The page was directly facing them, right above their heads. It was as if time had stopped around them, and it was so much that they couldn’t even hear the sound of the lake anymore apart from the letter that was now appearing on the page, made of light emerald ink as if there was an invisible person with an equally invisible pen writing on the pages.
They held their breaths as two letters formed on the page... before the noise disappeared. Both of them shared a look, before looking back at the ancient letters that had been written on the page which they could both read clearly. They couldn’t grasp the meaning of it, and could only think that it was either those two words alone were what they were looking for which didn’t make any sense to either one of them, or...the words needed to be completed.
.
.
.
Aletta walked behind slowly while watching Maria and Caius a few steps in front of her. Caius had gotten a lot better and could now walk around the palace whenever he wanted, but of course with the protection of the female warriors the king had set upon him.
There was a soft smile on her face, but deep within she knew something was about to go down tonight and she needed to leave the palace before it happens or else, it would be the beginning of the end for her. The constant itch of her ears that had gotten worse overnight and had her scratching it every two minutes was worrying her, and the eyes she could now feel spying on her were even worse.
Now that the whole palace had seen her holding hands with Zoan, there was no doubt that trouble will start finding its way toward her and some people will not be happy about it. Zoan did say he was gonna take care of it, but he already had much to think of with his brother’s matter on his plate. Aletta had been around the night his Majesty had returned alone Into the castle, and rumors now filled the palace that he has locked himself inside his room for several days now.
The same room they said he hardly visited, and now Zoan was a little restless too.
Aletta had asked herself that the room was the king’s, so why does everyone seems alerted just because he was inside his room? Zoan himself didn’t even seem to care about his Majesty himself, but for him to also feel slightly taken aback by it meant that room meant something more.
But Aletta couldn’t let herself get carried away by the palace matters because they would never end as long as it was ruled by unpredictable beings surpassing human powers, she had her own to sort out and that was sneaking out of the palace before sundown.
Maria had now placed Caius over her shoulders, and they were laughing at something he had just said. They were walking past the throne room when Aletta noticed the doors were slightly opening on their own. The urge to take off running hit her immediately, but it was too late because his familiar smoke had already snatched her around by the waist and pulled her into the open doors, slamming them shut again. It felt weird how a smoke that looked so ordinary could make physical contact with her, and even more creepier that the smoke was wandering around the throne room... with the person she had been thinking about ten seconds ago standing in front of the King’s throne, staring at it deeply.
The moving smoke that looked like a snake got sucked back into his body, but he didn’t turn to look at her while she just stood there by the door. There was no one in there but the both of them and she thought maybe he was beginning to get worried about his brother.
"Have you ever hated someone so badly you are willing to sacrifice the world just to murder that person in the cruelest way possible?" He asked while still staring at the throne which his voice slightly echoing inside the huge hall.
Aletta wasn’t expecting that kind of question, "I’ve disliked people, but I never thought about Killing anyone," she replied softly.
His demeanor didn’t arouse any suspicion or feeling that he was in a bad mood, but his words had her beginning to think that way. Once again, she pointed out that his white hair had grown a little longer than the last time she had seen him, which was three days ago and had quickly escaped before he got to her side.
"You know... forming a relationship is hard. I was the third wheel, and I never thought anything could break me that hard." He continued on.
She silently listened, but he didn’t say anything after that as if he just realized he said too much.
"How long...will you remain angry at whoever it is?" She bit her lips after asking that because she was aware it might spike up his nerves, but instead, Zoan extended his hands behind him toward her direction, telling her to come closer. Aletta first turned back to the door with a quizzical look in her eyes, contemplating her options.
"Stop running away from me."
Aletta almost gasped when she suddenly felt his gaze on her. He had taken his attention from the throne and set his pearl gaze onto her skin that running away was suddenly wiped off her options, and she whirled back to see him. His hands were still extended to her, with his big strong palm awaiting her small ones.
"I don’t know how I’m supposed to bring about your downfall, and even if I did know... nothing will make me do it," Aletta said out, not knowing the exact reason why those words had just fallen out of his lips, but she was glad she did. His third rule was a nervewracker and she didn’t know what it meant. How was she supposed to bring about his Downfall? Is it actually true?
"I want you to," he deadpanned.
"I won’t be forced."
"It’s not like you have any choice," He rolled his eyes and turned back to the throne, "You haven’t been coming to my room to warm my head these past few days, and I warned you there would be consequences for your actions," And he suddenly whipped his head back to her again, making her swallow softly again.
When he had told her about the second rule where she was to literally warm up his bed every night before he retires to bed, she always chose a moment to sneak into his room in the night while he wasn’t in, perform her duties and leave immediately before he returns but these days he was mostly inside his room and couldn’t find any opening so she hadn’t been coming. Visiting a man’s room in the night while he was inside was a huge risk itself, and she was still too scared to do so.
"You did," She mentally scowled at him, though she was beginning to get scared at what the punishment would be about.
"Don’t leave my hand hanging," He motioned at his extended hands toward her, making her sigh once again. Aletta walked up to him and placed her small ones inside how warm ones which almost disappeared completely when he wrapped his fingers around them. Both of them stood in front of the throne.
And that was when Aletta realized she had made a mistake. Touching him was a bad idea while her body was still doing things on its soon and soon enough she began itching her itchy ear again through the clothing covering it. The itch was far worse than the last one that struck her while she was outside, and she couldn’t help but scratch vigorously like she was about to tear it off.
Both ears were killing her, and her facial expression was now twisted into that of agony.
"Are you unwell?" Zoan asked, reaching out to feel her ear through the cloth when she stopped him by grabbing his hand tightly, and immediately, both of her hands began to shake uncontrollably. Aletta’s eyes widened in horror, and she could no longer wait till almost sundown before escaping, she would have to do it immediately.
"I just need to use the bathroom," She replied sharply and snatched her hand away from him. Hurriedly, she turned around and left the room. Aletta kept her head down as she headed straight for the main palace doors that would lead her to the palace compound, and then out of the main huge gates. She needed somewhere to hide that was very far and as she stepped into the compound alone...the itch got even worse that it took her a lot not to scream out loud.
That was when she took off running as fast as she could. She went through the back of the palace and kept running further and further. She didn’t know the amount of distance she had covered running, and then she finally stopped to catch her breath. Looking up at the sky, she noticed how the day had suddenly turned into night with dark storm clouds filling the air...and now she wouldn’t be able to tell whether it’s day or night again.
Most important, she hoped Zoan didn’t follow her.
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