57. Princess Davina
Chapter 57
Princess Davina
“True love is selfless.
It is prepared to sacrifice.”
— Sadhu Vaswani
T he prisoner, a disheveled man with a haunted look in his eyes, stares up at us from his shackles.
“This is him,” Rafe says quietly. “He’s not a good man. He’s done terrible things.”
The dungeon’s damp, cold air feels suffocating, and the darkness presses in from all sides. “I want to do it in the courtyard,” I say, my voice firmer than I feel. “So he can see something beautiful before—” My voice falters, and my throat tightens.
Rafe nods solemnly and steps forward, unlocking the prisoner’s shackles. The man stumbles to his feet, his movements slow and stiff. Rafe supports him, practically carrying him out of the dungeon.
I follow, my heart pounding with every step.
We step into the courtyard, the evening sky a canvas of warm oranges and pinks, the setting sun casting a golden glow over everything. All those flowers bloom in vibrant colors, and a gentle breeze rustles the leaves of the trees. It’s almost peaceful, a cruel irony considering what’s about to happen.
Rafe places the man on his knees, and I take another deep breath, trying to steady myself. I can hear my own heartbeat in my ears, and my hands tremble as I approach.
I look into the man’s eyes, searching for any sign of humanity. I can’t help but wonder what brought him to this point, what made him the way he is. For a moment, we just stare at each other, the silence stretching out between us.
“Do you have any last words?” I ask.
The prisoner looks up at me, his eyes searching mine for a moment before he shakes his head.
This is the end for him, and I’m the one who has to end it.
I swallow hard, tears stinging my eyes.
I can’t.
My chest feels too tight, my heart too heavy.
I can’t do this.
I feel a tear slip down my cheek.
Rafe’s jaw is set in a hard line. “Are you sure about this?” he asks softly, but with an underlying tremor that betrays his inner turmoil.
He wants Cole back, too.
Taking a shuddering deep breath, I try to feel the power within me. For a moment, I falter, the cruelty of what I’m about to do is too much to bear.
I think of Cole, think of Lorelda?—
Suddenly, the man’s skin reddens, turning blotchy. Blisters form and burst, and a single spark ignites, quickly growing into a blazing inferno. The man’s eyes widen in terror, the raw flesh searing by the relentless flames, and the smell of burning flesh fills the air, acrid and nauseating. I cry out, want to look away, want to shut out the horror, but I force myself to watch.
This is my doing.
And I’m going to hell for this.
His pleas for mercy are a distant echo, barely registering over the roar of my own thoughts.
Rafe doesn’t even flinch, but I see the horror in his eyes, the weight of the terrible act pressing down on us both.
Horrible.
Disturbing.
I step back, feeling a heavy wave of nausea wash over me.
The flames consume the stranger, reducing him to ash. I watch the fire dying out, leaving only smoldering embers where he just stood.
I almost collapse to the ground, feeling a cold numbness settle over me.
Rafe is beside me instantly, steadying me as I begin to shake uncontrollably. I feel the tears streaming down my face, and I can’t hold back the sobs any longer. The weight of what I’ve done crashes down on me, and I bury my face in Rafe’s shoulder.
“It’s done,” he says, his hand rubbing soothing circles on my back. “You did what you had to do.”
I nod, unable to speak, my mind a whirlwind of emotions. The guilt and horror gnaw at me. I can only hope that Cole’s freedom will make this nightmare worth it, that I can find a way to live with this burden.
I gasp as a strange sensation begins to tingle at the tips of my fingertips, then spread through my body like wildfire. An intense energy builds, pulsating within me, begging to be set free.
Rafe steps back as magic envelops me, his eyes widening. “Are you alright?” he asks, concern lacing his voice.
“I... I don’t know,” I reply, my voice trembling.
With a deep breath, I close my eyes and embrace the surge of it. It’s a heady sensation, both exhilarating and terrifying in equal measure. With each rush, a tingling energy courses through my veins, electrifying every fiber of my being. Every hair on my body stays on end.
It’s overwhelming.
Instinctively, I stretch out a hand, imagining the energy flowing through me, and out into the world. The air around me crackles with anticipation. I can feel it gathering, the power just beneath my skin. The sensation intensifies, and a light begins to glow from my palm, soft at first, then brighter and brighter until it illuminates the entire yard. The energy pulses; I picture a flame dancing above my hand. With a flick of my wrist, a beam of crackling energy shoots forth from my outstretched hand.
“Watch out, goddamnit,” Rafe exclaims. “I don’t wanna get grilled.”
“I’m sorry!”
The flame obeys my will, responding to my every thought and command. It’s growing and shrinking, changing colors with a mere thought.
It’s strange, but it’s mesmerizing. And it’s utterly mine.
“Try something else,” Juliet says, watching in awe.
I glance around, the fountain catching my attention. As I focus my energy on the water, I raise my hand again, and a gentle stream of water begins to pour out of my fingertips. It dances in the air, forming patterns as I guide it with my mind.
“Look at that,” Juliet breathes. “Unbelievable.”
The water swirls and twists, and with a flick of my wrist, I summon a powerful wave that accidentally crashes down on Rafe.
“I’m sorry!” I shout. “I can’t control it yet.”
Rafe scowls, dripping wet. “Maybe practice away from us next time.”
Ignoring his grumbling, I close my eyes and stretch out both hands, palms forward. I envision a shield, a barrier to withstand an assault. The energy builds, coursing through me, stronger than before. With a determined thought, I release it. A shimmering barrier forms, surrounding me with its impenetrable glow. I marvel at its shimmering, sparkling surface.
“Now, that’s impressive,” Juliet whispers, stepping closer, her gaze locked on the barrier.
“Can you hold it?” Rafe asks, his tone a mix of curiosity and wariness.
“I don’t know,” I respond, focusing on maintaining the shield. The energy flows steadily, a constant hum of power, but then it vanishes all at once, leaving me gasping for breath.
I stagger, feeling the sudden absence of the energy that filled me. My knees buckle, and I barely catch myself before hitting the ground.
“Hey, take it easy,” Juliet says, rushing to my side. She helps me steady myself, her touch grounding me as I try to catch my breath.
Rafe approaches, his scowl softening. “You okay?”
“Yes,” I manage to say between breaths. “Just... overdid it, I guess.”
Juliet eyes me warily. “Maybe you should rest?—”
“No,” I say quickly. “I want us to get Cole back.”
Rafe’s brows furrow. “You want to do this now? You can’t control it, Davina. We can’t handle Lorelda?—”
“I know I can’t, but we have to do something,” I press. “Do you know where her cottage is?”
“Yes, but?—”
“No buts,” I snap, raising a hand. “We’re going.”
Rafe sighs heavily. “Fine, we’re going.” He turns to Juliet, giving her a quick kiss. “You’re staying here.”
“No, I’m coming with,” she insists.
Rafe shakes his head. “No, something could happen to you. It’s too dangerous, sweetheart.”
“No, Rafe. I’m coming. If you try to stop me, I’ll find a way to follow you anyway.”
“Juliet, please,” Rafe pleads, his voice softening.
“I’m coming with you,” she repeats firmly.
Rafe looks between us, clearly torn. “Juliet, I—” He groans, his face is a mix of frustration and resignation. Sighing, he rubs his temples. “Alright. But stay close to me, both of you.”
With a nod, we set off towards Lorelda’s cottage.
The forest looms ahead, and Juliet and I follow Rafe as he leads the way. The darkness envelops us quickly, and soon, I can barely see more than a few feet ahead, only my breath visible in the cold, damp air.
“Rafe, do you know where we are?” I whisper. “How much further?”
Rafe’s face is grim, but he nods. “The cottage should be just beyond an old oak tree. Stay close. It’s not far.”
I press forward, the silence of the forest pressing in on me, my mind racing with thoughts of Cole. I hate him for his recklessness, and I love him for it just the same.
“Why did he have to do it?” I mutter under my breath.
Juliet’s grip tightens on my arm. “Because he loves you.”
Rafe stops abruptly, raising a hand for silence. “Shh. Listen.”
We freeze, the forest eerily quiet. A faint rustling breaks the stillness, followed by a guttural growl that sends shivers down my spine.
“What was that?” I whisper. “Shadows?”
“Yes,” Rafe answers quietly. “We need to move, now.”
But it’s too late. Two Shadows move toward Juliet, but I push her aside. Rafe springs into action, the blade of his sword cutting through one of them, the creature dissipating into a cloud of dark mist. The remaining Shadow recoils, its growl guttural before it retreats.
Rafe’s breathing is heavy as he looks at Juliet, his eyes roaming over her body. “We need to move quickly,” he says, sheathing his sword. “There may be more of them. Stay close.”
We step into a clearing, the outline of a small, decrepit cottage coming into view.
Juliet and I exchange tense glances, my heart pounding.
“There,” Rafe says, pointing. “That’s her cottage.”
It’s the kind of place that gives you goosebumps and makes you want to run the other way as fast as you can. Just looking at it sends shivers down your spine, and you can’t shake the feeling that something evil is lurking inside.
It’s all black and spooky, its presence casting a suffocating shadow over the clearing, as if it’s sucking the light from the very air. The windows are like empty eyes staring out into the darkness, and the air is thick with magic, the kind that makes your skin prickle and your heart race.
We approach cautiously, and Rafe turns to me, his gaze filled with worry. “Wait,” he whispers urgently. “Stop. This is too reckless. I can’t let you go any further.”
I gape at him, my mind struggling to process his words. “What are you talking about?”
“This is madness,” he mutters. “We don’t even have a solid plan. We should leave and come back after we?—”
I blink, sure I heard wrong. “We didn’t come here for nothing.”
He hesitates, clearly torn between helping me and remaining loyal to Cole, all while trying to protect Juliet.
Determination burns in my veins. “If you want to leave, go. But I’m not turning back.”
With a resigned sigh, he mutters, “I’ll regret this.”
Before fear can shatter the moment, I act on instinct. My knuckles barely rap against the door before it swings open.
My heart threatens to explode as Cole appears in the doorway, his face drained of color, a mixture of relief and terror etched in his features.
“What the hell are you doing here?” he hisses, his eyes darting nervously over his shoulder. “You shouldn’t be here. Get out now, before?—”
In a burst of fury and frustration, I raise my hand and deliver a sharp slap to his cheek. The sound echoes in the stillness, and a look of shock flashes across his face.
His hand instinctively rises to touch the spot where I struck him.
His eyes meet mine in disbelief. “Can’t believe you just did that,” he says, a hint of incredulous amusement in his voice.
“And I can’t believe you just tried to send me away!”
Cole shakes his head slowly, concern and disbelief clouding his gaze. “You don’t understand what you’re walking into.”
“Then explain it to me!” I demand, exasperation bubbling to the surface.
“Lorelda will be back any moment,” he whispers, urgency lacing his voice. “You need to go, Davina. You can’t be here?—”
“Cole—”
“Please, just go,” he pleads, desperation creeping into his tone.
“I’m not leaving you behind, Cole. I can’t.”
My blood runs cold as a woman appears behind him, her eyes glowing with anger. She’s beautiful and terrifying at once, an aura of dark magic radiating from her.
Lorelda.
“Well, well, well. If it isn’t little Princess Davina,” she sneers, her gaze crawling over me with a mix of disdain and amusement. “All grown up and far too bold for your own good.”
Terror grips me as she seizes Cole by the neck, slamming his head against the doorframe with a sickening thud.
“No!” I gasp, horror clawing at my insides.
“Lying to me, were you?” she hisses, venom dripping from her voice.
Cole groans in agony, his face twisted in pain. His eyes dart to mine, filled with desperation. “Run. Please .”
“You made the mistake of taking my generosity for weakness,” Lorelda spits. “You thought I wouldn’t find out? Every lie, every deceitful move you made—they will cost you dearly.”
Dread pools in my stomach as her words slither into my mind.
Her gaze snaps to me, cold and unforgiving. “And you? Do you truly believe you could waltz in here and defeat me?”
“We’re not here to defeat you,” I manage to say through clenched teeth. “We just want to end this. Release Cole, and we’ll leave.”
I swallow hard, acutely aware of how unprepared I am for this confrontation. How foolish it was to come here without a better plan. Rafe’s warnings echo painfully in my mind, amplifying the dread in my gut.
“Release him?” Lorelda laughs, a sound that chills me to the bone. “He belongs to me now!”
Her eyes narrow, and with a cruel flick of her wrist, she unleashes a wave of dark energy.
Cole throws himself in front of me, but the blast crashes into him, sending him hurtling into a nearby tree with a sickening thud.
I watch in horror as he collapses to the ground, a wave of blinding rage surging through me.
Fire ignites from my fingertips, heat building inside me, fueled by the desperation to protect him.
But I can barely control the flames flickering in my palms.
Lorelda’s cruel laughter echoes around us as my heart pounds with hatred.
I focus on Cole, lying motionless on the ground, and the sight of his pain spurs me into action. With a roar, I thrust my hands forward, channeling every ounce of energy within me.
Lorelda’s mocking expression remains as she raises a barrier of dark energy, effortlessly absorbing my fire. My flames dissipate into nothingness, leaving me with a hollow sense of defeat.
The sight of my attack failing only fuels my desperation.
Lorelda smirks, clearly amused by my futile efforts. “Is that all you have, little Princess?” Her expression shifts from amusement to rage as she reaches for me.
Rafe steps forward, drawing his sword, fierce determination etched across his face.
“Ridiculous,” she hisses, dismissing him with a flick of her wrist. “You think your little toy can stop me? Your sword is useless against me.”
“If you touch her—” Cole struggles to his feet, blood trickling down his temple. “If you dare to harm her?—”
“Then what?” Lorelda’s laughter is menacing. “Did you really think I didn’t know about you two? It’s cute, really, how naive you both are.”
She raises her hands towards him, and I explode with fury. “If you hurt him again, I’ll find a way to?—”
“Oh, sweetheart, don’t make me laugh,” she taunts, amusement lacing her voice. “You know, I’ve been waiting for this moment.”
“What—”
“Silence,” she commands.
I swallow hard, my throat dry. I try to speak, but no sound comes out.
She’s cut off my voice.
Lorelda tilts her head, her aura suffocating. “Do you know what happens to foolish girls?”
Cole runs toward me, but I can only shake my head, paralyzed.
“I think it’s time for him to learn his lesson,” she says with sickening delight, a sadistic grin spreading across her face.
“Lorelda,” he grinds out. “Torture me, kill me for all I care, but leave her out of this?—”
A wave of dark energy surges toward Cole, and he collapses to his knees.
Her fingers glow with faint, sinister light as she begins weaving a spell, wrapping dark magic around him. “Your love for her will be your downfall.”
My heart stops.
“Davina, I—” Cole breathes heavily, squeezing his eyes shut as if trying to block out the darkness.
I can see how hard he’s fighting?—
Lorelda pries my lips open with her nails, and I flinch. “Any last words?”
“What are you doing to him?” I demand, fear lacing my words.
Lorelda’s lips curl into a sinister smile. “I’m giving him a purpose,” she whispers. “A command he cannot resist. Cole, kill her.”
Her words suffocate me, my heart pounding as the ground shifts beneath me.
“No,” I plead, but my voice barely escapes my lips. “What have you done?”
“Too late,” she says softly. “He’s already mine.”
Panic grips me as I watch the spell take hold. Cole’s eyes glaze over, his pupils dilating, but his struggle against it is evident in the clench of his jaw and the tightness of his fists.
“No,” I choke out, rushing forward, but Lorelda freezes me in place. “Cole!” I shout, my voice cracking. “Don’t let her do this!”
“Oh, poor Davina,” Lorelda croons.
“I know he won’t kill me,” I force out.
“He can’t resist the command to end your life,” she hisses. “It will be his sole purpose, the only thought in his mind. And I’ll take great pleasure knowing he kills the girl he loves. It will be his punishment.”
The crushing realization that she wields this power over him sends a wave of nausea through me. I stagger backward, my mind racing.
“Run,” Cole shouts, his voice raw. “You need to run?—”
“No,” I begin, but Lorelda’s cruel laughter cuts through the air like a blade.
“You think you can save him?” she taunts. “He’s beyond saving.”
I feel sheer, utter desperation clawing at my insides. The realization of my powerlessness settles like a weight on my chest.
Cole shakes his head, struggling against her magic.
How did we end up here?
“We need to leave,” Rafe insists, gripping my arm tightly. His face is etched with concern, but I barely process his words.
“We can’t leave him!” I cry, my voice breaking under the weight of my emotions.
My heart shatters at the sight of him caught in Lorelda’s web.
“You have to think, Davina! If we stay, you’re dead!” Rafe pulls me away from the chaos, desperation in his eyes.
“No!” I snap as I violently shake my head, tears streaming down my cheeks. “I won’t abandon him!”
“Cole, kill her!” Lorelda commands, her voice a hiss.
“Yes, Davina,” Juliet snaps. “We definitely have to go.”
In the chaos, I’ve forgotten Juliet was even here. I turn to her, my eyes pleading. “I can’t?—”
“Davina,” Rafe says, his voice now laced with irritation. “He’s going to kill you.”
He shoves me forward, but I break free and rush to Cole.
The sight of him, cold and distant, tears at my heart.
“You need to leave,” he begs, his voice raw.
I reach out to touch him, but he steps back as if my touch burns him.
“You don’t understand how hard I’m fighting right now,” he whispers, his voice a pained rasp. “Every fiber of my being wants to tear you apart.” He starts pacing, gripping his hair as if it might pull him free from the spell. “If you don’t leave, I will kill you.”
My blood runs cold.
“Just leave!” he shouts.
Lorelda’s laughter rings out, cruel and triumphant.
“Cole, whatever this spell is, you can break it.”
Lorelda’s laughter grows louder, and Cole shakes his head; his face is a mask of agony. His body trembles, as if he’s fighting the spell with everything he can.
“Run,” he chokes out. “Please, just run.”
I can’t.
I reach out once more, shock flooding through me as he lunges at me. That’s when I turn and sprint into the forest.
“Davina!” Rafe’s and Juliet’s voices are a distant echo. “This way!”
No. This game is between Cole and me.
Running deeper into the darkness, my heart hammers. Behind me, I can feel his presence—both a threat and a plea.
“Davina,” he cries out, his voice raw with agony. “You need to run faster. Please, I can’t hold it back much longer.”
“Fight it,” I shout, my breath ragged. “You’re not going to let her win, do you hear me?”
“I can’t,” he growls. “Her command—it’s too strong.”
Summoning all my strength, I conjure a barrier of fire between us, pushing him back momentarily.
“I know you can do it.”
His response is a savage roar, and he collapses to his knees, clutching his head as if trying to hold onto his sanity.
I rush to his side, kneeling beside him on the forest floor.
He shakes his head weakly, eyes pleading. “It’s taking over,” he gasps. “Please, just run,” he says, his voice a hollow whisper as if every word is a battle. “Don’t be stubborn for once and leave.”
I hesitate, everything a blur. He suddenly stands, his sword aimed at me. I freeze, my mind scrambling to form a protective shield. Before I can act, he lunges, his shoulder catching me off guard and sending me sprawling to the ground, the wind knocked out of me.
Pain radiates through my body as I force myself to stand.
He’s gone. Disappeared into the shadows of the forest.
My heart pounds, a drumbeat echoing in the silence, urging me to find him.
“Cole!” I call out, my voice trembling despite my efforts to keep it steady.
I strain my ears, hoping for any sound that might lead me to him. Rage bubbles up inside me, not at him but at Lorelda.
“She doesn’t own you!” I scream into the forest, my voice hoarse with fury.
Time stretches into an agonizing blur as I look for him. The forest feels like a labyrinth, each shadow and whisper a potential threat. I don’t know how long I’m searching; every moment feels like an eternity.
He’s out here, hiding from me…hunting me. I shiver, the thought sending a chill down my spine.
A twig snaps behind me, and I whirl around, heart in my throat. I scan the trees, my hand reaching instinctively for the dagger at my thigh.
“Please, Cole,” I plead into the darkness. “If you can hear me, fight this. I know you can.”
I move deeper into the forest, each step careful and deliberate. The air is thick with the scent of wood, but I faintly catch the scent which is unmistakably Cole’s. I can tell. I follow it, hoping it leads me to him before the spell completely consumes him.
I turn when I feel a presence behind me.
There he is, and my stomach drops.
His eyes are dark, his face a twisted mask of torment. “You should have left when you had the chance.”
Relief and fear wash over me in equal measure. “Listen, we can?—”
He shakes his head, eyes cold and unfeeling. My heart breaks for him. His eyes, once so full of warmth, are now cold and empty.
“Look at you, love. Foolish enough to think I’m strong enough. I told you once, you think too highly of me.”
I shake my head, tears streaming. “ Please ?—”
“You need to kill me,” he says. “I want you to kill me.”
“What?” I ask, disbelief and anguish tearing through me.
“Kill me before I kill you.”
“ No —”
“Are you even listening?” he roars, voice cracking with desperation. “I’m going to kill you if you don’t leave.”
“The hell you are.”
His eyes are black, and I see the struggle within him, the internal war between the spell and his self. “ Run . Please run.”
Reluctantly, I begin to move, but it’s too late. He lunges at me again, his movements ruthless. I barely have time to react, raising my dagger defensively. He knocks it out of my hand with a swift motion, his strength far beyond what it should be.
I stumble back, trying to put distance between us, but he’s relentless.
“Cole,” I shout, dodging his attacks.
“Hell,” he growls, his voice full of anger. “Why won’t you just leave?”
His attacks grow more frenzied, each one aimed to kill. I duck, my movements fueled by sheer survival instinct. “Because I won’t give up on you,” I snap and find the strength to summon a protective shield around me, desperate to buy time.
He takes a moment to catch his breath, giving me just enough opportunity to retrieve my dagger.
Out of nowhere, Rafe and Juliet sprint toward us.
Cole’s eyes narrow as he sees them approaching, and he swings his arm out, grabbing Juliet by the throat with an unyielding grip.
I freeze. “No—” I cry out, my voice breaking as horror slams into me.
“Get away from her!” Rafe shouts.
Juliet gasps, her nails cutting into his arms in a desperate attempt to free herself.
My heart beats in my throat, a mix of disbelief and horror washing over me. “Cole, stop . This isn’t you. What are you?—”
“I’m giving you a head start,” he says, eyes locked on Juliet. “Run, Davina. Get out of here before I?—”
“P-Please,” Juliet pleads.
“Cole, stop this!” Rafe shouts. “Stop this, or I swear I’ll end you here and now.”
“Rafe, please—help—” Juliet chokes out, her voice barely a whisper.
“Why are you doing this?” I demand, my heart pounding with fury and fear.
“I stick by what I’ve said,” he mutters. “I’m the villain for you, not against you.”
“Let go of her.”
His grip tightens around Juliet’s throat and panic surges through me like a bolt of lightning. “Cole!” I scream, my voice hoarse. “You need to stop .”
His eyes remain void of remorse, consumed by the magic that enslaves him. With each passing moment, Juliet’s struggles grow weaker, her gasps for air become more feeble.
Cole draws his sword as if daring me?—
Rafe lunges forward, his own sword slicing through the air with deadly precision. The blade strikes Cole’s leg, causing him to release his grip on Juliet.
I cry out, clapping a hand over my mouth as he recoils from the blow, his expression twisted with pain and rage as he stumbles backward.
Juliet scrambles to her feet, coughing and rubbing her throat. Rafe rushes to her side, his eyes never leaving Cole. “Are you okay?” he asks and holds her close, though his eyes are locked on Cole.
I glance at him, and for a fleeting moment, I think I see a glimmer of the man I love. But just as quickly, it vanishes.
“I’m begging you to leave!” he roars, his voice echoing with a pain that matches my own. He lunges at me again, his movements wild and desperate.
I stagger back as Rafe steps in front of me, his sword aimed directly at Cole’s heart.
“Don’t!” I scream, my voice a raw, heart-wrenching cry.
In a blur of motion, Cole’s swords cut through the air, meeting Rafe’s blade with a clash that echoes his fury in every swing.
“This madness has to end,” Rafe growls.
They’re going to kill each other.
The thought pounds through my mind, a relentless drumbeat that drowns out all else.
I try to move, but my legs feel like lead. I try to focus, gathering the power within me, but my hands tremble, my thoughts muddled by the chaos around me.
Just as I begin to channel any energy, Juliet’s voice distracts me. “Cole, stop!” she screams, her voice breaking, filled with a desperation that mirrors my own. “Please!”
Her face is a ghostly shade of white, tears streaming down her cheeks. The sight of her suffering makes my tainted heart ache in ways I didn’t think were possible.
She rushes toward Rafe, her face pleading, her movements frantic.
“Juliet, don’t!” I shout, but my voice feels swallowed by the chaos.
Cole’s blade swings viciously, striking her torso as he counters Rafe’s blade. The horror of the moment paralyzes me, her scream of pain piercing the air, a sound so haunting it chills me to the bone. They don’t even realize the impact of the strike, too consumed and blinded by their fury to notice how she crumples to the ground.
My heart stops as she falls to the ground, a choked sob escaping my lips as panic floods my chest. I rush to her side, my movements frantic and clumsy as I kneel beside her, my hands desperate to stem the flow of blood.
So much blood.
So much blood is seeping through her clothes.
Her eyes are half-closed, her face too pale.
“Stay with me,” I beg, cradling her head in my lap, my mind a whirlwind of panic and despair. “You’re going to be okay,” I whisper. “Just hold on.”
Tears stream down my face as I hold her, gripping her hand tightly, my fingers slick with her blood. “This is all my fault,” I sob. “There’s so much blood. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, I’m?—”
She shakes her head slightly, her eyes fluttering and her breathing shallow as she looks up at me with a weak smile. “Don’t... don’t blame yourself.”
I can barely hold back my sobs, my helplessness consuming me. “Just stay with me.”
Her smile fades but the warmth in her eyes lingers. “Tell Rafe I...” Her hand grows limp in mine, and I can barely make out her final words through my choking sobs. “Tell him I love...”
I nod through my tears, my heart painfully aching as I watch the light in her eyes dim.
Her eyes flutter one last time before she slips away. The world seems to stop, blurring around me as the loss sinks in.
I’m left clutching her lifeless body, my heart breaking into a million shattered pieces.
“Rafe.” I let out a guttural scream, glancing up at him while he’s still fighting with Cole. “Rafe!”
They freeze, staring at Juliet with horror dawning in their eyes. And the man I love is there, if only for a moment as his sword slips from his grip, clattering to the ground.
“No,” Rafe whispers, his voice breaking. “No, no, no,” he cries out, falling to his knees beside us.
I watch, my heart shattering all over again, as he cradles her in his arms, his body shaking with sobs.
My body shakes as I stand up in slow motion, my vision blurry.
“I’m so sorry,” Rafe murmurs, tears falling as he holds her closer. “Please, don’t leave me,” he pleads. “I can’t lose you. I can’t?—”
I point a finger at Cole. “She’s dead,” I choke out, my voice trembling with grief and fury. “Juliet is dead ,” I snap, stepping closer and pressing my finger into his chest. “You bastard ,” I scream at him. “But don’t think for a second I’ll leave you?—”
“Get out of my face,” he hisses, batting my hand away.
His voice is both a warning and a promise, the words cutting through me like a knife, but I refuse to let despair consume me entirely.
There must be a way to end this.
Rafe’s crying catches my attention again, and nausea churns in my gut from how badly wrong everything went.
The ground trembles and a sinister laugh echoes through the air. I shudder and turn to see Lorelda materializing in a swirl of dark magic, a wicked grin twisting her lips as she holds a gleaming dagger to the throat of?—
My father.
Lorelda’s gaze flickers toward me, amusement dancing in her eyes.
I try to scream, but no sound escapes me.
I feel sick.
I feel nauseous and incapable of holding myself upright.
My father’s eyes meet mine, pleading for help.
“Release him,” I beg, my voice trembling. “It doesn’t have to be this way.”
“Poor Davina,” she taunts. “Don’t you realize that your father is just a pathetic excuse of a man? He is so ridiculously obsessed with your mother that he thinks she is still alive. You cannot imagine how many times he offered to sacrifice you when you were a child, in exchange for her.”
My insides splinter at her words, shock spearing my stomach like an arrow.
“He just wanted you to stay alive because he knew if he didn’t protect you, your mother would loathe him.”
“I’m sorry,” my father whispers abashed.
I can barely hear him over the drumming in my ears.
“You should be happy that I am doing us all a favor,” she continues, and with a swift motion, she draws the blade across my father’s throat.
“No!”
Time seems to slow as a crimson line appears, blood sputtering like a waterfall. His eyes widen in shock before they glaze over, his body crumpling to the ground.
Horror makes my skin sweat, and I heave, my throat burning. Vomit rises through my esophagus and pours from my mouth as I sink to my knees.
Everyone is dying, dying ?—
Before I can even think to wipe my mouth, still desperate to clear the image of death from my sight, Nora emerges from the shadows.
My breath catches in my throat, a sob caught between fear and disbelief. Nora’s sudden appearance is jarring. Confusion and rage battle inside of me, clawing at my sanity.
She approaches Lorelda’s side, a dark energy emanating from her.
“Nora?” I ask perplexed. “What are you doing here?”
This can’t be real.
It must be some cruel trick of the mind, a hallucination brought on by the intensity of the moment.
I notice the strange, unreadable expression on her face.
She strides forward confidently, her eyes fixed on Lorelda.
“What are you?—”
She cuts me off with a cold, hard look.
Betrayal hits me like a punch to my gut.
I whip my gaze to Rafe, who leaps to his feet with a primal scream, charging straight at Cole. “You son of a bitch!” he roars. “I’m going to murder you for killing her. I’m going to?—”
A surge of dark magic shoots out from Nora’s hand, hitting him in the chest. Rafe cries out as the force of the blow kicks him off his feet and he’s violently hurled backwards. He hits the ground hard, seemingly unconscious.
I watch in disbelief, another wave of nausea washing over me as Lorelda’s wicked grin widens.
“Perfect timing, my dear,” she purrs, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “Everyone, allow me to introduce my beautiful first-born child.”
The forest seems to freeze, the revelation hitting me like a physical blow. My heart stutters as I try to process the words.
That means…
Nora is my half-sister.
“That’s impossible,” I choke out, disbelief tightening around my throat. “Nora, tell me she’s lying.”
Lorelda tilts her head with a mocking smile. “Who do you think told me about your every step? Your every action lately, and that you’re still alive?”
I shake my head, unable to process the revelation.
Nora’s eyes soften for a moment, and if I didn’t know it better, I’d think I saw a hint of regret flicker across her face.
“Cole,” Lorelda snaps, her voice dripping with malice. “End this. She is still alive, so it seems you are still holding onto a shred of your former self. Let’s fix that, shall we?” She waves a hand, casting an unintelligible spell that envelops Cole in a mist again.
“No, no, no —” I scream, my voice hoarse and ragged. “What are you doing to him?”
Dark tendrils of magic wrap around him, seeping into his skin. His eyes glaze over, and he stares blankly ahead.
I watch helplessly in agonized silence as the man I love slips away, the final remnants of him vanishing.
“Cole,” I breathe, looking up at him from where I’m kneeling on the ground.
He blinks, his expression blank and unrecognizable as if the spell has taken hold. Slowly, he tilts his head as if trying to place me. “Do I know you?”
No.
Please, no.
Lorelda cackles with delight. “Perfect. Now kill her.”
Cole’s stance shifts, and he retrieves his sword and raises it in an instant.
I scramble to my feet, my heart pounding with both fear and determination. “You have to remember me,” I plead.
His eyes remain cold, unfeeling. He studies me as though I’m nothing more than a stranger. “You are... beautiful,” he says, his voice eerily flat. “But I have to kill you.”
“Cole, you have to remember me?—”
“Destroy her,” Lorelda’s command slices through the air, grating my ears. “Don’t waste my time any longer.”
A cruel, twisted smile stretches across Cole’s face. “With pleasure.”
A cold shiver races down my spine, a reminder that this man before me is no longer Cole.
My instinct to flee takes over. Tears prick my eyes, but I blink them away, forcing myself to run with all the strength I have left.
I keep my head up as I sprint. My lungs burn, but I don’t dare look back until I hear the thud of his footsteps closing in. I glance over my shoulder, and he lunges at me, fast and unforgiving. I feel a sharp pain as he tackles me to the ground, his hands clamping around my throat.
“Cole,” I gasp, struggling against him. “Remember me.”
His hold tightens, making it almost impossible to breathe.
Anger settles into my heart. I want to scream. I want to cry. I want to throw everything that reminds me of him against a wall and watch it break the same way he breaks me.
He squeezes harder, my throat constricting painfully.
I push my luck, placing a palm on his chest. “I know you’re in here,” I choke out.
I fumble for my dagger, finally clutching it in my hand. With a shaky hand, I struggle to press it against his throat. I don’t apply pressure, hoping against hope that he’ll remember me.
He lets out a sadistic breath, squeezing the life out of me.
“If I were to slit your throat right now, would you still use your last breath to apologize for bleeding on my hand?” I cough, struggling to breathe. Black spots fog my vision, and I know that time is running out. “Cole, please,” I gasp, feeling my strength waning. “Don’t you remember anything?”
He lets out a harsh, pained breath, his frown deepening.
“I don’t want to die,” I wheeze, each word a battle. “I’m not ready to die.”
I’ve shared all my firsts with him, and I’m not prepared for our last. Every moment we shared flashes before my eyes, a bittersweet reminder of what is slipping away. The urge to lash out, to hurl my anger and frustration at him, is almost overwhelming. I want to scream at him until my voice is raw, to make him feel the weight of my pain.
But a twisted part of me wants to surrender, to let him end it all. The thought of fighting him and causing him pain makes me sick to my core.
I want to reach out, to comfort him, to ease his suffering.
The irony of it all—that even now, as his hands bring the end closer, I still yearn to help him… It’s madness.
Love really drives you insane.
“Little advice, pet,” he sneers. “When you have the chance to kill someone, you take it. But you lack the courage.”
He cuts off my air supply, his free hand gripping his sword.
My vision darkens, and I feel the cold steel of the dagger slip from my trembling fingers. “So do it,” I whisper. “Kill me.”
Hot and silent tears are dripping down my face. I feel my heartbeat slowing down, a peaceful feeling rushing in. If this is how it ends, I want my last moments filled with love, not fear or anger. “I love you,” I say softly. My voice is a breath, a whisper, and I hope that somewhere, deep down, the man I knew can hear me.“I never got to tell you that I love you. I love you?—”
As the world fades around me, I hold on to that thought.
Love. It’s all I have left.
His sword drops to the ground, the noise so aggressive that I flinch, gasping and coughing as he releases his grip on my throat.
He blinks. Once. Twice. His eyes dart around as if searching for something beyond the rage, beyond the command he’s been given. “What did you say?”
Suddenly he roars, a sound of pure agony and rage. His hand is back on my throat again, but for a moment, he falters. Something warm is in his gaze, flickering with recognition.
“Repeat it.”
“Fight it, or kill me,” I scream at him. “I can’t stand it any longer. Put me out of this purgatory of needing you without having you, because that’s not you.”
He chokes me harder. “I said repeat it,” he orders. “Say it again.”
His chest is rising and falling rapidly with each ragged breath. Taking advantage of the moment, I take his face in my hands, compelling him to meet my desperate gaze. “Please, Cole. Just come back to me.”
I can see the torment in his eyes, see how he’s fighting.
But it isn’t enough.
His grip tightens.
The world blurs to black as my vision fades, and my eyes flutter shut. Slowly, I force them to crack open one last time. “I love you,” I croak out. “I love you beyond this life and into the next.”
His eyes roam over my face, lips slightly parted as he takes me in and blinks.
Once.
Twice.
“Davina?” His voice trembles as much as his hand on my throat. “No,” he whispers, letting go of me. “No, no, no, no.”
I hear him screaming. I hear him crying.
But it sounds distant.
Delirious. I’m so very delirious.
“Davina,” he cries out. “Hey, stay with me.”
I’m pulled into his lap, his arms a desperate cradle.
“You need to stay with me,” he pleads, his voice cracking.
“I’m here,” I murmur, my words slurring. “I’m right he—” My words are lost as he screams in agony. My heart plummets. “What?—”
“The spell—it’s—it takes hold again. I can’t—” His voice shatters, a strangled cry escaping his lips.
He clutches his head, as if trying to fend off the invisible claws that tear at his mind. “No,” he gasps, his breaths coming in ragged, desperate gulps.
I feel how his body tenses, his grip on me tightening painfully.
“Davina, I—” His voice is barely a whisper now, his eyes wide with panic as he struggles to hold on to himself.
“You can fight it,” I mumble, my eyelids heavy.
He doubles over in agony, a guttural scream tearing from his throat. His hands shake uncontrollably as he reaches for me.
“I’m trying,” he chokes out, his voice strained and raw. “I’m trying, but it’s?—”
Rough hands are gripping the side of my face, forcing my eyes to flutter open again. “I’m sorry.”
“For wha?—”
A deafening sound fills the air.
As if in slow motion, I watch how he buries the blade of my dagger in his chest.
“No!” My scream is raw, ripping from my throat. “No, no, no, no ,” I scream, a gut-wrenching cry as his back hits the ground.
Time seems to stall, my hands shaking as I try to stop the bleeding wound. “Cole, don’t you dare die. Do you hear me? Don’t die?—”
“I’m sorry.”
“No, you don’t get to be sorry. You don’t get to leave me!”
Blood.
So much blood is slipping from him, and I can’t stop it.
“Don’t you dare leave me, Cole.”
“Keep touching me. Say—say my name again.” His voice cracks, and my heart does the same. “This might be my favorite way to die.”
His blood spills over my fingers, warm and thick, and I feel like I'm drowning in it. “No— what have you done ?—”
“What a privilege it was to matter to you.” His voice grows weaker with each word, a ghost of a smile on his lips. “I lo?—”
“No,” I hiss, my body shaking. “Don’t you dare say it.”
He smirks with half-closed eyes, a sight so beautiful yet so devastating, and it makes me want to die with him.
“Davina, I am so in love with you,” he says, his voice a broken whisper. “Agonizingly so.”
I can’t lose him. Not like this . Not when there’s so much left unsaid, so much we haven’t yet?—
“Cole,” I sob, his name coming out as a shaky cry. “Stop?—”
“I knew—” he tries to speak, his eyes closing, “knew it from the moment you brought me to my knees and then stepped over my body on your way out of the room.”
His voice barely reaches me over my own sobs.
My heart feels like it’s being torn from my chest as I hold him, and I watch him smile, a genuine, unguarded smile that lights up his face.
His skin is pale, far too pale, and the life is slipping away from him right before my eyes.
My heart aches, stealing my breath away.
This can’t be happening.
He can’t be dying.
It should have been me.
I press harder on his wound, feeling the warmth of his blood seeping through my fingers, a stark contrast to the ice-cold dread settling in my chest.
His eyes flicker open, barely focused, but they find me. “My darling girl, don’t be afraid. Don’t be sad . I knew from the start that loving you would come with a price—I’ve always known you would be the death of me. I wouldn’t have…it any other way. Just let me go. You have a…life ahead of you, and I want you to live it for both of us—” His words trail off, and the silence that follows is suffocating.
“ Please! Cole, stay with me! Please —” I choke on my words, struggling to hold back the sobs that threaten to overwhelm me. “I can’t do this without you.”
I can see the struggle etched into his features, the way he fights to stay with me for just a moment longer.
“I need you to stay with me,” I whisper, barely able to get the words out.
But he only looks up at me with those soft, familiar eyes—filled with love, regret, and something that looks like peace.
He tries to speak, his lips moving but no sound escapes.
His breathing slows, his chest barely moving now.
No.
And when I feel his body go limp in my arms, the world seems to shatter around me.
I shake him, panic clawing at my throat and choking me with a fear I’ve never known. “Don’t you dare leave me!” The words rip from my throat, raw and anguished. “Don’t you dare!”
Tears blur my vision as I desperately blink them away, willing the scene before me to be a nightmare.
But his chest no longer rises and falls.
The light has left his eyes, leaving them hauntingly empty.
He’s gone.
He’s gone.
Cole is gone.
Numbness engulfs me as I stare at his lifeless body, the world around me dissolving into a blur, my cries the only sound in the oppressive stillness.
I can’t breathe.
Can’t think.
Can’t—
All I can do is feel the crushing weight of his absence, and I shake him violently, feeling an endless void where my heart used to be. I can’t do anything but scream his name over and over, hoping somehow, someway, it will bring him back.
My sobs turn into guttural cries as I clutch him tight, rocking back and forth, my tears mingling with the sticky pool of his blood. Each drop that falls feels like a piece of my soul shattering.
Slowly, I reach for the dagger buried in his chest. My fingers wrap around the hilt, slick with his blood. My heart pounds in my ears, a relentless drumbeat of agony and despair.
Gritting my teeth, I pull the dagger free, the blade sliding out with a sickening sound that echoes in the silence.
Holding it in my trembling hand, I position the dagger over my own heart. Because all my life, even if I wasn’t supposed to find love, I’ve been searching for it, not knowing that it could feel like this. Not knowing that there are people who really will set us on fire with the intensity of their heart. Not knowing that we don’t have to settle for anything less.
“I’ll spend every lifetime looking for you,” I choke out and mirror his words, tears streaming down my face and blurring my vision.
But I can still see him in my mind’s eye, every detail etched in agonizing clarity.
With a final, shuddering breath, I press the blade into my chest, feeling the cold steel pierce my skin and the hot rush of blood. The pain is sharp, but it pales in comparison to the torment of being without him.
Darkness creeps in at the edges of my vision as I intertwine our fingers, and I let the darkness take me, holding onto the hope that in the next life, I will find him again.
“I’m coming,” I murmur, the words barely escaping my lips. “Wait for me.”
My last breath escapes as a faint whisper of his name.
Darkness claims me, and I can almost feel his arms around me again, his voice a distant echo, calling me home.
And then, there is only…
Silence .
Nothing.