Chapter 114: Chapter 114

“What?” Athena gasped.

“Ñiraka, anything else you want to say to your birth mother?” Dakar asked.

“You make me sick. Both you and Father. And I don't regret this,” Ñiraka replied.

Athena trembled.

“Ñiraka, right? That's what he just called you, right? My daughter...my ba...my baby. Listen to me. L-listen to your mother. Don't do this. Don't do this to me,” Athena stuttered, sweating and shivering.

“You abandoned me. Cared nothing about me like I was a feather in the wind. How could you? I've been alive for years thinking my mother had died, but you've been here acting like a slay queen in her prime, seducing men and planning to destroy the world by releasing a demon on the earth! And what hurts me most is that you and Father have given me the worst genes ever. If my uncle had not taken me in, I'd have turned into a worse version of you,” Ñiraka expressed.

Athena panted and looked at the crystal ball. She had not even heard Ñiraka's rant. She cared only for her life and how to stop them from using that ball.

“We'll talk over tea later. Like a mother and daughter should. I promise you we will bond and have good times. Just don't... don't let him cajole you into doing this,” Athena pleaded.

Ñiraka exhaled then stripped open her arm. She took a small knife and sliced it open. Dakar placed the ball underneath, and all the blood flowed in.

“This should in no way affect the main owner of this life but to the ones who gave it instead. Let them burn everlastingly and never return to this world,” Ñiraka chanted. Dakar looked at her amidst the screams of ‘No!’ from her mother.

“You do know that includes your father, right?” he asked.

“Remus will be a better place without him in it. I can't begin to explain to you all his sinister plans. The ones he's achieved and the ones he's about to achieve,” she answered.

Dakar nodded and walked to the fireplace. The fire reignited instantly. Athena roared the loudest she had so far as Dakar cast the ball into the fire. The fire blazed up and erupted. Athena blasted into nothing alongside it. And when the fire died down, there was not a sound in the hall. Only deafening silence, but oh how sweet it was. The rare silence of victory.

Avril stirred and opened her eyes. She groaned and sat up painfully. Her chest was throbbing, and she wore a baggy t-shirt that was covering a thick bandage underneath. The room was overly familiar, but the color had changed. Instead of red, it was now in emerald and gold decor. That was the only thing that changed.

The door opened, and four girls entered noisily.

“She's awake!”

“Whoooo!”

Avril almost palmed her ears at the noise. The girls ran to hug her except Verona. But Vee stood at the end of the bed, a beautiful happy smile on her face.

“What happened?” Avril asked.

“Well, Prince Dakar didn't allow that demon to stab you in the heart. He diverted the blade, so you're alive!” Xiao Wéi explained.

Avril blinked, and it all came back to her. She unconsciously heard everything that transpired after she got stabbed. Everything was in her memory in audio. She widened her eyes.

“It's over? Oh my goodness! God!” she burst into tears. Her friends laughed and hugged her, careful not to upset her injury.

“We all almost lost our lives. That witch made us appear in her dungeon but let Verona, Camper, and the disguised Ñiraka appear somewhere away from her castle. Of course, they came right back, but we were really scared she would kill us all,” Chidi said.

Verona sat on the bed.

“Fiorella is the most unlucky one. Ever since this mess, it's one injury or another. The amount of healers I've seen since she arrived is enough to last me a lifetime,” she teased and laughed. Avril's heart melted. She had never seen her friend laugh so heartily before.

“Come here, give me a hug,” Avril cooed and spread her arms. Verona tried to glare at her, but it wasn't working. She just scoffed and smiled, then hugged her gently.

The door opened, and all eyes whipped there. Prince Dakar stood there in a black shirt, his hair and eye color back to normal. Avril smiled at him, and he smiled back.

“Bye, we're gonna go tell Ñiraka you're awake. Bye,” Nana whispered, and they left the room. Dakar slowly walked and sat by Avril on the bed. They simply gazed at each other before Prince Dakar began to cry.

“Dak...Dakar,” Avril called but broke down too.

“It's over, Avril. Dojo's gone,” his voice cracked, and the tears fell.

“I can't...I can't believe it. Is this real?”

Dakar nodded and clasped his hands with hers. She leaned her head against his chest, and they both cried their hearts out. Dakar kept kissing her forehead even as the tears flooded his face.

“Thank you, Avril. Thank you so much for giving me the strength and motivation to fight this. I love you, my mate. I love you.”

Avril looked up at him and smiled.

“I love the sound of it. ‘My mate’. Call me that every day.”

“I will. I will always.”

Avril stole a peck from him.

“Now tell me why your room looks different?”

“I don't desire anything to do with the color red anymore. It totally triggers me. And it sucks.”

Avril laughed out.

“The apothecaries of Remus are devising something, Avril. Something to prolong human lives. I specially requested it for you and your friends, and any other human in Remus that would want it.”

“Really? That's amazing! We could stay longer with you guys.”

“Camper and Nana have promised to do some silly things to each other if it works out. Those two.”

Avril laughed.

“I want something from you, Dakar.”

Prince Dakar sat up to listen.

“I want us to find the island and stay there together for some time. Just us, like it used to be.”

Dakar smiled and held her arms.

“I already found the island, and I was just waiting for you to bring it up. I'd love for us to be back on our island.”

Avril squealed and hugged him, ignoring the pain in her chest.

“Let's go to the island then!” she cheered and clapped excitedly.

“First, I'll bring you your medications. I'm not taking an injured lady on a journey.” He got up and walked to the door after landing her a peck on the cheek.

“You better propose to me on the island, or I'll cook you!” she threatened jokingly. Dakar laughed and looked at her.

“Noted,” he said and stepped out. Once outside the closed door, he pulled out a black box from his pocket and opened it.

“I guess we'd have to wait for now,” he said before closing it. He then tucked the ring box back into his pocket and went off to get Avril her Remusian speed healing medication.

Soon, he'll take her to the island where he would propose, marry her, and produce beautiful mixed pups with her. And their beautiful family will live happily ever after. As it should be.