Symphony of Death

Anastasia’s POV

I couldn’t get that simmering gaze out of my head.

I was embarrassed and disturbed but more than anything I was furious at Cain for barging in on my privacy.

At first, I thought it was something serious. Cain looked angry.

But then that happened.

I didn’t even want to imagine what could have occurred if I had not pulled back. I almost lost it as well. I almost gave myself to Cain again.

I felt the tug the moment Cain gathered me in his arms and kissed me. Every stroke of his touch, gentle and rough, consumed me with an insatiable hunger of desire and something more.

The flame that ignited in that instant didn’t fade this time. I managed to tear myself away but I couldn’t get rid of the emptiness Cain left me with.

It wasn’t the first time.

I felt this attraction for Cain when we met in the office. He drew me in from the very first glance. The only difference is I was unaware before. But now, I was very much conscious of it and the reason.

No matter how right it felt, it was wrong.

I could not feel this way. I should not desire him. I should remember that intimacy and even an inkling of emotion for Cain would kill me.

But I couldn’t stop myself from imagining.

It was potent, the feeling that inundated me. It scared me at the same time it enthralled me.

I wanted more. I wanted all of it. I wanted all of him.

But I couldn’t. I just couldn’t.

Cain kept his distance from me after that. He didn’t talk to me or approached me in any way. The air around him was indignant. Everyone could sense the malice seeping out of him.

The game of dodge began once more.

Cain avoided sharing the same space with me at every cost. He left as soon as I entered the room.

We were back to zero.

But this indifference was not the only thing that made me restless. There was guilt as well.

I felt guilty for slapping him.

I didn’t want to but I was left with no other choice. Cain didn’t look like he was listening or was going to stop. He looked entirely consumed. I thought he was going to kill me.

I dared to hit death.

But he just left me alone. He didn’t take any revenge or hold any grudge.

That didn’t mean I was unaware of his choppy mood.

I couldn’t do this anymore. I needed to tell him about Scott’s wedding. I thought about leaving without informing but the possible outcomes of this whimsicality didn’t leave a nice taste in my mouth.

So here I was standing outside his study from the past ten minutes and contemplating this and that.

Why did I come if I didn’t want to confront him?

I raised my hand again to knock but I couldn’t find enough courage.

“I think I’ll leave,” I chickened out in the end. “It’s better-” my eyes widened slightly when the doors flew open.

Now I was trapped.

How preposterous of me to think that Cain wouldn’t have sensed me?

He would have known the moment I opened the door upstairs.

He is not human, you idiot.

I heaved a defeated sigh and trudged inside his study. As expected, Cain was sitting behind his desk with his laptop and lots of paperwork.

He was still in his formal clothes except for the tie and the suit jacket. The top few buttons of his shirt were undone and his sleeves were rolled to the elbows.

Cain looked at me when I stopped behind the chair.

“You are still working,” I cleared my throat awkwardly. “I didn’t know.”

“You were standing outside for the past ten minutes to state the obvious?” His tone was clipped. It put a frown on my face. “What brought you here this late?” Cain leaned back in his chair.

I scratched my neck out of habit. His gaze was making me nervous.

“I wanted to talk to you about something.” Cain motioned toward the chair. I sat down and interlocked my hands in my lap. “Remember I told you about Scott’s wedding?” He remained impassive. “He is Angie’s brother. His wedding is next week.”

“You want to go?” Cain asked smugly.

“I’m not asking for permission,” I narrowed my eyes slightly at his apathetic attitude. “I just came to tell you.” I stood up. “We will be leaving the day after tomorrow.”

“You are going five days early,” Cain pointed out.

“Yes, the wedding is in Snoqualmie Ridge.” Cain’s expressions hardened. “Dianna wants to get married at Angie’s grandparents’ home,” I explained further.

“We’re going to Issaquah first. Everyone will gather there at Angie’s home and then leave for Snoqualmie together. Shae is accompanying me. I just wanted to tell you this.”

“Why did you feel the need to tell me?” Cain asked. I was caught off guard. “I’m waiting, Anastasia.”

“I wanted to let you know before you threw any tantrum.” I retorted. “I’m just saving my neck.” I glared at him when he scoffed. “I can see it was a wasted trip. I forgot you don’t care.” I stomped toward the door.

“Ana!” It was strange how my anger melted just by hearing him call me that. My heart started pounding furiously when Cain stood up and came to me. “Be careful. Don’t lose your charms and my ring. Let me know if you feel something.”

The tension was palpable.

My body tingled with something electrifying. It was making me feverish and edgy.

That sinful gaze.

It was not concealing anything.

I fisted my hands when I looked between us. We were apart by a mere inch and I could feel this distance more than anything.

I was hating it more than anything.

I wanted him close. I wanted to feel him more than anything. I wanted him to hold me in his arms and never let go. I wanted to bury my face in his chest and hug him tightly.

I wanted to touch Cain. I wanted him to touch me.

My throat felt parched when my eyes wandered down to his lips.

I wanted to kiss him. I wanted him to kiss me senselessly. I wanted to feel his mouth all over my body.

Was I always this lustful?

But it didn’t feel like physical attraction only.

I wanted him in every way.

I was hating myself for nurturing these insane thoughts and feelings despite knowing.

“Ana?” Cain’s deep voice snapped me out of my trance.

“Okay,” I whispered shyly. “Cain?” I decided to be brave. “There is something else,” my cheeks warmed up when his piercing gaze bore into mine again.

“Yes?” He cocked one brow in question at my prolonged silence.

“I-” I fumbled with my hands and words. “It’s that -” my neck was burning. “I’m sorry.”

“For?” Cain asked bemused.

“Slapping you,” I replied nervously. As expected, his expressions became cold and harsh. “I shouldn’t have.”

“I might have ended up raping you if you hadn’t,” Cain interjected. “No need to apologize.”

“But-” I stopped when he fixed me with a warning glare. “I - you didn’t tell me what happened-” I sealed my lips when his eyes narrowed slightly. “Maybe not.” I lowered my gaze. “I just wanted to apologize because it felt wrong somewhere. So, I just thought -”

“You think too much,” I yelped when Cain pinched my cheek. “Stop mulling over unnecessary things.”

“You can come back to the room you know,” I clasped my hands behind my back. “If it’s the only reason you are avoiding me then don’t. I know you won’t hurt me.” His mouth set in a thin line and he glared at me. “What? It’s true and there is no point in denying it.”

“Ana!”

“Please, just stay in the room with me. I feel much at ease that way. I can’t sleep peacefully when you are not around. I’m always afraid of encountering something when I’m alone.”

“What if I’m the one you need to be wary of more than anything else?” Cain whispered darkly. “I can’t guarantee your safety.”

“I will take responsibility for that,” I said in exasperation. “I have moved past that incident. You should too. It’s not like you actually forced yourself on me or something,”

I blushed profusely when the look in his eyes shifted towards dark amusement.

“I was not vigilant enough. Anyways!” I said a bit loudly when he smirked. “I hope you will consider my words. Good night.”

I ran out of his study and stopped only once I was back in the room.

“How does any of that make sense?” I ran to the bed and hid under the blanket.

I rubbed my left wrist and frowned when the symbol began to glow. It was dull and there was no pain but it sent my heart into a frenzy.

I was being irrational. I was doing stupid things.

But I felt no regret.

“I feel like I have dug my own grave.” I closed my eyes and sighed. My heartbeat refused to return to normal. “I hope I don’t end up burying myself in it later.”

****

“I think we are done after this,” I gave the list to Shae after checking. “Let’s leave after sorting out the material that came in today.”

“I’ll do that. You can take a break.” Shae said. “When are we leaving tomorrow?”

“In the evening,” I told Shae. “Make sure you have packed everything. Angie will eat you alive if you leave anything.” Shae nodded and went to the storeroom.

I went to the clothing rack near the display window and checked the dresses again. I hummed in satisfaction and looked out. It was still early in the afternoon.

“I don’t know why I am feeling weird knots in my stomach,” I muttered to myself while looking outside.

There was a nagging feeling. It filled me with something foreboding.

“It’s so quiet.” I frowned at the empty roads and lack of people. This location was never this vacant. “I should stop feeling paranoid about every other thing.”

The sky turned black in less than a second. It started snowing and everything buried under it while I was looking. The temperature dropped to the point that I could see my breaths freezing in the air.

I stumbled back when the windows of my studio began frosting up and the ice crawled inside as well.

“You have no care in the world.” I whipped around wildly when a female voice whispered in my ear. “So this is how you look up close.” A woman appeared out of the whirl of black shadows.

The air trembled with the loud cawing of crows scampering outside the building in vicious circles.

The day turned into night within a blink.

“What do you want?” I stepped away from her.

“The name’s Catsya,” she grinned. “Why? Your prince charming hasn’t told you about me yet?” I cried out in pain when she grabbed my left wrist and twisted it. “I know the little trick between you two so I will be taking this.” She ripped Cain’s ring off my finger.

“Get away from her,” Catsya jumped back when Shae attacked her out of nowhere. She stopped Shae’s blade with her forearm.

“Aren’t you a cute little thing?” Catsya snickered. “You should step back, little girl, if you don’t wish to die.”

“You wish!” Shae spun on her heels. “Don’t underestimate me,” Shae kicked Catsya midair and aimed her flamed fist to her chest.

“Shae!” I screamed when someone stabbed her from behind. A scythe. I looked around in horror when blue fire enveloped the studio in its raging blaze.

“I’m so-rry,” Shae rasped. “I fail-” Something black oozed out of her wound and mouth and she jerked violently.

“Shae!” I came face to face with her assailant when he lowered her body. “Logan!”

“How could you betray me?” Logan threw Shae toward me like she was some ragged piece of cloth.

“Shae!” I held her in my arms protectively when she transformed into a cat. The black substance from her body stung my skin. “Wake up, Shae. Please” I shook her. “You monster!” I screeched at him. “How could you?”

“My brother is not going to like this,” Catsya stood next to him and eyed me scornfully. “If Harold and Sorush came to know of this transgression,” she grinned wickedly, “they are going to be very angry.” She spat contemptuously. “Get done with it.”

“Are you sure Cain won’t know?” Logan asked her.

“You are standing inside, aren’t you?” Catsya scoffed. “I’ve broken the barrier completely. Even if he realizes it, we will be long gone.”

“No,” I clutched Shae tightly and crawled back when Logan came near me. “Stay away.”

“How could you betray my love, Omisha?” Logan grabbed my hair roughly. His eyes looked like the eyes of a maniac. “What didn’t I do for you?” he snarled in my face. “You chose him! You chose that bloody abomination, Omisha.”

“I’m not Omisha,” I yelled back. “Stop this madness and leave me.”

“Shut up,” I fell to my side when Logan slapped me. “I’m not going to be nice anymore. I’m going to beat the memories in you if needed,” he pulled me back up by my hair. “I won’t let you stay with him and whore around anymore.”

“Get lost,” I screamed in his face. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

“Oh, you will,” Logan sneered. “I will drag you out if needed.” He shoved me back and stood up.

I hissed when my eyes began to sting. I was petrified by the hundreds of Anima that appeared around him.

The same Anima that came to my room that time.

“You remember these babies?” Catsya laughed evilly when they surrounded me from every direction. “These are not the normal Anima. Harold and Sorush played with them a little.”

“No,” I crawled back when they whizzed in my face. “Please!” My back hit the window.

“Don’t you want to know why these look different?” Catsya sniggered. “I’ll tell you why. These Anima have demon energy and Sorush’s blood fused in them. They are violent and unstable than ordinary Anima, Ana baby.” Catsya cooed.

“And right now they are going to start by eating all of your memories.” She laughed like a madwoman. “Your lover boy is going to empty your head so he can plant new memories there.”

“No!” I shook my head. “No, please.”

“You will forget this pain, Omisha,” Logan said coldly. “It will be momentarily and then we will be together like how it was supposed to be.”

The first Anima attacked me at Logan’s command.

I shrieked when it opened its mouth. It was like looking into a black hole. Hideous canals of rotten flesh rose out of its mouth and latched onto my forehead.

“Cain!” I raised my left hand to my face.

The Anima howled and flew back. It jerked violently and clawed itself. I could only gape at it dumbly when it was devoured by the bluish-purple flames.

“What the fuck!” Catsya bellowed. “What was that?” Her fury rose at my glowing wrist. “You little-”

“We don’t have time for this,” Logan stopped her from coming at me. “Rest can wait. We need to take her out of here first.” He released ten Animas on me. “Rob her off of her memory,” I screamed in pain when they latched onto me.

“Cain!”

“He is not coming–”

The glass shattered behind me but not a single shard touched my body. The Anima Logan unleashed were engulfed by the maelstrom of bluish black flames.

“You never learn, do you?” Catsya and Logan jumped back when Cain stood in front of me. His wing disappeared and he faced them squarely.

The blue fire around us vanished at the single flick of his finger. I looked outside when the crows didn’t caw. There wasn’t even a trace of them left.

“Oops!” Catsya cackled. “We got caught.” Logan’s scythe appeared right when Cain’s sword materialized in his hand. “I’m not going to fight Cain,” Catsya spat at Logan. “This is your problem now.”

“Cain?” I called him weakly. “Shae!” I hiccupped. “She is not waking up.”

“Can you hold on a little longer?” Cain asked without looking at me. “It will be over soon. Don’t move from here.”

“Okay,” I held Shae protectively.

Catsya was caught before she could have dashed out of here. Cain gutted her hard and held her in a chokehold on her knees at the same time his sword clashed with Logan’s scythe.

“You dared raise your hand at her!” Cain snarled in his face. “You fucker!” Cain switched sides before Logan could anticipate and slashed open his chest. “I’m going to fucking rip you apart.”

Logan dodged the swing of his sword and jumped away.

Cain injured him severely with a single attack. If Logan hadn’t jumped away, his head would be rolling on the floor.

“Not today, Dalazar Daemmone,” he grinned maliciously. “Not until I have her out of your clutches.” Logan disappeared like a coward.

“Fucking moron,” Catsya hissed in Cain’s hold. “I shouldn’t have listened to him.”

“You shouldn’t be alive,” Catsya screamed when a spiky collar of electric current appeared around her neck. “Because now you will experience pain worse than death.” He jerked her up and punched her in the face.

“I told you, didn’t I?” Cain held her up by her hair. I cupped my mouth when he shoved his hand in her abdomen. “Your face is hideous than before.” Cain threw Catsya out of the window and yanked at the electric leash around her neck.

He looked monstrous. He looked every bit of evil and ruthless he was supposed to be.

Cain looked at me with his glowing blue eyes. They narrowed dangerously when they landed on my hands. I was startled when he came to me at lightning speed. He took Shae’s body from my arm and put it down.

“Don’t touch her,” his flames engulfed my arms. The sting subsided and the black substance disappeared. “Shae is part Anima, Ana. She is weak right now. She will drain your life.”

“But-”

“Shae will be fine,” Cain said firmly “Close your eyes.” He commanded coldly. “No matter what happens,” my lips parted slightly when he touched the cut on my lower lip and the injury on my forehead. “You will not see anything.”