Chapter 55 - Start of Nightmares

Natasha's POV

The sun was already rising when we got home.

It was a long flight but Valerian and I were fully rested because of how comfortable the insides of his private jet were.

I got scared again when we got on the plane but Valerian never let go of my hand and never stopped reassuring me that everything would be okay and that I had nothing to be scared of.

I was scared for the first couple of minutes when the plane took off but I eventually got comfortable beside Valerian and the next thing I knew, I was not scared anymore. It was like, I was not even scared of the plane ever.

I was able to face my fear of the plane and I'm hoping that the fear of being home again and going back to reality of my life with Valerian will go away.

As soon as we were set at home, Valerian immediately told me that he had to go to his office. He asked me if I wanted to go with him but I refused because I knew he had a lot of work to do and I didn't want to get on his way.

"Drive safe," I told him as I waved my hands at him.

Valerian honked before finally driving away.

I just stood up by the gate as I watched Valerian's car fade out of my sight.

I sighed as I turned my back and got inside the gate.

"Natasha."

Just when I was about to close the gate, I heard a very familiar voice call my name.

I looked up and was completely stunned when I saw very familiar faces.

It's a face that I will never ever forget because I grew up with them.

"Draven, Urien." I gasped as I stared at my friends' faces, unable to believe that they were standing right in front of me.

"Oh, gosh! Draven, Urien!" I exclaimed as I opened up the gate again and ran towards them. I immediately wrapped my arms around both of them, hugging them-- confirming that they were really here standing in front of me-- right in front of Valerian's house.

My enthusiasm and my smile quickly faded away when I pulled myself away from them and saw that they didn't share the same enthusiasm as me.

"W-what happened? What are you two doing here? Where is Sayna?" I immediately asked.

"Where were you, Natasha?" Draven asked. His voice came out so cold. So far from the cheerful and always teasing Draven that I knew back at home.

"I--" I could not finish my sentence because I could not even form a single word to say because I can now feel that there's something wrong. Something is definitely not right.

"So, that was Valerian Fenrir, huh." Urien spits his words like poison. "The fucking demon."

I creased my forehead.

What?

"Seeing you smile at him makes me want to vomit with disgust, Natasha," Urien added.

I creased my forehead even further.

"What are you talking about, Urien?" I questioned, with so much confusion.

"You need to go home," Draven said coldly.

"What? Why? Does my father know that you two are here? What's going on?"

"We have been looking for you for weeks already, Natasha. But you weren't here. Both of you and the demon."

"Why?"

I'm so lost right now. First, Sayna left the town to see me and now they are here and I don't even know what they are talking about and why they seem mad at me.

"Enough of the questions. You need to come with us and go home right now," Draven said firmly.

"What? You know I can't do that. I can't leave. Not yet."

"Because of the demon Valerian Fenrir?" Urien chuckled angrily. "Please tell me he's not the reason why you don't want to go home."

"What are you talking about, Urien? Of course, he's the reason why-- in case you two forgot, I have a mission that's why I'm here."

"Don't fool yourself, Natasha. I saw how you looked at him." Urien smirked. "We both know why you can't leave him but I don't know if he poisoned your mind or you did that to yourself."

I gritted my teeth.

I was starting to get pissed by these two especially Urien because I have no idea what the fuck he is talking about and they wouldn't even fucking tell me!

I'm starting to get frustrated by the way they act because these don't seem like them. These don't seem like my friends.

"For the last time, what are you talking about?!"

"Oh please, don't be a fool, Natasha! That demon Valerian Fenrir is--"

"Enough!" Draven's voice thundered shutting up Urien. "You have to come with us, Natasha. You have to go home."

I shook my head. "I can't. I haven't finished my mission yet."

I'm ashamed that Urien might be right when he said that I was fooling myself because I know that my mission is not the only reason why I don't want to leave yet.

"And when are you planning to finish your mission, huh? When are you planning to kill Valerian Fenrir because, by the looks of it, you don't have any plan to do so."

"Enough, Urien." Draven pulled Urien away from me as he took a step closer to me. "You have to go home, Natasha."

I frustratedly took a sharp breath. "For fuck's sake, you both know I can't go home yet!"

"Sayna is dead."

There was suddenly a high pitched ring ringing in my ears that stopped me from hearing anything from my surroundings.

I took a sharp breath as I felt that it was suddenly hard to breathe.

"W-what?" That was all I managed to say.

"Sayna is dead. She is gone, Natasha. You have to go home."

I took deep breaths several times trying to clear my airway and be able to breathe but it's hard for me to.

There was still ringing in my ears and my vision had darkened.

"Natasha." Draven snapped his fingers in front of me snapping me back to reality.

"We have to leave now," he firmly said as he softly pushed me inside the gate. "Go get your things, we will be waiting for you here outside."

I absentmindedly walked back to the mansion.

"Sayna. . ." I muttered.

I was like a zombie walking as I kept on muttering Sayna's name.

The moment I closed the door of my room behind me, I broke down into tears.

"Oh gosh, Sayna. No no no. No, you can't be dead. No, Sayna please, no."

I clung to my chest as I let the pain and longing soak into my soul.

I remembered the last time I saw Sayna. She went here because she wanted to see me. She sacrificed and broke my father's rules just so she could see me. I should have let her stay with me so I could keep an eye on her and keep her eyes.

I should have hugged her tightly if I knew that would be the last time that I would be touching and feeling her presence.

I should have told her how grateful I am to have her as a friend; how grateful I am for the time we shared; for the times she boosted my courage; for the times she treated me and loved me greatly like a sister.

I should have done and said those.

I should have protected her from any kind of harm.

I should have done everything for her to be still here with us.

I should have done something.

"I'm so sorry, Sayna. I did not know. I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry if you were in pain and I had no idea, I'm so sorry."

My sobs and cries filled the four corners of my room.

"I'm so sorry, Sayna. Please forgive me," I kept on muttering as I tried to pick myself up and stand up.

"I'm so sorry. I'm coming."

I threw everything that I would ever need inside one bag and zipped it up.

"I'm coming, Sayna. I'm going home."

I harshly wiped my tears as I composed myself, ready.

I was stunned when I saw Elyse out of my room and the moment I opened the door.

"Hi, Natasha! I immediately went here upon knowing you just got home-- Natasha?" Elyse's expression went from enthusiastic to worried.

"What happened, Natasha? Why are your eyes so puffy? Were you crying? Did my brother hurt you?"

"I'm sorry, Elyse. I have to leave."

Elyse's forehead creased. "What? Where are you going? I'm going with you."

I immediately shook my head. "No, no, you can't come with me. I'm sorry. I have to leave."

I quickly ran down the stairs and Elyse followed me.

"Natasha, wait stop!"

Elyse held my arm before I could even open the door.

"Natasha, tell me what's going on? Where are you going? Does my brother know about this? Why are you hurrying? Are you in trouble? Let me come with you--"

I hugged Elyse before she could even finish her sentence.

"I'm so sorry, I have to leave but I'm coming back, I promise." I breathed sharply. "Thank you so much for everything, Elyse. Thank you for being so nice to me and accepting me."

Elyse hugged me back even tighter. "Why do I get the feeling that you're not coming back, Natasha? Why do I get the feeling that this will be the last time that we will see each other?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat.

I hate to admit it but I also feel that way.

Fuck this.

"Thank you so much for everything, Elyse. I will always be grateful that I met you. Please take good care of yourself." I pulled away from Elyse and tightly held her hands.

"Can I ask a favor, please?" I requested as I looked into her eyes.

Elyse nodded, getting teary-eyed. "Anything, Natasha."

I breathed sharply. "Please tell your brother that I'm sorry and I love him. So so much."

"What? No no no." Elyse shook her head. "You tell him that yourself, Natasha. You're coming back, right? Tell him that yourself."

I sobbed.

"Natasha, please. Tell me what's going on, let me help you. I will even come with you please."

I shook my head. "You can't, Elyse."

"We will help you, Natasha. Please."

I hugged Elyse tightly.

If this will be the last time we will see each other again, I will make sure to hug her tight and tell her everything I want her to know.

"Thank you, Elyse. Remember that I care for you."

I hugged Elyse tightly for the last time before I pulled away and ran out without looking back.

"Natasha! Natasha, please wait!"

I can hear Elyse calling out my name but I didn't look back. I just ran toward the gate and went out.

An old red Chevy was parked outside with Draven and Urien inside.

I hurriedly went inside the car.

"Let's go," I told them.

This car was my father's and it's been a long time since the last time I saw this.

My father. . .

I looked up and chewed on my lower lip when I felt a sob that was trying to come out of my mouth.

He made it clear to me that I should not go home if I haven't successfully done my mission and I haven't yet. . .

But I don't care.

We're talking about Sayna here.

I was not by her side when she died and that was enough.

I have to come home to her.

My heart aches at the thought of Sayna. Oh gosh.

I refused to believe that she was gone not until I saw her grave with my bare eyes.

No.

Valerian. . .

Oh, Valerian. . . I'm so sorry.

I was so scared of changes when we left Greece but I never expected that I would be the one causing the change.

I'm so sorry, Valerian.

I hope he forgives me.

I felt like going crazy from so much thought and pain that I was feeling.

Oh gosh.

I took deep breaths repeatedly.

"You good there, Natasha?" Urien asked.

"W-what happened to Sayna?" I asked, finally having the courage to.

There was a moment of silence before Draven spoke up.

"She was killed when she came home from when she came to see you."

"W-what? How? W-who killed her?"

Again, there was a moment of silence before one of them spoke up, it was Urien this time.

"Valerian Fenrir killed Sayna."