Chapter 41: Chapter 41

Cassandra woke up gasping for air and in a very familiar place. She hurriedly stood up and glanced around the surrounding. Her hunch was right. Cassandra was back to the site where she always saw the Moon Goddess, even in her childhood days. She remembers her carefree smile and laugh that soothes her whenever she had a bad dream but thinking that she is back here right now means that she failed her.

Cassandra failed her once again. Images flashed through her mind, and she saw Sebastian was trying to save her, but Albarin killed her by impaling the stake through her heart.

"I am really dead, right?"

Just the thought of not seeing and touching Sebastian ever again broke her heart. She felt sad, and the pain was immeasurable. Cassandra sat on the swing hanging on the tree and bowed her head dejectedly.

"My child, raise your head," Cassandra heard a voice said near her. Automatically, her tears started pouring down. She doesn't have the guts to face the Moon Goddess; after all, she failed her again. Maybe, Angel was wrong about what she had foreseen. Perhaps, she's not really the Queen they kept talking about because she's a failure. Cassandra heard footsteps coming on her way, she panicked. She couldn't face her looking so pathetic.

"Are you still doubting yourself, my child?" Moon Goddess questioned. Cassandra couldn't help it; she cupped Cassandra's face and lifted it. Eye to eye, the Moon Goddess smiled at her.

There's no doubt in her eyes nor hopelessness. No anger on her face, but just a pure smile. Cassandra nodded her head. She did the worst thing in front of her, crying her heart out.

"W—why? Why did you c—choose me as your Queen?" Cassandra asked. "I can't even properly defend myself and ended up here! Dead!" she added and broke down. Sobbing and crying like a kid. Cassandra knelt on the grass while she wept.

"My child, I choose you because you are you. I choose because I know you can do it," Moon Goddess said, and she gently rubbed her back.

"B—but I'm good as d—dead. I'm useless," Cassandra said while she hiccupped.

"My child, do you believe in miracles?" Moon Goddess asked her. Cassandra was full of confusion while looking at her. She doesn't know what the goddess means. The goddess bestowed her a smile once again, and memories flashed before her eyes.

Cassandra saw herself when she was young. When she was in fourth grade with Blaze. When she entered high school. When her twin brother took her to prom. When her parents surprised both of them and when she entered Academia. Cassandra felt her heart race. She also saw Sebastian, her love, her anchor, her everything, smiling at me and whispered sweet nothings into her ear. She suddenly gasped for air. Cassandra opened her eyes and saw Sebastian's face.

"Sebastian," she said. Sebastian was silent for a minute. He just stared at her, wondering if she's really alive and breathing. He then cried like a baby, hugging her so tight that she had forgotten to breathe.

"Thank the heavens; you're alive!" Sebastian happily said. "I love you, please don't ever leave me again! I can't take it. I will die without you by my side," he added while sobbing. He wasn't ashamed of crying. He was beyond grateful for knowing that Cassandra is alive. Cassandra kissed him in the cheeks and rested her forehead with his.

"I won't leave you again, Blood. I won't," Cassandra whispered while holding his hand.

"I love you so much. Don't you dare die in front of me again!" Sebastian seriously said; he doesn't want to witness her death once more. Cassandra nodded her head and planted a soft peck on his lips.

"I won't because I will fight death for you, my love...always," Cassandra said. She let go of his hand and stood up. The pain from the stab already went away, and all that's left in her was the dried blood. Sebastian stood beside her.

"It's time to end this war, my love," Cassandra said and looked straight ahead. They both charged on the battlefield with their battle cry once again.