ALAANA
Do I run away with Lochan or do I stay and get married to a total stranger? Come to think of it, they're both strangers and I can't trust anyone of them. I'd promised that I would try to help Zeron and I have to fulfill that promise. I'm not a coward and I won't run away because I'm afraid of him. I don't really have much to loose. Besides, Lochan might actually be the real enemy here.With every second that bounds by, my resolve is thickening. I have made up my mind to stay and get married to the king. I know it's risky business but I have to try to help him. Besides, I can't really tell what the red haired stranger wants from me. Why would he want to save me? Maybe he knows that I have a chance at saving Zeron from himself and probably doesn't want me to do just that.
"What's it going to be? Are you coming with me or not?" the stranger asks and I rise to my feet, slowly. "Wh
ALANNA No one seems to be bothered about the fact that Zeron has just stormed out of the throne room. Obviously, to them it is normal. If I was having second thoughts about my marriage with Zeron, my mind has been fully made up at the moment and I'm not going to give up on him. He must be suffering and hurting so badly. How does he even cope with all the internal struggle? "Go to him" the queen mother says from beside me and I flinch because I'd not noticed when she'd moved to my side. Her cold gaze meets mine and it is almost as if she expects me to be terrified enough to refuse. So I bow slightly before her and make my way towards the direction my husband had taken. Just as I make it past the first hallway, I notice the dark blood stains on the floor. When I look up, I realize that it forms a trail that leads towards Zeron's chamber. A gasp leaves my lips and I instantly hike up my dress and begin
ALANNA Pain shoots through my skull when I gain consciousness. I slowly sit up with my hand pressed to my temple. Blinking away the dark spots that dance across my vision, I quietly take in the sight of the bedroom I'm now lying in. The ceilings are bright red and white. The room is very spacious and most of the things in it are colored red and white, including the bed clothes. Panic washes over me as soon as I recall how the red head had taken me away against my will. I have to get out of here; he's clearly a psychopath. As soon as I slip out of the bed, the door jerks open and the redhead walks in with a smile on his face. I scowl at him and shuffle away from him. I can't trust him; not after the stunt he'd pulled back in my room. "Awake, I see" he rasps and I look away. He sighs and moves closer to me. "Leave me alone" I spit and he frowns."Look, I know that I took you away without your consent, but I need you to know
ZERON The coppery smell of blood clings to me as I saunter down the palace halls with my silver sword dripping red. The maids and the guards all avoid my gaze as I walk by and I don't really care. All I want is Lochan's head on a platter. But so far, he's done a good job at masking his location. I've been interrogating fire witches about their kingdom but it seems to me that they are all ready to die for their king because they won't tell me anything. That's okay, I'll keep killing them until I find Lochan and get rid of him for good. Alanna on the other hand, is going to regret deceiving me. I walk into my chamber and take off my cloak, letting it fall to the ground. My bloodied shirt goes off next and so does my pants. I walk into my wash room still wearing my undergarment. Soon, I'm relaxing in the water filled bathtub that smells a lot like roses and cinnamon. I close my eyes, ignoring the fact that the
ZERON She stares at me with wide eyes, her face pale. I take a step closer to her but to my surprise, she neither flinches nor steps away from me. "So, you run away from my palace and escape with Lochan. Then you return and expect me to throw you a welcome back party?" I ask and she frowns, confusion written all over her face. She's either a great actress or she's really confused."Escape with Lochan? No, I didn't! He forced me" she says and I narrow my eyes, not believing her. "You don't believe me, do you?" She sighs and I clench my jaw. "If Lochan took you to his kingdom, how are you here right now?" I ask, my fingers itching to wrap themselves around her neck and strangle her to death. "I met Talon-" she begins and I freeze, a wave of emotions washing over me. Talon...She can't possibly mean my brother. I thought he was dead. She has to be lying. "Who told you about my brother?!"
Blood. So much blood.I can't see it but I can smell it. The smell of blood is so intense, it causes nausea to roll through my system. I don't know where I am but I can tell that this place is a small, enclosed space with no source of illumination. As I reach out in front of me, my fingers brush the cold brick wall. I repeat the same action behind me and the same thing happens. Panic slowly starts to set in and my breathing speeds up. Where the hell am I? Suddenly, a blinding white light fills the whole place and I raise an arm to cover my face as a result of the intensity of the light. I slowly step out from the enclosed space and find myself in Zeron's throne room. A loud wail leaves my lips at the heartbreaking sight before me. Zeron's head is on the throne with a sword impaling the top of his head. His decapitated body lies on the floor in the pool of his own dark blood. I fall to my knees, cries of anguish leaving my lips.
ZERON There's this unexplainable pain in my chest. A pain that began as soon as I saw the look of hurt in Alanna's eyes. She probably doesn't want to have anything to do with me again. I know this because for the past six days, she has been avoiding me. I shouldn't feel so bitter about it, right? But, I'm miserable.There's one part of me that enjoys her company and I can't admit it to her face. These past few nights, my nightmares seem to have worsened and everytime I close my eyes, the nightmares begin. Then, I awake in cold sweat few minutes later. I feel like a zombie. Who am I kidding?I've felt that way for years.I open my eyes, wincing when I'm met with the sight of the winter morning sky. Usually, I never get to sleep till dawn but today, I seem to have slept past dawn. The next thing I notice is how hot my room is. My skin is soaked with sweat and my breathing is laboured. I push myself to a sitting pos
ALANNA A smile curves my lips as I make my way towards Zeron's chamber. Yesterday had felt like something out of a daydream but it had really happened. Zeron had allowed me to lull him to sleep. I really hope he doesn't lash out at me today because usually, we move two steps forward and five steps backwards. I should be sick of it all by now but, I know that I have to be more patient. Avoiding him for six days was not really my doing. The queen had insisted that I stayed away from her son because I was bad energy. I raise my fist to knock on the door but is startled by the familiar voice coming from behind me. I quickly turn to face him. "He's not here" Talon says and I frown."Where is he then?" I ask and he shrugs."The garden" he responds and I nod, shooting him a grateful smile. "I never got to thank you for being so brave and freeing me. Thank you" he says and I beam.
ALANNA Wrapping my arms around myself, I gaze down below from the open window of my room. Today seems to be colder than usual; not that I'm complaining. Seven days.There are only seven days left for the bonding ceremony to take place. Strangely enough, Zeron hasn't been avoiding me like he usually does. We don't say much, we only spend time with each other in the garden, in his favorite private spot, in his room and in the library. Yet, neither of us have the courage to talk about our kiss. There's this undeniable tension between us. I can feel it and I know he can feel it too. I close my eyes and let out a sigh when I recall Zeron's dreadful words about the fact that he believes he's dying. God, I hope not.He can't die, not under my watch. The door to my room creaks open and I turn around to see the queen mother as she steps into my room elegantly. She's wearing a black and green floral dress today with her h