betrayal, disappointment, and finally, defeat.
The dagger wasn’t strong enough to hurt him, but the pain on his face resembled a thousand silver bullets ripping through his body.
A sole tear traveled from his eye, but Gabriel never broke eye contact with me. I expected anger in his eyes, but there was none. He could easily subdue and crush me, but he lay there in indescribable anguish, searching for answers on my face.
“I’m sorry, Gabriel. I’m so sorry,” I pleaded, tears flooding my eyes. “I love you. Please forgive me.”
When he heard my words, he smiled softly. Even in the most painful of times, his smile stayed just as radiant as the first time I saw it while hiding behind the Great Hall’s door in Wallachia.
“I will find a way,” I said desperately as I leaned on his body. “I promise. I’ll find a way. It’s my turn now, right?” I smiled, trying hopelessly to hide my pain.
With the same accepting smile, he caressed my cheek and said, “Thank you, my love.” Then his touch disappeared, just like his entire body, which slowly transformed into ashes and dissipated.
The dagger fell on the floor next to me. I lay there for God knows how long, but I couldn’t let go of the ground. His death broke me. I didn’t know how to glue myself together. I hoped my tears would find a way.
Chapter 18
Morning met me in the same position. Though I closed my eyes many times, sleep was never in my plans. The sole feeling traversing my body was numbness.
“Petra, are you okay?” a voice asked.
I didn’t even have the energy to turn around.
“Let me help you.”
I raised my eyes only to realize it was Mei. My numbness spread to my brain as I couldn’t even recognize my friend.
“What happened?” she asked as she helped me to a sitting position.
“Gabriel. He… I…” I broke into tears.
“Did he return?”
I nodded, unable to speak.
“Where is he?”
“I had to. I had to. He wanted to hurt her. He couldn’t control it. All was in vain,” I blurted incoherently and covered my tearful face.
“I’m sorry. I don’t understand,” Mei said. “Who did Gabriel want to hurt?” Distress sketched on her face.
But I couldn’t produce any more words. I simply threw myself in her arms.
“His Majesty returned to complete the sacrifice,” said another deeper voice.
“What sacrifice, Troy?” Mei asked.
I raised my head to see Gabriel’s Second-in-command looking as distraught as me.
“I didn’t have a choice. I didn’t…” I looked at him.
He entered the room, kneeled beside me, and placed a hand on my shoulder. “You did the necessary thing, Milady.”
His words made me cry even louder.
