5.

Thanks for all the reads 

♤♤♤

Tamper

Justice

With 

Mercy

●●●

I WOKE UP on the bed, my sister sound asleep beside me. From the looks of it, it was probably the early hours of the morning, marking the second day of my stay here. I sighed tiredly as I sat up, remembering the occurrence that made me faint yesterday. 

Something else seemed to be bothering me though and it didn't seem like I could go to sleep again so I decided to take a walk. I opened the door and turned right, walking down the corridor in the same direction we did when Cal took us to the king's office. From what i gathered yesterday, we seemed to be on the west wing and this wasn't even the highest floor!. Although looking down from here, the smaller buildings seemed like ants and I wondered what the kingdom looked like.

The castle was very packed with according to Cal, the king's advisors, the council members, witches that protect the kingdom, the royal maids and guards. It was obvious that the king treated his subjects, even those that seemed insignificant with respect. The maids and guards were given their own quaters on the first floor while the more dignified people were found on the higher floors according to the position or rank.

Cal also mentioned that the citizens don't have to pay for medical services such as childbirth, and treatments as long as they came to the palace. The king himself paid the doctor in the palace for all treatments and the citizens are allowed to go home after recovery without paying a dime. This is because according to Corey 'No one choses to fall Ill or have health complications'.

I asked Cal about these things during our walk back to the room and he was all too eager ( at all) to answer while my sister pretended to be interested in the beautiful patterns on the wall, huffing and puffing in anger every ten seconds. 

Eventually, my curiosity got the best of me and when I saw a staircase midway along the corridor, I decided to go up and see what laid there. I was yet to hear a thing about Corey's family and it was starting to put me on edge. Barely two steps into my climbing journey, a dark cloaked figure appeared in front of me. It was tall, i noticed. 

Finally summoning the courage to look up, I met with piercing green eyes eyeing me curiously. A mop of blonde hair lay on her head.

"So you're her" The voice said in astonishment and if i wasn't mistaken, a little bit of joy.

And oh! Its a boy

"I'm who?" I asked in an uncertain voice still trying to convince my brain that the beautiful person in front of me is actually a boy. He looked a few years older than my age but graceful all the same.

"I know you." He said with fierce determination." Don't you remember me? We used to go camping together with Kellyn and rose. Remember when we visited the fairy kingdom?" He sounded desperate now 

"I-I don't know what you're talking about. I just came from earth where I was living a perfectly normal life before I was thrust into this realm. I didn't even get to receive my six months accumulated salary!" For some reason i felt like weeping now. I had great plans with that money. I planned to renovate the whole house and buy new clothes for myself. 

At this, the weird handsome dude smiled slightly. It was a sad smile though and I couldn't tell why.

"You haven't changed much kira"

I looked at him weirdly before deciding to ask him some questions.

"Who are you?" I asked softly. "How do you know me?"

"Well my name is Calvin. But you used to call me alvy when we were younger. Please call me that again" He grinned at this." I'm Corey's younger brother who he apparently failed to mention to you. I'm a wizard though. The sun goddess gifted me with magic"

"You mean my...mom?"

"The very one. You'll be returning to fae soon and your memories will be unlocked there . So where were you headed to this late at night?"

"I was curious at first but it seemed like my feet just brought me here. Say do you happen to know what's up there?"

Calvin looked at me strangely for a while before covering his expression with a huge grin that only diluted his features.

"Just the king and myself stay up here." He said cheerfully.

"The king!" I said stupidly in a high pitched over joyed voice.

Wait why was I happy again?

Calvin seemed to notice this too and he stepped back slowly. A look of disbelief and regret dancing across his features.

"I'll be going to my room now. You've grown into a fine woman kira. Goodnight "

"Wait!" He turned back slowly." There are some people who want to ambush Corey tonight!. We should-"

"They've been taken care of. They'll be executed tomorrow. Anything else?"

Execute? I will have to stop that, I don't want anybody dying.

"Oh, um no. Goodnight alvy" I said softly. He smiled at me once more before trotting upstairs. He probably came down because he thought i was a criminal. According to what i heard, the witches/wizards live to protect the king.

That must be nasty. Living to protect your brother.

After a while, I decided to walk upstairs too, my hands trailing the intricate designs on the stairs and walls. When i got up, I marvelled at the magnificent designs everywhere!. There was a large water fountain in the middle of a very large room. Paintings were placed all over the wall and I could see strange writing covering the floors. The environment also felt very airy, wild breeze blowing me here and there. This was probably meant to signify their bond with the water and air.

The other end of the room revealed a wide balcony that provided a perfect view of the kingdom. Although from where I stood, I could see a corridor on the left and a corridor on the right. I assumed one was for Calvin while the other led to Corey.

What about their parents?

I decided to go left as instinct instructed me to. Walking down the corridor, it seemed plain. Everything was either black or grey and I must admit, I've always been abnormally addicted to the colour grey. This must be Corey's then because Calvin seemed to have a more colourful personality.

The first door I saw and undoubtedly opened revealed a huge library with tall book shelves and very old looking books. I closed the door almost immediately and continued to trudge down the dimly lit corridor. I absolutely hate reading but anime I love.

The second door revealed a large training room. Ah, as expected. 

The third room was completely empty. No funitures, no chairs, nada. But it was large just like the other rooms here.

Now I stood in front of the fourth room which also happened to be the last room, sweating and twiddling my fingers. Why did I want to see Corey? I don't know but I feel I should. I managed to summon enough courage to grab the delicate handle and push the door open.

The room was ridiculously humongous. Like my whole house back in earth. How did he manage this?. 

The room was painted black with splotches of grey. There was a desk to the right arranged neatly. Expensive flower vases were on the window sill and a large four poster bed in the middle of the room. There were two mahogany doors on the right which was probably a walk-in closet and a washroom.

I closed the door behind me gently and walked in carefully. The patter of my small bare feet was barely audible and I thanked God for that. I just wanted to peek at Corey and run back out as fast as possible.

Before I could comprehend what was happening, a long wet rope gripped me tightly around the neck and I was pushed into the wall, my breath knocked out of me.

What?

"I wasn't given the title king for nothing. It would take a lot more experience for you to actually able to lay a finger on me". There he goes with his bluffing but he's not wrong though; I barely made a sound and he still sensed me.

The rope around my neck tightened and I let out a strangled gasp.

"Corey its just me" 

"Kira?" His voice softened and I the rope around my neck released. Suddenly my hoodie was wet. That rope was water? 

I keep forgetting he has powers too. I looked up at his form in the dark, his muscles all the more pronounced now. After much inspection, I realized he wasn't even putting on a shirt but since the room was so dark, I could only make out his silhouette.

"What are you doing here? How did you find this place?" His voice was stern now but I refuse to cower.

"It's not exactly hard to find and I just want to talk to you."

"What about?" He asked impatiently 

I gaped at him like a dead fish thinking hard on something to tell him.

"So I heard you caught your ambushers" I said simply.

A smug smirk covered his features as he regarded me. "Told you I would". He mouthed proudly as if showing off an award. Was he actually playing with me right now? I've never seen this man smirk.

"But who told you that?"

"Alvy"

"Alvy? Don't call him that kira. Don't tell me you're-" He stopped abruptly

"I don't understand anything anymore. Did you two know me before the whole memory wiping thing? Were we friends or are you my uncle?"

Corey didn't look too happy because his jaw kept ticking and I could almost see smoke coming out from his ears.

"Do I look like an uncle?"

No! You look like a freaking Greek god ! 

I wanted to say but caught my tongue just in time.

"Please don't execute the traitors tomorrow. Just throw them inside one of the dungeons or whatever you have here" I decided to change the topic entirely. 

Smart girl 

"They don't deserve to live for even thinking of killing their king whom they should stay loyal to" He then looked at me with those piercing green eyes "But for you, I will learn to have mercy"

My heart felt delighted hearing this. I turned around preparing to leave the room before his voice stopped me.

"But I will have you know, you will always be more mine than his." It didn't sound like a warning, it sounded fierce. Like he could back it up with his life

"I don't understand. Do we know each oth-"

"I'll walk you back to your room" He said grimly.

The walk wasn't smooth at all because he hauled me over his broad shoulder and dropped me in front of my door. 

This man needs to learn to be a gentleman.Urgently.

With a deep scowl, I walked into my room where I saw Kellyn still sleeping soundly on the bed.

This oblivious little chicken!

♤♤♤

Hiya

Bet you weren't expecting Corey to have a brother.

Haha.

What's with all the tension between those three?

Stay tuned for mor