Chapter 33: Chapter 33

DUSK.

As the days passed, it got worse. Almost everyone, including the lowliest of servants, had something to say about me.

I heard them laugh whenever I passed. They all seemed to think Lucius had dumped me. Ariadne and Dalia seemed to enjoy it most.

Whenever I passed in the hallways, they talked about it loudly.

But I had resolved not to use the potion since Lucius was strong enough to break it.

Lucius had become someone I didn't see throughout the day. I tried going to his quarters, but I was told he was so busy he wasn't even in the Palace.

Later in the evening, I went to find Seline since I needed someone to talk to.

"I think she went down to the servant quarters." One of the girls said, and I nodded.

I found my way down the noisy servant quarters searching for her. After the noisy quarters, there was a rather quiet one, and it looked like a place Seline might be, although I wondered what she was doing down there.

I was about to turn around and leave when my ears picked up on a conversation that made me run cold.

"You know, everyone knows she's going to be the future Luna, so killing her is a bit, you know, unnerving." I heard a man say.

"It's the King's Orders; Luna or not, we serve the King." A deeper voice said.

"Why don't we kill her at night? Why's he insisting we kill her in the morning?" The one with the lighter voice said.

"There's a risk of being heard as everywhere is quiet, but in the morning, she wouldn't even be out of her room before we strike and make it look like a suicide." The deeper-voiced man said.

"I'm sorry for my questions, but what if she leaves the room?" He asked, and the deeper-voiced man sighed.

"Then the library! Whatever, she's always alone." He said in frustration, and I retraced my steps quickly.

The King had ordered my death; the news was so shocking that I locked my door and put heavy things in front of it, even though I knew it was pointless.

I couldn't fight against those two men; the King had the best men, and Lucius wouldn't be there.

I could see myself going to his quarters the next morning but not finding him, and I'd be dead before anyone could notice.

Not even Seline or Ethan could protect me, and in my panic, I stumbled on my desk, and the potion fell down and glimmered like a light in the dark.

I couldn't find Lucius, but I could make him find me one last time, and I'd tell him what his father planned for me.

I took it, shifted aside the heavy things I had used to barricade my door, and rammed silently across the numerous hallways to Lucius' room.

All the way to his room, my heart thumped loudly, and fear was a warrior I battled with.

I got to his room and found him sleeping as usual. I knew I could just wake him and tell him, but I feared he'd just assign some guards to me and disappear again.

"It's just this last time; I'm serious. I never wanted to do this again, but I'm afraid I'm in danger." I whispered to myself and went to his bed, but was shocked when he opened his eyes and looked up at me, holding up the potion, ready to pour it onto his eyes.

That was when the real fear settled within me. Fear of the consequences I would face. I dropped my hand slowly, and he sat up.

"What's that?" He asked, and I clutched the potion tightly in my hands.

"I was about to wake you. I need to talk to you." I said and tried my best to think of my situation and summon tears. I was successful, and in seconds, tears were spilling out of my eyes.

He saw my tears and touched my face.

"Why? What's wrong?" He asked, totally forgetting about the bottle I had been holding over his eyes.

"The King wants to kill me." I said sniffing. "At first, it was just a threat, but I overheard his men talking about it. Tomorrow, in the morning, they'd kill me. I'm always alone except when I'm with Seline. They know all the spots I visit in the castle, including the library, and you're always so busy." I said sincerely because, right then, even with all the anger I felt towards him for trying to deceive me so I wouldn't reject him, all I wanted was for him to protect me.

"I heard about him threatening you from Ethan, but him murdering you is too far." He said and adjusted, making some room for me on the bed. "Stay tonight. I'll be with you all through tomorrow." He said, and I nodded and sat on his bed.

"You have been distant." I managed to say, and he sighed.

"I've just been trying to accept the changes that have occurred within me. I've been finding it so hard." He said, and I looked at him.

He didn't need to accept them anymore since I wasn't going to be using the potion again.

If I had known he'd be so concerned about it, I wouldn't have bothered taking the potion with me.

I felt safe next to Lucius, and I slept quickly, only to wake up and find myself all alone.

I sat up immediately and looked around, but when my eyes finally registered in the darkness, I saw Lucius with his back turned to me.

It seemed like he sensed my presence because he turned around, looked at me, and his eyes were red with his brows drawn, and he stretched his hand, and in it was my potion.

I was so speechless, I couldn't stop looking at it.

When he finally spoke, it was in a cold, murderous voice.

"How dare you? You bewitched me."