24. Emergence of Phoenix

The agony and the lamentation of pure souls filled the atmosphere where everyone stood like a statue to witness the death of their beloved. The dark cloud swallowed the innocent soul of Akshara. Nicoria’s evil laughter echoed in all the directions of Ardna Chirig.
Yadivah collected all her strength to pull back her husband and her son. Alabruz kneeled before Nicoria to convince her to persuade the existence of Akshara. Karen went near the dark cloud which was swallowing Akshara.
Karen extended his hand to touch the dark cloud to pull Akshara out from it. Yadivah pulled him back by shouting, “Stop. It will pull you inside, Karen. The spell is strong and dangerous.”
Inside the dark cloud, Akshara felt deadly pain that was sucking her soul out from her body. She could see the living area alike looking through the transparent glass. The voices of the person in the living area faded.
Akshara saw the effort of her Uncle Bruz and her thoughts echoed inside the dark clouds, “Am I worth his plead? The pain he endured is much greater than mine now. Leaving me under the custody of the witch and employing his trustable persons to look over me. Huh, why does he pattern this maze of destiny to me? Instead, he may take me with him if he wanted to protect me. Oh yes, if he did, definitely Aunt Yadivah won’t welcome me with open arms. She is another witch from inside.”
The tears filled the eyes of Akshara rolled on to the young man who was agonizing in the grievance, “Oh Karen. He is crying like a kid. He would mourn over my death for the upcoming few days and then I will slowly fade away from his mind. Is he truly in love with me? I regret now for not giving him a proper explanation about... no need, let it be. This is the perfect solution for him to forget me and agrees to his mother’s will in terms of marriage.”
Akshara raised her head to look at the ceiling of the palace. Her eyes blanked out slowly and her head was heavy with endless dizziness which could take her to eternal sleep.
*****
Unexpectedly, a glaze of fire break opened the shackled palace. The flares of the fire from unknown origin were directed at Nicoria. She missed control over the spell and the dark cloud began to fade. Gradually Akshara emerged from the dark cloud like a phoenix from ashes with a flash of brightness and fall from the initial place, unconsciously.
Karen rushed to grab her; in the attempt of saving her, he transformed his mortal form into a werewolf and pushed the ground hard. Friction from the ground boosted Karen to reach a certain height to grab Akshara from falling.
Karen placed her against the wall. The chillness of Akshara gave him a fear of losing her; he busted out in tears and agony and felt relief to feel her heartbeat. He held Akshara close to his heart to transfer his warmth to comfort her and shouted like a madman to blabber,
“Axe, Wake up. I won’t let you die. No Axe. Don’t give up. Wake up, Axe. Please open your eyes, don’t scare me. Axe…Axe… I love you so much. I want you to be my mate but not end up like this. (Sob) It’s my fault to take you to that mountain. I was in an urge to reveal my love in an occasional time. (Sob) I am to blame, Dad warned me about the danger and I should have heard his words. I didn't mean to scare you, it was my entire fault. Please give me a fair chance to prove my love for you. Axe, I want you. Don't leave me behind. I won't let anything happen to you, I cannot live without you. Heaven! Take me instead. (Sob) Let me sacrifice my life for her life. Open your eyes, Axe! (He turned to locate his father) Dad! Dad, do something with your alpha power.”
Again the flares of fire hit the palace. The pieces of the damaged wall fall towards the direction of Akshara. Karen acted swiftly to rescue her from the damaged walls. Azile who was hiding with her parents rushed to help Akshara and felt sorry for her condition.
Karen took Akshara in his arms and escaped many attacks from unknown origin and he ascended the stairs in his quick steps and asked Azile, “Is there any safe place for Axe?”
Azile told him, “There is a room… I kept my parents there. Let us take Axe there; she will be safe for sure.”
Karen nodded and followed Azile to the room where Akshara could be safe; it was the room where Akshara used to spend much time in her entire lifetime, the Library room – the room of books.
Karen placed Akshara near the wall of the big shelf; he took three big bounded books from the shelf to support the head of Akshara.
Karen looked silently at the face of flawless as the moon for a while by holding her hands, “Axe, I know you are struggling hard to get back to me. Stay there. Hold on. I will be back.”
Karen placed his gentle kiss on her forehead and removed the strings of hair that covered her face with his forefinger and stuffed her hair behind her ears. Karen turned to ask Azile to take care of Akshara and left the palace to check for the origin of flares, "Who the hell is bothering... Indeed the flames save my Axe, though I cannot be grateful"
The pearls of tears rolled down the cheeks of Azile to look at the condition of her parents on one side and felt pity for unconscious Akshara who was a death return.
Azile went near Akshara, sat on her knees and hold her hand, “Axe, I was jealous of you for taking everything from me. I was angry with you. You took away the love of my parents which was meant only to me.”
Azile looked around the room to find her parents aren’t awake. So, she moves closure to Akshara and continued her sayings in the ears of Akshara, “I was happy to find a presence of a man of my kind and I was relieved finally that I would have been chosen to be his mate. (Exhaled) But he chooses you to be his mate than me. He chooses humans like you as his mate. In what way, he found lesser in me than you. Though you are my dear friend, I was infuriated at you for stealing everything from me… But I don’t wish you to be dead. Please come back. Please come back to forgive me. I can’t live with this guilt.”
*****