Chapter 3

By the next morning, Diana had still not come out. Thomas was getting angrier by the second. The king clearly requested for him to come with his family member, how come she didn't want to come along.

"Diana! Why, you make me so cross!" He fumed. Diana remained still in her room. She knew that she was only adding to her troubles.

"Why don't you go and answer the king, Tommy." She mocked. Thomas banged the door even harder at the sound of her mockery filled voice.

"You stinky brat!" 

"Go on. I have a lot to do today. Once I'm done, I will come and see the king with you." Diana bargained. Thomas agreed instantly. Anything to get her out of the room. Once they returned home, she was going to see hell!

He hired a cab and left for the castle. 

Calhoun was at the tower of his castle, looking down at the vast kingdom. Being a feared king was one of his treasured traits. But now, if he wanted to break the curse, it really depended on how feared he was. He hoped that the man would really come with the girl. When he saw the cab stop in front of the castle, his stoic face cracked into a small smile. He watched the man come out, waiting for the girl. Alas, his wait proved useless because the cab man drove off. The small smile that cracked his cold expression seemed to freeze and then disappear. Did the man want to defy him?

"Sire, it seems that the man you requested for has arrived." His assistant said to him. Calhoun didn't move an inch.

"Did he come with any member of his family, George?"

"No sire. He came alone." George answered with a bow, despite having Calhoun's back to him.

Calhoun hummed. "Then I shall not see him. He did not fulfill the requirements for today's meeting."

"What shall I tell him, sire?"

"Tell him I said if he wishes to defy me, he should do it completely. So that when I visit him in rage, he shall have no guilt whatsoever."

George bowed again and left. Calhoun squinted his eyes at the castle gate. He stood there for hours, staring at nothing in particular. No one ever could defy him. Not his second in command, not his third in command, not any noble in town. He was the Alpha of Wisteria. Curse or no curse, he was unstoppable. 

Calhoun returned into the castle after spending a few hours, doing nothing, to find the man still there. He turned to glare at George who had his face to the floor.

"Seems like someone has become incapable." Calhoun said, tapping his chin. He walked around the meeting chamber with his thick scarlet robe, making a trail after him. He walked with all manner of pride and dignity, to the throne where he sat. His movements were very precise.

"Why is he still here, George?"

George bowed again. "My king, I had asked him to leave. But he returned a few minutes later with a young maiden, saying she was his family member."

Calhoun became interested. "Well, where is the family member? Is she a ghost?"

"She left, sire." Thomas replied. Calhoun ignored him totally. After a few seconds of silence, he smirked down at Thomas.

"She left? How disrespectful." He murmured. "Do you know the punishment for refusing the generous offers of the king?"

Thomas bowed. Truly, Calhoun was a menace. Listening to him bellow from his throne was akin to hearing the voice of the gods. 

"Forgive me, My Lord. I'm sorry on her behalf. I will bring her to apologize personally to you." Thomas begged.

"Apologize? I do not need apologies." Calhoun said.

"Then what can we give to you, My Lord?"

"I want her as a slave."

"S..slave? My Lord, what if she refuses?" Thomas stuttered. He knew how stubborn Diana was. She was never going to accept being a slave.

"Figure something out. I give you twenty-four hours, Thomas. If Diana isn't in my castle by then, you will have your head rolling." Calhoun said with a small smile. Thomas gulped. He bowed and left.

Diana sat beside her step father in the cab that took them to the castle. Although she was unnerved, she also couldn't help but notice that Thomas seemed happier that she was leaving. 

"You look as if you are the one marrying the king." Diana whispered. Thomas scowled at her. 

"Don't utter such nonsense about the king. Learn to close your mouth and briddle your tongue!"

"What's there to briddle? I was only asking.." she shrugged. "I was only making a reference to your happiness. It's more unnerving than the thought of being married to King Calhoun."

Thomas scoffed. "Keep your mouth shut and let me do all the talking." 

Diana turned her face away. She looked through the window, watching the road through to the castle. The cab slowed down at the entrance to the castle and she came out with Thomas.

Diana stared at the mighty but familiar building before her. 

She was once again here. For the third day in a row. But now she was here for a different purpose. To be married to the king.

She wondered what he looked like. Alighting from the vehicle, she turned to take a quick glance around the castle. The previous day she was mad and hadn't bothered to enjoy the castle's beauty. The other previous day, she was bothered by how to escape, also it was night.

Her eyes went up to a particular side of the castle. She thought she could see a man staring down at her. She blinked twice and the man was no longer there.

"Diana! What are you staring at?! Hurry up and let's get in!" Thomas whisper yelled. Diana scrunched up her nose. She followed him into the castle. The servants would occasionally stare at her.

Diana frowned a little. The castle did not look like they were preparing for a marriage. What exactly was going on? She narrowed her eyes at her step father. He looked way more happier than he was supposed to.