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That night, King Lucien's sleep was disturbed much more than it has always been.
For some painful incomprehensible reasons, nightmares about what happened to Declan plagued his unconsciousness. His waking moments are no better.
An hour after midnight, he was wide awake with a hurting heart and a head filled with painful memories of his cousin who died in the most horrible way right in front of him.
In the dark of the night, he clenched his hands into fists, wishing the pain will stop. If only Danika was here...
Danika. His heart unclenched a bit at the thought of her. How is she? How is his child?
Getting up from the bed, he entered the bathroom, turned on the cold water overhead, and let it wash over him.
Not for the first time, he regretted giving his word to help the
1433 word(s) Published 277 Long after sunrise, Vetta laid on her bed staring out of her window. Her eyes were swollen and there's no strength left in her body. She'd been crying all the way from Mombana back to Salem, all through the night. Danika's apologies had thrown her off guard. It was so unexpected. As unexpected as hearing her name from her lips. She'd freaked out. Till now, there's no way to explain the way she felt in those moments, she'd done something that she'd never expected she'll do. Running away. That unplanned, uncalculated, escape cause her to bruise her arm at the unceremonious fall she'd landed on. But, the pain was hardly felt. With a soft sigh, she got up from the bed and walked towards the window. As she watched market men and women go about their daily activities and children playing around, Danika's words filled h
917 word(s)Published278Vetta arrived at the palace, going straight to the training ground, knowing that the King will be there training the young warriors.Indeed King Lucien was there, but the training session is over. When she saw him, he was addressing Dargak in a low tone. He hasn't seen her yet, so she used that moment to really look at him.He has changed indeed. If you aren't so close to him, you will not notice the subtle change because physically, he still looks the same. Hard, huge, scary, calm with a dominating presence that is almost domineering.But that coldness that surrounds him like a cloak is not there any longer. It makes him look a little more...approachable."Vetta."His deep voice dragged her out of her thoughts. She looked up, her eyes meeting his. Her lips stretched into a smile as she walked closer and b
1086 word(s)Published279King Lucien glanced up at her, curiously. "You want tea? I will send words to the Royal Kitchen to make you the one—""Please, I'm t-too thirsty, I c-can't wait. Let me drink this one while Maima m-makes you another one. Please, My King." Vetta has no idea what's inside that tea but she'll be damned before she let him drink it in front of her.Shaking her head, she walked towards him and took the tea from him. It's an insolence, to snatch what the King is holding without his permission, but that is not her thought at the moment.Taking the wooden cup, she stepped out of his reach.King Lucien does not understand Vetta's insolence. But, it didn't get past him that it's the first time Vetta is making such an insolent move with him."Alright, you can take that one. I'll have Maima make me another one."
1161 word(s)Published280REUNION: The Ocean Of Unexpected Truth and Pain.....A tear dropped from his eyes and splashed into his hands.The sight broke Declan's heart. "You have nothing to be sorry for, Brother. You did everything you could. You did as you promised. You brought us out of that shíthole like you promised.""Not until it was too late," his voice sounded scrapped raw, "Not until all the damages have been done.""No, you're wrong. Damages was done, but here we are today. Salem is magnificent again, I was flabbergasted when I entered the Kingdom," Declan closed the distance between them then, grabbed his shoulders and shook him, "The Kingdom is wealthy, beautiful and prosperous again! In just six years! No, all damages was not done."Deep into that hurtful place King Lucien was buried int
1144 word(s)Published..."I didn't do it alone. The mistress did it with me." Her eyes lifted and landed on Vetta, "She killed Prince Declan with me."King Lucien stilled."What....!?" His head swiveled and landed on Vetta, "What...!?" He repeated.Vetta did not move a muscle. There were tears in her eyes...tears of guilt and pain. But, she did not say a word."The Mistress has no words because she knows I speak the truth! We killed Prince Declan together and we enjoyed it!" She laughed maliciously, "It's a pity that he is still alive!"King Lucien returned fierce blue-eyes at the woman.She lifted her chin, "Yes, it's a pity that he survived! I hate it! But, I'm not worried," that evil laugh again, "My master will still kill you all! He will have the victory! He will—"
1088 word(s)Published282"Thank you for saving my life, Anarieveta." Declan rasped at her hair."Thank you f-for staying alive." Vetta cried, "You have no idea h-how... how you have helped m-me now."He continued, "All these years, I get flashes of our time in that cage...and my last moments. I felt so much hatred towards you," he admitted, "my memories were all jumbled up. I remember a betrayal from a woman that has taken punishments for the King. I remember the woman stabbing me."Declan pulled back then and looked at her, "But as I stepped into the boundaries of Salem and my memories welcomed me, my heart set you free. I remembered fully then that it was the maid—Talia—who owns that rage and hatred.""It would have been a disaster for me if your memories didn't return..." It was a joke, but it came out tearfully.&
1073 word(s)Published283FIFTH TO THE FINAL EPISODE; Part 2...Declan raised his hands' palms out. "I do not mean any offense, brother. I do not judge you or hold a grudge against you for loving her, I trust you. I know you. I will not get between you two." he paused, "But indeed, I do not see myself liking her now, or in the future. Her father... That monster..."King Lucien only got up and patted his shoulder in reassurance. "It is okay, Deck. I will not force you to. I will not impose it on you either. I respect your decision."His uneasiness dissolved. "Thank you, brother." His usual smile crossed his face, "One great thing is that you're not in love with my woman. And you do not want to marry her.""The Princess Kamara." The King nodded, "I still can't believe that you're the peasant..., That woman loves you immensely."&n
1251 word(s)Published284FOURTH TO FINAL EPISODE; Part 1.Name: Night For Lovers.Bathed and dressed in her nighties, Princess Kamara laid down in bed, her heart filled with elation and peace, for the first time in a long time.Her Callan—no, Declan—is no peasant after all, but a Prince. The knowledge is going to take some time getting used to.At the sound of her door opening, her eyes slipped open. Declan stood at her door. He was dressed in a white coif robe with the rope tied into knots at the front.Her heart fluttered. The temperature of her bedroom seems to have dropped as her eyes met his."Declan..." She has no idea what she wanted to say, only that he was too far."I think I'm finally ready to take what belongs to me, My Lady. I'm ready to make you mine," His cheeks