Yurian had informed Aselia about Carios’s funeral and Aselia only wished to have been there alongside Xiran and Frila. This was the time they needed her most. She called him several times but all her calls went unanswered and all her texts went unread.

She understood he was going through an emotional turmoil so she didn’t want to nag him and just be his support but it was unusual for him to not respond to her. Aselia could sense something was off about him.

Then Yurian told her that Xiran was coming along with him to the headquarters, and she thought it was most probably to formulate a plan to deal with the threat that was his father. She was relieved that she would be able to at least meet and comfort him.

Aselia woke up early and after taking a hot shower, got dressed. She fed Rony and took him so he could relieve himself. She was thinking of heading out to see if they had arrived when there was a knock on her door.

"Come in," she said. Opening the door Yurian stepped inside with a serious face.

"Hey! You are back, where is Xiran?" she greeted him with a smile but Yurian wore a grim expression today almost an angry one.

"He is in Aldridge’s office, discussing some important matters with him. He will meet you soon," Yurian reluctantly walked over to her. The creases on his forehead and the animosity in his eyes told Aselia that something was very wrong for he was an optimistic person and didn’t get that look easily.

"What’s wrong Yuri?" she patted his shoulder and he just stared at her with concern, as if wanting to say something but he couldn’t.

"Nothing...I am just worried...just remember I will always be there for...." his words were cut off by a loud knock on the door. Yurian shook his head and got up, she could sense pain reflected in his eyes as he approached the door and opened it.

Xiran stood there with his hands in his pockets. Yurian’s whole body tensed seeing him standing there like a stone-faced tyrant. Yurian opened his mouth to say something but then closed it again, giving the vampire a loathing look, he exited the room. Xiran stepped inside and closed the door behind him.

"Xiran!!!" Aselia got up and rushed to him, with concern written all over her face and embraced him ever so tightly. Her face rested on his chest, she wanted to impart all of her love to him today. Like a flimsy thread of hope her arms coiled around his back as she whispered:

"I am so very sorry for what happened. How I wished to be there for you. How are you? Did he injure you? Or use his powers on you?"

He didn’t speak, nor did he wrap his arms around her as he always did. Aselia noticed that so she lifted her head to stare into those tempestuous greyish orbs and all she found was darkness, there was no light there. His body felt rigid and there was this eerie air of bleakness all around him.

She lovingly cupped his face. Seeing how his eyes were blood red from lack of sleep, so she rubbed the swollen area under his eyes with her thumb and said:

"I am here for you, we will get through this together," Aselia leaned forward and softly kissed his eyes. Her hands slid up in his beautiful hair and she began to untangle them with her fingers. But he showed her no reaction, just observed her with stone-cold eyes, like his father.

"How is Rivan now? I did speak to him on the phone. And how is Frila doing?" she asked stroking every part of his face. Hoping he would answer her, and share what he was going through but he still didn’t speak to her.

"Xiran...please! Say something," she finally pleaded with him in a hurt voice, not letting go of his face.

"How do you think Aselia? Rivan almost died and Carios is dead. So how do you think Frila must be right now? I think you are capable enough to use this much common sense to know they are not doing well," his words were sharp and today they cut deep. Deeper than any sword could go. A wave of hurt washed over her but she ignored it and mumbled:

"I am sorry...I was just trying to make conversation. Just wanted you to talk to me."

"There is nothing to talk about, my selfishness caused so much damage that I can’t even reverse it," he then heartlessly grabbed her arm and led her to her bed. She gaped at his action and blank expression in utter confusion but quietly followed him. He made her sit on the bed and held her arm.

"Please! Whatever it is, just talk to me. We can sort it out, right?" Aselia requested once they were seated and he raised his right eyebrow at her and gruffly asked:

"We can? Can we bring Carios back? Can we bring all the innocent people back that my father and his army killed? Can we return parents to the children who were orphaned? Can we give children back to the parents who lost them? Tell me."

Tears brimmed in Aselia’s eyes at the harsh truths he was uttering, she didn’t have the answers to his questions. She felt so weak at that moment, she had no words just useless salty water.

"I am sorry, Xiran..." he cut her off.

"You know how many children we buried in the last few days?" the unfathomable hopelessness and anguish his eyes and face carried made her shudder under his hold and she could only shake her head.

"47. That’s how many and it’s only the number of the ones we found, you know there were many we didn’t even find," the tears began to freely flow down her cheeks at his heart-wrenching words.