DOUGLAS POV
My heart is broken as the guards lead me out of luxury, my rights as the wolf prince and privileges of a future king to the dungeon as Pandora ordered. I have no say in this case and I don't know what would happen to my love, Nancy. She's my world, life and everything. I don't know if I would ever get to see her again. Now my world comes crumbling, would it ever bounce back?
Today I had woken up to a bright day, hoping to be successful in my quest when I got to meet my father, little did I know that I'd be in such a condition. A tear stream down my face and I quickly wiped it off with the back of my palms.
The guards lead me to their hilux van at the edge of the lane that leads from the castle to the field. One of them is already opening the back door for me to get in. Few hours ago, I was the respected prince, but now a cared-less-about prisoner with a bleak future.
This might be the last time I'll ever set my eyes on this beautiful place I'd always called home even after mom died and my father remarried. I turned around to have one final look at the magnificent palace, a sigh of disappointment and betrayal escaped my mouth. I recalled what mom said to me the very last time I set my eyes on her before her mysterious disappearance and death claim, "Don't worry Douglas, you'll be king one day!" For some times I'd been hoping in this until now when I'm not even sure of surviving till the next day. So many thoughts crowd my mind as I stand here helpless until one of the security personnel used his whip and whipped me on my ass.
Ahhh! What an embarrassment. "Why're you treating me this way? Do you know I'm still the Prince to you guys?" I protested in an angry tone with fury in my eyes.
"You're no prince to us but our prisoner. The queen who has more authority than you commands us to take you as prisoner away and that we must do. You have no say!" His last words came in a mocking tone. He didn't finish his speech when he took out a handcuff from the side of his trousers and forced my wrists into it. I was more than pissed.
"Why would Pandora dare to do such a thing to me?" I asked myself. "What have I done to her?" These were personal questions I asked deserving answers but no answers came at the moment. I looked up and it was far away, looked down, the earth seemed to be very distant as well. I was alone in my fight with no one to help me.
I wish the moon goddess would take pity on me and save me from my misery. She's the only one I have at the moment. My mom is long dead and gone. I remember how I had woken up in the morning only to hear that my mom was missing in her room, I felt like dying that day to go meet her wherever she was. The day before was the last time I'd set eyes on her. The memories can never be erased from my mind, it would never. After I lost her, the next person I'd set my hope on, someone I could trust and cherish for the rest of my life was Nancy, a girl I met on one of my princely visits to town. After falling in love with her, I discovered she was from a very poor family and I decided to take her home, to the palace and take good care of her. I promised her that one day she'd be queen and it's because of her, I tried so hard to make my father agree to place me on the throne.
All my hopes and wishes are long gone, nothing to remember except the scraps of my broken life, broken pieces which would never be mended.
"Come along," the guard standing by the door says to me. Among the guards arresting me, he seems to be the only one that has some sympathy towards me. The way he looks at me shows he possesses a heart and conscience, not like the wicked Pandora who seems to be without even a soul.
I walked quietly into the waiting hilux, my hand in front as it's handcuffed. I stepped into the car and the guards all get in with the sympathetic guard sitting beside me. Just as when the driver is about oning the car engine, another guard comes running towards us.
What's wrong again? I ask myself. This misery I'm already in isn't enough that I should have another bad news added to it. I'm sure it must be bad news.
"Heyyy," he waved to catch the attention of the driver who was about to zoom off. "A word from the queen!" Immediately he mentioned the queen, my heart dropped. In any other case, an individual in my situation would be thinking of pardon but I wasn't. Nothing good could come from the queen, she has proven herself to be all-bad over the years she has lived in the palace.
"What's that?" The guard on the driver seat asks fearfully. Everything about the queen, her appearance, instructions, in fact the very sight of her emanates fear in her subjects.
We all stare at this guard waiting to hear the next verdict. "Prince Douglas should be locked up in a separate cell, farther from the others. Must be fed only once in a day and no visitor must be permitted to visit him." My breath seemed to fade slowly away with every word the guard spoke.
No food! How would I survive with food only once a day? It was the same as not being given food at all and I wasn't sure what type of food they'd even give to me. No visitor allowed? This broke my heart, not even my father cared to save me from this miserable situation. Had he forgotten I was his son? He has let Pandora take away his authority and everything in his power, even his family.
Who cares? Perhaps I'm gonna die with no one to even have by my side as my last breath fades away. What would become of me in the royal dungeon I'm being sent to, the most dreaded prison in the wolf world?
CASSANDRA POVInside the room with the queen, I felt all the hatred and anger I'd bottled inside me for years resurfaced. Pandora could see the vengeance in my eyes, her eyes turned bloodshot in anger as I confronted her. A war was set to begin between both of us. "Why would you let your stepson be in prison for three years without caring to release him? What has he done to you?" I asked in an angry tone with serious hate in my eyes."Why do you care, is he in any way related to you or what makes you think you have the authority to confront my decision?"I got puzzled at how Pandora would dare speak with me that way. "Do you know who you're talking to in such a manner?" "Who cares? Are you not the crowned wolf queen, should that make you feel right to interrupt with my authority in this kingdom? Let me warn you for the last time," she said with so much seriousness. "If you don't learn to mind your business and stop meddling in my private affairs, I'll make you join Douglas at the du
When I arrived at my apartment, the glass residential house at Matama Estate, ten kilometers from my Foundation's residence, I went straight to the bathroom to wash myself. The sun has been so hot and I needed a cool shower as it was getting to noon. Eva emerges from her room and steps in front of me. "Glad you're back. Hope you weren't hurt? What happened at your encounter with the queen?" She was so anxious to know what went on between us. I mean no true friend would care less. "Nothing really, I'll inform you later. I need to take lunch. I'm really tired." I was exhausted actually and I needed rest. Eva knew I'd loved to be left alone at this moment. "So can I bring in your food from the kitchen?" I nodded to her enquiry. She turned to leave while I continued to my dressing room. Eva wasn't only my staff at the foundation but a close friend, she's the one I shared most of my life experiences with except the spiritual, who I was. That's a no-no.After work, she comes home to my l
"When I arrived at the palace, there were so many guards at the gate, staff all around and even at the castle where the king and queen reside but I got past them." I began. Eva's eyes fixed steadily to me like she was the accuser in court paying attention to the verdict of the judge which was me in this case."So how did you get past them?" She asked with a frightening gaze and her face shaking in terror."What do you mean?" I joked. "Do you play with me?" She smiled."I know you're a shifter but like, come on, tell me how you did that." Eva urged."Whatever!" I gestured with my hands and burst out into laughter. "You haven't really told me anything." I knew she wanted to discover how I passed through the heavily secured residence of the king and queen without being obstructed by the security personnel who are permitted to let only those with passes in. She was earnest to know this."Well, you seem too curious." I decided to place Eva in a little suspense before I told her what happ
I retired to my bed after a while. I need to have a nap before evening. I've decided to go out with Eva. It's quite okay for me to celebrate her decision to join with me in fighting this course. It's not an easy one, so celebrating someone that has agreed to walk with you through the good and dark times is a great deal.Sleep always proves a great refreshment to my body and spirit, I felt quite relaxed and bubbling with energy after I awoke. It's 3 PM and too early to get up from my bed, especially as I have nothing to do at the moment. While on my bed, my mind framed thoughts of Douglas. Though covered with sorrows and a mournful look, he is still a charming prince with his charming blue eyes and shiny black curly hair. His muscular stature makes him the dream of every girl, I think it's even affecting me quite well even though I'm not like every ordinary girl. The clock seemed to be ticking away into the time I had planned for. Few hours had passed after I spent time with Eva. She
I wondered why the thought or sight of Douglas shot electricity through my spines. It has come way too much often in me that I have to remind myself of my original status and mission. "Well, you know I'm not here to crush on him but I have my own feelings towards him.""I knew you've something cooking up in your mind towards that handsome prince." Eva teased, rolling her eyes."Shhhh!" I gestured with my index finger placed across my lips. "Who tells you that?" "I know that." Her voice was so confident even though she was smiling sweetly like I had achieved a fortune she really admired and cherished, even more than myself. "Eva, I'm here to help Douglas out of the prison and nothing more. Don't you pity seeing your prince and the rightful king in prison, that you're here talking about love?" Eva seemed not to be bothered by my statement, the mindset that I was crushing on the prince had so soaked her mind to ponder on reality. I wasn't into Douglas that way, the way she thought al
I was busy straining my head and eyes, trying to figure out who it was that Eva was referring to. By the way she looked in that direction, I suspected it was no joke. But what would Douglas be doing here when he was imprisoned?The sound of my phone notification draws my attention from the direction I was looking. Avelyn Cian appears on top of my screen, she was the Chief of Staff at my foundation. It must be something really serious. I opened the message body to see the greatest shock of my life."Ahhhh!" I exclaimed with my eyes and mouth very wide apart. No one must have noticed except Eva sitted opposite me. A popular music played at the moment and people's attention was directed towards it. They swayed their bodies according to the rhythm.In the picture she sent, Douglas was lying bandaged at various parts of his body. "He was severely beaten by the guards upon the order of Queen Pandora as she came to visit." I wept as I read Avelyn's statement. What did Douglas do to deserve a
The vile creatures snarled and dashed towards us, on top of the car. With my power I made Eva strong and fearless, so she'd be able to handle these creatures. The battle started and I was merciless at slaying these evil creatures who were sent to assassinate us. Perhaps Pandora knew I was gonna come visit Douglas. No! She doesn't have the power to monitor my every step any more. I had seized such power from her but that didn't mean she couldn't spy on others spiritually. She must have detected Avelyn or her mate who informed her of this. Whatever, it was from another person, not me. She got to know this from another shifter.Before, witches and vampires weren't in the wolf world. Being the greatest enemies of our species, they stayed far away, perhaps in their own territory but after Pandora assumed the position of the luna queen, things changed. Imagine how witches and vampires, hybrids, would possess the courage to not only come within the territories of the werewolves but attempt
Once outside I prayed silently in me that we would not come in contact with anything that would delay our journey to the hospital. Not like I was afraid of any creature or something but I just wanted to rush Douglas as fast as I could to the hospital three kilometers away. I covered Douglas with a coat, he lay at the back resting on Eva's laps. I assigned her to take care of him as I drove although he was unconscious. I didn't really know what was happening to him right now, his medical state. "Is he breathing?" I asked Eva with a confused voice. "No, he isn't." My heart grew more panicky. For some time now I didn't know Eva was crying silently behind. Horror greater than that from the sight of demons, dragons and great evil powers sparked inside me and ran across my spine.The white light from a distance signaled Annah Merson Memorial Hospital. It's named after one of the greatest female medical doctors from Vienna. She lived a great, outstanding life and left a unique legacy. For