Chapter 14: Chapter 14
“What do you imply by that?” Madonna’s heart was filled with dread as she put forth her hesitation before the man who was carrying her in his arms as though she was a burden of some sort.
To Madonna, Lucius was that part of puzzle that is layered infinitely. She could not make up her mind on what kind of a person he was. He was humble one moment but the next she met him, he was rude. Sometimes, he was conniving while the other times he was pretentious as though he was blindly following her rules.
Madonna could not believe what Lucius was. She had had her uncertainties on his knowledge on the whole scenario talking place from decades. Certainly he was not that naïve to not notice what was happening essentially.
But then again, what was it that he meant by his previous revelation?
Does it imply he knew about his father’s adventure in search of his mother?
“Nothing Milady. Nothing at all.” Lucius mocked as he tossed her an offhand smile. Madonna narrowed her eyes when the suspicion inside her was mounting up. “You have an appearance of a twig but weigh a mountain, Milady. How do you do it? Every time I think of you something, you come to be something else.”
He was having amusement of his own and she could clearly see it in his glowing face. It was at her expense.
How dare he jest about her weight! Certainly, she could not weigh so much, could she?
Or was he averting her attention from what they were preciously talking about?
Madonna kept mum when she saw how her husband was enjoying while mocking her. She went back to being silent again but the depth of Lucius knowledge on Emor household affairs was still running in her mind.
If he knew about Alder’s expedition with Knox, why was he still? Why did he not stop his father from going?
Lucius knew his father was in no position to defend himself from a powerful Witch like Orla if at all Orla was to attack him. If he had thought about it and knew it, then the question that puzzled her was the motive behind him keeping quite.
To Madonna, she and Orla are one of those dangerous people who are after Alder’s life. Now that she was looking at Lucius’ relaxed pose, she was thinking otherwise.
Does Lucius know what hostility she and his mother harbor for Alder and wanted them to do just what they had concocted for?
“Why did Alys curse you?” This time, Lucius was somber. He was back to his Lord façade as he wondered over the relation between his wife and his sister.
Lucius struggled to keep the woman in his arms for a long time. He groaned as he adjusted her in his arms over and over again as he felt the numbing ache.
One think he was very proud of himself was his strength. He has a body made of hard rocks and as a part of his work out curriculum; he would lift up heaviest rocks in the nearby mountains and train his body.
But something about his wife was much tougher than the heaviest rocks he used. No argument can be reared if he said that his wife is a living person with heart, mind and body, worse than a rock. She was back to being silent when it was her turn to answer him. Such stubborn woman he had the privilege to marry.
The walk through the green lands was long and monotonous. There was a small talk between them but later own, both Lucius and Madonna fell into silence as they were occupied with their own thoughts.
Somewhere at the end of the first maze, Madonna had tried to trouble Lucius into putting her down so they could not get past the maze but Lucius had made certain that the stubborn woman in his arms shall only touch the ground when the green fields passed behind.
Lucius had made a small hut near a cave to rest after walking for most of the day. It was also getting dark and traveling in the night through thick woods may be dangerous not because of wild animals but because they could involuntarily step in classified territory of another tribe.
The evening turned into a dark night with sounds of crickets, night birds and few animals from faraway. As the night deepened, the couple slowly fell into slumber on each side of the bed, both keeping a check on each other.
It was when the moon was on the top of their heads was when Madonna had to get up for some water. Her throat was dry for some reason and she was having a bad feeling as if something or someone bad was approaching them.
She poured a mug of water for herself and drank in one gulp turning towards Lucius. He was in a sound sleep after an exhausting day which brought a smirk on her lips. He was complaining all the way long on how heavy she was to carry.
Good! Serves him right for bringing it upon himself!
Who asked him to wed her and seal all her magic?
Madonna brushed off the bad vibe she was getting and returned to bed when she heard a shuffling noise outside their petite establishment. She walked out cautiously out of curiosity as to what the sound was. It was not some animal save for it sounded feral.
Were they in a claimed area? She was quite positive the land was not claimed.
She heard it again; the feral cry coming close from woods. Madonna headed out and inched closer towards the part of the forest where it was bushy and thick.
Her eyes sized the area thoroughly but found none and any noise she heard previously has died. Turning towards the tent, she took a couple of steps when a large body jumped in front of her.
To her amusement, she did not shriek or gulp as her eyes took in the huge red form of a demon. His frame was magnificent, eyes pitch black, horns on head and skin bright red as though it was burned to be that way.
It was no routine Demon. It was one of those few soul-devouring demons who devour souls of human or other inferior tribes to keep themselves alive for centuries. The crimson tinted demons are fatal and could overpower many powerful beings with the energy they get from consuming the souls.
Madonna was taken aback by the sudden appearance of a scarlet Demon in the region they were staying. Although the land was not claimed, it was surrounded by many territories thus it would be rather difficult to cross them over and get to the place where they were.
She wondered if she just happened to stumble upon the beast or she was approached by one.
The scarlet beast lips its lips as it leaned back in a crouching form, preparing to jump. Madonna should be terrified and panic over the fact that her magic was sealed and she was unarmed to protect herself. However, she just smiled at the beast slyly and took a step forward.
“Gorgeous. A beast at appearance looking gorgeous to my eyes?” Madonna mumbled loudly blinking her eyes at the sneering beast. “Goodness, do I feel my heart raging fiercely?”
Hearing what the petite woman had said, the demon’s stance stilled for a moment and relaxed. He was not expecting it from the poor soul that he resolute to eat.
The Scarlet beast roared when Madonna took another step towards him. “Oh hush now sweet, It is merely so fascinating to see such a magnificent and beautiful being standing before me.” She said carelessly with a light laugh.
“Although I would love to see more of your beauty, dear sweet; the man who was holding the power over me was there inside the hut waiting for me to join him-” She whispered regretfully as she arched her head down in disappointment. “- in bed.”
Madonna inched forward again just a step away from the beast and raised her hand, trailing a finger round his rough wide jaw lightly.
“Oh my red beast, take me away; away from the man in the hut and make me yours. All yours. This young woman wishes nothing except for to be with you, look at you and love you.”
The beast roared loudly trailing his eyes over the young alluring woman with raw hunger, hunger different from the precious one.
With one more glance at the shyly smiling beautiful woman in front of him, he turned towards the hut where Lucius was soundly sleeping.
As the beast made his way to the hut to end the man who has had power over the shy woman he saw moment ago, Madonna smiled mischievously to herself.
“I can still shield myself without powers. This shall be enjoyable to watch.” Madonna said to no person in particular and laughed as she walked to their petite establishment to get her fun for the night.
He is all yours Milord!
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