Chapter 154 - Living Until a Thousand
Elias had never held Adeline so tightly in bed. She was lying on her side, the blankets in between her legs as she hugged it like a pillow. His arms were woven protectively around her, loose on her stomach, but tight on her c.h.e.s.t. He hugged her like a koala refusing to let go. He embraced her as if it was their last.
Despite that, Adeline was beginning to fall asleep. She had never felt this much love except in this moment. He was the best hugger, and she'd never admit it.
"Sleep well, darling," Elias muttered.
Elias pressed himself even closer to her, until her back was flat against his c.h.e.s.t and nothing could come in between them. Not even the world's thinnest paper could.
Elias never thought a heartbeat could be so comforting. But listening to her slow breaths and rhythmic heartbeat, he smiled. She was nestled in his arms, nowhere to run, nowhere to go. She was entirely his, and he'd never let that change.
"May your dreams be blissful and your nightmares disperse," he whispered.
Soon, her breathing steadied, and silence passed over them.
Elias held her until the sun rose high in the sky and set in the sunset. He continued watching over her, wide-eyed and counting her heartbeats. He couldn't sleep. It was difficult for him to do so when their days spent together were numbered.
As Elias stared out the window, the moon dangling amongst the clouds, he thought of something. It was what James had said. There was more than one person involved in meddling with Adeline's memories. But who?
Elias narrowed his eyes. He already had someone in mind. Asher. It had to be him. But something felt amiss. Why would the hybrid have anything to do with Adeline? What could've been so haunting that Adeline needed to forget?
The more Elias thought about it, the more his brows wrung together. It didn't make sense. Of course, Asher had the abilities of a Pure-Blood, but Elias felt like it was not the answer.
There was something else. There had to be.
- - - - -
Adeline woke up alone. She groggily turned around, confused about where Elias went. Without his embrace, she felt uncomfortable and stuffy. Sitting upright, she tiredly rubbed her eyes and glanced at her window. The moon was pale and ghastly, a silent beauty in the night sky.
How long has she slept for?
"It would've been nice if Elias had stayed. He's like a personal ice cube," Adeline mumbled. She turned around and decided to walk back into bed, but then her stomach grumbled.
For once, Adeline felt like she had an appetite. Would it be a bad idea to go downstairs and into the kitchen? She was really craving a sandwich right now.
Nibbling on her bottom lip, Adeline made her way into the closet and quickly got dressed. She slipped on u.n.d.e.r.w.e.a.r, socks, boots, and comfortable clothing. Then, she pulled out a long jacket that went below her knees.
"The castle is always cold, but my room is always warm," Adeline complained to herself.
Adeline slipped out of the doors and into the dark hallways. The only light came from the large windows overlooking the hallway. She stared outside, slightly mesmerized by how beautiful the view is. Yet again, she saw a bizarre tower in the distance.
"Huh, was that always there?" Adeline whispered to herself, walking closer towards the window. She noticed it was located near the gardens, but that was strange.
Adeline didn't recall a tower in the gardens. She wondered if it was a trick of the eye, but when she rubbed hers, the tower was still there.
"A light…" Adeline squinted in disbelief. At the top of the tower was a tiny window where light peeked from.
Too curious for her own good, Adeline walked down the staircase and into the gardens. She saw the surprised look on the night guards' faces, but no one said anything to her.
"The tower is still here," she said to herself. "But it wasn't before…"
Adeline couldn't understand the logistics of the tower. She touched her stomach, wondering if her baby gave her powers to see things that a mere human couldn't.
Adeline swallowed and continued trudging onwards. What could've caused this sudden tower to erupt from the ground? For some reason, she was entranced by it, her feet carrying her to the foot of the tower, crafted from medieval stone. Even the door looked ancient. The door was entirely wooden, with black metal hinges.
A strange feeling took over her. Adeline was mesmerized by the door, her hands moving on their own to open it. She felt dizzy and faint, as if her eyes weren't her own.
"Come into the darkness…" a voice whispered, beckoning her.
Adeline was greeted with utter darkness. She couldn't see in front of her, but still walked through the door. She walked forward and touched the walls, then the ground, realizing it was a staircase.
"Come forth, you foolish girl…" the voice sounded extremely familiar.
Adeline climbed up the staircase, lost in a trance. She couldn't control her limbs when she clamored up the stairs. She continued climbing, despite the ache of her legs, and how tired she was. By the time she made it upstairs, she was out of breath and exhausted.
Adeline stopped before another door, this time, enormous and looming over her. Light crept from underneath it. She was going to open the door, but then heard voices inside.
"Where are you coming from at odd hours of the night when your wife is in bed?" A voice mused.
Adeline's eyes widened. She pressed her ears towards the door and tried to listen. She held her breath, worried she'd get caught.
"Don't make it sound like I had an affair," another voice snapped back.
Elias.
Adeline would recognize that temper from anywhere.
"Well, you came to me disheveled, your hair messy, out of breath, and sweaty. I can only assume you cheated only a month or two into the marriage," the first voice said.
Was that… Dorothy? She sounded highly entertained as if she hadn't just accused the King of a.d.u.l.tery.
"Don't try to change the subject," Elias growled. His presence loomed over his grandmother. He remained standing, even after she offered him a seat. It was so ironic to see her in such a frail state.
Right now, Dorothy seemed to be the embodiment of the elderly, with her weak stature and thin bones. Elias knew she just liked to make her appearance seem old at times, just to humor people.
Dorothy let out a wistful sigh, leaning back in her chair. "You lack elegance, Elias. Though, I should've expected it when you began breeding with a human girl."
Dorothy took a sip of the tea, not even flinching when Elias grabbed the teapot and chucked it out the window. "And you've reverted to a tantrum-throwing child," she chided.
"Did you or did you not do it?" Elias seethed, all the while gritting his teeth. He had just returned from speedrunning all the way to Kastrem, just to talk to James. The bastard had been fast asleep when Elias crashed through the windows, alarming bodyguards who came running in with guns blazed.
"Do what?" Dorothy asked, feigning confusion. She was going to set her tea onto the table, but it was flipped onto the ground with a loud CRASH!
Dorothy sighed again. "I thought your tantrum-throwing days were over, you brat."
"Did you or did you not wipe all of Adeline's childhood memories?" Elias hissed, like the most venomous of snakes.
At this, Dorothy drank from the teacup again, smiling over the rim. So the rat fell into the trap. She should've killed James when she had the chance to. At the funeral, only that James had seen her, standing in the distance, waiting for little Adeline to be alone.
"Regardless if I did or not, fate has brought both of you two together," Dorothy murmured. "If it helps, I finally understood destiny's plan for both of you. Because of that, I've willingly accepted your relations with that girl."
"So you did wipe her memories," Elias deadpanned.
"What is the point in lamenting over the past, Elias? Do you see me lamenting over my dead son?" Dorothy countered.
"No, but I did remember who cried the hardest at his funeral."
At this, Dorothy's calm facade melted. She glowered up at him. "And I clearly recall the disrespectful brat who didn't cry at his own father's funeral!"
Elias rolled his eyes. "Oh cry me a river."
"Get out," Dorothy gritted. After all these years, she still couldn't get over how ungrateful her grandson was. This man never showed respect, even to the dead!
Seeing as Elias wasn't budging, she let out a heavy, irritated sigh. "Or suit yourself, I couldn't care less."
Dorothy lifted the teacup to her lips, but then it was gone from her fingers. Elias had it within his grasp, and before she could help it, he chucked the cup out the window.
"You insufferable brat!" Dorothy hissed at him, wishing she could grab him by the ears.
"The next time you lay a hand on my woman, I will grind your bony little fingers into dust," Elias coldly said.
Dorothy nearly laughed at his stupid threat. She knew he wouldn't hesitate to snap her neck right now. She was of no use to him anymore. Her powers as a seer to the Gods were dying, and he knew it.
Now that the prophecy had been fulfilled, her mission on Earth was completed. Soon, her days would become numbered, and living until a thousand was a far-fetched dream.
That was fine for Dorothy. She was tired of looking after an irritating grandchild like Elias, tired of babysitting him and this kingdom. Sometimes, she just wanted to go to a little cottage settled amongst a meadow. It was where her husband was buried. She wanted to spend her last days there, lying beside his grave, whilst staring upon the stars, until she took her last breath in that spot.
"Do whatever you wish, but just get the hell out!" Dorothy demanded, pointing her fingers towards the door. "And take your eavesdropping mice with you too."
Elias scoffed. "You don't fool me, grandmother. I know it is you who led her up the towers."
"She shouldn't even be able to see the towers in the first place, but I assume your pathetic pleas fell on deaf ears. The baby is but the size of a hand, and it is already developing powers. It won't be long before a monster crawls out from her, s.u.c.k.i.n.g all of her blood, and feasting on her flesh," Dorothy spat out.
"Careful grandmother. Now that you're useless, I won't hesitate to snap your neck and flush your ashes down the toilet and into the sewers. Who knows? Maybe I'll even dig grandfather's body up and bury him in a spot you'll never find," Elias cooed.
Seeing her pale face turn red with anger, he smirked. "Keep your distance from Adeline. Just remember, grandmother, I know what hurts you the most. So don't test me."
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