Harper woke up with the sound of crackling fire and sizzling pans. She has no watch nearby but the blinding sunlight from the windows told her it wasn’t long before high noon. To add, the sounds of cars hurrying to their destinations weren’t much of a lullaby either. “Good, you’re awake.”A voice of a woman woke her up, together with the gentle pat of her hair. Harper opened her eyes to see Mrs. Keevah smiling down at her. Her hair was pulled up on a bun and she was wearing a red apron. That’s why the pans were noisy, she thought. “Was I sleeping long?” – she asked, looking at the window and the bright sun outside.“It’s fine. You needed rest. I apologize for bringing you to the market.”Harper frowned, recollecting what has happened before she fell asleep. It didn’t take her long to realize that she was indeed sick. She remembered she was waiting for Mrs. Keevah in a chair outside the wet market but her pregnancy got in the way. She felt extra sensitive with the smell and she could
Alora doubled her pace to keep up with Damon. The two were wearing a hoodie at noon time, and the humidity made it times worse. Alora could feel her sweat underneath the hoodie and her dress. To travel in the middle of the day was something different than how it was the night before. When traversing this path at night was scary and terrifying, doing it in midday felt uncomfortable. The brightness of the sun makes their discovery easy and possible.Damon was quiet since they left the camp. He was only walking fast and advancing twice than her. She, on the other hand, was trying to keep up. Her phone within her grasp, she knows this is going to be a serious talk with Laura. Only that she’s only there to listen. “My king, aren’t we there yet?”She was growing impatient. Why does the path appear longer than the night before?“Almost there. I thought you went here last night?”“I did… but as what I said, I only followed the two of them. I haven’t been good in directions all my life.”“I
The fear in Laura’s body was consuming her as she felt her heart on her throat. The howl was loud and long, but when it was over, she opened her eyes and saw that the king didn’t move. She looked at her body and saw that there was no injury. She was unharmed.The same reaction was mirrored on Alora who frowned and stepped in for a closer look.“Did I miss something?” – Alora asked. As much as she was expecting screams and blood splattered on the wooden walls of the cabin, much was her disappointment to see that none of that happened. Instead, Laura knelt on the same spot. Unscathed.“I don’t understand, my king… She deserves some punishment!” – Alora shouted, pointing a finger at Laura. Laura gave her a sideways glance. Why is she really pursuing for a punishment? Isn’t Harper being gone satisfactory enough for her evil heart?“My king…” – Laura started, but she has no idea on what succeeding words should she say next. As if to answer the confusion among the three, Damon reverted t
Brayden laughed.“See how stupid their king is? Once a traitor, always a traitor. What does he expect from Alora anyway? He was even there when the two Denmark bypassed me.”The report on what was happening at the camp didn’t come much as a surprise for Brayden. It actually happened according to his favor. He thought it would come later but Alora shown her colors faster than a snake can shed its skin.“Is there something else you want to tell me?”Brayden inquired as the messenger didn’t leave his presence just yet. “None, alpha.”“Get lost then.”The poor messenger nodded and got out of the main hall. He’s actually a member of the opposite pack, one of the nobodies. Because of that reason, he’s the best option for the alpha to use as his eye. No one suspects a nobody, let it be noticed even. It was an advantage, or at least for now.When the man closed the door behind him, Brayden drank a mouthful of wine. His lack of action for the long months is actually working out unexpectedly.
“Let me help you with that, Harper.”Mrs. Keevah came fresh from the bathroom. A white towel was wrapped around her head to dry her hair. She placed the toothbrush she was holding to the small cup-like holder back in the bathroom, wiped her palms with the other towel wrapped around her body and rushed to grab the small pail of water Harper was carrying around.“I got this, Mrs. Keevah.”Another month has passed and her stomach swelled bigger. Who would’ve thought that was still possible. Every time Harper looks in the mirror, she couldn’t help but compare herself to an inflated balloon. Anytime, she’s gonna explode. And with it, she’s not going to be the same person she was. One will become two. Mrs. Keevah was insistent until Harper let go of the pail handle. The woman knows the 7th to 9th months are the most sensitive ones. If she can, she would rather let Harper stay the whole day on the bed rather than lift a fork. She was that hands-on with her, bordering the line to being prote
The two soldiers followed their king out of the camp’s gate. Spectators’ necks protruding from the room’s windows, even those who were training can’t help but pause and ask what has happened.“You’re sure about this, my king?” – Asher asked, tapping the pistol he has secured on a small bag. Deep in his mind, he’s thinking on why do they need to bring this against a helpless middle-aged woman. “I am. All I can think about these months is Harper. She needs to be home as soon as possible. In whatever way it needs be.”Asher nodded. Anthony was still quiet. Perhaps the guilt of disobedience towards his king was still ruining his normal interactions with him. He knew it that night when he confessed, nothing would be the same. The rest of the walking towards the end of the woods was silent. Their small trio was only comprised of two characteristics: the king leading the march and the two confused soldiers but are too loyal to ask some more question. “Have you called Irvin?”Damon asked a
Harper was feeling like there was something wrong. Right after she was done eating, she was told by Mrs. Keevah to pack up her things. According to her guardian, they would be staying at Leo’s, Mrs. Keevah’s friend that has a small inn in the city. What’s weird is the timing of it. Right after that call from the telephone company, Mrs. Keevah panicked. Harper’s starting to think what was told to her was not exactly the truth. “Is everything okay, Mrs. Keevah? You keep glancing on your phone.”She does, every 5 minutes. The question wasn’t heard by her and Harper had to repeat it. It was after the second time that Mrs. Keevah responded.“Yes. Don’t worry. We’ll come back there soon.”But the lie didn’t reach her eyes. She was saying something else but the expression on her eyes gives away the lie. Harper frowned. She doesn’t get it. “You know you can tell me anything, Mrs. Keevah. I will understand.”The woman acted like she didn’t hear what Harper said at all. She looked at the sid
The four of them were inside the car, but none has spoken anything yet. As for the two soldiers, they just wanted the king and queen have their own moment. It has been a long time, the reunion’s the best thing of the day. This time, Anthony sat on the passenger seat and let Damon and Harper occupy the entire back seat. Unlike earlier, the radio wasn’t on but the windows of the Sedan were open. They were traversing the same road leading north of the city. They still need to contact Irvin and return the car before they have to return to the camp. “So, how have you been?” – Damon was the one who broke the silence. This was what he wished before the day ends. To have Harper beside him and bring her back to their place. “Good.”“Has she treated you well?”Harper nodded. Her answer being limited, Damon turned his head and reached for her hand. It was placed on her right leg and he placed his atop hers. For some reason, she didn’t like it and removed her hand. Damon licked his lips. Som