She Belongs To The Devil

The dim light from the lanterns started flickering wildly as if they were also in agony upon witnessing the death of their King approaching nearer and nearer.

Dragomir could feel his body getting colder and weaker by the second as though his life force was slowly being sucked out of him. He began feeling lightheaded. And he could tell that he had at most five or six minutes left.

He pulled away from the hug with his daughter and said in a melancholic tone, "I think I should lie down."

Adeline\'s brows creased and she asked despondently, "Father, are you in pain somewhere? Should I get you something?"

Dragomir smiled and shook his head. "No. Just stay by my side and I will be fine."

When he was about to lie down, Theodore appeared back inside the room with Nigel and Queen Claricia.

And both Claricia and Nigel ran towards the King\'s side while Theodore disappeared again.

"My King!" Claricia climbed on the bed and sat beside Adeline. "Theodore told me that you were having some difficulty." She looked around frantically and asked, "Where are the healers? Aren\'t they here yet?"

Dragomir had tried countless times to tell Claricia about his ill fate. But he could never bring himself to reveal the news to her.

He was being selfish. He wanted to see Claricia\'s innocent and pure smile for a bit longer.

Claricia glanced back at the Royal Guards and shouted at them, "Why are the two of you just standing there like statues? Go and bring the healers! Quick!"

The guards were confused because from what they were seeing earlier, they had just thought that the father and daughter had some disagreement and were finally apologizing to each other. It didn\'t look like the King was in any kind of pain or health-related difficulties.

Adeline turned her head away from the Queen and started to sob without making any sound. Nigel stood behind Adeline and pressed her head against his chest. He hugged her tightly while fighting back his tears.

Dragomir shook his head to the guards who were giving a questioning glance to him.

"There\'s no need to call the healers." He then held Claricia\'s hand, which startled her.

Claricia gave a worried glance to her husband and protested, "Why not? Your hands are already ice-cold!"

"Claricia, nothing will work now…" Dragomir gave a sad glance to his wife and swallowed his tears.

Claricia felt a sharp and bitter pain in her heart. She was innocent but not dumb. She read between the lines and knew what her husband was trying to say to her. And the swollen eyes of her husband, and Adeline who was sobbing continuously only confirmed what she was thinking.

Claricia\'s hands and feet went numb. She was feeling as if someone had pushed her from the cliff and she was freefalling to her death.

Theodore appeared in the room again, this time with Rhea and Fenris. They all came closer to the King\'s bed and surrounded him.

Claricia was not ready to accept that her husband, who was laughing and playing with the grandchildren till late in the evening was now suddenly going to…

"No! No! No!" She violently shook her head and wiped her eyes with force.

Her eyes fell on Theodore and she hastily made a request to him, "Theodore, I have some medicine that can give relief to the heart. Will you take me back to my room?"

She tried to get down from the bed in order to walk towards Theodore but Dragomir held her wrist and stopped her. "Claricia, please try to understand. I already know that I am dying. There is nothing that can stop it now."

"No! Don\'t say such ill things about yourself. Please say that you are just testing all of us. Please!" Claricia lowered her head and silently shed her tears.

Even though she wasn\'t making a sound, Dragomir could tell that she was crying from the way her shoulders were shaking.

He gently placed his palm on her shoulder and lovingly rubbed his thumb. "Claricia, the thing that I love the most about you is your innocent smile. Don\'t let your smile wither away just because I won\'t be here."

Claricia looked back at him and shook her head. "Please don\'t keep on speaking as if this is your last day. I won\'t accept it."

"Nigel," Dragomir called his son\'s attention.

Nigel turned around to show his reddened eyes. He had been crying along with Adeline.

Dragomir then asked a favor to his son, "Nigel, you know that Wyverndale will soon be flooded with those vampires. If the situation gets too dangerous here then take your mother to Aberdeen. I won\'t be here to protect her."

Nigel gulped hard and nodded, "I will protect her. You don\'t have to worry about her, father."

But Claricia held Dragomir\'s hand and denied, "No, I am not going anywhere. And neither are you."

Dragomir suddenly clenched his chest and coughed. His condition worsened even more. He could feel his consciousness slowly chipping away.

He let out labored breathing and said in a soft voice, "Claricia, I don\'t think I can hold on for long. Let me rest my head on your lap, will you?"

Everyone in the room was now scared. Adeline could see and smell everyone\'s fear.

Claricia shifted closer to Dragomir and Theodore came to help him lie down. Dragomir rested his head on Claricia\'s lap and tightly held her palm.

He was a little scared but he was mostly happy. He was happy to be surrounded by his loved ones when he was on his deathbed. For him, there was no better way to die than this.

Dragomir\'s eyesight was now getting blurry. He could hear some more footsteps entering the room. He tried to see who came inside but his eyesight was failing him. He could hear some of the voices that he recognized though.

He gestured for Theodore to sit by his side, opposite Adeline. And when Theodore was there, he asked, "Are everyone here?"

Theodore looked around and answered, "Those whose quarters are close are here. Some of them are yet to arrive." Theodore couldn\'t teleport everyone to the room because not all of the Royals were aware of his identity.

Dragomir then asked Theodore, "Will I slowly lose all my senses and die? I can\'t see clearly anymore."

Adeline felt a hammering in her chest when she heard her father. She quickly turned to face him and so did Nigel. They could sense their father dying. And nothing gave them this kind of bitter pain than having to see their father drifting away.

"The experience is different for everyone," Theodore gave a quick reply and continued to dart his eyes around the room. And when Alan entered the room, Theodore said to the King, "Everyone is here now."

"Good." Dragomir was fighting hard to keep his eyes open but he was feeling very drowsy. He felt like he would get the most peaceful sleep if he closed his eyes now.

He turned his head towards Theodore. He could see his figure even though it was a little blurry. And he asked his son-in-law, "Tell everyone to live harmoniously. Tell them that I loved them all."

Dragomir\'s eyelids slowly shut close.

And almost at the exact time, Adeline and Theodore saw a hooded dark figure carrying a huge scythe standing at the foot of the bed.

The Grim Reaper was there to collect Dragomir\'s soul.