ELORA
I stopped in my tracks as perspiration trickled down my spine in a slow steady stream, standing there, afraid to move as I heard Kain’s footsteps approaching. I wasn’t sure he was talking to me.
“What is your name?” I heard him ask from behind me.
I was going to break into a run, then I heard Lucy speak.
“My name’s Lucy, Sir!”
“Oh, Lucy! I see.”
It wasn’t me!
He hadn’t been talking to me!
He hadn’t been calling for me!
I felt my breath begin to flow easily again. My heart was still pounding and I could almost hear it in my ears. My chest was already hurting from all that fear and adrenaline pumping.
“What can I do for you, good sir?” Lucy asked. There was fear evident in Lucy’s voice. The palace workers already knew the atrocities Kain had done to slaves and what had been going on in his brothel.
I realized that this was my moment to move. I began to move away, step by step. All the while I stood there, I hadn’t turned, and I still had my back to them even as I started to walk off slowly.
“Are there any new employs in the palace who came from Alkarod?”
The very words ‘Alkarod’ caused me to lose my footing and I staggered lightly. I noticed that both Lucy’s attention and his attention were now drawn to me as they stopped conversing. I steadied myself and began to walk away again.
“You!” Kain yelled.
It was unmistakable this time.
He was talking to me.
And instantly I broke into a run, leaping away with each stride as fast as I could. The moment he saw me run, he ran after me, and in a few seconds, he was right in front of me. The Lycan had devilish speed. I realized I hadn’t stood a chance.
My heart was running wild with fear all over again. My chest threatened to explode as my heart drummed in my ears.
“Your hair.” He said, smiling.
He looked menacing in a blood red suit that ran the full length of his body. He gripped his cane loosely in his left hand as he stood in front of me, blocking my escape.
“Too damn long. That’s what gave you away.”
He lashed out, hitting my face and sending me sprawling backward. White and red swam in and out of my vision and I could hear Lucy’s scream sounding far away even though I knew she was standing a few feet away.
“You’ll kill her!” She cried from where she stood.
I got up and tried to run off again, unsteadily staggering off, dizzy but he reached me in a few strides. He kicked me this time, and my insides almost came out as I rolled on the polished marble floors. I coughed up some blood and felt my anger boil within me again. This bastard thought he owned me.
I stood up again.
“Stay away from me!” I said as I lifted myself to my feet. “Stay away!”
A small crowd had gathered now. Some of the nobles that were still around from the court meeting had gathered around us to question Kain. He wasn’t heeding them. Some palace workers had come out too, all of them unable to stop what was playing out.
“You bitch! I’ll show you your place,” he roared and I saw the lights before feeling his fist as it hit me. I fell backward again.
The guards came forward by this time, but the moment they saw him – they stepped back. They watched instead, not knowing what to do. He was noble.
“Why are you watching me? Get a hold of her.” Kain roared. The guards rushed forward, picking me up and grabbing me on either arm.
A feeling of déjà vu hit me then and at that moment, I was transported back to the night my father had been killed.
The guards had lifted him too.
*********************
ROME
After the trio had left the courtroom, they entered the king’s private study. Skye and Teriel proved to be the rock that Rome needed. Their eyes held the same question that many other genuine ones in the courtroom had held; the question about how the king would meet up in a fortnight. All of Hanaerum knew he didn’t have mistresses; they knew he didn’t want just any female warming his bed. He had taken Erika and had sworn to love only her.
“What would we do, Rome?” Skye asked. “You could lose the throne. Did you see Kain’s face? You’ve ruined the slavery business for them and his brothel is seriously running low on underaged females. It would be a great relief to him if you were deposed.”
Teriel sighed.
“Kain and Monica look like they have a play against you. And from the looks of it, they’ve also got the Baron on their team. I’m not sure who else. But I don’t think that’s everyone they have.”
Rome thought deeply about it.
It did seem like the Baron was in Monica’s skirts. But had Kain put Monica up to it? It wasn’t a far-fetched thought being the devil that he was.
“Can we count on Count Deliere?”
“The Count is loyal. He won’t shift. They’ll try to buy him, however,” Teriel said. “To them, this is the opportunity of a lifetime. They very well would try to get everyone in court.”
“It wouldn’t get to that. The vote, I mean. We can’t let it. What can we do?” Rome asked them.
He realized the gravity of the situation he was in; he’d be a fool not to. Although if he had enemies in court, this would be the hour to bait them and let them rear their heads, he was quickly realizing that he couldn’t trust everyone in the court.
“If we plan this correctly,” Teriel said, as though he had heard his thoughts, “We’ll easily smoke out your enemies in court.”
“And we’ll know who to trust with issues of any importance,” Skye said, pausing after a moment, “Your Majesty, I’m not sure how this would sound, but have you thought about talking to father?”
Rome didn’t look Skye in the face or reply as she had anticipated. He had thought about it too. Nathan may know a thing or two about how to subdue the court but his near silence during the meeting was enraging. It felt like he hadn’t wanted to be on any side. Rome thought him a coward for that. However, he knew he would have something that could work.
“You’re right. The bastard knows a way out. That’s why he was silent in the meeting. He wants me to ask for his help. Petty bastard!”
Lycan law was slippery. The older the king, the more familiar he was with ways to trick the system. Rome didn’t know if he could bring himself to talk to him.
He walked to one of the armchairs and dropped into it. He was exhausted and it wasn’t in his body. That he could bear. His mind was tired and it seemed he wouldn’t be getting any rest anytime soon.
He sighed deeply.
“You’ll be fine…” Skye said, finding a chair for herself. She knew her brother was exhausted.
“I hope so. All of this is tiring. Betrayed by Erika, and now betrayed by the Baron, and gods know who else in court.”
He closed his eyes to think for a bit but the noise in his head became louder.
Teriel spoke now from where he stood. “Your Majesty…” he nodded at Rome. “The King’s hand…” he said to Skye. “How about a drink by the red river? To clear your mind?”
“Oh, Teriel! You are just right,” Skye declared. “I haven’t been to the lake in a long time. That would be a welcome distraction.
The thought of the red river made the king smile. It was the lake at the far end of the palace where fragrant evergreen trees grew around it all year round. The shade of the trees provided relief from the summer heat and surely, it’d be the coolest at that time of the day. Skye and Rome had grown up visiting the lake with his mother most evenings. It held good memories and serenity.
“I’d like that,” Rome said. “Let’s go right away,” He offered, getting on his feet. “Have them bring drinks over.”
As they walked out of the palace, they met some commotion by the door. It looked like something was happening outside. The voices grew louder and louder and a small crowd gathered there.
“What’s happening, Teriel? Can you find what all the commotion is about?” The king said.
As Teriel rushed towards the commotion, he stood there with Skye and members of the royal guard, waiting to see what all that was about. Some nobles from the meeting had gathered there too. It had to be serious.
“My Lord!” Teriel said as he returned, “The she-wolf we saved at the border? Kain’s beating her!”