72 Who is dahlia? (2)

As the clock struck seven, Victor hastily organized his desk, ensuring every document was neatly filed and stacked. He shut down his computer making sure to save his work, and grabbed his belongings. He was all set to go home when Cassandra came inside his cabin.

She looks worried about something. Her face could clearly show, she wanted to tell him something.

"What happened?" He asked calmly, sensing the matter's urgency.

"Someone came to meet you." Cassandra replied while looking outside the door, still nervously.

"Meet me? Now?" He glanced at his watch. "I don't have any appointments now. Who came to meet me at this hour?"

"Actually... It's me." A mysterious figure appeared in a cabin. He silently examined the room, while his eyes gleamed an unknown purpose.

"Julian? You? Why are you here?" Intense rage surged through his veins as he locked eyes with him. Make sense why Cassandra seemed so nervous. "What do you want now? You already have everything you need."

"Chill brother! I am not here to annoy you. I actually came here for a good cause." He move forward and kept a letter on his desk. "Me and Larissa are planning on again starting the Enchanted Shadow festival. We both want you and Cassandra to come there. After all, your ancestors are the ones who started it."

Enchanted shadow festival was one of the main festivals in the supernatural world. On that day, all supernatural creatures including demons, fairies, angels, ghosts, goblin. All come together to celebrate this date. This day was the only day everyone could forget they are enemies.

Since the incident which happened in 1400. No one celebrated this festival again. Everyone might have forgotten about this thing. Then why is Julian so keen to celebrate this festival again? Is there any ulterior motive behind this?

"So you are going to open the doors of the diamond palace again? Whose permission did you take?" Cassandra got mad. What is he even trying to do? "Stay within your limits Julian. Don't forget Victor still owns that palace. If you plan on doing anything with it, ask for the permission."

"Why do I need permission?" Julian chuckled. "If you don't remember, let me remind you. Victor donated all his assets to the government. I am just renting diamond palace for 1 day. I don't understand what's the big deal is?" He turned towards Victor. Because talking with Cassandra was of no use. "Brother, please. I already did everything. I would be glad if you also come there. Please. Can you come?"

"No. It's not impossible." Victor shook his head. He has nothing to do with Julian anymore. "Do whatever you want but don't involve me in this. If Cassandra wants to go, she can."

"No way! Even I am not interested." Cassandra knew being with Julian means ruining herself. She didn't wanted to be associated with him. She already has plenty of work pending. She picked up the letter and gave it back to Julian. "Since no one is coming. We don't need it here. Please take."

Julian angrily took the letter back. He has never been rejected by anyone before. After so many years he wanted to reconcile with his cousin again. But Victor was showing attitude. He was way mad than before. "Fine! Don't come. But mark my words. You will miss out on many things. Maybe the person you are trying to find will meet you there."

"Don't beat around the bush. Tell me what you mean clearly. Why do you want me to come? Who is going to be there?"

"What if I said Equinox will be there too? Will you still not come?" Julian smirked. He knew that out of all people, only one person's name could affect Victor. It was none other than his ex Equinox.

"Do you even know what you are saying? Equinox is dead. She can't come back on this earth again." Cassandra thought Julian was lying. It was his way to hurt Victor. How could Equinox possibly be alive?

"Dead?" Julian laughed. "Even I thought the same thing before. But think about it, Ezen is back. Don't you think he will try his best to bring his sister back too? Come on, Victor you should have used your brain. Can't believe no one told you about this."

"Shut up!" Victor's face contorts with anger. Julian did many bad things but still, he forgave him. But bringing Equinox in a conversation was the last nail in the coffin. He couldn't stand him anymore. "Get out from here Julian."

"Fine. But don't forget to come. I'll be waiting."

Julian, wearing a smug face turn and heads towards the door.

When Julian went away, Cassandra came towards Victor and tried to console him. "Ignore everything he said. He might be lying. After all, lying is his profession now. Who knows maybe he is trying to manipulate you? Don't listen to him. forget everything."

"But think about it Cassy, what if he is right? What if Equinox is alive?" His voice trembled. "If she is alive then why did she never tried to meet me? Did she really not think about me once?"

Cassandra tried to hold back her tears. She always knew Victor loved Equinox. Even she loves him but in the end, it's just one sided. She can deal with her own heartbreak. But she can't see him in pain.

"If you have so many questions why not ask her?"

"What?" Was she applying on meeting her? Victor thought.

"Do you want to go there? I mean, there 90% chance that Julian is lying. But what if we trust the 10%?" Cassandra didn't know what happened between Equinox and him. But if meeting her will solve all his problems then what's wrong with it? "Victor, as your best friend. I care about you.

With that relation, I am telling you to take the chance." She held his hand. "What if she really is alive? Think about it carefully. You choose. Do you want to go?"

Cassandra's words hung in the air. He didn't know his mere revelation can break his heart into pieces. The mere thought of Equinox being alive stirred a tempest within him, a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Waves of grief, longing, and trepidation crashed against the shores of his heart, threatening to consume him.

"Okay. Let's go in Julian's party." If there is a chance that she is alive. He is ready to take the chance. He really wanted to know what happened that time. Equinox came and didn't even meet him? Was everything they had together was fake? He wanted to hear it from her mouth.

And for that, he needs to find her.

***

(Inside the mansion)

Equinox was sitting on her couch, holding an envelope which arrived just now. She carefully opens it and pulls out the party invitation card. The letter was elegantly designed with a wax seal.

Equinox's eyes narrowed as she read the invitation. Her mind racing with suspicion. Julian sending her an invitation card? She ponders his motives, trying to decipher the hidden meaning behind his gesture.

"A party invitation from Julian... What's his game this time?" She said mumbling to herself.

Just as Equinox is lost in thought, Ezen burst into the room with an infectious energy. He looked at her upset face and felt something was wrong.

"What happened? Why do you look like that?"

"Julian happened." She showed him the letter. "He is calling me to a party? Isn't it suspicious?"

"You got that invitation too?" Looks like the siblings planned something big. He took out the letter from his coat and threw it at Equinox. "Larissa came in the university. She was inviting me and Anastasia in that stupid party. Who knows what her plan is now?"

"They kept the party at the diamond palace?" Equinox became emotional while remembering the past. "Remember, last time when we celebrated this festival, it was your birthday. I could never forget that day." While thinking about that time, Victor's face flashed in her mind.

"Don't tell me you are planning on going in that scam party." Ezen question made her come out from her thoughts.

"No way! Why will I go there? It's evident, they are planning something against us. We can't take the risk."

"So what? We are just going to let them do whatever they want?" Ezen was annoyed that they were still alive. "I thought you went to Morana to ask for help. What did she say?"

"Oh my god. Yes!" Equinox remember about it now. "I forgot to tell you." She went towards her cupboard and snatched a flower from it. "This! She gave me this. Morana said she can't tell how we can kill them. But.. she gave me this as a hint."

"Dahlia? What is this flower going to do?" Ezen begins to examine it. "Are we supposed to brew potions or something? Do I need to hire a witch?"

"No! I don't think it's that." Equinox began to think. Only one word was dancing in her head. Dahlia. What might it be? While she was thinking, something hit her head. She finally understood what it was. "Oh, my goodness. It's Dahlia. How could I forget this?"

"Dahlia what? What did you understood?" He got confused. What could this flower possibly be?

"The dahlia Morana talked about is not some kind of flower. She was talking about a person." How could he forget her? "Ezen, Dahlia is your..."

"No! Don't bring me into this. I had nothing to do with her." It's been centuries since he heard this name. He almost forgot about her existence. Then why is Equinox bringing her back again? "Don't talk about her. I am uncomfortable."

"But we need her." Equinox knew Ezen was hiding something from her. "You know where she is. Right? Where is Dahlia?"

***

(In the study room)

Anastasia sits at her desk, surrounded by piles of books and her laptop open to a research article about new medicines.

She furrows her brows, deep in concentration, trying to focus on her studies.

Suddenly, a faint echo of a name,

"Dahlia," whispers in Anastasia's mind.

She shakes her head, trying to dismiss the thought, but it persists.

She glances out the window, hoping for a distraction, but her eyes fall upon a blooming dahlia flower in the garden below.

Dahlia... Why does that name feel so familiar?

Anastasia tries to refocus on her studies, but her mind keeps drifting back to the mysterious woman who haunts her dreams. She starts absentmindedly flipping through the pages of her textbook, her thoughts consumed by Dahlia.

Just as Anastasia begins to write a sentence, a gust of wind rattles the window. Startled, she looks up and sees a dahlia petal gently float through the open window, landing on her desk.

"Okay, this is getting strange."

Determined to find answers, Anastasia decides to take a break from studying. She closes her laptop and begins to think.

"I need to find who this dahlia is. Maybe there might be something about her in the book Uncle Victor gave me." She quickly took the old dusty book out from her bag and kept it on her table.

Anastasia scans the the pages, her finger tracing the lines of text. Suddenly, she spots a chapter titled "Dahlia: The Angel of Destiny"

She begins reading, her eyes darting across the pages, absorbing the information.

Many centuries ago, when the world was just created. A war clashed between heaven and hell. During their fight, a drop of holy water fell into a river, which birthed a beautiful young maiden named Dahlia.

Dahlia was adopted by the archangels of heaven.

Being the precious divine pearl of everyone. God granted her as the title "Angel of Destiny"

She was the one who could control the human's destinies based on their karma.

Dahlia was one of the mysterious angel in the supernatural realm. No one ever saw her face. And the one who saw, she wiped their memories forever.

According to the old books, Dahlia was supposed to be reincarnated in this world. But because of some incident. Her existence got wiped out.

Anastasia tried to read further but saw half of the pages were torn. "What happened afterwards? Where is dahlia now?" She got upset. "If Dahlia is missing then why am I seeing her in my dreams? What exactly happened to her?"

***

"Be honest Ezen. What are you hiding? Where is Dahlia? Do you know anything about her?" Equinox asked suspiciously.

"I don't know anything. I only met her once in Stafford Village. She went missing right after that. How am I supposed to know what happened with her?" Ezen got annoyed. He couldn't figure out why Equinox was doubting him.

"Fine. I trust you." Equinox nodded. "But at least tell me how she looks like. We need her. No one except you has seen her."

"I don't know what she looks like. It's been many years. I forgot everything." When they first met, it was accidental. It was his birthday that time.

He doesn't even remember what they talked about. The only thing he knows is that, Dahlia took out his memory about their conversation.

"You met her on your birthday and I didn't know about it? That's weird. What was Dahlia doing in Stafford village anyway?" How many more secrets that place is holding?

Ezen thought about it. Dahlia came in the diamond palace as a guest at that time. So someone might have called her. Who could that be? "Think about it. When I first met her, Dahlia was 1000 years old. You know what happens when an angel turns 1000 years old right?"

"When an angel turns 1000 years old. They become part of the descendants of heaven. So are you trying to say? Victor knows where Dahlia is?"

"There is a possibility."

"You are right." Equinox knew what to do. "I think I should go to that party."

"What? Why?" He couldn't understand why she made this decision abruptly.

"You only said that Victor might know Dahlia's whereabouts. If he don't know then there are plenty of other supernatural beings present there. At least one of them will know where she is." Equinox knew it was a risk. But she was ready to take it. If her small action could save Anastasia then she don't mind it.

"You have gone crazy. At that party, many demons would also be involved. Are you going to go in front of them?" Ezen was worried that's why his voice sounded harsh.

"Don't worry about me Ezen. What are they going to do? Kill me? Just relax. Let me do my thing. I am older than you. I know how to deal with people."

"Fine! Go there and die. Do whatever you want. I don't care. Don't expect me to go there too." Saying that, he stormed out from the room.

Equinox casually sipped her tea as he went away. It's not the first time they were arguing. Till morning his anger will fade away automatically. She don't have to worry about it.

Right now, the most important thing to do was to inform Anastasia. That's why she picked up her phone to call her.