The Destined Queen

Chapter 17

Ashten dragged me to his office. Everyone looked at me like I am some hooligan. I had to cover my face from being seen. Thank Lord that my juniors are not here to see me. When He shut the door, I snapped. "Are you out of your mind?" " Just sit with me." He said and took out his phone from his pocket. I quietly obeyed but kept my glare at his head. "Hey, Gustin. I need you here. The Damned soul's problem." He said on the phone and ended the call. " Here, drink some water." He offered me. "You drink it. You are fussing over nothing." I said, turning away from him. Ashten kneeled in front of me and sighed. " Winter, I know you are mad at me for dragging you here but I had to." He said. "You are hiding something from me. Tell me what." I said, looking at him. He lowered his head to avoid eye contact. "I can't." His voice was barely over a whisper. I knew by that I should stop asking him. When he will want to, he will tell me. I gripped his chin and made him look at me. "It's fine. Just sit down and have some water." I said, softly. He nodded and sat beside me, and gulped down all the water from the glass. I stared at him. Something horrible did happen to him, which made him like this.

After a while, Gustin burst in from the door. His hair was disheveled and his knuckles bloody. "Are you okay?" His hoarse voice asked Ashten. Ashten nodded and Gustin sighed. Then he turned to me and smiled, which I returned as best as I could. " They are back. Two of them were fighting at the restaurant." Ashten informed. "I am on it. Don't worry." Gustin turned. "Gus," Ashten called and he stopped and turned. "Be careful." Ashten's pleading eyes struck Gustin enough that he inhaled sharply. He nodded once and left.

We have been sitting here in his office for a while now. I wonder what my juniors are doing. I hope they are doing good without me. Although, I am pretty sure they are working better without me. " He killed Rus. My bodyguard and my brother. Rus, Gus, and I were like best friends. We were researching about the damned souls and they somehow knew, So they came after me. Gustin wasn't there that night. I was asleep and they came. Rus was there guarding me. He was ready with a gun and even for a hand to hand combat but he didn't know that he would be greeted by ghosts. I woke up when I heard Rus screaming. I saw two males or two souls, beating the s**t out of him. I tried to stop them but then one of them magically somehow tied me to the bed and continued beating Rus. Rus was all bloody and battered. Then they tore him apart with a knife in front of me. All of his insides were out and his dead eyes were on me. I could do nothing about it. Nothing." By the time Ashten was finished telling the story, my hands started to shiver, my lips quaked, and I had an urge to vomit. I ran for the bathroom in his office and I cleared out all the content from my stomach. Ashten was by my side in an instant, holding my hair backward and stroking my back. After I flushed, I sat there in the bathroom, Ashten beside me. " Why did they leave you? They came to kill you, Didn't they?" I asked, despite puking my guts out. " That was their warning. They told me not to mess with them again. And I never did. It was all my fault." He said. I shook my head and I said, "No. It wasn't. You didn't know they would do those things to Rus. Stop blaming yourself." I needed to clean my face. I stink of vomit. So, I stood from my place and I washed my mouth. I offered my hand to Ashten and he took it and got up. I led him to the chairs and sat. Ashten laid his head on my shoulder and I stroked his hair. " I am sorry for snapping at you," I said. "I am sorry for making a fuss." He said, softly.I shook my head. "It was meaningful. You lost your friend to them. I didn't know. So, I am sorry." "It's okay." He whispered and nuzzled his head on my neck. I could smell cherry and mint. His scent. " How are you friends with that soul?" Ashten asked. " He asked me to be his friend. He cooked for me and he gave me food. So, We just became friends." I shrugged my shoulder, which was free. " How can one be friends with a soul?" Ashten removed his head from my shoulder to look at me. " I was alone. I needed a friend. And there he was." I said, smiling tightly. Ashten nodded. "Ever since that night, I have a phobia of the damned souls. We can only see them when they want us to see them. It's scary." I agreed with him. " Was he in the house when we were staying there?" He asked. I couldn't tell him the truth. He will get scared again. For me. " No. We are friends, not roommates." I chuckled. Nodding, He stood up. "Let's go. I have to meet with your juniors. I have to see how they are working." Ashten said and gave me his hand to take.

My juniors were working perfectly and silently when we reached my lab. Ashten introduced himself to everyone in the lab. The girls were already drooling on seeing him, which he surprisingly didn't notice. He went on and asked about our idea of the perfume, and as usual, when he heard it, he was rather surprised. But wished us luck for the project. I think within three to four days, our perfume will be ready. When Ashten asked me what name am I going to give this perfume, I was stunned. I asked my juniors and they didn't have any idea. So, I got to thinking. The perfume gives comfort and happiness. It resembles one person, who was really close to me. So, I named it "MAW". Everyone liked it including Ashten. The designers of the perfume as they have completed the design, they came up with some more ideas about new scented candles and perfumes, one of them was "Fire" and another was " Ice". I agreed to it and they started drawing designs. We worked until the office hours were over. Ashten was with me the entire time. I walked to my car and Ashten followed me close. Ashten got in the car with me. And I let him because he will do whatever he wants, even if I told him not to. I drove the car silently to my apartment. Ashten and I got out. Bodyguards were already placed around my apartment. Still, Ashten wanted to stay the night. I kicked him out saying I need privacy to sleep. He didn't listen, so that's why I literally kicked him out.

I showered and checked my emails and messages. After that, I went to make some dinner. Ashten bought me lunch before going to my lab. We ate cheeseburgers and fries, for sure. And now I am craving broccoli and Philly Cheesesteak. Yum. So, I started cooking my delicious dinner.

I was resting on my bed when I heard his voice. " Are you okay? " Emerson was standing beside my window. I jumped from my bed. What Ashten told me, it was horrifying. And Emerson is a damned soul. Though he is my friend, I should ask him about those things. Why didn't he tell me? " Winter? " He walked close to me, to my bed. I backed away. I know I am being ridiculous. But the story of Rus dying is printed on my mind. " Why are you backing away? " Emerson asked, frowning. When I backed away some more, he stopped coming towards me. " What happened? " " Do you know about the souls that killed a human? " I asked. Frowning, he backed away. " No. " He shook his head. " Why don't you know? Aren't you a damned soul yourself? " " Yes. But Jacob knows everything. And if he wants me to know these things he would have told me. I have not heard about anything like that. And Damned souls don't kill humans. You have got everything wrong. " " Really? I have not got anything wrong. Ashten saw it with his own eyes, Emerson. " I stated. " What did he see? " " Two damned souls killing his friend. " " Did he see me? " I shook my head. " Then why are you backing away from me? We are friends, right? " Silence. I didn't know how he makes me feel now. After Ashten told me about Rus, I just don't think I can be Emerson's friend anymore. " I didn't kill your boyfriend's friend, Winter. Someone else did. " He snapped and Dissapeared. Sighing, I pulled my blanket to cover myself some more. Suddenly I was feeling cold.

*Gustin*

I have been searching for damned souls. But I found none. I went back to that restaurant to search, too. But nothing was there. Nothing. Not a single damned soul. I wasn't there that night when Rus died. Ashten saw everything. And from that day we have been extra careful from these ghosts or whatever they call themselves.Ashten is scared of these things. It's really hard to see your strong friend to tremble in sight of those things. I reached another restaurant, it's quite elegant. I don't like fancy things not like these. Though I do love luxury. And then I saw them. It was Rose, laughing with some guy. That is Isaac, I guess. Her sensual laugh is sweet melodies for me. But what is she doing here? Doesn't she have a bakery to go to?

She seemed happy, genuinely happy with him. Then why is she always afraid of me? What did I do? I walked closer to their table and she looked up. Her fiery red hair bounced when she did. " Hi, Rose. " I greeted. Isaac frowned up at me while I just ignored him. " Hi, Gustin. What are you doing here? " She asked. Her dulcet voice reached my ears and did something to my core. " I am on work Ashten has given me. " I said. " Who is this? " Isaac asked. " Oh. We used to study in same school. He is Ashten's friend. " Rose introduced me. Isaac shook my hands with his and smiled. Well, he is handsome. Though My blood boiled I shook that man's hand. If she is happy, why should I bother. Let her be happy. I am perfect with one night stands. " I have got to go, Rose. See you later. " I said, waving. When I was walking away, I heard Isaac say, " Damn, Why are you with me? He is handsome. " You bet I am. And she is supposed to be with me. But she won't be. She is afraid of me. I shook my head and went outside the restaurant to resume my search. I need to find them if there are any. Then I spot a soul, strolling through the busy streets. He intended to show himself to anyone. Brutes. Else I wouldn't have seen them. I wonder what did they get in killing Rus. Rus was a good guy. He deserved happiness. We were best of friends. But he was murdered badly. They torn him apart. That too in front of Ashten. I puked my guts just listening to him. I called for the damned soul and it stopped. " Hey, Damned soul. " I said. What? I don't know his name. He turned and I halted. " Do you know anything about the fight that went on in a nearby restaurant? " I asked. " Why would I tell you, human? " He spat. " What are you all trying to do, huh? Rage war on us? " I asked. Not only him, people had informed of many encounters with these souls. They are doing it purposefully nowadays. " Want to pick up a fight? " He said, smirking. I raised my hands in surrender. " I just wanted to ask you about the fight, Man. " " Smart boy. I recommend you to run away from here. We are planning to scare you humans. Enough of hiding. My Kingmas wants to play. " The soul smirked and disappeared. Who is this Kingmas? Who wants to play? Why are they doing this?

I have to inform Ashten.