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∞∏∞∏∞∏∞∏∞∏ ----- ∞∏∞∏∞∏∞∏∞∏ 

"His breath is warm and tempting, his staggering stare piercing through my heart. I might lose myself to win him."

∞∏∞∏∞∏∞∏∞∏ ----- ∞∏∞∏∞∏∞∏∞∏ 

Jiya, her daughter, had finally succumbed to sleep's embrace, leaving Rue alone with her restless thoughts.

In the waning moments of her tale. Rue found herself enveloped in memories of her time with the Fae King.

Though the inhabitants of Fairyland held no affection for her, but he did, even if that was for a moment

The term 'love' seemed far too shallow to encapsulate her profound connection with him—she was his forbidden love.

With a heavy heart, she contemplated reaching out to Eryndor, the Fae King. It was a decision fraught with potential regret, but suppressing her emotions felt like a slow poison.

Seven years had vanished since their separation, and perhaps the realm too had healed and moved on. In the quiet of the night, Rue ventured into the kitchen. There, she arranged a mystical circle with a marble – symbol of determination, a feather – symbol of warmth and delicacy a relationship carries, a delicate wing -symbol of bond, a broken wand- to hold the promise, and a black stone- only witness of their marriage —each a symbol of the magic they once shared. This ritual was her gambit, her all-in bet for a sliver of past warmth.

All five them are the only thing left from their marriage – Gandharva Vivah.

Eyes closed, Rue whispered Eryndor's name into the stillness, her voice a fragile thread reaching into the unknown. She called with a desperation born of raw need. Her soul ached for Eryndor's presence, for a sign that their bond still held some sway.

But the silence that returned was deafening—no echoes from the doorway, no signs of life. Reality gnawed at her heart; Eryndor might have moved on, possibly content in the arms of his wife, Aurelia.

Aurelia, is a big threat to her and her daughter Jiya. She should not listen to her pleas. Still Rue was content. She can sacrifice herself, because she knew Aurelia cannot touch her on Taimat's vigilant watch.

Overwhelmed by a tide of sorrow, Rue hurled the ritual elements across the room in a fit of despair. Her heart bled for a love that might no longer exist; her tears had dried up after endless nights of mourning. If only her pillow could speak, it would tell tales of a love so deep, so enduring, it sculpted the very essence of her being.

Why did she endure this torment? The answer lay in a promise—a vow once whispered in the confidence of starlit confessions.

Collapsing onto the floor, Rue curled up tightly, embracing herself as if to mimic the comfort of his arms. Her sobs, though silent, reached for the heavens, pleading for solace. Yet, the cold expanse above offered no reply, no solace to her shattered spirit.

__

Aurelia has now reached the Fae Kingdom, where all the Fae people reside. The grand palace, constructed with the finest marble and featuring high ceilings, is surrounded by a lavish garden. The beauty of the palace lies in its enchanting magic that can make visitors forget their most cherished memories and put them in a trance.

Therefore, visitors to the palace must first seek approval from the King or Queen. Only then does the palace function as a normal abode for everyone.

Eryndor, known as the Golden One, with piercing emerald eyes, watched Aurelia's every move. Although they were to be married, this union was merely a contract to meet the needs of their families and to protect his kingdom.

Whenever a dragon marries someone from the Fae, they gift a warrior dragon to the Fae. This has helped to establish an army of dragons on the border of the Mist, which quickly alerts them to any threats.

As Aurelia approached, Eryndor bowed slightly and kissed her hand. He then signalled his guards to escort the dragons to the shed as he welcomed Aurelia.

To ensure the wedding would occur at the season's first fall, Eryndor sent invitations to every kingdom in the fae realm. Soon, all began converging at his White Palace. Aurelia and her dragon kin were allocated to the palace's top right wing, which boasted magnificent views of the moons and provided a panoramic vista of the town below.

Conversely, Rue was confined to a shed at the very extremity of the White Palace. This place, more akin to a horse stable than anything else, became her prison. Tired of the continual drama, Rue felt reduced to an unworthy slave.

"Little dragon-human, you'll get used to it," Hajun remarked, snapping her back to her grim reality.

Rue snorted at him, not in the mood for conversation, especially since Hajun often spoke in circles.

"Why are you here?" he asked, catching her attention. What did he mean by that? Rue thought to herself.

"What kind of question is that?" she retorted.

"I know you're human. Your claws they are screaming that you were once human." Rue looked at her claws they were the only one which are in black. "These creatures often lure humans to their world to transform them," he revealed, shocking Rue to her core.

It was entirely true; she had indeed been lured into this trap.

Hajun pressed on, "Now tell me, what brings you here?"

Taking a deep breath, Rue responded, "I came here in the search of my grandmother and when I entered this weird place my grandfather was also kidnapped" she explained rapidly.

Now curiosity took over her. She checked his claws too and they were too in black. She asked, "What is your story?"

"I would tell you if I remembered my days." Replied Hajun. Sadness was evident in his voice. As if he has lost his hope. But the voice he holds can make you question his sadness. So ironic.

He then continued "After a few years, you start forgetting yourself. Then one day comes when you even forget who you were before you were bound to this existence," Hajun mused, then curled up and fell asleep.

"Was he telling the truth?" Rue asked Taimat, her dragon.

"Yes, my child. When he arrived in our land, he was captivated by its beauty and wanted to learn about our kind. Look what his curiosity cost him," Taimat replied.

"You were there?" Rue asked, surprised. How could that be? How could she know about him?

"Yes, but in soul form. We are cursed creatures. We can be born, but we are stuck. Our souls are trapped."

"Do you remember his name?"

"I vaguely remember."

"Oh! Anything else do you remember?"

"He once mentioned he was a traveller, who wants to learn about our kind. Poor man, he paid with his soul. He was already under the spell of the Sirens of the Wastelands," Taimat responded.

"Taimat, can I ask you a favor?" Rue hesitated, unsure whether to ask or not. Taimat was the only person in this strange land who had offered her comfort and had been transparent with her.

"Yes, little human," Taimat replied softly.

"I want to find my grandparent. I can only do that if I am free," she said quickly, as speaking in one breath had become her custom.

"Wait, little human. Let the moon shine." Rue was puzzled by the cryptic response. Why must these creatures always speak in riddles? she wondered.

"What do you mean?" she pressed, but there was silence on the other end of her mind.

"Hello? Hello?" No reply came. Taimat had cut the connection and compelled her to sleep.

Rue finally surrendered, curling up and falling asleep in her designated area.

When Rue succumbed to sleep, a fae slave threw cold water on her. Startled by this sudden attack, she got up and growled back at him. Her growl shook the shed, waking all the dragons resting there.

The fae slave nearly lost control, but an evil grin spread across his face. Those sea-blue eyes hinted at plans so sinful that even heaven would shiver.

"You pathetic beings are of no use. If I had the power, I would burn you with your own fire." He spit on Rue and went back to the store house.

To subdue her roar, the fae slave bought a silver rod to beat her. Rue wailed in pain as the silver left burn marks on her body. Wincing yet still enraged at the slave, she felt a sudden burning pain in her abdomen that quickly rose upward, as if she were burning from the inside. The rage was red, thicker than blood. And in a flicker of a second, she burned the Fae slave into ashes.

As the grounds were far from the main palace, this event went unnoticed.

"BRAVO!! Little human," Taimat applauded Rue's first kill. Every dragon in the shed growled, enjoying the scene but also fearful of her. Hence, they stayed in their area.

Her thirst for the kill had peaked. Rue was not in her senses, as if she were viewing the world from behind glass doors. Still furious and engulfed in rage, Rue incinerated the shackles that restrained her.

Despite the fae magic that locked them, the shackles continued to burn. After freeing herself, she ran into the forest. Her dragon body shone like gold under the moonlight.

Now free from all bonds and promises, yet unable to shed her dragon form, she continued running until she reached the same stream where she was first transformed. Sitting by the stream, crying, she gazed at her reflection and touched her face, feeling every inch. She ran her hands over her head to feel the softness and looked down at her body.

She was back. Her human form had returned. The sadness was so overwhelming that, despite her joy at transforming back into a human, her tears continued to flow unabated. Tears, had become a constant in her life, a silent song of the Sirens.

"Who are you?" a voice so deep and dense called to her from behind.

<a/n>

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Also, we are a few chapters away from the End.