https://youtu.be/LqBb1KgBfQw

The morning light from the windows shone brightly into the room forcing me to get up. I opened my eyes weakly as extreme pain entered my body, only to see that I was still in Zephyr's room. I shut my eyes in fear as the night before's incident scenario entered my head again. 

'Why am I still alive? Why didn't you just kill me?' I thought, opening my eyes slowly as I wiped my dry tears with a little bit of force and tried to get up. My body was too numb to walk and I fell down within a second.

My breaths were irregular and I had to hold onto the bedpost for support as I tried to stand up again. But unfortunately, I fell down to the floor for the second time and so I stayed there, staring at the ceiling for a while.

Mother's words echoed in my head while I laid low on the floor.

 "My daughter, you should always stay strong and true to yourself no matter what. The Irina I know is like that. Strong, fearless and loyal." She beamed proudly, looking at me and I smiled weakly, remembering those happy moments. 

'What did I ever do to deserve this?' I kept asking myself and my eyes roamed around the room to find something. Something to end that pain forever...

My gaze stopped on a silver dagger placed on a glass table at the other corner of the room. I quickly wiped my tears with the back of my hand and crawled on my knees toward the table.

I half-stood, taking the dagger in hand and gripped it tight. Tears formed in my eyes again as I brushed the blade lightly onto my wrist. 

"I'm so sorry," I whispered, hoping someone could hear me and closed my eyes.

I started to dig the blade deeper into my wrist and was about to pierce it through my vein when someone came from behind and threw the dagger away from me.

"Irina, what are you doing?!" Dylan swiftly came in front of me with a worried look on his face and I looked at him before opening my mouth slowly, "Just kill me, Dylan. I don't want to live anymore."

"What are you talking about? You 'ought to get some help from Rosario. Let me help you stand up now." He placed my hands around his neck and picked me up in his arms, careful not to hurt me more.

 "Dylan...thank you..." I said slowly and he gave me a warm smile as he left the room, with me in his arms.

He carried me to a room I'd never seen before, which was filled with all types of potions and medicines. A man dressed in simple violet, gestured for Dylan to put me on the bed nearby and he did so, gently.

"Hello, Irina. My name is Rosario and I'm a healer." The man addressed himself to me with a kind smile and I nodded back slowly, trying hard not to show any vulnerability.

"If you let me, can I please have a look at your wound?" Rosario asked to which I said nothing back and looked at Dylan.

"It's fine, Irina. He's one of the trustworthy ones here." Dylan told me.

"You said the same about Zephyr," I remarked, slightly shivering at the thought of Zephyr as the last memories were still haunting me.

"What exactly happened between you and Zephyr? Please tell me. If not, I cannot do anything about it." Dylan insisted in a low voice.

"I don't want to talk about it, Dylan. Please understand," I said with my head down to which Dylan sighed and shared a glance with Rosario.

"Fine. Will you let us see, then?" Dylan asked me.

"What?" I asked back, confused.

"Rosario has a gift of telepathy. He can see through anyone, no matter how strong they appear to be. Let him read you and then only can we help you, Irina." Dylan explained to me, making me shift my eyes onto Rosario and then again onto Dylan before finally nodding.

Rosario then slowly came and knelt on my side, gently placing my hands in his. At that time, I could feel some kind of magical flow connecting my mind and I kept staring into his eyes. He closed his eyes and concentrated on the flow and so did I.

After a few moments of complete silence, we both opened our eyes and Rosario stood back with a look full of worry. Then he turned his back on me and whispered something to Dylan in a language that I didn't know while I closed my eyes and leaned my head onto the crown of the bed.

"He did what?!" Dylan shouted, angrily.

 I opened my eyes and flinched due to the sudden change in his expression. Dylan looked so angry that his eyes had turned all black, making him look like a true werewolf. He threw a sharp glance at me and left the room, furiously.

It took me a while to take in what had happened and I slowly turned to Rosario who kept on looking at me with worry and concern visible in his eyes.

"What was that?" I asked Rosario and he slowly smiled at me.

"Don't worry, everything's going to be fine, Irina."

"Explain everything."

"Like I said Irina, it'll be fine. Besides, you are Lady Zahara's daughter, what do you have to worry about so much, hmm?" He pointed out with a smile and I was taken aback in shock.

 'He knows who I am.' I repeated in my mind.

"It's okay. I didn't tell Dylan about it and I will not if you don't want me to." He continued and I stared at him, wide-eyed.

 He took a piece of cloth and gently wiped my neck with it while I sat alert, watching his every movement, still not getting over what I just heard.

"Don't be so hard on yourself, Irina. None of these is your fault. Just don't let your guard down so easily." He advised me slowly and I came back to my senses.

"Is there nobody here whom I can trust?"I asked.

"Well, that is for you to decide. Elves and Vampires do not exactly get along anymore. It's better if you live for yourself rather than trying to get to know about one of us." 

I sighed at his words and nodded slowly before I spoke. "I was curious because Zephyr was the only one who is different among you all. He seemed cold at first but then he helped me. He is kind of hard to understand."

"Well, you will, eventually. For now, take some rest. Call me if you need anything." Rosario told me with a reassuring smile and left.

"How things have changed," I mumbled as I closed my eyes.