Cupid And The Grim Reaper

Wade returned to the woods in anticipation. He had spent countless hours practicing poetry, eager to share them with Eleanor. But every time he waited; it was like the seasons changed many times over before his eyes. Eleanor never showed up as he anticipated, leaving Wade disappointed.

He wondered if she had left with Daemon, or if something had befallen her. Meanwhile, Eleanor, Linda and Loretta were busy preparing for the upcoming event hosted by Wade Catwright. They laughed and chatted with excitement.

Loretta asked Eleanor if she had met Wade again, and Eleanor explained her strategy of creating anticipation for their next encounter at the party. Loretta understood the dynamics but Wade couldn't contain his longing for her. He set out to find Eleanor, searching the town and asking questions.

But without a portrait of her, his search proved futile. People looked at him with confusion, unsure who he was talking about. As night fell, Wade returned home with a heavy heart. His mother awaited him in his room, she was overwhelmed with concern for her son.

"Love is a curious thing, isn't it?" she said with a soothing voice. Wade smiled with a mix of emotions. Lady Luciana placed a kiss on his forehead, calling him her "Favorite son." He hugged her, seeking comfort in her embrace.

Sensing her son's turmoil, she asked about the woman who had captured his heart so quickly, but Wade hesitated, unsure if he should reveal the complicated situation. He understood his mother's duty to the family, and the potential consequences of loving a married woman.

But Lady Luciana's gentle approach encouraged him to open up about Eleanor, from the first time he saw her from a distance to their recent encounters. As Wade spoke about her, Lady Luciana saw his love for Eleanor.

She knew this would create a rift between the Windsors and the Catwrights, and her duty to keep the family together immediately conflicted with her desire to take action for her son's happiness. The situation was delicate and Lady Luciana's facial expression reflected her concern.

She holds Wade's hands.

"This situation is very delicate, but I will make my findings about the status of her marriage with Daemon, and then we shall talk about it. For now, I strongly suggest you refrain from seeing her." She said. Wade's face fell and his eyes widened with dismay. He felt like his mother had snatched away his happiness.

He withdrew his hands from hers, taking two steps back, and declared,

"I cannot stay away from her, mother. It is impossible and you know this." Lady Luciana's expression softened but she spoke with a firm voice.

"You are my son; my only son and I will always protect you. Right now, I am only trying to protect you. What if Eleanor and Daemon are still married? What then?" Wade hesitated, acknowledging the possibility of that reality. But deep down, he was convinced Eleanor was no longer tied to Daemon.

He believed she was a decent woman who wouldn't have shared such a moment with him if she was still married. Lady Luciana pressed on, her words cutting through Wade's delicate heart.

"Even if she is no longer married, Wade, you cannot marry her. She is either a married woman or a divorced one. I can simply allow a secret affair for your happiness, but marriage is out of the question." Wade stood stunned at his mother's words. He wanted a future with Eleanor, not an affair.

His mother understood his desires, but dismissed them as a "normal male fantasy." She suggested he would change his mind if he met a younger, single woman. The argument escalated, with Wade pushing against his mother's opinions and decisions.

Finally, Lady Luciana warned him to keep their conversation private, away from his father's ears, and exited the room, leaving Wade fuming with anger.

The Windsors:

Daemon's world was crumbling around him, the room spinning like a storm as he clutched Eleanor's necklace like his lifeline. He couldn't fathom why she'd leave him, abandoning their marriage without a fight. The thought of her with another man was a constant, bothersome ache, fueling his anger and possessiveness.

"You are mine, only mine," he whispered with his eyes fixed on her portrait.

"I will kill any man who dares to touch you." As he sat there, lost in his misery, Victoria saw her chance. She had been waiting for the perfect moment to manipulate Daemon, to use his vulnerability to her advantage.

Disguising herself as Eleanor, she sneaked into the room, her movements silent as a ghost. She gently turned Daemon's face towards her, her voice dripping with false sincerity,

"I'm right here, my love. I never left." Daemon's eyes, cloudy with intoxication, locked onto the imposter. For a moment, he went back to a time when love was pure, when Eleanor's smile could light up his world. He embraced Victoria, holding her close as tears streamed down his face.

Victoria melted in his embrace, her heart racing with joy. This was her chance to conceive again, to bind Daemon with more children, ensuring he'd never escape her grasp.

But as they kissed, Daemon's instincts began to stir. Something wasn't quite right. The touch was unfamiliar, the scent was unlike Eleanor's. He lifted her in his arms and gently placed her on the bed. Victoria was over the moon, as Daemon kissed her neck, he gently placed his hand on her neck and gave it a tight grip.

His grip on Victoria's neck tightened, his fingers began to dig into her skin.

"You are not her," he snarled with fury.

"How dare you pretend to be my wife?"

Victoria's eyes darted wildly as Daemon's grip constricted. She tried to speak, she tried to gasp for air, but his hand closed around her throat.

"You'll never be her, you'll never replace her," he hissed, his face inches from hers. As Victoria's eyes began to sink, he released his tight grip on her neck and tossed her aside like a rag doll.

"Get out!" he thundered. She scrambled her feet, gasping for air. She staggered and stumbled with her hands clutching her throat. She fled the room with a speed she never knew she had, even with her shaky legs. Victoria burst into her bedroom, slamming the door behind her. Joanne, who had been waiting anxiously, rushed to her side.

"Did it work?" she asked, her eyes wide open with hope. Victoria raised her eyebrow, still trying to catch her breath.

"He almost killed me," she wheezed. Joanne's face fell in shock and confusion. She couldn't believe their plan had failed. She had paid the bartender handsomely to make sure Daemon was good and drunk, certain it would guarantee success. Joanne apologized immediately.

"I'm so sorry, my dear friend. I thought he would fall for it." Victoria straightened with grim.

"We'll kill her at the party," she vowed.

"Prepare your men. We need to make sure she doesn't leave alive." Joanne nodded and departed, leaving Victoria to drink a cup of water to calm her nerves. But Victoria was still overwhelmed with anger. In a fit of rage, she grabbed Eleanor's dress and threw it out the window.

The Catrights:

Wade couldn't stop thinking about his mother's words. They echoed in his mind persistently. He couldn't accept a future without Eleanor by his side. The thought of living without her was unbearable and made his heart ache. As he spent more time in his bedroom, less time with Stormfire, his father began to notice a change in him.

Wade barely left his room. Lord Wilson asked Lilian if she knew what was wrong, but she was clueless. If she had known, she would have told her father right away. Wade's mother walked into his room with a serious expression.

"Daemon and Eleanor are still married, but she left home after Daemon and his lover had a son, they do not know where she is, they believe she is dead." Hearing this, Wade's face lit up with a faint and hopeful smile. He saw their ignorance as his freedom. He didn't care about the past or the reason they thought she was dead.

All that mattered was that Daemon and Eleanor were no longer together. He could be with her forever and no one would stop him. His mother noticed his smile and cautioned,

"Wade, it's impossible, it's immoral. The situation will be disastrous for you, for both families." Wade was completely resolute.

"They think she is dead. Mother, that's the only information that matters to me." He said with a firm voice. Lady Luciana's forehead creased with worry.

"Your father will never approve of this; he will be furious and he will disown you."

"I don't care about father's approval; I only care about my future with Eleanor. Father will learn to accept that reality, as will you." Wade responded. Lady Luciana shook her head with disappointment.

"My son has lost his mind over a married woman." Wade smiled softly. He hugged his mother and left to prepare for the party with his heart fixed on the possibility of a future with Eleanor. Wade rushed to Mr. Cole, embracing him with joy.

He told Mr. Cole every thing his mother had said to him about Eleanor with his eyes shining with excitement. Mr. Cole's expression lit up with excitement seeing how happy Wade was, but beneath his happiness, a hint of worry lingered. He had seen how deeply Wade loved Eleanor, his love for her was pure, the reality gave him concern.

Wade was willing to fight against all odds to be with Eleanor, but had he ever stopped to consider if Eleanor felt the same way? What if she returned to Daemon? The thought sent a shiver down Mr. Cole's spine. Wade would be completely shattered if that happened. Mr. Cole looked at Wade and asked,

"Cupid and the grim reaper have something in common. What do you think it is?" Wade looked puzzled, unsure of how to respond.

"Is this one of your riddles?" he asked with curiosity. Mr. Cole spread his palms to illustrate his point.

"Cupid is the god of love; the grim reaper is a personification of death. A bow and a scythe." Wade leaned in,

"I've never thought about it." He admitted.

"The bow and the scythe have a profound impact on human life. Love and death. People often see love as the beginning of life and death as the end. But is death, truly the end? There are tales of an afterlife." Mr. Cole paused and pressed his palms together.

"Love is a curious thing. It feels gentle but we cannot underestimate the fact that it is dangerous. To you, it is life, life is Eleanor. To Daemon, Lord Daemon Windsor, it is the end of life, the end of his life, which is also Eleanor." He opens his palms again,

"Cupid, and the grim reaper, Wade and Daemon. Eleanor is life, your life." Wade's face distorted in confusion, but Mr. Cole continued, giving a hint of warning.

"I have served House Catwright since I was a young lad, Wade. I have met the family members, friends and business partners. I know Daemon Windsor the most. I know the depths of his obsessive and twisted love for his wife. He won't let this go without a fight or a life ending." Wade's eyes widened with shock, he exclaimed.

"You knew!" Mr. Cole nodded in somber. He had known about the reality of Eleanor's marriage to Daemon but had kept it hidden. Now, his fears were unfolding before his eyes.

"I know you love her, but I beg you, do not go any further. Your family will be divided." He said with concern. Wade rose from the wooden chair, paced around briefly and finally said.

"I love her, I have always loved her, but I couldn't do anything about it because she was betrothed to Daemon. Now, God has brought her to me. She could have been anywhere, but she is here, I could have met anyone else, but I met her again. I will go with her until the end of time. The grim reaper can come!"

He leaves and Mr. Cole took his hat off, feeling concerned and yet proud of Wade. Meanwhile, Eleanor couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling that had been lingering inside her. It was as if a dark cloud was hovering above her, casting a dark shadow over her thoughts.

She tossed and turned in bed for hours, her mind was racing in thoughts of Wade, which brought a smile to her face, but also fears of Daemon. Desperate for fresh air, Eleanor stepped outside the hut, unaware that Linda had been watching her. Linda followed her, and they walked side by side under the moonlight.

"You'll need your beauty sleep, my friend," Linda said with a playful tone.

"You are our special ticket to the party." Eleanor told Linda about her concerns. Daemon's memory had resurfaced in her thoughts after years, but this time, it was flooding her mind with warnings. She became hesitant to attend the party. Linda listened intently and responded,

"You worry about him like he is a monster." Eleanor rubbed her neck nervously,

"Daemon is not violent, but he's egotistical and arrogant. He'll do whatever it takes to get what he wants." Linda scoffed.

"That's exactly what makes him dangerous. You just never saw that side of him." Linda advised Eleanor to explore her feelings for Wade, who she seemed to have fallen for. Eleanor's cheeks flushed, and she fidgeted with her skirt. She longed for Wade but the thought of Daemon held her back.

Linda reminded her that Daemon had no moral compass, he had no problem impregnating his lover, Linda told Eleanor to stop holding herself back. Linda hugged her and assured her that she is supported no matter what. As they returned to bed, Eleanor's heart still ached with conflicting emotions.

She was torn between her growing feelings for Wade and the fears of Daemon. But with her friends by her side, she felt a sense of courage.