Chapter 109: Chapter 109

Athena plastered a too-wide smile on her face as she smoothly walked towards them like she was gliding and not actually taking steps. Her outfit was all gold, blending too much with the throne room itself. If her visible skin and hair were also gold, she would be invisible in the hall.

“Pleased to meet you again, Athena,” Prince Dakar said with courtesy. Athena turned her full attention to him as she stood a few feet away.

“Ah, my handsome nephew. You look amazing despite everything you've been through. I guess strength and good looks run in the family. How is your father?” she asked and cocked her head to the side.

“He is doing very well. Sends his kind regards,” Prince Dakar answered. Athena grinned and moved closer to him. A little bit too close. She looked up into his eyes and tucked loose hair behind his ear.

“When this is all over, I would love to see his final look,” she said then grinned again.

Avril frowned but quickly tucked her face right. What did she mean by ‘his final look’? Wasn't that too weird to say? She looked around and noticed only Nana had a similar look of disdain on her face, and she was trying to conceal it too. Trust Nana to always tell when something is fishy.

Avril looked away from Nana and was taken aback to see Athena already staring right at her, her smile already dissipated.

“Is she the one?” she asked Dakar while still looking at Avril.

“Yes,” Dakar answered and covered the distance between him and Avril. He fully faced her, blocking Athena's view of her. Prince Dakar gave Avril a piercing look of encouragement, and something like a promise of protection and loyalty before he took her waist and led her to Athena.

“Athena, meet Avril, my love and life. Avril, meet Athena, my mother's sister and my alchemist.”

“It's nice to meet you, Athena. Thank you for helping Dakar against his fight with the curse,” Avril said with a firm, confident yet grateful voice. Athena's lips rose to the side.

“It is my duty to remain loyal. Family is more than just blood and DNA, right?” she smirked at Avril then seemed to look her over in one second.

“This is the rest of my crew. We're a little too much for the initial request of just me and Fiorella, but I hope you can spare us a bit of space. We're sorry for the inconvenience,” Prince Dakar stated. Athena laughed.

“What nonsense? I have enough space and resources to accommodate hundreds of men, what less a small group? You're all welcome. Feel at home.

She glided back to her throne and sat down.

“The second floor of the castle is yours. I believe it has enough space and resources to tend to your needs the best.”

“Thank you,” Prince Dakar appreciated. He turned around first and began to walk ahead before the rest did. They hurried along after him and followed as he took turns, opened doors, and climbed stairs.

“How do you know the way?” Avril whispered to him after they finished climbing the stairs.

“I just do,” he answered.

“Why is her castle so empty? Does she have no workers or servants?”

“None. Her castle is always empty like this.”

“So she magically gets work done then?”

“That could be it.”

Since they had arrived on the second floor, they slowed down and just looked around trying to figure out what was what.

First, there was a living area that was surprisingly just blue decor as opposed to the other parts of the castle. Blue walls, rugs, sofas, cabinets, everything had a shade of blue. And it was beautiful.

“Better. My eyes almost burst because of viewing too much bright gold. Even the Lioans didn't do this,” Nana exclaimed as she sat down on a royal blue chaise lounge. Camper smiled and squatted in front of her.

“You must be tired,” he said sweetly and lifted her foot to his bent leg for a massage.

“This room fits the killer snow outside and yet surprisingly warm,” Xiao Wéi commented and set down the huge bag she was carrying.

In less than thirty minutes, everyone was slumped down on the floor or sofas and was just talking gently as they relaxed their sore bodies. For days, they had not had this sort of luxury. They also ate up their rations, especially the already stale bread, dried fruits, and dried meat.

After everyone seemed to have gotten back their breath, they went to check out the rooms and were so glad to see none of them were that ugly shade of blinding gold. They took baths, wore fresh clothes for the first time and a few took naps.

But Prince Dakar had returned to the living area. He crossed his arms and stared into the live fire in the fireplace.

A few moments later, he felt a presence in the room. He knew who it was, though.

“What now?” the weird guy asked as he stood beside the Prince and also stared into the fire.

“We wait. She makes the first move,” he answered.

“And what if she doesn't really have the antidote?”

“I am optimistic. She's helped me this far, I believe she can help me again.”

The weird guy frowned deeply.

“She has a striking resem—”

Dakar gave him a deathly look and he shut his mouth.

“Get some rest. The journey was tough on all of you. When it's time for dinner, you should be out strong,” Prince Dakar changed the topic. The young man nodded and left.

Prince Dakar faced the fireplace again, and two minutes later felt another presence. This time it was Camper. But his friend did not stand beside him.

“I found these grapes in the kitchen. The kitchen is stocked full, Prince Dakar,” he said, announcing his presence. He stretched on the chaise lounge Nana had sat on earlier and began to eat the grapes.

“I'll go check it out. Maybe make a small snack for us all,” Prince Dakar replied. He turned around, and Camper raised an eyebrow at him.

‘Stay vigilant, Dakar. My wolf is not at peace too,’ he quickly mind-linked as soon as their eyes met.

“Why make snacks when there are fruits?” Camper asked, like he did not just warn Dakar telepathically.

“Because I can still create snacks out of fruits. See you later,” Prince Dakar stated as he walked past his friend.

‘Don't let any of them out of your sight,’ he growled telepathically and exited the room. Camper sat scrutinizing the grapes he had lifted like he was a scientist analyzing the contents of a test tube with his physical sight. But he had heard his friend, and he was already playing the part.

Everyone filed out as the sweet aroma of food filtered into every room. Prince Dakar was making dinner, and he didn't have to announce it to them. They all gathered in the living area and just talked about random things. Avril slipped away into the kitchen and smiled to see the prince fully at work and deeply concentrated.

“Hey,” she made her presence known. But he already knew she was there ten seconds before she actually showed up.

“Come, taste this,” he said and placed a single slice of beef on a ceramic plate. She strolled in and was going to receive it from him, but he instead stabbed it with a fork and fed it to her. She chewed on, liquid seeping out and onto her tongue. Her eyes lit up.

“This is amazing. I want more.”

Prince Dakar chuckled softly and actually placed more on the plate then handed it to her. She grinned and leaned against the island, eating and watching him cook. He looked tensed, but cooking was always therapeutic for him.

“Should I help with anything?” she asked after some time.

“Just rest, Fiorella.”

“Why do you keep calling me that?”

“Because it's a beautiful name. And it suits you perfectly, my flower.”

Avril scoffed under her breath but loved his answer.

“I want to help you cook, Prince Dakar.”

Dakar sighed.

“I'm almost done. But you can help me serve them.”

Avril nodded, and a few minutes later, she was setting the table. She and Prince Dakar brought in the dishes and arranged them together. Then she called on the rest to come dine.

The dinner was a lively one, even Dakar's mood was lifted during the friendly banters. After dinner, they waited for about an hour just making conversations until everyone left to sleep. There were about five very huge rooms on that floor, but Avril and her girls chose one room to crash in. Verona chose another, and so did the rest of the men.

The night was smooth and morning came quickly. Athena's guests were surprised to see that their blue-themed living room had magically changed to red overnight. Even the tiniest beads attached to the chandelier were red. It was shocking yet mesmerizing.

Prince Dakar walked to the living area with a white envelope in his hand.

“Athena insists we have breakfast with her downstairs. I'd wanted to go alone as planned but she wants all of us to,” he announced with the envelope pointed towards them showing she had written it down.

“How was that delivered?” Avril inquired.

“Found it on the bedside table,” he answered. If Athena had no servants, then did she drop it off herself? In Prince Dakar's room? Or did she use magic?

“Let's go then,” Camper spoke up and began to walk. Everyone else followed suit, but Dakar fell behind and waited for they all to leave first. Before he trailed behind.

They got to the ground floor and met a table set in the middle of the throne room with a lavish feast sprayed from edge to edge of the table. Athena was already seated at the head of the table on a mini throne. Her long nails were tapping gently on the table while her other arm rested on the throne's armrest.

“Welcome! I trust you had a smooth sleep? Come, sit, eat, fill yourselves until you can't no more,” she said in rhymes. Everyone bowed slightly to show respect then took a seat at the table. Avril was going to sit somewhere beside Verona, close to the other end of the table.

But—

“Avril, you and the prince will sit beside me.”

Hearing the witch call her name made her skin crawl. She did not like the sound of it. She wanted to gag. But she faked a smile and looked to Dakar who had stretched out his hand to her. She walked to him, took his hand and he led her to the front. Prince Dakar wisely chose the seat closest to Athena and let Avril sit by him, putting himself between the two. He must have noticed that she did not feel at peace with the witch.

“Your meal is special, Prince Dakar. Made specifically for you based on special medications.

“And you, my lovely,” she directed at Avril. “Your dish is special too. Only to be eaten by you.” She gave Avril a large smile as she gestured to the covered plates in front of her. Why was the one meant for Avril in front of her?

Prince Dakar gently took the plates to his front, opened them, and nodded. Then he dished them out into a plate for Avril.

Avril mumbled a thank you to him. She was skeptical about eating it, and her skepticism increased when she saw no one on the table had touched any plate either. Not even Camper or Nana.

“What are we waiting for? Let's eat!” Athena said excitedly and began to eat herself, her long nails curling around her cutlery alongside her slender nails. How was she even holding them with such nails?

Avril picked up courage to eat after she saw Prince Dakar was already eating. Camper followed suit and groaned happily.

“Best taste I've had on centuries. Athena, no offense, the only thing that can beat the joy I derive from this food is your face,” he commented and stared at Athena in a flirtatious manner. She giggled.

“I can give you more joy than just looking at my face,” she replied and equally gave him a subtle look of seduction. Avril was about to choke when someone beat her to it. Xiao Wéi gently patted Nana's back as Chidi handed her some water.

“Dear Camper, what other talents do you have? Apart from wearing that face and carrying that body all day of course.”

Avril almost furrowed her eyebrows but decided to just maintain herself. Prince Dakar wasn't even listening, or he didn't care to.

“Nothing. The people of Remus call me a good for nothing. Except the ladies I've bedded of course. They alone agree that I'm good at ‘something’.” Camper had whispered that last word. Athena looked enthralled.

“I would love to have a private time with you later in the garden. A time to...talk...about this other talent of yours.”

Avril was sure she was going to truly throw up over this dish soon. If Athena said one more shameless word about lust, she wouldn't mind soiling her long fingers with undigested food.

Thankfully, Prince Dakar came to the rescue... again.

“Athena, when would I be getting the final antidote? I'm so sorry I won't be staying here for long. I intend to be on the road soon. The sooner we discuss a way to end this curse, the better.”

Athena smiled.

“Ah, yes. The antidote. When you're well rested from your tiring journey, I would like for you and the young lady to be a part of my exorcism this night. By tomorrow evening, you wouldn't be here.”

Silence reigned in the hall.

“Thank you,” Prince Dakar then said and resumed eating.

The rest of breakfast went on with Camper saying stupid jokes only Athena laughed to. After breakfast, he stylishly led her out by the waist to the garden she had mentioned. While the rest of the group dispersed from the table, Nana hurried over to Prince Dakar.

“What sort of garden can survive this harsh winter outside this castle?” she immediately asked him.

“She's the Eternal Witch of the North. Keeping icy flowers alive should be a child's task,” he replied with a dry chuckle. Nana bit her lips and looked to the direction Camper and Athena had left through. Her instincts filled her in on what was happening, but she didn't trust it. Or rather, did not want to trust it.

***

Avril found herself on the huge bed she and her girls were sharing. It was huge enough to comfortably host all four of them, including Nana, who was more of a plus size.

She was surprised to see everyone else was soundly asleep. How had she gotten into bed? What time was it?

She stepped down and winced after pain shot up through her palm, which she had used to support herself up. She glanced at her palm, and her eyes widened to see a thick bandage over and around her palm. Blood was beginning to seep through it even. How had she gotten injured?

She hugged herself after a cold chill enveloped her. Her temperature was rising, her teeth began to chatter. The cold from the harsh winter outside was seeping in through the walls of the castle.

She got on her feet and walked towards the door. She was going to find Dakar in order to have him fix her bandage and tell her how she was injured. Because she knew she wasn't dreaming.

As soon as she stepped in front of her door, a warmer air hit her in the face, and strong arms grabbed her arms. She screamed in fright because it was dark in the hallway except for some small candles at certain positions giving off a soft amber glow.

“Fiorella,” Prince Dakar breathed out in relief and hugged her immediately, pinning his large palm to the back of her head.

“Dakar,” she called in realization that that was him. He unlocked from the hug.

“We have to get out of here, now,” he whispered. Two other figures waded over through the darkness. The candlelights glinted against two shiny metals. Camper's swords.

“What's—”

“It's clear. She's in her mode now,” Camper said to Prince Dakar, his voice now in that danger mode. Something must have gone terribly wrong to get that side of Camper out.