The Angel of Death

Part - 13

Stefan stood there for long time, too stunned to move or do anything. Did Tessa just slapped him?

Slightly salty and coppery taste on his tongue was the proof of blood from the split caused by Tessa's slap.

It was the first time someone has slapped him. All the years he spent chasing skirts, all hearts he broke while being the most coveted lover of Xaincia, never have any heartbroken girl have slapped him.

Being the prince had its benefits and he knew how to use them, charm a comly girl, shower her with romantic words and expensive gifts then dump her to chase another.

In those wild days he didn't have any compilation, not even from Darian.

Now everything was different, he is not a prince anymore, he never tried to charm Tessa, wasn't able to buy anything expensive for her and he doesn't really want to dump her. Instead he wants to keep her with him forever but he can't.

As per the law he can never own anything now, he is just a nobody who can't own a piece of land, can't have his family name, can't offer to marry Tessa.

With him her life will be in danger and he won't let that happen, but the force of the slap have made him realize his mistake.

He was not being fare to her by deciding her future for her. He should have asked what would she want to do when she goes away from here. Maybe she wants to go home and live the life she was born to live.

Deciding he ran out of the door and called her name, but there was no reply. He ran towards the gate but that was firmly locked with the flowers climbers intact.

A sick feeling started in his soul. Have Tessa ran out through the back gate? Would she be so dumb to risk her life? "Oh Gods.... what have I done?" He groaned and ran towards the stable for Ambrosden but skidded to stop by it's door.

The scene met his eyes was mesmerizing. Tessa stood there only in one of his white shirts, hugging the tall black horse. Her arms holding Ambrosden's thickly muscled neck, her face buried in his mane.

Stefan stood there watching her for some time, closing his eyes to save that vision in his mind forever, before he started towards her only to stopped again by a low growl and then notices Tiny. Who was sitting by Tessa's feet and now slowly raised his head, growling at him. AT HIM?

He muttered a curse to his unfaithful dog before saying "Tessa..."

"Go away!" She shouted without turning to face him.

He started towards her again but Tiny stood up, loudly growling at him now and Ambrosden stomped his front hoofs.

"Traitors..." he muttered eyeing his once faithful animals taking her side, trying to protect her from him. He shook his head and tried again "Tessa baby..."

"Don't you baby me Stefan," she turned to face him then, eyes stromy and red, cheeks wet with tears, lower lip trembling, arms straight and stiff by her side, hands tightly fisted "you said all you had to say and I heard what you couldn't say"

"I am sorry for hurting you Tessa but I want what's best for you. I didn't know you would take it wrong. I just want you to be happy"

"I was perfectly happy moments ago."

"I want you to be happy forever. I want you to have the best future. I wish...." he trailed off.

"You wish me to go away. You wish you don't have be around me anymore. You wish to get ridd of me." She spat.

He shook his head, only if he could tell her how wrong she was. He wished he could keep her with him forever, he wished he could be around her forever, he wished he would never have to let her go. But wishing won't help here. Xaincia's law was final and clear. A person in exile have no rights what so ever, he can't promise her anything. If he did he would be challenging Xaincia and that would mean his punishment changes from exile to beheading and Tessa have to watch it before being thrown in the dungeons for helping an exiled and being equal partner in the crime of challenging Xaincia.

He could never let that happen. Five years he had been alone, five years he spent his life as nothing. Five years he burned to see his homeland again, five years was long enough to dash all his hopes.

Although he has seen no one from his land but he knows he is being watched. Crime that he had done was way more serious for the light punishment Darian has given him, but he knows Darian wasn't a fool.

As a brother he gave him the softest punishment he could but as the King of Xaincia he will keep an eye open for any threat to Xaincia and it's people.

Only if he could go back in time and change things, then he would never be friends with Tiatan, he would never foolishly believe everything Alayken has said, he would never challenge Darian to fight him in combat festival, he would never kidnap Darian's woman, he would never hunger for the unlimited power of The curse and Pride, he would just leave everything and run away instead of killing the entire village of comcastian.

But he couldn't and he wouldn't let his sins ruin the life of his Angel.

"Don't worry about answering Stefan, I'll be gone in the morning or its too much to ask? I can go now if you want me to"

Her voice brought him back and he just stared at her for a long time before replying "I will take you where you want to go in the morning"

"Don't bother yourself with me, your wish is granted, you won't have to see me again"

He just nodded and looked down, unable to look in her eyes where he knew only hate was. Hate for him, and that was like a knife twisting in his guts.

"Now go away" she said turning away from him.

"Please come inside Tessa" he said in defeated voice.

"No."

"Please bay... Tessa. Come inside."

"Why you care? I am going in the morning. Just leave me be here. As it is I don't want to be around you anymore"

That was like a punch to him. "I will stay here if you really want to be far from me"

"Yes I want to be far from you, as far as possible" she said and looked towards the river. What use to live anymore? She should have died that night only when her family has so heartlessly disowned her. That way she would have not known how wonderful ones life could be.

But this cursed man saved her and bought her here to give her the taste of real life. Just to take it all away in a minute. When she started living again, when she has started dreaming again. Oh how foolish she was to think he cared for her.

He never have cared for her then why have he saved her, why he endangered himself for her, why he showed her what life would have been with him.

She would never understand his motives but she know what she has to do.

There is nothing left for her, no family, no hope, no future, no Stefan. There is only one way left for her. She would walk out of that door and welcome her fate with open arms. The beast would make it easier.

"Fine" she told Stefan and started towards the house but as he went in the stable crossing her, she turned and ran towards the gate.

Tiny barked and Ambrosden nighed loudly, it took him a few moments to understand what made the Animals distress. Then he turned towards the gate and his heartbeats stopped.

Tessa was running towards the river, she flung the gate open and splashed in the river, trying to swim to towards the snapping beasts.