Cursed Beneath the Shadows

Unguided Path

     We head outside the door and the bright light blinds me immediately as I step out.

"What did Leo say to you, Ash?" He stops mid-step and exhales heavily.

"He told me to stop being around you, that i'm too clingy..blah..blah..blah. I ignored him and said I will do whatever I want, he didn't like that I was standing up to him so openly." I can feel my eyebrows furring as he talks, of course he wouldn't listen to him. He's not the type of guy to take some criticism from another person. I'm sure my brother being human doesn't help.

"So..then what?" He puts his hands on his head and fixes his hair.

"I left the conversation with this" I dare you to keep me away from her" or something along those lines." I internally face palm and kinda chuckle.

"Of course you did, Ash". I laugh at his comment and sit down on a nearby bench.

"Ash..what is going to happen to us?" My mood shifting seconds after. It took him a second to realize I was being serious. He plopped down next to me and put his hand on mine and stared at me.

"Via, I like you, you like me, but.. I am a demon. You're a human, and ever since you've been having those vivid dreams, more supernatural creatures have been coming after you. I want to protect you as much as I can, I would destroy this world to make you happy, but I change tonight. I won't see you as much as I want to, when I go back to Hell I am going to talk to the elders and see what can be done. Considering the candidates for the Throne, you're the best option and is said to be destined to take rule over us all. I know you haven't thought seriously about the arrangement, but time is nearing its end and we won't have much of a choice but to force you to complete the ritual.

He takes a few seconds to pause and catch his breath. Looking into my eyes, I can see the sadness and frustration swirling in them. I stay silent, closely listening to what he has to say.

"Listen, V, you were raised by your parents and the Academy since birth, you don't know anything different in terms of ruling or competing for the throne. There's been more and more people that are currently after you, and seeing as I can't raise Hell, literally, to help you.. I want you to take this conversation and think about what you want to do going forward, okay?"

My brain tries to organize all of the information and understand what he is telling me. This is my choice, my decision, and I can't keep just going day by day and trying to get by with fooling around. My hand brushes against the front pocket, where the letter is in, and I slide the zipper open and carefully handle the envelope. I look up at Ash and I know my face must look either completely blank or filled with all kinds of emotions.

I grab onto his hand and with the other free one, open the envelope. My eyes scanning the contents carefully for about three minutes until I feel it slip from my grasp.

My head pounds, and I can feel my vision wavering. I grab tightly onto Ash as I feel my conscious fade.

Ash P.O.V.

After about 10 minutes of talking to her, she grabs onto my hand and opens her front pocket and pulls out an envelope, opening it with her hand she skims over a few of the lines and then I feel her go heavy in just seconds.

"Via?" I move her hair out of her face and feel her head, she's burning up. I remove my hand and lay her down on me, picking up the envelope. I debate whether to read it or take her to the nurse, after seeing how her body reacted from whatever was in the file I decide to read it for myself.

It reads:

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