Chapter 58: Chapter 58

Chapter 57:

Sanaya’s P.O.V

“Your Highness,” I sat up in bed after much difficulty.

“Ah, it’s alright, my child.” King Nathaniel spoke cheerfully. “Stay in bed, you’re injured.”

I listened to him and leaned back against the headboard, my strength wasn’t back to full potential yet and my body was aching, but I felt a lot better than I did a few moments ago. The only problem remained the thirst. I knew I had to drink blood but I was trying to avoid the deed for as long as I could.

“I’m sorry for not being more presentable, Your Highness.” I told him sincerely. “I wish we could meet under favorable circumstances.”

“Oh, what nonsense!” The king waved it off and sat on the edge of my bed. “I should be the one saying sorry for not visiting you earlier. How are you feeling?”

“I’m good, thank you.” I managed a smile despite my growing discomfort. “Much better now.”

“I heard all about Shadowland. What a horrible place!” He shuddered. “If I could, I would make that entire dimension disappear but alas! I’m only an Incubus.”

“But you were the Incubus King, the most powerful being in the dimension.” I reminded him.

“Ah, but only in one dimension.” King Nathaniel shook his head. “Power is everything my dear. It’s what keeps you away from the abyss of ennui. You are young yet, you have time to learn. Now, tell me. What did you see in Shadowland? What creatures did you encounter?”

Sharp poisonous fangs snapped inches away from my face. Black skin over skeletal forms that dripped acid. Red orbs that pierced through the darkness. Low moaning sounds that made the earth rumble beneath my feet.

A scream escaped my lips as I closed my eyes and pressed my palms over my ears. My entire body trembled from fear of the creatures I had seen in Shadowland. I will never forget the horror, the pain. If it wasn’t for my mysterious savior, I wouldn’t even be here. Even now, I could feel the acid dripping onto my skin…the sharp pointed teeth of those being snapping at my face…those loud wailing noises echoed in my ears.

“That bad, huh?”

Still trembling from the not so distant memory, I opened my eyes to look at the King. He was now standing only a few feet away from me and his lips were tilted up in a sly smile. Never would I mistake him for Lance, not even if I went blind. There was something very wrong with him that I could sense from a mile away.

“Wh-what are you doing?” I backed up against the headboard; fear making my heart beat like a tattoo against my ribcage.

“Isn’t it obvious? I want to know about the creatures in Shadowland.” Lance’s father was dangerously close to me and no matter how far I moved, he seemed to move even closer. “Do you have any idea the amount of power I will have once I am able to control those creatures? Everyone will bow to me and I will become the King of not only this dimension but so many more!”

“That’s wrong!” I spoke before I could hold my tongue. “You have ruled for over six centuries! Why do you want more?”

“Only six centuries!” He snapped at me. “Do you think that if enough for my immortal lifetime? I want more…so much more! Do you have any idea how it was like ruling from the shadows of Valleria? She was the ideal Queen in everyone’s eyes so I had to marry her! No matter what I did, she was always the best ruler in every way! I had to preserve my rule at all cost! And then that Acelin got a Scribt pregnant! How could I let that being live…what if it was born with those wretched golden eyes?”

With every word he spoke, my eyes widened in horror, my hands and legs went numb from shock.

Dilayla…Acelin’s Scribt…she hadn’t died because of the strain of the pregnancy…she had been murdered.

“Why…” I whispered in horror. “How could you kill a pregnant woman…an unborn, innocent child?”

“Oh, but the child wasn’t innocent, you see.” Nathaniel smiled his wicked smile. “She might as well have been born with golden eyes.”

“But you didn’t know that!” I screamed, despite my fear. “What if the child was normal? Just a child with his father or mother’s eyes?”

“Well, then it’s collateral damage.” He shrugged. “I couldn’t play games with the future of my rule. Only my son could become King and now that he has, he will only obey me.”

“Lancelin is no one’s puppet!” I tried to get up but I had overestimated my strength as I fell back on the bed. “Lance will never obey you!”

“How pathetic.” Nathaniel shook his head and leaned closer, gripping my chin in an iron clasp. “And who do you think he will listen to? You? Then I’ll just make sure you suffer the same fate as Dilayla. Since Asmara and her little Mages weren’t able to get rid of you…I think it’s my turn now.”

“NO!” I screamed and pushed at his chest with all my strength. The King staggered back a few feet away from me but when I tried to run, the covers got tangled on my feet and I fell back on the bed with a dull thud.

Suddenly, King Nathaniel was on top of me, holding me down with both hands pressed to my shoulders while straddling my waist. “Stop fighting you whore! There is no way you can win. Lance won’t be showing up anytime soon. He’s too busy trying to save Asmara’s life!”

Asmara too? He used her and then killed her? How could he?

“Let go of me!” I screamed once again but I was already at a disadvantage and he easily overpowered me by pinning both my hands above my head on the bed and pressing down on me with his body. And as he pressed down, I could feel his arousal against my stomach and it made me gag in revulsion.

Taking both of my hands in one, he brought his free hand to caress my cheeks. “Such a sweet, sweet thing you are.” He licked his lips in glee. “It’ll be sad to see you waste away before I’ve had a taste.”

A strangled scream escaped my lips as I brought up my knees to throw him off me. I almost succeeded but then a harsh blow to my gut knocked all the air out of my lungs.

“Looks like you’re too eager to die.” He spoke through gritted teeth as he slapped me across the face, making my head snap sideways as my ears began to ring.

“Get rid of her!” The King ordered someone. “Make sure her death is as painful as it gets.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Stunned, I looked around the room for the source of the voice. I knew this voice! I knew him!

How? Why? When? Why did he betray Lance? Why did he betray me?

So many questions came to my mind but I knew I wouldn’t get answers to them as a hooded figure came out of the shadows of the room and took of his hood to reveal the face that I called my friend.

“Martin…” I begged him for help but his face was expressionless as he raised his hand and a black light appeared around his fingers.

And then he began chanting in an unfamiliar language.