Chapter 2: Unbelievable Truth

I leaped and attacked Ren aggressively. Raja followed my move, probably thinking that he should finish Ren off before I lay my hands on him. But to my surprise, the hall’s floor turned to ice and I heard another growl, from an unfamiliar dragon this time. An ice dragon went in and attacked Raja. I saw how Ren smirked with satisfaction etched in his eyes, so I figured that the dragon must be his.

“Surprised, sweetheart? You see, I am also a dragon summoner. The two of us are the same. We fit for each other. I guess it’s what they call destiny?”

“Destiny, you fool! What did you do to them?! Where is Demitri?!” I yelled and lifted my hand in the air. My blazing sword appeared and I held onto it tightly as I sauntered forward.

I lashed my sword in the air, creating waves of fire, but he blocked it so fast with his wind blades.

“I heard you are pregnant? One month? Two? It’s not visible yet so I wonder. I suggest you should just kill that child. Its father is dead, after all. You can bear mine instead.”

I couldn’t contain my anger anymore. How dare he tell me to kill my child! How dare he! He should die today. His blood should spill in my hands. There is no forgiving for someone as evil as him.

I flew towards him. The blade of my sword collided against his. Using my other hand, I gave him a heavy blow in his chest. He took a step backward and smirked as if it didn’t affect him even a bit. Another sword formed in his hand, now he’s holding two—both have miasma of evil.

“I really don’t want to go hard on you, dear Ophelia, but with your desperation to kill me, I don’t think I can just stand and do nothing. Don’t blame me for being harsh.”

“Blame you? Of course, I won’t. In fact, I want you to show me all you’ve got. How dare you harm my family and speak ill of my child! You are a despicable monster!”

I launched another attack and followed it with two large fire balls but he was too fast he was able to dodged it.

“Now my turn,” he muttered before he lashed his sword on air, creating two blows that formed two heads of black tigers made of dark smoke flying towards me.

I blocked it with my sword, but I didn’t think it was so strong, it slammed me to the wall.

I closed my eyes and swore under my breath when I felt the pain in my back. My hand flew to my abdomen when I realized what damage could it bring to my child.

“Looks like you want to keep the child even without the father. But have you thought about it? If you keep on doing those aggressive attacks, you would end up losing that little bastard of yours.”

“How dare you call my child a bastard!” My voice echoed. “If there is a bastard here, it’s you, you evil!”

I sauntered again and made a long-range attack. I can’t attack him too closely. I can’t be too reckless again and take blows from him. It might harm my child. I won’t allow that to happen. When Demitri returns, I want us to be complete. I won’t fail my family.

Raja was too busy fighting with Ren’s dragon, he couldn’t help me. And the ones left to guard the palace must be injured. There was no one to depend on.

Just when I was about to throw another fire ball, I stopped when I heard a voice.

“How dare you disturb my palace!”

I looked at the stairs and my lips parted when I saw Queen Romina walking down. She had been isolating herself in the secret room of the palace and Demitri told me that she spent all those days in other dimensions of the world to cope up with the pain of losing one of her sons. One of the rarest ability is the one the Queen has. She can travel in different dimensions just with her soul except in the afterworld. But I thought she has no plans of waking up soon, nor that she would know what’s happening around her body once she left it.

“Queen Romina,” Ren uttered. “Am I correct, Your Majesty?”

Queen Romina just continued walking without saying a word. Although she looked so calm, I could sense the burning wrath in her eyes, which I’m sure reflected mine.

“Leave, Ophelia. I will handle him,” she demanded.

My forehead creased. As far as I could remember, Demitri told me that the queen is not a fighter. She was raised in a peaceful environment and always stands against violence. She’s known for that one rare ability she has, but other than that, she just one ability she can use. The power of nature—the one all of his sons inherited from her. But based from what I’ve heard, she has no experience in fighting at all. Even her stance says it. So how can I leave someone I’ve already regarded as my mother in such situation?

“No,” I said defiantly. “I will not leave you alone with that devil.”

“Do as you are told, Ophelia,” she said firmly.

I shook my head. “No, Mother. If you will fight, I will stand by your side. Besides, I’m sure Demitri and the rest are already on their way—”

Ren’s loud laughter cut me off. He looked hysterical.

“What are you laughing at?” I asked, my jaw clenching. I felt like I would break my teeth in anger.

“Already on their way?” He laughed again. “I think you are mistaken, Your Highness. There is no one coming for you. The foolish king and those foolish princes are gone. You think I would go here if I wasn’t finished with them?”

I went still. “No. Impossible! There’s no way you could kill them… there’s no way you could kill Demitri! Maybe you escaped because you can’t handle them and just decided to go here instead! You must be lying!”

“See for yourself, then. Let’s see if your husband will rise from his grave.”