Chapter 33: Chapter 33

—Finding Ariana's Parents

King Darius called Argus to report immediately to him. He had no idea how he managed to make decisions of his own.

"Good morning, my Lord. Did you call me?" he said after his bow to his King.

The King was sitting on his throne trying to stay calm and even.

"Someone told me that you caged Anika's brother?!?" His voice is now scary. It's like a thunderstorm in Argus' ears.

After he heard it, he quickly kneeled in front of King Darius for forgiveness.

"I'm so sorry, my Lord. Please, spare my life!" He told him.

King Darius wanted to kill him so badly but he might still a great help later. He wanted to release Karl in exchange for acting King behind his back. He stood up and walked closer to him and he quickly shifted in his werewolf form. His canines came closer at Argus' nape. He growled like a beast.  He leaps his paws too and scratches Argus' face without mercy. Droplets of blood quickly pooled down his face. He whines in pain and cried but he had to endure it no matter how severe it is because it's his mistake. He knew who did this to him and he will do everything to punish that person.

"Now, you will do it again? To decide on your own, answer me!" He snarls at him.

Argus' plead for his mercy.

"No, my Lord. I will not do it again, I swear!" He said and King Darius let go of him.

He came back to his throne and make an order for him to do.

"Okay, now that we're good, I summoned you to release Karl and my woman's brother! Now!" He shouted at him.

Argus' followed it without questions.

" Yes, my Lord" he bowed again and went ahead to the dungeon to release the two prisoners.

"You, both, step outside. Both of you are free!" He said.

Fox and Red were surprised by his decision.

"Why? I thought ---" Red didn't finish the talking when Argus' cut him off.

"Just follow my orders and watch. No more questions understood?" He said to both of them and they just nod their head.

One week ago

"Are you sure we can make this plan real?" Marco asked Anika while they are talking about entering the Valkyrie Kingdom.

Anika was very sure of it. She knows how to deal just like dealing with business partners and investors.

" Trust me and be sure not to be killed, okay?" She said and he nods his head.

Anika talks like a Queen. Like an Alpha female who knows what she was doing.

"We will enter and you will act as my brother. Of course, they will threaten it at first but I will get the King's trust. The head soldier will put you in the dungeon, I know he will do that but it is your chance to tell them your plan while I was scheming mine." She talks so smart and well reserved.

"Then, if you saw Karl, don't make a fuss, we need him because he's the only person who knew my identity too even he betrayed me, I still have hopes for him. Now, of course, he will prepare a party and it's my time to sneak out here." She added.

Marco only listened to her. She is good at scheming plans.

"Then, what will you do next?" He said.

Anika walked closer and murmured in his ears. Marco's eyes sparks.

"Brilliant idea. You will act victim of rape and that's when King Darius sympathy you. The soldiers who might hurt you will be punished, right?" Marco told her.

"Exactly. Then I will te him to release you and Karl. I will tell him that he was backstabbed by the person he truly trusted the most and it was his general. " a glimpse of a grin came on her face.

They both waited for the day to start their plan. Anika was very brave and competent that this plan of her will works.

"I will come back to my place and I will do whatever it takes even I risk everything. I wonder how Ariana gets through her missions?" She mumbled before she went to sleep.

------

Argus brought Marco and Karl to the King. Today is the day to visit the city of Salem where Ariana's family lived. Anika asked her King to go there for her own sake. King Darius accepted her request. Some concubines in the Kingdom we're jealous t her because of that.

"So you are Anika's brother?" He pointed his index finger at Marco.

The Alpha of the Blue Night Packs nodded his head.

"Yes, my Lord. I'm happy you treat my sister well" he said and bowed his head.

King Darius felt flattered.

" Oh, it's my job to protect my ladies!" He answered him.

Karl also pleaded for his forgiveness.

"My Lord, I'm so sorry for my mistakes too!" He said but King Darius told him not to.

"You are one of my best soldiers here and because of that, I will promote you to be the new general of the troops!" He said and Argus objected.

He kneeled to beg the King.

"My Lord, how can you promote a traitor?" He said but King Darius has decided.

"My order is final and starting today, you will follow Karl's commands.

Karl shifted his eyes to Argus and set a wide grin on his face. Now, it's payback time.

" Thank you, my Lord!" Karl said while staring at Anika.

He winks at her but she rolled her eyes. She was sitting beside King Darius like a true Queen.

------

City of Salem

On their journey, Anika felt a little nervous to see what was Ariana's parents be like. She was hoping to find them and reconcile with them. She had many questions to ask them why they sold her to King Markus of Arcadia Kingdom at that time.

What if Ariana is an adopted child? Or maybe they had a huge debt and she was only their option to repay the King. She has many questions flooded in her thoughts.

Finally, they arrived and people went screaming when they saw the King and his legions.

" The judgment has come. We were slaves again! Run for your lives!" The people started to run but King Darius made an announcement.

"Don't be afraid, people of Salem. I am King Darius of Valkyrie Kingdom and I am here to find someone not to kill anyone!!!" He said and all of them stop to listen to him.

"I am looking for Gregor Ferrer and Annie Ferrer. Anyone knows them?" He asked the townspeople and all of them became like a bee.

Until one guy appeared and answered his question.

"My Lord, may I know why you're looking for them?" He asked him.

Anika felt a weird feeling for the guy. Someone is telling her to get to know him.

She saw the King feels impatient.

"Who are you to ask me again? Just answer my question and I will let you all live!" He shouted at him.

The guy moved closer to have a clearer view of Anika.

"Ariana? Did you come all the way here to look for your parents? Why? " he asked her while his eyes are full of miseries. He's hurt inside and Anika saw it in his eyes Shes wondering how he knew her and her parents.

"You know me? I'm the King's woman so I hope you act accordingly! I hate liar people!" She did it on purpose. I guess the guy has something to do with Ariana so I cut him off for the sake of their lives.

"Wait, my Lord, I will take him out of here! Maybe he's just a crazy guy!" Marco said and went down to his horse and took the guy.

"Where are you taking me? I need to talk to her!" He keeps struggling until Marco lets go of him.

"Now, speak! I drag you out because it seems like you know Ariana" Marco told him.

He was shocked when the guy fell on his knees and cupped his face to cry.

" I've been looking for her since she left home. Ariana is my lost wife. The lady beside the King is my wife who ran away from me! Do you understand!" He shouted at Marco.

Marco didn't want to believe him but he remembered Anika told him that she has a mission to find the husband of the owner of her body. His name is Arem.

He gets closed to him and asked him.

"May I know your name?" Marco asked him.

"My name is Arem, I'm a hunter. I am Ariana's husband!" Marco drops his jaws and quickly pulled him.

"Can you keep your secret while the King is with your wife? She's not." He murmured and Arem heard it.

"What do you mean not? She's my wife!" Arem insisted and about to go back to tell Ariana the truth. He's afraid his wife got amnesia.

Marco stops him.

"No, she's not. She is Anika. Her soul went inside your wife's body when Ariana drink the liquid King Darius gave to her and she woke up at a different time!" Marco explained to him.

Arem had no idea what to say or believe.

"What do you mean? Please, tell me!" He begs for Marco's confession.

Marco took a deep breath.

"We came here to find your wife's parents and I hope you will help us. And about your wife, she's living now in the present time, meaning she's in another era using that girl's body!" He pointed to Anika from afar.

Arem didn't want to believe at first but he must follow this guy so that he can be reunited with his wife soon.

"What I have to do then?" He asked Marco.

"Help us find Ariana's parents and your wife will come back to you!" He said and Arem nodded his head.

They went back to the group of people and Marco told the King that Arem can help them.

"My Lord, this guy knew the couple and he will help us find them" Marco took Arem near the King.

He gazes at Anika. His eyes never left her since he misses his wife so much.