Hope
“Wh-what are you doing?” My voice trembled as I spoke quietly, not wanting to move my throat too much which would cause the tip of the sword to slice my skin a little bit.
“You Vitalis’ are the bane of all Lycans’ existences. Once you all die, everything will go back to the way it was.” Thaddeus said remotely, like he had practiced that line a lot before saying it.
“I d-don’t understand,” a stray tear slid down from my eyes, ran down my cheek and splattered down on the sword.
“Fake tears will not fool me,” he said, then raised the blade above my head in an attempt to slice my head off.
I squinted my eyes closed, awaiting my death in fear. One second, two seconds, three seconds, I heard a clang, sounding like two blades clashing. I slowly peeled my eyes open to see a blade holding Thaddeus’ own back.
I looked at the owner of the new sword and saw Darius. The veins on his neck were throbbing, as well as the ones on his forehead. He shot Thaddeus a look and the councilman lowered his sword slowly.
“I hope you know that I can have you hanged for treason,” Darius said after he lowered his own sword. Some guards barged into the room after that with Orion leading them.
“I was just doing what was right. You and I both know that,” Thaddeus prompted, clearly unremorseful of his actions. He shifted his gaze to me. “If you know what is good for you, you will stay away from my sight.”
“You will not talk to her like one of your servants,” Darius suddenly defended me, then took a step between Thaddeus and I, posing as a shield for me.
Thaddeus scoffed. “I’ve never known you to be an understanding king,” he said, insinuating an inside comment to which I had no clue what the meaning was.
“You’re right,” Darius said, much to my confusion. He took a step forward and gestured for the attention of the guards behind Orion. “Lock him up in the dungeon till further notice.” Darius ordered them.
In a split second, two guards grabbed onto the councilman’s arms and dragged him out of my room. He said nothing as he was being led away. The furious expression on his face said enough. After he was taken away, Orion and the remaining guards escorted them out, leaving Darius and I alone.
I suddenly felt all the weight of the tension in the air as Darius turned around to match my gaze. His eyes looked like an endless pool of rage as he stared at me.
“I-” he raised a hand to stop me from speaking.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
I reared back, confusion washing all over me. “Pardon?”
He sighed through his nose. “I do not like to repeat myself, princess. How are you feeling?” He sounded impatient.
My fingers unconsciously grazed my bare throat which has held captive by the tip of a sword moments ago. “I’m fine,” I replied through my teeth.
I wasn’t sure if any other word could express how I was feeling. I was almost killed moments ago and before that I had passed out from not being able bear people being killed. What was wrong with the people who lived in this castle?
Was a life so insignificant to them that they took it and left it be whenever they saw it fit? Were they expecting me to adapt to this kind of living? My throat felt dry at the thought.
“Sit down,” Darius ordered with his kingly voice. I did so immediately, not having any strength to question the order.
Once I did, he made a beeline to my dresser and poured in a glass of water for me from the jug. He walked back to offer me the glass. I stared at him with a cautious gaze as I reached for the glass with uncertainty.
“It’s obviously not poisoned, so drink it.” He shoved the glass into my hand. I collected it and took small sips of the water, then held it to my thighs with both my hands wrapped around the glass.
“I apologize for the inconvenience. Thaddeus… Thaddeus acts very impulsive at times.” Darius excused the madman who almost sliced my head off.
Inconvenience, he said. Thaddeus almost killing me was an inconvenience? My grip on the glass tightened as I stared up at my so-called husband.
“Why did he do that?” I asked, my annoyance showing off in my tone.
Darius cleared his throat. “The answer to that question is irrelevant,” he dismissed quickly.
My brows furrowed. “Wh- huh? Excuse me?” I set the glass on the floor and stood up to my full length.
“He just attempted to kill me,” I said with a leveled tone, trying to keep my anger and fear repressed. “And you refuse to give me a reason.” I continued.
“It is irrelevant. Exactly the way this conversation I’m having with you is.” Darius spoke in an agitated tone.
The anger that fueled my veins found its way to my facial expression. “How could you even say that? What if you had come in a moment later? I could’ve died today without any reason. Do you hate me that much that you rather I die without a cause?
“What have I ever done to you that you care for my well-being so little? I do not even understand you. You had those maids killed because they weren’t by my side and you only send that councilman to the dungeons when he obviously had the mind and will to kill me.
“He raised a sword to my throat. The maids ignored me. Which is the bigger sin? Why do you act so nonchalant about this? What is the rea-”
“Enough!” Darius boomed with a loud voice. I flinched at the suddenness of his word and the high pitch used.
“I have heard enough. When I say something, you simply understand it and nod. I will not have you raise your voice to me and stir up a ruckus.” He said.
My lips parted in surprise. “A ruckus? A ruckus, you say? I almost died. And you see such a thing as an inconvenience, irrelevant, a ruckus. Why do you do this to me? Why do you keep me here to torment me at every chance that you get?” My voice grew low at the last question.
“I do no such thing. And this conversation is over.”
Before I got a chance to say anything else, Darius turned his back to me and walked out of the room with no last glance. He shut the door loudly at his exit, leaving me alone with the quiet of my room.
I stood frozen, my fists clenched. I could not believe the amount of things that spanned within those few moments. And I still didn’t get an answer. Curse Darius Morati!
I ground my teeth as I headed for the door of my room and locked it; something I should’ve done earlier and always. I refuse to be a victim any longer. I trotted to my bed, lifted up the cushion and drew out India’s diary.
*****
A witch has cured me from my plague. Augustus doesn’t know it yet but while he left me to my own devices, I’ve been consulting several witches instead of physicians. A good lot of them refused to lend me help, claiming that they’d rather align with Augustus than me.
Meaning that by helping me, they were turning their backs to him. Everyone in Moratia knew about the estranged relationship between Augustus and I. It was what everyone ever talked about. And there was also talk about him getting a new wife to bear an heir. Since, I, myself hadn’t given him one.
But after I found this witch, my entire luck has changed. She cured me of my plague and offered a helping hand to me. She has promised to give me the one thing I wanted most in place in exchange for giving her a place to her to stay, right here in the castle.
I know it is foolish of me to even consider bringing someone here into the castle, and worse a witch. Creatures who have always stood alone, siding with neither humans or Lycans.
If my greediness and quest for revenge gets the better of me, it could bring catastrophe to everyone. And somehow, that idea didn’t faze me one bit.
A knock from on my door had me shutting the binds of India’s diary and shoving it under my bed. I ran my hand through my hair that I had thrown to one side while reading India’s diary. I also dusted off my tunic and arranged the fabric before I trotted to the door.
I pushed open the door to reveal none other than Kyle with a small girl next to him. I noticed that while Kyle wore a small frown on his lips, the girl next to him was beaming with a bright smile.
“Kyle…?” I called his name with a hint of confusion in my tone as I stared at the small girl.
“My lady, this is your new personal maid, Gwendolyn-”
“Just Gwen is fine!” she interrupted, bouncing on her toes with excitement.
“Gwendolyn here was personally handpicked by the king himself. She will be with you at all times when you need her.” Kyle went on, ignoring the interruption.
With my scrutinizing gaze on Gwendolyn, I noticed something. “You’re a human?” I asked with disbelief evident in my tone.
“Yes!” She flashed a smile. Kyle shot her a glare and she cleared her throat awkwardly. “Yes, my lady.” She corrected with a much sober tone, curtseying a little.
I stared at her, stunned. Human? I thought there were no other humans safe for me in this castle. As though Kyle read my mind, he spoke up.
“The king had her brought from the human lands on the grounds of making you feel more comfortable in this environment under the advise of the doctor.” He explained.
My jaw dropped. “The king did this?” I asked for confirmation.
“Yes, my lady,” Kyle replied immediately.
“The king? My husband? He did this?”
“Yes, he did.”
“The king who lives in this castle? King of Moratia? That person?”
“Yes, my lady.”
“Are you sure I’m the one who he did this for? Maybe there was a mistake somewhere.”
“No, my lady. There is no mistake anywhere. The king had personally seen through to this.” Kyle said.
“My goodness,” I clutched my chest as my legs became weak.
Why would he do such thing? What was he trying to prove? After getting rid of those maids, passing my almost death as irrelevant and yelling at me, he brought in a human to keep me company?
What was going through his mind? Did he think that this would make me feel less tortured or something close to that? Did he think this as a way to apologize to me? Just the thought of that alone had me clenching my fists in a fit of anger.
“Alright, then,” I said, breathing out cool air. “Come in.” I shifted my gaze to the human. I widened the door and she stepped in. Kyle stood frozen by the door. I pursed my lips. “You too.” I told him.
It was only for a brief second but I saw the look of surprise that flashed his features. I remembered the first day he was assigned to him and I had awkwardly told him not to step into my room.
Things between us had moved past that, and dare I say that I was now comfortable enough around him that I could invite him to my room.
“I cannot, my lady.” Kyle said, respectfully bowing his head.
I sighed. Though I might have been comfortable around him, maybe that wasn’t the case with him. There was nothing I could do to change that. I put on my polite smile.
“Of course, but whenever you’re tired, I have a chair for you.” I told him. It was only a second but I saw his lips twitch.
I turned my attention to Gwendolyn, who was staring at me in awe. As I opened my mouth to ask why, the sound of heavy, fast footsteps approaching caused me turn around. When I did, I saw that the commander was two steps behind Kyle.
Kyle, noticing how he stood a barrier between the two of us, stepped out of the way. I got a closer look at the Commander’s face to see that she was wearing a very serious expression.
“Leave us.” She ordered Kyle and Gwendolyn. They did so without question. Commander waltzed into my room like she owned the place. I shut the door behind her, then turned around to face her.
With her arms crossed, she said, “We have much to talk about, princess.”