War of Hearts

17 - The Rizrana hunter

The sun streamed through the windows, yet her mind was clouded with grey. Her mood ricocheted between low and lower. She had no energy or motivation to get done the mountain of work that awaited her. So she sat in her night dress and watched her mother sleeping. She prayed for Ever to come back safe and take all the burdens off her shoulders. Elizabeth was thanking God for making her the youngest so that she has fewer responsibilities. Elizabeth was never the responsible type, she enjoyed her light life.

"What's in your mind?" A voice asked her.

She looked around the room and found the grand councilor, Carlisle Roosevelt at the door.

The grand councilor came into the room and closed the door. "Alexander and Cedric is out there with the Capital army defending the palace," he paused and took a glimpse of the queen. She has grown thin and was bathed with sweat. He continued, "Eli, why aren't you supporting them?"

Streaming tears cleansed her red cheeks. Few droplets remained, forgetting their way as the path was swept from beneath them, consequently blurring the Elizabeth's vision with waves of sadness. The salty release calmly flowed into her mouth so that she could taste her own sorrow.

Carlisle placed his hand on Eli's shoulder and knelt down to keep eye contact with Elizabeth. "Eli, what's wrong with you?"

"I am a coward," she gasped.

"Eli, you're not. You..."

She cut him off. "Do you know why I ordered to hide in the bunker?"

"Why?"

She wiped away the tears and looked at her dying mother. "I'm afraid of losing everyone I love. I'm afraid, Carlisle."

"This is not the Elizabeth I knew."

A light smile escaped her thin lips. "Of course, I'm not that Elizabeth." She fixed her gaze on Carlisle. "Alexander doesn't love me." She held up her hand and showed Carlisle the golden circle on the inner part of her wrist. "It still hurts, it's burning my skin."

Carlisle took hold of Eli's hand and placed a kiss on wrist. "He loves you, Eli. After all, he's your husband."

She shook her head and laughed lightly. "Did you forget? Our marriage isn't completed."

"Once everything is solved, we can complete your marriage."

"He won't, he won't." Tears flooded through her sorrowful eyes.

Carlisle stood up. "Eli, you have to stop this!" he shouted at her. "You aren't the only one who's hurt," he paused to breathe. "My wife is a blood drinker; once everything is solved she'll be executed. Julian as ran away to Azera to help Ever. Everyone is hurt. We are all living beings, we do get hurt. Lamenting is not the way to overcome hurt."

Elizabeth moved her long fingers through her greyish hair as if messaging her head.

Carlisle continued, "Yes, you're a coward. Ever went to Azera to save all of us. Everyone's doing their best to save Angelic. Look at you." He pointed his index finger at Elizabeth. "What are you doing? You're weeping over your incomplete marriage. The Queen will be very disappointed about you."

And then he left the room.

"I was always loved. I always wanted to be loved. I never expected love to hurt me so badly. Yes, I'm a coward. I'm afraid that my heart will break," she whispered to herself.

* * *

Aiden stood, folding both arms over his chest. He didn't fear a woman in the least, angel or human. But when she approached, Aiden was close to changing that deposition when Basilia's balled fist collided with his cheekbone, flaying his neck backward like a dried fruit caught in the wind. As he stumbled, he fell; he nearly fell on the ground.

"Oh baby," he murmured, regaining his balance.

Basilia punched his face.

Their faces were unreadable, no fear, no invitational smirk. Aiden tightened his arms around Basilia and grabbed her toward him. Basilia felt the comfortable warmth of Aiden. Aiden felt the godly smell of Basilia destroying his senses. Basilia tried to push Aiden by using her legs but she failed and both of them fell on the ground. A string of curses unraveled from her tongue. Basilia took a deep breathe, the first thing that came into her mind was her mother who was on her way to heaven, then flowed all her beautiful memories tied with Angelic. She has to protect her land. Suddenly a crushing blow struck Aiden's chest.

Basilia stood up and lifted Aiden. She smashed into Aiden's face. She pushed Aiden on to the ground and took a dagger from her trouser pocket. The dagger was small and somewhat unassuming with its plain wooden handle. She pointed the dagger at Aiden's chest and smirked.

"Kill me, beautiful Angel," Aiden whispered.

"I'm an Angel, not a murderer." Basilia knelt down on the ground. "Come with us."

Aiden smirked. "The law is the law. Kill me and take someone else."

"Idiot!" Basilia screamed and grabbed Aiden from the ground.

Atlas offered Basilia's jacket for her. There was silence among the werewolves. Aiden was stunned in the middle of the crowd. Basilia put on the jacket and turned to face Atlas. "Let's get going."

"You can't disobey the law of werewolves, my lady."

Atlas and Basilia looked around to see who it was. Among the crowd of werewolves a woman stepped forward. She has strong body features; most likely she had the features of a hunter.

"Marina Roosevelt," Atlas whispered to Basilia.

The woman had short brownish black hair. Her eyes were coffee brown and her skin was sun kissed. The bowed Atlas and Basilia, and spoke, "I am Marina Roosevelt, the Rizrana hunter."

"We know who you are," Basilia said and gave a spooky smile to Marina. "We've got no time to waste, Angelic is in danger."

"So be it, kill Aiden and have a sacrifice for Angelic." Marina was expressionless. Atlas wondered how she became so stiff.

Atlas held out his hand, blue sparks flickered from his fingertips. They flew to Aiden and travelled around Aiden's body. Aiden floated on the air. He had an utterly miserable look on his face.

Marina took a sword out from its sheath and ran toward Basilia. Basilia raised her hand and created an air wall. Marina bumped on the air wall and fell on the ground.

"Ma!" Aiden cried, his face horrified.

"Aiden will come with us to the Capital," Basilia said and walked through the crowd of werewolves. Atlas followed her and the blue sparks made Aiden follow the Air Angels.