My Love, Please Kill Me

[pt.24] The Secluded House By A Pond

Part 24

THE SECLUDED HOUSE BY A POND

[Mikael POV]

The war’s still on, but I was no longer a part of it. I was merely a spectator, watching from high above; watching as the undead army swarming the land, sweeping killing whatever within their vicinity. It was a bone-chilling view..the undead army left a trail of nothingness behind them. I watched them with a hollow in my chest. Perhaps I wasn’t much different from them when I was in a battle. I had killed hundreds of demons without even giving a flinch; without hesitation. I had always thought that I fought for the greater good..but what did it all mean really..if in the end I couldn’t even protect the one I loved and cared about?

As the dragon flew far west, leaving the battlefield behind, I felt like I was leaving a part of me there. ‘It really is the end for me, isn’t it?’ I had lost my cause.. What else would I want to achieve in this war? It wasn’t like I had achieved anything anyway. The will to avenge the death of my family had been diminishing gradually, and it was gone when I met Lunalea, my new-found family. Since then I fought for a peaceful future for both of us to live together..but if she’s gone too, what kind of life the future held for me then? I hugged her tighter and pressed my lips on the top of her head. ‘I won’t let you go…again.’

After passing two forests and one lake, I noticed a village in a distance, but we’re not heading there. The dragon made a slight bend south and began to descend upon a clearing until it landed in front a two-story house by a pond. We got off the dragon and headed for the house. It’s walls were made of red bricks and it had a short stone-wall as a fence.

Someone had already waited for us in front of the door. Raphael. I held back my rage and suspicion for him, knowing fully well that this wasn’t the time to lash out. Lunalea was the most important. If there’s anyone in this kingdom who could help her, it’s Raphael. I hated to admit it but it’s the truth.

“Bring her in.” said Raphael in his usual serene voice, without any preamble or greetings. He, too, understood the urgency of the situation.

I brought Lunalea in, followed by Gabriel and Kieran. Inside, there’s a thick blanket spread over a table and next to it was a smaller table with several bottles and instruments. I gently laid Lunalea on the larger table, brushing aside stray hair on her face. Her skin was cold, I let my palm rested on her cheek for a while, trying to give her some warmth.

Gabriel sat on a chair with a loud huff. She ripped her clothes to examine her wound that was no longer bleeding. Kieran went to her side bringing a wet cloth. This time his lady commander allowed him to tend her injury. Raphael was the last to get in; he closed the door after him and took two water jugs from the table. He gave one to Gabriel and offered the other one to me. “You better sit down too, Mikael.” He told me.

I snatched the jug from him and sat on a nearby chair. “You better fix her, Raphael.” I said sternly before taking one big gulp of the water. It cooled down my burning throat.

“I will try my best.” He replied, taking Lunalea’s hand and checking for her pulse.

I tensed while Raphael was examining her; checking her pupils, checking her body temperature, checking her belly..

“I can do my job more effectively,” Raphael glanced at me, “If you stop boring a hole in my head with your glare, Mikael. Thank you.” His calm voice was filled with sarcasm.

Well, what could I say? I was a kind of man who could be jealous easily; I couldn’t bear seeing him touching her, even if it’s for medical examination. So I just shrugged my shoulders.

Raphael turned his attention to a set of bottles on the smaller table, then he mixed several potions into one container and filled a syringe with the mixture. He injected the fluid into the vein in Lunalea’s neck. Almost at once, her body shot up then fell back down and started trembling. Horrified, I rushed to her side and glared at Raphael.