This chapter is sad :(  Enjoy!

'I implore you, don't leave but stay...'

*****

Chapter 26 - It All Changes

*A Few Hours Earlier*

Ashley climbed gracefully out of her sports car and barged into Adrian's home without a second's thought.

Her heels clicked impatiently against the panelled floor as she made her way over to his study where she knew he would be, and brazenly opened the door.

Adrian looked up at her in confusion as she burst in.

'What are you doing here?' He barked as he stood up from his work.

She flipped her hair back over her shoulders and pouted seductively. 'I'm here to finish what we started, hun.' She whispered huskily before taking a step towards him.

'Why didn't you call me?' She asked as she reached him and began to rub his chest with her hands.

Adrian recovered from his shock and pushed her away from him angrily. He stiffened.  'Leave me, Ashley. I have nothing more to say to you.' He clenched his jaw as he glared at her. 'We're finished.' He added.

This time she pouted unattractively. 'Is it because of that bitch?' She retorted nastily, face darkening. 'Courtney told me about her. If she's giving you trouble--'

Adrian's stance stiffened again as he took a threatening step towards her. 'Stay away from Indigo.' He growled.

Ashley grinned ferociously. 'Why should I?' She countered.  Her sneer contorted into something much darker as she clenched her fists, thoughts whirling through her mind.

'She can't possibly mean anything more to you than I do.'

Adrian glanced away guiltily, saying nothing. 'I'm sorry, Ashley,' he said. 'But we're over. We have been for months. Now leave.'

Ashley's expression instantly morphed from something vicious into one of shock. 'But we're mates!' She exclaimed. 'You can't just leave me like this!'

He ran a hand down his face before thumping the table angrily. 'Enough! Indigo and I are Destined! Now leave!' His eyes widened at his own admission before he looked away awkwardly.

Ashley froze, paling. 'You're-- you're Destined?' The words clogged her throat. 'But--' Her thoughts were all over the place.

'Ashely,' Adrian looked tired. Very tired. 'I'm sorry. I understand how you feel, but I've made my decision and there's nothing to be done. Please leave us.'

She felt herself burning with a heat and hatred so strong, that for a second she considered doing the unthinkable.

When she realised Adrian was watching her intently, she forced herself to calm down as a deathly certainty washed over her.

'OK.' Her voice sounded foreign; not her own as she turned to leave.

She was in a trance as she left her only soulmate behind -- who also happened to be devoted to the princess bitch, and shut the front door behind her.

Coming from the family she did, Ashley certainly had no fear of royalty, and as she walked back to her car she knew only one thing had to be done.

Raising her phone, she dialed Courtney's number.

***************

Indigo~

'Please.' The red-haired in front of me added.

I just couldn't seem to process that my rival was now stood in front of me looking so dejected. It wouldn't go in.

Adrian's other mate was stood in front of me.

Me.

I swallowed. 'Um...' What the hell was she doing here? Had she been following us the whole time?

The girl sniffed loudly and her lip trembled. It looked like she was about to cry.

'OK.' I agreed at last. I didn't want to be anywhere near her, but when she looked the way she did I could hardly refuse. I'd always been clueless about how to deal with criers.

She walked away from the cafe. I sent a quick text to tell Stacey about where I was going and asked the waiter to watch our stuff, before following her.

We carried on walking until we reached the park. When we were stood in a secluded area surrounded by trees I looked at the girl expectantly. From where we were stood, I couldn't hear anything except for the sound of the wind rustling the leaves and the breeze cooled my skin.

The world seemed a million miles away.

I cleared my throat awkwardly as the girl in front of me stared at the ground, unseeing.

'Well?' It sounded a bit harsher than I would've liked, but despite her  state I wasn't on good terms with the girl. She still wanted Adrian. I was far from being on good terms with her. 'What do you want?' I tried to make my voice sound softer as I grabbed her attention.

The girl's eyes looked hollow as she glanced up at me, and I couldn't help but notice how much more attractive she was than I.

The thought brought dark things to mind. Insecurities.

My phone rang but I ignored it. It was most likely Stacey asking me what the hell I was playing at.

Not that I knew myself.

The girl shifted uncomfortably also ignoring my phone. 'I'm... I just wanted to apologise.' So told me.

I blinked away my shock.

'For the way I've behaved.' Her eyelashes were wet as she glanced up at me again.

She took an uncertain step closer to me and tried to give a warm smile. 'I'm aware that my conduct has been irrational and Adrian also hasn't been pleased with the way I've behaved.'

Instantly, my eyes narrowed. 'You spoke to Adrian? When?' We'd just started to patch things over. I could only hope that he hadn't gone and seen the girl behind my back again because I didn't know what I'd do if he had. I would make sure to confront him when I got back.

The red-head stared at me blankly. If I hadn't been so preoccupied with what she'd said just moments before, alarm bells would've been ringing. She just didn't look with it... She looked deranged.

She ignored me.

'I'm sorry,' she whimpered instead. I felt like I had no choice but to accept her apology.

It certainly didn't look like she'd take it too well if I didn't.

I gave a small shrug. 'Apology accepted.' I tried to smile back at her but it was if she were looking through me instead of at me.

'Are you OK?' I asked as she took another step closer.

Wiping away a tear from her cheek, she nodded. 'I am now.'

It was too fast.

A silver knife was whipped from her pocket and pierced through my flesh. I winced and let out a scream  which was quickly muffled by the girl's hand. She pulled the knife out before stabbing me again in the stomach and again.

Blood spurted and drenched my top. When she let me go I fell to the ground shaking and trembling.

As I looked up, the sad expression that had filled her face was gone and was replaced with something so twisted that I nearly reared back in surprise.

She looked murderous.

I suppose she was.

Bending her head so that her face was inches from mine she whispered, 'I hope you and your  child rot in hell.' Before stabbing the knife into my stomach for a final time and twisting it. I shrieked which became muffled.

Black dots swam into my vision and I had to hold back a wave of nausea as the warm liquid pooled from my fingers and onto the cool grass.

I'd been stupid.

I should have just stayed within view and then none of this would have happened. Now I was going to die and it was all my fault.

I whimpered again as Ashley sauntered away, retreating from my sight completely.

My child was going to pay the price for my stupid mistake and there was nothing that I could now do to stop it.

Closing my eyes, I let the darkness seep in as a tear slipped across my cheek.

:(

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