VERMILLION: The fall of Zaleon

Chapter 25

Amana had made her decision, and in that moment, she saw nothing but what was infront of her: a chance to get her brother on her side.

She ran out of the living room passage, making her way straight to Stregov’s chambers, knocking on the door and grabbing hand as soon as he opened the door to pull him to where she had seen the awful scene. He had protested all the way, wondering what was going on, but didn’t stop, knowing that there was no way his sister would be pulling him out like that unless it wasn’t an emergency. Once they arrived at the lounge, he stopped, watching the sight ahead of him and gasping, saying nothing at all. Tears itched his eyes and tried to come out, but he held them in, knowing that he didn’t want to cry in front of his sister. He had naturally taken note of the fact that she was probably drunk given the empty bottles of alcohol around them, though he dismissed it all and dashed back to his room, ignoring the protests coming from his sister behind him. 

‘Stregov! Wait!’ She yelled chasing after him, though he was going at top speed to return to the comfort of his chambers, where he wanted to bury himself in a hole. 

‘Go away Amana’ he said simply, more depressed than ever, and it made the Doirekh female sadder than ever. 

‘Stregov, come on, how could you just be so accepting of this? That’s the woman that lied to you and is now cheating on you when you’re most vulnerable. How could you possibly still-’

‘Are you serious right now? What kind of support system are you?’ He flared as he turned back, and Amana remained confused at why he kept yelling at her instead of Elize. ‘You’re supposed to be comforting me, helping me get through a tough time, not controlling me and telling me what side to choose. You’ve absolutely lost it, Amana. You want to know why I don’t join your side, because it’s not worth it! You’re a lunatic!! You’re barking mad, wanting to side with the flame and the Ivory couple! Why would I side with the flame, ask yourself that. Why would I side with the one thing that took everything away from me, is punishing me with Elize and has sent my useless sister to console me when all she does is eat my brains out? Why should I side with the Ivory couple when all that’s happened since they arrived is chaos? If I could, I would kill them right now and end all of this. So that’s you answer Amana, I will never join your side, even if that means you’re all alone there. Now please, take your useless ass somewhere else and leave me alone’ he mentioned, and before he knew it, a slap had caused his face to go flying to the other side. 

‘How dare you? You know why you’ve been lied to and cheated on, Stregov? It’s because you’re not worthy of love, because you can’t give it to your own family, so how are you going to give it to someone else. Maybe this happened for the best. You don’t deserve anything but hate because you’re a hateful person. So don’t join me, I wouldn’t want you on my side anyways’ she spat back, not meaning half the things though saying them out of pure and utter anger. 

Storming off, she went to the chamber of the Ivory couple, where she had already arranged for Dregov to meet them to reveal all that had happened, and the concerned and upset expression on her face raised questions immediately. 

‘Amana, what’s wrong?’ Eliana posed once Dregov had made his appearance. 

‘Stregov is a lost cause. He’s far too gone’ she merely pointed out, still hurt by every single one of his comments. 

‘What do you mean? What happened?’ Dregov asked, and she was forced to relive his words, painfully. 

‘I caught Elize and Liem mating, and I took Stregov to show him the sight’ she began, and gasps of shock and surprise emerged from everywhere before she could continue. 

‘What?’ Asked Razaar in shock, as well as the rest, though she pushed them aside to reveal the rest of the story. 

‘Like I said, I found Elize and Liem mating. I think she had a bit too much to drink in her sorrows and probably was lured into sleeping with Liem. He probably took advantage of the situation, nevertheless, she was cheating on Stregov, so I took him to show him the sight. The man was evidently broken at what he saw, but still he didn’t budge from his decision. In fact, he decided to let things out on me, and go on about how he would never join my side because I’m a raging lunatic, and that he would never side with the flame because it has never done him any good. Oh and then he also mentioned how he hated the two of you and would kill you if he could’ she blurted, directing the last part at the immortal couple, who didn’t look shocked at all. Dregov however, clenched his fists at the sheer disrespect his brother had had towards their sister, and was about a second away from storming into his room and knocking his teeth out. 

‘Don’t tell me you let him talk to you like that?’ He interrogated, and she shook her head in pride, glad that she had slapped him as hard as she could. 

‘A tight slap is what I gave him’ she answered, and he gleamed at her, grabbing her shoulders and pulling her in for a side hug. 

‘That’s my sister’ he whispered, and they all turned back to face each other. 

‘So what does this mean?’ Amana brought up, and the immortal pair looked between one another before bringing to light a decision. 

‘If there is no way he is going to budge then perhaps we should start readying our plans for Daraz, in the meantime keep a low profile, as always, and let’s not contribute to the ongoing drama of the house. It will give us a chance to be ready for what is to come. I’ll write to Paulina to get instructions, but in the meantime we’ll have to try to think of ways to capture him so we can execute him’ Razaar offered, and they all nodded, commencing the process of thinking as hard as they could. 

The next morning came by faster than they could imagine, and before she kenw it, Elize had awoken with a pain in her head unlike no other. Groaning and placing a hand on her forehead, she looked around to notice that she was naked, and not alone in her bed. The figure of someone next to her initially only excited her, and she began wondering how she had ended up with Stregov last night, perhaps they had made amends? Though when Liem’s face came into sight, she shrieked, and grabbed all the bed sheets, covering herself and moving away. Liem had awoken with a start after having heard her shriek, and turned to face her with shock on his face, until he realised that she had probably begun panicking at their earlier actions and calmed down, moving slowly out of the bed. 

‘Do you have to scream so loudly in the morning? You were supposed to have finished screaming last night, darling’ he casually commented as Elize had begun getting livid at his words. 

‘How could you? How could you do this to me, knowing that I am Stregov’s?’ She accused, though he only laughed it off, knowing full well she was equally to blame. 

‘I didn’t force myself on you darling, you wanted it as much as I did. Also, are you really Stregov’s girl? Didn’t seem like it last night when you came crying to me about your loss’ he mentioned, and she turned red, forcing herself to think back to what had actually happened.

‘I was drunk! You took advantage of me when I was drunk! How is any of this my fault?’ She questioned, understanding that if Stregov found out the truth, then perhaps he would go back to her. 

‘You were drunk, not unconscious. You made the decision to sleep with me, you made the first move princess, don’t blame it on me now. This was all your choice’ he responded, putting his clothes back on before heading towards the door of the spare room. ‘And from what I remember, you seemed to enjoy yourself as much as I did last night, so maybe you should stop blaming anyone and acknowledge the fact that you did nothing wrong. You and Stregov were on a break, you had some fun, it didn’t mean anything, and now you’re ready to resume your life after letting go for one night’ he added into her ear before taking off from the room, and the miserable woman paced around thinking what to do. 

Should she tell Stregov? Or should she let it be? Had he even noticed? What would he do if he did? There was no chance word wasn’t going to get out to Stregov, she had thought, knowing that everything in that house came out eventually, and perhaps Liem would reveal the secret after all. Perhaps he didn’t have to if in her drunken state she hadn’t even realised that Stregov had already known. Either way she knew that lying would be the worst option at a time where lying put her in the tough position to begin with. She took a deep breath and plucked up the courage to make her way out towards her old chambers, where Stregov lay in bed, continuing to sulk over all that had been happening in his life.

He had found no solution to his problems, and found no way to move past all that was happening around him. He had no sides to pick and frankly, no one to support him. He wanted Elize back with all his might, and would take her back in a heartbeat if she tried, knowing he had no one else in life to turn to, despite what she had done, and hoped that one day that would be the fix to his answers. 

Lucky for him, Elize knocked on the door within the next minutes, her face tear stained and her body frail. As he opened, her view came into sight and a certain excitement fluttered within him at the thought of being able to possibly get her back. She looked guilty as she stood there in front of him, and he planned to take full advantage of it to make amends and move on. 

‘What are you doing here?’ He asked her, his tone clearly not happy with what she had done. Nevertheless, he was hoping that she would proceed with her usual drama to get things back to normal on the inside. 

‘I have to tell you something. Can I please come in?’ She asked politely, and he didn’t hesitate a moment to let her in, closing the door behind him. 

‘What’s wrong?’ He then posed, watching her take a seat on the sofa by the window.

‘Last night, after my conversation with you, I was upset, so I went to the lounge, and I had a bit too much to drink’ she began, and he was glad that at least she was going to be honest with him about that. He decided to pretend he knew nothing of the matter at all, and listen to her side of the story. ‘Liem showed up at some point of the night, and he saw that I was drunk, so he got me even more emotional, and I got carried away. I ended up spending the night with him even when I didn’t want to.’ She terminated with the utmost seriousness, letting the water work out once again. 

He moved to her instantly, bending down to face her, much like she had done the previous day to him. 

‘He took advantage of you?’ He asked, trying to get over with the formalities already so he could keep going with his life. 

‘Not exactly, because I was conscious, but I was drunk, and vulnerable, and he took advantage of that’ she responded, before adding more for dramatic effects. ‘I’m so sorry Stregov, I don’t know what’s happening to me lately. I’m doing everything wrong. I don’t want to hurt you, but I somehow end up hurting you again. I don’t know what to do with myself anymore. I want to be better for you, I really do, but I can’t do it on my own. You make me a better person Stregov, that’s why I love you the most. I want to be with you, I need to be with you. Please, help me Stregov, I’m losing myself here, I know I messed up, but I promise you that you’re the only one I’ll ever want in my life, and I will be yours and loyal forever’ she mentioned, crying through most of it. This had done the trick for him as, in the next minute, the man found himself conjoining his lips to his woman’s, and resuming the normality they had temporarily withheld for absolutely no reason. 

Frankly, Stregov had gotten sick and tired of his sisters attempts to lure him to his side, and this was better than the latter, and so he spent the rest of his night with his woman again, not caring that she had cheated on him or that she had lied to him about something enormous. He would deal with his sister and Liem later, though for now enjoyed the fact that he would no longer have to experience the void in his heart from the missing piece: Elize. 

Amana had yet to find out that not only did her mission fail completely, but that she was about to experience an entire new level of hate on it’s own once the truth came out about the re-gathering of her brother and their enemy. The immortal couple and the Doirekh siblings made their way to dinner as per usual, and once they spotted the newly gathered pair, Amana stopped in her tracks, rushing towards her brother with wide eyes. 

‘You went back to her? Are you serious? She cheated on you and you went back to her? You must be worse than I thought, brother’ she commented, and Elize looked at her in confusion. After all, how did Amana know the truth, and more importantly, did that mean that Stregov knew the truth as well?  She looked at Stregov for answers, and he nodded at her, answering it without words. 

‘None of your business Amana, so stay out of it’ he responded, and the woman decided that this time, she really had lost it. 

‘You’re pathetic! I can’t believe you went back to her even after she cheated on you! This is a new level of low, even for you’ she responded, and Elize got up in anger at once, approaching the woman she so very much despised. 

‘Stay out of this Amana, this relationship is none of your business’ repeated the Witch, and Amana came closer to her, not afraid to punch her square in the face then and there. 

‘You stay out of my way because one of these days I will leave a good indent in your face that will serve you as a reminder for the rest of your life not to mess with me’ she responded, and they came face to face until Stregov and Dregov stepped in. Dregov holding Amana back and Sregov holding Elize. 

‘Not this again please’ came a voice from behind them, one that belonged to Liem. His arrival at the scene was opportune, and soon Stregov found himself leaving Elize’s grip to stride towards Liem, and place a punch right in his face. The man stumbled back, holding his jaw, though did nothing as he chuckled and recomposed himself. 

‘Nice shot, I assume this was for sleeping with your woman?’ He asked, and Stregov stepped back, though it seemed like he wanted to deliver another punch to his face. 

‘How dare you take advantage-’

‘Woah woah woah. What’s with all this taking advantage crap that’s been going around? I didn’t take advantage of anybody, alright? She wanted it as much as I did, so she got it, and she enjoyed it too’ upon this, Stregov let himself punch the man again, and he stumbled back, this time not too happy about it. 

‘Don’t you dare speak a word more’ he threatened, and Liem looked at him in disbelief. 

‘Come now Stregov, you really think I would even take advantage of her? I only slept with her because she too wanted it. Beides, why is this such a big deal? You guys were on a break, she was upset, she had a little bit of fun, and now you’re back to being your ordinary selves anyways. Congratulations, we’ve come full circle, so would you kindly like to stop punching me? Thank you’ he answered, and the eldest Doirekh held himself back, clenching his fists. Dregov appeared in their line of sight, and pushed them both back, looking at his brother first. 

‘He’s not worth it. Leave it, and just go back to Elize’ he said, though sounding slightly bitter than usual. He had to continue pretending, much to his dismay, that he was still siding with his brother, and despite his tone of annoyance Stregov bought the act, moving back towards his woman. ‘And you, why even do something that’s going to get you into trouble?’ He asked once Stregov was a safe distance away. 

‘He’s the only one getting action around here, if I get a chance like that, I’m not letting it go. You would perhaps do the same, my friend’ he responded, walking out the room, and Dregov clenched his fists. The thought of cheating on Clea made his blood boil, and he knew that nothing in his life would ever make him hurt his own woman. She was his true mate, unlike Elize and Stregov.

Amana however, was still fuming, and barged out the room, clear on the fact that she wanted to openly rebel against Elize and make her life hell. She would go to lengths to do it to prove a point to her brother just before they would kill Daraz and get off Crest, and that is how she planned on playing dirty in the end. 

Dregov made an effort to follow her, and Eliana held him back, shaking her head. 

‘She needs to be alone to collect her thoughts’ she said, and reluctantly Dregov agreed, trekking back to his chambers, hoping his sister wouldn’t do anything crazy. 

Remo, who had also been concerned about the situation after having heard from her had told her to drop it, and stick to the plan they already had, but Amana was furious, fuming that her brother was an absolute i***t, and there was nothing she could do to change his stubborn mind. He called her and texted her in the way that she had explained, and was looking forward to staying with her, though he was worried that that process would be delayed by his hot headed woman attempting to take revenge on her brother. He had even gone as far as to get in touch with Dregov after she refused to respond to him to ensure that she would not do anything stupid, and Dregov assured him that he would get things under control. Little did they all know that nothing was going to stop Amana from trying to damage the life of Elize Vermillion, and she was going to do it with all her might and a sudden feeling of revenge that she wished to fulfill. 

She had had enough of people telling her what to do and enough of seeing Elize come out the other end happy every time, this time she wanted both her enemy and her brother to pay, and the previous concern that she had had for him disappeared within seconds. There was no way of bringing Stregov back from the other side, and if he was planning on being her enemy, she would make sure he would go down like an enemy. Having not the faintest clue how she was going to take down a Vermillion Witch, Amana spent the rest of the night planning and scheming, plotting and planning ways to start the fire that would spread across the mansion before their departure to Crest, where she would happily sit back and wait to officially get their plans to execute the rest of them. She had also been looking forward to the execution of Daraz, a man she was desperate to kill off, given everything she had been through with him. All she could do was wait now, for the time was coming closer.