DAWN.
I had just woken from my slumber when a gentle knock sounded at the door. Groggily, I looked around the room. Dragos was nowhere in sight.
"Come in," I replied, still a bit exhausted, and Azrael stepped in.
"Azrael," I said in surprise, sitting up.
He was holding a small tray of food and a bottle of pills I assumed were pain meds.
"How are you feeling?" he asked softly.
I was surprised by the question and more by how utterly genuine it sounded especially with his unpredictability these days.
His demeanor was more welcoming than he had ever been to me, a glaring antithesis of his usual personality.
I'm alright" I responded, still taken aback by the unexpected kindness. "My head's a little heavy and I'm a bit weary, but I'll manage."
Azrael placed the tray of food on the bedside table with a quiet grace, before gesturing to the bed. "May I?" he asked, seeking permission to join me.
I nodded in agreement, allowing him to sit beside me.
I realized how incredibly beautiful he was. Looking him over from his beautiful, flowing hair, to his chiseled jawline, to his piercing blue eyes, I couldn't help but see Azrael in a new light.
While I had always known him to be gorgeous, my perception of him had been tainted by his past actions because for so long, he'd been cruel to me. But now, as I looked at him, I found myself admiring his beauty in a way I never had before. In a way I would've never seen before.
After a moment, Azrael spoke up. "I realized never gave you a proper apology"
My lack of response born out of surprise made him continue.
"I had no right to treat you the way I treated you" he started "I was driven by the need to do the right thing, I..."
He let out a breath. "I can be a very difficult man, Dawn. I know that. I'm complicated, and most times I end up not handling things the right way"
His blue eyes stared into mine, and they didn't drop or look away. "But underneath it all, there's this deep need to protect Dragos... to protect everyone. Sometimes, it consumes me... makes me act in ways I shouldn't."
He paused, tucking a strand of hair behind his ear. "But that's no excuse for how I treated you."
Azrael looked at me again "Also, I shouldn't have shut you out the way I did the last time. I'm probably the biggest jerk you've ever met"
"Mmm" I murmured in agreement, and he smiled.
There it was again... a smile. Azrael smiled again. Because of something, I said. I'd been unsure before whether to feel terrified or happy, but now I knew exactly what I felt. Happiness.
Happiness that this towering figure of anger and coldness could actually smile... that he was capable of feeling something.
"I will try to gain your trust back, Dawn," he said.
For a moment, I stared back at him, grasping for the right words to say, completely taken aback by his apology. After a long pause, I nodded, replying, "It's fine. We can start over."
He smiled, even wider this time, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Thank you"
By the heavens, he looked so much better smiling. He looked totally different from the person I used to know.
"You fought for me yesterday" I said again. "Dragos told me about the curse... that you're not at full strength. Yet you still fought. That means a lot to me"
"Dawn, I'd fight to protect you even if I had minutes left to live"
If he hadn't said it so casually, I might've mistaken it for something deeper—something almost romantic.
"I'll leave you to rest now." Azrael gestured to the food as he rose "Eat so you can get back your strength"
"I will"
A few minutes after he left, I heard the clashing of swords and stepped out, only to realize I had been asleep throughout the day. As the sun began to set, Dragos and Rafael trained, both men, shirtless.
I watched from my position, smiling at Dragos who had knocked Rafael's sword out of his hand. He threw his own into the soil and turned to wink at me.
I blushed.
"Evening, sweetheart!"
"I don't like waking alone!" I shouted back, and he started heading towards me in his shirtless, sweaty glory.
"Sorry, I had to train" he grabbed me by the waist and pressed a long kiss to my lips. "Besides, you were asleep for a long while. I was starting to think you wouldn't wake"
A smirk curled his lip. "I know you missed me"
Rafael cleared his throat and turned to start walking away "I guess that means we're done training"
"Unless you want me to whoop your ass all over again" Dragos turned to snigger at him.
"Nah, I'll pass. Thanks" Rafael replied "Hi, Dawn"
"Hi, Raf"
Dragos' attention moved back to me. "Sleep well?" He asked.
I shook my head "Not really. Nightmares"
He kissed my forehead "You'll get over them soon. Have you seen Azrael?"
"Yes, he came to my room and served me breakfast...or rather, dinner"
Dragos looked surprised. "He did what?"
I giggled. "He also apologized"
"Azrael?" His surprise was evident, a small frown crowding his forehead "Azrael apologized?"
"Yes, 'properly'." I quoted.
Dragos shrugged. "I guess that's a good thing. Where is he now?"
"I don't know"
"Okay. I'm going to freshen up." He pressed a kiss to my head once more. "Wanna come in?"
"No, I'll just take a stroll around to clear my head"
"Okay"
He left for the mansion.
I turned and strolled towards the orchard, the cool night air carrying the scent of blooming flowers and ripe fruits. Lost in thought, I basked in the peace of the surroundings, when suddenly, a glimmer of light drew my attention.
My curiosity piqued and I followed the trail, walking deeper into the heart of the orchard.
Suddenly, Elizabeta stepped out from behind a tree, where the light had ended, holding a dagger. I then realized she was the one who had manipulated the light to lure me into her trap.
I gasped in fear, recognizing her. "Elizabeta?" I whispered in surprise.
How had she slipped into the mansion without anyone noticing?
"You" she hissed angrily, her fangs emerging. "My father's dead because of you!"
"I'm sorry" I whispered, still in shock, stepping back. "I-I did not wish for it to happen"
"Sorry?" Elizabeta laughed wildly. "The Alesul not only turned me down for you ...you a lowly servant, but he had members of the Dark Order killed"
She started to circle me slowly "And it didn't just end there, he massacred the Arpad clan too. What have you done to him?!" She demanded. "What have you done to him and his family to make them go against their people, you witch!"
"Nothing. Nothing, I swear"
"Liar!!" She hissed "By the time I'm finished with you, Dragos would wish he never messed with me or my family!"
As she raised the dagger to strike me, my instincts kicked in. Adrenaline pumped through me and I tapped into my elemental powers, summoning a gust of wind to deflect her first assault by knocking the dagger out of her hands. But it only stopped her for a moment. She came after me again.
Panic-stricken, I channeled my powers to do something, anything.
Unknowingly, I created a protective forcefield.
The process of generating it pushed back against Elizabeta, sending her flying backward.
In no time she had recovered her footing and was after me again, her dagger striking the force field that shielded me, relentlessly.
"Please stop!" I yelled, grunting as I tried to hold up the barrier. I was still a bit weak from the battle of the previous night.
"Elizabeta, stop!"
"I heard you were powerful!" The female vampire yelled back, her attack, persistent. "I heard of how you killed Variel. Where did all that power go to, you bitch?!"
I felt myself growing weak. Despite my efforts to keep up, Elizabeta's onslaught threatened to overwhelm me.
I staggered backward, my strength waning.
"Please, you don't have to do this" I cried out in fear.
"Yes, I do!"
But just as Elizabeta prepared to deliver a deadly blow, Azrael breezed onto the scene.
Before I could bat an eye, he disarmed Elizabeta easily, sending the dagger clattering to the ground. He hissed in challenge, throwing me behind him.
"What are you doing here?" He demanded angrily, assessing her. How did you even get here?"
In response, she let out a frustrated growl and attempted to lunge towards me again, but Azrael was quicker. He snapped her neck, knocking her out.
"Are you okay?" Azrael asked, turning to look at me. He appeared worried.
"Yeah." I nodded, panting. "How did you know I was in danger?"
He picked up Elizabeta's body and slung her over his shoulders.
"I was nearby. I like to be alone to collect my thoughts"
Azrael assessed me again, slowly and carefully. "Are you sure you're fine?"
"Yes, I am"
"Then, let's head inside."
He smiled at me. "Nice job holding off on your own"
I nodded, fighting back the urge to cry.
It was my third near-death experience, and the trauma started to suffocate me.
If my instincts hadn't kicked in, I'd have died. The realization of this terrified me.
I might be the Divine Purge, but I was still as vulnerable and powerless as ever.
My title felt like a mockery because I was still at the mercy of luck.