Pandora shrieked in rage as her plan was interuppted.

"What went wrong?" She asked the King who more like a soul under her command.

He was not the loving King, he was a mere puppet.

"She is stronger," King answered with a frown.

At this Pandora gave out hysterical laughter," What did you say?"

She asked like King was lying to her. Next moment she was choking him when she asked, "Stronger did you say?"

"She would not believe or agree to anything I say." He struggled to speak as Pandora's grip tightened on his neck.

"She is a mere fragile human right now and you can't even make her agree to be my vessel," Pandora yelled now letting the King go.

"her mind is not her own right now, she loves another," King complained.

"What a fool! She loved for you long time King, make her remember. I want her as my vessel so that I can torture that Light Guardian who cages my darkness."

"I will try my best," King said.

"You have no other option." She threatened him angrily.

He nodded fearfully and left her presence before she harmed him more.

~*~

Devian waited in his car for Delia to come out of the building as it was time for classes to get over. A few minutes later he noticed her walking out as unorganized as always. She was trying to zip her bag while balancing the art supplies in another box in her hand. A large rolled was clutched tightly between her body and her arms.

He chuckled at her messiness, the paint on her fingers, the hair that refused to be tamed and her absolute ignorance to the fact that she was beautiful. Finally, after trying to arrange stuff, she started walking faster and her eyes found his car. From behind the windows, he saw her brighten up and felt the emotion transfer to him from her smile.

But suddenly she was stopped in between by non-other than the King himself and everything she merely balance fell on the ground. Devian felt furious.

He had the rules not to be visible to many people since he had to move and vanish after a few years so to avoid questions he avoided human contact. But the anger and jealousy got better of him this time as he stepped out of the car in broad daylight and walked towards Delia.

Harold was helping her with picking up the stuff that fell from her hand.

"It's alright, I can handle." She said feeling awkward.

"I will help her," Devian said and immediate relief flooded through Delia.

"Will, you not even give me a chance?" Harold asked completely ignoring Devian's presence when almost the entire university population was staring at the stunning man.

Delia faltered at his words, the Queen's memories and the kindness in her was making her feel weird.

But before she could rethink her words, Devian's hand found hers and he clutched it in a possessive manner.

"I am taking you home Delia." He said as if declaring that she is not going to give anyone any chance.

"But I have a shift at the gallery now." She reminded Devian who sighed at her naiveness.

"You can leave that." He said, "Paulo will handle for today."

"I can't, I am arranging the gallery for the upcoming charity auction." She said now quite confident of being the curator for the gallery.

Devian sighed at how clueless she was even though she had now all the memories.

She has still not come to terms with the fact about her past and everything. She didn't even mention about taking back the darkness and it was kind of relief for Devian.

"Fine, then I will take you there." He said giving up.

Harold started getting agitated at this since he was under threat and orders from Pandora and he needed to carry them out.

Not to create he allowed them to leave hoping to get another chance.

~*~

As Devian sat in the gallery now closed for rearranging, Delia worked silently too focused on her work. She was scared to sit idle and let the memories overwhelm her. So she tried to drown in classes and work. 

But it made her wonder what all Devian went through just because of her. She wanted to ask what will happen if she takes all the darkness from him. Will he still stay next to her? It was confusing and painful. And she was trying her best to cope up in the situation.

One part of her felt guilty for ignoring the King when he was one she loved a lifetime back. 

"Devian." She said softly and he immediately looked up from the art catalog he was going through and editing.

He noticed she was fidgeting with her fingers, "What is it?"

"I need to talk to the King." She finally gathered the courage to say so.

"Do you still have feelings for him?" He asked in an angry tone and immediately regretted it when he saw hurt in her brilliant blue eyes.

"I don't and that is why I want to make things clear for once. I don't even know if he is the same person or an incarnation like me? I had those feelings for him, my mind and memories tell him so but my heart does not feel anything for him." She cleared out her feelings.

Devian nodded slowly and pulled her in for a hug. She sighed and rested her head on his shoulder.

The Queen part of her remembered how he has always stayed by her side and how he tolerated her whining and tantrums as Princess. How he never complained or asked for anything. Tears formed in Delia's eyes and realized how he never got the appreciation he deserved instead he was given a curse to live with.

She broke the hug and cupped his face in her hands.

Devian was pleasantly surprised by the gesture but immediately felt the sadness on seeing the tears in her eyes. She slowly pulled him down and kissed his forehead softly. No matter whatever she does, she can never repay him.

"Thank you for staying by my side always," She said and kissed his left eyelid.

Devian was left stunned and speechless.

"Thank you for being a friend and protector." And she kissed the right eyelid.

"Thank you for appreciating a mess like me, past and present." This time she kissed his cheek and he sighed.

"Thank you for finding me in the present. I don't think I could have survived without you." She said and softly planted a peck on his lips.

She was thanking him for things and trying to show gratitude for things he did for Queen in the past. She never said it herself.

Since Devian was at loss for words, he just pulled her back in for a passionate kiss.

~*~

Nightmare woke her up again and she saw a calmly sleeping Wendy in the bed next to her.

Darkness was spreading in the world and she could smell death and blood in her nightmare. She couldn't remember much but she needed answers to help Devian as soon as possible.

A tap on window shocked her and immediately turned to look at Wendy who was still soundly asleep. She was not really vigilant for a Light guardian while she remembered Devian barely slept. She carefully walked to the window and almost screamed at the next tap.

She opened it nevertheless to find Harold hanging on the poll next to the window.

"K-King." She stammered not sure how she was supposed to address him now.

"Please just one chance to talk Jillian." He pleaded so earnestly that Delia nodded.

"And it's Delia now, not Jillian." She corrected.

Harold smiled anyway as she agreed to listen and come down to meet him. Pandora was not wrong when she said that this was not the cunning Queen she was the gullible version of her.

Now all he had to do was make her agree to be Pandora's vessel.

And for that, he had an idea in mind.

~*~*~

Now you guys know why King is here. What do yall think?

Delia is still good to a fault. She still has a lot to do till she can take on the burden from Devian but she still doesn't know that will kill him.

A lot of tragic romance is yet to unfold.

HAPPY READING!