Rivan and Frila reached Lahoire the next day and arrived at the hospital where Yurian was being treated. They hurried inside and soon met Silver Wolf waiting for them.

"Hey! How is Yurian?" Rivan asked as they shook hands.

"Sadly, still in a coma. His parents are with him though," Silver answered, looking tired. He hadn’t slept a wink since yesterday.

"Can I see him please?" Frila requested in a saddened tone.

"Yes, I will take you there," he led them to his room. Frila quietly entered while Silver and Rivan stayed outside to discuss the plan. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Esma was sitting beside an unconscious Yurian, holding his hand in hers, looking distraught. Razian stood by the window, staring outside.

"Hi!" Frila meekly greeted them and they diverted their attention to her, seemingly confused.

"I am Frila," she quickly added, seeing that they didn’t recognise her.

"Oh! Come, my dear," Esma ushered her forward and she took small steps towards the bed, her turbulent eyes lingered on Yurian’s face, there were so many bruises and his head was bandaged. Her heart ached to see him like that. Her thoughts went to Carios and tears threatened to spill out.

She stopped near Esma who got up and hugged her and began to cry. Frila embraced her and slowly patted her back, her own tears flowed relentlessly now. Both women sobbed and comforted each other before breaking apart.

Razian remained stiff by the window, just silently watching them before turning his attention back to the scene outside. He didn’t want to break down too.

"How did you know?" Esma softly asked, taking her hands in hers.

"Silver Wolf told us. He is a mutual friend," Frila didn’t want to get into the details of Xiran’s involvement in all of it. She was sure they didn’t know the whole story and it wasn’t her place to tell them. It was better to keep it brief.

"They took our Leia," she replied with a sniffle as tears rolled down her fluffy cheeks. Her eyes had reddened from all the crying.

"I am sorry. They are working on it, they will have her back soon," Frila tried to comfort her by squeezing her hands. Her own heart was growing restless by the second.

"I just wish they would hurry. Every wasted second endangers her life," she shook her head barely holding on.

"I feel your pain. How is he doing though?" Frila’s eyes darted to Yurian again and unimaginable pain settled inside her.

"They are doing everything they can. Giving him medicines and antibiotics. We just want our son back. We have lost enough, we can’t lose him too," the heaviness in Esma’s voice unsettled Frila. Phantom had played havoc with her life again. Hurting the only family that she had left. Hurting the person she was starting to feel close to.

"We won’t," Razian spoke for the first time with a finality in his voice. His face still turned towards the window. The silence descended in the room after that, only the beeping of the monitors could be heard.

------------------

Silver was a bit apprehensive about meeting Rivan. He wondered if Rubisha had told him about her pregnancy. But that didn’t seem to be the case, because Rivan didn’t bring it up.

"I am going after Xiran and I could use your help," Rivan said in a composed manner. But his forehead was creased, revealing the tension that grappled him and his worries for Xiran.

"What’s the plan?" Silver folded his muscular arms across his chest as they stood outside the room and spoke in hushed voices.

"I was hoping we could team up using some of your special gadgets and serums and rescue them from that deranged monster. I know the place, inside out like the back of my hand. We can use smoke bombs to knock them out and then power subduing serums. I know the success rate is not too high on this but I can’t sit back and let him deal with that freak alone. If anything is to happen to Aselia, he won’t survive and that’s what his father plans to do."

Rivan laid out a hasty plan in which a million things could go wrong but he was adamant to go after Xiran.

"I am in. I have brought along serums and the rest of the items we can pick from the base. When do you want to head out?" Silver instantly spoke without thinking. He wanted to rescue Aselia as much as Rivan wanted to rescue Xiran. He owed her that much, she had been through a lot.

"We will leave Frila with Yurian and his family and I think we should head out. Reach them as soon as possible," he answered while straightening up from the wall he was leaning against.

"Let’s go then."

Rivan informed Frila about his plan and asked her to stay put and take care of Yurian’s parents while he went to get them back.

’Hang in there, Xi. I am coming,’ Rivan murmured to himself as they settled in the private jet and it took off, heading for Anthos.

—-------------

Aselia’s shrieks filled the room as her turquoise eyes inked like the darkness of the night. Every nerve fibre in her body ached as if it had been set on fire as the pain travelled through her veins like molten lava.

She had been injected with the serum which would turn her into an elf-vampire hybrid.

Phantom stood above her, watching with keen interest, her eyes fluttered and she couldn’t keep them open. Her ears could pick up the faint yelling of Xiran in the distance and she knew he was in pain seeing her like that. Soon she passed out.

"My child," her eyes opened with a sweet voice as she lay in a beautiful garden filled with white flowers. The serenity and peace hung all around her. Birds chirruped and butterflies fluttered.

Her head rested in a woman’s lap, who had a crooked nose. She was smiling down at her.

"Where am I? Who are you?" Aselia asked in bewilderment, recognizing she was the woman from her dreams.

"I am Hildara, your ancestor. And you are in your dream," she softly replied as her hand gently combed her luscious hair.

"What happened to me?" Aselia questioned, still shaken up, she was in pain.

"He tried to hurt you my dear but he won’t succeed. I am taking away everything he has injected in you. He can’t change who you are. You were born an elf and you will remain one," Hildara slowly traced her hand over her face and body. The black fluid flew out of her veins in the form of millions of droplets. She moved her hands and collected them in a big swirling ball of black fluid and threw it away.

Aselia was stunned, the pain dissipated.

"What did you do?" Aselia was surprised beyond reason as she stared up at the woman.

"Took care of his evil plans. You are so special, my girl. And it’s not some power or ability which makes you so. Because you don’t need them, it’s your heart. You are beautiful inside and out. You are brave and resilient and you don’t kneel in the face of adversity and evil, you fight it head-on, just like me."

Hildara gently answered, that kind smile never left her face.

"But people generally don’t like me," Aselia spoke her truth, she still didn’t understand what was happening.

"Only those who can’t handle the truth feel that way for you. Those who can see the kindness your heart holds will never judge. Just like Xiran, he sees the goodness of your heart."

"But, he has hurt me. He took away my free will," Aselia scowled. She was pissed at him.

"I know, but don’t forget he did it out of love. His father is a monster birthed from prejudices of the elven race. He just wanted to keep you safe," Hildara could see how conflicted Aselia was.

"Hmm, what should I do now?"

"It’s time, my child. It’s time you kill him and Xiran will help you. Let him help you. This will help you," she pointed at the ruby bracelet in Aselia’s arm.

"It was mine, my husband gave it to me when my daughter was born and I cast a spell so it will protect you from powers of evil. It will alter when the time will come," Aselia glanced at the bracelet in bewilderment and understood why Phantom’s powers didn’t work on her but she didn’t understand the alteration part.

"You are a child of prophecy my dearest. You were born to end him. It’s your destiny, go embrace it. You will have my conviction and Xiran’s strength. Together you two can do the inevitable and both of you will be unstoppable," with these words she smiled down at Aselia, a beautiful hearty smile and then slowly disappeared into thin air as if she had never existed.

"Wait!" Aselia called after her but she was gone.

Aselia’s eyes flickered open, her beautiful turquoise eyes and she sat up straight.