The Blood Marriage

Aliyah, Elgin, Vexana, Kayuba, Bayu, and Safi were standing in the foyer, waiting for Rachel and Phantom to come. Aliyah looked at the door and said, "It surely looks like Aliyah's mother is getting married to Aliyah's real father but isn't it like Mother Manaca is getting married to Phantom?" Elgin said, "Don't complicate things, Aliyah. Whatever is happening is happening for the good of the whole Elf Kingdom. So, just shut up and stand here." Aliyah pumped her cheeks and stood there with her arms crossed. Rachel and Phantom slowly walked inside and flowers and oil started falling on them. Rachel and Phantom walked towards the altar and Maester Jovelinus who became the priest for their wedding stood there with the holy book of Mother Manaca. Rachel and Phantom looked at each other and then when Jovelinus stopped saying the vows, they both moved their heads in approval. Maester Jovelinus smiled, "I now pronounce you two husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." Rachel and Phantom kissed and all clapped in joy. Rachel and Phantom walked downstairs towards their suite where they were to consummate their marriage. Aliyah looked at them going and almost puked. Elgin took her to the dining room and all followed them. Elgin looked at Aliyah who puked in the basin. She wiped and washed her mouth and said in a disgusted tone, "Why the hell do they have to consummate their marriage? Wasn't the marriage already enough to seal the purity certificate?"

Elgin said grimly, "It is a tradition. Your parents also consummated their marriage on the wedding night." Aliyah said grimly, "Yes and as a result, that idiot Camilla was born. Nonsense mother and nonsense sister." Elgin took a glass of wine and walked towards the stage. He lightly hit the glass with a spoon and said, "Today is an auspicious night. Our beloved Mother Manaca is married to a demon. This holy union sealed a sanctimonious relationship between us and the demons. Yes, we had our differences and a lot of people died on both sides as a result of that. But, now things have changed and this marriage is proof of that. No one would have thought that one day our Mother Manaca would marry a demon like Phantom. But, today it is a reality. A reality that is threatened by people like Xao Chang and his awful and morally corrupt disciples like Nakamura and Kenchi. We have to fight and destroy those who are planning to destroy this peace and happiness of ours. We have to fight and we have to win." All shouted, "Yeah!" Aliyah drank her wine and said, "Drunk Elgin is quite brave." Vexana smiled, "He is a father now. Of course, his bravery will come only after a few drinks." Aliyah said grimly, "Diego will be very happy with his new parents. Our life is very uncertain and I don't want that poor child to grow in such a barren environment." Vexana smiled, "You're a very clever tactician, Aliyah. You knew that Xao Chang would use Diego as a liability on us. Therefore, you sent him away from us. There is not even an iota of motherly love inside your cruel heart." Aliyah smiled, "You are the only one who can see straight through my soul. Like you have something in you that makes you my soulmate." Vexana smiled, "Soulmate is a very complicated position for a lover. I would rather be an observer." Aliyah smiled, "And what would be there to observe?" Vexana smiled, "Everything. I perfectly know that you are misleading many people for your own personal motive." Aliyah smiled, "My motives have always been for the good of the society. That's why I am the person who everyone respects."

Vexana smiled, "Respects? Fears. Everyone treats you like a ticking bomb that may explode anything. You are scary, deranged and a big sociopath and also a psychopath." Aliyah smiled, "Yet you fell in love with me. Don't try to lie, Vexana. You once saw some goodness in me and wanted a life with me and therefore you stayed single even after thousand years of my death." Vexana said grimly, "Yes. I once saw a life within you. A hope for a good and peaceful future. A commitment and a sense of faith in you. Yes, I wanted to have a life with you and wanted to have kids with you. But, the war peeled all the lies from your face and showed me your true nature. A dishonest, lying, manipulating and selfish hollow shell of a woman. That's what you are. That's what the great Aliyah is." Aliyah smiled, "Belittling me won't lessen your love for me. I still see love in your eyes. I see myself and you dancing peacefully without any sense of our surroundings. I want that feeling, Vexana. Even if it is for one night." She walked towards her and kissed her. Vexana wanted to resist but she also started kissing Aliyah vigorously. Aliyah and Vexana ran upstairs. Aliyah pushed Vexana on the bed and started kissing her and tore her blouse. Vexana also tore Aliyah's blouse and started kissing her bosom. Aliyah moaned slowly and caught Vexana's hair and started kissing her neck. Vexana and Aliyah kissed and fingered each other and moaned as the moonlight fell on the floor, making the whole room white.

Vexana opened her eyes and saw Aliyah was not lying beside her. She wore her clothes and walked towards the balcony, where Aliyah was smoking a cigarette. She was completely naked and all the elves from down were watching her. Vexana covered her with a blanket and said, "Forget about last night. It just happened and it won't happen again. Ever again." Aliyah smiled, "What happened last night was necessary. It helped me regain my confidence and now I feel that a huge burden has lifted from my soul." Vexana asked, "Am I a burden on your soul?" Aliyah smiled, "No. You are one who helped me lift the burden. I walked alone on this path for the last five centuries and now I feel that the journey was not worthless. I finally found you."

Aliyah kissed Vexana, but Vexana pushed her away and said angrily, "ONE NIGHT WON'T CHANGE ANYTHING! The trauma and depression that you gave me all these years will not subside by one night of sex. I want answers for my questions." Aliyah smiled, "Look at the sun, Vexana. Why do you think no one can walk on it? It destroys every life being who goes too close to him and yet is absence is catastrophic for every living being." Vexana said grimly, "Stop comparing yourself with the sun. You are just an ordinary person and now an ordinary spirit of a deceased ordinary person. These big speeches and metaphors won't change the fact that you betrayed me and in fact, you betrayed all of us. What happened to you was tragic but you could have at least asked for forgiveness. Don't we even deserve that much from you?" Aliyah sighed, "Forgiveness. Redemption. Guilt. All these are signs of weakness and I honestly don't possess them. Why should I ask for forgiveness when what I did was right? I did what was my duty as a princess and what I did doesn't make me guilty or sad. What happened last night was also my duty towards the woman who once decided to love me even after knowing that our union was impossible. I respect you for that and therefore I know that I will need you and one day you will need me too." Vexana said angrily, "I would rather live amongst maggots than with a heartless monster like you." She slapped Aliyah and walked away. Aliyah walked inside the room and walked towards the bath tub. She immersed herself in the tub and stayed there.

Aliyah walked downstairs and looked at the people sitting on the dining table. She looked at Rachel and asked, "How was last night?" Rachel smiled, "The same as every couple's night after the wedding." Aliyah smiled, "Mine was also quite hectic." Rachel smiled, "Yes. We heard your moans last night. You must be very tired today. Go and take some sleep." Aliyah smiled, "No. I am fine. Let's discuss the Blood ritual. When is it going to happen?" Rachel said, "It is going to happen two days from now. The Blood Moon is that day and on that day the powers of Xao Chang will decrease into half. I will be able to initiate the whole function without his interference." Aliyah said, "Fine. As you wish." Phantom walked downstairs and saw Rachel. Aliyah looked at him and a little disgust appeared on her face. She walked towards her seat and asked, "How was last night?" Phantom walked towards Rachel and kissed her. Phantom looked at Aliyah and smiled, "I hope that answers your question." Aliyah grunted in anger. Rachel smiled, "Nothing is new here, Aliyah. Rachel and Phantom already had sex many years ago and Aliyah is a result of their union. Now, when Rachel and Phantom are finally married half of your problems have disappeared." Aliyah smiled, "That's true. But, only more problems have risen now. Something more personal." Rachel narrowed her eyes and smiled, "Yes. I have heard about it. Your relationship with others has always been problematic to bear. Anyway, my only advice is to be patient and stay happy with your every decision." Aliyah looked at Vexana and sighed. Jovelinus said grimly, "The enemy army is on our doors. What is our next step? Strategically?" Rachel smiled, "They won't attack until Xao Chang arrives. The destruction Aliyah did on that day scared most of them already. Nakamura won't dare to fight where his death is certain." Elgin asked, "What about the Silent Voice?"

Rachel said grimly, "Silent Voice is powerful and I am worried about him too. But, Xao Chang won't risk calling him. Silent Voice is even more powerful than Xao Chang in some ways. It took three years to trap him. Xao Chang won't do that. Unless necessary." Aliyah asked, "Who is the Silent Voice?" Rachel said, "Silent Voice is not a demon but a phenomenon. When a person reaches his ultimate potential and releases all his power and centers it in one point the whole power starts dispersing into one way. It is highly impossible to do such a thing but many people managed to release it but fortunately no one could tame their power and put it in one point. So, it is not possible for Xao Chang to call him."

Aliyah asked, "Him?" Rachel smiled, "You seldom paid attention to your lessons at school and therefore don't know that once Xao Chang manifested all his power and centered it, but when he wanted to direct it. The form took a human form and disobeyed Xao Chang. It had a mind of its own and started taking Xao Chang's place. Xao Chang was always a coward and hid somewhere. The Silent Voice caused havoc and killed many people. Your great grandfather, King Jalapaca summoned many sages and trapped him in an urn. But, that crafty Xao Chang took the form of a cat and stole the urn. Now, the urn is with him. But, I highly doubt that he will use it. But, again for a crafty person like him, doing unexpected things isn't abnormal." Rachel rose and said, "Two days from now. We will organise the Blood ritual." She and Phantom walked towards the room. Aliyah looked at everyone and sighed. She rose and walked towards her room.

Elgin looked at Vexana and asked, "Did you guys have sex last night?" Vexana said grimly, "Yes. She was persistent and I was drunk too." Elgin smiled, "Whenever you two had sex, havoc has happened." He laughed and walked away. Vexana said grimly, "The only havoc that happened was because of Aliyah. I cannot be held responsible for that woman's choices." She walked towards her room and shut the door in anger. Kayuba and Bayu looked at each other and shrugged. Jovelinus smiled, "Sage Vushataya will arrive. He heard about the arrival of Mother Manaca and he is eager to meet her. Mayakin will return tomorrow." Safi looked at the old guys and gave a weak smile. All looked at the sky and then slowly walked outside the room....