Chapter 10: You're Not Alone

“So, what should I do, Master?”

“Follow her, and keep an eye on whatever she does. And find out where and who she stays with. Give me a feedback within 24 hours.” He said and the window slowly wing up.

“ Yes, master.”

Nicu entered a different vehicle parked behind that of his master. He started the engine of the car, taking the same direction Diana’s driver took.

He lodged in one of the homes not far from the fortress, where he can study and get vivid information for the Master, lucifer.

Diana went in to the King’s chamber to see if he was still asleep. He was asleep but woke by the sound of the door. He turns by his side but was saddened when he didn’t see Diana beside him.

“Your majesty.” She said from the door. His face wore a small smile the moment he saw her standing by the door. “You are awake.”

“You didn’t stay.” He said, sadly. “I woke up only to see that I was alone. Why did you go?”

“ I did stay, but I had to leave.” She said sitting on his bed. “ There was something important I had to do. And besides, we are not married, we ought not to share the same bed, at least not yet.”

“Yes, you’re right. We shouldn’t be sharing the same bed.” He said, embarrassed.

“ You know, I haven’t gotten the chance to know your name.”

“ Derek. My name is Derek Hale.” He answered.

“ That’s a nice name, your majesty.” She complimented.  “ So, how do you feel now? Much better?” She asked, trying to make the atmosphere lively.

“ Yeah, I feel much better. Thanks for asking.”

“ It’s nothing. I’m happy you’re okay.”

He smiled.

Diana sat alone while he walked into the bathroom to have a shower. She left the bed, trailing her eyes on the photos on his table and lamp stand. And more of them in the photo shelf.

They were more of him and his parents when he was little. But he had those photos separate from those he took with his mother when he grew. And there was another, about seven of them, he had taken a photo with a lady.

She studied the photos with that he took with his mother if in anyway they were related. But she observed no similarities in them, so she thought maybe she was something other than just a relative to him.

*Is she his girlfriend or lover to be?* She pondered the thought in her mind. *Is that why it is so difficult for him to love her, because he has someone else already?*

She turned by the sound of the bathroom door open. Derek steps out with a white towel tied around his waist. He wasn’t expecting her to be out of bed, he paused, looking at his photo shelf.

“You have a beautiful family.” She said. But he could sense there was something else she wanted to say. . . or maybe ask.

He tries not to read her mind, but every thoughts and words of her mind keeps echoing in his ears.

While he stood there, she was admiring his naked chest. How broad his chest was, and the veins which slightly surfaced on his muscles. Was he into gym or something?

Derek noticed what was going on, and how she was struggling to hold herself from lusting after him, despite how difficult it was for her. He quickly pulled himself into his shirt and a pair of jean trouser.

It was as if Diana could feel her lungs back, she almost suffocated by his stature. Lucky her he noticed that on time.

She took hold of one of the picture he took with the fair lady. “Who is she?” She asked.

For a moment, Derek was quiet. She looked at him, she didn’t want to believe it was actually what she was thinking. She didn’t want him saying he has something to do with her.

For no reason she found herself envious and jealous for her at the same time.

“Her name is Keturah, my adopted sister.” He went to where she stood, touching the same photo she was holding. “ We took this photo on our vacation day at Germany.” He smiled.

“Where is she?” She asked.

The smiles faded to a sorrowfully one. He hesitated to say the word. “ She died on the last night of our stay at Germany. She had gone to meet a friend and she got attacked. She called me but I wasn’t there for her. I was so occupied with stuffs and. . . fun that I couldn’t hear her call for my help.

After an hour, I began to hear her voice calling my name, but then it was too late. Then I got a phone call from the police station that. . . that my sister was dead. And since that night, I keep fighting not to get distracted from my duty, and from the people I love and care about.”

“ It’s not your fault.”

“ I know. But at least I should have been there for her. She was the only surviving thing in my life, she was my responsibility and I wasn’t there when she needed me the most.” He said with guilt.

“ Was she a werewolf just like you?” She asked.

“ She was. She was killed by wolf hunters with an arrow infected with wolf’s bane. Wolf’s bane are something we werewolves can not escape, that’s why she couldn’t fight it. Though I had to take revenge on those hunters, but that wasn’t enough to quench the hatred I had grown for myself.”

He scoffed. “ Now she is gone, my life, my family. . . Sometimes I wonder why I am still living. I don’t deserve it, at all. I can’t even walk to her grave, I can’t even look at her name. But I don’t regret my loneliness, because I deserve it.”

Diana takes the photo, returning it back to it’s shelf. She turns to Derek, holding his cheek. “You are not alone, Your Majesty, you will never be alone. Those people, your people will always be with you. We all are always with you.” She gave him an assuring smile.

To Be Continued…