The Devil's Cursed Witch

Draven and Isa appeared at the vast green land where under one huge tree there was a tombstone of Isa's brother. Since Isa was a child, she was used to teleporting with Draven and Erlos whenever they had to go somewhere as Draven was the one to look after them. She didn't feel the effect of teleportation as she knew how to protect herself with her powers during the process of teleportation.

"I feel like I am here after so long." Isa walked closer to the tombstone which was an elevated cylindrical surface, surrounded by rocks. There was a name carved on the vertical flat stone fixed at the one end of the grave- the name of the deceased-

In the Memories of Aldis- The nine-tailed divine fox. The Great Warrior of the Kingdom of Agatha.

Isa kneeled in front of the grave as she kept the flowers on the grave and bowed to it by folding her both hands horizontally in front at the elbows and then moving her head with them towards the ground. She repeated it three times as it was the way their clan paid respect.

She continued to talk to her brother. "Brother Aldis, I miss you. I have been..."

Draven stood in his place and simply looked at the grave. His eyes which hardly showed any emotion, held something in them- the pain of losing a dear friend. Past memories

Just then someone arrived there as the pair of majestic wings stirred the air around with his arrival. He landed at the base of the tree, next to Draven and had flowers in his hands. Draven knew Morpheus was there like every year and continued to stand quietly.

Morpheus walked ahead towards the grave and kneeled next to Isa as he put the flowers on the grave as well and paid respect to his deceased friend. He patted Isa's shoulder gently who had tears in her eyes to console her and stood up to stand quietly next to Draven.

"You are the reason for that grave to be there and you dare come here every year," Morpheus said in a low voice that only Draven could hear.

Draven didn't comment on it and instead asked, "Are you healed completely?"

"The one who stabs you, has no right to ask if the person is fine," Morpheus sneered, "I would rather die than be shown care by the stabber."

"You know what you did wrong," Draven commented.

"You should have been careful with your mate to not leave her like that," Morpheus countered.

"I had my reasons for staying away from her."

"Yeah, you managed to control that beast inside you for a long. I should praise you for that instead."

"No need," Draven offered him a cold meaningful glare, "I did it for my mate's sake."

Morpheus could see he was mocking him by telling him again and again that she was his mate. He scoffed, "I should have not let that chance go."

"You wouldn't be alive after that."

"When was I scared of dying? No one stopped you now even."

"What are you two talking about?"

The two saw Isa coming closer to them and shut their mouths. It was her brother's death anniversary and they didn't wish to her see both of them arguing on this day at least.

"Nothing much. We were remembering Aldis," Morpheus replied while Draven stayed quiet. Lying was not Draven's style, rather he would keep quiet and not answer.

"I wish my brother was here as well and we would have lots of fun together like in the past," Isa said.

"Though he is not here, we can still have fun thinking he can see us," Morpheus offered, "Want to fly with me, little fox?"

Isa immediately nodded while Morpheus looked at Draven, "This Dragon has his own wings so he can follow us if he wants."

"I have to return. You two can go ahead," Draven replied.

Isa knew why he was leaving. Ember said she had something to tell him and she could see Draven could not wait to go back to her. Even if she tried to stop him, he would not have stopped because he had already cleared her before that his mate came first and the rest others later.

"Whatever suits you," Morpheus said and looked at Isa, "Little fox, let's go."

Isa quietly walked towards Morpheus who lifted her in his arms and flew away the next moment.

Draven watched them leave and walked closer to the grave of his friend. He went to the tomb stone which had the name of the deceased carved on it. He kneeled on his one knee next to it and his fingers brushed away the dust around the name, making that name look even clearer.

Draven missed his friend, felt bad for his unfortunate death and had so many regrets but he could only be quiet. He had long forgotten how to express the pain he felt and how to let it go by shedding tears. That last time he had shed tears and cried his heart out was that night of the massacre which later turned him and his heart into a stone which felt nothing.

"Aldis..." he felt unable to talk further or rather didn't know what to say. He simply closed his eyes briefly as his friend's voice rang in his ears.

"Draven, the best wine I got. I am sure this one will manage to make you drunk."

"What are you doing? Get the glasses. Don't even think about emptying the entire wine on your own."

"Let's call that annoying eagle and share with him."

"Draven, this stupid Morph. why did you even make him our commander?"

"Hey, Aldis, Draven knows who is more capable. This flying eagle with sharp gaze is better than a fox with nine trails who run on the ground."

"Haha! We will be friends, even after my death. Just don't forget to visit my grave often or I will be lonely."

"You are the only one we have. Never leave us."

"Draven, don't blame yourself for anything."

"Even if I die, it's for our people."

"Just take care of my sister in case I can't make it back."

After exhaling deeply through his mouth to relieve the suffocation he was feeling, Draven finally opened his eyes. His hand touched his chest which felt suffocated with so many emotions at the same time and he felt like had a huge rock on his chest. He kept inhaling and exhaling to make himself feel better but it took time. After spending a while by the grave, he finally returned to the palace once he felt he was fine.

'She must be waiting for me.'

----

When Draven arrived at the palace, he realised Ember was in the garden. His sharp hearing senses could hear her two servants talking and he could guess she was there. Draven walked towards the garden. He wanted to know what she had to tell him. It was the first time she came to him on her own and wanted to talk to him.

He saw Ember quietly sitting in the swing, holding the side rope and resting her head on it and one of her feet lightly scratching the grassy ground. She looked immersed in some thoughts while her servants were quietly standing on the side, feeling worried about what happened to their master.

They both had only one conclusion in their minds- It's because Draven had left with Isa which their master didn't like. Displeasure was obvious on Ember's face.

As Draven walked closer and the two servants got aware of his presence, they immediately bowed to him. "Greetings, Your Majesty."

As usual, Draven walked past them to go to his mate, without reacting to their greetings while the two servants left immediately, leaving the two mates alone. Moreover, it was difficult for them to even breathe in the presence of their intimidating king, so leaving was always a better option.

Draven stood in front of Ember who was sitting on the swing but her gaze was stuck to the ground where her one foot was adamant on digging the hold on it, which seemed impossible with those weak and light hits.

She was yet to notice his presence but the next moment the pleasant breeze brought that sweet scent of her mate to her which made her aware of his presence. She immediately looked up, only to find him standing in front of her, a few steps away.

"What are you thinking about?" she heard him ask.

Ember didn't answer immediately as she took her time looking at him. He was back so fast when she thought he would be spending half a day outside.

"What do you want to talk about?" Draven asked once again.

It pulled her back to her senses and she said, "Before that, I would like it if you opt for a change of clothes."

Ember didn't stand up to greet him and find it fine to talk causally when he was the one to ask her to call him by his name. Moreover, she was upset and she had no will of showing any respect to anyone.

"Huh?" was what Draven could say.

This was out of context for Draven as nothing was wrong with his clothes. Still, he looked down at himself to check and then looked back at her.

"Anything wrong with my clothes?"

"They stink of red fox."