Page 19 of Azure Mania

“I know,” she rolls her eyes. “You came here thinking magic would save your ass.”

“Magic was what got me here in the first place!” I hiss.

“No,” she drawls out. “It was your stupidity that got you here. I fail to understand why you’re so against all of this.”

“You know what he did to my coven.”

Celestia nods. “I know. But it’s been, what, over five hundred years? In about that much time, you won’t even remember them. Is it truly worth it, Yvonne? Holding this lifelong grudge, especially as an immortal?”

My eyes close, a small sigh coming out. That’s just the thing — I know Celestia’s right, on some level. But this hatred, this deeply rooted desire to get my revenge on Lucifer and his family is what has kept me going all these years. I don’t know who I am without this, I don’t know what to do, if not plot their downfall.

“How do I let go of hatred that’s been keeping me alive?”

“You don’t,” her eyes soften, if that’s even possible. “You simply keep a fraction of it in your heart, as a reminder of those you’ve lost. Then, you move on. You deserve to live happily, without the chains of vengeance.”

“I never thought you of all people, would say those words to me.”

Celestia scoffs. “That’s because if anyone gets to kill you, it’ll be me. So, do me a favor, and live happily with that man.”

“But, I can’t!” I groan, rubbing my face. “He’d never actually agree to that. More importantly, it’s too dangerous. If something happens to him, it happens to me, too!”

“That connection may be forced by your damned curse, but it’s strong. Sooner or later, he’ll cave. He won’t be able to resist it, and once he fully succumbs to it, no one else will matter to him.”

My eyes snap to hers. “I may or may not have had an influence in his wife’s death, though. And he knows it. I highly doubt he’ll forget about it.”

Celestia lifts a shoulder. “His wife died, what, centuries ago? You two have forever left. Trust me, she’ll be nothing but a very distant memory, someone whose face he won’t even remember.”

I nod. “Yeah, now help me figure out how to prevent him from killing me for killing his wife.”

“Yeah, you’re on your own there, Yvonne. Good luck.”

Fucking great.

Chapter 12

Lucifer

Everything is slowly starting to make sense.

This is why Yvonne decided to show me that dream over, and over again. This is why she wanted me to suffer until she found a way to kill me. It wasn’t enough for her that she indirectly caused one of the worst things to have ever happened to me, she needed me to relive the pain, to never stop hating myself.

Until I drowned in regret.

Yvonne killing Martha makes so much fucking sense. She couldn’t have known all the details of how Martha died otherwise. Even if she’s the greatest witch in the world, she couldn’t have created a dream so realistic without being there. That means that she was there, watching through the fucking window, while I drained my wife of blood.

I’m frozen in place. Watching the front door. Waiting for Yvonne to reappear.

This whole situation is the biggest slap in the face, the kind that you remember forever.

The worst part of it all? Yvonne was right.

I did something despicable, something out of fear, and it cost her everyone she ever cared about. Martha might’ve been innocent, but I never was. And no matter how much I want to blame Yvonne, I can’t because her fury is justified.

Just like I went on a vengeful, rage-filled spree after Martha’s death, so did Yvonne. Although she didn’t kill anyone, she was waiting, patiently, until an opportunity to end me presented herself.

I’m too fucking torn.

On one hand, she killed the only woman I have ever loved. Vampires cannot procreate, but Martha wanted us to take in a couple of children and raise them as our own. We had a family planned, a future where I was going to turn her and we were going to live together, forever.