Chapter 26 With you

Chapter 26 With you
MAELIS ARDENT POV

“Are you sure I have everything that you need?” I ask her as we walk towards the car.

“Yes, Gab said we can just buy if we need anything else,” Rye replied, and we both looked at the two men standing and talking beside the car.

“Rye, I want to ask you one last favor,” I said, and she immediately stopped and nodded at me. “Please don’t tell them who I am,”

“Don’t worry, I asked Gabriel not say anything about me and you to Lucien, but how can he not know that you’re from the Arcana?” She said, asks, and sighs.

“He thought I belonged to another org. and…and he my mission before that’s why I have to hide who I am.” I explained, nodded my head, and squeezed my hand.

“He’s a good man, Mae. Without his help, we won’t even make it this far.” She said as glace at Lucien. “I wish you could find a man like this, or maybe you just have him.” She laughs, and I roll my eyes, smiling at her.

“We have a different world. Our faith is not designed to collide like that,” I said.

“But, something tells me that it already did.” She said that made him frown at he.

“What?” I ask, almost laughing, “Are you crazy?” I ask, shaking my head, and walk, but it quickly stops me.

“You are crazy and in denial.” She said, and I could help but scoff at her and laugh awkwardly.

“What are you even talking about?” I asks,

“It’s been so long since I saw you like this,” She said and gestured her hand to me.

“Saw me like what?” I ask and look at myself.

“Saw you with your guard down? Calm? And genuinely smiling?” I said, and I frown at her and glance at Lucien and back to her.

“No---no, I’m happy because---I’m happy for you,” I said in defense. “It has nothing to do with him,” And gesture at him.

“Yeah, sure, keep telling that to yourself.” She said and laughed. “But I’m happy that before I left, I knew that you had someone like him,” she said, and that left my mouth open.

I sigh, “I don’t think you’re right, Rye,” I said, but she just nodded, agreeing, but her face otherwise.

“It’s okay, you don’t have to rush it and accept it now. Let it play on its own. Everything will happen at the right time.”

I was about to disagree with her when Gabriel called for her. We both looked at them, she quickly ran to him while I stood there starring the only man that is staring back at me.

I can’t. That is not an option or a choice I can make. He’s my enemy, the person I was asked to harm and betray at all costs. I can’t love him.

I felt something inside my chest restrain my heart from beating as I felt my chest tighten. I looked away and gripped my chest.

I know that this feeling is fear, not fear of getting hurt or dying…but the fear of maybe Rye is right, and for some reason, that fear overcame my fear of death.

“Hey,” He asks, which made me turn around to look at him, “Are you okay? You look unwell.” He said, looking at me with a worried expression on his face.

Why?

“I’m…fine, yeah, it’s just a little hot, but I’m okay,” I said and took a deep breath. “Let’s go to them,” I said and walk pass him.

“Think it will be a farewell?” Rye said as she held my hand.

“Don’t look back, forget everything that has happened before. See the world beyond this.” I said, she pulled me into a tight hug, and I could feel and hear her sobs on my shoulder as I wrapped my arms around her. “You’ll do great.” She whispered between her sobs.

“Hey, L. Thank you again. I don’t know if I will be able to pay you for everything that you’ve done for me.” I heard Gabriel say.

“No need, make sure to live the way you want,” Lucien said, and they both hugged each other and pulled away.

“Lucien,” Rye said, and walked towards him as she held my hand and placed it to Lucien’s. “I know we just met and you've already done so much for us, but I want to ask one more favor. Please look after her, help her, and understand her.” She said, and again a tear escaped my eyes as I looked at her, and she smiled at us.

“Rye…” I called, and she smiled, and squeeze out hand and tapped.

“She can be hardheaded, she seems to be strong, if the time comes that she is being weak, please…please be her strength. She is the only family I have. She always does everything for other people, even if it means getting hurt…but she also deserves someone who will protect her just the way she protects people she loves. Please, love her with all your heart…” She said, I couldn't help but wipe my tears.

“Rye that…” I tried to speak.

“If ever the time comes that the four of us can meet again, I would love to see both of you. Take care of her, Lucien. She doesn’t do that all the time.” She jokes that made us both laugh. “I hope that when peace brushes upon our world, we will be able to see each other again.

“I will, I promise,” Lucien replied, which made me turn my gaze on her as I felt his gaze towards me

“Protect her with your life, if you can’t give her back to me,” I said to Gabriel, and he smiled.

“I will, she’s my life.” He said, and I smiled at both

“You must go now. Everything is ready and arranged.” Lucien said, and they both nodded and walked towards us, and gave a final hug.

“You found him, Mae, trust him.” She whispered and pulled away. “Goodbye,”

“Goodbye…” I said as we waved at each other.

We stood there and watched until we couldn’t see the car anymore.
“They will be fine.” He said that made me smile.

“I hope they love each other.” I said, smiling, “I hope they will finally find peace.”

“They will, they have each other.” He said, and I nodded.

“About what Rye said, she’s…just being sentimental, thank you for agreeing with her earlier, so there won’t be an argument,” I said and turned to look at him.

“I didn’t agree to her just because she asked me to,” He said. I wanted to speak, but I felt like there were no words that I wanted to come out of my mouth. “I didn’t swear just because she asked me to, or because I don’t want to argue. I swore because I want to do it, even if she didn’t ask me, I will do it.”

“Lucien…You…” I said my eyes started to fill with tears.

“I will be by your side, because I want to. Not because someone asked me to. I will be with you.