Chapter 29: Chapter 29

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

AN HOUR earlier than her usual meeting time with Alexander, Gretel found herself walking toward the forest. She held the folded cloak in her arms as her tears poured non-stop.

She could not just stand to be in the room next to Javier. She might lose control and rushed to him to demand an explanation or beg him to change his mind. He already had plans before she came into his life. It was her fault she agreed to marry him. It was her fault she fell in love with Javier.

She wished Alexander would come early. She badly needed someone to listen to her. She knew Alexander would willingly lend his shoulder for her to cry on. He would listen to her without any judgement. She knew he would understand her.

She sat down on her favorite spot and cried helplessly.

That was not the circumstance she was expecting when she finally gave her present to Alexander. She even forgot to bring food for him. Gretel felt worse.

Then Gretel heard footsteps. She straightened her back, hoping it was Alexander. And she saw two figures standing a few feet away from her.

Gretel gaped.

They were Dario and Jones. But something was strange about them. Before she could tell what it was, they had grabbed her arms and pulled her up forcefully.

“W-what do you think you’re doing? Let go of me!”

JAVIER WAS panting when he finally reached the forest. He had to wait to change into Alexander and followed Gretel. He was sure Gretel would be here. She trusted his Alexander persona.

“Gretel?” he called as he looked around.

He was expecting Gretel would be sitting under the tree, but she was not around.

“Gretel! Can you hear me? Where are you?” he called once again.

Javier stopped as he caught a glimpse of something on Gretel's usual spot. He picked it up, and his heart skipped a beat. It was a cloak made of fine cloth. Gretel sewed it herself for Alexander.

His chest pounded in fear. Gretel could not just simply drop it here. He was sure she had been here. But where did she go?

He searched for her desperately. Javier would never forgive himself if something bad happened to her.

“I know where she is,” said a playful tone behind her.

Javier froze in horror. That voice. It had been a long time since he heard that. It was the same voice he did not want to hear again.

Slowly, he turned around. Blood pounded in his ears as he saw Minerva standing a few feet away from him. The witched who cursed him, his good-for-nothing stepmother looked the same as he last saw her. She was wearing a grand black ball gown and a mirror in her hand. That was where her powers were coming from.

Javier could still clearly remember the day his life was ruined forever. After the burial of his father, Minerva began to show her true colors. Javier did not like her since the first day. He believed she did not love his father, and she was only after his wealth.

Minerva tried to seduce him to sleep with her. He rejected her that very instant because he was faithful to Edina. She did not take it lightly. She put the curse on him that would change his appearance when the nighttime comes. The spell would only break if someone loved Javier despite his cursed form. If the curse was not broken before he turned thirty years old, Javier would die in Minerva's hands.

While Edina loved her, she got scared of him when he showed her his ugly form. She saw him as a monster. Javier was brokenhearted. That was the last time he saw his former lover.

“How have you been, my handsome stepson?” she taunted.

“Where’s Gretel? What have you done to her?” he roared as he launched himself toward her.

The first thing he wanted to do was grab Minerva and choked her to death. But he could not touch her. His hands passed through her.

Minerva laughed maniacally as she resumed her appearance behind him. Javier clenched his fist in anger and frustration. Even after those years, he was still powerless compared to this witch. And it was driving him mad that Gretel had to get involved with this. He thought he was going to die alone and miserable.

“Why do you have to involve her in this?”

“I’m doing you a favor, Javier. It’s painful to die alone. Gretel should see you until your last breath. But do you think she’ll cry for you? I bet she’d be relieved to see a monster like you dying. Just like what Edina felt years ago.”

“Let’s get this over with, Minerva! Gretel had nothing to do with this!”

“Sure. I’ll give you the chance to be the hero in this tragic story.” Minerva motioned her mirror. “Look closely. This is where you’ll find us. Hurry up, Javier. We don’t have much time left.” Minerva laughed as she disappeared into thin air.

Javier dropped to the ground, helpless and confused. Minerva showed her an abandoned tower in the middle of nowhere.

“Gretel…” Javier buried his sharp nails on the ground. “I’ll save you. Hang in there.”

He would never forgive Minerva for dragging Gretel into this mess. He swore if he dies, she’ll die with him.

Javier tried killing himself multiple times, thinking that would end his misery. But he could not die because he was meant to die from Minerva's curse. He would take advantage of it this time. Minerva will regret putting this curse on him because he will use it against her.