The Destined Queen

Chapter 4

The beginning of our friendship. Man. It's hard. It's been twenty minutes and he kept babbling and babbling. About what? About how he can't eat food. Yes. That's what he talked about in twenty freaking minutes. When he saw my bored face, he shut his mouth. " You are bored. I am sorry. Actually it has been so long that I have spoken to someone alive. And I loved to eat when I was alive. In my time there was no pizza." He pouted, he looked cute. His nose crinkled a bit and his lips, his so kissable lips was puckered. I shook my head to center my thoughts somewhere else. No pizza was there. " When did you die? " I asked, totally out of curiosity. His lips curled and he gave me a breathtaking smile. " What? " I dumbfoundedly asked him. "You look cute when you don't snap at me. " His teeth shined when he grinned. Well, his whole damned soul shone. I scowled at him and  he just kept grinning. " When did you die? " I asked again, ignoring the shiver that ran through me when his knee touched hers. " I died centuries ago. That was the time of the vampires. They ruled the earth, then. Bloody bloodsuckers. After my father died in the war which was between hunters and vampires, my mother had severe fever. But when I consulted with the doctor, he said that it's not a normal fever. It's pneumonia. I was seventeen at that time. The doctor instructed me to take care of her more. So, I worked day and night to give her enough food. And my aunt who was single stayed with mother to look after her needs at home. After a month, she died. I buried her and I visited her every month with flowers. She loved lilies. White ones. She used to say white lilies give her warmth. When I was twenty one, I was coming home late at night. I sensed someone following me. As you can see, I am well built, so, I didn't care. I knew I could beat anyone in the battle. I turned around and saw no one, I resumed my walking. But when I almost reached my house, a vamp attacked from above. I think he was sitting on a tree waiting for me or waiting for food. I didn't see him coming, I stumbled back and he bit me. Hard. I fell unconscious immediately. Then when I opened my eyes, my vision was blurry. I was barely standing when another vamp saw me. His shoulders were tensed. He somehow didn't like me bitten or alive. He came towards me as fast as the wind and before I can scream for help or do something, he snapped my neck. I died right there. At the spot. Before I can reach my house." By the time he finished his story of how he died, Emerson's eyes were gleaming with rage. His shoulders strained, hands fisted, and eyes glaring at the floor. " What was your mother's name? " I dared to ask. His features softened and he said, " Her name was Vivian. She was beautiful, talented, she was a magnificent person. " His eyes shone with love and pride for his mother. " My Maw was a magnificent person,too.She was kind, brave, and she was a great painter. " I smiled at him. The only thing common between us is that, we lost a person we love. " I'm sure she was. " He smiled back, a genuine smile, which narrowed his eyes a bit. " Tell me about yourself and about the damned souls. " My curiosity was at it's peek now. I was eager to know about the realm and the souls which reside there. " The damned soul realm is the place where the souls who wasn't allowed to enter either in heaven or in hell. " " Why? What made them..What made you a damned soul? " " It wasn't 

 my time. I should have been alive. I had a purpose in life. But I died nonetheless. The damned souls are those who die when they were not supposed to. They are neither accepted by the heaven nor by the hell. So, The Damned soul realm is a place made by the King of the realm, Jacob. He accepts every damned soul in that place. We live there freely and some of us like me are also gifted with magic.As I was bitten and killed by a supernatural, magic was gifted to me after I died. " Emerson again gave me one of his alluring smile. I am sure every girl has fallen to their knees after they had seen that smile. " Now, why did you seek me out? There are plenty of others to annoy you know, Old man. " I grinned and drawled the word "Old man". Because he is an old man to me. He died centuries ago. " I am not an old man, Winter. I am as healthy as you are. Anyways, I seeked you out because you are more fun to annoy. " He gave me a feline smile. I narrowed my eyes, which said, Really? " What is your intention? " " Nothing.This is the first time I am talking with an alive person after I died. My intention is fulfilled.I wanted a friend who was alive. You are alive and my friend." He shrugged. " Fine. So, what do you do with your afterlife?" " Oh, we have jobs. The realm is as large as the universe. Jacob is my beat friend and I am his second hand. I have official works to do other than that, I visit my mother and stroll the grounds. " " What happened to the vamps? " I asked. His eyes darkened but then he smiled. " We killed them. I personally killed the vamp who snapped my neck." The amusement was laced in his voice. " We? " " The assassins. I told you we don't just sit around and do nothing. We killed all the vampires." " Damned souls assassins? " I slightly chuckled under the breath. " What? We damned souls are precious. " He smiled and I think some color crept on his faint lighted cheek. " Whatever you say, Emmie. " " Emmie? " His brow raised and he smirked. I just shrugged and kicked him for smirking at me. " Ow. We do get hurt. And Emmie? " He wiggled his brows at me. I just playfully glared at him. " Stop teasing me. Else I will stop being your friend. " I threatened him. He gasped dramatically and stood from the bed. " You hurt me, Winter. You hurt me bad. " He said, after he disguised himself as an old lady, who wore a pink 

hat and purple skirt. I laughed, rolling on the bed. He laughed with me but he was rolling on the floor. Tears rolled down my eyes  but I couldn't stop my laugh and then my laughs turned into sobs. Emerson stopped laughing and hurriedly stood from his place, running towards me. " What happened? Did you get hurt? " He asked me, his brows scrunched together and eyes filled with concern looked at me. But nothing came out of my mouth as I sobbed. He didn't embrace me. He couldn't embrace me. As he was a damned soul. And it bothered him as much as it bothered me. Because his hands were balled into a fist tightly but his eyes were sad. I welt on the bed, my face buried in the pillows. After a while, I sat up, rubbing my eyes. Emerson was still standing at the same position, he snapped his head towards me when I sat up. " I'm sorry. " I murmured. " Why are you apologizing? It's not your fault. I am sorry for whatever I did. " He apologized sincerely. " I just.. Her face came into my mind. " I muttered, looking every where but at him. This is the second time he saw me crying. He saw me at my weakest point And I didn't liked it a bit It made me uncomfortable. " I need rest. I think you should go. " Hurt flashed on his face, but when I looked at him, he nodded and disappeared.  

How can I live? Without her? How can I love when she is not here? When one of the person I love is gone? I missed her. I missed my Maw. I laid on the bed, sighing. I hurt him. I hurt him when I told him to go away. I don't think he will ever come back. After all, he probably has plenty of others to be friends with. All these thoughts ran in my mind before darkness hit me and I embraced it.  

I woke up to the cars honking and people shouting for the other person to move fast. Traffic. Dreadful traffic. I looked at the clock. It was 7' o clock. I have a job to keep. So, I ran to the bathroom, hurriedly freshen up and got ready. I wore a white shirt, pink suit jacket and pink pant. It's chic and elegant. I matched it with golden earrings. A little bit of eyeliner, mascara and cherry lipstick. I was ready in no time. I ran downstairs with my pink Gucci tote bag. When I reached downstairs, my nostrils hit with a delicious smell. Bacon. I almost locked my lips but I am clever, so, I didn't. But who could be cooking? I ran downstairs, and saw Emerson cooking with hands in his pockets. He said he couldn't touch object with his hands but he can move objects with his magic. But I thought... " You can cook? " I asked. He greeted me with a bright smile. " Good morning, Pink Princess. And to answer your question, yes. Yes, I can. I learned to cook after my mother died and I learned to cook more things after I died. I love to cook. Though I can't eat, I love to make someone smile with my cooking. I didn't had anyone to eat my food and smile. But I didn't let my hope die. And now see where I am. " He grinned. He was looking at her, his back to the utensils and the food. " Hoe can you cook without looking?" I asked. " I have magic. " He shrugged one of his shoulder like it was no big deal. That a damned soul, whom I hurt last night, is here cooking for me. While I stood here, a human, ALIVE, who can't cook. " Can't cook? Well, cooking needs skills, which you clearly don't have. " He gave me a sly smile. I rolled my eyes and walked towards the kitchen. I had some time left. I have to go there before 9. And now it was 7:45 am. I had plenty of time. "I am sorry for last night. I thought you will never reach to me after that. " My eyes filled with sincere apology directed straight at him. " Don't worry, sweetheart. I won't leave you. EVER. " He purred. My toes curled but I didn't let him see and have the satisfaction that his smile or his voice can do things to me. " Why? Are you already obsessed with me? It's okay. People tend to fall for my charms. " I smiled satisfactorily. But he smiled right back at me. " They sure do. " He said. Thank the heaven, the bacon and the toast and the roasted broccoli were ready. So, he turned to his food and placed it carefully on the plates, and finished garnishing with black pepper and jalapenos. I frowned at the dish. Jalapenos? My face contorted into disgust. " Is it edible? " I asked him but he didn't answer as he decorated the white plate with tomatoes and basil. And poured handmade orange juice from the juicer to the glass. He quietly placed the plate and the glass in front of me and stood in front of me, hands clasped behind him. His eyes telling me silently, please eat it and smile. His eyes begged me to ear it and tell him how it tastes. Centuries. He has spent centuries dead and didn't talk with anyone who is alive. A pang clutched on her heart. It crawled it's way to her veins, it felt. But she just stared at the food. " It is edible. " He answered the long forgotten question. She gulped and took the fork in her hands. Her hands shivered slightly. " I actually don't like jalapenos. " I murmured. " You will love it. I promise." His eyes shone with hope and excitement. Excited that at last a human being who is alive is going to eat his food. She took a bite of the bacon and the broccoli. And the world stopped. It was heaven. The food was delicious. It was holy. I silently took a bite of the toast and drank the juice. " So? " He was giddy, though he tried to hid it, I could see his eyes asking the same question, " So? " " It's delicious. It feels like I'm in heaven. " It looked like he drank what she said and then carefully asked again, " Can you please repeat what you said. " " The food you cooked is delicious. Yum. " She rubbed her tummy to emphasis on the YUM part. Ever so slowly, a grin, that grin which fastened her heartbeat crept into his face and he jumped and shouted. " Woohoooo. She liked it. " Then he started to dance. I chuckled and started eating my food. Well, I don't want it to be cold. " You really liked it? " He asked me again. " Yes. " I said with same excitement, not wanting to dim his excitement. He resumed his dancing. Friends. I liked being his friend. He isn't that bad. I could do with being his friend. I smiled at the thought. A damned soul. My friend. And he cooked for me a heavenly tasting breakfast. I am blessed with a gift. With the smile still on my face I finished the food that my damned soul friend cooked for me.