VERMILLION: The fall of Zaleon

Chapter 24

Life had suddenly taken a turn for Stregov Doirekh, a man who had always kept it together, who had always pretended to be at the top, and always acted like he knew what he was doing. The truth was that all Stregov Doirekh wanted in his life was love. The departure of his father turned him into a man that craved love from a place that wasn’t his family because he didn’t trust his family enough to love them the same way. The only person he had come to love in that time was Elize, and the love she gave him in return -no matter how cruel- had been more than enough for him. Or at least more than his father had given him. Stregov had looked up to his father from the very beginning of time, and the fact that the very man he looked to exited his life had hit him the hardest perhaps. Though he was the best at concealing it, and hid in the shadows of the respect he pretended to keep for his father, which in reality was just him trying to justify his fathers actions to make himself feel better. 

The betrayal that Elize had dawned upon him had, for once in his life, made him reconsider all he held value to, and wondered if there was truly no one on this planet for him to truly care about him, and love him. He had no idea just how much his sister and brother had cared and loved him, despite his terrible behaviour, and they yearned for their happy family ending, more than anything else in the world, but their own nature and stubbornness kept getting in the way. The difference between Stregov and his siblings had been the mere difference that for all that had happened he hated the flame, and that was his final conclusion. There was no way he was willing to trust the flame again, and that was what was keeping him from joining the right side. 

Amana had trekked off to meet him with higher hopes than she should have, for when she arrived at his chambers and he opened the door to face her, he began closing the door in her face immediately. She stopped it, of course, with her hands, and pushed her way inside to watch her brother sigh in exasperation. 

‘Not the time Amana. If you’re here to convince me to join your side or anything then don’t bother. I just want to-’

‘Stregov, I’m just here to check on you. Are you alright?’ She interrupted before he could carry on. He stopped, looking at her with the slightest bit of suspicion, as though she would slyly try to bring up that conversation later, and decided to give it a chance.

‘I’m alright. I’m just tired, and hurt. Surprised you care anyways since you think I’m such a monster’ he responded, and for once, Amana was the one feeling bad. She knew that her words had had an effect on him the previous night, and as much as she regretted it, she did mean them. Unwittingly, her brother had turned into the one thing he secretly loathed: their father, and as much as she wished to rectify that statement there and then, she knew she couldn’t. She also knew that she had to remain strong in her conversation with her brother to ensure not to give away anything and speak strategically only to find out where his head was at. 

‘Stregov, I know you were hurt by what I said, but it’s true, and I’m sorry that it is. You’re clearly hurt so I’m not going to bother with the ‘I told you so’ speech, I just wanted to say that I’m here for you if you need me, although I sincerely hope that you take this opportunity to think about your life for a change. I think you’ve been a bit busy over the past couple years focusing on other people’ she concluded, about to turn around when he stopped her in her tracks. 

‘Ah, there it comes’ he responded to her, and she turned around in confusion, not quite understanding what his sarcasm was trying to indicate. She looked at him with a questioning expression for him to explain, and he did, his anger unleashing. 

‘What happened to the “I won’t bother with the I told you so” speech? You’re such a hypocrite Amana. You clearly came here to throw dirt at me, so have a go, say what you want, get it off your chest’ he spat, and Amana knew she could use this as her opportunity to dig into his head, for that would be the only way she learned what he truly was thinking, and if he ever would change his mindset. 

‘You already know what’s on my chest, Stregov. Besides, you're my brother, I care about you, that’s why it’s important for me to tell you that you’ve been an i***t. But since you’re so eager to know, I’ll tell you. You hate the flame for no reason. You out of all of us had a partner you loved, you never cared about your own siblings, you had no worries at all, and yet you pretend like you had it worse than any of us. What sense does that make? You had the easiest of choices, because you always chose Elize, she was your sole happiness, and I hope you can see that that is where the issue comes in. You chose Elize over your own family, your own sister and your own brother. Now when the time has come and Elize has hurt you like we all knew she would, you still sit here sulking and waiting for yourself to forgive her rather than joining the right side. You know this could all be over soon if you listen to me, but listening to me would mean going against Elize, and that is something you don’t wish to do, is it Stregov?’ She backfired, speaking calmly, hoping that the situation wouldn’t escalate too much. Her brother let out a humourless chuckle, shaking his head at her.

‘You think I’ve had it easy have I? Of course, I had a partner so clearly that means I’ve had it easiest. Of course, I supported father, which means that I certainly have it the easiest. Amana, is your head stuck so far up your ass that you’re too blind to see the truth? I hate father as much as you do! In fact, if anything, father’s disappearance in our lives hit me the worst! I spent the most time with him, and when Dregov and you were born, that time was split between the three of us until he left, but I knew dad way before you, back when I was his only son, back when we would do absolutely everything together, when he was my best friend. So of course I hate father, but I love him, because I always loved him so much and it’s easier to say I love him than it is to say I hate him. When he left, I trusted no one in the family to be loved again, that’s why I turned to Elize, because I was terrified of getting betrayed by you or Dregov like I was by father. Mother let herself go and that didn’t help. What did you expect me to do? So yes, I buried myself loving Elize because of father, because I hate him, because he ruined my life’ he snapped, and Amana fell silent at his words. Never in her life had she ever expected Stregov to say anything like that to him. She had never known the truth, and the truth hurt her more than she expected it, because all along Stregov had only been a lost, lonely, broken soul, who only wanted love. It was still a fact that he stood for the wrong things on his journey to finding love, and the fact that Elize was still not the person for him to be with, though regardless the woman knew at least her brother’s intentions were not the worst for her. She took a deep breath, trying to find the right response, and sat herself down next to him, grabbing his hand into hers. She knew that ther rest of the crew had been listening to the conversation over the phone, and she knew that they too, would suddenly look at Stregov through a new light, but they all knew that this changed nothing in their plans to end the war. Despite how lost he was, Stregov had a decision to make, and his decision would determine his fate, and his lovers. 

‘I’m sorry Stregov, I wish I knew this. But of course Dregov and I would never betray you. We love you. We are family Stregov, you can’t count on family. It’s not too late for you, do the right thing now, leave Elize-’

‘What are you on about? Is this conversation still about sides? After everything I just told you, you still want me to leave Elize?’ He cut in, livid now with anger. He shook her hand away, elevating from his seat, ready to kick her out. ‘You know what, Amana? Just leave, please’ he insisted, and she had no choice but to go. She tried to squeeze in a few words before she left, but couldn’t say much. 

‘That’s not what I meant, I’m sorry. I just meant that we’ll be here for-’ her words were cut short by the door slamming shut in her face, and she sighed, trekking back to the chambers where her other brother and the immortal pair were awaiting her presence. 

‘Well that went well’ summarised Dregov sarcastically as they all sat down and attempted to come to a conclusion about what to do. 

‘So, what’s your take on it?’ Eliana asked Amana, noticing her distressed nature. She knew that deep down Amana cared for her brother despite everything they had been through, but in the end she would make the right decision, because she knew the value of doing the right thing, and especially with Remo in the picture, it was too much to lose. She was grateful that she had Dregov on her side, but wished Stregov would be as understanding too. 

‘I think he’s lost and lonely, and I want to try just once more because I know that deep down he wants to be on our side, but deep down in my heart, I feel like he’s not going to budge in the end. I already know this is going to end in shambles, I just wish there was something we could do about it’ she responded, looking away, and Eliana turned to Dregov to get his perspective. 

‘What do you think?’ She asked, and he was taken aback by the fact that the kind Hybrid leader had considered his feelings too, which he appreciated. 

‘I wish I knew. I could have been there for him differently. Though like my sister said, it’s too late. His loneliness is driving him somewhere where we can’t retrieve him back’ he concluded, and looked at his sister for approval. She nodded, and they turned back to face the immortal pair, who now had to come to a decision about what to do with Stregov. 

‘Well, I don’t know what his next move is going to be, but if he goes back to Elize, then there’s definitely no way we can get him on our side. Now, given the fact that we’re planning on executing Daraz, I think it’s pretty unlikely that he joins us anyways, considering that Elize will be throwing fits when she realises that we killed her brother, which means that there is a higher probability that this war is going to go the way we had planned for it anyways. With Stregov on the opposing side. So let’s give it a day or so to see what he does, and if he’s still not into it, then we proceed with our plans, and execute Daraz’ Razaar explained, and the rest agreed, hoping for a different thing each.

In the meantime Elize had decided to drop her tears and return to Stregov, to attempt to make amends yet again, desperate for the love and attention back. She had been far too lonely for far too long and the Witch needed her loyal dragon back. So she trekked her way to their chambers, knocking on the door and making her way inside, her eyes tear stained and ready to make a statement. 

‘What are you doing here Elize? I told you, I need some space’ he explained in a calm tone, and she took that as a good sign already. She walked up to where he sat on the bed, and kneeled on the floor, sitting by his legs to look up into his eyes. 

‘Stregov, I’m so sorry, I love you please, just give me another chance please. I promise you there will be no more lies, and nothing between us, please. I beg of you, I love you so much that I can’t bear the thought of being without you’ she pleaded, using the most convincing words in her dictionary. His eyes had been aloof from hers, and he intended on keeping it that way until he felt ready to return to her. Ultimately he knew he had no where else to go, that he was doomed and this life on Crest was his fate, and he knew that leaving Elize would not be an option if he wanted love, and so he dedicated himself on making a big deal out of things when he would only return to the Witch, having no where else to go. 

‘I understand Elize, and I forgive you. Though like I said, I just need some time to myself. I just need to think, so please, just give me some time’ he responded, sending her away once again with a flood of tears streaming down her face. 

The exaggerated woman rushed out the room, returning to the lounge, where she poured herself a drink and immersed herself in a world of stereotypical drunkenness to fulfill her dramatic needs. Liem had caught sight of the woman, and approached her, having noticed already that she had been so lonely. 

‘Drinking away our sorrows, are we?’ He questioned, pouring himself a drink as he sat next to her. 

‘Go away Liem, I’m not in the mood to be attacked or judged again, thank you’ she responded, half drunk already from all that she had already consumed. He laughed, as per usual, and continued drinking nexto her, looking into nothingness. 

‘Why would I judge you, dear Elize? I don’t care that you killed your parents. I think they deserved it’ he responded, in complete honesty. He refused to give away the fact that he too, had murdered his own parents, and that was part of the reason why he didn’t’ care, but all that mattered was that he was not there to judge her, and Elize, who had received too much judgment already, hung onto that, looking at Liem in a different light. 

‘You don’t care? You really think they deserved it?’ she questioned for reassurance, trying to understand if she had heard him right or the alcohol had truly gotten to her. 

‘They were having an affair, were they not? They lied to you? Made your father’s life miserable? So they deserved it, why would I care if you killed them? It’s completely justified’ he explained, not aware of the admiration she had for him at that moment. For once, Liem had sounded completely normal to her, though the truth was that both members were equally as messed up in their lives as the other, and that’s why they were the perfect match for each other. Though in that moment all that Elize wanted was comfort and reassurance to fill the void in her heart, and Liem had been giving it to her, whether or not he intended to get into bed with her.  

Elize turned around, really facing him not to look at him. In her state all she saw was what she wanted, an understanding man, and if it could not be Stregov, it would be Liem. 

‘You understand me? You’re not going to judge me?’ She asked again, unaware of the fact that she was asking again because she was that drunk. Though by now Liem had become aware of what was going on. Elize was completely drunk, and if he continued reassuring her, she would sleep with him. His usual smirk popped up onto his face, and he nodded at Elize, inching his face closer to her to get her fully into the trap he had now built for her, knowing that he didn’t mind a bit of action from her. 

‘Of course I understand you, anyone that doesn’t is a fool’ he whispered to her, his face inches away from her. Just as he thought that she would press her lips against his, she pulled away slightly in confusion. 

‘If you get it, then why doesn’t Stregov get it?’ She asked, tears brimming up in her eyes again. He sighed and attempted to find another way to console her in a way that would get him what he wanted: some action. 

‘Because Stregov is a fool, isn’t he? He doesn’t see the beauty that’s right in front of him, he’s taking you for granted. I won’t, if you let me’ he tried to convince her once again, and this time he was certain that it would do the trick. The woman looked at him with adoration, as if he were the most honest person in the world, and once again inched closer to him. 

‘Really?’ Questioned the drunk woman, and he nodded, getting closer and closer with every second that passed. Eventually, the inevitable happened, and the woman pressed her lips firmly against his, and he took advantage, grabbing her to him, placing her in his lap and advancing to different levels that escalated a moment too quickly. 

Elize, however, had no complaints as she allowed him to commence undressing her, as she began doing the same, her mouth not leaving his as they did so. It was the oddest of scenes in the mansion, and a first that the two most evil people in the house got together, though one that might change the fate of the fight. 

They began mating like there was no tomorrow, a hungry, psychotic Liem and a drunk, lonely and evil Elize, knowing full well that she wanted to be with Stregov, but was ready to take whatever she got. If Stregov wasn’t willing to come back to her, she would take Liem, and that was the ugly truth. 

Though as this had commenced happening, Stregov had been in his chambers, starting to lose his patience with the time he was getting on his own, and once again his own craving to be with Elize came to mind, and he began thinking of all the moments he had with her, knowing that he trusted the love he had with her more than anything else in his life. 

The rest of the crew had decided to wait for Stregov’s reaction, and for good reason, because as Liem and Elize mated, the course of their fate had been challenged, and suddenly the outcomes were unknown to everyone, each wondering what would happen and who would win. 

Amana had taken some time off to process her conversation with her brother earlier, and she began wandering around the mansion, looking at absolutely nothing as she walked around, only hoping the best would come out of her choices. Though the woman had no idea what she would soon encounter would do so much more for her than her thoughts would. So she kept walking ahead until her ears caught onto loud sounds of moaning coming from the living room, which confused her terribly. Did that mean that her brother had taken Elize back?

The confused woman traced the sound to the lounge and peeked in to find herself in shock at the sight ahead. She had certainly never expected to see Elize mating Liem with such passion, and she hid behind the door, her hand on her mouth as she attempted to both get the image out of her head and think of what she was going to do next. 

She had to tell her brother, that much was clear, but what would he say? What would happen? Who should she tell first, Stregov or the crew? She had the answer to nothing as she remained still in her spot, thinking of what to do whilst trying to process everything. A rush of thoughts appeared in her head of what would happen now, and if Stregov would finally join them and be a family again, though for now, they were just images in the innocent woman’s head, nothing more.