20 Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Arkukkari Island, 2020

Ash

For the next few months, we continued with our training, strengthening our magic, learning about our heritage, and weaknesses. Sofya was powerful; she had beaten both Lucy and Nico. The only person she had lost to was me, which made absolutely no sense since she was only supposed to be second to the guardian and that wasn't me no matter how badly I wanted it to be.

Tomorrow we were having a ball to announce the four people who would be the others in the prophecy. Since my brother wasn't here, and no one knew about him I was going to be the guardian. Today they were announcing escorts.

I met up with Nico and we walked to the auditorium. Lucy and Sofya were already there in their usual seats, from the first day. We sat down in front of them. I glanced back at Sofya, she smiled. I had been avoiding her to try to ease the pain, it wasn't working at all. I turned back around.

"Attention everyone!" Ivanna announced, her loud voice booming across the room. "I will be announcing everyone's escorts, no complaining, first Maxon and Yana, Ash and Sofyalisia."

After that, I stopped listening. I had wanted to be Sofya's escort but I needed to remember not to do anything stupid. I was supposed to be pushing her away, but it was so damn hard. I wanted to say screw it and fate can get lost, but I couldn't do that to Sofya. I just wanted her to be happy, and I knew that it couldn't be with me. I turned to face Sofya once Ivanna was done announcing.

"Sofyalisia's your full name?" Nico said with a confused expression on his face.

"Yep, my full name is quite a bit Sofyalisia Nalani Reza Kahale Volkova Winchester."

"Geez, that's a long name," Nico commented his grin back and in full force.

"What time shall we pick you ladies up?" Nico asked. "Around six-thirty," Lucy replied.

Before grabbing Sofya's hand and dashing out the door. Sofya quickly called bye before she was dragged away. I shot Nico a look, he just shrugged his shoulders.

"Well, I'm going to go back to my hut, bye," I said, taking a step towards the door.

"Bye," Nico responded questionably, raising an eyebrow. He suspected something was up, he was my best friend after all, he knew me better than I knew myself but he didn't press it. I walked back to my hut then got ready for bed, tomorrow should be fun, I hoped.

At about four in the afternoon, I decided to get ready. I took a shower then picked out a simple black and white suit, it was strange dressing up in a suit, I hadn't for a long time, not since my parent's funeral, which was eleven years ago.

After I was finished I walked over to Nico's hut he was ready as well. A slick black limo waited for us right outside. We got in and drove over to Sofya's hut, where the girls were getting ready. I knocked on the door, Sofya answered it, my mouth fell open.

Sofya had on a strapless blue gown that went all the way to the floor, a glittering blue sapphire pendant with a matching bracelet, her hair was curled and braided with sapphires embedded in the braids, and her makeup made her violet eyes pop. She always looked beautiful and flawless in my eyes, but this, this was beyond explanation. She looked regal, like the queen she was meant to be.

"You guys look great," Nico commented looking impressed at their getup. Lucy batted her lashes and I tried not to cringe. She shouldn't waste her time on Nico, I was pretty sure he had his eyes set on someone else. Even if he didn't know it yet himself, but I had eyes and clearly saw he had no interest in Lucy.

"So do you." She said to Nico. Sofya looked over at me with a small half-hearted smile on her face. I nodded, I was speechless. I had also missed her.

"Let's go," Nico announced, breaking the silence. Nico took Lucy's hand and dragged her out the door. Sofya grabbed my hand with a smile and followed them.

As we neared the Dawnton Palace, where the ball was taking place, you could make out the huge white marble stairs and Greek architectural structure mixed with European castle-like features. The limo dropped us off at the bottom of the stairs. Inside elaborate decorations were all around, crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and a butler stood at the entrance announcing names as people came in. Lucy and Nico were announced first.

"Sofyalisia Kahale Volkova and Ash Cercillia." We stepped down the stairs to the main area, where a DJ was playing songs and everyone was dancing. I turned to Sofya.

"Care to dance?" I asked her.

"Sure." She replied, her eyes twinkling. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her close. She laid her head on my chest and we swayed to the music. I never wanted to let her go.

After the song was finished I went and got some drinks. When I got back to Sofya, Ivanna had walked up to a microphone on a small stage.

"Attention everyone!, by now you know that Sofya is the long-lost heir of the legend, today we will announce the four other aemons in the legend," Ivanna said. "First we have the sorceress, Lucy Avonic, you have demonstrated immense power and skills, and you are spirited. Providing Sofya a lifelong friend."

Lucy started jumping up and down, she looked like she was strangeling Nico, poor Nico. Sofya had a huge smile across her face and was bobbing up and down with excitement. Ivanna continued.

"Next we have the mage, Maxon Baldev, you have strength, power, and determination. The enchanter, Nico Marasini, you have powerful magic and are pretty persuasive. Last but not least the guardian, Ash Cercillia, you have the most power, strength, and magic out of everyone here and possibly in all the worlds and you are a descendant of the ancient guardian bloodline. That is all everyone have a good night." Everyone started clapping. Sofya turned to me and squeezed the living daylights out of me. She looked right into my eyes full of fiery determination.

"I don't care about your brother, he is not the one who has been here for me, you have when no one else has." She said fiercely then ran away, over to Lucy, leaving me shocked. I sighed, she still didn't realize how hard this was for me. I wanted to be with her but I just couldn't. There were so many reasons, and there was nothing I could do.

I walked over to where Sofya, Lucy, Nico, and Maxon were standing in a little huddle. I was happy Ivanna had chosen Maxon for the mage. I had already assumed who filled the other positions but the mage was up for grabs. Maxon was a good guy and he got along great with Nico. In a way where Nico had pestered him till they became friends. Those two were hilarious together. Maybe he could knock some sense into Nico. A waiter came by and we all grabbed a glass of champagne.

"To us!" Sofya announced. "We will defeat Alek!" Then more quietly she whispered in my ear. "And find your brother." Even after everything I told her and trying to push her away, she still wanted to help me. She was meant to be queen, and she'd make a good one

"Cheers!" We all yelled.

Sofya grabbed my arm dragging me to the dance floor. She pulled me against her and found my hands, then laid her head on my chest just as she did earlier. Leaning down, I pressed my face in the crook of her neck, inhaling, she smelled like vanilla.

"Did you just smell my neck?" She asked with one eyebrow raised. I grinned.

"Maybe." She laughed and it was like music to my ears. Mmmm, she had no idea how much I wanted to be with her, to hold her. I wished this moment could last forever, swaying to the music where we didn't have to deal with all the complications the world threw at us. I knew I couldn't be with her, I had to make her see how horrible I was. It was the easiest way. But for this moment, right now I could enjoy it and pretend she was mine. Pretend that my life was mine to control.

About an hour or two later Sofya looked like she was about to drop dead from exhaustion.

"You tired?" I asked. She nodded. I scooped her up and took her to the limo waiting outside and we started back towards our home, as of now. We sat quietly for a while. I remembered I needed to push her away, it would be easier and for the greater good. "I'm sorry Sofya," I said. She looked at me confused.

"For what?" I sighed.

"For everything, after my parents died I wanted revenge. I spent years training and I was an assassin, I've killed so many people." I said solemnly. Sofya looked shocked and horrified. I told myself this was for the best. Of course, I didn't tell her I hadn't really had any choice in the matter.

Alek held my brother prisoner and so he didn't murder him I had to assassinate people, demons, and angels that were a threat to Alek. Almost all were horrible people, but still killing was killing, and I was supposed to kill her. All of that changed a person and not for the better. How could I care for her when I hated myself.

"See you really don't know me at all," I said as we neared her hut. The car stopped. Sofya opened the door, she looked back once. Fear, fear was on her face, just like everyone else. I could feel my heart fracturing but I slid the icy wall into place. Sealing my emotions away, for good. I stayed silent.

"Bye." She said quietly, then she closed the door and walked into her hut without a single glance back. Job done. Now I just had to live with the fact that Sofya would fear me for the rest of her life. That everyone would.