Chapter 21: Chapter 21
‘THUD!’
‘THUD!’
‘THUD!’
The walls of Whitestone Citadel echoed with loud crashes one after the other followed by an ear-piercing scream.
“GO AWAY ELA!! I DON’T EVEN WANT TO SEE YOUR FACE!!”, Diana screamed at the top of her lungs while shooting daggers at Ela who was looking at her with cold eyes.
Diana hadn’t stopped crying ever since she was brought to Whitestone Citadel. Her soft cheeks were painted with long fingerprint marks and her eyes had turned swollen and red from excessive crying. But she couldn’t care less. The memories of Ariel slapping her and shouting at her were running in her mind like a broken recorder. And on top of that, her fear of marrying Theodore and leaving Zachary forever was viciously clawing at the gates of her heart.
Diana couldn’t understand why her powers weren’t working. Brought up in a royal family, she was always scolded for not using ladylike manners and her obsession with knives and swords. Her mother always berated her that being the princess of Moonland, she should be elegant, sophisticated, and shy but the rebellious princess was something else. Her beauty was god-gifted but her curious mind always fancied his brother who was skilled in fencing, horse-riding, and all sort of sports activities that were strictly forbidden to girls like her. Arthur loved Diana and doted her a lot that’s why he had secretly taught her sword fighting and archery. Diana was a true warrior; she was childish but not stupid, jolly but not a rogue. She was a good decision-maker and didn’t need anyone to protect her but today she couldn’t help but beg someone to save her. Diana knew that it was all Ariel’s doings because despite trying hard, she was unable to free herself and use her magical powers. Incensed and irritated, she started bumping everything to somehow get these ropes off her.
Broken pieces of glasses, furniture, ceramic pots, and antique vases were lying on the floor like rubble. Diana kept bumping into them and by doing so she even hurt herself. Her skin had gotten multiple scratches. As soon as Ela would heal them, she would get again bruise her kin. Diana knew that being Ariel’s loyal woman, Ela would never help her that’s she was weaving plans to compel her. But Ela as if knew about her little stunt beforehand, was always able to foil her plans.
The room was glutted with the aroma of untouched delectable dishes that were specially made for the princess and were served in new silver cutleries. Ela was trying to feed Diana but she was acting like a child. When Ela will be lenient with her, the notorious princess would keep pestering her and the moment she’ll force her, she would burst into tears.
Ela’s patience soon ran off as she couldn’t brook the princess’ tantrums anymore. She forcefully grabbed Diana’s face and puckered her lips in a pout. Diana started moving her head to and fro but Ela grabbed the spoon and pushed a morsel down her throat.
“You like the hard way, fine then,” she gritted while glaring at Diana who looked at her with teary eyes. Ela then started feeding her forcefully and was being too rough. Poor Diana was helpless and could do nothing except cry and pray for help.
Suddenly a panicked Ara entered the room. Ela looked at her pale face with furrowed brows, “What happen to you?” She asked Ara as she immediately closed the door and bolted it.
“Demon King is here. He had knocked down all the guards of the palace and is right now heading upstairs to rescue the princess.”
Her words shocked both Ara and Diana.
Diana exhaled a loud sigh of relief. Tears of happiness started leaking down her ocean orbs while her lips curved in a beautiful smile. On the other hand, Ela stumbled back. The plate slipped from her fingers making a loud noise as she stood up on her wobbling legs and looked at Ela in horror.
“WHAT?? HE IS HERE??”
Ara nodded, “After hearing the fracas, I and Jarin went to check the situation and witnessed a huge fight happening on the outskirts of the palace. Noah told me to stay here and look after the princess while he goes and helps the other guards. Unfortunately, none of them survived. Zachary, and his right-hand man, Calix brutally massacred all the soldiers and not only that, they even demolished the entire territory.” She explained to Ela while her gaze was pinned on a disheveled Diana who was listening to everything with wide eyes.
Ela palmed her mouth in disbelief, “MY GOD!! WHAT WILL WE DO NOW, ARA?? WE FAILED!! PRINCESS ARIEL WILL KILL US!!”
“No, she won’t.”
Ara immediately cut her midway. Ela looked at her confused, “What do you mean?? Don’t you remember that we were assigned the responsibility to keep the princess safe till tomorrow. If Demon King comes and takes her with him then how will we able to answer her??”
“That’s why I had informed her about Zachary’s arrival beforehand,” Ara replied calmly.
Ela’s eyes turned large as saucers, “WHAT?? ARE YOU MAD ARA??”
Ara exhaled a deep breath before crossing her arms over her chest, “I had to. There wasn’t any option left in front of us, Ela. We won’t be able to defeat Zachary no matter what. Let’s accept this reality. So, I informed Princess Ariel who passed on this message to Lord Theodore. Right now, he’s on his way to Moonland along with Prince George, Prince Christian, and his force.”
She then walked towards Diana and crouched down to her level. Taking a tissue, she started wiping her lips, “Princess is now his responsibility. Lord Theodore is well aware of the fact that we can’t stand in front of the Demon King. We can only hand his future queen to him safely but still, he had to defeat Zachary who is the biggest obstacle in this marriage. And Princess Diana is not only Moonland’s responsibility. Now the Theo dynasty is also responsible for her protection. It’s time for Lord Theodore to jump into the battleground and take the control in his hands.”
Ela bobbed her head supporting her, “You’re right. So, their marriage is scheduled today instead of tomorrow?”
Ara looked at her, “Yes. Princess Ariel had given strict instructions to get the princess ready and escort her safely to the church where Lord Theodore is waiting with his brothers and army to welcome his queen. I will help you in grooming the princess but for that, we need to take her to the secret room. Zachary will come here any soon. We need to leave now.”
Diana panicked when Ara and Ela grabbed her arms and made her stand on her feet. She looked at the door and started screaming, “ZACHARY!!! ZAC, HELP ME!!”
Ara immediately covered her mouth with her palm and dragged her to the left side of the room. Ela looked at the shelf which automatically shifted aside revealing a wooden door. Twisting the knob, she moved aside for Ara who dragged a wildly struggling Diana along with her. Ela then entered the darkroom and closed the door which instantly disappeared into the wall. The shelf then moved back to its original position erasing all possibilities of doubt.
Time skip
“DIANA!!!!”
A powerful kick shattered the door into pieces as the mighty Demon King entered the room while shouting at the top of his lungs. The exquisite paintings that were hung on the wall fell to the floor, the window panes were shattered into smithereens by his thunderous growl as he kept shouting Diana’s name again and again. Zachary darted his fiery eyes around the room and started searching every corner. He tore the silk duvets and pulled down the heavy curtains off the windows before throwing them on the floor roughly.
“PRINCESS? WHERE ARE YOU? SEE, YOUR ZAC CAME TO SAVE YOU!! WHERE ARE YOU?”, Zachary yelled, his voice laced with worry and anguish. Jasmine looked at him, her eyes turned soft watching his face loomed with remorse and pain. She could feel the agony and desperation in his voice and his red eyes had a tinge of fear hidden in them.
Yes, fear. The Demon of Wrath was today scared, scared for Diana. It had been more than hours since he hadn’t seen her glowing face. Moreover, with the way Diana left him, he felt as if he wouldn’t be able to see her ever again.
When he failed to get any response after screaming like a madman for hours, he finally lost his sanity. Enraged and frustrated, Zachary started thrashing down the lavish room. Jasmine shrieked in horror when Zachary punched the mirror with full force. He then grabbed a big shard of glass and marched towards her like a raging bull. Her heart almost burst out of her ribcage when Zachary coiled his long fingers around her neck and slammed her on the wall harshly. All the air got knocked out of her lungs as her lungs started burning for air
“YOU DARE TRICK ME?? WHERE IS DIANA?? YOU TOLD ME THAT SHE IS HERE THEN WHY CAN’T I SEE HER??”
Jasmine was frightened to her core when she saw purple veins popping all over his neck and face. Her heart skipped a beat watching his pointed fangs protruding out from his lips.
Her silence only fueled up his anger. He pulled her by her neck only to slam her back into the wall with more force. Jasmine let out a loud shrill which got covered under his ferocious blare.
“FUCKING SPEAK UP!!”
He snarled. She started wheezing hard so Zachary loosened his hold a little but kept her firmly on her spot. He didn’t want to kill her yet as he still needs her help to find Diana.
After catching her breath, Jasmine finally looked at him and strung words carefully, “I-I know you’re angry D-Demon King but t-trust me, Diana is here. We both heard her voice, didn’t we? I think Ara and E-Ela came to k-know about you that’s why they took D-Diana s-somewhere,”
Jasmine was trembling like a leaf in Zachary’s deadly hold but she tried to sound as confident as possible. Though she was mentally cursing at Rose for leaving her alone with this beast but right now saving Diana was her top priority.
Zachary ground his teeth in rage, “Don’t tell me the possibilities and just take me to Diana. I am giving you a minute, find where she is, or else I would break the promise I had made to Cal and devour every one of you. You know it wouldn’t take me a second to find my princess but my ways will only result in massive destruction. I would eradicate the entire existence of Moonland from the Universe. So, better whack your brain, act fast, and give me, my princess.”
“Trust me, Demon King. Diana is here only. We just need to find her”, Jasmine avouched. Zachary didn’t say anything further. He released her and moved back. She didn’t dare to waste a second and started her work.
Jasmine walked into the middle of the room and closed her eyes. She then brought her hands up and crossed them over her chest. Zachary was startled when he saw a dazzling light green flame emitting from her body. Her brown hair abruptly turned silver while her lips continued moving, chanting a spell. The light emanating from her skin soon started crawling down on the floor like a river before they reached the beige-colored walls of the room. In a few minutes, the entire room got draped with her green flame. Zachary was confounded but his eyes widened when the incinerating opaque walls turned translucent. His ears perked when he heard some muffled sounds. Following the source of those voices, he found that they were coming from the left side of the room.
“Jasmine, look. I think she is there”, he screamed when his eyes discerned an esoteric outline. He couldn’t make out who it was as the intensity of the flame that was swallowing the walls was too high.
Jasmine opened her hazel eyes and followed his gaze. She could easily see Diana struggling in the hold of Ela who was forcefully making her wear the wedding gown. She looked at Zachary and gave him a victorious smirk.
“We found her.”
And the moment she said that the magic instantly disappeared leaving the room back to normal.
“What the-“, Zachary looked at her dumbfounded. Things were in their place just like before. Ignoring him, Jasmine walked to the left side of the room and started tracing her fingers on the wall.
“Why did you stop? We could have easily pulled Diana out”, Zachary growled.
Jasmine sighed, “We need to be careful, Demon King. Ara and Ela had taken Diana to a secret room and I am sure they will take her outside the palace through a secret door.” She spoke and continued rubbing her fingers on the wall finding the door.
Zachary strode towards her, “What did you see there? Tell me. Where are they both planning to take my princess? Answer me.” He commanded.
Jasmine gulped a huge lump down her throat. Her heart lurched just by imagining the repercussions of confrontation. But she had to tell him. Therefore, for her safety, she took a few steps away from him before exploding the bomb.
“Diana is getting married to Lord Theodore today.”
*****