Chapter 115
The atmosphere inside the bedchamber thickened to a suffocating density as Odesse turned slowly to face Azure. Azure took a few hesitant steps forward, her bare feet making no sound against the polished floorboards, before coming to a complete halt. Her eyes drifted down—first to the edge of the mattress where the empty space lay, then to Odesse’s pale, empty hand, and finally up to meet Odesse’s gaze.
Azure’s face was a map of profound agony. Her lips were parched and cracked, and her breath hitched in her throat.
“Do not say anything, Odesse,” Azure pleaded, her voice dropping into a raspy, fragile whisper. “I shall speak, please p>
She sniffed softly, swallowing hard as she tried to gather the shattered pieces of her composure.
“I apologize, Odesse,” Azure continued, the words raw and trembling. “For everything I put you through. None of it was fair p>
Odesse’s eyes widened in genuine shock, her breath catching as the formidable, arrogant villain stripped away every layer of her armor. Caution still lingered in Odesse’s veins, causing her to step back slightly as Azure took another small step forward.
“You see, Odesse… late this afternoon, I felt a warmth in me,” Azure said, pressing her palm gently against the center of her chest. Her expression softened into a look of sheer disbelief. “It felt unreal because only one person ever made me feel that way, and it was She broke off, her voice cracking as she stared down at the floorboards. Hot tears spilled freely from her eyes, splashing against the dark wood below. “Koa p>
She sniffed again, raising her arm to wipe her wet face, before slowly lifting her red, tear-stained eyes back to Odesse. Her hands clenched into tight, bloodless fists at her sides.
“But I killed him,” Azure whispered, the words laced with self-loathing. “I killed the only person who loved me truly. I killed the man I truly loved with my whole heart. He was the only one who made me feel like I was someone… and not a monster p>
A wry, bitter smile stretched across Azure’s pale lips. “You see, Odesse… I never loved Valex p>
Odesse remained standing in complete, solemn silence, her chest aching as she bore witness to Azure weeping and laying bare her true feelings for the very first time.
“I never felt anything towards Valex,” Azure confessed, her voice hollow. “I just enjoyed the thrill of torturing people. I hate the feeling of seeing others happy.” Her eyes suddenly turned icy cold, fixed on the empty air as her fists tightened further, her knuckles turning white. “If only Koa and I had been together… If only Koa had never gone to the army camp… If only… if only p>
She looked down at her feet, repeating those two desperate words over and over like a dark, repetitive chant, her mind spiraling into the recursive nightmare of her past decisions.
Odesse stood before her, her own face heavy with sadness as she looked upon the ruined, fallen woman.
Suddenly, Azure’s knees gave out. She collapsed hard onto the floor, her hands reaching up to tear at her hair as she sobbed uncontrollably. “Why would I make such a foolish mistake? I killed my father, my mother, my husband, and many more people because of how unfortunate I am!” She wept bitterly, staring blankly at the ground beneath her. “All I have ever wanted was to die since I was a child. Destiny has nothing but cruel decisions for me, and the universe has blessed me with a cruel fate that I cannot escape p>
Moved by an instinct of pure human empathy, Odesse took a step forward, intending to offer comfort. But the moment she moved, Azure snapped her head up, shooting her a glare so bone-chillingly cold that Odesse froze instantly in her tracks. A wave of intense goosebumps broke across Odesse’s arms, the small hairs on her body standing on end under the sudden weight of Azure’s aura.
Azure’s expression twisted into a wide, tragic smile. “I have always been jealous of you, Odesse. You had amazing, supportive parents who never treated you like you were a mistake or a monster. You had eyes on you when you were outside, but when you got inside, you felt completely safe with your parents p>
She touched her chest gently, her breathing ragged. “But me… I had eyes on the outside, and the inside was just as suffocating. You are married to an amazing man who would die for you and rules one of the largest packs in the northern region. I had a husband, but I was so foolish that I ruined everything. You have the Moon Spirit to protect you… I had no one to protect me since I was a child. You are beautiful and strong, smart and courageous p>
Azure paused, looking back down as tears continued to fall endlessly onto the floor.
Odesse watched her in quiet agony. “My heart swells for Azure in this moment,” Odesse thought, her hands trembling at her sides. “I want to comfort her… but what if this is a trick of some sort p>
Azure looked back up, a bright, faint smile spreading across her face. “We would have been amazing friends, Odesse. Not because of the trauma and problems we both share, but because we are both different sides of the same coin. If only we had met in another timeline… where Koa and I were still married, and I never met Valex. Where one day, Koa and I met the two of you together p>
Her smile grew exceptionally warm, her cheeks puffing up and her eyes narrowing into soft crescents as she held onto the beautiful, impossible fantasy. “We would have been amazing friends p>
Slowly, painfully, Azure pushed herself up from the floor to stand on her feet once more. Odesse took a cautious step back.
“You have destroyed the anklet,” Azure said softly, her eyes flickering toward the bed. “The physical anchor… a piece of jewelry gifted to me by my husband.” She smiled weakly. “Thank you, Odesse p>
She drew a deep, steadying breath in, letting it out slowly as her eyes locked onto Odesse’s with absolute clarity. “I am sure now… that you have redirected the spell to yourself p>
Odesse’s eyes widened in sudden realization.
Azure touched her own chest, her smile lingering even as the fresh tears streamed freely down her pale cheeks. “At the end of the day, Odesse… it ended exactly how I wanted it to. You have to give me credit for that p>
The moment the words left Azure’s mouth, a sudden, invisible shockwave ripped through the room.
Simultaneously, both Odesse and Azure collapsed heavily onto the floor.
Azure’s eyes closed peacefully as she hit the ground, the remaining tears sliding down her still face. Beside her, Odesse fell hard on her side, her eyes wide open as her chest seized violently. The Cruor Link imploded inward, its invisible red tethers snapping shut around her heart. Odesse clutched frantically at her chest, her lungs burning as she gasped for air that would not come, her body convulsing against the cold wood.
Outside in the corridor, Valex heard the heavy thud echo through the heavy door. Without a second thought, he threw the handle down and burst into the bedchamber.
His heart dropped into his throat at the sight before him: both Odesse and Azure lay collapsed on the floor. But while Azure lay completely still, Odesse was writhing, clutching her chest in a desperate struggle to breathe.
“Odesse!” Valex cried out, rushing across the room and dropping to his knees beside her. He slid his arms under her shoulders, lifting her upper body off the floor and cradling her against his chest.
Odesse’s hands flew up, her fingers twisting desperately into the fabric of his shirt as she fought the crushing agony in her chest.
“My love, hold on! I shall get the physician!” Valex panicked, his voice rising as he prepared to scoop her into his arms.
“No Odesse choked out, shaking her head with immense pain. “No… don’t c-call… anyone p>
Valex immediately lowered his ear close to her lips, his heart pounding against his ribs. “What was that, my love p>
“Do not call the doctor,” Odesse managed to whisper, her grip on his shirt tightening as if it were the only thing anchoring her soul to the living world. “Keep me on the bed… take care of me. I will wake up, my King p>
“But my love—” Valex pleaded, horror rising in his chest.
Odesse reached up with a shaking, freezing hand, pressing her palm softly against his cheek. “Clean me… and if possible, feed me. I will come back. Do not worry, my King… I will be perfectly fine p>
With those final words, her strength gave out completely. Her eyes fluttered closed, and her hand slipped from his face. A moment later, thick streams of black blood began to ooze slowly from her shut eyes, trailing down her pale cheeks.
Extreme terror gripped Valex’s heart. He pulled Odesse’s limp body tightly against his chest, wrapping his arms around her fragile frame as if he could physically shield her from death itself. He buried his face in her hair, pressing desperate, trembling kisses against her head.
Slowly, Valex turned his head to look across the floor.
A few feet away lay the motionless body of Azure. Her cheeks were still wet with tear stains, but a faint, peaceful smile rested on her pale lips—a final, permanent mark signaling the absolute end of her tragic storm.