Chapter 23: Chapter 23

Calix's words shocked everyone present in the room. Diana pushed Zachary off making him growl but she ignored him and marched towards Calix, “What are you saying, Moon Prince? I don’t want any girl to sacrifice herself for me? Moreover, what if she gets caught? Ari will get in trouble-”

She started blabbering in fear but Calix cut her in between, “She won’t Princess Diana. Ariel is with Theodore and he knows that she is faithful to him that’s why she had sent her loyal guards to bring you to the church. Jasmine would knock out Ela and stupefy Ara. She would then ready her up in the wedding attire and cover her face with a veil. When Ela would regain consciousness, she would think of Ara as you and bring her to church. Theodore will marry her and when the truth will be revealed, it will be too late to regret.”

He snickered and raised his right hand to do a high five with Rose but she rolled her eyes and turned to Diana, “We both made this plan together, Di. You are cognizant of the marriage ritual. Once the angels take the holy vows, their souls get tied with the sacred bond till death. Moreover, Theodore won’t be able to harm your family as they have no involvement in it. One day he has to accept Ara because she will be his wife, his other half and if he rejects her, he’ll suffer.”

Her words turned Diana quiet. It was true that the sacred bond would torture Theodore if he tries to hurt Ara but the guilt of using an innocent girl to save herself was hollowing her from inside.

Zachary looked at Diana who was drowned in thoughts. Sighing, he grabbed her waist and leaned down to her face level. Cupping her face in his palms, he made her look at him, “I know princess that you hate using people for your benefit but do you think Ara and Ela would have sympathized with you the same way?”

“But they are simply following the orders,” Diana tried to reason him.

“Is hurting you included in their protocol?“, Zachary sneered while caressing her bruised lip. She flinched and held his hand wincing in pain.

Rose nodded in agreement, “He is right, Di. I know our plan had put you in a dilemma but to save your love and all of us, you have to do this. We know that Ara and Ela are simply following the Princess’ orders but apart from being Ari’s loyal guards, they are also women. They should be ashamed that even after watching you suffer, they never tried to help you. Isn’t that a heartless act? If you still think they’re right then why did you save Zachary? Wasn’t he a Demon, your rival? But you decided to lower the bars of enmity and saved the life of a wounded man who was on the verge of death. That’s what we have been taught since childhood Diana, isn’t it? But Ariel, Theodore, and his family are practicing something else. Shouldn’t you take a step to stop this or you’ll encourage them? Wrong is wrong, Di. Just because Ari is your family, you can’t condone her mistakes. It’s your responsibility to make her realize her fault instead of abetting her.”

Diana lowered her head as guilt engulfed her. Zachary’s eyes softened when he saw tears shining in her blue eyes. Placing her index finger below her chin, he lifted her face and kissed her. Rose immediately looked away in embarrassment.

“I will die if you leave me, Princess,” he whispered near her lips. Diana immediately covered his mouth with her palm and shook her head in denial.

“No, don’t say that. Never say that” she cried. Zachary joined their foreheads and wiped the lone tear that escaped her left eye before it could hit the floor.

“Oye, lovebirds. We have to escape nor welcome Teo.”

Diana immediately jerked back hearing Calix’s mocking voice. Zachary smirked at her flushed face.

“A-Alright but how you’re gonna make Ela and others believe that Ara is me. I mean even if Ela wouldn’t be able to recognize her, Ariel will catch her. I won’t be able to deceive the one who raised me since I was 12,” she spoke to Rose who ran out of words as she was right.

Zachary glanced at Jasmine through his peripheral vision only to find her lost in thoughts. The Jasmine which was earlier beaming like a spring morning was now withered like a dried flower.

“What are you going to do, Jasmine?”

As if pulled from a trance, Jasmine looked at Zachary who was staring at her with a questioning gaze. Clearing her throat, she looked at the rest who were also waiting for her reply, “Uhm, w-we could use body swap and alter mind spells. Body swap would mold Ara’s figure just like Diana’s but not her face. When people will see her from far, they would mistake her for the princess but a closer look will catch the lie. That’s why I will sprinkle the alter mind spell on the bouquet. When Ara will hold it, whoever she’ll encounter would be enchanted by its fragrance and would see her as Diana” she explained to them in a professional tone. Rose looked at Jasmine with admiration as she was proud of her intelligent sister.

Calix glanced at Rose and all of a sudden clapped his hands in front of her face startling her, “Wow! My sister-in-law is so brilliant.”

Her mood instantly turned sour. She shot him a black look before speaking with clenched teeth, “I won’t marry you so better put a full stop on your wildest dreams.”

Calix pouted sadly and looked at her with puppy eyes. Rose looked away in annoyance while Diana chuckled watching them bickering like couples.

Jasmine’s long face was still irking Zachary. He knew something was fishy. He could easily tell that she was masking her sadness with a phony smile.

Suddenly an idea popped into his mind.

Zachary looked at everyone and cleared his throat to grab their attention, “Alright, then let Jasmine do the task. Cal, you take Diana and Rose to the Rose Garden while I stay with Jasmine and help her deal with those witches. Keep the girls safe until we arrive there.”

Calix nodded and tried to hold Rose but she immediately moved away and walked toward Zachary, “No, I and Jasmine won’t be leaving Moonland. It’s our home. Where will we go??” She raised her voice this time which offended the Demon King.

Zachary glared at Diana, warning her to zip her friend. Diana gulped and looked at Rose who was holding Jasmine tightly, “Rosie, George is still a danger to you. You need to come with me. The same goes for Jasmine. You only told me that we are doing this for a motto, to make Theodore and others realize their mistakes. Right?” She spoke softly making Rose lower her head. Silence fell over the room as everyone patiently waited for her answer.

After pondering for some time, Rose raised her head and nodded making Calix and Diana smile. She then looked at Jasmine whose eyes were stuck on the floor, “Do it fast and come soon. I won’t leave until you come.”

Jasmine looked at Rose whose eyes were laced with concern. She squeezed her hand and smiled at her.

Jasmine then walked toward Diana and removed her diamond choker, “This would do the work. You all can leave now.”

Diana nodded and patted her head softly. Bidding goodbyes, both the girls soon left with Calix.

No sooner did they leave; Zachary turned back and trained his eyes on Jasmine who quickly turned her back to him and busied herself. Her eyes kept turning glassy but she continued blinking her tears before he could notice.

Jasmine then grabbed a compact kept on the vanity. Opening it, she sprinkled some face powder on her palm.

“I think that’ll be enough,” she murmured to herself. Closing her fists, she squeezed her eyes tightly and opened her mouth to perform the spell when a mocking chuckle rang in her ears.

“For you or Ara?”