24

" She isn't coming down today as well." Mackie asked the moment Alac stepped in to join for breakfast.

" No." He replied and placed the fried egg between the sliced bread.

" And why is that?." He questioned.

" And how is it your concern?." Alac attacked, wondering why he would be bothered about his pet.

" I believe we all deserve to know why Alac, since you have the habit of getting your poor pets killed. Who knows what else you have done?." He said and watched Alac drop his food, hitting the table hard.

" Believe me Man, don't try to piss me off." He replied and concentrated back on his breakfast.

" Talk Alac. Let us know if there is something you are hiding. Is she dead? Is she?." He screamed,scared that it was true. He doubted that he would be able to leave without her. Even if he wasn't going to be with her, he wanted to be sure she was happy and well whenever she was.

" I'm not in the mood for this." He said and got up in anger.

" Sit down now!!.' Malburt ordered. ' These days i find it hard to understand why both of you are always on each other's throat." He said.

" It isn't my fault Father, Mackie clearly always starts the fight." Alac said and settled back into his seat.

" Alac!.' His Father screamed. ' Mackie apologize to him right now." He ordered.

" I... I am sorry.' He said grumpily. ' But Father we both know I speak nothing but the truth."

" I know Son but Alac decides what he wants with his pet and you are in no position to question him." Malburt said.

" But Father....." Mackie said and was cut short.

" No buts, now eat." He ordered.

" Okay Father." They chorused.

After the breakfast drama, Mackie played the scene over and over again in his head as he laid right on the soft bed.

He was so scared something had happened to her as she barely joined for breakfast these days and he feared that she had gotten a flu from Alac or worst still gotten killed. He knew Alac well to know he never treated his pets' wounds after feeding on them and leaving it open could cause them to fall sick everytime.

If only he had known that she was bought for Alac then, he would have pleaded that his Uncle give her to him and gotten a new one for Alac. But it was too late to do anything anymore as she now belonged to Alac even though seeing him with her provoked him.

If only she still had the necklace then they would have spoken through minds.

He thought.

He blamed himself for taking it back even that was the best and only way to let go of her and the memories.

Please stay safe for me Anny.

He whispered and hope the wind would take it to her.

Don't just lie there and whisper, be a man.

He told himself and got up, making way to hell.

A soft tap landed on the door and Alac walked closer to it and pushed it open.

" Yes Mackie, how may I help you?." He asked not believing he would turn up at his doorstep.

" I just wanted to...hmmm..." He said and tried to peep into the room, to see her if he would see any traces of her lying there or anything but he saw no one. He was right, he had killed the poor Annabel.

Oh poor Anny! She deserved someone better.

" Wanted what Mackie?. Speak up, I am busy." He replied.

Busy? Busy doing what? Busy cleaning up the blood? Or busy disposing her body or probably eating it?.

" Busy doing what Alac?." He asked.

" Busy doing none of your business.' He replied annoyingly. ' Since you have nothing to say then u have to go." He said and slammed the door right in his face, angered by him trying to meddle in his affairs.

Mackie stood there frozen for a while. A part of him didn't want to believe she really was dead even though an other part of him gave him reasons to.

You promised not to leave me Anny. Why? Why did you leave?.

He weeped silently like a child. He was badly hurt and shattered and his heart ached.

I will always love you Anny.

He whispered and headed towards his room.

" Who was that?." Annabel asked the moment Alac walked back to her bedside.

" It was nobody serious.' He replied. ' How are you feeling now?." He asked.

" Better Master, just weak." She replied slowly.

" If you stay in bed all day then you should get well, if not I might have to call the doctor in tomorrow." He told her. He had noticed how much she dreaded doctors, pills or injections.

" No Master, I will be fine." She replied and shut her eyes, dozing off.

Alac stared at her continuously as she slept, his gaze fixed on her. All he saw whenever he looked at her was Aliya.

Could it be because she had left him? Or because she had the same red hair?.

Get a grip man.

He told himself and walked into the bathroom, he needed a shower after the long day.

Annabel laid on the beach as she stared at the sky, counting the stars in the dark sky. It had been long since she had being here at her place of solace. The umpteenth time she was there alone, no Mackie, no Dad, no Fun, just an empty place she used to know.

" I was worried sick about you." A male voice said and she turned to see Mackie, walking closer as he stared down at her.

" Mackie, Is that you? She said, uncertainly. She knew her mind could be playing a trick on him since it did that countless times.

" Of course Anny, it is I, your love." He replied smiling, happy to see that she was alive and breathing.

" Mackie!.' She screamed and ran into his arms. ' I missed you so much.'' She muttered.

" I missed you also Anny, so much." He said and hugged her tighter than before.

" I never thought you would show up." She said.

" I had to Anny, I was worried sick. I thought you died." He replied calmly.

" Died? Why?." She said baffled.

Why would anyone think she was dead?.

" Yes Anny. Earlier today I was at your door and Alac refused to tell me or the others how you faired. You never came down for breakfast in a week. I was scared cause he had an habit of killing his helpless pets si u thought....that he.... Oh Anny! I am so glad you are fine.' He said and broke down in tears. ' I thought I would never see you again Anny, I thought I would never get to see your pretty face." He moved closer and placed a kiss on her lips.

" I am fine Mackie and I am right here, everything is going be just fine." She replied and stared into his eyes.

She had missed the flutters it gave her, the chills it sent down her spine and oh gosh! how she missed his touch.

" Hold me and don't ever let go Anny." He said softly into her ear.

Anny blushed at the thought of the images the words did to her head.

" Okay Mackie." She replied and fell back in his arms as they both late d down in the sand. Their flesh touching one another and his breath falling on her neck. They watched the waters move for a while, breathing in the good moment.

" I love you Anny." He said.

" I love you more Mackie." She replied and they both made love.

~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

" Spare us please." The Gold haired woman begged, pulling her two kids behind her. He ignored her plea and pulled her by the hair, pushing her towards the other side.

" Don't touch my mummy." The little one of about eight said and rushed towards him, bitting the back of his palm.

" Aaargh." He screamed and took a few steps back before landing the leash he held on the boy's bare back, causing him to scream and screech in pain.

" Don't hurt him please." The already weeping mother pleaded, running back into their front.

" Watch me hurt them all Pradi, watch me hurt him.' He said and pulled the half dead man into his hands. ' Watch him groan in pain, watch him die, watch him slowly bleed to death as he breaths his last." He said and cut through his body with the knife he brought out, making the helpless and already lifeless man groan.

" No, no, please, please. I beg of you, spare us please." She pleaded heavily sobbing. The more she pleaded, the more he dragged him by the hair. It pleased him to hear her beg at his feet, it made him feel like he had taken revenge for the ills done to him.

" Leave me woman." He screamed the moment she held his Jean trousers and kicked her off.

" Kill me Coward, be a man and kill me." The man whispered weakly accompanied by a soft laughter, one he knew provoked the killer.

" Your wish is my command." He replied and thrusted it into his heart harshly. That way he would be sure he wouldn't survive it.

Malburt woke up, all soaked in his sweats.

The dream? Why the dream? Why now? Why again? He thought it was gone, thought it would never come back to taunt him. What did the dream really mean?.

He was so worried and was sure that he might lay awake all night.

~~~~~~~~~

" Father, Father." He screamed as he rushed in, dropping his hunting tools on the huge massive table in the center of the well decorated leisure room. Lord Palaba had heard his son run in and knew it was something serious.

" What is it Alama?.' He replied the moment the door to the room flung open. ' Do you have no manners for a whole King?." He asked angrily.

" I am sorry Father. It's just that I heard something so terrible." He replied and bowed in respect.

" And what is that my heir?." He asked, fully knowing it was something he knew of before.

" Princess Paya has being married off to Mackie of Omigos." He said angrily.

" She has?." He replied, pretending to know nothing of it for fear that his son might get so provoked at him for keeping the news away from him. He had hoped he would come to hear of it later after he, the King would have taken care of it."

" Yes Father.' He said then sat close to his Father. ' And u ask myself multiple times. Why the Omigos? Why the Reds? Why not us Father?. This angers me so much." He said and squeezed his hand in a fist. Alama was well known for his uncontrollable anger and unquenchable thirst for revenge.

" I understand how you feel Son but nothing can be done."

" Something can be done Father and I will do something and everything to bring the Reds down Father, nobody steals my heart throb." He said annoyed at the Blood kingdom for backstabbing them.

" And what would you do Son? A fight?." He asked.

' Anything Father." He replied.

" Hahahaha." He laughed for a some seconds while Alama whom was so provoked stared at him angrily.

" Is it funny Father?." He asked, wondering why a Father would find joy and happiness in the sorrow and pain of his child.