Tristan
"Oh no, not I, I will survive," I savoured the taste of alcohol, the chorus and verses of the song blending seamlessly. Gently humming along to the tune, "Oh, as long as I know how to love, I know I'll stay alive. I've got all my life to live. And I've got all my love to give, and I'll survive."
The song played in the background, as a barrage of questions swirled in my head.
By now, another attack should have occurred, the side effects of the unfinished dosage of that drug.
Thankfully, I had anticipated Sebastian's move beforehand. Otherwise, this additional torment would have remained incomplete. The pain this time would be even worse—a pain that would propel me towards the next part of my plan. The ultimate one that would mark the end of their story.
The bitter-sweet flavour of the liquor provided some relief, although the mere thought of Athena's struggle should have sufficed.
So why did I find myself seeking solace in alcohol?
I'm drawing closer to achieving my revenge. Everything seems perfectly orchestrated, so why does none of it bring me peace?
What's wrong with me?!
"And I spent oh-so-many nights just feeling sorry for myself..." The song continued.
Fuck this!
I silenced the music, rage coursing through my veins. In one swift motion, I emptied the remaining liquor in the glass, then flung it against the wall in front of me. The glass shattered, sending fragments flying, some piercing my skin.
This feeling was unbearable. There was no room for guilt when my sole purpose was to avenge my mate's death.
"Pull yourself together, Tristan," I groaned under my breath. "You can't afford to waver. You've come so far. Endure a little longer—a few more days of being a terrible person—a monster."
I glanced at my watch—5:30 PM.
"She must be starting to experience the side effects now. Yes, it's happening," I muttered to myself. "It will soon be a success."
Pushing aside any lingering guilt or sympathy for Athena, I kept my phone within reach. I knew that within an hour, maybe two at most, Sebastian would have to call me. He would have no choice but to seek my help—there was no other way out for him.
Unbeknownst to them, I would deliver the final blow. Regardless of what they believed, I would ensure their demise unfolded exactly as they deserved.
***
Sebastian
"Love, it'll be over soon," I whispered, holding her tightly, our bodies immersed in the icy water. I lay there with her, yearning to wipe away all her tears, yet lacking the strength to even meet her gaze.
The ice cubes had long melted, but the scorching heat of her skin remained unrelenting. It seared against mine, intensifying the pain. I couldn't fathom the depth of her suffering or the strength it took for her to hold on.
"I don't think it'll go away anytime soon," she sobbed. "Our baby is in pain. He's suffering, and I can't do anything to help him..."
If only she understood how I felt, witnessing their agony. Like her, I was powerless. I wanted to embrace all her pain, to shield her from its touch forever and bury it deep in my bones. But here I was, helpless and unable to do more than offer fleeting comfort and solace, providing only a modicum of relief.
"But I believe he's staying strong, hanging in there to survive," I choked out, "If you give up, he'll eventually lose this fight. We can't let him lose this battle, can we?"
"No," she shook her head, her sobs muffled against my chest. "I don't want him to lose, and I can't bear to lose him either. I can't... lose him. I haven't even held him in my arms yet."
"You will get to hold him in your arms, I promise," I murmured, emitting a low sigh. I rubbed her back gently, resting my other hand on her belly, feeling the rapid movements of our child, who seemed fully awake throughout this torment, "I will make it come true. Trust me."
Her body trembled as she sobbed and cried, trying to endure the pain, desperately clinging to the last shreds of hope. She was determined to reach the shore at all costs.
"You know, there's a story about my mom that you haven't heard yet," I began, caressing her hair tenderly. "It was in one of her notes, but you missed that particular book when you sneaked a peek at all her writings."
"Really?" she asked, her voice quivering with sobs, as I held her even tighter. I knew that being close to me somehow lessened her suffering.
I couldn't fathom how I would have lived or found the strength to go on if it weren't for the belief that I could somehow help her.
"Yes," I affirmed. "It was written on the night she gave birth to me. She described it as a stormy night." I gently cupped her face, placing tender kisses on her eyelids. "She had no one by her side except for an elderly maid in her eighties. My father was absent, probably out partying and carousing with a group of women. You know what's ironic? He had explicitly instructed every worker to refuse assistance to my mother, no matter what. Maybe he wanted both of us to die that night. But my mother, she said she knew I would enter this world. She believed that the entire universe would support her, and it actually did. She endured labour for around two hours. It wasn't easy for her; she faced immense struggle and pain. Yet, she remained strong—for me—because she was determined to bring me into this world. She refused to lose against the monster she had gotten as a mate."
"What happened then?" she asked, her eyes glistening with tears.
I understood that my words couldn't completely alleviate her pain, but they provided a brief respite, a temporary escape from the agony she was enduring.
"She fought... against the pain, against all the odds and obstacles. And she eventually gave birth to me," I explained. "Her pregnancy was complicated, so complicated that a C-section would have been less risky than a normal delivery. But my mother didn't have that privilege. Although Elijah possessed immense wealth, he was impoverished when it came to compassion. Providing for my mother's safe delivery would have cost him nothing, but he chose to remain the heartless monster he had always been to her," I continued, "It was solely the divine intervention that helped her weather the storm. She described it as the most challenging period of her life—doubting her worth, questioning her strength, unsure if she could make it through. But deep down, she knew she had to do it, no matter what. And in the end, she emerged victorious while Elijah lost the game."
"She went through a lot," Her voice trembled, even amidst her own pain, her sorrow was palpable.
"Yes, but she never gave up, love," I reassured, "Even in the moments when she had no one by her side, she fought. For herself and for me. So, you shouldn't give up either. Stay strong, Athena. My mother had no one waiting for her at home, she didn't even have a home. But you do—you have me. I will wait for you for as long as it takes. I will be right by your side through this storm, and together, we will overcome it. We will be okay and find happiness in the end. Just don't give up, love. Please, don't."
"I won't give up, Sebastian. But I don't know how much longer my body can take it ..." she whispered, her voice filled with vulnerability. "I just hope I can survive this."
"You can do it, love. Just hold on a little bit longer."