Chapter 2

“Oh, your majesty. You had always had a way with your words, haven't you? I wonder whom you had inherited this trait from? The king had known very well what he was getting himself into when he stroked a deal with me, multiple times at that. Now, is there anything you would request for me, my princess? I have been wondering why your men had been looking for me across the land. I do not think it would be for discussing your father's ill state, now would it?”

“Well, my father may not have any favors to ask of you, but I, on the other hand, have found myself at your mercy,” I said while carefully trying to read The Sorceress’s face. I locked eyes with Jasmine and nodded to her to indicate for them to leave the welcoming room so that I could talk to the Sorceress in private. I could see the Sorceress face gleaming with amusement, resembling so much satisfaction at a brand new opportunity of taking advantage of my family once more had risen before her.

So I told her, I told her everything knıwing very well that The Sorceress is not to be trusted and can use everything I say against me and my country. But I did not care, I could not care. I told her everything from the beginning, how my father had been betrayed by his henchmen, how he had fallen ill as his body gave out from all the pent up heartbreak that he had accumulated over the course of years, how his henchmen had made allies once he got bedridden to take over our beautiful country, how I could not betray my father’s wish and leave for the war.

I needed her help, I needed her powers, I needed her favors, and I was willing to pay any price she would tell me to pay. I tried my best to carefully select my words to not give her any upper hand but failed miserably to do so as I tried my best to muffle my tear-induced chokes.

“I am sorry, your majesty,” she said after listening to me quietly, onşy nodding and hummin here and there. I could see how much she was being amused by my need for help, one thing she had never expected me to request her for. In what felt like a century-long ear-piercing silence, she had finally resumed, “No

matter how pleased I am to be at your service, I am in no capability or desire to help you and your mission.”

“I know you helped my mother 20 years ago,” I tried so hard to hide the shaking in my voice to leak through, “I know you helped her to conceive me. I know how my father spared your life after you came to collect your prize. If one thing that you should be, you should be thankful to me and my family.”

“What are you willing to pay me for the good thing I would give you if I have to choose to?” asked the Sorceress. “You must know better than anyone else that my favors come at a very Hefty price. Are you sure you're willing to pay for it?” I shook my head in agreement, what else did I have as an option? “Well well well,” said The Sorceress with a wider grin painting her face, “I have never pegged you as an altruistic person, your majesty, but here you are proving me wrong.”

“You do not know anything about me,” I snapped, not being able to hold myself back anymore.

“Oh, princess,” the Sorceress made her move towards me, I froze in my spot, unable to move any further as her herb-infused smell whiffed closer in a cloud. ”I know a lot more about you than you know. However, I would suggest you keep your Darkness under control if you truly wish for my help. I hope you do remember what happened to the last ruler who tried to trick me into my favors without paying the price that I told them to pay, only to pay a much harder price under my wreath. Now, you would not want such faith for yourself and your subjects, now, do you, princess?” I swallowed the not that had been sitting in my throat from not being able to defend myself against the Unapologetic smugness of the Sorceress like I would have normally done if it was not any other case, and turned my case down. I felt her index finger caressing my cheek, mumbling “Good girl!” into my ear before she turned back to the reverence spot, set the commands wood stand when they came to visit me for any favors. Oh, how the tables had turned for me, as I, the great princess Viviana, was taking blow after blow to my ego, allowing such a commoner to threaten me with their power and their prerogative to help me with my struggle.

“No, just because I can not help you, does not necessarily mean that I can guide you towards our solution. but princess, it is not me who you should be striking a deal with to save your country. you should go to the cave where all the wicked have been enslaved, the cave that has been hidden in the depths of the Sorceress Forest. And you should perform a summoning if you are brave enough that is... Are you brave enough, Your Majesty?”

“I am.”

“Alright. Then listen to me closely. Once you arrive at the cave, you should light this incense on the fire and draw this sigil on the wall of the cave using the ashes of the incense. as you start feeling the cold breeze filling the cave, you should get on your knees and ask for The mercy of the ruthless Lycan Beast. If there is someone that can help you with your problem in this realm, it is the Lycan Beast.”

I tried my best not to collapse on my knees as my feet went wobbly with relief. Trying hard to go back to my composure, I ordered my servants without making eye contact with The sorceress, “Take her back to where you found her,” and shooed her out from my presence. As I was about to throw myself back to my father’s throne as my servants dragged The sorceress out, I heard a peal of manic laughter from the wicked’s bent-over figure. “One last warning before I leave,” The Sorceress stopped in her tracks to turn and throw one last look at me. “You must remember that his price is much higher than mine could ever be. I should know, I lost my eyes along the way.”