Chapter 68: Chapter 68

Sharaina breathed in and out slowly as she felt the gamarax within herself. Her eyes were fixed on the pile of rocks that she set up. Umandaang stared at her so much that she felt uncomfortable. She took a deep breath and it relaxed her a little. Sharaina took her pose and swung her blue ruby encrusted sword but it flew out of her hands and hit the pile of rocks. She covered her mouth with her hand and Umandaang puffed out smoke.

"You are pathetic." Umandaang expressed his displeasure.

Sharaina said nothing and reactivated her blue sword. She tried to do the technique again but nothing happened. She swung it again and felt her back hurt. The pain of King Meelzib's choke slam hadn't yet left her.

She swung her sword again and again until her arm felt like it was going to fall off. Sharaina deactivated her sword and sat down feeling so defeated. She had been at it for close to an hour and made no progress.

"That's it? You are going to give up?" Umandaang asked her with a growl at the end.

"I believe that my two hour training session isn't up Umandaang the great." Sharaina answered and wiped her forehead with her hand.

"Get up!" Umandaang ordered Sharaina and she stood up. "Try again."

"My hand is too sore. Please give me a few minutes to rest." Sharaina pleaded.

Umandaang wrapped his gigantic tail around her and squeezed. "You will do as you are told, insolent girl."

Umandaang threw Sharaina down and she landed on her bruised back. Sharaina whimpered loudly as she got back to her feet. She put her hands on her waist and stretched herself forward.

Sharaina looked down her shoulder to check out her back that had new bruises. She pouted at Umandaang but he spit fire. Sharaina shook her head disapprovingly at Umandaang and that puzzled him.

"Oh great Umandaang, king of the dragons; why must you subject my back to more pain than it already has?" Sharaina asked Umandaang.

"What insolence!" Umandaang thundered.

Sharaina turned and lifted her vest to show Umandaang her back. "I mean look at me. If I take another hit on my back, I may pass out." Sharaina complained.

"I don't care about that." Umandaang coldly told her.

"I know you don't ferocious great one. What I seek is your mercy. Please for the love of peaches; don't strike me on my back." Sharaina dramatically asked Umandaang with her hands put together.

Umandaang was appalled by her attitude. He once again wrapped his tail around Sharaina and lifted her to face him. He blew smoke to her face and she coughed. "How dare you speak to me in such a tone?" Umandaang squeezed harder. Sharaina couldn't breath. She couldn't free herself either so she stayed helplessly wrapped in his tail. Umandaang brought her close to his face and got ready to blow fire on her. She was an insolent girl that deserved to die. He was just about to blow fire on Sharaina when she kissed him. "Urgh!" Umandaang exclaimed and let go of Sharaina.

Once again Sharaina landed on her back and she moaned in pain. She turned to her side and started to laugh. Umandaang was so furious that he roared.

"How dare you?!" He thundered.

"Did I steal your first kiss?" Sharaina sat up and scratched her head. "I'm sorry but that was the only thing I could do to distract you. You didn't leave me with much of an option. I am not trying to die out here."

Meelzib, This girl is pushing my buttons! Umandaang said to King Meelzib telepathically.

I am busy. Do not bother me. King Meelzib answered back telepathically and held one of his concubines in bed.

If you don't do something about this, I will make it impossible for you to have intercourse with that harlot. Umandaang threatened.

How dare you threaten your master? King Meelzib angrily asked Umandaang.

I have told you that this girl is annoying. I refuse to supervise her. Umandaang spat back and glared at Sharaina who was smiling annoyingly at him.

Fine then. Your training session is over. You may return. King Meelzib permitted and cut off their connection.

The moment the both of them reappeared at the castle, Umandaang glared at Sharaina and disappeared into thin air. Sharaina was relieved that her training for the day was over. She whimpered at her back pain and slowly walked back to her quarters.

She delicately rubbed on her shoulder and winced. 'If Light was here, he would have taken this pain away.' she sighed.

Lalina suddenly landed in front of Sharaina with a thud. Sharaina was bewildered when she saw her point her coal black sword at her. Lalina scowled darkly at Sharaina with red beaming eyes.

Sharaina felt so perplexed. She dramatically looked right, then left and even turned to look behind herself. When she saw no one, she pointed a finger to herself and Lalina gritted her teeth with a growl.

"Um Lalina, are you feeling okay?" Sharaina asked with one brow raised up. "You look like you have been crying."

"You are the reason I am in pain Sharaina. Tonight I will deal with you once and for all even if it's the last thing I do." Lalina hatefully declared against Sharaina.

"I hope this isn't about Naraygeous. You should know by now that he and I are just friends." Sharaina shrugged her shoulders.

"Shut up! I don't want to listen to your lies. It is because of you that he has refused me. I see how he looks at you. No matter how hard I try, I can't get him to look at me like that. I have done everything I could to please him but nothing worked and it is all your fault."

"Okay I dealt with this last night with Light. I don't know what is with you people. There's nothing between Naraygeous and I."

"As long as you are around, I will never have him. Enough talking, it's time I ended this."

Lalina charged at Sharaina and swung her sword at her. Sharaina ducked and activated her swords. She proceeded to block Lalina's attacks. Guards and servants came out to watch their sword fight.

The sound of the swords clashing woke up Lavila. She stood at her terrace and watched in surprise. King Meelzib abandoned his concubines and went to his terrace. He looked down at the two girls intrigued.

Because of her badly bruised back, Sharaina was slow. She evaded as many of Lalina's attacks the best that she could taking care not to let her strike her back. Lalina jumped up and round kicked Sharaina onto a wall - slamming her back against it. Sharaina moaned at the pain and she scowled at Lalina in annoyance.

"Enough of this." Sharaina grunted.

Sharaina deactivated her swords and lunged at Lalina. Lalina swung her sword at her but Sharaina held it with her bare hand. Her blood stained the sword and spelt to the ground as she pulled it towards herself.

Sharaina balled up her fist and punched Lalina hard in her face. The blow was so hard that it sent her flying into a wall. Sharaina threw her sword at Lalina and it hit the wall two inches away from her face. Before Lalina could get up Sharaina pointed her other sword at her nose.

"I am so sorry that you feel that it is my fault that Naraygeous doesn't love you Lalina. But attacking me won't solve anything. If he hasn't loved you by now then he will never love you. Let go of him. A man who causes you so much pain like this isn't worth it." Sharaina blurted out.

Lalina burst out crying and that angered Lavila. She jumped off her terrace and landed with a thud behind Sharaina. Sharaina looked back and saw her activate her giant spear.

Lavila charged at Sharaina and Sharaina quickly pulled her sword out of the wall and used it to block Lavila's attack. Without thinking Sharaina nearly struck Lavila in the stomach with her other sword but when she remembered that she was the queen mother she stopped and Lavila kicked her in the chest.

King Meelzib grabbed Sharaina by her hair and threw her up in the air. He launched up at her and punched her hard, back to the ground. Sharaina landed on an outdoor shower and it crumbled down.

This time around she couldn't move any part of her body. That hit was the final straw. Her body could no longer take it anymore so it gave up. She stayed down gasping for air with a bloody mouth.

"I thought I told you to strike your opponent without hesitating." He angrily said to Sharaina.

'How could I have possibly struck down the queen mother? What is this man made of? How can he punish me for not hurting his own mother?' Sharaina thought to herself.

Lalina ran to Sharaina's aid and shielded her from King Meelzib with her arms spread apart. "Please no more. I am alright. Don't hurt her. None of this is her fault." Lalina pleaded with King Meelzib and Lavila.

"She made you cry. She has to pay for that." Lavila spat.

"I cried because what she said was true. Please she is my friend. Don't hurt her anymore." Lalina knelt down and bowed.

Without another word King Meelzib walked away. Lavila glared at Sharaina and walked back to her room. Lalina crawled to Sharaina and examined her wounds.

"Are you okay?" She softly asked her with teary eyes.

"How I'm I still alive?" Sharaina joked and gave Lalina a weak smile.

A giggle escaped Lalina's mouth. "Come on, let's get you to your room." She offered.

"Actually just let me die here." Sharaina refused.

"Come on, don't be silly."

"I don't think I'll be able to walk." Sharaina said with some seriousness.

Lalina gently pulled Sharaina off the ground. Sharaina moaned in pain with every movement of her sore muscles. Lalina put her on her back and carried her to her room.

"If you tell anyone about this I will kill you." She threatened Sharaina.

"I can't guarantee that I won't." Sharaina laughed softly and winced at the pain of her broken ribs.

****

Emelinia screamed in pain in the kitchen. She had just seen King Meelzib hurt Sharaina and the shock caused her to pour hot tea on her hand instead of the cup. Her scream caused Emana to rush into the kitchen. Akirexer followed her in the kitchen and Sharumez remained stunned in the living room. Naian stepped out of his room and he looked down at Sharumez who shrugged his shoulders confused.

When they saw Emana gently holding Emelinia's hand as she led her to the living room, they were shocked. Akirexer looked at them both with wide eyes. Emelinia was crying in pain. Emana helped her sit down. She held her waist and glared at Emelinia. Akirexer rushed out of the room to get a first aid kit.

"You are a hopeless stupid girl. Are you that dumb that you couldn't even pour me a decent cup of tea? Never have I ever come across a girl so foolish." Emana scolded Emelinia and this upset Naian.

"It hurts grandma." Emelinia cried.

"It serves you right! One would think that a person in your condition would be more careful. The other day I tried to get you to wash my clothes but everyone was against me. Tonight I asked you to simply pour me a cup of my herbal tea and you got yourself burned! Now I understand why I was told not to overwhelm you with chores. You are a dander head who can't do anything right!" Emana's rant continued.

Naian couldn't take the insults any longer but Sharumez held his hand and shook his head in disapproval. With a lump in his throat, Naian watched Akirexer approach Emana and Emelinia with the first aid kit. Emana roughly grabbed it from Akirexer and she opened it. She looked through it and threw it on the sofa.

"All this is useless." Emana said and went outside.

Akirexer wiped Emelinia's tears and blew on her hand. Emana came back into the house and everyone was stunned to see her carrying leaves in a plate. She knelt down in front of Emelinia and took some leaves. She rubbed them in her palms and applied them on the burn. She kept at it until the entire burn was covered in squashed up leaves. Emelinia calmed down when she could no longer feel the pain.

"Keep this on you for at least half an hour." Emana told Emelinia and she softly nodded her head. Emana turned to Akirexer. "Wash the them off with cold water and put ointment to it." Emana instructed her.

"I will do as you say mama." Akirexer answered.

"Good! Now go and get me my tea and make sure you don't burn yourself like your hopeless daughter in law. Bring me some water to wash my hands too." Emana walked away from Emelinia and sat down opposite her. She turned over to Sharumez and Naian. "And who are you two staring at?" She sternly asked them. Naian said nothing and walked away. Sharumez quietly sat down.

****

Sharaina took off her vest and bra as Lalina told her. She laid down on her stomach while Lalina examined her back in horror. It was red and full of cuts and bruises.

Lalina left the room and ordered a guard to call gamarax manipulators. While she waited for them to come, Lalina went into the bathroom and came out with a rag and a dish of water.

Sharaina moaned as she wiped the blood off her back. Lalina remembered Sharaina's injured palm and she immediately examined too. She wondered how she forgot about it. It had stopped bleeding but the sight of it was still goring. She decided to let the gamarax manipulators handle it.

'I will never understand her. How could she be dumb enough to grab an open blade? It's amazing that she didn't lose any of her fingers.' Lalina thought to herself.

"It is times like this that I miss Light. He would have taken away this pain that I am feeling." Sharaina broke the silence.

Lalina put the rag into the water and frowned. "That's why he left." She said

Sharaina was puzzled by her response. "What are you talking about?" She asked.

"He heard Naraygeous confess his feelings for you. That's why he angrily left that day." Lalina softy explained.

Sharaina was shocked that Naraygeous truly had feelings for her. She always saw him as nothing but a flirt and never took his advances seriously.

Sharaina realized that for a while, Naraygeous had been avoiding her. He stopped cracking sexual jokes at her or hitting on her. He also hardly ever hanged around her unless there was someone else. How did she not recognize all these signs?

Sharaina looked at Lalina. The sadness in her eyes made her heart ache with pity. She had gotten so used to seeing Lalina cheerful, rude, self-centered and bold. The Lalina that was sitting on her bed was like a total stranger. She looked so sad, humble, timid and depressed. The life in her eyes was slowly fading away. Was this the down side of love?

"I heard everything he said. He said that I can never be enough to make him forget you. But I still -" Lalina wiped her tears. "I still hang on to him thinking that I could force him to love me."

"Oh Lalina," Sharaina sat upright and held her hand.

"Sharaina, I was born with a golden spoon. I am pretty and I can have anything I want yet I have nothing. Look at you; you come from a middle class family but you have everything. You have a loving family, wonderful friends and a man who loves you very much. I don't have any of that.

My father and mother love me but they hardly ever have time for me. King Meelzib is like an older brother to me but he prefers to buy me expensive gifts than spend time with me. All the friends I have are only interested in my riches. Yolin was the only one who didn't care about my status but she couldn't get close to me. She is a nice person but she isn't the type to get intimate with anyone. She hardly ever opens up to me but I tell her everything.

I can date any guy I want because all of them fall at my feet due to my status. Naraygeous didn't care about who I am and he treated me like a regular girl. This is what made me fall for him. I was positive that if he ever grew to love me, it would be true love. But I guess I am bound to live a life of fake friends and no man to ever love me."

Sharaina shook her head. "Don't say such things Lalina. You do have friends. You are just too rude to realize that you do. I have been your friend for months now but your hatred for me blinded you from seeing it." Sharaina said and held Lalina's shoulder. "Yes Yolin is a closed book but she does care about you. You just have to take her as she is and don't expect anything from her. As for Zentz and Naraygeous, they are your friends too. We all are."

Lalina sniffed and chuckled. "I am the biggest fool huh?" She laughed.

"In deed you are." Sharaina chuckled. "As for love, someone will love you. Just be patient. He will come to you himself. You will not have to chase after him." Sharaina assured her.

"Have you ever had feelings for Naraygeous?" Lalina asked her. "Please I need closure."

"No I have never. Light is the only man I love. He is my life. Beside him there is no other and I don't think there ever will be." Sharaina answered Lalina and she smiled.

"I hope to have the happiness you have one day." She said.

"You most definitely will." Sharaina warmly assured her. A knock was suddenly heard. "Oh how wonderful! The gamarax manipulators are here. It's about time."