Chapter-19

"The head? As in the head of the cell?", I asked still struck with the words that left his mouth. He nodded. "The head who tortured us?", I asked again. "Yes, the head who made this all happen.", he said irritated now. I could feel the anger rising inside me because it was true Lee was gone because of him and now I have to deal with this heartless god. I felt myself clutching my fists tight in anger. I looked up to see Lee was staring at the river in front of us. "But why do we have to kill the head?", I asked. "Because that is what heaven has ordered us to do.", he said now looking at me. "How can we kill someone without knowing the reason?", I was still not satisfied with the idea of killing someone. "Are you always this annoying or is it something special today?", he said clearly irritated. I ignored him. We both were silent for a while staring at the river. "You can confess that even you don't know why we need to kill the head.", I said. "I am the one who replanned his destiny, why wouldn't I know!", anger was clear in his voice. "Because whatever you plan, it cannot go beyond the orders of fate. The last word is always hers. And you don't know why the head has to die.", I was adamant to get the truth out of him. He glared at me but I didn't even flinch. "Your anger is giving you away.", I stated. He sighed looking away. "These are orders and we need to follow them without any questions.", he said. "But we can't just kill someone like this, and if his death is so important why don't you ask your father to take his soul away giving him a natural death. Why to murder him?", I asked. He looked at me again rubbing his forehead trying to control his anger or maybe irritation. "This is not how death works. We have already reduced his life span up there but this act of murder is important because it is more of teaching for the upcoming generation. This act will be taught in schools to teach what happens if we misuse our power.", he said. ��So, you know the reason for murdering him, but you are not telling me?", I pointed out. "Aren't you a little too smart even for yourself! But no, I don't know the whole reason yet.", he said. I was a little at peace knowing it was all for a greater good. We both sat on the rock near the shore and I could feel his eyes on me a few times. We were both quite enjoying our own walk in our own memory lanes. The sky was turning orange-yellow and the river water was hitting more forcefully at the rocks now. The wind was cold and there was deafening silence surrounding us. The more I thought about Lee, more questions filled my mind. "Was Lee really you?", I finally asked. He looked at me and smiled as if he knew this question was coming. "He was a part of me.", he replied crisp and clear, very unlike the Lee I loved. "So, you can completely shut your parts away rather than letting them co-exist?", now it was my turn to get angry. He laughed, shook his head amused and looked away. "Answer me, I didn't crack a joke.", I asked getting annoyed at his stupid demeanour. He was still looking at the other side. His eyes were focused on the trees near us and I could see his expressions change from amused to tensed to angry. "Leave!", he said. "What?", I asked in disbelief. "I said leave, right now! Go back home", he said still looking at the trees. "What is it?", I asked walking towards him curiously. He turned around and pushed me back. I stumbled a little not because of the force but because his action took me by surprise. I stared into his eyes which were cold. They were not the eyes I loved. I could feel the tears rolling down my cheek. "Didn't you get what I said.", he shouted in anger. I looked down scared. I started to walk away, but then I stopped. "I liked that part of you much more than this one.", I said and ran away.

After running for a while, I realised something was up and that I need to see what was it that made him this angry in just a few seconds. I stopped and slowly went back towards the river. I hid behind the big rock which was at the other end of the shore. At first, it was just him sitting there alone. "Come out now", he yelled. For a second, I thought I was caught. Fear rose inside me but before I could step out another man came out of the tress and walked towards him. I hid again at my safe spot. This unknown guy seemed very familiar. His gait seemed a little too conversant. He came and stood behind Lee. Lee turned around and from this far also I could feel the anger radiating out of him. Is there a single moment when this guy is not angry! I couldn't hear what they were saying but it was clear with their actions that the talk was not at all friendly. I tried my best to listen to them but it seemed they had some soundproof invisible wall around them. I leaned a little more, but still no sound. I was engrossed in trying to get hold of their conversation when I felt something crawl on my legs. I looked down and as soon as my eyes landed on that creepy crawling creature, I couldn't help myself, and I let out a scream. "Ahhhh! A spider. Help me! Ahhh.", I jumped out of my safe spot. Two pair of eyes were now staring at me, one was filled with anger and the other was amused and happy. For a moment I forgot the spider and my eyes were fixated onto the happy eyes. I looked more carefully and it all came back to me. It was Ethan. I couldn't contain my happiness and I smiled wide at him, completely ignoring Lee's glares. Lee saw our little moment and he said something to Ethan. Ethan looked at me waved a bye and vanished. "Ethan!", I called for him and ran towards the spot he was standing. Lee aka Aiden was still glaring at me. "Where is Ethan?", I asked. "Why are you still here when I asked you to leave?". he asked. "First answer my question.", I could feel anger rising inside me. "His work here was done, so he left.", Lee said nonchalantly. I glared at him. "Now tell me why are you here?", he asked. "I was curious to know what got you so angry back then.", I replied with utmost honesty. He looked at me with an expression I couldn't decipher. He rolled his eyes at me and started to walk towards the village. "It is dark now, we should leave.", he said leaving no scope of having any further conversation. I followed him and the walk back home was filled with utter silence on the outside and a lot of chaos on the inside for me. We entered the palace and he left for his chambers without a single word, not even a bye. I sighed knowing expecting any sort of normal emotions from him was just useless. I walked back to my quarters. I saw my little sister standing by the door. "Why are you standing there?", I asked. "You are back, I was waiting for you!", she said and ran towards me. I don't know where she gets this much energy. "We got a notice from the palace.", she said handing me a paper with royal mark. "What is this about?", I asked. "It says you can join back the service for the queen from tomorrow.", she said all excited. I also felt a relief knowing this notice is not bringing another load of trouble on us. No matter how tiring and emotional wrecking the day was, at least I got my job back at the end.