BXBX NOVEL Chapter 77 - FLASHBACK
The air in the room suddenly turned stiff and dense silence. After hearing her statement, Queen Mother turned dumbstruck and speechless and watched Athena without blinking for a long time.
She never imagined that Athena would finally listen to her and suddenly all her earlier question left unspoken.
Queen Mother beamed into a wide smile before replying excitedly,
" Athena, you.. you are agreeing with me finally. My dear daughter, you will be the happiest woman in the world.I can guarantee that. Let me discuss this matter with your brother. We will first hold the engagement ceremony soon."
Athena didn't give any opinion on her thoughts anymore. She shifted her blank gaze somewhere else outside and vaguely heard her mother's overjoyed tone.
Athena's eyes suddenly fell on the red crysal flowers downstairs in the old castle. Her pupils shrank abruptly reminding a special memory that she never forgot. Her gaze turned blurr and her mind drove far away from there sinking into deep thought.
**** FLASHBACK BEGINS ****
Ten years ago, It was another blissful morning with a warming sun, the sweet mystical fragrance of autumn's flowers and chirping of happy birds inside the REDRUTH VALLEY.
Back then, Athena was no longer an aloof or rudy lady. Her appearance was sweet pestering a soft smile always, she was known as the elegant princess of vampires. Her natural healing power had helped surviving many soldiers after getting injured in wars. Thus everyone respected her more than other female vampires.
Athena was always passionate towards hunting. She loved to hunt every new animals and always searched for new adventure. Thus on that day, she reached in Redruth Valley without knowing the history behind it or its authority.
The magical sandiyam deer caught her attention thus she was desperate to hunt the deer. But no matter how many times, she approached, it was vanished in the air that made her enlarged.
While chasing behind the deers maniacally, a male fairy grabbed her harshly from back as she freaked out.
She turned around and met a pair of blue ocean eyes frowning at her. Just like a love at first sight, Edward was bewitched by her beauty and was stunned for a moment.
Athena was furious thus she pushed him backwards harshly and shouted out,
" Who the hell are you? How dare you abduct me?"
Despite being received her hot tempter, Edward was unfazed and smiled at her face sweetly. His appearance was different from Ethan resembled to his father more likely. His hairs were lightly brown along with those enchanting blue eyes that could describe him as handsome man. But he wasn't aloof faced like Ethan. Apparently he had a beaming face and a sign of nobility in his appearance.
Athena was dumbfounded at his foolish smile all the while and wanted to retreat from there. Edward laughed at her attitude and spoke smiling from back,
" You can't catch them, lady. They aren't any common dears. Moreover you aren't allowed to step in this valley. It belongs to fairy clan only."
Athena paused in her track as her face sank in fear. Her mother warned her several times that she shouldn't cross the area of Vampire World.
She hissed under her breath and turned around to face Edward who was smirking at her mysteriously. Athena pretended to be strong and nonbothered thus asked back boldly,
" Then how on earth you are allowed to step in here?"
Edward shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly and replied,
" Because I have the permission, simple."
Athena furrowed her eyebrows angrily and blurted out,
" Then how can I get the permission tell me? I want to hunt that deer no matter what."
Edward gazed through her pure eyes deeply and replied taking a step ahead sensually,
" Marrying me! "
Athena was astounded before shouting out,
" What? What did you say? I dare you to say again. "
Edward laughed at her blushing face and wanted to know her more. Thus he suggested cunningly,
" I was kidding with you. Don't get angry or else you will be thirsty and suck my blood. Let me show you catching those deers.They are brat, indeed. "
Athena watched him suspiciously and later agreed with him. After that, they entered into the dense forest together and then their story started.
Day by day, Edward seemed more interesting to her and got a bad habit to spend more time with him. Athena had started to stay outside more than indoor. On the other hand, Edward had deeply fallen in love with her after finding out her charming personality.
After one year, they had finally confessed their feelings in front of each others and started dating officially. The coronation ceremony of Dalastia world had been declared thus Edward was more afraid of loosing Athena.
As a future king, he knew that his mother would order to marry him as soon as he ascended the throne. Moreover both of them knew that their clans would never approve their relationship. Thus Edward suggested a bold idea that they should get married secretly before taking the throne.
After being the king, he could handle the high fairies and convince them to accept Athena as their king. Furthermore their marriage would be done.Basically no one would dare to oppose his decision so much.
Finally on the eve of the full moon day, they got married on the presence of Siemus only and soon after consummated their marriage too.
Unexpectedly Athena conceived a baby after 4 months of their marriage. On the contrary, Queen Mother had been suspecting Athena's behaviour for the past few months but unfortunately couldn't figure out so much.
Athena made up a plan to save her baby thus she requested Aaron to send her far away for earning lessons. Aaron approved and sent her to go their world's hunting school. But he never knew that Athena lied to him and started living in a cave with Edward far away from two worlds.
Few months later, at a stormy night, Athena got labour pain in the cave. Except Edward, no one was there for her.Even Siemus didn't appear after her summoning.
On the tiny bed, Athena was sobbing and screaming hard as she pleaded to Edward,
" Edward no matter what happens to us, you will save our baby, okay?"
Edward was holding her palm as he replied kissing it's back,
" No, honey. I want both of you. It's my fault that I suggested first to marry you.You are enduring so much for me."
Athena smiled bitterly and spoke while sobbing and breathing rapidly,
" No. If we can't be together for eternity, there will be a symbol of our love in this world. I don't regret, Edward. I don't! "
With another painful scream, Athena finally gave birth to a beautiful girl. Edward was so happy at his wife's courage and started kissing mother and daughter continously.
But the main disaster was yet to come...
As Athena was resting inside after giving birth and Edward went out to look for Siemus at her place along with the baby.
Queen Mother had appeared in the cave along with her bloodthirsty vampire troops and dragged away Athena's numb body from there.
Queen Mother's harsh tone echoed in her ears,
" You shameless woman! You dared to deceive your own mother. How dare you go in a relationship with a fairy? Don't you know that it's crime to engage in a relationship with white magical creatures?"
Athena sobbed but inwardly felt relived when she didn't spot Edward or her baby nearby. But the next moment, she screamed out loudly watching two of the vampires dragging Edward on her way. Her little newborn baby was wrapped in a thick red cloth in Edward's arms.
Athena fell down on her Mother's knees and begged,
" Mother please let them go. Let them go. I will never meet him ever. Don't kill them mother. I will come back with you. But please spare their lives. Everything is my fault."
Queen Mother's expression sank when she discovered a baby in his arms. Her daughter even gave birth to an illegitimate child along with a fairy.
Her gaze turned vicious as she kicked away Athena from her feet. Edward saw Athena's pitiful face and consoled her still held by the guards,
" Athena, don't think about me. You go back to your castle. I will find you later."
Athena shook her head vigorously and responded,
" No.I will never leave you two here along with them. They will harm you. I won't go."
Queen Mother sneered and spoke to Edward sternly,
" You still have the guts to find my daughter after running her life. At first I thought of sparing your life. But no.. You are far more daring that I have thought."
Then she gestured to Zave and the guards as they nodded with understanding. Very soon, a flare was handed over to Zave who approached near Edward beastly.
Athena screamed in pain predicting the next action and wanted to rush over there. But Queen Mother and other guards quickly held her back as she shouted hysterically,
" No.. No. Leave them mother.. please leave them.. The child is innocent, mother leave them."
Unexpectedly Edward wasn't retailing as if he was expecting this outcome from the very first. His blue eyes only saw Athena's last struggle for saving their lives wholeheartedly. He felt fulfilled after seeing the genuine love in Athena's eyes who was constantly telling her mother to kill her and leave them.
He smiled gently as the flare came near his body and spoke to Athena,
" Athena, I never regret of loving you. Never! I kept your words, remember!"
Athena remained frozen for eternity as she spotted the two figures burning into ash in front of her vision slowly..
**** FLASHBACK ENDS ****