PROLOGUE

"What a mess have I caused", Mirha wailed.

Wasn't she forewarned of the circumstances? Didn't she know the consequences had they been caught? Wasn't she to be held responsible for the circumstances that awaited them? Didn't she promise to abide by all the rules imposed on her by the authorities? Didn't she comply to never repeat the same old mistake which she had committed previously? Was she being mean or too selfish to have staked someone else's wellbeing for her own escape? What if she's the only one left in the future that they had pictured jointly? The thought of 'what if...?' shrouded her consciousness, blurring her ability of logical reasoning. Time was of essence here, as she couldn't further bear responsibility, should her mistake turn into a mortal penalty for the person as dear as God to her.

Mirha stood aghast. Had she been in a favorable state of mind, she would have gaped at the twinkling aura of the stars that blanketed the sky into a mesh of fairy lights. Shadows of red covered the moon creepily, now and then, transforming the once full moon into  a waning crescent. Air blew gushingly, with the wind speeds witnessing an increased acceleration. The breeze fought through Mirha's loosely braided hair, freeing them from the chains of bondage. Scattered clouds roamed sheepishly in happy spirit, randomly enwrapping the moon into a  picturesque masterpiece. Raising her head slightly to face the heavens, which had sketched her destiny in unapologetic fallacy.

There was nothing she could've done to prevent the premature doom to their mute relationship. Neither man, nor money or fate or The Almighty Himself seemed to be able to erase the fruits of their star crossed fate. What remained though is an unimaginable stretch of regret. Regret - of not being able to monitor or control an intuitive premonition. Alas! All was confined to the will of fate now. The appearance of a tall, lean shadow interrupted her thought process, making room for a sigh of welcome relief in the arena where Mirha lay in suffocating guilt. She must've been expecting the person, for she at once sighed, "You must be mocking me for my stupidity. right?".

"Who could've been able to control a fate designed to pronounce apocalypse to two lovers? Not all desires see fulfilment. Prudence, however, could have proven lucky in the current situation.", Arash replied gravely.

Mirha turned around. Her eyes met those of Arash's, which led him to deviate his gaze immediately, transfixing onto the intricately carved marble floor adorning the arena. Not all nights could have seemed more beautifully mystical to him than that particular one. The full moon, eclipsed earlier that night, seemed to cast a blood red impression struggling hard to filter through the clouds. The resultant scarlet moonlight colored the whole white marble in hues of ruby. What could he have asked for at such a rare occasion than the company of the girl confronting him? Or if she could by some means be his!

"Not all desires see fulfilment...", Arash shuddered his nonchalant thoughts, accepting the lines as caution.

"Such deep words could emanate only from the depths of an aching heart. What is it that you desire?", Mirha enquired.

Arash meekly grinned, "You will have to give me the thing I desire, once you know what that is. Can you risk to promise me that you'll grant me my wish?"

"I'm, too weak at keeping promises. What can I grant you? I, myself, am reduced to seek extrinsic help at this hour. I had assigned you a task. Does it's completion bring you here?", Mirha exclaimed at the slight ray of hope which could extinguish her worries.

"Yes, it indeed is! But the outcome is not what you yearn to hear. They're contemplating his secret execution, so as to avoid the wrath of other security officers. They probably fear that such punishment could lead to an uprising within the army, hence this back-up."

Mirha gasped in shock. Her hands slapped her forehead and her heart sank collapsing in unfathomable grief. Her moans echoed throughout the entire arena, filling the air with haunting screeches. What a miserable fate had she bought unto them!

She looked towards the skies. The moon had been eclipsed in entirety. She cursed her fate for bringing ill fate onto her loved ones since she was born. First it had to be her mother, who died in childbirth, then it was her father who was brutally assassinated by bandits, her brother, who since childhood, lay drowned in alcohol, vengeance and thirst for power, her sister who was sold as a slave and now this! What star could have the power to possibly bring about such unparalleled havoc? Mirha consoled herself for now it was no time to weep over the sorrows she had long left behind. She gathered courage and rose, much like the rising moon which displayed a cosmic play with the clouds.

"I must act fast.", she muttered.

"But where are….", Arash's question lagged behind as Mirha sprinted towards the mansion.