Chapter 106 - An Act Of Love

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With sad eyes Cedric watches the love of his life in his arms, what he avoided, what he has desperately tried to avoid, has happened, or worse more was yet to come. His jaw tightened, his body tensing, she was in pain, he could feel it, she was mentally scarred by what they were about to do to her, if he hadn't gotten there sooner then they would have...

The window vibrates from an unknown force, his eyes turning pitch black, it has been nothing but rage for him, nothing but the anger he couldn't subside, killing those responsible wasn't enough to quench it, what they did to her was unacceptable.

"I'm so sorry" those were the words he kept saying, all this was on him, she was experiencing love misfortune because of him, because of his curse affecting her, he has to put a stop to this.

He dropped her gently on the bed, she groaned but didn't awake, his fingers traced the slim bandage around her neck, his teeth clenched, the room turning ice but he fought his rage back or else he would do something that he would regret himself and he wasn't gonna have it.

He brought his wrist to his mouth, his fangs descended as he pierced his skin, he retreated his fangs before sucking on his black blood, seeing it was enough, he leaned and kissed her.

She moaned in her sleep and stuttered, Cedric deepened the kiss, making sure his blood flowed through, her body continued to tremble as she held onto him tightly. His blood will give her various effects but it will serve its purpose. He pulled away before it would drive any further.

She was shivering now as her lips quivered, he pulled the covers more against her body ensuring she was tucked in, this will cause her to sleep in for a long time.

"Rest my love," he said leaning down to steal a kiss on her forehead, he didn't want to leave, it broke him to do so but there was no other way, it took every bit of his strength before he pulled away.

His sad eyes were on her sleeping form, his hand in a tight fist, sustaining himself away from anything that would make him waver. He whirled.

"Nicklaus"

He halts the moment he hears that name, he turns his head only to her sleeping form.

"Nicklaus" she murmured as her face frowned, his pitch-black eyes sadden, her voice was cracked and like a whisper but only he could hear it.

"I love you Yelena" those were his words as he sauntered away.

At the lobby, he paced his step. "Beowulf", his loyal servant appeared before him, Mint did too.

"Mint you shall remain here until she gets her voice back".

"Yes Magnus"

"Do not leave her side"

"I will Magnus," he said with a bow before whirling to walk away.

"Beowulf"

"There's a shift in the balance when you kill Princess Alice, the trial continues, ending it will only do more damage than help," Beowulf said.

"But with my death, it will work"

Beowulf stilled at his master's words. "Magnus you don't intend to -"

"I shall be her last misfortune"

"Magnus but -"

"Cedric"

Cedric's gaze fell on his mother who came towards them, her eyes were wide when she saw Beowulf but she didn't panic, she knew her son was all kinds of things.

"Is it true, son, is it true we're at war now?" she asked eagerly.

"Yes Mother" he answered in a firm tone. "The death of Princess Alice in our land will stir war, the Northerners are already at the borders"

She gasped at his words, she took his hand as fear overwhelmed her, the nostalgic feeling.

"Don't tell me" she was on the verge of tears.

"Yes Mother I will go"

"Oh", she hugged him tightly, this was what she feared most, the last time he went to war, no mother wants to see her son go through that twice.

Cedric was still as the woman embraced him, he didn't understand much about a mother's love because he have never had one, she was the first he have had seen when he was born in the mortal realm, he knew she loves him but he didn't know how to reciprocate a mother's love. But there was one person who was everything to him, a mother, a friend, a partner. His everlasting love, Yelena.

He raised his hand to embrace her back but he resisted, rather he placed a hand on her arms to break the hug. She was in tears for him, he gently wipes her tears away.

"Do not cry Mother, this is for the best"

Her gaze fell on him. "I will serve the Empire as I did before"

She smiled. "Your father will be proud of you," she says but then her eyes fell sad. "Sylvia... she has every right to see you before you leave, it will break her"

"Now is the best, this is the only way, it will only make it hard when she sees me leave", not just for her but for him too, he was doing this for her sake.

"You love her," Mother said with trembling eyes.

"I have always loved her," he replied like a mere fact. She placed a hand on his cheek.

"I'm glad you finally found someone... but why does fate have to be so cruel to you both, from one misfortune to another, both of you deserve happiness and all the good things, you both deserve a life together"

His eyes grew wistful, she saw something in them she couldn't explain, like a long deep pain, deeper than underground itself, this was the first time she saw him filled with emotion, and she was happy because it meant his heart was finally open.

"Sylvia will be asleep for a long time but do not panic"

She frowned at her words. "Make sure she eats when she does, and she will be fine"

"Cedric why -"

"Mother" he cut in. "I never understood what it means to have a mother, but you showed me that... thank you"

She didn't like this, why was he speaking like it was his last words.

"Beowulf"

"Yes Magnus"

"You stay"

He froze, that was a first, he has always stayed by his side for centuries, does he really mean what he intends to do?

He walks away, Mother turns as she watches her son saunter away, she felt a heavy feeling and it bothered her.

"He's gonna be alright right?"

Beowulf sighed, if only that was the case because he knew it in his heart, the god of vampires was about to sacrifice his life for the woman he loves.

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I stirred awake, my head ached and my throat burned, my mouth tasted funny like a metallic or penny-like flavor? I groaned, opening my eyes.

"Mistress you're awake," Mint said with a smile against his lips.

I sat up. "Mint?", my eyes went wide, wait was that my voice? although it sounded so tiny that I barely heard myself but I just spoke. I was about to say something again.

"Do not speak too much, your vocal cords are still healing, just take your time"

But I thought I would never speak again.

"Mistress you have to eat"

The moment he said those words I felt a serious craving for food. Mother has explained to me that pregnant women have big appetites for food, if that was the case I would think I was pregnant right now.

Mint helped me with my robe before carrying me to where the food was. It felt awkward and uncomfortable being in his arms but I knew he was only doing his duty and I didn't even have one strength in my body to walk.

As Mint helped me to my seat I couldn't help it anymore, I dug into my food like I haven't eaten for a long time, I moaned as the sweet flavor of the meal got to my taste bud, it hurt passing my throat but not as much. I chewed on the meat, then the berries, and then the bread, loving the load in my mouth.

"You must be hungry, you have been asleep for a month"

I choked on my food, he quickly helped me with water, I chugged on it.

"What?" I whispered with wide eyes, how was I asleep for a month? Was that possible?

"Cedric"

Mint's eyes were saddened when I mentioned his name, why was he like that, did something happen to him? Panic filled my body but then the door's badge opened as Mother and Beowulf walked in.

"Mistress," Beowulf said bowing, was that Beowulf? out here in broad daylight? What was he doing here? And more Mother wasn't freaking out from seeing him.

"Sylvia, my child," she said, giving me a tight hug, I hugged her back feeling warmth, she sat on the chair next to me.

"Make sure you eat as much as you can, your body needs nutrients"

"Cedric", I will not eat until I see him, seeing my stubborn looks she sighed.

"I want you to at least eat and -"

I took her hand, holding onto it tightly, I couldn't wait that long. She sighed in defeat.

"After the death of Princess Alice the Northerners saw it as an act of war, we're are at war Sylvia, at the borders, the Empire armies and the north armies are clashing"

I gasped.

"And Cedric is leading it"