Lilith’s POV
The assassin’s cold blade pressed hard against my skin right above my collarbone and I could feel my muscles clenched in anticipation with the adrenaline coursing through my veins.
“Put the sword down now!” The Assassin commanded Dale. “Do it now, or I’ll wet the ground with her blood!”
Dale hesitated; I could see she was wrestling with the urge to draw her weapon and attack the stranger behind me. Her hand twitched as she took hold of the hilt of her sword. Then she looked straight at me and we locked eyes.
“It’s okay, do as he says,” I said softly, hoping against hope that she understood me.
Dale reluctantly threw the sword on the floor and took three steps away from it as an assurance to the assassin that she had surrendered.
“Now… you and I are going for a short walk.” The stranger hissed and began to pull me backward in the direction of the door. “And you….” He pointed the blade towards the direction of Dale. “…don’t think of raising an alarm unless that’s the last thing you…”
Taking the blade off of my neck was the stranger’s first mistake. With all the strength I could muster, I slammed the back of my head into his face. The impact sent him staggering back, temporarily blind from the pain.
In a swift movement, Dale picked the sword from the floor and advanced. “Stay behind me, My Queen!” She called as she raised her sword high above her head and brought it down upon the stranger and would-be assassin.
The assassin deflected the blade barely, but Dale had the advantage with a longer and bigger sword. She quickly went into action hacking and jabbing with excellent swordsmanship while the stranger backed away slowly towards the window.
I heard the doors open behind me, and more guards poured into the palace grounds, obviously alarmed by the ringing of the blade against the blade as Dale battled the assassin.
“My Queen! Are you okay?” Two of the guards stopped to attend to me while the others rushed over to assist Dale.
“Watch out! He’ll escape!” I shouted at the guards, but it was already too late. The assassin turned and crashed through the window and out of the building.
The guards were running here and there shouting or receiving orders while Dale turned to me. “You’re not safe here, My Queen,” she said. “We need to get you to safety right now!”
“The assassin! Make sure you find him!” I said to a guard.
The man bowed. “We will find him, Your Highness,” he replied, and then took off to join the orders.
“My Queen, I’ll escort you back to your quarters if it is your will,” Dale offered.
I could see the urgency and alarm in her eyes as she stood there in armor and sword in hand. I sensed her determination and her devotion and I could tell that Dale was one of the few persons at the palace that I could trust.
I nodded. “I’ll return to my Chambers where I’ll wait for the Alpha King’s return. He should be back soon,” I said.
Together, Dale and I made our way to my room. I got in and Dale positioned herself by the door. She was about to close the door when I caught sight of a figure behind her, making me reach out and grab the door before it could close.
“Wait! Cara?!” I exclaimed in shock and the utmost surprise.
Cara quickly hurried over and bowed curtly. “Your Highness,” she said.
“Where have you been?” I asked in disbelief. I just could not believe my eyes. I was not expecting to see Cara all of a sudden out of the blues.
“I am so sorry, your Highness,” Cara said, bowing her head low. “It was not my intention to leave the palace the way I did, but I was taken,” she said solemnly.
“Taken?!” I gasped and glanced at Dale. Dale’s face registered no surprise, only suspicion and apprehension as she frowned at Cara.
“Yes, your Highness,” Cara replied. “I was kidnapped on the premises by unknown men and have been their captive ever since.”
“What? Come in Cara. Tell me everything that happened.” I beckoned for Cara to come in.
Cara moved to come in, but Dale remained in place, blocking the entrance from Cara.
“It’s okay Dale,” I told her. “Let Cara in.”
Dale was not okay with the idea, but she stepped aside, granting Cara entrance. “As you wish, my Queen,” she mumbled.
Cara stepped in, and the door was closed behind her. It has been days since Cara disappeared from the palace. No one knew about her location, or even hear of her whereabouts, but here she was, in person, with stories of kidnapping.
“Talk to me, Cara,” I said, as I lead her to a couch. “Did you see the faces of the men who took you?” I asked calmly.
Cara shook her head. “No, my Queen. I couldn’t see their faces, but I was able to hear bits of their conversations.”
“And where are you able to hear anything useful?” I prompted her.
“They said something about a surprise for the Alpha King and about a weapon that could weaken him or something…” Cara replied.
I felt my heart stop momentarily. “A weapon? What do you mean a weapon?” I asked.
“That was the only thing I could hear; I’m sorry, my Queen,” Cara apologized.
This was probably Ben’s doing, no doubt. Augustus didn’t know the palace well enough to sneak in and kidnap people, but Ben had lived here his entire life; he knew the palace like the back of his hand; only he would be capable of such a thing.
The very thought alone sent shivers down my spine, the thought of Ben entering and exiting the palace whenever he wanted. A man like that could even have spies working on the palace grounds! At the thought of SPY, something came to mind.
I quickly turned my attention to Cara again. “How did you escape?” I asked skeptically.
“Oh, I was…. My captors…”
BOOM!
The noise disrupted our little conversation. It was the booming of the cannon, an alarm that the Alpha King was returning….