"Did you say Jephthah?" Almira asked, unable to conceal the shock on her face. "Do you know him? You looked surprised," Kitanna observed. Almira couldn't deny it. For some reason, she glanced back at Dante who had a puzzled look on his face. "Where is he, now?" She asked. Kitanna tried to remember if she'd met him before. If Almira knew him, then definitely she must have met him at some point. "The throne room. I was asked to inform you. Do you know him? Have I met him before? I can't seem to remember," Kitanna inquired. Almira didn't reply. Instead, she walked out of the room, leaving Kitanna confused and suspicious. "Is everything okay?" Dante asked. Kitanna's worried expression slipped away to give way for a bright smile. "Everything is alright. I must confess, you look really good. Almira took her time to work on you," Kitanna commented. Dante blushed deeply. "Now the princess has gone to attend to her visitor, do you mind keeping me company?"
"I don't believe you," Jephthah plainly stated. Almira couldn't decide whether to walk away or snap. She decided to do neither. The triton had always been insufferable. His trust issues found pleasure in soaring every time she was away. The man wanted to keep her at his side all the time. She could understand that he felt the need to be in control because of their nature, but it was overbearing most times. Especially in their situation. As much as she hated it, she couldn't be with him all the time and openly too. Jephthah's read a whole different meaning to it. He nagged about neglection and accused her, more often than not, of keeping a secret lover. The jealousy was not adorable in anyway. It ended in big fights and weeks of silent treatment. "I do not want us to fight over something so trivial, Mira," he said, like she was the one brooding an argument. Almira didn't say it aloud of course. His temperament was just as bad as his trust issues. "Let me handle this".
“I can’t believe you!” Kitanna exclaimed. Dante whipped his head around to look at them briefly, before turning his attention back to his book. “Do you really hate him that much? You haven’t even given him a chance. How do you know you won’t like him?” Kitanna asked. “Do you like him?” Almira’s question caught her off guard. “What? Why would you even say something like that? I am just looking out for you. I don’t want to regret this decision in the future,” Kitanna said, her features scrunching with annoyance. “You can have him if you like him,” Almira continued like she didn’t hear a word of everything Kitanna said. “I don’t like the Prince. He’s your mate, I wouldn’t even dare. I just want you to give him a chance. It doesn’t have to be a long time. Maybe a week. If you still don’t see your future with him, you can go ahead with whatever you have in mind. I promise I won’t try to stop you,” Kitana pleaded. Almira gave it a brief thought. “A week is
The day was painfully long for Almira. All she wanted to do was take a long nap and forget the day ever happened. She couldn't stop cursing at Kitanna I'm her head felt making her agree to waste her time.Xander's arrogance was on a whole new level. Since Almira agreed to spend the day with him, he had been on and on about his inheritance. Almira's ears were bleeding and pleading to hear no more. She barely commented on anything as he was so focused on bragging. "What do you think?" The question hit her like a truck. Almira did not in the least expect him to seek her opinion or thoughts. "Impressive, right?" He grinned. Almira stared blandly at him. "I understand your surprise. You know, not many have the opportunity to amass the kind of wealth my father does," he added. "I come from a kingdom where the streets are made of gold. Diamonds are littered everywhere like they have no value. What makes you think I'd be impressed by the pathetic show-off of properties way infe
Dante spent the rest of the day, reading and waiting for the princess. Kitanna already informed him that Almira would be unavailable for most of the day, as she had to spend time with Xander. Dante felt unsettled with the information, but he had no right to be concerned about it. The princess had the right to be with whoever she wanted to be with at any period of time.The downside was that he had to spend the rest of the day missing her. Kitanna tried her best to keep him company but it didn’t quite take his mind off the princess. It was a scary feeling. He had no right to even think about the princess, not talk of missing her. “You’ve been on that book all day. Aren’t you bored?” Kitanna asked. Dante sucked in his lips gently. He couldn’t possibly tell her that he had lost concentration in his reading. “It’s a really long book,” He replied instead. Kitanna drew closer and peered into the book, she turned to look at him with a knowing look. Dante swallowed, uneasy at the cl
"I beg your pardon?" "You heard me, I'm carrying your baby," Kimorra repeated. Xander burst into laughter. "Nice one. You got me there," He laughed. Kimorra gave him a plain look. "You're serious?" "Why would I joke about something like that?" She retorted. Xander's expression hardened and Kimorra braced herself for the worst. "I can not marry you for the mere fact that you carry my child, if there is a child in there. You can keep the baby, I will make sure you get everything you need…." "What is that supposed to mean? If you do not believe I am pregnant, then we can get tested," Kimorra interrupted. Xander ruffled his hair, praying inwardly for patience to get his point across without snapping. Kimorra crossed her arms, ready to challenge whatever he was going to say. "Let us not drag this further. We have already established that I do not want to be with you. You have my baby, fine, I will take full responsibility for it. I will provide for you an
The palace was in disarray. Everyone scurried about, moving in and out of the palace. Doctors trooped in with medical kits. Dante stood in a corner watching with confusion. He couldn't ask anyone without getting yelled at or ignored. He wasn't allowed near the palace either. Almira on the other hand was confused. Xander was in a life-threatening situation, yet she felt no form of pain. It made her anxious and confused. Though the doctors were able to neutralize the poison, Xander was still in critical condition. Almira couldn't help but notice Jephthah's absence. She had a nagging feeling that he knew something about the spiders. "Anna, cover up for me, I'll be back," She told the maid. "Where are you going? Is there a problem?" Kitanna asked. "You are too inquisitive. Just do what I asked. I'll be back shortly."Almira walked out without waiting for a response. She walked around the palace, trying to sniff him out. She found him in the garden, watering the plan
Kitanna glanced helplessly at Almira, hoping she could get them out of the situation no matter how unlikely it was. “I beg your pardon?” Almira blurted.\ “You heard me right. Take us to your kingdom. We must find the man who did this to my only child,” King Edwardo repeated. Almira could see the hidden agenda in his eyes. While he was worried about his son, he was glad for an opportunity to finally trace the Golden City.Almira couldn’t let that happen. The man was just as greedy as he was years ago. If she let him discover the truth he had long forgotten, there would be trouble. “You think if Jephthah was really responsible, he’d return to our kingdom when he knows you would come looking for him?” Almira asked. “Besides, our city is so far away. He wouldn’t be able to make it in two days on a horse talkless of foot. If you send out your men now, you might find him. He hasn’t been gone for long so I believe he will be found,” Almira suggested.King Edwardo concealed his
“What happened?” Dante asked feebly. He'd woken up with a very terrible headache. Kitanna’s shoulders slumped in relief when he woke up.“Thank goodness, you're awake. Do you feel any pain? Remember anything?” Kitanna asked him. Dante tried to recollect the previous events but nothing came to mind.His heart sped up. Since he woke up blank, it only meant one thing… He looked at Kitanna, searching for any injuries because he was afraid to touch her. She seemed unharmed. He glanced around his surroundings and that was when he got the answer to his question. He had been in that demonic trance once again. Yet he wondered how Kitanna remained unharmed. Could it be that she wasn't with him earlier?“What's wrong? What are you thinking about?” Kitanna asked him.Dante bit his lip, contemplating on telling her the truth. How would she see him if he told her about the crazy things going on in his life? Would she even believe him? What if she accused him of doing everything on purpose just like
The next few weeks were hell for the people of Greake. More lives were lost and people trooped in their numbers to report to the king. Edwardo knew what he had done and how to avert it but he couldn't bear the thought of letting go of the very thing that made him the richest amongst kings. On the other hand, his wife gave him the silent treatment. Nothing he said or did to appease her worked. Adora avoided him like a plague and ignored him the few times they bumped into each other. His mere sight was appalling to her which was why she was more determined than ever to keep the news of her pregnancy for him. She needed to find somewhere safe to have her baby. Even if it meant leaving Greake. A month had gone by and Adera had everything in place to leave when Edwardo burst into her room with news. Surprise took over his features when he noticed her belongings were packed. “Are you leaving me?” He asked her. Adera was momentarily shocked by his entrance. She planned to leave without his k
Greake was in absolute chaos. The people fled without aim, fought against each other, and killed themselves one after the other. The sirens walked past, unfazed by the unrest as they searched for their queen. Several times they called out to her but got no response in return. Each unanswered call made them more furious, stirring an uproar amongst the people. The killings continued until dawn when they retreated into the sea. At sunrise, the once beautiful evergreen city was covered in blood and bodies. The event shook everyone in the city. Mnt lost their sons, daughters, wives, husbands, name them. Everyone living in the region close to the sea felt the impact. Almost half of the east Greeke population was slaughtered. It wasn't a situation the King could overlook no matter how small the region was. So while the people were mourning their dead, there was a heated argument between the King and Queen in the palace."This is all your fault! Your greed has cost the lives of so many
Adora felt a strange energy throughout the day. No matter where she was or what she was doing, she couldn't shake off the feeling that something disastrous was coming. She became more paranoid by the minute. It extended to snapping unnecessarily and crazy mood swings. It made the king worried for her. "Dora," he called fondly, a small smile touching his lips. Adora rubbed her trembling fingers together, struggling to control her labored breaths.Edwardo sat next to her, pulling her into a warm embrace."Do you want to talk? What's making you so paranoid and jumpy, my love?" he asked softly.Adora sucked in a breath. If only she had the answers to his question. "I… I don't know. I can't explain it…" her voice trembled. Her dainty fingers unconsciously gripped his shirt. Edwardo didn't let it bother him as he was more focused on calming his wife. "Talk to me, Dora, I'm listening," he said soothingly. "I don't know. I just feel this strange energy. I don't know what it is but it's
The next time Adora saw the siren, it was a heart-wrenching sight. Her skin lost its glow and gave off a dusty white color. Her eyes were swollen with glaring eye bags. She was covered in bruises that Adora suspected were infected. She could barely walk on her own as her legs wobbled from exhaustion. “What have you done, Ed? Are you trying to kill her?” Adora asked the king furiously. Edwardo remained unfazed by her outburst.“In the past few days, she has cried to us about five baskets of pearls. Do you have any idea how much it is worth?” Edwardo went ahead to ask like she hadn’t said anything important. Words could not describe the rage that stirred within her.Ahead of her, the siren was held down, the whips hitting her like she were an animal. Even animals did not face such cruelty.“Enough! Let her be!” Adora ordered and the guards froze. Even the king was shocked. “Step away from her, are you deaf?” she snapped and the men quickly stepped back before throwing glances amongst t
The king was enraged on hearing the news. He summoned all the guards and ordered them to search every nook and cranny of the palace for the siren. The gates were shut so she couldn’t escape the palace and go into the city. The men also had their ears blocked with wax to prevent a repeat of earlier.Adora walked to her room, ignoring the chaos. She was internally grateful that the siren had been smart enough to seek escape. Pushing the doors shut, she took off her royal attire and went in for a long hot bath.After dozing for a short while in the shower, she got out and picked a sleeveless knee length gown. The plan was to nap all afternoon and listen to her husband’s complaints later. If they couldn’t find the siren that is. Just as she climbed into bed, she heard a muffled sneeze from underneath the bed. At first, she wanted to ignore it but then there was another sneeze and she got off the bed and got on her knees to check under the bed. Just as she suspected, the injured girl was
Adora stared at the woman before her with shock and pity. Her husband, King Edwardo had a different expression on. It was a thrill mixed with greed and mischief. Adora didn’t appreciate that look. She watched him eagerly pay the sailors for her after they showed him how easily her tears formed pearls. “Your Highness…” She tried intervening but he raised a hand, cutting short her protest. “You have done us proud. I employ to work harder on the search…”“Your majesty!” Queen Adora gasped and Edwardo stopped with an inward groan. He threw her a scolding glance and she retreated. “Well, as I said, you have done well. You have made Greake proud. I employ you not to relent in this heroic act. With time, our city will rise to an enviable height,” he continued.“Thank you, your highness. We shall continue to make Greake proud,” Harold bowed. “Go with the guards. As promised, you will be rewarded handsomely for your efforts,” King Edwardo replied with a smile.“We are grateful, your highn
“Sirens?” Kimorra gasped and the seer nodded. Kimorra couldn’t find the words to speak. The answer she got was certainly not what she was expecting. “I thought they were myths,” she thought aloud.“Thought so too, but apparently they exist,” the old man answered her. “Then how come we haven’t heard or seen any of them?” Kimorra asked him.“I am not supposed to tell you this but I will because your father is a very good friend of mine and it would be wicked of me to watch his only child suffer, but you must promise that you will handle this information wisely,” he said and she bopped her head almost immediately. “I will, I promise,” she assured him.“The existence of sirens was long wiped from the memories of mankind because of a certain greedy king,” he started.“Who?” Kimorra asked curiously.“You know him. The ruler of Greake, King Edwardo,” the seer revealed and Kimorra was beyond shocked.“My father-in-law? How is that possible?”“I’ll tell you the story.”22 Years Ago.There wa
Almira knocked him out immediately. Several thoughts ran through her mind as she stared at his unconscious form. She never for once considered the possibility of Dante being manipulated. Her mind flashed back to when he pleaded innocent even when she witnessed everything. It all made sense.Those actions were beyond his control. The Dante she knew couldn’t even hurt a fly, talk less of attacking her. “Princess... Goodness! What have you done?!” Kitanna exclaimed as soon as she saw Dante’s unconscious body. She looked quizzically at Almira who was deep in thought. “What happened to him, Mira? Did you hit him?” Kitanna asked her.“I did,” Almira replied in a monotone. Kitanna’s eyes widened in horror. She already suspected that the princess had something to do with Dante’s unconscious state but she didn’t just understand why. The same woman who slapped a prince for hitting his slave did the very thing she attacked others for doing.“I don’t understand. Why would you do that? Did he of