Dead lovers...

The whole of New York might have heard him. Still, Raphaël and Lillian looked at Asmodeus with blank faces.

"What. Do. You. Mean?"

Raphael was breathless, and so was Lillian.

Asmodeus looked outside the window and talked, audible to only nearby people.

"I meant that the so called 'monster' is my son."

No one spoke anything. Even young Atarah stopped crying.

"He's not dead, but only in a coma. He has been in that position for centuries. Everything is because of that stupid noble. The moment he realized that I had an affair with his vampire wife, he started punishing her. But still, Ella loved me."

He now looked at Raphael with burning eyes.

"Henry is not his son. He is mine. That idiot knew it and tortured both of them. Especially when I make a visit to councils. He made Henry a monster by altering his genes with the help of powerful witches, right from when Ella was carrying. My boy destroyed everything that came across him. Taking this into advantage, the stupid noble tried to kill both my beloveds. I lost Ella, but my men managed to save Henry. I later killed the noble and claimed that it was me who gave him the idea of killing the newborn and his mother so that no one would doubt me."

He sighed and turned his attention back to the outside world.

"Henry was barely living by the time I got him. He has never even grown an extra hair over the years. He is still my little boy. After lots of witch medications and checkups, they concluded that only the heart of a royal cross breed could save him. After years, I found her. She...." he raised his finger at Atarah, "is going to bring my son back."

Raphael was speechless. Does that mean their daughter is not harmful? The previous cross breed was dangerous because his genes were altered. And all these years, everyone thought it had something to do with their lineage. They can return to their dimension if the world gets to know about this. Despite the situation, he dreamed of a new life where Atarah could be with her real family and be raised as the princess she was.

"No. No, please. You can't do that. He would kill everyone. He's a destroyer."

Though Raphael tried to reason with Asmodius, it was all in vain. The more he pleaded, the more Asmodius became angry.

"I don't care a heck about the world. All I want is my son back. I want to be a good father for him. I want to hear him call me 'dad'. I want to see him grow up. And I would go to any extent to make that happen."

Asmodeus was more evil than anyone imagined, and with the number of forbidden witches he had as friends, no one could harm him, unless a power more fierce than the rest was created. Unfortunately, that was his own son.

Lillian was hysterical when Marcus and the other men tried to take Atarah.

"My daughter may be a cross breed. But she doesn't inherit any powers. She's harmless, just like a normal girl."

Meanwhile, Raphael pushed Marcus across the room with all his strength.

Asmodeus laughed humorlessly.

"Is that what you thought? That she's a normal girl?"

He laughed again, seeing Raphael's and Lillian's worried expressions.

"She's more than what you think, fools. She's a girl with infinite powers, but only a late bloomer. Her heart will make my son even stronger. And with him by my side, I will rule the entire world."

Atarah was finally taken by Marcus after beating the pulp out of Raphael.

Asmodeus lifted a trembling Lillian by her shoulder and grinned at her.

"I am very much thankful to you for giving birth to Atarah. But your services are no longer needed."

He snapped her neck in no time, just allowing her to scream Raphael's name before succumbing to death.

Blood splattered all over the space and Raphael was too shocked to move.

He stood there with wide eyes, watching the love of his life in two separate pieces. Her eyes were looking in his direction and he could still see the love for him, but only it was lifeless this time.

The other minion left Raphael, and he stumbled to the floor, unable to keep his legs straight.

He slowly crawled to Lillian's head, and the pain in his heart was intolerable. He wanted it to be a nightmare and to wake up soon next to her.

He wished to go back to those times when Lillian used to sit on his lap and watched television. When they used to play hide and seek, when she dried his hair like a mother, when she fed him and sang to him, when she scolded him for stupid mistakes, when she said sorry first after a mini-fight.

Memories flashed like a chain, and Raphael could hold no longer.

He wished for a tear to roll down, but nothing came. Emptiness.... that's what Raphael felt.

But he was brought back by Atarah's voice.

"Mamma."

The doctor said that Atarah was a late talker. It was a routine for Lillian to make Atarah call her 'mommy'. But when she finally called, Lillian was not there to hear. Raphael's heart broke into a million pieces. All he has now is Atarah. And he was definitely not going to give up on her.

With determination and sudden strength, Raphael grabbed Atarah and ran out of the room. But he was soon thrown back and kicked.

Holding Atarah tightly in his arms, Raphael got up and closed the door again. More of Asmodeus's men gathered outside the room.

A breathless Ryan entered the dilapidated house, expecting the worse. But it was more than that when he saw Asmodeus.

Ryan tried to fight everyone along with some of his own people and witch powers.

Somehow, Asmodeus got inside the room. This time, it was he who shielded the door, making it double stronger.

Raphael was kneeling beside Lillian, with Atarah laid down and a knife in his hand.

"I will never let you use my daughter." With that, he stabbed Atty's left chest.

A slow whimper was all she mustered before bathing in a pool of blood.

Asmodeus was furious. He roared like a beast.

"You filthy son of a b*tch. You ruined it. You ruined everything."

Within seconds, Raphael's lifeless body fell beside his wife and daughter.

After stabbing the life out of Raphael, Asmodeus yelled and was about to burn them when he heard his shield breaking.

Ryan was using all his power to break the door.

Without completing his task, Asmodeus left the room through the window, cursing aloud. He knew what an angry Ryan could do to him, so he did not stay to take his chances and vanished into his castle, which was the only place that could protect him.

When everything was silent inside, other than the outside noise, Ignacia entered the room out of nowhere. She knew this would happen. She knew it even before Raphael was born. Nothing can stop fate. But she was here to change it.

She was here to bring back Atarah, as she was the only soul who could destroy evil. Henry.

Ignacia picked up the blood-covered baby and started chanting spells. A bright light formed on Ignacia's forehead. After becoming a full circle, the light slowly moved towards Atarah's stabbed heart.

The light disappeared, as well as her injuries. She cried, indicating her rebirth. Ignacia smiled at the innocent thing.

"Fire Goddess..." she whispered in Atty's ear.

The door broke into two halves and in came Ryan. He was shocked and regretted being late after seeing the two dead lovers.

After shedding a few tears, his eyes travelled to Ignacia and the child she was holding.

Ignacia walked towards Ryan and handed him the baby.

"Keep her safe. She's your mate."

With that, she disappeared into thin air.

Ryan could not believe that Atarah was her mate. But it explains his sparks and special emotions when she's near.

Ryan held her close to her chest. He was not going to lose her, like her parents. And he was also determined to take revenge on Asmodeus.

...........................

End of flashback.