The Petals of A Dream - II

Beautiful ((Chapter 35))

"It doesn't take a lot to destroy one's world. Sometimes, losing just one person is enough to end the world you once dreamed of."

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*** Alaire's POV ***

She was there right before my very eyes, as still as stone, even more beautiful than before. She lay on a bed of wild irises, atop the black altar in the middle of the chamber. Her ashen lips were curved into a sad smile, her eyes closed for all eternity. She seemed only asleep, if not for the fact that a shiny obsidian dagger pierced through her chest.

I couldn't explain the turmoil of emotions brewing inside my chest. Anger, anguish, disbelief, misery, and something more passionate. The desire to kill.

I was angry at her for not taking into account the feelings of those around her, for doing what she deemed right. I was angry at myself too, for not having the power to stop her, for deliberating which was more important to me. I was angry at the old man standing behind me, despite his dishevelled appearance; he was the catalyst of this all. There were too many to blame... but I felt useless.

Powerless.

Pathetic.

The pain was numbing me, my vision becoming darker as seconds ticked by. I could literally feel the tissues of my heart being ripped apart into shreds. I was breathing, but I couldn't feel my lungs. There was no air.

I couldn't move nor think coherently at all.

Was this for real?

Was this a nightmare?

Wake me up, I pleaded, please wake me up.

"Abrielle..."

At a moment like this, I thought I was enclosed in my own world, unable to hear anything around me. There were other people with us now, both comrades and the Alphas. Since the ritual was done, there was no reason to fight anymore. We've lost our reason to fight.

I could see misery on their faces, their tears, but they seemed unreal to me.

Only one voice penetrated through my muted world. It was a voice full of bitterness and sorrow even greater than mine.

"Abrielle?" he called out again, sounding empty. Behind my tears, I could see his tortured face. His eyes were glassy, clouded from reality. Everything turned surreal. He slowly approached the altar, climbing the grand stairs one at a time. It was as if he was in a trance, a disbelieving smile on his face. "Come on, this is just a joke right? You can't possibly be..."

I thought I was the pathetic one, but I was proven wrong. Yhuelle was more than wretched. It was painful to watch him, but I couldn't stop staring at him. He seemed desperate to be near her, but couldn't make himself move faster.

"Abrielle..." The mist on his eyes disappeared as he stood before her. His knees gave up, and he knelt before the altar in an eerie silence.

Realization had hit me.

Without his Ab, he lost his senses.

It was as if Yhuelle had died too.

Suddenly, bright red flames raged inside the room, spreading wildly from the middle. It was an image of Inferno. My sense snapped back, and I immediately backed away from the crimson flames. Fortunately, only my cloak got burned. Everyone was in panic now.

"Stop him!" Lord Marcus ordered. "He might destroy the whole island!"

No way. If he do that, Abrielle's sacrifice would be all for naught. I threw a quick glance at the new Core, a white mass of condensed life force floating behind the altar. It must be saved, at all costs.