Symphony of Death
Chapter 25

Anastasia’s POV

I was woken up in the middle of the night. I looked at Sax in confusion when she entered my room with a maid and a white dress.

“I’m here to escort you to the prayer dome,” she announced. The maid placed the dress on the bed and left. “I’m waiting outside.”

I got up quietly and changed into a white dress before walking out of the room.

I followed Sax quietly through the dark and silent hallways of the fort. The shadows dancing under dim lights gave me an eerie feeling.

I shivered a little when we came out in the open. We crossed the Obsidian Castle and moved down to the north end of the mountain.

The giant doors opened and we crossed the foyer to the main part of the dome. I wasn’t expecting to see a mass gathering. Everyone was wearing the same blue cloaks over their traditional clothes. The entire place was lit with torch lights and chandeliers.

“Anastasia,” Sax left when Sorush came. He guided me to the center of the dome. There was a small altar in front of the giant statue of a cloaked figure holding a scythe. “It’s Azrael,” Sorush informed me. “Are you ready?”

“Yes,” I answered. Sorush walked me to the altar. There were five cloaked figures around it.

“These are witches and warlocks of the highest ranks,” Sorush assured me. “They are going to break the curse.” He helped me sit on the altar. “I will be with you all the time.”

I looked at Logan when he came as well.

“I’m here for you.” He held my hand. I nodded at them and lied down.

The witches and warlocks began their chanting. All the Blue Bloods began intonating after them in sync. They raised their hands in the air and then knelt and bowed before standing up again. Every last one of them was following the same pattern.

I’ve got this.

I could feel the venom in my mouth when I looked at Sorush and Logan.

They have no idea how much I am going to fuck them up.

Flashback

I sat back when Sorush left my room and reached for the cup. I felt much better after talking to him.

“Shit,” the cup slipped from my hand and fell on the floor. I was glad it didn’t break. I hurriedly grabbed the wipes and cleaned the mess. I threw the used wipes in the bin and put the cup on the saucer.

“Can I come in?” I sat back properly and gave the permission to enter. The maid looked at my empty cup.

I couldn’t help but notice the hidden relief on her face when she found the cup empty.

“Should I take these away?”

“Yes,” she placed everything back in the trolley. “I am going to sleep until dinner. Make sure no one disturbs me.” She nodded and left the room.

I got up and tiptoed to the door.

“Did she drink it?”

“Yes,” the maid answered.

“Double the dose of kazaar in her next serving. Shorten the gap and serve the tea to her four times instead of three. Don’t make a mistake, do you hear me?”

“Yes, Sachem,”

“The effect should not break until the ceremony. Add it to her meal tonight if necessary.”

I moved back from the door.

What were they talking about? What are they adding to the tea?

The answer came within five minutes when my head suffered a splitting pain. I was drenched in sweat like I was drowned in water for hours.

I cupped my mouth and teetered to the bathroom. My legs were barely supporting my weight and I fell after turning on the cold shower. My body burnt and the feeling was beyond bearable.

I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes. It was near to impossible to keep myself from screaming. The pain numbed after what felt like an eternity and I finally felt the coldness of water on my burning skin.

The fog lifted and the void dissolved away as my brain began to function properly.

I looked around frantically. The last thing I remembered was walking out of the store with Shae.

Then...what happened after that?

I clutched my head with both hands and tried to probe my memories.

“Why can’t I-” my eyes flew open. “Hannah’s dead. Cain was there. I was there. Logan was there.”

It started when I drank that coffee. The headache started after that.

“Oh, God!” I stood up slowly. “I need to get out of here.”

End of Flashback

I didn’t know what they were giving me but it gave them full control over my mind.

I said what they wanted me to say and I reacted how they wanted me to react.

I was scared shitless but I had to be brave for myself. I did my research of their land under their noses. I had to be extra careful because I was being kept eyes on. They were monitoring my every action and conversation.

I couldn’t let them replace out that I broke out of their hypnotism before I found a way out of here. God knew what they would do to me then. I couldn’t take the risk.

Not until I found a way out of here and got Cain’s ring back.

I wanted to meet him as soon as possible.

My mind kept replaying the way he looked at me that time.

I hope he listens to me once... given that I get out of here alive.

I fisted my hand around the sword hidden under my dress. My hands shook when I remembered the horrendous truth I discovered in Logan’s study.

My intention to go there was to get back the ring and replace the location of Temisgate. It was the only way out of Istrigus.

But what I wasn’t expecting to replace was that sword.

The same sword that I found in Cain’s hand that night at Rose Raven. The one that was smeared with Laurel’s blood.

It belonged to Logan.

He was the one who killed Laurel.

It was so hard for me to keep my composure and pretense when I recognized the blade.

How dare he fool me? How dare he mock my emotions?

I was going to avenge Laurel. I was going to stab at least one of them.

They were the real enemies.

They didn’t want the wing to save the world. They wanted to control it and make everything else disappear.

I heard their conversation when I left the dining area.

Sorush was pure evil who didn’t even spare his daughter in his greed.

I was not going to let him win.

I pushed the witch back when she was about to cut my wrist. Everyone stopped chanting when she crashed into the table. I got off and ran toward Sorush.

“What are you-” I plunged the blade into his chest.

“Murderer,” I pushed him back after pulling the blade out.

“Anastasia!” Logan stumbled back when I slashed at his chest.

I knew it.

The ring fell out of his pocket and I picked it up before he could have. He was keeping it with him that’s why I couldn’t replace it in the study that night.

“What are you doing?” He hissed in pain.

“You left a memo when you killed Laurel at Rose Raven,” I said spitefully. “Bastard!” I shook with anger when his expressions shifted toward shock.

“Seize her,” Sorush yelled. “Don’t let her escape.”

“Don’t you dare come close” I raised my left hand.

I didn’t know what happened but every one of them was thrown back by a strong invisible push. I ran out of the dome before they could get up.

I ran wildly down the peak. I had no idea which path led where. They never let me set one foot out alone.

I was at the mercy of lady luck now.

“Please,” I rubbed the ring furiously while running wildly. It won’t be long until I was caught. I was a mere human and they were not. “Come, please. I beg you.”

I gasped loudly while looking down. I barely escaped falling into the mouth of death. There was no other route down the ridge.

It was a dead end.

“Anastasia,” I raised the sword in defense when Logan and Aelwin rounded me with dozens of other Blue Bloods.

The size of their scythe terrified me.

“Don’t move,” Logan yelled when I trudged back. “It doesn’t have to be this way. You can still turn back.”

“You were never honest,” I screamed at him. “You lied to me. You drugged me so you could control me.” I scorned. “Look at you, bringing armed forces against a mere human and you want me to come to you!”

“What other choices did you leave for me?” Logan snapped back. “You were not ready to leave his side and I had to bring you back, Omisha.”

“I am not Omisha,” I screamed. “I’m not that woman. I am not a conniving bitch, do you hear me?” I glared at them resentfully. “I don’t care about power and I’m not thirsty for it. I cannot kill anyone for my greed.”

“Larc,” I gripped the sword tightly when Sorush came with Sax, Viessa, and another dozen of armed Blue Bloods.

His chest bore no marks of my attack. Logan too.

Blue bloody reapers.

“That blade is not enough to kill me, child.”

“It hurt you at least,” I scoffed.

“I don’t care if you are a reincarnation of Omisha or not,” Sorush said malevolently. “You are born with his wing and that’s enough. The rest is irrelevant.”

“Why am I not surprised?” I snorted. “That’s why you could pulverize your daughter without any remorse” I tried riling him but he was extremely voracious.

“My daughter knew what was the right thing to do,” Sorush remarked coldly. “It’s not his power. He stole it. Cain is the evil who has no place in this world.”

“You were created in the same way,” I retorted.

“We are not,” Sorush spat. “We are blessed by divinity himself but he is not. We are blessed with Angel Azrael’s blood and he stole it. He is not the rightful bearer of such a boon. We are.” He smiled wickedly. “It’s only right for us to claim it by force and rid the world of such abominations.”

“You are insane,” I uttered in disbelief.

“I don’t have time to entertain your lunacy.” Sorush looked at Sax. “Bring her to me alive.”

“I dare you to take another step.” They stopped when I stumbled. “You think I’m a lunatic?” I mocked Sorush. “Let me show you how big of a cuckoo I can be.”

“Anastasia!” Logan yelled angrily when I placed the blade on my neck. “Put that down.”

“Over my dead body,” I gritted my teeth when its sharp edge dug into my flesh. I felt the warmth of the blood trickling down my skin. “You can dream of getting the wing out of me over my dead body.”

“Stop this nonsense,” Sorush’s cold facade cracked. “Stop her. I said stop her now.” He yelled in frustration.

“I’m not letting anyone take the wing,” I took another step back. “I’m only going to give it back to its rightful owner. And if not him, I will take it to the next life with my death.”

“No!” Sorush lunged forward angrily with his bunch.

I am going to die.

I closed my eyes and tightened my hold on the grip. I was going to slit my throat and jump.

The air spurred with a powerful flare.

Sorush jumped back and his subordinates were sent swirling in the air.

Someone palmed my head and grabbed my hand with the sword from behind. My heartbeat rang in my ears when I looked to my left and came face to face with the intruder that sent every Blue Blood in an uproar and high defense. I could hear the sirens ringing back at the fort even from here.

“Cain!” I couldn’t believe my eyes.

Was he real? Was he really here?

I had never seen him like this before. He was oozing power with his very presence. He looked every bit of danger he was in his black attire and with his glowing electric blue eyes.

Cain took the sword from me and touched the wound on my neck. His expressions darkened when I winced slightly.

“How dare you set foot on our land!” Sorush howled at him.

“Just like you infiltrated mine through your daughter,” Cain mocked. “Be glad that I didn’t slit your throat in your sleep.”

“It was you, wasn’t it?” Logan said furiously. “You infiltrated Temisgate and killed the vicars?” His anger rose. “How dare you enter our holy temple and lay hands on our dominies?”

“I believe this belongs to you,” Cain threw both swords to his feet. “I knew you were up to no good.” He eyed them in revulsion. “But you will stoop so low as to maim your so-called daughter mentally,” Cain sneered at Sorush, “that’s another level of new.”

“You came to your demise on your own, Dalazar Daemmone,” Sorush laughed loudly.

“You stole my possession right at my watch,” Cain glanced at me sideways. “How could you expect me to just sit and do nothing?”

“Your arrogance is nothing but folly,” Sorush laughed. “You are not leaving this place alive. This centuries-old conflict will end here with your life.”

Cain held me protectively when Blue Bloods rounded us from above and below.

“My oh my,” he chuckled darkly. “How scary.”

“Cain,” I grabbed his arm and looked around fearfully. He was greatly outnumbered. “I’m sorry.”

“You underestimate me so much,” I closed my eyes when he wiped them with the back of his gloved index finger. “It’s too early to mourn, love.”

“It’s not funny,” I whispered and he smirked.

“It will be,” Cain stroked my cheek with his thumb, “I want you to stay here, no matter what.” He released me and faced his enemies.

I looked at his back in bewilderment when he stepped away and ten gigantic varmints surrounded me.

“I will be right back.” He said without looking.

“Be careful,” I yelled after him. Cain just chuckled in response. They didn’t even give each other warning and struck each other.

I cupped my mouth when hundreds of Blue Bloods charged at Cain from left and right.

I was wrong. No amount of numbers were enough to take him down.

Cain didn’t even lift a finger or break a sweat while he sent them flying in different directions after beating them to a pulp.

Logan and Sax charged at him with Aelwin and Viessa.

Their scythes clashed with his sword thunderously. Cain’s movements were lithe and fast. He hurled Sax and Viessa while blocking a simultaneous attack from Aelwin and Logan. Cain incapacitated Aelwin next.

“You still couldn’t do shit,” Cain taunted Logan. He blocked the attack of his scythe skillfully with just two fingers. They pushed against each other and spun on their heels before engaging their weapons in another macabre. “I can feel the sting.”

“I won’t let you win,” Logan snarled. “I will stop you at any cost and bring her back.”

“Good luck with that,” Cain jumped in the air and kicked Logan in the face. He locked his head in his knee and pivoted him hard before throwing him toward Sorush.

“He is a disappointment,” Cain taunted, pointing toward a beaten Logan.

“Kill her,” Sorush barked. “Kill the girl.” Sorush charged at Cain and his subordinates came at me with aerial attacks.

Their spears evaporated the varmints into a flash of smoke and now it was my turn as they aimed hundreds of lances at me.

“Don’t you dare!” Cain thundered. Sorush and other Blue Bloods along with Logan became an impenetrable obstacle between us. “Sorush!” Cain swung his sword at him and others jumped at Cain. “Coward!”

“I told you, didn’t I?” Sorush jumped back and let others round him up. “You will die today.” He raised his hand in the air. “But first, I will rip you off piece by piece.”

All that left my mouth was a gasp when I saw the spears coming towards me. I couldn’t even blink or scream.

I was paralyzed with impending doom.