Chapter 104: Chapter 104

Avril laughed loudly again, and everyone rushing food at the table looked over at them.

“Is there a comedy show going on there, Fiorella?” Verona asked grudgingly.

“Are there any tickets left? I need a good laugh also,” Nana spoke, and Chidi elbowed her.

“Don't mind them. Just talk and laugh all you want. You're not bothering us,” Chidi said and glared at Nana, who shrugged. She looked away, and her eyes caught Camper staring at her friend in amusement. He had his fork twirling in his salad as he stared at Nana.

“It's going to be too obvious that you like this girl. Put that face straight,” the new guy ordered with a frown. Everyone at the table frowned except Camper, who smirked at him.

The way he spoke was so authoritative and haughty. Who was he? Avril's laughter rang up again, but nobody looked back at them this time.

“Why are you all looking at me like I said something bad?” he questioned.

“That's because you sound like a nagging mother. It doesn't suit you,” Nana retorted.

“He's cute,” Camper smiled and brought salad to the guy's lips.

“Don't tell me you like guys too,” Nana expressed. Camper raised a brow at her.

“I'm not—” the new guy tried to retort, but Camper tore him a deathly look like the one he had throughout the time Avril was in prison. The guy cleared his throat and sipped water. There was something about him that got Verona peering thoughtfully at him. He seemed—

“I'm retiring for the day. Good night,” he said and got up immediately.

“Where would you be sleeping?” Camper inquired.

“None of you should be seen wherever I decide to stay,” he answered and walked away.

“Retiring for the day by this time?” Xiao Wéi whispered, and the girls laughed.

“Enough food for the feast since his mouth is out,” Nana sniggered and took his leftovers.

Hours passed, and everyone was already settled in for the night. Prince Dakar and Avril did not partake in the meal but didn't bother because there was going to be a feast. Soon enough, some maids had come to prepare them for it, bearing outfits suitable for an Arabian-style feast.

The feast was held in the Royal garden, and it felt to the Remusians that all the dignitaries had been invited. Prince Dakar was greeted by everybody present, and as his crew, the people also paid respect to them. At times, Prince Dakar held Avril close to him to show people that she, in particular, was not just one of his crew members. But he didn't make it too obvious that everyone present would know. Only to those with matchmaking intentions did he flaunt Avril, who was dressed like the most beautiful Arabian to grace the face of the earth. She seemed to be the only rival to Princess ZLiyah, and Avril herself wondered why her outfit had to look that extravagant.

Prince Dakar took permission for them to leave the feast since they had to start out early the next day. And the Arab King graciously let them.

As they were leaving, Avril could see from the corner of her eyes that Princess ZLiyah wanted to make an attempt to follow them, or rather follow Prince Dakar. Avril bit down on her lower lip behind her veil and gripped harder unto Dakar's arm.

“Are you all right?” he asked without looking down at her. She didn't answer but held unto him firmly. He looked down at her with a raised brow, and though he couldn't see her face fully courtesy of the Arabian veil, he could see she looked restless.

“Avril,” he called and stopped walking. Everyone else behind them stopped walking too and gazed confusingly at the two.

“I'm fine. I just...” she looked behind them and exhaled in relief that the princess wasn't following. They were now in a large hallway and followed by guards and maids.

“Nervous. Over the journey. Verona filled me in you see,” she lied. Or was that a lie really? She did feel nervous but... There was something about that princess.

“You're with me. You'll be fine,” Prince Dakar assured and cracked a smile at her. She nodded, and they resumed their walk without anything further. When they got to their chamber and had changed into sleeping wear, Verona slipped into Avril's own side of the bedroom that had five independent beds.

“Why are you weary of the princess?” she asked immediately she laid on Avril's bed. Avril herself was trying to pry open a book.

“I am not.”

“Is it because of the rumours?”

“I am not weary of her.”

“Prince Dakar has eyes only for you. Right from the very beginning.”

Avril shut the book and frowned at Verona.

“I am not weary of her!”

The three other girls at Nana's side of the room glanced over at them. Avril exhaled and shook her head.

“The princess is not meant to be your concern right now. It's the place we're headed for that is scary. Even I feel nervous.”

Avril opened the book again and looked absentmindedly at the pages. Truly, she was scared about where they were headed. But it wasn't too much. However, now that Verona attested to her being afraid, Avril's fear showcased fully.

“I'll leave you be. Get your mind, body, and spirit ready for tomorrow. It's going to be tough.”

Verona pushed off from the bed and strolled casually to hers. Avril heaved a sigh and dumped the book on her other side. She hugged her body as chills crept up her skin. This journey... It wasn't a promising one. But for Prince Dakar, she had to swallow her fear. She needed her island wolf to be free.

Morning crept over slowly, and everyone finally woke up, except for Avril who didn't have any sleep. She had sat up in bed throughout and forced herself to read, which was also another epic fail. Her brain, mind, and heart were all restless. And the long night almost made her lose her mind. It was a relief to see the sky changing.

“You look awful,” Xiao Wéi exclaimed as she laid eyes on Avril getting down from her bed. All the other girls looked at her. Nana's eyes bulged.

“Did you get even an hour's sleep at all?” she asked. Avril heaved a sigh and made towards the bathroom to wash up.

“What's going on with her?” She heard Nana whisper as she entered the bathroom.

Avril wouldn't be able to explain to her girls that she wanted to run back to Remus like a coward because she was frightened of the journey ahead. Something was going to go wrong. She felt it.

She managed to shower, brush her hair, and look less like a cranky ghost. When everyone else was ready, they went to the main room for breakfast. Prince Dakar, Camper, and the new guy were already seated having breakfast. There was an empty seat beside the Prince, and he looked up to Avril immediately she stepped into the room.

“Come sit with me,” he said calmly. Avril smiled and found her way to him. He stood, lending out his hand, and she neatly took it. After he helped her sit, he resumed his position and began dishing food onto her plate. Avril let herself relax as she watched him.

“Stop worrying, Fiorella. You're already losing weight,” he whispered and poured a glass of milk for her. She sat up and began to eat without replying to him. Everyone else was talking gently, and it was obvious she was the only one looking anxious.

“I can't lose weight overnight,” she said and glanced at him. He gave her a smile and tucked hair behind her ear.

“That's not what I'm seeing,” he replied and added sliced steak from his plate to hers.

“Eat up, Fiorella. You might not find fresh meat again,” Camper chipped in and it earned him a glare from Prince Dakar.

“What? She's gotta know we're not going out there to play,” Camper retorted and glared back at his friend.

“Don't worry, Camps. I'll eat as much as I can,” Avril smiled and began to eat wholesomely.

She figured her mood was affecting the group. Everyone at that table was worried though they tried to hide it. She couldn't show weakness or it would spread to everyone else.

After the meal, everyone took their bags and moved out. The Arab King and his daughter were gracious enough to hand them an extra bag of rations for their journey. Though it seemed like extra load, they were grateful.

“Farewell, my prince. I wish your journey success. However, news got to me last night during the banquet that the Porta Metus has suddenly opened. Are you sure you still take this route?” the king questioned, and Prince Dakar's pupils dilated, his shoulders went up with his breath for a few seconds before he regained composure. Even Camper and Verona went stiff at the news.

“We've already come this way. We cannot go back. I'm sure my crew can take whatever comes our way. Thank you for your hospitality once again. We leave now.”

With that, they all bowed to the royal family and cabinet of Lioa before turning away out of the castle.

They took their cars to the end of the kingdom, the southernmost border. Unlike the northernmost border, which they had used, this one had no soldiers outside or on towers. They all were locked inside and were dressed differently. They opened the massive gate without any words, and the crew passed to the other side. Immediately they stepped foot off Lioa, Avril knew they were all in for it. The gate shut behind them, and the soldiers clanked in all the locks. It was like the only way back had been erased, leaving them in a world where all the trees were black and smoky, where the fog was grey, and there was no sun in the sky.

“Don't let your bare skin touch the black dust, which is literally everywhere. Or else you become it,” Prince Dakar warned as he began to lead the way.

“What does he mean by you become it?” Nana hastily asked Verona as they trod behind.

“It means you become black dust too. Soot, just like in a fireplace,” Verona replied, ignoring the wild eyes of the girls.

No wonder they wore leather outfits that covered everything. They even had masks for their faces.

“Fiorella, come here,” Prince Dakar called from the front. Avril glanced at the alarmed faces of her friends at the information and cracked them a smile before going to her prince.

“Stay close to me, would you?” he stated and held out his arm.

“I can take care of myself,” she retorted but held him anyway.

“I know,” he smiled. That instant, two hawks prowling closely ahead began to fight and descended down into a tree. There was a sound like water sprinkled on hot oil, and in two seconds, both the hawks turned into soot and smoothly descended to the ground. Like every other unfortunate creature whose soot was already gracing the earth.

Avril inadvertently gripped harder unto Dakar's arm with horror in her eyes.