Devil vs Mermaid: War to be the God

Chapter :- 29.

Sitting in the forest ground far away from Zene, Erlik heard the painful songs Zene offered to the peaceful night. Although her voice can attract anyone nearby and make that person fall in love with her, but at that time her song was only making Erlik feel sad and almost in a verge of shredding tears. Zene was passing her heartache through her voice into the person listing to her.

Unknown from another person's presence, Zene kept singing until her throat dried up. She couldn't understand why she was feeling so sad all of a sudden. Why the relationship between her sister Sylvia and Erlik was affecting her so much? Zene knows that she's in love with Erlik, but he never promised his loyalty to her. They never agreed to have a relationship between each other. There’s a possibility that he might think of Zene as her friend and Sylvia as his love, just like she thinks of Micah as her friend but Erlik as her love. But if that is true, then why did he kiss her such passionately? Was it just an accident? Was it just a silly trick of that time?

As much Zene thought about it, the more she got tangled in confusion. She couldn't understand what was the truth and what was not. But she knows one thing for sure that if Sylvia and Erlik loves each other, she would never come between them. She would never become an obstacle of her sisters happiness. From now on, she would stay away from Erlik as much as possible.

Zene added a sigh with her final decision, when she noticed that the night has almost passed by till then. In just under an hour the sun would be rising in the sky, bringing a new morning with it. She's way past the time to return to the palace. If she doesn't get back to her room before her mother wakes up, she would be in trouble. The only thing her mother keeps information about her daughters is that, when they are getting out of the palace in the morning and when they are coming back home. Except of these two times, the royals gave all the privileges to their daughters to feel free.

Thinking this, Zene hurried to get back home. Erlik was still sitting on his place, drowned in his own thoughts. He couldn't think about what to do or how to make Zene understand the situation? He was so deep in his thoughts that he didn't notice when Zene came back to the sore and started walking towards the palace. The sky was still dark and all the crickets were still crooking deep inside the forest, informing everyone that the night haven't ended yet. So due to the darkness, Zene couldn't see the silhouette sitting right beside her path, waiting for a chance to talk to her.

Erlik felt something passing by only a few steps away from him and searched everywhere in the dark to see what it was. When he couldn't find anything, his mind became suspicious as he started searching for his beloved one. When he saw that Zene was not on her earmarked place, he jumped up from his position. He knew that her only destination could be her home at that time of the night and rushed to follow her. Zene was hurrying to get back while Erlik was hurrying to catch her. As a result Erlik couldn't catch her in midway, until they were almost inside the palace walls.

“Princess, stop..”

Erlik's sudden call stopped Zene from climbing up the vines to go to her room. She was way beyond shocked to see Erlik chasing her at that time of the night. But the main question is, how long was he following her?

“What are you doing here? Were you following me?” Zene asked him as soon as he came near her.

“Umm… Yes. I was.” Erlik said hesitatingly.

“Wh… Why? Since when?” Zene couldn't think of the reason behind Erlik's action.

“I was following you since you got out of the palace. I want to talk to you but couldn't get the courage to go in front of you.” Erlik told her the truth without thinking much.

“What? You were following me since I got out? And I didn't even get a hint about it? Oh mighty God! What is wrong with me? How can I be so careless?” Zene said while rubbing her forehead in disappointment.

“Don't worry. No one else saw you there. You're safe.” Erlik said to give her a little relief.

“You see, this is why I stopped sneaking out at night nowadays. I was scared from the last time you caught me, about getting into someone else's notice. But now that I did, I got caught again. I need to stop my stupid mind from doing this stupid things.” Zene said slapping her own head.

“Hey, hey… Din’t hurt yourself for it. It’s not your fault I was following you. And think of all past years you kept your identity hidden. Nobody caught you then, and nobody with catch you now. Relax.” Erlik truly succeeded to make her calm by reminding her about past years.

“Yeah. Umm… Anyways. I think we should get back to our rooms now. It's going to be dawn soon. You don't want to get caught sneaking in at this time by my mom. She would literally punish you for it.” Zene said as she started climbing up the vines.

“Wait. I need to talk to you about something. I have a confession to make.” Erlik stopped her by holding her hand.

“There's no time. We have to get back in be…” Zene was Cut off in between her sentence.

“If you want to hurry, you have to listen to me now or else I’m not letting you go. So, what do you want?” Erlik said giving her a pointed look.

“Fine. What is it?” She gave up and turned back herself to face Erlik.

“Whatever you saw or heard at dinner, it is not true. I don't have any relationship with your sister. I only like you, not your sister. I’m sure you have felt it by now that...” this time Erlik was cut off by Zene.

“Stop. I don't want to hear any of it from you. I don't care what relations you have with my sisters or not. I just know that I’m you friend and I would like to keep it that way. It doesn't matter if you like me or not, I can only be your friend and nothing else.” Zene said it in his face which hurt Erlik a little.

“But I truly…” Erlik was about to say something else when he was cut off again by Zene.

“No. Don't… I don't want to hear anything else from you. If you don't want to break our friendship, then please never pick up this topic again. I don't want to hear it from you one more time. It's getting late. Let's get back to our rooms.” saying this, Zene started climbing up the vines again.

The threat of also getting their friendship broken, affected Erlik in the right way. He couldn't dare again to say anything further to her. If he can’t get to stay beside her as her lover, at least they can be together as a friend. And that is enough for Erlik at that moment. Thinking this, Erlik gave up on it and turned around with a sigh. He started walking towards the main gate when Zene stopped him. With a hope to get accepted by her, Erlik immediately turned back to see Zene. But his hopes were crushed when he found that Zene had no intentions to accept him right now.

“Where are you going?” she asked him angrily.

“To the gate. You said to get back to my room.” Erlik replied innocently.

“Are you crazy. The sun is already rising. My mother is probably awake by now. If you go through the main gate, she would definitely catch you.” Zene whisper shouted at Erlik.

“So how am I supposed to get in then.” It made Zene think for a while.

“I have an idea. Follow me. Climb up using the vines, just like i’m doing. Then we will see what to do.” Zene said as she started climbing up again.

“Wait what? What if I fall down?” Erlik asked her hesitating to do as she told.

“You're really a scaredy-cat. These vines are strong enough to hold you up. Now do as I say and climb up.”

Erlik took a deep breath before following Zene’s instruction. He thought that if he dies falling off of that place, at least he would be giving his life for his beloved princess. With hope in his heart for survival, Erlik climbed up the vines. It took him double the time Zene takes to reach near her rooms window. But from there, he couldn't think of how to get inside. Not only the window was small but the vines there was also way too thin to keep his weight. He looked at Zene's face to get any Idea from her, as she was already gotten inside her room without any problems and hanging down to see him climb up.

“Now what?” Erlik asked when he found no way to get in.

“Hold my hand. I’ll try to drag you in. This is the only way to get you in.”

Erlik looked at her face to understand if she's joking or not. When he found out that she was serious, he made his mind that he’s about to die. Erlik knows there’s no escape from this now, and he has to listen to Zene if he wants to get out of this situation. So without wasting time, he gave his hands to Zene. He kept climbing up the brick wall, as Zene used her whole strength to pick him up. Erlik's heavyweight needs way too much strength to pull up that what Zene had. But she was determined that she won't let go of his hands, no matter what. Erlik's life and death was hanging only on the two petite arms she was dragging him with.

After almost ten to fifteen minutes, Zene finally succeeded to pull Erlik in, through her window. As a result, they both became tired, and they lay down on the floor to calm the heavy breathing they were having. Zene's arms were feeling like water because she didn't have any strength on them to move it anymore. After laying there for a bit, Erlik spoke up to know the next part of her plan.

“Now what?”

“Now we just need you sneak you out of this room into yours.” Zene replied while still maintaining her position.

“What if someone catches us while sneaking out like this?” Erlik asked, getting up in a sitting position and looking at her face for any answer.

“Then it will be our bad luck.” It was the only reply he got from her.

For the success of their last step of sneaking in, Zene opened her door slowly and pecked her head out to see if anyone was around the hallway. When she was confirmed that nobody was around, she called Erlik to go out.

“It's clear. Hurry. Run..”

Erlik did as she said. Peaking his head out once and seeing nobody around he slowly ran to his door. Opening his door and getting inside, he peaked out for one last time to look at Zene, who was still standing there to make sure he made it safe.

As they both got inside their rooms, they locked their doors and took a breath of relief. They were extremely excited as well as scared to do such rebellious things together. Their heart was still thumping heavily, making the blood flow faster through their veins. Both of them put their palms up on their hearts to make it calm down at the same time. Maybe it was just a coincidence or maybe fate wanted them to do exactly as each other, like falling in love with each other at the same time. Only the future will tell what more the fate has planned for them.