Chapter 82: Chapter 82

Calix had his back leaned against the wall with his hands crossed over his chest. Heaving a frustrated sigh, he looked at Rose who had not for once removed her gaze away from the mahogany door. His eyes then dropped to her left leg which was bouncing non-stop. Calix was well aware that Rose was worried about what was happening behind those closed doors. They both shared the same feeling cause just like her, his anxiety was also mushrooming with every passing second. But the vigorous and harsh tap of her heels was now giving him a headache.

“DAMN, Will you please stop this?” Frustrated, Calix bellowed at Rose who jumped in her place.

Huffing, he looked away but was startled when Rose suddenly pounced on him and grabbed his hands in her soft ones.

“Cal, I am scared. What if Orkus demands something absurd from Diana and threatens her to accept his condition? You do know that your King and Queen despise her to the core. What if they try to take advantage of this situation and hurt her?” She spoke worriedly but her words only riled the sapphire-eyed demon who harshly yanked her hands before berating her.

“Don’t assume stupid things. The Head King would never even in his life harm Diana. Yes, Queen Mother has ill feelings for her but she wouldn’t also hurt her, especially when she is carrying the future of Hell.”

Rose bobbed her head in agreement, “Indeed but that’s what I am fearing of Cal. Zac isn’t recovering and so is Zagan. You heard Barbas, right then why your Head King called Diana alone? We all know that the child in her womb is extraordinary. What if Orkus manipulates Diana to use sacrifice her child for the sake of Zachary? Because Barbas had clearly mentioned that we have now run out of options. Curing Zachary is near to impossible.”

Her words threw him in turmoil.

Calix took a furtive glance at the door. She was right though. Now, he also felt a strong need to check up on Diana.

Rose smirked watching his uneasy expression. She was worried for Diana’s safety but every time, she tried to persuade Calix, he rebuffed her. That’s when she came up with this viable idea.

Calix though was convinced to some extent; he still wasn’t ready to believe it. Rose noticed that. She walked to him closer and held his hands grabbing his attention.

“Listen, Cal-”

Rose again tried to make him understand but words died in her mouth when something caught her eyes that snatched the ground beneath her feet.

Calix frowned watching her face lose color. He followed her gaze only to freeze on spot.

A blurry image of Orkus and Diana was visible through the glass pane of one of the windows of the room. But what left them stunned was the sword in his hand that was aimed at Diana’s stomach.

Calix blinked his eyes multiple times not believing the dreadful reality. He was startled when he was harshly pushed aside by Rose who sprinted towards the closed room.

“NO, WAIT ROSE!!!”

Rose heard him yelling behind but she paid no heed and slammed the door open. Her eyes fell out of her sockets as soon as the most heartless scene unfolded in front of her eyes.

Diana was crying while hugging her stomach and shaking her head at Orkus who looked as if he was going to kill her.

Her temper immediately shot up. He was trying to kill her.

“HOW DARE YOU!!!” Screaming her lungs out, she ran toward them. Her voice immediately grabbed their attention. Orkus jolted in surprise and turned around but before he could react, Rose grabbed the sword from his hands and stood in front of Diana like a shield.

“I’LL KILL YOU IF YOU DARE HARM HER, MONSTER!!”

Diana stared at her with wide eyes. Calix who also came running behind her turned numb as this was the first time, he got to witness her outburst. Her eyes were bloodshot and she looked no less than a predator. He couldn’t believe that she was the same shy crybaby whose one glare was enough to freeze her to death.

Orkus on the other hand stood dumbfounded. He tried to speak but his breath got caught in his throat when Rose waved the sword in the air, warning him from making any move.

“ROSE, PUT THE DAMN SWORD DOWN THIS INSTANT!!” Calix hollered and marched towards her but his feet halted after earning a death glare.

“And you better stay in your spot before I separate the head of your fucking Head King from his body.” She grated out.

Orkus turned furious at her affront. Diana gasped and looked at him. A shiver ran down her spine when she noticed his eyes changing color. She quickly held Rose by her shoulders and tried to calm her down.

“He wasn’t trying to harm me, Rose. You’re misunderstanding. It was consensual.”

Her words came as a bolt from the blue for both Rose and Calix.

“WHAT? BUT WASN’T HE TRYING TO-”

Rose questioned her but was cut off by Diana who lowered her head, unable to meet her eyes. She knew the truth will shatter her.

“It’s the only way to cure Zac.”

~Time skip

“ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?? YOU’RE GOING TO SACRIFICE YOUR CHILD? WHAT KIND OF TREATMENT IS THIS??”

Rose snapped at Diana who continued sobbing silently. She was blown away when Diana told her about accepting the proviso Orkus had put forward in front of her to save Zachary.

Her silence only fueled her anger more. Striding towards her, Rose grabbed her shoulders and shook her violently.

“Why Di? Why are you always ready to be the scapegoat? Why do you let people walk over you? They must have other ways to cure him but just because of vengeance, they are forcing you to sacrifice your child.” She tried to put some sense in her.

Diana looked at her, “Whatever it is Rose but I can’t afford to lose Zac for the baby who hasn’t even come into this world. My priority is Zachary, Rose, and this child,” She said and cast her eyes down at her belly, “It will be good if he or she isn’t born. He is the root cause of all the problems. His birth will become a threat to everyone. Jasmine’s life will be in danger. I had already destroyed the life of the man who fought all his life just to keep me safe, now I can’t let my selfishness destroy his entire family.”

Rose was shell-shocked. She couldn’t believe that Diana was blaming herself for everything.

She immediately cupped her face in her palms and made her look into her eyes, “What are you saying Di? Had he brainwashed you that you’re impugning your own blood? Have you lost your mind? Don’t forget that it was Zachary who forced you to leave this palace. Only if he hadn’t abused you, things would have been different. It’s all his fault.” She snapped and glared at Orkus who immediately narrowed his eyes at her.

“Watch your mouth girl. You have no right to intervene in our private matters. Just zip your mouth and leave. And for your kind information, I didn’t force your friend. She and your entire world are responsible for my son’s state so you don’t have any right to throw mudsling at us. You must revert things to how it was.” He said and glowered at her.

Rose looked at him with a clenched jaw, “And you also don’t forget that it was your son who forced Diana into this shit, not the other way around. Just to reunite your family, you can’t destroy someone else’s house.”

“YES, WE CAN AND WE WILL!!!”

Suddenly an angry voice reverberated in the room grasping everyone’s attention. They all turned their heads to the door only to find Delphyne but what left them stunned was her blood-coated hands.

Orkus immediately rushed to her, “What’s this Delphyne? Whose blood is this?” He spoke anxiously but Delphyne didn’t reply. Her eyes were pinned on Diana who unconsciously grabbed Rose’s hands. Rose also wrapped an arm around her shoulder protectively when she found her squirming in fear.

“This girl, she’s responsible for everything. SHE KILLED JASMINE AND NOW SHE’LL KILL MY ZACHARY TOO!!”

She shouted and ran toward Diana like a mad woman. Calix immediately stopped her from hurting Diana but she continued struggling in his hold while screaming at the top of her lungs.

Rose stilled on her spot. A soundless gasp escaped her lips as she felt her world come crashing down. Diana quickly held her when she felt her body swaying in the air. She was also devastated but Delphyne’s incendiary remarks struck her body like whiplash.

“JASMINE KILLED HERSELF BECAUSE ZAGAN COULDN’T MAKE SURVIVE!! SHE DIED IN GUILT OF DESTROYING YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU’RE RESPONSIBLE FOR MURDERING MY CHILDREN!!” Delphyne shouted before bursting into heavy tears. Calix held her tightly but his eyes also turned blurry as never in his life, he had thought that Jasmine would take such a huge step.

Diana sobbed and staggered to the ground along with Rose who stared in naught. Jasmine’s smiling face kept roaming in front of her eyes.

The news came as a shock to Orkus as well. His eyes stung with tears but he blinked them away.

Calix hugged Delphyne who was bawling her eyes out in his arms. He then diverted his eyes toward Rose. His heart broke watching her broken self. She wasn’t responding and was simply staring into space while tears continued leaving her eyes. He knew she was traumatized after all Jasmine was her only family.

“You’re an omen, Diana. Only if you hadn’t been born, everyone would have been happy. You came as a curse in our lives. First, you turned my son against me and after so many years when I finally got my daughter back, you snatched her away from me. You are the reason behind everyone’s tears. You wrecked everyone’s lives. Be it, Theodore, be it, Zachary, YOU JUST CAN’T LET ANYONE STAY HAPPY.” Delphyne sobbed not caring that her words were only tearing Diana apart.

Diana suddenly felt a tight hold on her left forearm. Stifling her cries, she looked up but her heart dropped to the pit of her stomach when her eyes met with the fiery obsidian ones that were glaring at her with pure hatred.

Orkus tore her away from Rose and pulled her to her feet brutally. Diana winced in pain but didn’t make any move to retaliate.

“Cure him this instant, wench.” Orkus sneered at her face. Calix was taken aback by the sudden change of his demeanor but what left him surprised was Diana’s silence. She simply agreed without any fight and obeyed him.

Mad with rage, Orkus dragged Diana to Zachary and pushed her onto the floor not caring that she was pregnant. Calix watched everything. His nose flared in anger but what he didn’t realize was that he also didn’t stand in her support. He simply watched her being criticized and humiliated with sealed lips. Because deep down, he was also blaming her for everything.

Diana quickly placed her hands on her palms to support her stomach as Orkus pushed her near the foot of the bed. She had lost everything today. Her dignity, her pride, her love, and finally she’ll be losing her child.

Tears kept running down her eyes like a waterfall but she kept her expression stony and crawled to Zachary.

Delphyne and Orkus’ words today rive her soul into pieces. The girl who had spent her entire life spreading happiness and bringing smiles to everyone’s faces was today being labeled as a home wrecker. A witch, a curse, her presence was being hated, her existence was being questioned.

No one stood in her support but she had no qualms about it either. Because she had also started believing that she was just an abomination.

Calix watched how Diana perched beside Zachary but his heart did a wild flip-flop when she grabbed the dagger that Orkus handed her and without any hesitating, aimed at her stomach. His body shook in fright. A strong urge to stop her overpowered him but he was held back by Delphyne who simply watched Diana killing her baby with her own hands.

Blood splattered all over her face as she made a long gash in her stomach but Diana didn’t open her eyes. She knew if she sees the blood, her resolve will break. No mother would ever commit this sin but after mustering up a lot of courage, she had finally made up her mind.

Placing her hand on her stomach, she muttered a spell and put her other hand on Zachary’s heart. Orkus watched how Diana granted his son’s life. His hands didn’t shake for once nor did his heart.

Completing the spell, Diana finally removed her hands. The demons watched their King in anticipation not giving a damn about the girl who was bleeding profusely.

Orkus continued gazing at Zachary without blinking his eyes. Suddenly a smile broke on his lips when he found his scars healing.

Delphyne quickly detached herself from Calix and rushed to Zachary who was still unconscious. Calix also stood up but his feet stalled when his gaze landed on Diana who was wincing in pain. Coiling her left arm around her stomach, she stood up with the support of her right hand while biting her lips to control the pain. He tried to approach her but Diana simply walked past him. His eyes widened when he realized that she didn’t even spare a glance at Zachary.

Delphyne saw Diana exiting the room from her peripheral vision. She turned her head to the door when Calix also ran behind her. Blinking her eyes, she then looked at Rose who was still on the ground, her eyes zeroed on one spot.

After making sure the ground was clear, she started her plan.

Delphyne glided her left hand down to her gown and carefully removed a flask that she had hidden in her cape. She kept her eyes on Orkus who was engrossed in celebrating the recovery of his son. Uncapping it, she stealthily poured the liquid on Zachary’s fingers and sprinkled some on Orkus.

A sly smile etched on her lips as she saw Orkus losing consciousness. When she made sure he was asleep, she wasted no time and ran to Rose. Grabbing her hair, she forced her to open her mouth and shoved the rest of the liquid down her throat.

Rose was snapped back to reality when she felt difficulty in breathing. She looked at Delphyne but her eyes widened in horror after noticing the malice in her eyes.

Rose smacked her chest with her fists but a painful moan escaped her lips when Delphyne grabbed a chunk of her hair and made her look at her.

“Time to say, goodbye angel.”

With that she slammed her head on the ground, knocking her out.