Devian was living the nightmare all over again as he pulled himself out of the sleep. His whole body was sore with pain like the time he was cursed with all that dark power. His head had a splitting ache and his eyes burned.

Opening his eyes he registered the surrounding and gradually his breathing relaxed realizing he was in his room. And then his eyes landed on his hands and the black branches of veins were so thick that all his hand felt raven black. He clutched his fists and closed his eyes trying to calm himself down but when he reopened then the blackness was still there stretched out to the half of the arm.

His condition was worsening and Delia had no idea what he was or what she was. For a moment he felt the sharp surge of hate towards her but it was gone that quick when he remembered her smile, her eyes, her kiss, and her wholesome goodness.

He remembered how she intertwined their fingers even though she could see the darkness and that alone should have made her run away and yet she stayed. And slowly without even realizing the pain in his head and body subsided, the darkness vanished from his hands and he felt calm.

In the loneliness, he let out a chuckle. How the girl he was set out to take revenge on, her mere thought could chase away the darkness, the bad in him. He didn't let his thoughts linger too long on that fact that they had absolutely no shot at future as soon as she remembers who she was or the darkness engulfed him, whichever happened first.

 ~*~

Persephone coughed lightly to get Pandora's attention who pretended to ignore the Queen of Hell.

"What is it now?" She asked in a little annoyed tone.

"Why are you messing with the Light Guardian?" Persephone said in a strict tone.

"Who?" Pandora pretended to act innocent because she knew breaking rules of Hell will come with a punishment.

"You know what I am talking about," Persephone said angrily.

Pandora sighed and looked at the Queen with contempt.

"I have been locked here for ages now, am I not allowed to have fun." 

"Killing people, leaving your mark on is not fun. Messing with the Queen of Light is not fun. And Pandora, messing with Light Guardian is dangerous. His powers are subdued by carrying years of darkness but still fear him, he is powerful and you are messing with someone he has loved not once but twice."

Pandora let out a burst of crackling maniacal laughter and came closer to the bars of the prison glaring at the Queen.

"I will destroy them both. I will kill the Light Guardian first and then let Queen watch him die and suffer. And then I will kill the Queen." She said with revenge burning her mind.

"Let me warn you if you kill Light Guardian the darkness he holds will scatter and you will never be able to own it all. Unless the Queen frees him of the curse and takes back the darkness only then you can kill her and take back your power." Persephone advised the tormented Pandora and feeling pity for her.

"Thank you for concern, Your Highness." She said with an evil smile.

"But if Light Guardian unleashes his power Pandora, even I can't save you then."

And with that warning, she was gone leaving Pandora a little worried about the powerful Light Guardian.

But then she chuckled to herself darkly, if she can't kill him now least she could do is torture his already tortured soul till she was set free to kill him at his weakest.

~*~

It was just one of another day when Devian sat in his art collection room and dared not open the painting Delia gave him. Even after not letting her go, he was still scared to get too attached well aware of the future that was planned out for them.

It has been a week since the shed incident and he has not seen Delia ever since. She was busy with her classes and her part-time job which she needed to quit because basically, he would pay all the fees for her anyway. But she never complained or whined about it so, for now, Devian kept quiet. 

She would send him texts and that was weird for him because never in his life he received texts from anybody. But she sent him texts and he was obliged to answer. Paulo did enjoy a good laugh as he downloaded a few apps for him and taught him to use emoticons which Delia was fond of using too much.

Today was weekend and Paulo urged him to ask Delia for a date. Paulo was putting too much meaning behind it. They both had met many times, he could ask her to meet one more time for dinner or lunch, whatever she preferred.

Suddenly surprising him, his phone rang and his heart raced on seeing Delia's name on the screen. She seldom called and he picked up immediately worried.

"Do you want to go to the Butterfly Bridge?" She asked and Devian felt like a teenager who was first assigned to Queen and was nervous on seeing how beautiful she was.

"Umm Of course." He said not trying to give away that he was nervous.

"I will be at your place in an hour." She sounded happier than usual and it was a novelty for her to gather courage and ask someone out.

But Delia decided to be braver. When Devian decided to stay, she felt like she needed to put efforts from her end as well. So she gathered all the courage and decided to ask Devian to meet at the Butterfly Bridge.

It was a bridge painted with butterfly graffiti that connected the city to the more reclusive area of the mountain where people often went out to camp, do some extreme sports and just enjoy trekking. Under the bridge, there was a river and it was also one of the ideal spot for hanging out.

 Since Delia knew that Devian hated to be in presence of crowd she decided to take him out after it gets slightly dark and there will be fewer people mostly because it was scary out there.

Just as promised Delia was at his house dressed in jeans and an oversized hoodie just because she knew it will be cold. As soon as Devian saw her, he had the urge to pull her into a hug because she looked that small and adorable in that big hoodie.

They sat down in the car and Delia observed Devian subtly who looked absolutely gorgeous with even with a simple overcoat and jeans combo. His lips lifted into a small smile as he noticed her gaze on her.

"I am sorry for you texting you late at night and early in the morning." Delia said sheepishly.

"It's okay but why those times specifically," he asked.

"Umm..just to see if you slept okay." She mumbled and looked away hiding the true reason.

But Devian caught on and his heart swelled in adoration. She wanted to check on him after she saw him having nightmares since she herself suffered from them all her life. He wanted to stop the car that moment and pull her in for a kiss but he kept driving feeling lighter and happier than usual.

It was really dark when they reached the spot and quite a few people were there. Delia stumbled a few times over the stones on the path down the bridge to the river. Devian shook his head in amusement at how she would never ask for help or support even though she was having a hard time. He himself went forward and grabbed her hand. She gasped in surprise as his hand held hers softly and warmth flooded through her.

And then they kept walking steadily till they reached a point to sit on the rocks near the flowing river.

For a few moment, awkward silence prevailed between them as they sat listening to the sound of the river and the night insects in the forest.

"So why this spot?" Devian asked breaking the ice.

"Because my theme for the week's project is Night River. And I was too scared to come here alone." She said with a mischievous smile.

Devian shook his head at how relaxed she was with him and had no pain in her eyes which he first saw when she got down from the bus. And her smile was beautiful enough to make him forget the revenge. Why was he even trying? It was useless. He admired the Queen too much even when she was royal and slightly arrogant and aloof. But Delia was the best version of her.

"So I am helping with another project of yours." He said smirking at her as she nodded.

"But I have food so you will not regret." She said and pulled out lots of stuff from her backpack.

Devian couldn't help but smile like a fool to see her adjusting the long sleeves of the hoodie and managing things out from the bag while sitting on the rock.

And without even realizing how great the desire was he leaned closer and she stopped in between whatever she was doing, her eyes widened making Devian even more helpless as he cupped her chin softly and planted a kiss.

It took a moment for Delia to get over the surprise and then she kissed him back. Devian felt the butterflies he heard of so much flutter inside him as she smiled between the kisses. His mind was having wilder ideas his lips went from her lips to the jaw and from behind her earlobe to the nape of her neck. 

Unable to contain these sensations, she moaned out loud and bit her lip for making the embarrassing sound that earned a chuckle from Devian who continued the sweet torture of his lips on her.

But suddenly as they didn't notice in their heat of passion, the surrounding went a little darker and a shadow rushed by pulling them apart.

"What is it?" Delia whispered a little scared breathless after the kiss.

And Devian got up in defensive mode, "Don't move Delia, rocks are slippery."

And she nodded as he looked around to see a familiar smog Delia told him about but before he could adjust his eyes to the surrounding. A really strong gust of wind hit him, so strong that he slipped off the rock and fell in the water.

The shadow vanished in the night as a cry escaped Delia's mouth. With no one around surprisingly not even the night guards on the bridge, she yelled for help as Devian started drowning.

While Devian was again in the nightmare. He couldn't pull out, he shouldn't. He needed to find his sister who might still be alive. Devian totally gave up in the water as images of sister pale sister flooded his minded.

Delia was crying miserably as she trembled on the rock. She could swim but every time she moved her feet to jump she remembered her school bullies laughing over her as she struggled in the swimming pool and a girl ducked her head inside again and again till her lungs burned. 

Her whole body was shaking with fear and worry and she was scared that at this time she would get a panic attack. 

"Delia, Delia, FOCUS!" She yelled to herself as tears rolled down her eyes and her heart ached severely.

It was getting harder to breathe by second and she was scared that Devian would drown. He saved her so many times and no he had one weakness and one time he needs her she was standing there like a fucking coward stuck in the traumas of the past.

Her shaking leg stood at the end of the stone and she could harm herself by overstressing herself and going into a panic attack but hell to all of that, Delia thought and blinking back the tears and all the fears she realized her biggest fear right now was losing Devian.

And she jumped in.

~*~*~*

There, a little cliffhanger ;)

Obviously, the romance cannot last peacefully, I mean where is the fun in that :D

How would you assume Devian would react?

And how much do you hate Pandora as of now? I mean she is unintentionally playing cupid xD

HAPPY WEEKEND Y'ALL!

NEXT UPDATE: WEDNESDAY