21:A sweet illusion

~Zephirin~

A sense of uneasiness overwhelmed me. In a moment of weakness, I got lost in the waves of Laith's light. 

The way Laith stared at me made my heart melt. I felt human, nervous, and anxious to talk to him. What began as an innocent concern for him ended up taking a dangerous turn. 

I brushed my hand over my lips. Unable to discern what possessed me to lock lips with Laith. To desire the lingering feeling of his lips on mine. 

The Incirion had someone else's name written in his heart. He didn't care for me in that way and neither did I have any feelings for him. Laith grew weak with everything that he's been through and embraced me in his moment of weakness. 

It was what I told myself to avoid thinking too much into the kiss. Unfortunately, I had to admit that I became vulnerable by his side. I lose a sense of myself with one glance into his eyes. 

There is a soft spot in my heart for him. A spot that was growing with each moment spent by his side. Which is why I had to leave. 

Laith and I are destined to walk on opposite sides of the world. Where he is born to give hope to the world and save them from the dark creatures of the night. I was born with the fate of raising to life all the dark creatures from the shadows. 

We are bound to fight each other to the death one day. A fight I suddenly wasn't looking forward to. Especially with his constant confession of not wishing to fight me and declaring that I was stuck with him for eternity. 

His words touched the corners of my core in ways I never knew possible. It was disturbing. 

Every time I am around him, he ends up letting out a heartwarming line that shakes the walls of my heart. His presence affected me. Breaking down the less humane parts of me and transforming my emotions and soul to be more human. 

His presence turns the air into a sweet fragrance of flowers. He is a light to the darkness that looms over my life. A dangerous bond that engages both of our lives. 

I gazed at the bracelets on my wrist. A link that connects my soul to his. A shield I created to protect him in ways I wish someone would protect me. A means to mask his broken pieces, to keep him safe. 

Like the light of the sun, the thoughts of him light up my world. This feeling came without warning and took over my whole being. The last couple of days his presence gained importance to me. 

"You need to stop thinking about him, " I scolded myself. Feelings were a weakness in my world, they got one killed. Not to mention falling for the enemy. 

The wind gusts loudly. The horse whines as I make my way beyond the border of Liradia to enter the neighboring kingdom of Sedaria. My gaze flattered back to my homeland. A place I yearned to reduce to dust and oblivion. 

"Are you feeling homesick?" Ywain, my right-hand man asked. Taking note of his presence behind me, a

black mist formed covering half my face. It was then that it occurred to me that someone in the world knew my face. 

The holy incision of the goddess had taken my mask off and I was too helpless to stop him. His paralyzing gaze had my whole being glued down to grab his hand before he removed my mask. 

I frowned. Laith had more power over me than I cared to admit. Power that I wanted back, to gain back some form of control over my actions and thoughts. 

"I will be home sick the day Liradia is wiped off the map of the four lands, " I responded. 

"You seem hesitant. Is there something you left behind? " Ywain inquired. I stared in the distance in wonder. Leaving was the right decision but it didn't lessen my worries. I was anxious. Worried about how Laith was doing and how he was going to cope without me by his side lending him a shoulder to lean his head. "Heavy is the head that wears a crown. Particularly the head that carries the fate of the world," Ywain added suggestively. 

I shot him a glare, only able to see his hazel eyes. His true face was covered with the face of his latest victim. In all the years I've known him, the man changes his face faster than the way he changes his clothes. 

Despite being his close companion for years, I had no idea what his real face looked like. Nor did he know mine, that was the beauty of our affinity. We know our souls, hearts, and minds but not each other's faces. 

Ywain raised his hands in the air in concession. "I'm just saying...it wouldn't hurt to embrace your desires."

My eyebrows knitted together. The train of this conversation was irritating me. Ywain was hinting at my recent closeness with Laith. Which he shouldn't be aware of seeing as I went out of my way to hide my interaction with the male. 

"What do you mean?" I played a fool. 

"The Incirion," he paused. His eyes locked with mine. Ywain seemed deep in thought before he continued to speak. "He fancies you and the feeling is reciprocated from your end, " he affirmed confidently. 

My breath hitched. Worry snaked through me, it chilled my soul. Panic assailed me. Ywain's words hit me like ice-cold water. It shook me. 

He is a cold-hearted half-blood. Born of a demon and a human. With the ability to force the world to look at him like an ocean. One in which they desperately wish to drown. 

His ability to command masses to their doom and wear a sweet smile on his face was nothing short of astounding. Which is why we get along so well. He is the only one who understands what it means to walk in my shoes. 

"You can't deny the allure of light and darkness. It makes for a beautiful dance," Ywain inched closer on his horse. I clenched my fist. Digging my nails into my skin to mask my emotions. "Don't worry, I have no intentions of harming the little one. Neither will I suggest we use him to paralyze the four lands, " he continued to say. His closeness sent shivers down my spine. "Even Satan deserves to have one good thing in his life. Laith will be our little secret, " he summed up. 

His lips curled up into a devilish smirk. The look in his eyes guaranteed that he meant every word. I sighed. 

"I won't see him again, " I let out. To assure him that I won't let Laith hinder our plans. 

"Oh, why?" he asked 

"He is a sweet illusion. One that I don't deserve, " I immediately answered. "I need a distraction to forget my encounter with him. "

My desire sounded urgent. I needed to get Laith out of my head to get rid of the humane feelings coursing in my veins. 

"I have one in mind but you might not like it," Ywain alighted from his horse. I followed his movement and jumped down to the ground. 

"What were thinking, slaughtering an entire village or..."

"Something much more endearing," Ywain sweetly let out. His voice laced with honey to lure me in on his idea. 

"You have my undivided attention. "