"Nervous? We are going to meet your ex-lovers after all."
Annora’s fists clenched upon hearing Edward’s mocking tone. She was about to meet Cassian and Benedict. She had been in between the two for a long time before she made her choice. It was a wrong choice.
She shouldn’t have chosen that selfish Cassian. He had his childhood friend killed the moment she started causing trouble. Why wouldn’t he abandon her the moment she lost her powers?
She didn’t know what she would do when she met him. She just wanted to stay away. It was unlikely she would meet him, he was an important figure, and she is no longer a saintess. This time would be different. The Goddess said so. This time she could have a happy ending.
For now, she would lay low and follow Edward’s orders. He was far too powerful for her to take on alone. She had to gather power and catch him off guard, only that way could she get rid of him.
The hatred in her coursed through her veins. He was the reason she died...
"Hah. You don’t bother to hide your disgust. Don’t act so righteous Annora. We are all selfish people. Or do I need to remind you how you treated those men like dogs before choosing the one with the most power?"
Her nails dug deep into her palms. His words hurt and provoked her.
"I am not as evil as you. I- I admit I never made it clear but that’s because-"
"Just shut up. The only reason I tolerated you in the past was because you were a perfect vessel. Now, you are useless. Engrave that into your brain. You. Are. Worthless. If you want to live do as I say."
The fact that her soul possessed such a perfect vessel disgusted him. She was not worthy of it, not this lifetime, nor the last. Clinging to various men... That was not how a Saintess should be, she should be pure. She should be holy, not a wh*re.
The urge to kill her right now overcame him. His hand wanted to grab her neck and... This isn’t the time, he told himself. She was still useful to him.
No matter how brave she tried to act, the fear reached her soul. As long as he lived, she could never experience peace. He was like a ghost she couldn’t get rid of, haunting her.
The Goddess’ voice lingered in her mind, "I’ll give you a second chance..."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Benedict, why are you so quiet?"
He couldn’t answer his father’s question. He quietly shook his head to imply that he was fine. He didn’t want to cause any problems for anyone, especially not his father. Anna told him how to be a good boy. Good boys don’t trouble adults, good boys stay quiet.
He didn’t want to come, but his father insisted. Seeing the grand banquet he felt empty. Everyone seemed to be happy, everyone had moved on. Why couldn’t he?
His mother will die. His father will marry someone and he will be left alone like always.
Anna was the only one who was truthful to him, she didn’t hide or beat around the bush. This banquet was an excuse for his father to find prospective wives.
Once his father left him in the children’s area to mingle he took off. He went to the same hiding place as last time. Deep into the garden, the place where Adeline found him.
Just like before, he sat down feeling sorry for himself. Lips quivering from cold or because of the sheer amount of grief he felt. As the warm tears slid down his face and hit the ground, he made peace with his situation.
The life in his eyes was slowly dying. He was becoming the Benedict from the story. Cold, unfeeling and filled with treacherous thoughts.
"Benedict!"
Who?
Who was calling him?
"I finally found you!"
Adeline? Why was she looking for him? She stopped sending him letters long ago. Why was she here? Why now?
With tear-filled eyes, he stared at her. Was she going to pull him out of this abyss? The bright moon perfectly aligned with her head, it looked like she was radiating light. He felt attracted to this light, he couldn’t help but reach and touch her face.
"Get up, Benedict. The grass is wet and cold!"
She tried pulling with all her might but he didn’t move.
"Why are you here?"
"What do you mean why am I here? I’m here for you! I didn’t hear back from you and I was worried! Do you know how long I have waited for this banquet to come?! I thought I could finally see you, but here you are sulking alone." She huffed and put her hands on her hips.
"You were waiting to hear back from me?"
The Goddess told her that her letters were being intercepted, Anna probably manipulated him into thinking he was abandoned. If she was straight with it and told him directly that she sent letters, he might not believe it.
So she decided to ’blame’ him instead and act like her sending letters was the obvious. This would make Benedict at least consider that Anna lied to him. He was a smart kid. He would understand, right?
With fingers crossed she went on a tangent about how hurt she felt after being ignored by her friend.
Benedict couldn’t believe what he was hearing. She did send him letters... But why didn’t he get any? Anna said that- she said that he was abandoned.
"Why did you send me letters?" His eyes were wavering and his heart was pounding. Why did Adeline take the time to send letters?
"What do you mean why? You’re my friend. Now get up! It’s cold here. Let’s go inside."
He was her friend... She was his friend! He wasn’t abandoned?
Her hand was extended hoping he would take it and get up. He looked at Adeline one more time, there was a sweet smile on her face. Her nose was turning red from the cold, and her hair fluttered in the wind. She was his saviour...