'Sophia…'
'When you said you had this vision, it just finally clicked. I finally understood my ability and why I had the urge on learning them without telling you, and I'm sorry about that, but this time listen – listen carefully because I know I may not be able to repeat them to you.'
"When I heard her say that, I knew that she was preparing to die, and I admit, it was not easy to bear it. Holding my anger is unbearable since it's never been my strong point, but I had to and keep listening to her, respecting her wish." Frances said, crying silently as if she was there once again, and the scene in the background kept playing.
'The other part of the Mates Curse is the Crimson Mark. This mark is obviously bloody based on its name, but it will carry the inner pain that slowly eats and kills the one who bears it. It's a perfect fit for the one who hurt their mates; however, the catch is important to know, Fran.'
'I may not like where it's heading, but please, proceed. Let me hear them.'
'Thank you for understanding. Both types must die at the right time.'
Everything back there seems to stop. The atmosphere felt charged and electrifyingly heavy. Frances knew it, but hearing it clearly from the person who was soon gonna die, still painful but with a clenched jaw, she waited for Sophia to continue.
'Both marks may have different responsibilities on this curse, but the one who suffered the most was the one who was left first, the one who had been receiving all of the pain before the one who caused it. They had to reunite and be reborn in another life. However, if the Crimson Mark's bearer goes further away, suffering will intensify and kill it from the inside. Its soul won't be free, and it will die in a loop, never reunited with me. Do you understand how my curse works?'
'I do, but why are you telling me this?'
'Mates Curse is a warning to give time for the mates to fix it. So, do me a favor and let me try fixing ours first, Fran. Please.'
'Okay, I understand, but in case it didn't?'
'Let's not go there.'
'Just if, Sophia, what will happen to your soul?'
'If not…Then I won't be reborn again.'
Frances was frozen like she had suddenly been splashed with ice. Speechless, like a part of her was breaking upon hearing it. They were not mates, but they were close to the bone, and hearing that hurts like being stabbed multiple times. She clenched her jaw tighter, gritting her teeth, groaning in frustration. She was thinking deeply about how to help, but for the first time, she didn't know what to do, and for the first time, she broke down. Her knees gave up, her body quivered, and tears began to fall, and Sophia witnessed all of it. She saw how vulnerable her best friend was on her behalf, making her reach out her hand, wiping those tears away. Then softly, she giggles.
'Don't be like this. I need my strong and intimidating Frances, who kills anyone who dares to look at me badly.'
'Stop kidding around. Your situation is grave.'
'I'm not fooling around. I never fool around with you. I'm serious, Fran. Always for you.'
'Then can you do something about it? Every curse has cures…'
'The only cure is to bring him back to me. Reunite with me, that's the only way.'
'If he came back, but still not the person you once loved, will it still work?'
'As long as he does, sincerely repent, then it may work.'
'Then I'll take that chance. I won't let him or anyone take away your chance to be reborn in another life. You deserve that chance, Sophia.'
'You can't change my fate when it's already begun.'
'I'll take chances. I'll make it work, and it will start with him.'
'What? What are you planning?'
'I warned him before, and it's time to make them come true.'
'You…'
'I told him once, once he hurt you, I'll make sure he will never find you. And you know, whenever I mark my words, Sophia, I'll make sure it's done.'
'Your protective stubbornness never changes.'
'And you still love it whenever I do.'
'Indeed, I do, just don't get overboard.'
'I can't promise, but you will get your life.'
'Whenever you're like this, I always wish you were my mate.'
'I would love that chance in another life.'
'You would?"
'If my husband isn't there and you are, then I would.'
'Then let's meet in another life as one.'
'Promise?'
'I vowed.'
'I love the sound of it.'
'But for now, promise me, Fran. Let me try it first.'
'Fine, you can, but promise me too that you'll stay if he still goes away. I'll find a way for you.'
'Deal.'
"And she did. Sophia did try her best and tried to save them both from failing miserably. At first, it was like magic as it worked. Everything went back to where it should be; they were back to being a lovely couple, but Sophia was close to danger. She got hurt when Rogue got involved in the crossfire with your Dad's men during a gang war in the city. Luckily, I was with her, making her injuries less severe and minor, and since she's a vampire, she heals, but the sight of an injured Sophia to Rudolf, it's not just a wound but a life." Frances shared, watching the memories unfold during those times like a cinematic scene from old movies before continuing, "He became worse and I witnessed how badly Sophia fought for their mate bond, trying to save their marriage and their lives, but one night when I paid them a surprise visit, I witnessed something that fueled my anger toward him…"
'RUDOLF, I AM YOUR WIFE, YOUR MATE, BUT WHAT HAPPEN? WHY CAN'T YOU LOOK AT ME ANYMORE? WHY WON'T YOU SEE ME? I'M HERE!"
'BECAUSE I CAN'T YOU SEE DYING OVER AND OVER AGAIN!'
'I AM HERE! I'M ALIVE!'
'Sophia…I'm scared…I…'
'Don't push me away, please…I'm here…be with me again, Rudolf…'
'I…I'm sorry but I can't…'
'Once you step out of here, don't look back. Don't look for me.'
'Sophia…'
Rudolf grew frustrated and faced her, making Sophia pull him closer, attempting to kiss, but he wouldn't. It hurt Sophia deeply.
'You don't even want to kiss my lips anymore…'
'Kiss? You want to fuck? Then I'm giving it to you.'
Sophia cried and was filled with pain of breaking into pieces. She slapped him hard, making Rudolf stumble backwards and fall on the ground. Rudolf glared over the pain, but seeing how broken Sophia cried in front of him, he softened, realizing the words he said, but it was too late.
'I don't need a good fuck from you. I just needed my mate beside me. If you can't anymore, you'd better break it.'
'Sophia…I'm sorry.'
'No, Rudolf…I'm sorry for not being the mate you needed when you fall apart. I'm sorry for not being that woman, but I did try to be one…I wish you could see it one more time, but it's too late…'
'What are you talking about?'
Sophia pulled out a small knife that was filled with her own blood. Rudolf frowned, thinking it was just a joke, but Sophia was serious and cut her wrist. He looked horrified and quickly went to her side without realizing that his mated mark on his neck turned blood, indicating the activation of the Crimson Mark. Frances stepped in, but the couple was fighting over a knife.
'SOPHIA, GIVE ME THAT KNIFE!'
'Goodbye, Rudolf.'
Rudolf managed to grab the knife before she could stab herself with it and slapped her. Frances was about to step, but Sophia smiled sadly at her, making her stop in her tracks, crying silently. Sophia wanted her to witness everything.
'ARE YOU INSANE?!'
'No, but it has to be done.'
'What?'
Sophia pulled Rudolf's hand with her knife and forced it to her. Rudolf's eyes went wide, horrified, making him let go, but both of them collapsed on their knees. Sophia bled out, but her eyes were determined to get things done and touched her mark on Rudolf's neck before ending things between them.
'I, Sophia Archer Strange, let go of Rudolf Strange as my husband and my mate due to the failure of committing to the mate bond. Effective immediately.'
'No…you can't…'
'I just did, and from inside out, your Crimson Mark will remind you of everything you inflict on me till you die.'
With those words laid in the air between them, Rudolf screamed in agony, and his eyes turned white, empty. Sophia smiled, and her body weakened, causing Frances to run and catch her.
'SOPHIA!'
Frances pulled Sophia closer into her arms, fearing losing her. She even kissed Sophia's temple and gently caressed Sophia's Death's Mark that had been drastically spreading on her body. With soothing touch from her, Sophia breathed calmly and snuggled closer in her arms.
'You came…'
'You know I always will.'
'What's happening to him?'
Sophia glanced at Rudolf. She sadly cried because Rudolf would no longer be bound to her, and yet, something was engraved into his soul.
'Sorry, Rudolf, but you had to face it.'
'Is that it?'
'That's the Crimson Mark taking over him. Fran, please watch him on my behalf.'
'Always. Do your promise to me.'
'I will as I wait for him too.'
'I'll do something for you.'
'Take care of the rest.'
'Oh, I will, as I make sure he won't be able to escape it.'
'You sounded deadly.'
'Because I am.'
"My family and the entire clan of Saison gave her liveliness despite how she slowly decays. I ensured to give her peace before she leaves, and when the time comes, she called me at the garden." Frances said brokenly as the scene continued in their background.
'Fran, here. I made it for you.'
'You didn't have to.'
'I want to, and this, take care of this in another life.'
'Always will.'
'See you in another life…my soulmate…'
Sophia snuggled in Frances's arms, weakening but filled with life in the arms of her sister-like, a best friend, and a soulmate. Frances hummed a soft melody as she let Sophia rest in her arms, and in one last breath, Sophia was gone. She cried harder as soon as she felt it leaving its body, but was determined to make Rudolf pay for everything.
They were not mates in that timeline, but their undying bond carried their souls fatedly entwined for eternity.
"I had lost her, but I made sure Rudolf won't see her." Frances's sad voice quickly turned dangerous as the scene in the background turned dark and bloody.
Frances began by creating something, which started by kicking Rudolf Strange out of their clan's properties, and buying lands for some structures for their family businesses, before reserving a certain land for Sophia's remains. She had been commanding trusted family members to build a black tower and had secretly placed Sophia's remains deeply in the tower. She made sure that Rudolf or his shadows would find it and secure the entire land with her magical ability. The same with the rest of the building she had built, but deep inside the black tower had multiple security layers that only one chosen person was allowed to enter, aside from Frances and the person, a human she assigned to manage the land.
'MOM, COME HERE! IT'S SKYLAR.'
'Oh no…it's getting near.'
'Near? What's nearing Mom?'
'Our separation. Fredric, promise to be there beside your sister, even if you have to be a bad guy in her life. Always make sure she's alive until we meet again. Can you do that?'
'Sure. But what is coming?'
'A grave storm from a long time ago.'
Frances prepared everything until the fall of their family took place. The family survived but away from each other, but their household had fallen because of the anger of a fallen Rudolf Strange. He became an obsessed monster trying to find unknowingly what he had lost, and the only key he recalled was the name of a noble vampire lady, Frances Saison-Rusco. However, Frances won't back down against someone who took away a soul from her.
'Hello, Rudolf. Took you long enough to find me.'