Chapter 55: A CUDDLE

She has been sitting on the couch in the sitting room for hours, and I'm beginning to get worried. She just sat there, staring out blankly. I couldn't read the expression on her face.

I took some cookies and a glass of juice and walked up to her.

“Here, have some of this." I placed the cookies on the table in front of her before sitting beside her. She still didn't look my way or at the cookies.

"Alda, please, have something to eat." She slowly turned, facing me. She has been crying; her eyes were red, and teardrops clung to her eyelashes, tracking down her flushed cheeks.

“Alda Barnard is dead; she died a very horrible death.” She said. I reached out and wiped those tears away.

“That's not true." My voice was almost a whisper. The sadness in her eyes is making me weak.

“But that's the truth; I don't even know who I am anymore." She said this to me with a sad smile on her face. I took her hands, intertwining them with mine.

“I want you to know I will stand by you to the very end. I'm not leaving you alone until I make sure I put all those who caused you pain behind bars with a death sentence if possible.

You are not alone, Alda; please believe me.” She stared at me for a while, and then she smiled, looking at our intertwined hands.

“You know, sometimes I don't know if I should call meeting you a blessing to me or a curse to you,” she said.

“I think it's a blessing; maybe the universe brought us together for a reason, so please stop crying. I want you to save that energy for the fight ahead of us.”

“Okay, I am going to believe that the universe sent you to me to help me with this battle, just like it sent me someone to help too.

I will let you help me with my battle while I help someone who was also brought to me by the universe.”

I was confused. Who was she talking about? The universe brought someone to her. I wanted to ask her what she meant by that, but when she rested her head on my shoulder, all I could do was stroke her hair.

She leans in closer to me, wrapping her hands tightly around my waist. I felt her shiver in my hands, and I got worried.

“Are you cold? Do you feel unwell?” He asked, checking to see if she had a fever, but she didn't.

“I just want to stay in your arms like this for a few more minutes; I promise I will leave after then,” she said, making herself more comfortable.”

“It's okay; you can sleep if you want to; I'm not complaining.”

“When are we meeting your parents?”

“On Friday, they want us to meet you on Friday.”

“Well, I guess I have two days to do some cleaning up.”

“Clean up on what?” I curiously asked when I couldn't understand a thing she was saying.

“On myself, I need to clean up the mess Seth made of me.” She replied before her voice died out, followed by a small sound and deep breath, which indicated that she had fallen asleep.

I kept stroking her hair as I watched her sleep. All I wanted was to get rid of all her worries.

“Alma's POV

“Ha ha ha ha ha ha, you are not so powerful after all, but I really did enjoy taking your powers.” I asked what was left of Almaruda before turning to leave, but she grabbed a hold of my legs.

“Do you want to die? I will suggest you get your hands away from me, or I will make sure you lose all of your fingers.”

“Leave my babies out of this, you fucking witch!” she screamed.

“Aren't you funny? I just can't believe you are worried about those damn creatures when you are supposed to be worried about yourself. You are without your powers, which means you have less than five minutes before you start suffocating, and after that, you will be dead.

Have you actually forgotten that elves can't breathe underwater? See you on the surface, that is, if you make it.” I kicked her hands away from my legs as I summoned the seadragons with her powers.

This is nice; with the powers of the black stone and those of Almaruda, I will be untouchable. The only thing remaining is to destroy all the stones of light, and I know how to do that.

The growling of the seadragons filled my ears as they responded to my calls.

"Come, my dear friends, it's time to serve your purpose. You all will be my greatest weapon.” I walked to the one that seemed like the leader and whispered something to it before stepping away.

I smiled to myself as I watched the big guy eat the rest of its kind as he began to change. The two heads joined to become one, and his wings tore their way out of his fresh as he growled. 

“Let's fly, big guy. I can't wait to show Mum the surprise I have for her. She will be our gateway to the other queens and their stones.” I didn't hesitate to walk my way up the back of the dragon that bowed before me.

They will all now come to me, just like you; I'm almost there. Tapping him twice on the back, he took off out of the water and into the air.

Alda's POV

I woke up only to find myself in Xender's arms. How could he let me rest my head on his injured arm? We weren't in the sitting room anymore; he brought me up to his room.

He was asleep, and I didn't want to wake him up. I have already given this guy enough sleepless nights. I quietly pushed myself up, but his arm around my waist tightened.

I looked at his tired face and felt sorry for him. I rushed out and brushed his hair away from his face, and his eyes came open.

He stared at me as his grey eyes pierced into mine. His eyes held so many emotions that I couldn't define them. 

“I better get going,” I said, breaking the silence between us. I turned to leave, but he drew me back into his arms, wrapping his arms around my waist.

“Where are you running to? He asked.

“To my room; you seem pretty tired, so I should go.”

“No, stay, please, just for tonight.” He pleaded.

"Xender, your arm is injured,” I told him.

“But I still have one left; just stay here for tonight." I wanted to decline his offer, but I couldn't.

“Okay, just got tonight.” 

“Thank you,” he said with a smile. There is no way I will be getting proper sleep this night.