MY DARLING DAREDEVIL

A friend at heart

Russel was staring at Daciana with wide eyes. Her skin had remained pale and her healing process would take days since bones were involved.

“How did you break her bones like this?” he yelled and moved closer to her. Her eyes were tightly shut together and the gentle rise and fall of her chest were the only thing that signified that she was alive.

“I only flung her into the wall,” Aziza who stood by the door shrugged. Russel turned to her, refusing to believe only that would have broken the ribs of a wolf and slowed her heart beat.

“Okay…”

“I might have matched her directly at the heart and broken her ribs with my bare hands,” she confessed. He glared at her, his eyes were filled with annoyance and anger.

“How could you do this to her?” he growled. He was so annoyed and angry over what she had done to Daciana who had been nothing but good, kind and selfless towards her. Because of her, they were able to know what the oracle was doing, even if they did not know why she was doing what she was doing. Still, Daciana was ready to sacrifice her memories just to keep Aziza, a stranger safe. When she had been stuck and weak, the werewolf had run out to her to save her without questioning anybody or to wait for an instruction. She had gone out selflessly and had put herself out selflessly to save her. How could she have done that?

“She deserved it,” Aziza retorted and remembered what she had said to Damon. She remembered the look in his eyes, the expression on his face and how her heart had bled while she said those things to him. Russel snapped at her statement. The boldness, her lack of remorse and the wickedness that lied within made him see her like a lost cost. The more reason why she had to be saved, from her abilities, from her ruthlessness, from the devil within.

“And did you deserve any of her kindness?” Russel replied lowly. The question threw a dagger at Aziza’s heart and pain spread through her. No matter how she tried to defend what she had done, or justify her anger, deep within, she knew she didn’t deserve Daciana’s kindness. She had killed her colleagues, made her reject her mate, killed him as well. Yet she was still willing to help, to protect her, to protect Damon from the people that might end them without questions. She was willing to lose her memories for the sake of a stranger. The thought of it made guilt wash all over her and her heart tightened inside her chest. Slowly her eyes went to the woman who was still lifeless on the bed and once again, she still looked lifeless and the very knowledge of what she had done made her shut her eyes. This time, she had gone too far, she knew it and the guilty feeling that pricked at heart like a needle that was constantly poking on her flesh made it hard to deny.

“I never asked for her help,” she whispered and lowered her gaze. How much she hated to deny all these feelings. They would never lead her anywhere, they would do no good for her. They never saved her in the past, even her father did not look back at her when she loved him with all her heart. When guilt ate her up for the death of her mother, it still got her nowhere. No one was there to help, no one showed her mercy, no one showed her any kindness. They had thrown her away, left her to fend for herself and even the gods didn’t show any mercy. The pain came flooding back and tears burned the back of her eyes. But she pushed it back to the deepest part of her being where she would not recognize it ever again. Love, friendship, happiness, companionship was all going to throw her back to the beginning. She had been doing fine for so long without having friends, without feeling anything. Numbness was the very best, it would ease her of any pain, it helped her become stronger and nothing stood in her way. It was better that way, it had always been better that way. If her father had tossed her aside, then her feelings and pain got her nowhere, it got her nothing but more pain and torment. No one took pity on her, no one showed her love, no one said a thing to her. Why would she want those feelings back?

“But she did help,” Russel snapped, his rage going to its peak. Aziza slowly opened her eyes and sniffed away the tears that were supposed to fall down her cheeks. She turned to the man who had taken care of her without holding back. It was the first time he was raising his voice at her like that, the first time he was being so serious or glaring at her like that. How easily his feelings could switch to something else. Just like the way her father’s feelings, affection and love for her had switched for her within the twinkling of an eye. They were all unreliable. She scoffed at him and turned away. The pain and feelings within her going numb all at once.

“Get her prepared, if you don’t want her to suffer more.”

Russel balled his hand into a fist and anger rose within, fueling him and pushing at his magic. Aziza had simply gone too far, she had passed the boundary to hurt a friend without feeling any sort of remorse. As days went by, she grew worse, she became worse and the thought of what she might turn into only made him want to snatch her powers away without thinking twice.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath when he remembered that Daciana was supposed to give her the portion she made. If she was powerless, she would be less of a devil and would learn to act more human. Yes, he nodded his head at himself and took in a deep breath. She would be better.

He turned to Daciana and moved closer to her. Then he sat beside her and gently placed his palm on hers. She was too weak, her heart was weak, her healing would take a while and the beautiful bright girl that was simply a sight that tore at his heart would be like she was dead. It was just for a few days that she had been with him, he had seen the goodness in her, the calmness, the peace and the courage within. She was kind, she was beautiful and could be a beast when she had to be. The kind of qualities that would bring nothing but peace and happiness to one’s life. The kind that he wanted for Aziza, rather than the deaths, the hatred, the blood and the rage. He shook his head, and tightened his grip around Daciana’s hands, then he shut his eyes and summoned his magic. It would heal her a little and at least give her the strength she needed. But just at the time that his powers were to sip into her, a gentle touch caressed the back of his hand and he opened his eyes.

Daciana was staring back at him with brown eyes. Her eyes looked vibrant and it sparkled, giving the very opposite of what she was going through.

“Don’t…” she whispered and slowly shook her head to the side.

“Why? You need this.”

“They have to believe that I didn’t just return without a fight. More injuries would be truly appreciated. If they see me as….” she paused, finding it hard to speak loud or even speak fast. She took in a deep breath to ease the pain in her heart and breathed out while Russel watched with pain prickling at his heart.

“If they see me as a warrior who ran away from a fight…. they might kill me. But with injuries, I would be worthy, they would know that I didn’t run away.” she added. She heard all they were saying while she shut her eyes. She was not unconscious after all, she was just weak. She had heard Russel’s angry words and Aziza’s statement. Pain had pricked at her heart for her unremorseful statement, but she shouldn’t have expected anything better from a woman who could reject her mate’s love for a strange reason. What she had been through was enough to make her hate that red hair but each time she thought of it, she always saw that girl, that little girl that hummed like the world was at peace. Then she would remember the same girl who was being chased by wolves, who were ready to tear her apart. She didn’t deserve what she was getting as Aziza had said and she had all the right to not help her anymore. But her loyalty was already tied to that woman and she understood that it was all a misunderstanding.

Russel shook his head and turned to the door. Aziza had been so harsh and unapologetic about what she did, yet Daciana was willing to do more just to protect Aziza’s identity.

“Are you sure? You would be in pain for days,” Russel turned back to Daciana.

“I’m sure. I need to return to my people before they send more people.” She breathed out heavily, feeling the pain again.

“But to protect her, I need my memories to be wiped out and to protect me….” she whimpered.

“I need to have more injuries on me,” she added lastly.

Russel reluctantly agreed to her request. But he made sure she was comfortable while he made preparations for the spell. Supernatural world was in a different realm, he needed a lot of magic to make it work and it took hours to prepare. When he was done, he went to the sitting room and found Aziza lying down carelessly on a couch. His rage returned at her cold heart and he gritted his teeth at the daughter he trained.

“Are you coming or not?” he snapped. Aziza opened her eyes at the sound of his voice but if she heard him, she pretended that she didn’t and kept quiet. Unable to stand the sight of her, he turned away, gnashing his teeth in rage. She took a deep breath and got up from where she laid, then she followed behind him.

Daciana was lying down on the floor within a circle that Russel had drawn with white chalk. Some weird figurines of wolves that represented her people and the pack she belonged to, a pot of Daciana’s blood that would connect her back to the place of her origin, a bouquet of flower, orchid precisely. He had seen the field of Orchid that was in Daciana memories, where she had met Aziza for the first time. A place that linked the both women and a knife all surrounded her. They were supposed to represent the realm, her place of origin, her connection to it and her connection to Aziza. So, she wouldn’t get lost in a different realm. Aziza’s eyes fell on the woman who still looked lifeless and the weak beat of her heart that caught at her ears made her heart prick again.

“You have to hurt her…” Russel said and went on his knees.

“What?” she snapped her head to him.

“Daciana requested that you hurt her more. So, they would see that she didn’t just return but fought hard. It’s one of the ways she has to save herself and make sure the oracles are clueless about you,” he responded harshly. Aziza hated his tone and each time he spoke, it only reminded her of her father, but she had no time to think about his tone but rather what he said.

“I’m not hurting her…” she responded dryly and relaxed her back against the wall.

“If you want her to die the moment she returns, then don’t….” Russel responded harshly. She clenched her fist and glared at him though she understood what he was saying. Of course, she didn’t want Daciana to die, what was the need of saving her, what was the need of fighting with her beast if she would end up dead at her realm? But if hurting her more than she had done would be her only way, she would rather not do it.

“Can’t you do it, there is a knife right there? I really don’t want to kill her and send her back. Saving her would then be a waste” she talked like she wasn’t affected. Her tone carried no emotion or concern and it only angered Russel. But Daciana smiled weakly, seeing way more than Russel could understand.

“A beast has to do it.” Russel growled and Aziza snaped her gaze at him. Her heart pricked with a distant memory. Her father’s rejection, her father’s hatred and how he had seen her as a curse. Her demons rose within her and her claws elongated, ready to bounce at him. But she fought against it and closed her fist tightly. The act drew blood from her but she rather that, than him.

“A beast huh?” her lips twitched. Russel’s eyes widened when he realized what he said and he shook his head at her to tell her that he didn’t mean any of that. But Aziza had already stopped looking at him and matched towards Daciana. She got into the circle and knelt down beside her. Elongating her fangs, she got herself ready to be a beast. Daciana opened her eyes slowly and forced a smile, a smile that made her demons whimper. Then she tilted her head to the side so Aziza could bite her but she looked away from the nape of her neck and took her hand instead. With a lot of emotions running within, she plunged her canines into her arm, making Daciana scream with pain and agony. The sound of her pain made her resist the blood and the lust of it that forced her to have a drink. Her vampire side wanted a taste, but she fought it and removed her teeth from her. Then she turned to Daciana’s legs, with her claws, she gave her a nasty cut on her thighs, giving five straight lines.

Blood oozed out from Daciana’s injuries and pushed her to have a taste, but she shut her eyes and turned to Russel.

“Go on...” he gave his order and went down on his knees. Aziza growled at the smell of blood and the hunger that rose within her. Still, she turned to Daciana and placed her hand at the both side of her head. The werewolf opened her eyes that were clouded with tears and stared right into Aziza’s red and black ones, ready to be compel into forgetting. Emotions, different emotions flashed through those demonic eyes, emotions that made whatever anger she was supposed to have towards her disappear. Aziza held her that way, pain pricking her heart at the thought of what she was about to do, but Daciana gave her a smile, one that said go ahead.

Russel started drawing from Aziza’s strength since she was within the circle and he started reciting a spell.

“Daciana Lynn, an omega from the majestic Mystic Crescent pack, you will forget who you are, memories of your childhood, a red hair girl, and the one you were sent to kill. You will forget how your friends got killed and how you returned to your world. You will forget the people you met and how you got your injuries,”

“Your miserable life, your mate’s rejection, you will forget them all. Everything you have known, everyone you have met and would continue to believe that you are good, you are strong, you are brave, you are unique and you fear nothing…” she ended. Aziza whimpered at the end and tears clouded her eyes as she continued to say those words while Russel started muttering a spell outside the circle. Daciana eyes went hazy and the memories of her life flashed before her eyes like the speed of light and went dark. But as it flashed, Aziza saw it as well, like a movie before her eyes, everything Daciana knew, she knew.

Pain tore at her heart at the sudden revelation and guilt erupted from within her.

“But on the day, you shall meet a girl, fair skinned, black eyes, tall, curvy, cold and with red flaming hair with the name Aziza Sheridan…” she suddenly entered again.

“You will remember everything once again, the mission you took solely by yourself shall be completed and you, my friend will give me a hug.” She added lastly. Daciana’s heart warmed up at the very last statement then her eyes closed and she slipped into unconsciousness immediately after. Her body disappeared leaving Aziza’s hand hanging at the place she held her head. She smiled sadly, wiped her tears and got up from where she had sat, then she turned to Russel who was staring at her with questioning eyes because he held what she had added to her compulsion.

“Aziza…” her fangs elongated and her claws returned, then she growled loudly at him.