21 I LOVE YOU

"ESMUNDO, I am the one you need. Let go, Symla." Amado beg. He stopped these wolves from chasing Symla but he ended up trapped. He couldn't remain in his transformation. He was drained. He used up all his power to attack them. They fight back all at once and in the end, he was trapped.

Some of Amado's wounds healed but still, he didn't regain his powers. It took him minutes in fighting these wolves. Seven out of ten were down now. It's not that bad after all. But when the general saw what was happening, he immediately helped his team.

Esmundo shook his head in disappointment and sat down before him. Though his eyes are cold, he didn't possess greed for war just like his father. However, he was like just his father's puppet. He followed his father's commands anytime. "You are opposing your race, Amado. Do you understand that you are doing it?"

He grinned. "How about you? Do you realize that you are just my father's puppet?"

A strong slap it conferred on him. Thanks to Esmundo's wolf's power. He almost crushed him in just one blow. Despite the pain, he just ridiculed him. He grinned and spit some blood. He would ask nothing more because Symla had already gone. That was the only important thing for him. Her safety. These wolves can do everything they want on him.

"You are smart, Amado. But your father is much keener. His prediction is right. He told us to come here and search for the whole mountain. He has this feeling that you will be here because this is the only mountain we didn't search. Finally, we met." He said and turned to the warriors." Tie him up and follow the Black Saint."

He gritted his teeth. "Don't you dare, Esmundo. Don't you fucking dare touch the Black Saint!" he shouted angrily and gone wild. He tried to free himself from theses wolves. He knew that the reason was just because of his father's prediction. He knew there was a traitor on Symla's clan that's why his father knew where they were heading.

Esmundo looked back at Amado. "Why? Why are you protecting her this much?" he asked and shook his head. "Stop it, Amado. Your father will not give the throne even you held captive the Black Saint all your life."

"I don't care! Just don't you fucking dare touch her or else—"

Amado groaned in pain when Esmundo hit his abdomen. He kept on giving him blows and almost fainted in pain. He was blowing some blood now. The torture was killing him. They were destroying him bit by bit.

"Release him! I am the only one you need! Let go of Amado!"

Everyone stopped and looked at the woman who dare to command. Amado was briefly stunned. Amado's vision was blurry. Only the unclear image of a woman came down the horse. She removed her black veil. She looks like a beautiful angel... The angel of his life...

"S-symla..." He murmured and the moment he realized Symla came back for him, his heart pounded wildly. The fear that suddenly rose inside his heart was great. It was hard for him to think straight. He forced himself to free from wolves' grip. "Symla! Why did you go back! Go now—!"

Amado cursed when they arrest Symla. They tie her on a tree using silvers. They tore her sleeves and her soft, slick arms exposed. Amado's voice grew louder. He cursed them over and over. Three wolves are now holding him, controlling his power. He moaned in pain when he was hit by a hard thing with his two legs and only fell on his knees.

The tears slowly fell on his cheeks. He felt so useless. The sun will soon rise and here he was. He couldn't do something for Symla. They will kill her. That can't be! No! He will never let that happen!

"Esmundo, I'm begging you. Kill me instead… just… j-just don't touch Symla…"

If he needs to kneel he will. Just for Symla's safety. He looked up to Esmudo. He immediately saw the rays of the sun being spotted in the cloud. It was alarming. He had his eyes on Symla. Her chest was moving up and down. She seemed scared but trying to control her fear.

"Release him! You tied me. What else do you want?" Symla shouted bravely. He was very impressed with Symla's strength. She came back to save him but his heart was being brought in more fear. He knew that Esmundo will kill her!

Esmundo burst out laughing after switching looks at them. He sat down before him and stared at him intently. "What is this, Amado? What does this mean?"

He clenched his teeth and looked at Symla. His heart was pounding with great strength while staring at her. She was a few steps away from him. She was close but it was hard for him to reach. He couldn't hold her. They had a devastating gap. "Release us," he commanded.

Esmundo just shook his head and gestured a sign to a soldier. The soldier nodded and used his sword. In just blink of an eye, the dress of Symla was divided. The beautiful curved of her thigh appeared. It looks like they are trying to make sure her body will completely exposed to the sun rays. They want her to turn into ashes in an instant! The fear he felt that moment was intensifying. "Damn you! You will pay for this, Esmundo! Fuck you—!" he shouted angrily.

"Amado, you are only putting yourself in a very bad situation," Esmundo answered coldly.

"I love Symla! And I will not let anyone of you kill the only woman I loved!" he shouted and gather all his strength to free himself. His heart was filled with great determination because of the excessive desire to save Symla. They are serious about killing this woman in front of him. Oh, that thought only scared the hell out of him.

Amado has more for them. He would ask for help with the shaman. He will seek assistance to stop the war. He will ask her to help him create a new world for Symla at for him if he cannot breakdown the wall between their kin. A world that Symla and him would always be together. He will make her smile. He will make her happy by doing things that make her pleased. And he will not anyone ruined his plans for them.

And as a result of that notion, he was filled with unusual strength. In a quick act, he fought a single one. When his right hand freed, he released a strong elbow blow. The person who suffered from the blow immediately knocked down. On his left, Amado instantly grabbed his collar and punched his face. When he was completely freed and had a chance, he grabbed the knife on his secret inside his boots and throw it to a soldier who tried to attack him. The blade was too sharped. It pierced his chest instantly.

A strong blow hit his face. However, he had numb all of that. He fight Esmundo bare hand, all at once. He fights with intense motivation and inspiration. He fights him back using his determination and promises for Symla. Fist by fist, they had been against it. Esmundo didn't had a chance to transform because he took fatally injury in the end.

His vision was darkened by the fury and he just found himself gripping Esmundo's neck. He was lifting him in the air as it was plugged into a large tree.

"I told you not to touch her." He said while clenching his teeth. He was shaking in anger. He gripped his neck even more.

"Amado..." Symla whispered. His eyes watered when he felt her hugged him from behind. His heart was filled with great warmth knowing she was safe. He felt like crying because of the unusual relaxation of his chest.

"Stop now…" she murmured and hugged him more.

He sighed and looked at Esmundo. "Tell this to my father. I don't care about his throne now but I will return. Tell him I will stop the war in my way." he warned.

"That's… i-impossible…" he said in an agonizing tone.

He grinned. "Nothing is impossible for someone eager, Esmundo."

Despite his situation, Esmundo manages to laugh a bit. "You think... We're the only one hunting… the Black Saint? You are… being… hunted by… vampires too… and I am sure… they will kill you…"

He gritted his teeth. He was ready for the consequences. He knew that was one of the results of choosing Symla and it doesn't matter. It was no longer important to him. Will he still think about it and care for it if it will not make him happy? "If I were you, stop this nonsense and go back to Barcelona. Don't you ever remember your children? You have a child that is waiting for you."

Esmundo was caught off guard. Amado touch a sensitive part of him. He was speechless. Amado releases him and face Symla. He cursed when he saw her face full of tears.

"I was released by a soldier before he escape…" she explained.

He shook his head. Regardless of what she did, Symla still made a mistake by coming back there. "You are so stubborn." He said coldly.

"I just wanted to save you…"

"But you almost die!"

Symla trembled to his sudden outburst. He caress his hair, trying to calm. He breathes in and out. She sobbed and his heart softened. He stroked her hair and buried her face into his chest. His eyes watered. Finally, she was inside his arms. She was safe now. He almost cried.

Right there and then. Amado realized how much he loves her. He'll die if this woman dies.

"I will never forgive myself if something bad happened to you, Symla..." he whispered. Tears almost fell and he blinked. His heart beats rapidly.

Symla embraced him tightly. His heart engulfed by a strange emotion. "I just can't endure it, Amado. I'm so sorry…"

He stared at her and breathe deep. "Are you all right? Are you hurt?"

She shook her head. Serious concern is still on her face. "How about you? You are wounded,"

"I can manage. I'll heal too."

But Symla didn't stop. Thought her hands are trembling, she wipes Amado. She tried to clean him. Amado holds her wrist and their gazes lock. "You are not listening to me."

She looked away but Amado tried to catch her gaze. He took the cloth from her hand clenched his fist.

"I just couldn't stand doing nothing. I want to do something for you."

"Why?" he murmured. His chest was filled in so much anticipation. It was hard for him to breathe.

"I-I love you, Amado." She admitted and cried. "I love you... I knew we just met and it was fast but couldn't stop myself. I thought I am going to lose you. Thinking I might lose you forever scared me to death. I-I don't want that to happen…"

"Ah, Symla…"

Amado gave Symla a tight hug. His heart almost explode and had tears. The woman he loves feel the same way too. He will do everything for her. Everything. The happiness that was in her heart was great. He could die at that moment.

"Let's go. Wolves might come here."

Symla nodded and tightly grabbed his hand. Together, the left the area before the sunrise.