Wish Upon A Demon

40.

CHAPTER - FORTY

“I’m sorry.”

My hands were around his neck. His hands were around my waist. I held onto him tightly. It seemed like he didn’t want to let me go. I wanted to cry, but I didn’t, because I knew this wasn’t the last time we would meet each other. I knew that this wouldn’t be the last time I would gaze into his eyes. I knew this wouldn’t be the last time I would be able to touch him, hold him, and kiss him. Because I knew that wherever we were, we would find our way back to each other.

“Go,” I tell him while holding onto him. I mean the exact opposite of my words. ′Don’t go,′ is at the tip of my tongue, but I don’t speak out my mind and simply step back, away from him. It would be harder for him to leave; for him to tend to his position as King if I’m not willing to let go. “Faye, I-” Zylen’s words are cut off. “Go, please,” I say, eyes gazing into his. I understand him. I understand he has to leave. But I’m afraid that if he stays any longer, I wouldn’t be able to allow him to leave. I take a few steps backward and then turn my back towards him. A few seconds of silence later, when I look back, he’s not there.

He’s gone.

And that was how Zylen King, ruler of Hiaven, left for war.

The next few weeks passed by quickly.

I graduated as well. I got to wear a graduation gown. I got to throw my graduation cap up in the air, along with the many other students. And now, I was packing my bags ready to leave for college. My mother’s picture was the last thing I added before I began zipping up the third and the last suitcase. “Are you sure you’ve packed everything?” My dad questions. I look at all the suitcases before nodding. “I have, don’t worry,” I say. “There were some universities here as well...” My father mutters. “It’s a three-hour journey by flight dad,” I tell him, rolling my eyes. “True, but you won’t be able to visit often...” He grumbles. “What if we, Cherry and I, move there?” My father proposes a second later.

“No,” I hold out my hands. “Dad, I want to do this. I want to be on my own. Okay?” I speak to him like I’m speaking to a child. He nods, shoulders slumping. “I’ll learn to be fully independent, I’ll learn to live by myself, to earn for myself, and to survive,” I tell him. “I want to do all this by myself.” I continue. “And I’ll visit during the summer breaks. You don’t have to worry about a thing.” I say further. “You do have to stop worrying.” Alana steps in. “She’s a grown girl, she knows how to handle herself.” Alana continues, hands on her hips. “I do.” I pipe in. Then Alana looks at me. I instantly understand what she’s hinting at.

“Dad, do you mind taking this downstairs? I’ll be down in a few minutes.” I point at the suitcases. My father reaches towards the suitcases without a word. “And leave the blue one, I think I forgot something,” I say. Fredrick Martin gives me a sour look, picking up the other two suitcases. I cheekily smile. My father leaves. I haul the blue suitcase onto my bed and zip it open. “Still no news huh?” I say, arranging the contents inside. Alana sighs as she steps up next to me. “I’m barred from entering the kingdom.” She says. “My mother says it’s for my safety.” She further continues. I nod. “I do, however, have something that would be of importance to you,” Alana says.

I hear ruffling before a white envelope is before my eyes.

“Apparently, Zylen requested this to be given to you a few days after he left...but considering all the chaos in the demon world, it could only be delivered now.” I listen to what she’s saying but my eyes are unable to move from the envelope. “It’s a letter. Take it.” She urges. I gently take the envelope containing the letter. “Is he ever going to come back?” I ask quietly. My eyes meet Alana’s as she nods. “He will, for sure. Once it’s all over, he’ll come back.” Alana assures me. “What about the hunters? Michael?” I question her, hands playing with the envelope. “I heard the hunters stepped back from the war so it’s only the Fallen now,” Alana says. “Do you know where the hunters went?” I ask. Michael’s family mysteriously moved away in the middle of the night. No one knew where they went and no one bothered to question their disappearance either.

“I tried finding out but it seems like they vanished into thin air.” She says. I nod. “It’s going to happen no matter what, isn’t it?” I ask, referring to the war between the demons and the Fallen. “It’s already started.” Says Alana. She places a hand on my shoulder. I tense and then drop my head. “I know you miss him. He’ll be back, don’t worry.” Alana says. I don’t say anything further. “Then, I’ll leave you alone.” She says and I hear her walk away before the door shuts. I want to open the letter. But I knew it would do more harm than good. I was heading towards a new experience – a new chapter in my life. And I wanted to be happy when I stepped into that new chapter. So I chose the best option. I chose the option that would benefit me and bring a smile to my face rather than leave me in tears.

Dropping the unopened envelope in the suitcase, I zip it shut.

“They’re dangerous.”

I sit on the bed in the empty dorm room, listening as Alexandria speaks about her days in the new town. My roommate had yet to arrive and I wasn’t complaining since I liked being alone and the silence. “Did they do anything to you?” I rise a little from my laid back position, concerned if she was harmed. “I mean that they look dangerous.” She clarifies. “Oh,” I lay back once more. “I saw him today.” She says. “For the second time.” She says. “Does he look dangerous like the others?” I question. She sighs. “He does,” Alexa says a second later. “What’s his name?” I question. She takes another deep breath, “I don’t know.” She says.

“Oh.” I bite my lip. “I just saw them from afar,” Alexa says. And then there’s the sound of a doorbell. “Who’s that?” I question her. “I don’t know.” She says and then continues, “I’ll call you later, okay?” Alexa says a second later. “Hmm, okay,” I say and cut the call. Lying back on the pillow, my eyes land on the untouched letter lying on the pile of clothes. I want to read it. I walk over to the letter and then towards the bedside desk. Opening a cabinet, I place the letter inside. Out of sight, out of mind. If it were in front of me, controlling the temptation to read what he has for me would be too difficult. It was better if it was away from me.

Opening the window, I poke my head out.

The cool air brushes across my face. I’m reminded of my balcony – the place where I’d first met my demon boy. I wanted to see him again. I’d spent a lot of time without his presence and even though I pretended everything was okay, all I wanted was to him again. Even if it wasn’t for long, even if it was just a glance, I wanted to see him again. I had so much to say. I had so much to speak to him about. I regretted keeping my feelings bottled up for long and having an internal debate every time my heart fluttered because of him. I didn’t care if he couldn’t say for long; I just wanted to gaze into his eyes again. I wanted to disclose everything, every emotion, every feeling to him. And maybe, I also wanted a proper chance to say goodbye.

So even if he could stay only for a second, I wanted to give my all to him.