Ayduin could sense her distress, her thoughts emanated pain, lot of pain. He winced and kicked and punched everything around. He was not sure if she was to be trusted but her pain was bothering him.

He paced around his room impatiently.

Someone knocked on the door and Ayduin looked up hatefully at the door.

Kamron walked in with a small box in his hand.

"What is this?" Ayduin asked rudely but that didn't bother Kamron at all.

"A drink to calm your nerves and put you to sleep. We have noticed you haven't been able to sleep for past two days. What's wrong?" He asked genuinely concerned.

Sleep, if artificially induced could easily help him to get rid her thoughts, of her pain. He stepped ahead and grabbed the box.

"There is something seriously wrong with you Ayduin, it is clear on your face." He commented observing him.

He glared at him in response, he did like talking to Kamron that doesn't mean he was suddenly Mr. Friendly and will open up to everyone around him

"Fine, fine don't tell me. I was just asking."Kamron said backing off lifting up his hands in a defeated gesture.

As Kamron left Ayduin intently looked at the box in his hand. He was left with a difficult choice here, should he drink the potion and fall into a dreamless sleep or he should just check if not help what was wrong with her.

He finally decided to drink the potion but as soon as he was about to drink the colorless liquid, a sharp pain hit his head and echoed with a shrill cry. He had to grab the nearest support to keep standing, it was that unsettling.

Without even giving a second thought he finally asked.

Aislin? Aislin? Are you okay?

For the moment all the mistrust was gone and he was extremely worried.

She was crying in her head, out loud, she was crying miserably.

Guilt was the first emotion that hit Ayduin and then he was pained, heart clenched in his chest.

What is it? What happened? He asked now getting even more worried and impatient.

Why do you care!? You finally found time for me! And anyway it's better you should stay away, I am not to be trusted in. I am cursed Ayduin, cursed. And not cursed like you, harmful to people you rule but cursed for people I love. And do you know..huh..do you know Ayduin how many people have I killed? Why is Darkmir so friendly to me? She let out a dark humorless laugh.

Ayduin heard everything silently. It was surprising to hear her angry thoughts. She was angry that he was not around, that thought made him happy. But then she herself asked him to stay away from her. And there was something seriously wrong with her, she couldn't kill people. What was she talking about? Or could she?

Aislin, calm down, please explain everything patiently. He said himself all tensed.

And she did, she explained everything. She had blind trust in him and he had no idea why and how can someone be so trusting. She hasn't even seen him but she told him everything. About her visit to the graveyard and unfortunate encounter with Darkmir, the things he told.

How they were connected just because they both were cursed and how so many had died just because the girl was deeply attached to them. And that she was being darkened by each soul she takes. She left out the part where she was the cure for his curse, since that will erase all the chances of wanting to keep her close to him.

She wanted no part in his life now; no matter if she was an antidote to his curse or not, no matter how much the ice prince needed a friend and no matter how much she was in need of a solace point... no matter how much she needed someone who could help her escape reality.

There was a horrible silence from Ayduin's end. She feared that much, she managed to scare away a guardian, a Warrior Prince. She sighed feeling miserable and surprisingly relieved. Now all she had to do was think about a way to keep a distance from her mother.

She decided to live a lonely life if it comes to that.

So he feels he is 'the one' for you? Ayduin growled out his next thoughts.

Aislin was truly surprised, from all the important details that was the detail prince captured.

Well since I am the one as per his say that has a curse to kill the ones she loves and darkened every time. She said sounding tired even in thoughts.

Aislin, I have to be honest with you. I do not trust you, I was even thinking about giving up this connection of ours. But I couldn't do it, your dream of darkness himself should have made me hate you, it would make me hate anyone else but I can't bring myself to hate you. Why is that I have no idea, I have never felt this protective and thoughtful about someone. Aislin this is all new to me. And even though all that you told me doesn't help the fact that I don't trust you but I am not scared away this easy even if you are cursed.

His long confession was the best few words Aislin has heard in her life. She stood up from the ground actually feeling the strength of words surge through her. He didn't want to leave. It was natural for him not to trust her but he said he was not leaving her. But she was confused, did she want him around? Could she risk his life?

Thank you Ayduin. I am truly grateful for your words, I truly am but I think I will just let it go. Holding on to a false hope... until now I thought my curse was not real. Those people dying around me was just a coincidence, I hoped. But now that is true, I am not putting in one in this death radius, besides I don't want you to tangle up with Darkmir, Ayduin.

So I am giving you a Christmas present if people of other dimension celebrate it. I am terminating our connection which might be hard since our thoughts connect us but like you said Hermit told you, ignoring it would eventually make it fade away.

It took all her strength to say all that to Ayduin.

What is it that worries you so much Aislin? I said it doesn't matter to me if you are darkening or whatever Darkmir told you. Why are you so hell bent on breaking this connection? Ayduin said desperately trying to hold on to her.

She heard the question and sighed, she was not going to answer that. She can't answer that so she just took off her bracelet. At least it was difficult without it to connect.

Teardrop escaped her eyes as she finally let it go.

She hurried back home with a purpose in mind. Her mother was cooking something absolutely divine filling the house with aroma but not lingering on such luxurious she went straight to her room and started packing all the essential stuff. She will leave her mother and go. She still had no idea where but she will have to find a place and make her mother free from the danger of curse.

"And that I promise is not a wise choice." A familiar voice said from behind.

She had a mini heart attack and her hand flew to her mouth to prevent her from screaming. But she immediately relaxed when she saw him.

"Hermit." She said dejectedly and resumed her packing.

"You people do know I have a name and that hermit is not actually a proper noun." He said lightly and casually sat on the chair next to the wardrobe.

She was no mood for chit chat so she continued with what she was doing trying really hard to avoid him. And he had always known about her curse and people that died because of her. Why can't this weird man just let her be if he can't help even with all his powers?What is just now her mom walked in?

"You could always protect your mother by leaving her but then it is also possible that Darkmir could just come and kill her?" Hermit said.

This got her attention and she looked at him. How stupid of her not to consider this possibility?

God! Is there no easy solution to her problem? She was born this unlucky.

"What should I do?" She finally asked the important question.

"I will tell you if you answer my question truthfully." He said.

"Fine, ask away." She said without even thinking twice.

"Why did you break your connection with Ayduin?" He asked like he already knew the answer.

She tried glaring him down but he looked at her with his gentle calming eyes.

"I am afraid that my curse will affect him." She stated simply not revealing too much.

"Ah! So you care for the young Prince. Excellent, but does he know that?" Hermit said excitedly like it was some spicy new tv series.

"No." She said not sure herself what she said no for.

"No, You don't care for him or no he doesn't no?" He said playing with words.

"No, he doesn't know that and I would like to keep it that way." She said deciding on the reason instantly.

"You could always tell him like you tell him every other secret." He said gently this time.

Her anger flared.

"Do you eavesdrop on all our conversation?" She said angrily.

"No, never, Its just I had to this time since I had no idea what conversation you had with Darkmir. You are shielded from me when he is around, he shields you like he has done himself, from the rest of the world." He said making an observation and thinking out loud.

"What should I do dammit!?" She asked repeating the question she needed an answer to.

Hermit sat there staring at nothing for a while.

"Let's play a game Aislin." He said his eyes sparkling now.

Interested this time she sat down at the end of her bed to listen to him.

"What game?" She asked trying to play cool.

"The deal is simple. Charm Darkmir into falling in love with you." Hermit stated his epic plan.

"WHAT!?" Aislin yelled out disappointed and filled with sudden rage.

"Aislin is everything okay?" Her mother called out and she immediately realized her mistake.

"Fine mom." She called out.

"See Darkmir is already kind of interested in you not for the looks and your amazing character but it is amazing to a level to have him even this interested. Just play along and act all charming and alluring around him." He said elaborating on his psychotic plan.

"And why would you think I would do that?" She asked shocked at the third-grade idea of a high-class priest.

"First if he falls in love with you, you can always ask him not to kill your mother or Ayduin or anyone. As always he will become nicer. Secondly being close to her you can always protect innocent by telling me of any evil plans he make and thirdly you are yourself enveloped with darkness and I don't think you will find anyone quite willing to be in love with you." He said everything like a fact, lightly and truthfully.

But it made sense, in her mind she had the idea that she was just a sacrifice. A slave sold to the royal to save a family from punishment kind of thing. But there are what ifs in this situation. What if he doesn't fall in love with her? What if he catches on she is playing him? What if Ayduin finds out and hates her forever? What if this is all a hunch from Hermit's side and Darkmir will kill her as soon as possible?...And multiple What if's in this loop held plan.

But major question was, was she ready to play seductress? The answer came out surprisingly fast. Yes, she could. After so many people that were dead because of her, she could do this much to repay or frankly to get rid of the immense guilt growing inside her. She could stop being the sole survivor.

"I know, I know what you are thinking. What if you also fell in love with him in this process?" hermit said.

She blanched at the question. She could never even had the thought, Darkmir appalled him too much for that. How could Hermit even think that way?

"No! Don't even think about it. Okay, I am in for your plan but let me tell you I am not going to go gaga over someone as evil as him." She spat out her words with hatred.

Hermit held his both hands in I-accept defeat gesture.

"Now pretend like he never told you anything and keep on living your life. Attend his Christmas party Aislin and also now you have decided to stay away from Ayduin else he might think wrongly of what you do." Hermit said now standing up to leave.

What the hell did I agree to? She said in her thoughts hoping someone might hear her but silence was all she got.

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I just worsened everything, didn't I? xD

This was a long ass chapter so...*crazy dance of joy*

What do you think of Hermit's plan?