Verona had helped Avril unpack the clothes into her wardrobe while Aida and Gia went to clean up the courtyard. A lot of the flowers and trees needed trimming, and the lawn needed mowing. Now that they were gone, Avril and Verona resumed their discussion from the city center.“Verona, do you really think there is a bond between me and Dakar that is drawing him closer to me?” she asked with moist eyes. Verona nodded and sat beside her on the bed. Her right leg dangling over the edge while her left leg was lying bent in front of her on the bed. Avril on the other hand had both her legs on the bed and she was hugging her knees.“Honestly, I think that's it. Why else would he treat you different from the very beginning? There should be something.”“You know, back at the island...he treated me with so much care. I even turned into a spoilt princess because Dakar just did everything for me. From cooking, to cleaning. He wouldn't let me stress myself even though I was behaving like a lazy an
Chidi, Nana and Xiao Wéi decided to go see Avril in the evening since she and Verona came to see them but they were super busy. Remus had a lot of agricultural wealth and engaged in lots of farming activities. They had huge farms and plantations of different plants and trees. Their flower gardens were simply the best, producing so many beautiful flowers which were used to produce perfumes and fragrances. The Kingdom Of Remus was one of the secrets to the finest perfumes and colognes produced from Italy. They didn't produce it themselves, but sold the needed ingredients to human companies. Since it was almost winter, the agricultural activities were rounding up and it was more of storage now. Xiao Wéi had much work to do now because she worked at the Mill. They had to produce a good amount of flour, and also take care of all the grains harvested.Anyway, the day was almost over and sunset was crawling in. It was so cold, so the three of them wrapped themselves up in thick, cotton jacke
“What was close, sir?” Verona asked with raised eyebrows. Prince Dakar froze for a second then got on his feet.“Something almost got in my way,” he said and exhaled.“Something almost got in your way? This has to do with Fiorella?” Verona questioned even though she knew she was already crossing boundaries.“Yes and no. This is personal. How far with training her mind? I hope you're not only gossiping and doing irrelevant stuff whenever you're with her,” he changed the topic and Verona sighed.“We are progressing,” she simply replied even though she had done the lesson with Avril only once. Prince Dakar nodded and began to walk away towards the dining area.“Uhm, Prince,” Verona called.“You may leave now,” he stated and she smiled knowing he couldn't see her.“I thought...I thought I was supposed to spend the night here?” she stuttered with a smile still on, but immediately he turned his face to look at her, she returned to her normal stoic expression.“I never said so. I only said y
Ñiraka was about to step down from the stairs in front of her entrance door when she stopped abruptly. Her father parked right in front of her and stepped down with his eyes red and angry.“F-father,” she stuttered and held the skirt of her dress firmly in her palms.“Why didn't you tell me yourself? Why did you let me find out and that from gossips?” he barked out and she shivered and gulped.“What-what are you talking about, dad?” she asked and took a step back. Her father was worse than a tiger when he was angry. Her maidens quickly scampered back inside the house and shut the door.“That human. Why did you not tell me there was a human getting in the way of you and the prince!” he half whispered in an angry tone. Ñiraka didn't know what to say so she just stood speechless.“When you came pleading that I speed up your marriage to the prince, I knew something was wrong somewhere. But since I don't live in the palace, I had no idea there was someone else the prince favored above you.
There was no one around the cabins when Ted and her friend were thrown on the ground. So no one could come to their rescue, and no one saw that Avril and Verona were capable of doing that. The two ladies and the maidens walked out and closed the door. They headed to that field were they saw while coming to the cabins.“That was sick, my lady,” Aida cooed and jumped excitedly. Even Gia couldn't hide her excitement.“Did you see the look on their faces as they laid on the ground there?” she asked and giggled with Aida.“Who did they think that you were? Some girls who missed their way to a fighting tournament?” Aida asked rhetorically.“Well, it seems they already realized that they were the ones who missed their way here,” Avril joked and they laughed.“That is how these tournaments are...always. People try to trample on others for the sake of their pride or for them to look big and almighty. It's either you stand up for yourself, or you'll just become a victim of someone else's fun mo
More people were returning even though they were already behind the time. A lot were injured, and some even had strange things on their bodies. A lot were soaked in black, viscous liquid like petroleum. It was all over their bodies, making them look like black moving sculptures.“Why are they looking like they got trapped in crude oil?” Tiana asked weakly as her brother was holding her and they were walking towards the line. She was already healing but the deep gashes weren't yet.“That should be one of the stages. Getting trapped in this sort of liquid then fighting your way out,” Avril guessed.“We did not pass through this stage. After fighting those eagles off, the forest just turned to normal and we simply ran through,” Verona explained.“Maybe not everyone gets to have all the stages?” Todd asked.“Actually, the Instructor did say everyone would go through five stages,” Avril corrected.“Let's go stand on the line. I'm sure there would be an explanation about it,” Verona pointed
Prince Dakar was standing in the middle of three Palace guards, all looking as angry as he was. He was wearing a dark blue double-vested overcoat without the buttons,and a black cotton turtleneck sweater was worn inside. With the way he was dressed, it was obvious he had just returned from wherever he went to and came straight to the Tournament. And he never carried Royal Guards when he was just going around.The man who was standing right before him staggered back, and almost stepped on Avril if she hadn't yelped and he shifted. He looked down at her, then up at the Prince, then down at her again.“W-woman?” he stuttered. Prince Dakar's eyebrows were so tightly furrowed that his forehead creased deeply. He looked down at Avril and his anger seemed to double up. Everyone could feel those hot waves radiating from him and prickling at their skin. Avril shut her eyes and whimpered. Her injuries did not like his Alpha waves. Instantly, they stopped emitting and the look in his eyes soften
Avril's heart literally stopped beating as Dakar kissed her. Her lower abdomen constricted and she almost gasped for air, because her organs stopped working. She didn't know when she closed her eyes, neither did she know how long the kiss lasted. All she knew was that she was being kissed by the man she loved.Finally, it was over. And Dakar took his head backwards, then stared at her eyes.“Your eyes are beautiful,” he said.“There are just normal eyes. Unlike yours that is sparkling green,” she replied and he chuckled.“Fiorella, listen to me,” he stated and took a breath in.“I want the best for you. And it seems hard to believe because I shouldn't be in that state. But trust me, I care about you even more than I expected to. And I want to be even something more.” He held her hand with his hand that didn't have green paste on it.“Fiorella, I...I like you.”Avril blinked repeatedly and tried hard to clear her blurry vision. Tears were forming and she had nothing to do with it. It w
“No! No! Give me those!” she screeched and flew at Camper who didn't move an inch. But before she could reach him, she was blasted off into the cage Avril's friends just vacated. Camper hurried over to Prince Dakar.“You came right on time. They've hurt Avril,” Dakar said. Camper looked at the white fog and clenched his teeth.“Verona will help. She's coming. They are coming.”Dakar nodded and took one of the clear crystal balls and lifted it up.“Camper feels emotions more than anyone else can. Which is why he's a playboy, he enjoys the pleasure a hundred times than an average person. And when someone is overexcited, or is hiding something where they've channelled all their protective information... Camper can trace where all those emotions are headed,” Prince Dakar said as Athena began to rise.“Where your treasure is stored, there will your heart be,” Camper recited. “While you were busy flirting and trying to make him take you there on your garden floor, he was looking deep into
Avril had only just slept for a half an hour when she heard a masculine scream pierce through the serenity of the room. She jerked awake, causing a terrible headache to erupt in her head. The scream continued on. Obviously, that person was in deep agony. She rubbed her weak eyes with her weak fingers and realized this agonized person was right there on the floor in front of her. Then she realized it was Dakar.“Dakar!” she screamed and ran out the bed, only to fall on the bed because of how numb her legs were. She groaned but crawled on foura to where he lay. His scream and cries were terrible. She grabbed his arm but he shoved her off as he continued to twist and contort in pain.Avril burst into tears when she noticed he was bleeding from his nostrils, mouth and ears.“Help, please!” she tried to shout but no way her voice could be heard above his.She crawled back to the bedside, grabbed the pitcher of water and tossed it over him. He stilled immediately and lay unconscious. Avril
“Gently get the girls to wake up. We're leaving. Pick up everything. Leave no personal belonging behind,” Dakar warned strictly. The two men nodded and darted into their room.“Where's Verona?” Avril asked.“I'm here,” she replied and showed up too. Verona looked agitated and vigilant.“I can't believe I was such a fool to bring you all here,” Dakar said to himself and looked her he could slap his own cheek. The candlelights were enough to show the look of regret on his face. He held Avril's good hand and led her out while Verona also darted inside the room. The others were already frantically moving and packing stuff.In less than ten minutes later, everything had been packed as affirmed by Camper. They then quietly started out without a word or sound from anyone.They got to the throne room which was empty and dark too. Instead of them to go through the main entrance, Prince Dakar turned them to a different direction. He tugged gently on what was like a door and a secret passage ope
Athena plastered a too wide smile on her face as she smoothly walked towards them like she was gliding and not actually taking steps. Her outfit was all gold, blending too much with the throne room itself. If her visible skin and hair were also gold, she would be invisible in the hall.“Pleased to meet you again, Athena,” Prince Dakar said with courtesy. Athena turned her full attention to him as she stood a few feet away.“Ah, my handsome nephew. You look amazing despite everything you've been through. I guess strength and good looks runs in the family. How is your father?” she asked and cocked her head to the side.“He is doing very well. Sends his kind regards,” Prince Dakar answered. Athena grinned and moved closer to him. A little bit too close. She looked up into his eyes and tucked loose hair behind his ear.“When this is all over, I would love to see his final look,” she said then grinned again.Avril frowned but quickly tucked her face right. What did she mean by ‘his final l
Prince Dakar got up, then jerked his jacket by the lapels to get it aligned with his body. He took a deep breath, relief flooding in that Avril was not dead. And she was right at the other side about to come over. He heard a feminine gasp like the one had made and made a quick turn to see the person who had come out. But he was disappointed to see the slim, black friend of Avril. Chidi. She wasn't crouched down like he was, but she was standing straight and breathless.“Are you all right?” he asked as she stood rooted to the spot, oblivious to him standing there. After he spoke, she raised her eyes abruptly and saw him. Then she looked back at the innocent look archway.“Congrats. You got out. Come over, let's wait for the others,” he said again and walked a few feet from where he was standing. Chidi followed silently and leaned against a tree with her eyes closed. Dakar was tempted to ask her what she saw, but he didn't want to intrude. Chidi however surprised him.“T saw Avril fall
The Porta Metus was situated in a vast region of land that was very mountainous. Solid, smooth rock was the ground and scorpions could be seen tittering around. Flying, giant bee-like creatures swarmed about and scared the living daylights out of the traveling group.The gateway itself was an archway of smooth grey rock that began on the ground but went over to cover the small bridge. There was a deep ditch dividing the rock terrain, and earthy terrain.“We have to be very careful. The Porta Metus is the archway. It doesn't come up this time of year so I'm worried about you all. The Porta Metus brings out your greatest fear. Between you and your greatest fear, only one will make it out. To reach your destination, you must defeat your greatest fear against all odds.”After Prince Dakar's information, everyone stared still at the harmless looking archway of rock.“What if you do not have a greatest fear but just little little fears?” Xiao Wéi asked.“Then I consider that person the luck
“What in the world are those thing?” Nana yelled amidst the screams. The horses that were at the far end of the cave startled up and began to neigh and thump around.“Stealth wraiths. Half-dead creatures but more dead than alive. Which means you can't see them. They're very rare!” Camper shouted out.“How do you kill what you cannot see?!” Avril shrieked as Camper sliced through the air again and black blood poured out of nothing.“They are as cold as ice. You feel their chill and strike,” Verona answered as she trotted to the entrance to assist Camper. The rest shifted back but didn't lose their guard. The horses were causing a scene on their own and Avril instinctively ran over to calm them down. It didn't work.A cold chill was taking over the entire cave, the entrance had turned into a battle ground. Camper and Verona were fighting invisible, shrieking creatures that seemed to be pushing them backwards and not the other way around. Whatever does things were, they were plenty and t
They trespassed through the Soot Forest, as Camper had called it, for five hours straight. They only rested at most ten minutes while standing because of the human girls who were not as tire-proof as the wolves. Avril and her girls even surprised Prince Dakar. They didn't tire as easily as other humans.“One more hour and we'll be out,” Camper announced to the group.“I hope there's a place we can sit our butts down?” Nana grumbled.“Well, I see sitting your butt down is very important to you. Seeing you carry a lot over there of course,” Xiao Wéi joked and the girls burst into laughter except Verona who had not smiled since the journey began. As was usual of her.“If we don't sit soon, I'm afraid I'll lose all my assets,” Nana replied. Avril slapped Nana's butt.“Nope, you're still good even if you walk the whole day,” she teased and Nana butt-kicked her. Avril wasn't expecting that move and it pushed her, making her feet unbalanced on the ground. She yelped as she felt herself desc
Avril laughed loud again and everyone rushing food at the table looked over at them. “Is there a comedy show going on there, Fiorella?” Verona asked grudgingly. “Are there any tickets left? I need a good laugh also,” Nana spoke and Chidi elbowed her. “Don't mind them. Just talk and laugh all you want. You're not bothering us,” Chidi said and glared at Nana who shrugged. She looked away and her eyes caught Camper staring at her friend in amusement. He had his fork twirling in his salad as he stared at Nana. “It's going to be too obvious that you like this girl. Put that face straight,” the new guy ordered with a frown. Everyone at the table frowned except Camper who smirked at him. The way he spoke was so authoritative and haughty. Who was he? Avril's laughter rang up again but nobody looked back at them this time. “Why are you all looking at me like I said something bad?” he questioned. “That's because you sound like a nagging mother. It doesn't suit you,”