Chapter 111: Chapter 111

Prince Dakar paced around the room, anger coursing through his veins alongside the blood within. It was past midnight when he suddenly became aware that Athena alone did not inhabit her castle. She had servants. Slaves more like, who moved around in chains and were invisible. They did everything, including the cooking downstairs for Athena. But they were chained, trapped, hopeless, and worthless to her.

That same hour, he realized she was putting on an act, was using her powers to get them too relaxed and that she was hiding something, waiting for something. He didn't understand how he suddenly got this strong conviction concerning her, but he knew it was true. Camper had complained he wasn't at peace, he too felt the dark part of him drawn to the place. Whenever he derived peace from his dark side, it was never anything good. Athena was hiding something. And it became clear to him through her little derogatory speech earlier that she knew he had power, and she was the one who wanted to wield it.

If only he had gotten them all to safety quicker, than Avril wouldn't have been almost frozen to death.

Why didn't that passage work though? A slaved girl had whispered it to him after he showed signs of seeing them. No one had seen them in centuries, and they now had hope that he could free them since he saw them. The midnight hour was when Athena zoned out, according to the girl. She would be unresponsive and oblivious to anything, only for an hour. And they should have escaped before that hour was over.

Camper had checked that passage minutes before they came back and it truly led safely away from the North. Since they were not part of the chained, they could escape through it. But how had Athena come to know and gotten up during her zone out hour?

‘Her blood. If she had not joined in the escape, we wouldn't know. But Athena, my servant, was quick to get her blood during the exorcism and store it in my crystal ball.’

Prince Dakar stilled as he heard that voice. That voice. In his head again.

“Dojo,” he snarled viciously.

‘This is the end. You've fought so hard but now you cannot resist because I finally have the upper hand.’

Pain, like a thousand metal balls were being punched into his brain, hit him with a force like never before. This was the worst pain since Dojo began torturing him. He fell to the floor, screaming as he twisted uncontrollably. Warm thick liquid flowed out his ears and mouth. And the last thing he heard was Avril shouting his name.

***

Avril had only just slept for half an hour when she heard a masculine scream pierce through the serenity of the room. She jerked awake, causing a terrible headache to erupt in her head. The scream continued. Obviously, that person was in deep agony. She rubbed her weak eyes with her fingers and realized this agonized person was right there on the floor in front of her. Then she realized it was Dakar.

“Dakar!” she screamed and ran out of bed, only to fall because of how numb her legs were. She groaned but crawled on all fours to where he lay. His screams and cries were terrible. She grabbed his arm, but he shoved her off as he continued to twist and contort in pain.

Avril burst into tears when she noticed he was bleeding from his nostrils, mouth, and ears.

“Help, please!” she tried to shout, but her voice couldn't be heard above his.

She crawled back to the bedside, grabbed the pitcher of water, and tossed it over him. He stilled immediately and lay unconscious. Avril took in deep breaths as she stared at him. Then she covered her face and cried. They were done for.

When next she opened her eyes, she was in the throne room. Or rather, in another cage that was standing in the throne room. This time, she was not alone. About six unknown girls were in there with her, and right adjacent to their cage was another cage with three girls in it. Avril's eyes widened as she saw the worried looks of her friends and the sudden relief in them after they saw her eyes open.

“Avril... Avril, are you alright?” Chidi quickly asked. She gulped. She was not alright.

“Are you?” she croaked. Her voice was almost gone. The girls looked at each other in tears but didn't answer her.

“You're awake, my love,” Avril heard a monstrous baritone from across the hall. She jerked her head sideways and saw Dakar sitting on Athena's throne. His hair was completely red, his green eyes black like obsidian, and his nails were exuding wisps of black smoke.

“How do I look?” he asked with a smirk and spread his arms. Avril's voice got caught in her throat. Dakar had turned fully into... no, she couldn't say that. She couldn't affirm that.

“You look powerful, you reek of might. As you deserve, of course, Prince Dojo,” Athena drawled as she glided over on the smooth floor. She was wearing a black and red dress, with jewelry to match. The two looked like a couple.

Dakar stood from the throne and twirled his hand in the air, tendrils of smoke twirling alongside it until they materialized into a mirror.

“Oh, how good it feels to be in final control. You know, Athena, I might have to double your gains in the bargain we made a hundred years ago. For the things you made him do, of course. He really thought smoking the weed you procured helped put me in check.” He laughed as the mirror disappeared. Athena turned to Avril and grinned.

“When he came to me, I knew I had to use the opportunity to make you stronger. The ‘special’ weed I procured made Dojo seem recessive. While that was true, it also made him stronger. Multiplied his strength and power each time that weed was smoked.”

She turned to the man who used to be Dakar and smoothed a strand of his hair between her thumb and index finger.

“During the exorcism that wiped your memory, I made sure to resurrect Dojo, unlocking all the power he now possessed. I also made sure to take your blood because you are the key to us controlling him. Good thing I did. Otherwise, you would have escaped successfully because Prince Dakar was not planning on even going with you.”

Avril shut her eyes at all the information that she still couldn't comprehend.

“What do you want, both of you?” she managed to ask.

“Simple. We need Dakar to fully give in, all of him. Only his heart remains because it is with you. Without all of him, my powers will be useless. He was looked into and rightfully chosen long before he was born.”

“And I, Athena, would be the greatest witch. When Dojo climbs to the greatest ranks of hell, I would be beside him. It's high time we put those stinking higher-ups in their place. We would not be looked down on anymore. We would rule the world, physically and spiritually.”

Avril could catch onto two major things in what the two monsters had said. First, all hope wasn't lost. Prince Dakar had not yielded completely. Though she doubted his heart will stay uncorrupted forever. Secondly, both Dojo and Athena were like lost puppies craving for affection and dog biscuits like the rich woman's lap dog across the street.

“It must feel awful to be the two most rejected beings on earth. How worthless you both are, that even the devil has no use for you,” Avril tsked. Athena wheeled and grabbed the air in front of her with her long nails. Avril yelped as nails dug into her neck and lifted her up.

“How dare you!” Athena screeched and hit her against the back of the metallic cage. She cried out, and the unknown girls in the cage whimpered and shifted as far away from her as possible.

“Don't... don't hurt her, Athena,” Dojo groaned and clutched his chest over his heart.

“We don't want anything to rile him up. We must go on with the plan.”

Athena heaved dramatically and walked to the cage.

“My parents thought me the delusional one. They rejected me and dumped me off at a stupid temple to become a f*cking priestess after I was getting more delusional. I should have been the one to marry King Kastor, I should have been allowed to rule my kingdom, I should have been the number one daughter and not her! Which is why the first thing I influenced Dakar to do when Dojo awoke in him, was to pluck out her heart.”

Avril shivered at the menace Athena was exuding.

“I made him go on exile, I locked the island, I made sure he ran feral every year hoping Dojo could fully take him in that state. But I guess I wasn't the only one interested in him.”

Athena glared and walked back to the throne where Dojo had settled back down. He welcomed her with his open arm, and she climbed unto his lap.