Chapter 105

\*\*CASPIAN'S POV\*\*



It's been a month since the party at the brown wolf pack, that Lincoln made me attend.



It's quite weird that since the party, nothing dramatic has happened in our lives. I've been able to focus a lot without any distractions.



If I didn't know better, I'd have been glad we were enjoying some form of serenity, but knowing that something huge was on the verge of happening, I decided to enjoy the quiet moments while they last.



As I walked through the woods, the sense of peace I was feeling earlier, deepened. 



The glow of the sun suddenly made sense, the singing of the birds and the trees, swaying gently in the breeze.



Nature seemed to be rather happy with me, as the forces harmonized to bring me peace.



It was moments like this that I could cherish, moments where I could forget about my troubles, forget my long-aged distress and just exist like everyone else.



As I walked, I started to feel a sense of unease. Don't be surprised, it's a really familiar feeling, and I could tell whenever it came. 



I've grown so accustomed to it over the years, it was literally screaming that something was off.



At first, I ignored it, telling myself that I was just being unnecessarily paranoid. 



But as I advanced further, the feeling only grew stronger, until I could feel it forcing its way through my veins like a living thing, pleading for survival.



Okay, what now?



I stopped walking and looked around, trying to see if there was anything out of the ordinary, but everything seemed normal.



The trees were still swaying, the birds didn't stop singing, neither did the sun stop shining.



I probably just went overboard.



Once again, I was starting to imagine things, and the feeling of unease was definitely a product of my own paranoia.



I rested my back on the peach tree beside me and shut my eyes.



And just like yesterday, it replayed back in my memory.



...



"Whoever the Moon Goddess chooses, you must get married to." Father's stern and authoritative voice yelled, freaking me out.



"What if I don't want who the goddess chooses?" I asked, slightly trembling. "What if I'm in love with someone else?. The Moon Goddess isn't even me. How would she know what I wanted?"



Father's intimidating gaze met mine, in scrutiny. 



"What's that supposed to mean? You cannot know better than your creator."



I shook my head, refusing to align with dad's ideology. 



"She didn't create me, the Almighty did." I insisted. "And he gave me a will, so why would the Moon Goddess want to take that away?"



Dad sighed, frustrated. "It's not the Full Moon Festival yet, son...you could still break whatever you have going on with any girl to save yourself and the girl, the pains."



"Dad, I can't" I whispered.



"You will, son." He replied as though he was so sure. 



What makes him think I'd abandon my own choice because the universe or Moon deity is against my choice?



That must be the biggest joke of the century.



"The mate bond" Dad started, breaking me out of my reverie. "It cannot be faked or ignored, no matter what...you'd find yourself running to your mate."



"I don't want a mate that's not her." I yelled. "It's either her, or no one else."



"Whatever you say, dear son, advise" Dad shrugged. "I can only advise you, not force you into things, and the best I can say at the moment, is that you thread with caution."



...





If only I'd listened, I'd have saved everyone else stress.



Luciana would have been free, Duncan's curse would have been less, Lincoln would have been free, and myself too...



I wouldn't have been in this eternal suffering, waiting until the day Seline decides to be kind, and have mercy on humanity, which is....never going to happen.



As I stood there lost in thoughts and regrets of what I should have done and not done...the scent of flames and blood rented the air.



I knew it wasn't real, it's just an art of my memory that resurfaces every time I recall this conversation I had with dad.



My vision turned blurred and the sight of everything around me was suddenly causing me to feel dizzy.



I don't recall calling Selene names recently, so what's all of these? Why am I being taunted by my own mind?



Suddenly, I heard a rustling in the bushes.



Alarmed, I looked around, knowing this wasn't from my memory again, since it was accompanied by a strong force.



"Quit being a coward and show yourself." I half yelled, my eyes remaining distant.



"I didn't think you'd notice...you're still as observant as always, huh?" I heard the familiar voice, and involuntarily, my hands balled into a fist.



That's no other person, then the genesis of everything going on right now...



"Jade" I muttered, disdain dripping from my voice. 



"Long time no see dear friend." He smirked, emerging before me, from the shadows. "Oh...look who we have here... The great Caspian, stuck in a lonely and vulnerable life."



The sarcasm in his voice was glaring, but I decided not to take it to heart.



The day I'll get to confront him is approaching, and I don't mind staining my hands with more blood. At least this time the blood won't be innocent, but until then, I'll try to maintain my cool.



"What do you want?" I growled, my voice low and menacing.



Jade's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Oh Caspian..." He trailed off, taking slow strides towards me. "I'm here to make you an offer, an offer I'm sure you cannot refuse."



My mind flashed back to the last time Jade made me an offer, a thousand years ago.



It seemed more like a situation where one person is going down and trying to drag someone along with him.



Now offer does he have to make?



"Chill okay...you've got nothing to lose. I mean what else can the Moon Goddess take away from you, that she hasn't taken?." He raised a brow, standing beside me. "She took your happiness, took your sleep, took away your friends, took away the only person you've ever loved, gave her to someone else, and cursed you to watch her suffer without being able to lift a finger... What else is there to lose?" 



Deep down I knew Jade was right about what he was saying, but he's a witch..and the worst mistake anyone can make is to trust a witch...



They're manipulative snakes, only interested in what they'd stand to gain and nothing else. I was fooled once. I won't be fooled the second time.



"Keep your offer to yourself Jade, I don't want to hear it."



He smirked tauntingly. "Are you sure...because the curiosity in your eyes is glaring, and certainly giving you away."



I narrowed my eyes, trying to maintain my composure. "I'm not curious, just let me be." I said, my voice firm.



Jade chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Oh Caspian," he mocked. "You're such a good liar… I can't even point out if you're really willing to listen or not."



I clenched my jaw angrily.



Whatever he has to offer is some of my business. Getting into another deep mess isn't something I'm arching for.



"Whether you're interested or not, I'm still going to say it anyway." He muttered, his expression growing stern. "I got you involved in this mess, is there anyone in a better position to get you out than me?" 



I rolled my eyes, not leaving the tree or acting as though I was listening to him, although I was in fact interested in what offer he had to make, anything to get out of this.



"I want you to join us. Caspian." He said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I want you to join us, and become a witch too."



I felt a jolt of surprise, and my mind went blank. 



Join the witches? Is he crazy? What made him think I'd take that dumb offer?



"Think about it Caspian," he said, his voice dripping with persuasion. "You've been trying to get the Moon Goddess to forgive you and grant you amnesty for centuries, but she still refuses. You're still cursed, and trapped living the worst life anyone could imagine...."



I felt a pang of temptation, as I awaited what his next words would be. 



"Look...if you can join us, all of that will change. We can help you break the curse and find redemption."



Could the witches really help me break the curse?



A part of me was tempted. A part of me wanted to believe that the witches could give me that which I desperately sought.



"What do you say Caspian?" He asked...