Chapter # 3

There came the evil wizard in disguise of an irresistibly handsome Prince under the ruse of alliance, chasing his intentions with thundering speed as others were unaware of it.

I never thought I would return to this destable land. Hmph, still the same. He thought with a bitter smile, contemplating the surroundings until his eyes met hers.

“There she is.” Causing his heart to skip a beat, halting his very existence when he saw her from afar, still bewitching enough to capture any heart in her captivating hazel eyes.

"Ruth" He called one his fifteen commanders, narrowing his eyes and the spark emerging from him converted into a fiery fire of hatred.

"Yes, My Liege?" Ruth asked, setting her eyes on a tower.

"Spread out. You know what to do. We cannot stay here long." He ordered with a vile smirk.

"Yes." Bowing, They vanished in the air before anyone could notice.

"Have we met him before?" Persephone whispered to Kriss, perplexed by Zadicus's gaze upon her.

"Nope. Yeah, His Father visited us once but things didn't go well and after a decade, he is here." Kriss shrugged telling her.

"Then why is he looking at me in... nostalgia?" She asked, growing uncomfortable by his stare.

"Who knows? Love at first sight maybe." He teased her, deepened her frown, "Curse your tongue."

"It's not wise, do not deliberately become ignorant to what you are aware of." He smirked before coming forth.

"Pleasure to be your host." Kriss said in a gallant way, offering his hand.

"Likewise, Prince." Zadicus smiled faintly but burned from inside to act decently around the person he once called his best friend.

"I hope our conviviality won't disappoint you and help us reach a favorable result." Kriss polite tone came out.

"I am assured it will." He replied in the same tone.

Ceasing the greeting, he turned to his people.

"She is Vera Stark, the Imperial Head and Persephone Sage, the Army Commander." He greeted them.

"Well, who doesn't know The Phoenix?" He smirked, kissing the back of her palm but the moment his lips made contact with her skin it emerged a spark, embedding the sensation that it’s none other than him.

Horrifying her, “You…” She tried to speak but Kriss cut her off,

"Please come, Prince." Leading them inside, “Kriss-” Persephone tried calling but he motioned her to stop.

“Not now, Persephone. You go back to your post.” He ordered and left with Zadicus. 

They all entered, he was waiting for a perfect opportunity to cast his first attack, using patience as his weapon.

He was escorted to his room, where he freshened up after his prolonged journey.

"What's your name?" He asked the maid assigned to accompany him around the castle.

"Jennie, His Highness." She replied, not lifting her head.

"Lead me to the courtyard." He commanded, holding his hand at his back, knowing where he would find Persephone and he did. Watching her staring at the flowers, crushing them.

"Nuisance." He muttered, glancing at the maid and knocked her out instantly, causing her to fall on the ground as he approached Persephone alone.

"Immersed in thoughts?" He asked, leaning on the frame, smirking at her.

"Why pay heed to an eternal function? It exists within us all. Everybody thinks." She breathed out. 

"But it is the controller." He added, coming closer, standing right behind her, putting his hand on her shoulder, leading to her ear, hitching her breath.

"Did you miss me?" He asked seductively.

"You gave me no reason to." She whispered, forming an unbreakable facade, returning him a glare.

"Why did you let me know that it’s you? Why reveal it to me only?" She asked, trying to resist his touch and remind herself that she is the commander not his lover.

"For you to recognize me." He murmured, brushing his lips over her neck but she stood unaffected.

"Do you want to die by my hands?" He laughed at her remark, "Bold of you to assume you can graze my skin.”

“Why did you come back?” She asked, not meeting his gaze, “To take what belongs to me.” He hummed.

“What is it?” She asked strictly.

“I will show you eventually, until then allow me to indulge in your hopelessness.”

“You ripped these emotions out of my very soul.” She murmured, curling her hands in a fist, “Then why does it tremble? By my name? By my presence?”

Enticement mixed with mockery at its peak, wavered her patience.

“Why does my presence, my name bring the feelings it did decades ago?” He asked, pushing her on the edge of her emotions but she must control them. 

"What do you want?" She asked, grabbing his wrist, twisting it as it pulled their bodies together.

"Why are you here? You don’t belong here anymore, you have nothing left, Aziel doesn't need traitors like you, Zadicus, get the fuck out of my home." She growled, digging her nails on his skin.

"I am not here to amend bonds either." He growled back, bringing his face closer to hers.

"Why are you here? To destroy us? For revenge?" She demanded, ready to engage in a fight.

“Because I won’t let you, you can no longer take our home away from us. I will fight you, if I must.” She hissed.

“So now you are ready to kill me too?” He asked, ridiculing her, she knew her hands trembled in his matter but it won’t stop her.

“If I must.” She said sternly, ready to summon her sword and attack him.

“Expected from a disbeliever like you.” He scoffed, hitting where it hurts the most. 

“Why are you here?” She growled, losing her grip on herself, pressing her teeth together.

A dark smirk came to his lips when he leaned down to her ears, "Why, you ask?"

Speaking temptingly before leaving which stiffed her.

"I yearn to enslave you in my arena, Persephone."

“What?” She asked, thinking she heard him wrong.

“Are you aware of your words?” She asked, chuckling dryly, yanking away from him, disregarding his words.

“Laugh all you want but soon. Very soon.” He smirked, resting his hands in his pockets, standing assertively, enunciating.

“No one is going to believe you.” His statement wiped her mocking smile and he held her chin, meeting her gaze intensely, whispering.

“And you will suffer to prove your innocence like I did.”