Crimson, the colour of betrayal!!
**Damon’s POV**
These two weeks without Natasha were like rotting in hell. The feeling that you’re drowning and you won’t fucking die is just not leaving away. At times I am screaming in rage and the next moment I’m crying like a baby. Nothing is making any sense; it felt like the world was ending, yet the sun kept rising day after day. The thoughts of losing the baby are killing me, and trust me I’m gonna kill that bastard. But then the next second my thoughts take the turn of one-eighty degrees; death would be his salvation, and all he deserves is suffering.
The sight of Natasha being dragged away brutally and mercilessly was torturing every cell and fibre of my body. Those vile people would be imparting unspeakable levels of torment on her and I’m sitting here helpless, unable to prevent it. Every night I’m haunted by the nightmares of my Natasha taken away from me, those beautiful eyes brimmed with tears of pain and agony of being betrayed by her mate and losing the baby. And since that day I’m cursing myself and those silver shackles that prevented me from reaching out to her.
“Damon, we need to talk.” Lukas’s firm voice shook me out of my thoughts. I’m spending my days and nights burrowed in sorrow all the while ignoring Lukas and others like fuck.
“Leave me alone!” I warned with a growl. Drakon was squirming desperately, trying to crawl out of my skin and destroy every damn thing in this fucking world, but anyways I clenched my fists trying so hard to control the rage burning inside of me. Lukas’s condition was no different from mine and I can see the pain in his eyes, but like a great leader he is always keeping his rage in check to make crucial decisions during challenging times, and the fact that he understood me more than anyone else.
“It's time to act. We can't sit on our asses and cry forever. Natasha needs us and we need to figure out a way to save her,” he spoke.
“All the doors leading to her are closed. We don’t have ‘Warp crux’ to create the portal. And even if we found a way to create the portal, still there is no way to locate her among the countless realms, and not to forget the different time zones. We’ll need the coordinates.” I commented after a few moments of silence.
“I think we do have the coordinates.” As soon as he said this, my back straightened and I gripped the hands of the sofa so hard that the material gives in my hands.
“Are you fucking joking?” I frowned.
“Oh, I’m not, however I know for certain that you won’t like the coordinates.” He spoke.
“Northern Realm?” I asked.
“Yes, but not the part which we know of. A considerable part of the Northern Realm is hidden by some magical barrier, invisible to the eyes,” he spoke.
“And what are the coordinates?” I asked in suspicion even though I was having a faint idea of what he might have. And trust me, my bones were literally snapping to let the Drakon take over, but my skin was preventing Drakon from taking the charge. It was like fighting with your other self and inflicting self-harm.
“The blood of the scion. Rhaegar’s blood.” Lukas’s words literally made me laugh without a shred of humour. “So now that fucker is scared for his life? Does he really believe that I’ll spare his ass after he betrays Natasha and kills my baby?” I spoke sarcastically looking at the vile of blood. Lukas was clutching it tightly as if his life depended on it, making sure to act in defence if I somehow decide to snatch and break the fucking vile. But I am not stupid, as I learnt the hard way to do what is the need of the hour, and some battles need to be kept for later.
“And this is the diamond eye,” Lukas said shoving the necklace at my face before continuing, “I’m not sure of how it works, but one of us needs to wear this.” I ignored him this time. Lukas rolled his eyes at this and forcibly put that necklace in my hand.
“Did the thought that this might be a trap ever occurred to you?” I narrowed my eyes in suspicion.
“We don’t know for sure, but what option do we have?” Lukas reverted trying to act indifferent, but I could see a slight glint of hope in his eyes as well as voice.
“Okay, let’s play along,” I spoke putting the necklace on my neck. For a moment I felt something weird. I closed my eyes and the feeling that my mind is taking me somewhere else was enough to raise the goosebumps on my skin. I was inside the dark room with walls on all four sides and no door or window. It felt as if I was trapped there with no escape. I was not sure what was that place or why I was even there in the first place. After eyeing the darkness for a minute or so, I opened my eyes in anger, grabbed the necklace and pulled it down.
“What the hell is this…is this some kind of magical mojo? What else can we expect from the people of the Northern Realm? I didn’t ever take you for the one who played into the dramatics,” I commented dryly shoving it back into his hand.
“Oh, I’m not, however, I’ll take my chances on every damn clue or help that leads me to Natas-,” Lukas growled, but I cut him before he gets to finish.
“Even if it's from Rhaegar? Have you forgiven him so easily for treating Natasha like a piece of trash? He is the killer of my baby…still you are putting hope in this rubbish piece of shit?” I questioned him eyeing the necklace.
“I am saying this infinitieth time that Rhaegar is a culprit. I’m his sworn enemy and this is not gonna change, still, you are questioning me? Do you think I’m not in enough pain, enough fucking agony!?” I watched as Lukas rubbed the back of his neck in frustration before taking a calming breath.
I let out a sigh cursing myself for doubting my brother. “I know of your pain brother; you know that I do but I don’t trust that serpent. Can't you see that this diamond eye is not working?”
“I don’t know how this works or why is it not working, but Aaron said that it has two pieces, and each should be worn by the mate for this to work,” Lukas said.
“So, Natasha needs to wear the other part for this to work, but for some reason, she is not wearing it?” I replied with a feeling of dread about what might have happened to Natasha.
“That’s the reason it's not working,” Lukas spoke, and I could tell that he was feeling the same concern.
“But still I don’t understand one thing…Why did he give us the vial of blood, when he knew that we don’t possess Warp Crux to create the portal? How are we supposed to reach Natasha?” I couldn’t help the helplessness in my voice.
“There are three Warp cruxes…One is with Mycelle…the whereabouts of the second one is unknown… but I know of a witch who possesses the third one.” An unexpected voice spoke behind me from the last person I could ever hope to help Natasha.
“MOM!” I turned around in surprise.
**Rhaegar’s POV**
“We can't let the third Warp Crux fall into the hands of those useless people.” Aurora’s demonic voice growled at Mycelle and King Louris.
“That’s impossible! And even if somehow, they manage to get it, they will need the coordinates to reach us which they don’t have,” Mycelle shared the knowledge with a hint of confidence or should I call it overconfidence?
“Are you sure they don’t have the coordinates? The blood of the scion!” Aurora’s question was directed at Mycelle but her demonic eyes were transfixed on me with suspicion or more like an accusation. Even though I was nervous as hell on the inside and my stiff muscles were the proof of that, but any fear from my side can put my plan in jeopardy and we will lose the only chance to save Natasha. Instead of replying to her words I just give her an intense look as if daring her to accuse me.
“Can you please stop intimidating him? He has already proven his worth. Your heart belongs to you and Natasha is with us because of him…So, learn to be grateful.” Mycelle was quick to revert back. She always had this soft corner for me, and maybe I’m alive because of her otherwise my uncle should have shown me no mercy. Well, that doesn’t make her any less guilty, and she will learn her lesson hard if she even manages to stay alive.
“And what am I supposed to do with that Natasha…or should I rephrase it…Almost-dead Natasha!? She can barely lift her finger so how in the hell are we going to provoke her to release her energy barrier? All we have got is a dead piece of meat after waiting for centuries. Perhaps we should have shown some patience with Anna. She was a bitch but this Natasha seems the bigger one.” Aurora spoke in disgust, and trust me I was holding back the urge to break her face.
“That has nothing to do with Rhaegar.” Mycelle reminded her.
“Are you suggesting that your little boy was clueless about his mate’s pregnancy? What about that special power of seeping into the minds of each other? Either he is dumb as hell or he thinks of us as dumb. He is going to double-cross us. I can smell his betrayal.” Aurora spoke without taking her eyes off me.
“Where is my mother?” I asked her straightforwardly ignoring her accusations. I always believed that my parents were dead, but before we went to Cursed soul woods Mycelle had visited Artena. I was against going to Cursed Soul Woods, but Mycelle mind linked me revealing about my mother and the plan to betray Natasha. I had no other option than to give up on her whims. But she did the stupid mistake of handing me the Diamond eye. She had no clue about its power.
“Go and ask your mate for the stone that was embedded in the dagger or your mother dies!” Aurora roared at me.
“She doesn’t have or I would have known. When we extracted the dagger there was no stone on it,” I spoke.
“Without the stone, that dagger is useless! That Natasha must have hidden it somewhere. We need the complete dagger to raise the one resting in the coffin.” Mycelle spoke.
“Seep in her mind and if she blocks you then peel her skin. Just fucking go, and don’t forget to tie her up. The bitch will grow wings in no time.” Aurora was fuming with anger.
I nodded. Although I acted indifferently in front of them, but inside I was cursing myself for the evil deed I was a part of…Murder of an unborn baby! Damon and Lukas are not going to spare me, and I am going to surrender as l don’t care about my life. Just want Natasha and my mother to be safe before I close my eyes forever.
Just as I was turning away to exit the royal chamber, the voice of King Louris reached my ears. “Aurora is right about the third Warp Crux. We can't let it in their hands, and what if somehow, they have a hold of Rhaegar’s blood? We need to deal with that Burning witch before Damon and Lukas reach her. I will assemble and dispatch a team of assassins.”
‘Fuck, I need to act faster. We have only two weeks left to kill Aurora before she becomes immortal and invincible to raise the one sleeping in the coffin,’ I thought to myself while pacing through the narrow passages of the hidden Northern palace. It looked much different than the one I had lived in as if I’m teleported to the past.
My heart wretched on seeing Natasha curdled up in pain, her white dress was soaked in crimson, the colour of my betrayal. I was forced to betray her for my mother’s sake, and I knew well enough that a small portion of Deisinth was not enough to kill Natasha, and nor were they intending to kill her as they need her alive, but my heart aches for the unborn baby. I committed an unforgivable sin and for that, I deserve to be denied in all the levels of hell. But, right now I have no time for emotions. Natasha can think what she wants, and I have to do what needs to be done, even if I have to tie her to do that.
My first instinct was to scan through her neck, and my heart skipped a beat when I failed to see what I wanted.
“Where the hell is Diamond eye?” I almost screamed at her in panic. My second instinct was to look around the cell with the hope that it must be lying somewhere. She didn’t even flinch or made an effort to look at me. I rushed into the cell and very carefully placed her on my lap.
“Natasha, where is the diamond eye?” I asked once more in a calm tone. Her eyes were barely open, and all she gave me was a half-smile as if mocking me, “I th-threw it,” was her barely audible answer.
“Fuck! Why would you do that? I had told you beforehand that no matter what never part away with the necklace even if you are mad at me.” I told her.
“Is that the word you use? Mad? Just mad?” Her broken voice stabbed me like a sharp dart.
“Natasha, please I-,” My choky voice was barely a whisper as tears welled through my eyes.
“You know what Rhaegar; my heart is bleeding because our forever died into never. Your tender touch, your soft kisses and your sworn promises were all cold-hearted lies. It's hurting a lot and I’m falling apart. I wish we have never met.” Her voice was as broken as her soul.
“Natasha, please I-,” The words were refusing to come out as my heart was too heavy with guilt.
“Rhaegar, please I know that you want forgiveness, and trust me I already have because of a beautiful dream. A dream of an angel with baby wings and a pure heart. She said that she holds no grudge against you or anyone else. She has to go back because it was not her time to enter this world and you were just the vessel to make it happen. She will come again when the time is right, but you know what; I’m hurt, not because of that fucking dart or that shitty poison, I’m just hurt by everything, I’m broken, and I want to die. So, KILL me.” She screamed the word kill to make her point.
“Natasha, please I-,” This time she didn’t let me speak.
“I said kill me, now!” She screamed, grabbing me by the collar. The rivulets of fresh blood trailed through her white dress and bare feet. Her body was shaking wildly, whereas her hands and feet were shivering. The sparks of her barrier lit her fingers and sparkled her eyes but they held no power. Her hands roamed desperately around my body as if trying to search for something. She clutched onto a blade hidden inside my tunic, but before she could stab herself, I snatched it and moved away from her, out of the cell and walked away through the dark tunnels.
“Kill me! Kill me! Kill me!” She was screaming like a mad woman trapped in a cage and wailing like an injured animal.
And in all that mess, I passed the Grim Reaper who was coming from the opposite side. The moment he noticed me, he tried to hide someone behind him. An old woman dressed as a prisoner. I just ignored them and paced ahead, unable to bear the pain of seeing how once a lively woman like Natasha became a broken mess, too broken to heal. I couldn’t bear the weight of guilt that was killing my conscience. I fucking hate myself.