Chapter 26

“Lady Green," said the voice of a lady behind me. "You requested my presence,” she said courteously.

I held the green Vampire gem towards the small window, so it reflected different colors.

“Henceforth Celine, you're taking Martha's position as my second in command. And your duties begin now."

“As you wish." I turned slightly to the brown-haired lady.

“Go to the major clans under Marr with my elite army now. Tell the Clan leaders I asked them to release hundreds of their worst prisoners." I paused as my gaze returned to the gem.

“You know what to do next. Kill them. Not even a single prisoner should live. And then I want each Clan Leaders to report to me before the sun sets tomorrow. Tell them," I paused again. "In their report, they should say the Lycan attacked them and killed some of their members."

“Permit me to ask but why are we putting the blames on the Lycan. He can't even dare to attack any of our clans." I donned a sinister smile.

“Because I need Zeus more than ever to win this war."

“I'll take my leave now,” she said while my smile faded. As I returned the Vampire gem back to the shelf, I couldn't help but think about Martha. I reviewed this small room holding several artifacts knowing very well I was making rash decisions. Now Martha was gone, I needed Zeus skills badly. Although he loves me, but I also knew he loves his kind too. I wasn't too sure if he'll be willing to fight against the Lycan alongside me. Besides, a part of him would definitely be questioning the essence of this war. Hence, I needed to give him a reason to fight valiantly by my side just like I did to get the Witches gem.

I decided to take a walk around and once I reached outside graced with the setting sun's rays. With every step I took, I wondered what kind of life Martha would be living. If she was happy without me or lonely like I was. And soon I arrived the river but by then the sun had already set. I walked hopelessly to its front before sitting on the grass. Staring at the gentle ripples across the river.

Then I felt the accustomed sensation coursing through me, I could pick his familiar scent behind me, and I just sighed.

“Go away Zeus." I toned sadly but instead he joined me.

“I don't need your comfort." I muttered again but he smiled.

“And who says I'm going to comfort you?" He queried, I frowned. "You're a strong woman, I'm sure you're not bothered by it."

But I was bothered!

“I mean who cares if she leaves you, you don't need her,” he chattered, and I just couldn't hold it anymore.

“I care," I said, "I need her." I returned my gaze to the river. "We've been together for centuries and all of a sudden she just decided—” my voice trailed off as I recalled that moment, how tight she held him like he was her life.

“She just decided to leave me. She couldn't even tell me she had a mate."

“Because she knew how you were going to react,” he replied. "She told me though." He paused and I stared in disbelief.

“You knew everything all along." I whispered. He shot me a tiny smile.

“Not everything though. I certainly didn't know her mate was your stepbrother. I didn't even know you had one,” he responded. I just kept staring at him unable to utter any words.

“You shouldn't blame her though. She deserves to be happy,” he pursed his lips. "Everybody deserves that."

And in a way, I felt a pang of guilt from his words.

“Besides, I almost killed her. She must have realized if she had died, that happiness would have been lost,” he continued. "No one knows when death might come Green. We might be immortal but that doesn't mean we're above death.

So why we're still lucky to be alive, why don't we go after what makes us happy?"

He returned his gaze to the river, but it cost me energy not to entertain tears. I wanted to but I just couldn't. He was right, every bit of his word. And in a way I felt his words were indirectly referring to us. It made me wonder, where did my true happiness lie?

“I'm never going to see her again and it hurts." I whispered.

“I have a feeling your paths will cross each other,” he assured.

“But I promised to kill her if I ever saw her."

He held my gaze with his endearing smile still intact.

“You won't." He held my right hand, normally I would have glared but this time, I just wanted his comfort. To help me ease the loneliness and guilt.

“Let's go somewhere,” he whispered.

“Do you trust me?" He asked and both of us immediately smiled.

“No,” I said happily, his eyes turned blue as he flipped his finger. Suddenly, we were in another area. The evening seemed to have gotten even darker, the whole area was covered in nothing but flowers. We were surrounded in an area of flowers. I couldn't phantom why he brought me here, but it was beautiful.

“This is my mother's gardens one of the places my mother and I usually visited,” he muttered as he ran his fingers in their petals before resting his back on the bare grass. I smiled before joining him too and it felt so good.

The soft winds, the stars in the sky, the scent of flowers and his smile. I watched him closely as he kept on admiring the stars.

“She always came here whenever she was feeling down, and I was always confused why she found joy in this place,” he paused. "Perhaps the serenity, the beauty or the peace she found here."

Without thoughts, I leaned my head against his chest and my leg slightly intertwined with his. He began to run his fingers along my hair, patting me gently. My eyes sealed as I took slow breaths.

“What's your true happiness Zeus?" I asked.

“You,” he whispered almost immediately. And in a divine way, all my pain, loneliness, sadness, subsided. I felt peace.

“One time," I chuckled sadly. "I had a crush, he brought me flowers one day and my Father burnt it, he almost killed him too."

“Is that why you almost burnt your garden when I touched it?" He asked with a slight chuckle.

“Yes." I mumbled. He pulled me closer.

“Don't worry, he's not here. He won't hurt you anymore and he definitely won't burn any flowers I give you,” he said in a jovial tone. I ran my fingers slowly across his chest, occasionally drawing imaginary stars on his shirt.

“Even though he's dead, I still have nightmares, sometimes I hear his despicable voice in my head. For close to six hundred years, I couldn't sleep. His nightmares always haunted in the night but then you came." I pursed my lips. "The first time we had sex, the first time I slept in your arms, comforted by your warmth, I slept. I had a peaceful sleep." I paused again.

“I hate you Zeus but at the same time I don't want to lose you. I don't want those nightmares to return, I don't want to hear his voice."

He raised my head slightly towards him so our eyes locked.

“You won't lose me Green."

I smiled sadly.

“Martha once said this same thing but look now—”

“I'm your mate." He cut me off with a smile. "Mates stand by each other till the end. And I'm going to be with you till the end,” he mumbled before placing a soft kiss on my forehead.

It was his assurance and my heart believed it. He was my true happiness, but I wasn't ready. I wasn't ready to chase after him. I wasn't ready to be loved just yet. As we reveled in that moment, I only hoped that fate would help me decide. My dreams or Zeus.