Chapter 39 - Confined Creature

"I thought you are angry and won't come to congratulate me on my success or should I say our success" Michael said happily.

He was feeling happy for accomplishing his aim. He should be praised. Even Julia didn't believe it until it happened.

"And why would I be angry?" she asked smiling.

"Your husband to be, lost not only his glory but also a friend" he was talking about James.

"And if he is my husband to be, where does that leave you?" Julia teased him back.

"It leaves me where you decide for me to be. I saw the doubts in your eyes when I told you I am going to snatch the prize from him. How do you feel now?" he inquired

"Honestly, I am impressed. I didn't see any of this coming even Harold's death. You are such a wicked planner" she shook her head pitifully. Poor Harold got caught and lost his life in the war between two brothers.

"Most of what happened were not planned, like this painful reminder" he touched his shoulder and groaned softly.

"Let me see" Julia moved closer to him and pulled back his jacket to take a look at the wound.

"Are you sure this isn't self inflicted?" she believed Michael to be very cunny. He could do something like that to himself.

"That is Harold's doing. He had a plan different from James. He was not going to destroy that plant until the Alpha King would have join and die" Michael revealed.

"So he really betrayed James and you save everyone?" Julia sought clarification.

"Exactly,everything would have taken a different and horrible turn. He was reckless and inconsiderate. I don't like people like that" he confessed. He closed his eyes to revel in pain as Julia ran her hand on his wound.

"I do not have anything against you for killing Harold. He could kill you if he had the chance. That is the kind of person he is" Julia explained. She felt like Michael was trying to justifying his act of killing Harold but she didn't care.

"And how is our man holding up?" Michael asked about James.

"A way a loser will be holding up. He had become more cruel and you should expect something worse than just this mere child play next" Julia warned.

"He should be devastated enough. I am very sure he couldn't do anything right now" Michael always believed he knew much. He predicted with confidence.

"I don't think so. With the way he had been acting lately. He is already cooking something. I just don't know what it is" Julia has studied him a while back. She noticed he had been occupying himself with some things.

"Whatever he is planning. I will be waiting to extort him" he laughed hysterically.

"So what are you planning or your plan is to lay down on this bed and wait to foil someone else's plan?" she gaped at his bed. It seemed he had prepared that for a good nap.

"Sleep resets the brain. It enhances thinking critically to achieve anything. But, I will not be sleeping to wait for him to plan. Believe me when I say that" he assured her.

"Then, that is good" she patted him on the wound.

"Ouch! That hurts" he groaned. "Julia, let me say this to you. You have played a big role in this and I am very grateful" he appreciated her emotionally.

"That is very thoughtful of you" she smiled. "But why the sudden urge to appreciate. That wasn't like you. You always believe you did everything by yourself" she told him the truth about himself.

"When someone appreciates. The helper gives assistance again in numerous folds. Only a fool will underestimate a kindness and I am not a fool" he still ended his story by praising himself.

"You are not a fool. You are one hell of a smart little heir" she said and turned away from him to walk out of the chamber.

"And may I ask why you are here in the first place?" he quickly uttered to stop her from going.

"To rejoice with you. You stole the prize from the one who paid the price" she replied him with his favorite words.

"And is that how you rejoice with someone, mumble few words and take your leave?" he asked again looking displeased.

"What else do you find more enjoyable?" she obviously knew he was going to end his argument.

"Why do I think you know that already?" he walked up slowly to her.

*******************

James would need to do a good work to get used to Quentin. He was losing his patience already and Quentin still kept laughing.

"Please, I came here for a reason and you of all people should know how hurt I am?" he tried to put him to a mode of reasoning.

"Be patient!" Quentin yelled suddenly. "I know why you came here and I have a good solution to your problem. Do you know the saying of killing two bird with one stone?" he asked. He still seemed not so serious to James but he kept playing along as he had no choice.

"I've heard that many times" he responded reluctantly.

"Yes, that is good" he chuckled. "I am going to take Henry and Michael out of your way with a blow" he snapped his finger.

"You forgot a part" James said quickly. "And no one will suspect me" he added.

"No one will suspect you. There will be someone to blame for everything" Quentin professed.

"Queen Teresa?" he asked immediately.

"Of course not. Is she a threat to you too?" Quentin showed care.

"No. I just think with Michael and Father gone. It will be only her left behind. Why not join them?" he suggested.

"No, it can't be her. I have someone else in mind. This someone needed to pay for his sins and this will be the price" he affirmed soundly like he didn't want to be opposed.

"Then what do I have to do" James believed he must have invited him for a reason.

"You will smuggle something into the palace for me. You will have a guest in the palace in few days time and you will hand over what I am going to give you" Quentin looked around as he explained.

"And that is what?" he wondered what he would be smuggling as he had called it.

"Don't worry. It isn't a hard task. Just this box" he slammed his hand on the bare floor.

"Box? Which box?" James thought Quentin was going crazy. There was nothing underneath his hand.

"This box" he asserted like he was certain.

"There is nothing there, Quentin. There is no...." James stopped abruptly.

A box had appeared underneath Quentin's palm. It was a metal box. It should be heavy with the way James saw it

"Yes, there is a box" he attested and Quentin broke into a laughter.

"Take it" he pushed the box to James, it scratches against the floor and made noise as it travelled to his side.

"This is for what" James put his hand on the box holding it against the ground to stop it from sliding away beyond his reach.

"Open it" Quentin said with a commanding tone.

James opened it. He leaned forward to gaze into the box. A snake like creature jumped up almost to his face. He shuddered backwards to dodge it.

"A snake?" he couldn't believe it. He wondered what he was going to use a snake for in his plan.

"That's not just any snake. It is a creature, a killer and it only kill those it was sent to" Quentin buttressed.

"That is it" James closed the box with a bang.

"And those that infuriates it" he added to caution him.

"What will happen after I take it into the palace?" James was curious. He felt Quentin should at least give him some pointers.

"That is your part to play. Play it well and wait for the positive results which are certain" Quentin boasted.

James stood up to leave. He checked out the box for holes where the creature could harm him from.

He picked it up after realizing it was safe.

"I will be expecting you" James said as a farewell message.

"Don't expect me. Except your guest" he corrected. "And to make this more interesting. It will be good if you are away from the palace for some time" he nodded as James turned to stare at him.

"You know I have been thinking about that before. It is a very good idea" James felt pleased for the first time since he had been here.

"It's your choice. You can go" he waved at the doorway.

"I will do it" James walked outward. The creature in the box made some movement. James was alerted. He turned back immediately.

"It can't get out of the box, right?" he asked Quentin.

"It can't" he affirmed. "But it doesn't need to bite you before killing you. Do not worry I will make sure it didn't see you as an enemy" Quentin just had a way of twisting things.

James didn't know which to believe in his words.