Aurora Tempest : Her Revenge

CHAPTER ONE - AURORA

I'm sick-that much is true. What I thought was the flu or a flyby cold has turned out to be something more. My body seizes suddenly and I cough violently into the handkerchief. My eyes widen with fear when I pull away the material and find it stained with blood.

"Aurora, are you alright?"

I don't turn immediately. Quickly, I fold up the handkerchief and stash it away in my pocket. A smile spreads on my face as I face Sylas.

"I'm fine."

He approaches me, his emerald eyes softening with concern. "Are you sure? You don't look so good."

I nod, forcing my smile to look more assuring even as I feel the fatigue spreading across my body. "Just a little cough. I think I caught something."

He gives me a disbelieving look. "It didn't sound like a little cough just now."

After being friends and partners for close to a decade, he knows me more than anyone else in this building. I lift my shoulders and square my face to hide my tiredness.

He stops a foot away from me, the afternoon sun lighting up his pale blond hair and sharp aristrocratic features.

"When was the last time you saw a doctor?" His voice though gentle sounds like a reprimand.

It used to annoy me when he talked to me in such a manner, then I got to know the real Sylas underneath the crisp suits and aloof demeanour. My gaze shifts from his face to the calendar on the wall, marked with red.

I don't have the time. Dorian keeps making doctor's appointments for me but I'm needed here. I've come to far to let a minor cold wreck my plans.

But it's not a simple cold, the thought sends a chill down my legs, and I feel the bloody handkerchief.

"I'll see a doctor next week, I've been busy with the merge." I say finally, watching his mouth press into a tight frown.

"I don't see how the merge is stopping you from going to the doctor."

I laugh dryly. "I'm the CEO, Sylas. It's my job to make sure everything runs smoothly. We can't afford to lose this merge and you know that."

"That doesn't mean you shouldn't take care of yourself, Aurora," he snaps suddenly.

On a good day, I would give him a proper fight but as we're talking, I'm growing more tired. It becomes a battle to keep my shoulders straight.

"I know." My voice comes out more quiet than I intend.

"And your husband?"

Before I can retort and tell him not to involve Dorian, he cuts me off.

"Hasn't he seen you like this? Doesn't he know his duty is to take care of you?" He spits angrily, fury etching sharp lines on his face.

For a moment, I'm stunned into silence. Sylas rarely got angry with me. Over the years, we would fight about company policy and investments but we did that goodnaturedly. There has never any badblood between us. We've known each other since we were teens and after college decided to be partners despite running two different companies.

I don't understand his anger.

"First off, don't talk about my husband," I say sharply, anger pushing away my fatigue. "I don't care that you don't like him. I love Dorian and he takes care of me."

"Look at you, Aurora! You're pale! If I were your husband I'd drag you to the hospital myself."

"But you're not my husband," I fire back.

"No, I'm your partner and friend. Your wellbeing is top priority."

"I said I'm fine."

Sylas sighs in exasperation and mutters, "So damn stubborn."

He narrows his eyes at me as if he could see how tired I am and shakes his head. "Go see a doctor after the meeting."

I want to argue. I have lunch plans with an investor but the hard glare he gives me snaps my mouth shut.

I allow my shoulder deflate. "Fine."

He raises a hand absently and rubs my shoulder. "Thank you."

I cover his hand with miine and a warm smile pulls my mouth. "Next time you yell at me I'll break your nose."

He chuckles. "Take care of yourself and we won't have a problem." A shadow suddenly crosses his face as his gaze strays to the large diamond on my finger. He slowly drops his hand and the grin wipes from his face. He gestures to the door.

"The meeting is about to start. But I can have them reschedule if you're not up to it."

We both know what's at stake. Even as he says it, I catch the hopeful sound in his voice. He wants me to be strong enough to have the meeting. Everyone depends on me and I can't let them down.

Taking a deep breath, I shove away the fatigue. "Let's do this."

By the time the meeting is done and the merge has been finalized, I can barely keep my eyes open.

The applause in the conference room makes my head ring. Everyone wears big smiles while I struggle to see straight.

I don't see Sylas until I feel his hand gripping my elbow, leading me away from the noise.

"Doctor. Now," he orders, gently putting me in the backseat of my car.

"Take me home first," I tell my driver as I lean back on the head rest, a haze settling over my mind. Dorian always accompanies me to the hospital. I hate going by myself.

With his remote work and his cousin visiting, he stays home most of the time.

Soon I'm stumbling up the front steps of our house.

"Dorian," I call out weakly. My voice doesn't travel far and I urge my legs forward.

I check the kitchen first and stop cold at the sight before me.

"Oh baby... YES...right there..." breathy moans pour out of his cousin's lips, her eyes closed in ecstasy, her hand digging into thick black hair.

Kneeling before her with his face buried inbetween her thighs is my husband.

"D-Dorian?"

His head jerks up swiftly and he freezes when sees me.

CHAPTER TWO - AURORA

My world has shattered like glass. My chest locks with pain and I grip the door frame to avoid falling over. Dorian and his cousin, Bianca. They stare at me in horror but nothing else, like I've interrupted something I shouldn't have.

My mouth opens and closes without words. Pain lances through my head and I can't tell if it's from my sickness or the ache in my heart.

"Aurora, what are you doing back so early?" Dorian gets off his knees and his cousin slips off the kitchen counter and adjusts her dress-my dress. She's in my clothes.

"You're cheating on me with your cousin?" my voice come flat and hollow. There's an offbeat to the rhythm of my racing heart.

From beside him, Bianca scoffs. "Do you really believe that?"

I stare at her in disbelief and she throws her head back and laughs. "Oh you stupid fool." Her face twists into a wicked sneer. She turns to Dorian, "No wonder she's such an easy target."

Target?

Before I can ask what she means by that, my body seizes up again. The cough that rips through my throat brings up a terrifying amount of blood.

I stagger in pain, stretching out a hand for Dorian. But he steps back like I'm infested with a disease. His hazel eyes narrow on my face and I find no warmth.

The man I've loved for four years, stares at me like I'm a stranger.

"Help me," I manage.

He puts an arm around Bianca's waist, pulling her close.

"Babe, I think she's dying," Bianca says mockingly.

Dorian laughs like it's the funniest thing. "It's about time. I was starting to think the poison was ineefective."

"Poison?" I breathe.

He pulls a sad face. "Yes, my darling. You didn't think anyone can love you, did you? You stuck up bi-"

I push off the door frame. The hallway tilts but I can still walk and get away.

"Where are you going?" He calls out, pulling me back into the kitchen by my hair. A scream tears through me as pain explodes in my back. My body slides on the marble helplessly and hits the counter with a thud.

Black spots fill my vision but I see them clearly. Together they watch me writhe on the floor. The love of my life and the woman he called cousin. I accepted him into my life. I brought her into our lives to make him happy, because I would do anything for his happiness.

How stupid I am.

How foolish.

As if on cue, memories flip behind my eyes. Things I missed, things I didn't think much of. LIke how the subtle glances and touches when I was in the room. The way he always had work to do whenever she left a room.

"Are you just getting it now?" Dorian observes the frozen expression on my face. "Is your slow brain catching up?"

Hot tears of pain leak from my eyes. "You're..."

"My husband-to-be actually," Bianca chimes, her eyes gleaming with malice. "And you fell right into his lap. Did the warm smile pull you in? Did your stomach flutter from how he made you laugh? You stupid gullible fool."

Dorian shakes his head pitifully. "It really amazed me how easy you fell for every one of my tricks. You wanted to be loved so badly and I wanted your money. I guess in the end we both got what we wanted."

I'm trying to find the man that promised to keep me safe, that vowed to be with me in sickness and in health. All I find is a stranger. He has the face, the same body but everything about him has changed.

"Why? I loved you."

He laughs heartily at my words. "Why? Because you were easy. I mean the sight of you disgusts me, Aurora. I've never loved you. Ever since I started giving you the poison I'd hoped you would die faster. But you stubbornly refused."

His words are daggers stabbing my heart on every side. It's clear then. His deceit and betrayal breaks me.

"I didn't expect you to die today but I'm very lucky." He turns to Bianca and kisses her on the lips. For a moment they forget I lay dying and are lost in each other. "I'm already a very rich man," he says after he pulls away from Bianca.

"I'll go get the car," Bianca sings. She throws a dirty look at me before she leaves.

Blood spills out of my mouth as Dorian bends to meet my gaze, hazel eyes twinkling with hate. "Rot in hell," he whispers, planting a parting kiss on my forehead.

I try to grab his arm but my arm refuses to work. My body is sinking into the floor. Dorian walks away without looking back.

Minutes feel like hours as I lie in a pool of my blood, choking on it. Pain. So much pain. The realization that I'm dying and the man I call husband did this to me.

My tears mix with blood. My heart slows down, struggling through it's final moment.

I think about my life, then remember Sylas.

With the last strength my bones could muster, I pull out my phone. The screen wobbles but I find his name.

He picks on the first ring. "Still at the doctor's? Is everything okay?"

Blood gurgles in my throat as I try to speak.

"Aurora? What's wrong?"

I try again, fighting through the embrace of death. "...Help...me."

"Aurora?" He screams. "Where are you?"

"Home," is the last word that leaves my lips.

The world begins to fade. Sylas's scream echo but don't reach me. Nothing reaches me, not even time.

My eyes drift close and when they crack open, Sylas is there with a grief stricken face.

He's cradling my head, crying silently. "Help is on the way. Stay with me, Aurora."

I can feel myself fading away. He feels it too because he shakes me hard. "Don't! Please! Just a little longer. I love you, Aurora." His voice cracks. "Don't leave me."

Despite the cold blanket of death settling around me, his words offer warmth.

"I love you, Aurora. Don't leave me," he repeats, beautiful emerald breaking with emotion.

My heart breaks all over again for Sylas. I've known him for most of my life and a part of me have always loved him. Why couldn't it have been him?

Sylas who has always been there. A silent protector, a comforting friend, a relentless partner.

Why did I receive such a cruel fate?

A sudden anger fills me at the thought. I don't deserve to die like this. Dorian and Bianca don't deserve to get away with what they've done.

A final thought rings in my head as I succumb to the darkness-I wish I could do it all again.

CHAPTER THREE - AURORA

I jerk up with a scream. Light floods my vision and I'm momentarily blinded. Behind my closed eyes, stark images assault me. My near-death replays vividly, even when my eyes fly open I see it. To my greatest surprise, I'm not in a hospital.

I recognize the large windows and white walls-I'm back home.

"Honey, are you okay?" I look up to see Dorian rushing in.

My immediate instinct is to shrink away. Dorian is here!

But how?

What did he tell Sylas? Do the police not suspect him for trying to kill him?

That would explain why I'm back home. Whatever story he told them, they must've believed him.

He has brought me back to finish what he started.

"Stay the hell away from me!" I shriek.

Dorian stops cold. His expression changes into fear and confusion. "Darling, you're scaring me. What's wrong?"

"Don't act clueless, Dorian. You evil man! You won't get away with this." I push back further when he advances toward the bed.

"Aurora, I don't know what-"

"I'll call the police. I'll tell them everything! The both of you will rot in prison!"

"Aurora!" His voice cuts the air sharply, stunning me into silence. "Please, stop. I don't know what you're talking about and I'm starting to get worried that you've lost your damn mind."

My heart pounds loudly in my chest as I regard him to know what game he's playing.

He's trying to make it seem like I'm insane. Nobody would believe a word I say if he succeeds.

Anger boils in me. first he tries to kill me and take my money and when that fails, he wants to pretend I'm crazy!

"Just calm down and talk to me." He slowly walks to the bed and sits down. That's when I notice it.

He looks different in a way-Much younger. His face is clean shaven, the goatee he had started growing a few months ago nowhere in sight.

What sort of trickery is this?!

"Was it a nightmare? It's been a while since you've had one but I know how terrifying it is for you." As he talks, my gaze shifts to the room and the little things I missed in my state of panic.

The painting I had bought him for our one year anniversary is missing. His video game shelf is barely full.

Confusion clamps around my mind. "What is happening?" I mutter. Then slowly, I stare down at my body. I'm in Dorian's shirt with nothing underneath. My skin is smooth and fair. I don't feel like I've been sick. Light reflects off the diamond ring on my finger calling my attention. It still looks brand new.

I know it's crazy. I know it shouldn't be possible. But I ask regardless, "What day is it?"

Dorian stares at me like I've asked him to jump out the window. "It's the 14th," he says uncertain.

"The 14th," I repeat dumbfounded. Without my asking he supplies the month and the year still staring as if I've gone completely mad.

It's the day after we got married. But how?

We've been married two years. His cousin arrived two months ago.

How am I back here?

'I wish I could do it all again.' The thought hits me like cold water. I had said it as I was dying.

Could it be that I somehow went back to two years ago? Could it be some higher power has given me another chance?

The thought fully solidifies when I reach over and take my phone. The time and the date is clear. Congratulatory texts fill the screen from employees and clients...and Sylas!

"Aurora?" I lift my head to find Dorian now wearing a worried expression.

if this is real, then he doesn't know that I have foresight.

My eyes widen at the possibility that I've already exposed myself. I force tears out of my eyes and rush to hug him.

He startles before wrapping his arms around me.

"I had such a horrible dream, Dorian. I'm so sorry I freaked out." I make my voice tremble. "It felt so real and I got confused when I woke up."

His voice comes out soothing and filled with warmth. "It's okay. You're safe with me."

Before I would've gotten tingles and butterflies fluttering in my stomach but I feel nausea and disgust.

I stare up at him and there's nothing in his face but love and concern. Damn. He's a very good actor.

No wonder it was so easy to fall for him and his tricks in two years. Not anymore. I will make him pay. He and Bianca will regret the day they decided to deceive and kill me for my money.

"Come on," he says, pulling away and taking my hand. "I made breakfast."

I have no idea when he started poisoning me or how he did it. My food? My morning coffee?

I'm not taking any chances.

"I'm not hungry."

He pauses and a red blush creeps up his neck. "You sure? We had a very long and... intense night. You need to eat."

I watch the boyish way he avoids my gaze and my heart twinges with hate. Such a good actor.

I let myself imagine the satisfaction when he and his fiancee gets what's coming for them.

"I'll eat something on the way."

"On the way? You're going out?" He looks at me perplexed.

"Uh, yes." I smile warmly. "I just remembered I have something important to check with Sylas."

"Come on, darling." He closes the distance and nuzzles his face in my hair. I flinch for a second and he thankfully doesn't notice.

His mouth starts trailing kisses down my neck. "You said no work for a week. Just us, the bed, the pool, remember?"

I have a vague recollection of saying that. But I had been blindly and foolishly in love with a snake!

I gently push him back, careful to display affection in my eyes. "I'm sorry. This is very important. I'll make it up to you when I get back."

I don't wait for him to respond before I hurry into the bathroom and lock the door.

Taking deep breaths, I steady myself and call Sylas.