Chapter # 62

After the mourning, gathering an unbearable weight on his chest, Nathaniel was at his hideout with everyone else. 'Amanda has slept. I have given her the sleeping pill you gave," Cinzel said, sitting beside Prince. 'Yeah, she must not forget her condition, too much stress is not good for her," He hummed, lying on the couch, rubbing his temples. 'You should eat too-" Zariah was about to speak but he angrily ignored her and turned to Prince. 'Where are the kids? Why didn't you bring them along? At least seeing them would have reduced the pain," 'They are with the nanny. And no, it wouldn't have reduced the pain rather you would have used them as an excuse to hide your pain," Prince said seriously. 'Prince is right, Nathaniel, good thing you have emptied your heart now," Cinzel nodded, worried-sick for her brother who held an unfathomable expression. Eyes refusing to lock on Zariah as a flame ignited in his chest, recalling his last moment. 'Can you believe it? Just some days ago we were discussing him wearing glasses, buying a camera for his child and now…" he chuckled dryly. 'That is life, my brother, you never know who you will lose," 'Hmm… I agree." A brief silence came and with bewilderment creeping, he called his brother-in-law. 'Prince," 'Hmm?" 'De Villiers said something in his last moment about my memories. That were not lost but he told the psychologist to eradicate them," Then his features dropped deadpan, shifting his eyes to Prince that made Zariah's breaths hitch as a presage of a terrible omen. ‘No, no, no, he is already furious, if he came to know about it, he will hate me,' She thought fretfully, glancing at Prince who exchanged a nervous glance with her. He didn't want to divulge too. 'What the fuck did De Villiers mean?" Sitting up dominantly, he glared at Prince, demanding openly. 'I believe you know just because you shot me I forgot my Zari, the one for whom I entered this fucking life. That one bullet changed my entire flow of life," He growled, curling his hand in a fist. Prince knew he couldn't hold back the truth, things were spilled. Zariah stared desperately, shaking her head in refusal which was noticed by Nathaniel. He glared dangerously, 'Shake that head one more time, Zariah, and I will ensure you regret it," Her body shivered, hanging her head low. Prince's throat dried, not sure where to start. 'I.. I…" 'Don't stammer, tell me, and I assume, you, her, and even De Villiers, all of you are involved equally in me getting shot," 'Tell him, Prince," Cinzel reassured, giving his hand a firm squeeze. 'Okay, the truth is, Nathaniel, that… The one who killed Alice was not Brandon," 'What?" Taking a deep breath, Prince spared an apologetic glance to Zariah who made a crying face and spoke of a heartbreaking reality. 'But, Zariah," PAST, The day when he came to know that Brandon was the deceiver they were searching for all this time, his life started going downhill. "Wait a minute, Alice... He said he will check on her today." His heart broke to think what he might do to that innocent soul. "This has to be a sick joke." "Where is she?" When his eyes fell upon Alice who walked out of her college, walking towards her car, humming to herself. She was indulging in life like a normal college student but it couldn't remain the same. "Al- '' He got out of his car but a few people came out of nowhere and shot her in a matter of seconds, killing her in an instant. "A-Alice..?" Immobilizing his very soul, freezing his mind by the sight he witnessed. How she left him without a goodbye and he failed to protect her too. He fell on his knees with a tear rolling down in the ultimate heartbreak. "ALICE!!" …His life fell apart once again, his chest was burning with anguish. After the funeral, his life was scattered, he found himself absolutely weakened and disheartened from life. "I feel like I'm losing it all. Mama, Papa, Persephone, Cinzel, Zari and now Alice... I can't take it anymore, De Villiers. It's hurting me so much." With countless struggles, tears yet rolled down his cheek in hopelessness to realize he was dejected from life, lost from everything. "This too shall pass." "I wish at least my Zariah would be here to hold me at least." He whispered, shutting his eyes to suppress his emotions. "I want to run away, I want to end this." "Losing what you love is a part of life." De Villiers whispered. "Leave me alone... Please." And he took out the anguish and mourning of his heart in the form of silent tears. Crying all alone under the glistening sky, taking out his pain until it emptied his heart. Until it murdered his emotions, leading him to the point of tears stopped moistening his eyes, until he lost faith in his very soul. Becoming a heartless person. But, Before Nathaniel could come to know she was the one who shot her, De Villiers came furiously as she was pacing around in stress, panicking. Losing her breaths, her composure after knowing else she wouldn't have done it. 'What have you done, Zariah!?" 'I swear, I didn't know. I was only told to follow the order which I did." She whispered, hands shaking, tears blurring with tears. There was no denial, she had always been fragile in his matter. To perceive she hurt what he loved clenched her into the deepest claws of dismals. '... Was that a deliberate attempt to separate you two by Brandon?" 'Why would he do that?" She questioned quietly. He scoffed, 'Do you have any idea how he literally breathes your name every second? Everyone knows about his obsession towards you," 'I thought… he hates me for what happened," Eyes widening in horror, clutching her dress, she fell on the couch, covering her mouth to suppress her sob and the guilty feelings. 'Oh Lord, what have I done? I killed his sister," Tears recollected, cursing her for becoming a source of his anguish. Lifting her weakened gaze at the frowning man with begging eyes. 'He will soon come to cut all connections with you," 'No, no, no please," Getting up immediately, she held his arm, shaking her head in denial, praying his heart would soften at least. Tears began to roll down, leaving De Villiers flabbergasted that she was still too emotional for her, willing to be his always. 'De Villiers… I… I beg of you, help me, please, please, I don't want him to hate me and this time he will," She pleaded with him, sobbing, joining her hands before him, begging powerlessly. 'Father didn't tell me. I just followed order, I-I had no idea, he is my only hope, I can't lose him," Taking a few minutes to contemplate her agony, he swallowed hard. 'Do you… still love him?" 'I only love him!" She sobbed, tears glistening on her cheeks. 'He- he promised to come, to save me, I-I can't imagine my life without him. I don't want him to hate me, I will do anything," He wanted to remain furious but upon her misery and well aware of his friend's wrath and demeanor, he was stuck in the middle. 'Fine… I will do something, you go back," Growling, when a tribulation was thrown over his head, he outrageously went back where Nathaniel was prepared to divulge his identity. After regaining his posture after a week, the embers of her corpse burned his mind and he was ready to teach Brandon a lesson. 'But, before I see that motherfucker, I want to know who did it. I will rip their soul apart first," 'You wouldn't want to know," 'Just tell me, who is it?" He scoffed. 'Zariah," De Villiers spoke to check his reaction and Zariah was right… He blinked, 'Come again," 'Zariah… was hired to… assassinate Alice," Bringing a pause in the room, De Villiers gulped when he fell into a daze, unsure how to react but the second this fact sank down, he exhaled. His eyes burned. There was no pain, only rage, his eyes were nowhere near anguish. Almost holding a flicker of… hate. 'Do you want to see her first?" 'No, let's go to Brandon. I don't think I have the energy for it," He ordered, raising his hand in the air, gathering his men. "I wouldn't be at peace unless I make Brandon pay for his misdeed and show him true horror." "Yes, Boss." De Villiers nodded. They found Brandon hiding in a dirty apartment with his girlfriend where he found Amanda, leading to his declaration. Subsequently, becoming the Plague Doctor, he gave the same story to Elton too and then decided to confront Zariah. "Plague Doctor. Never forget this name, you might not see my face afterwards but be aware of my identity." Taking a step back, he stared down at the peasant, walking away after ending his proclamation, wearing his owl mask. "Because I have started my hunt and those who duped me shall pay its price." The second he walked away, he scowled under his breath outrageously. 'Starting from her,"