"It was the sixth month of Lucian's pregnancy when that happened, when the rumors made their way to her ears she instantly begged me to take my words. I couldn't see tears in her eyes but I couldn't also let my blood and flesh be in danger along with the citizens. So I didn't listen to her." The old man said, I couldn't help but glare at him.
"Or you didn't want to be remembered as the king of weak words?" I asked but he stood silent, giving me my answer.
"You chose your fame before your love." That made his jaw clench.
"You don't know anything..!" He shouted. That made me flinch at the weird echo of this cell.
"You... Don't know anything... I had no choice...!" He muttered to himself, trying to convince himself but he knew he was at wrong. Cell filled with silence and i thought our conversation ended but he said something that i couldn't hear.
"No.... I know i did mistake... No it was sin! I killed them.... I..." Vincent grabbed his old white hair, then he looked at me, helplessly. "I did was sin. What do I do? What do I do to repay for it? Listen to me.... I am sinner." He muttered the same thing and again and again.
"I'm a sinner... I'm a sinner.... I'm a sinnerI'm a sinnerI'm a sinnerI'm a sinnerI'm a sinnerI'm a sinnerI'm a sinner... I...."
My hand automatically raised itself to touch him but stopped in midway 'cuz he was continuing. Like he really wanted someone to hear, to listen to him finally. I pursed my lips.
"That unfortunate day Lucian was alone in her room and I was on my way to her to explain everything to her but before that, I heard a scream that was coming from her chamber. I ran to her and saw her covered in red shot blood but she was not alone, Corvina was there too.
Lucian was looking at her sister and then she saw me. Rage and agony covered my eyes and I blindly ran to Corvina, to kill her. She shouted something that I couldn't hear. The pool of blood and fire of my rage was deafening my ears. I slid my sword from my hip and swung it in the air. She moved and took steps toward Lucian with ill intentions.
Blood splashed as I moved my leg, I swung my sword again but this time it didn't meet the air and slashed into her flesh. She coughed blood but still raised her hand towards Lucian. I took my sword before she could even touch her and she collapsed on the ground.
Her blood mixed with her sisters and made an ocean of blood. I ran to Lucian and took her to our medic. But it was too late. She stopped breathing when she gave birth to our child.
It was the Moon festival after some days. The Moon was high and red like blood in the sky, spreading radiant light on the skin of the citizens. Everyone was not high in spirit as they were last year due to the incident.
But still everyone was enjoying and spending time with their loved ones and praying to the moon for a peaceful year.
But who thought the Moon they were worshiping was resentful.
The peace they worshiped turned into a scream of agony. The next week rumors occurred that a strange disease is spreading like fire spreads into a forest. The king ordered everyone to isolate the infected ones and research the cure and root of the plague. But it was unknown and only spread.
At the end half of the population was infected and died so the royal priest suggested to the king that a god is upset towards them. And it was none other than
The goddess of the Moon.
The royal priest said that the Goddess couldn't stand the slaughter for her daughters and is punishing the reckless Kingdom. The king and queen sacrificed hundreds of goats and gave thousands of types of dishes but goddesses had become thick skinned.
They named the plague "Scorching Moon Disease". Just like the name, the symptoms of the plague were the same. It spreads due to physical contact and later they get to know how it occurred. Of course it was because of the Moonlight. First the infected one feel itchy skin and later their own skin would burn. Not even rubbing ice could soothe them.
Who could have thought that The Soothing Moon can also hold its another side?
Side that, that was completely different from what we know. A horrifying side.
It was so painful that even after two months the kingdom was still echoing the sounds of screaming. Some even started to peel off their skin to not feel the burning, they.... Peeled off their skin. They thought that the pain of cutting flesh was better than the burning sensation but not even their skin, even the blood was later like lava, their veins, their muscles.... Every inner part of the body.
It all burned without fire. They all cried with evaporated tears.
Half of the population didn't died because of the disease. They all.... All suicided. The goddess wanted them to suffer, to cry for death. The agony was so intense that the calamity of death seemed like a pleasure yet The goddess didn't even let them die!
Later on the king and queen died because of plague. Not a single soul was left after. The king and queen had to see everyone die in front of their eyes, they wished that they were blind. But still could hear the screams and wishes and they were deaf. But still could feel the burning pain and wished they were dead.
and just like that...
Once a dreaming kingdom turned into hell and fell.
The most painful thing was that Corvina's soul haven't returned to the underworld after the seventh day of her death. She saw everything... How people died, She heared everything.... How they scuttle like fish, She even saw how her parents died. But she couldn't do anything.
Even her soul felt heartache without heart. And she couldn't do anything."
"If i didn't killed her, if i just tired to save Lucian instead of killing Corvina, this wouldn't have happened... If i just didn't listened to those rumours.... If i tried to listen to Lucian, everything would have been different."
He exhaled, probably trying not to remember the past pain. I waited for more but it seemed like that was the end.
If...
This "if" doesn't exist. "If" is just a word, a wish that can't be fulfilled ever. If this, if that, If he had just listened to her love...
But he didn't.
And he can never listen to her now.
So from his perspective, Corvina is doing all for revenge for giving her the cruel death. But one thing is still unanswered.
What does she want to do with me?
It was like this old man read my mind and answered. "It's because you are the key." What key?
"My father was a great martial God and my mother was a magician. When I was little, My mother spelled a prophecy that Serendipity will fade in the darkness. To prevent the event from happening, they buried the most powerful sword in me. Only this sword can rip the darkness and be used only by a person who has a heart that can shine like the Sun and give warmth like the Moon."
"And that person is you. Rose. Only you can do this."
Me??????
"I'm just a normal girl!" I gripped my head with my hands. Panicking. "I- I can't do this! This is too much! Why ME???!"
"Because the universe chose you. Believe in yourself. You can do everything you want." He smiled.
His whole body started to glow, a glow that was making my eyes go blind but I still watched him. He turned into small millions of pieces and dispersed into the thin air, little by little. Those particles made their way out of the small hole of the cave and fled with air.
But there was something that was still here. It was also glowing. I raised my hands to touch the thing and felt the cold metal of the sword.
It was white, almost transparent by the glow with many curves and patterns on it. There was something written on the lower area of the blade. It says:
"Death"
Must be the name of the longsword. Sǐwáng was indeed beautiful but the blade was so thin and sharp that even touch can make you bleed. Of course, it belonged to a god after all.
But now it is mine?
He died and left me his last belonging. I can't take this. It is Jungkook's right to have this and it is Jungkook's job to do whatever to that lady. Why am I being sandwiched here?
Oh yeah, Jungkook...
I supposed what will he do after knowing his father's death. In the end, I couldn't do anything.
Fuck I couldn't do anything! I can do everything I want to! And how the fuck that Corona- or whatever her name- dared to fuck with me?!
I am not a Cindrella who will just weep and wait for the prince. Even the real prince here wants to kill me for whatever reason.
I stood up and tripped my this long dress and fell on the ground and broke my nose.
"..."
AHHHHHHH! FUCK I CAN'T DO ANYTHING! I WANNA GO HOME! JUST LET ME GO YOU BOTH FUCKERS!
I hugged my knees and screamed silently in the cold darkness.