The Devil's Betrothed-Chapter 822: End Of Zaria-I

"Oriana," Evanthe called.

"My apologies, but I have to protect her," Oriana said in a firm stance as she looked at her own people. "I will fight each attack you hurl in her way."

"Princess Esmerray, I warn you to stay out of it," Draven warned. "This is a matter between Zaria and this kingdom."

"And I stand between her and this kingdom," Oriana retorted. "You are free to have a spar with me until one of us dies."

Oriana was Arlan’s mate and their friend. They would never want to fight against her, nor had they ever expected to stand against her one day.

"Oriana," Arlan called her. "If your master is unjust, you don’t have a liability to protect her. One’s first responsibility is to stand with justice."

"Arlan, it would be better if you stay out of it. I won’t hurt you, as you are my mate," she said. "But if you want to, you can hurt me. I won’t hold it against you. At this moment, I am with my master. Even if she is wrong, I must protect her."

Evanthe stepped ahead and looked at Zaria, her gaze utterly displeased. "Are you forcing your student against her will because of the blood oath she took? Are you acting that low now?"

Zaria chuckled. "Finally, you got it, my dear Evanthe." There was no remorse in her eyes or in her words, only the spirit of being a winner. "Do you still think I am any saint to spare my student who is powerful like this? That oath, when she took it, was meant for me to use against my enemies. And my enemies have always been you all."

"You truly disappoint me," Evanthe said.

"Do I even care?" Zaria mocked. "Well, keep aside the oath, she still has to repay me for teaching her what none of you could do. Isn’t that the reason none of you minded when she had me as her master? Also, as her master — a place equal to the gods — and that truth will never change, she must submit before me."

"Zaria, your student respects you despite the evil things you have done. Don’t be the reason for her disappointment," Evanthe said. "There’s a reason why a master is considered equal to the gods. Because a master is meant to teach and protect their students, and guide them to walk on the right path. Not the other way around."

Zaria offered her a mocking smirk. "You don’t have to teach me what a master is. You better worry about your student Cornelia, whom you left alone to handle the responsibility you abandoned by running away from it. You are no good either. We are the same."

"But I will at least never drive my student down the wrong path to protect myself. I would rather die myself than be like you," Evanthe’s voice rose, anger rising inside her calm exterior. "Back then, I didn’t explain to Oriana the cruelty behind this blood oath because I never thought you would ever use it in this way. I never thought you would truly fall this low, despite having your own grudges against us. There is a line you should never cross, but you are doing it."

Everyone looked at Evanthe to understand what she meant. Oriana was calm and focused on fulfilling the blood oath at any cost. It was her way to protect the one she loved, Arlan.

"If you all leave now, we won’t have to fight," Oriana said. "I have to protect her from you. If you don’t want a fight, just leave."

Morpheus stepped ahead. "They won’t, but I will. I have to kill this witch to avenge my innocent sister’s pain and her misery. My nephew’s suffering—he had to live without his real family and identity. She has to pay for it, and I will make it happen."

Zaria’s loud laugh echoed in the place. "Your innocent sister? Hah! Do you even hear yourself? She was anything but innocent."

"Shut your mouth and stop insulting my sister," Morpheus warned. "Or it would be the first time I am killing a woman."

Zaria remained unfazed. Her expressions turned serious. "Yes, your sister was indeed so naive and innocent that she would have been punished for that. She would have been the one to die in place of Tracia at the hands of the high elves. My Tracia died for the mistake your sister committed."

Zaria’s voice rose dangerously, showing all the anger suppressed within her since eternity. "My entire clan paid for your sister’s naivety. Because of her, we black witches are wrongly accused and called evil. We are still paying for it. Your sister—I made her feel every ounce of pain my clan suffered. And it’s still not enough even if she dies."

"Stop spouting nonsense," Morpheus raised his voice. "My sister always protected this kingdom."

"Why don’t you ask your friend then?" Zaria asked and looked at Draven. "Am I saying anything wrong, Draven? Why don’t you tell him truth? I am creating a chance for you, finally. It must have been painful to keep your own friend in dark for so long."

Morpheus looked at Draven, only to see Draven’s expression hardening, no words.

"No words to say, Draven?" Zaria mocked him. "You should tell him you are the reason for his sister’s grave mistake."

Morpheus finally broke the silence. "Draven, what does she mean?"

Draven wordlessly looked at him.

"Let me tell you, as it might be too hard for your friend," Zaria said as she looked at Morpheus. "Have you ever thought whose child your sister carried?"

"Stop talking in circles and say it straightaway. And if even a single word is a lie, I will kill you for sure," Morpheus said angrily, his eyes shining golden, showing the storm of power ready to attack in anger.

"You always knew your sister loved Draven, but he didn’t feel the same," Zaria continued, an amused smile playing on her lips. "She was heartbroken after Draven rejected her feelings. And then appeared the knight in evil armour to mend her broken heart—"