DARIUSI watched with glee as my little one searched through my many compartment of clothing, trying to find the right attire for my meeting with the Jigalians. Honestly I couldn't careless about my appearance, I intended to keep the encounter short and quick so I could get back to her as soon as possible before I would loose my mind. She had no idea how in love I was with her. How every little thing she did made my heart beat faster, when her cheeks would bleach a pink tinge because she was embarrassed, or how she would frown when she didn't like something, how she always managed to be the light everywhere she went. It was no surprise to me how fund of her majority of the castle was. I loved seeing her make new friends and meet new people, the glow on her face when she would interact with them always made my day. I wanted her to always keep smiling and never have any reason to shead a single tear. But I wasn't ignorant, I knew not everyone approved of her presence in my life and she
Astrid paced back and forth in her room restlessly as she watched the door, expecting the maid to come in at any time. She bit her nails nervously as she shifted her weight from foot to foot in anticipation. Immediately the door was pushed open she was quick to lunge towards the poor maid snatching the sheets from her hands. She wasted no time in spreading it open across the floor, her eyes searching for something but when she didn't find it she let out a breath of relief. "Pick it up" she instructed the maid who had been watching the scene confused and a little disturbed but she did as told. "Are you sure you didn't see any blood stains anywhere else in the room" Astrid asked eagerly but the maid shook her head in the negative. Satisfied with her answer Astrid pulled out fuce gold coins from her purse and pressed it into the maids hands, sending her off with one command "Don't tell anyone about this" with that she shut the door, not giving room for enquiry. A triumphant smile stret
AUDREY⚘♡I walked around hastily, watching with distaste as Vandal's men were littered around the halls, drinking and cackling to themselves. They celebrated over their victory now but I was certain that they would soon meet their demise. Vandal had taken control of the castle a few hours ago, he was still negotiating in the throne room with the elders. I checked for my ladies everywhere but I couldn't find any of them. The servants and maids had been forced to serve Vandal and his men or loose their lives. I approached the steps to the West Wing when I heard Anaise's voice from somewhere close by. I followed her hissing and protests to the space behind one of the hallway pillars where the scene was unfolding. Vandal's second in command stood towering over her, trapping her between himself and the pillar not giving her a way out. He had a glass of wine in one of his hand, his other resting above Anaise's head as he looked over her form with lustful eyes. "Why don't you come keep me
AUDREYAs we walked closer and closer to the dining hall grand doors I felt sick to my stomach. I had found out Maximus had been thrown into the cells along with our guards, we all fell for their peaceful facade and now as I slowly approached these doors I had this feeling like I was walking into the lion's den and I was a pour defenseless deer. The doors were pushed open by two of Vandal's gairds as they stared down at us with more than eager eyes. There were going to be a problem for my plans. Watching then with cautious eyes we walked into the room to be welcomed by all Vandal's men sitted around the table already eating. Despite the clear discomfort on the three elders faces they were seated right at their seats with a tight smile fixated on all their faces. We made our way around to our seats. Before I could pull out the chair between Orchid and Greer I watched from the corner of my eye as Vandal stood and took slowly steps in my direction. I waited and watched him till he wa
𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐔𝐒 ♚♧(Caution: Vague description of blood and violence) I tried to sit as still as I possibly could. I hated being here without Audrey. It had been hours and still Vandal had not shown up. Ryker and I had been told to wait in the meeting room and we have been here ever since. We arrived earlier than expected and they seemed a bit startled to see us but non the less welcomed us. Vandal was not a man that stayed away so when I hadn't seen him in the welcome crowd I had gotten the feeling that there was something off. His cup bearer Isaiah had said he was with his men and would be with us shortly but till now we still had not seen him. Against my better judgement I had listened to Ryker when he said we should wait. I held onto the white glove Audrey had given me tightly, inhaling her intoxicating scent from time to time to calm me down. I had been away from her for long enough, I couldn't stay any second longer.I pushed myself off where I sat, walking over to the door I fe
DARIUS🜲{!!This chapter will include violence}! I watched her chest rise and fall, small snores erupting from her throat. She had finally fallen asleep in my arms. She was so distorted and all she did was cry, it made my heart clench to see his hand prints on her skin. Even worse to see what that bastard had caused the love of my life. I was so stupid. I should have known it was a trap to lure me out of the castle. I should have been smarter, Vandal had always been vengeful but this- this was too far. He had hurt the one I loved, the only one who was not meant to get caught up in all this vengeance and power struggle. His fight was with me but now he had declared his graveyard by coming for her and I will make sure he got what he deserved. Pushing myself to my feet I learned down and placed a lingering kiss to her forehead before turning away and strolling out of the room. Quietly I shut the door behind me careful not to wake her. "Tell me" I spoke immediately I spotted Ryker. We
AUDREYQuietly I approached the piece of fabric that lay discarded on the ground. The sight of a red liquid tainting the material made my eyes widen. The closer I got the more I realised it was Darius's shirt and it was stained with.. blood!? I padded faster, pulling the fabric off the ground and into my arms. Looking it over and sure enough, it was blood. Panick pinched at my chest, sinking into my lungs and holding them captive. I turned around slowly. Carefully my gaze flickered between Darius and the shirt I held tightly fisted in my arms as fear clutched at my nerves. Taking slow steps towards him by eyes immediately began darting all over him for any sings of injuries, maybe something he wasn't telling me. "This is-" I cut myself up, bringing the cloth to his line of sight. I watched his eyes burn as he gazed away quickly, refusing to meet my eye. "A-are you hurt? Where? " I stepped forward, discarding the shirt to the side and slipping my hands into his. His fingers immedia
Writer's POVDarius marched down the hallway, his arms folded behind his back. His annoyance radiated off him, letting every guard in the hallway know to stand straight and give a curt bow as he passed for they knew how angry Darius could get and it would be especially worse as Audrey was nowhere beside him. It would be a catastrophe. Darius's thick brows were pulled down and an angry frown marred his features adding to his deadly glare that seemed to be directed towards one direction, the meeting hall. He didn't need to reach the double doors before the guards that were stationed at the aforementioned pulled them open with haste. They could already tell from his countenance that he was not to be pissed off anymore than he already was. Darius was pissed off with the council of elders, he had a feeling they were going to do what they always did- tell him how to run his kingdom. Irrespective of the fact that he had been ruling for centuries and he didn't need them. He hated being pull
The five market days moved passed in a flash. I kept to my word and made father a new set of kitchen knives, risking a few of my fingers in the process. Before I could register what was happening, father had begun packing my things in the cloth bag I had come with. He looked worried and concerned but he would never tell me that he did not want me to leave, he believed he would be holding me back. Gently he places my bags in my hand and I could hear the hooves of the horses arriving at the door, Commander Tanner was here. Before father could speak I interrupted, "Wait" I rushed to the work shop and brought out the clothes I had bought from the market place. I had to sneak out at night so he wouldn't see them. I presented them to him. He stood there, silently taking them in "Why did you?"I smile wolfishly, "So you can hold onto them till I get back. I will take the bee gloves you got me and my sandals, they will be better than any I could buy""How did you hide them?""I kept th
This veiled dancer, no one where she comes from?" I question, slipping on my sandals: yet another gift father had kept for my return. He had handed it to me like it was no big deal and he probably wanted me to treat it that way but of course I did not. I would get him a new set of clothes before I left for my new duties. I hurry after father as he walks ahead, insisting if we didn't hurry all the good stools would be taken. For an old man he was moving fast, "Nope, not a single person has seen her face so they can't trace her identity or lineage to any of the states"How conspicuous"Hurry up lad. The townspeople have prepared a feast after in your honor so it'll be quite a shame if we arrive late" We get to the small sitting arrangement made in the middle of the town. Little stools sat in a circular manner so no one would obstruct the people behind them. There was a space in front which I could tellw as reserved for the dancers. The scene reminded me of my old life, when we would ha
~ Ryker"Er, what is all the noise about? One cannot get a peaceful day in this town anymore" Mr. Rae grumbles, approaching the loud crowd that had gathered in front of the market place. Maybe they had caught a thief? I haven't witnessed any action around here, the quiet was becoming deafening but why this now when I wish to retire? Maybe I should move to a more desolate place. Hm, the young lad would probably refuse, if I move where would he come to when he returns? A sad smile wore his lips at the thought of Ryker. He must be getting such good training and living his life, why tie him down to an old fool like me? Mr. Rae got to the growing crowd and stood, trying to peel at what the fuss was about. Suddenly he heard a voice, one he could identify anywhere, despite his failing ears"Thank you for the very warm welcome townspeople. I missed you all dearly as well but I must be going to see my fa-" just then his voice stopped. Ryker looked into the crowd, the unmistakable smell of
~COMMANDER TANNER "So, what will it be lad?"I close my open mouth, only now realising I had been gaping. I nod excitedly, "Yes sir. I will learn" I speak with determination, joy radiating off meThe knight nods, "Very well. As my armies commander, I will indeed take him under my wing and teach him the art. I will return in three work days so het your affairs in order and bid your master goodbye"He bows before turning and striding out of the tavern in long powerful steps. I release the breath I was holding, unsure if this was really happening. I turn to see Mr. Rae smiling down at me. The sight was uncanny, he never smiled, only when he roared in mocked laughter, but this was different. This was a genuine, affectionate smile. "Sir""Foolish boy, did you think I did not know you trained with that tool every night? I might be olding but my ears do still work as well as they did in my prime" he walks out to the shack and I follow behind. "But sir" he takes a seat on his work bench
~MR. RAE The distant singing of the birds above the thick trees, the rustling of the leaves from the afternoon wind. The sound of twigs breaking as the animal approached a strange lump of flesh cuddled up close to the stream. Cautiously the deer inches closer, leaning down to drink some water, keeping an eye on the creature. The deer stands there, tilting it's head to the side, trying to identify this creature that seemed so still. Inching forward the deer takes calculated, careful steps towards the boy, watching to see if he would react or move. Assuming it was safe, the deer walks forward, taking a sniff of Teigen's hair. It rubs its wet nose against his cheek, licking across the skin, following upwards to his eye. Teigen begins to twitch from the moist intrusion, swatting away at the deer but it continues to lick his cheek. Teigen tries to adjust, turning on his side only to grunt at the discomfort of the trees roots. His eyes lazily open before widening in shock and he je
~TEIGEN I could hear the voices of the men murmuring behind me, their harsh words causing my ears to hurt. I am not a demon, I am Teigen. I wanted to cry, my eyes hurt from how tight the blindfold was over my eyes, darkness was all I was left with. I had heard the town head telling the two men to lead me further into the forest and leave me here. I did not want to be left alone. It was scary here, wild animals were everywhere, looking for little preys like me to eat. I shivered, the cold night breeze whisking past me. I wanted mother, her sweet pies, muffins and all her baked goodies. I missed how she would kiss my cheeks before bed, how she would sneak me an extra cup of milk from the farmer's cow on her way back from the pub when I was extra good. My stomach growled, reminding me I had yet to eat anything. By now mother would be setting the table with bread made from whole grain flour and cheese and curd. Mother knew I disliked cheese, so when father wasn't looking she would sli
~TEIGEN"Come along Teigen" His mother motions him forward, smiling reassuringly to her shy little boy as he inches closer to the open door. Teigen was unlike other boys his age. At 11, his mates in the town had begun hunting bugs, critters like rats and squirrels. But Teigen was different. He was quiet, reserved and timid. He hated socialising with the other town kids, mostly because they looked at him with beady eyes of curiosity and intrigue. His peculiar violet orbs stared at his age mates, fear and anxiety tightening his irises. He was the only one in the whole town that had such color of eyes, none of his parents possessed such unique eyes. He inhaled a shaky breath, watching his mother drop him off at the children's playground while she went to work at the town pub. The pub was always very busy, patrons swarming in and out like bees. Everywhere was hot, noisy and crowded all the time. Teigen's mother: Geneva worked as the baker, she made all types of pasteries: from bre
AUDREY"I WILL HAVE NONE OF THIS. YOU ARE NEVER TO SEE NOSTRADAMUS AGAIN AND THAT IS THE END OF THIS DISCUSSION AUDREY, I FORBID YOU! " His harsh words resonate in the walls of my mind, like shoes stepping on broken shards, the fragments of hurt that had pierced my heart continued to mercilessly torment me. The words were constantly on repeat, the look of fury and anger in his dark eyes, an underlining fear tightened his irises. I couldn't understand anything, I couldn't see past the angry words he hauled at me. "My lady!" Marchioness Cordelia's voice reaches my ear before she does, her hand resting sympathetically on my shoulder, snapping me out of my reverie. I blink out of my mind, fresh drops of tears falling down my cheeks. I rush to wipe them away, not wanting her to know the reason behind my tears. I turn to face her, smiling wryly at her. Her beautiful features contorted into a worrisome look, her eyes searching my face before she pulled me into a hug. I wrapped my arms aro
"Audrey, dear?" Darius called out, walking into their chambers in search of Audrey. The talk with Ryker had gone on longer than expected and he began to feel bad and miss his little bride. As he walks in, the bed is messy, the black comforters wrinkled from their past activities. The pale skin that was meant to inhabit the sheets nowhere to be seen. Puzzled he walked back out, asking the guards where his bride had wandered off to. "The princess went to your study, my Lord. I believe she went there in search of you"One of the guards stationed at their quarters door informed Darius. Confused as to why Audrey would go to his study, knowing full well she heard the guard inform them that he and Ryker's meeting was happening in the garden. Wordlessly he walked over to his study, perplexed but majorly already missing his little mate. Who knew what his little kitten had gotten herself into? He walks in, immediately spotting her little form, cuddled up in a white loose dress that did absol