Heartglass

Heartglass 26: Exposed

AZALEA

The atmosphere turned cold. An invisible tension filled the space between us and I noticed how Prince Dion's shoulders shifted uncomfortably. I bit my bottom lip when he slowly faced me, his blue eyes filled with confusion and disbelief.

He opened his mouth then closed it again as if he was scared to speak. He sighed heavily before finally uttering his questions with hesitation. "What do you mean? You're connected to the witch? What visions?" he asked, uncertain if he heard everything right. "What do you mean you need to. . . die? To reverse the curse?"

I tightly bit my bottom lip before I let go of the words I was afraid to say. "It's. . . I'm not so sure but. . . about the visions. . . there are times I just suddenly stopped moving, as if time was suddenly stopping for me and then I would see images. . . memories. . . the witch's memories—Celeste's memories. I feel like we are somehow connected. . . I don't know. I'm also confused."

I sighed. "But in the curse. . . there's this specific line—with my death, the curse is done—what if she's not really dead yet? What if she's actually living through me? Or her memories are living in me? I know this sounds insane but what if we are really connected? What if we are one? Am I making sense?" I felt like I was babbling nonsense but this was the only thing that actually makes sense now.

He shook his head. His eyes were in denial and confused. "You're not making any sense." His right hand frustratedly combed his ash blue hair. "Lady Shirdine just died and you're suggesting to die too? And willingly at that? What if you're wrong with your assumptions? We can no longer turn back time. We can never bring you back to life if we're wrong. We can't make any mistakes. And I don't want. . . I don't want to lose you." His eyes were conflicted and pained and uncertain. Maybe he already had enough of all these vain deaths.

I bit my bottom lip. I looked at him with defeat in my eyes. "I know you don't want to lose me because of your plans. But I can see Celeste's memories. I somehow know her past. I feel like my death is the key to end and stop this curse. I'm ready to die to stop the curse. Because I feel like. . . I have the same fate as Lady Shirdine. At least, I don't want to die in vain. Maybe I won't have any regrets if I. . . d-die with a purpose." My voice cracked a little. Maybe deep inside me, I was actually scared of the words coming out from my lips. Maybe I was actually afraid of dying.

But I didn't want to falter now.

His eyebrows furrowed. His blue eyes narrowed, disappointment seeping in his eyes. The light in his blue eyes suddenly turned dull. "Why do you assume that you have the same fate as Lady Shirdine? And why do you assume that I don't want to lose just because I need you for my plans? You really think I'm such a jerk, huh." He gazed at me with such a tormented and sad expression and I almost felt sorry for him.

My heart somehow ached for him.

I gulped. Why did I feel a sudden fang of guilt? He must be a jerk, right? "She fell in love with you and she broke her heart," I directly reminded him.

Silence filled the room. He gaped a little and intently studied my face. He tightly shut his eyes as if he was afraid to utter the words hanging on his lips. He uncomfortably combed his ash blue hair with his two hands.

My eyes turned hazy and blurry. I continued to speak despite the burning in my throat. "I don't want to chase love. . . I don't want to chase your love. Because I know the love I will be chasing is just a heartbreak away. And I don't want to die with such pain. I don't want to die with disappointment."

His eyes flew open wide. His gaze turned a little confused and wild as if he was nearing to break his self-control. He looked at me with genuine surprise. "So are you. . . are you confessing your love to me?" There was uncertainty in his almost hoarse and silent voice.