Chapter 55 - King Killers

Julia was in a cell in the dungeon. She kept remembering about Rachel and her warning. It was too late and she was regretting right now.

She heard some hard footsteps approaching. A guard was definitely coming towards her. She was afraid. The only reason why they would want her now would be to appear at a hearing.

She didn't know what she would be charged of. But as Queen Teresa was involved, her death sentence was certain.

The guard unlock the gate of the cell. He walked over to her.

"Julia, right?" he asked.

"Yes" she moaned. She was surprised to hear him asked for her name. Guards didn't use to talk to prisoners.

"The queen has asked me to bring you to her" he pulled her up calmly.

"Is it time for the hearing?" she asked in confusion.

"I don't think you have that privilege" he broke to her.

"Then why does the queen want me?" she just couldn't understand.

"To give you your deserved punishment" he was already walking away. He was not even worried if she would be rebellious.

"She is waiting" he quickly added again as he walked away.

It was strange. It didn't seem like what she had thought. The guard wasn't forcing her and he said the Queen was waiting.

The Queen must have wanted to hear her out again. Julia rushed after the guard. She saw him waiting ahead. She walked slowly to meet him.

"Julia" Queen Teresa called from behind.

"My Lady" she quickly turned and bowed.

"What you said about Martha, can you say it in her presence?" Queen Teresa asked softly but the question was harsh enough for Julia.

She didn't know what to say. She wondered what had triggered her to ask that kind of question. She was in this trouble because she said something to her.

She believed accusing Martha in her presence would surely attract death penalty if she was eventually vindicated.

"My Lady, I'm sorry for calling your name earlier" she apologized mainly to buy more time to think.

"Can you say what you said to her face?" Queen Teresa seemed not concerned about any other thing than this.

"That she wanted to kill the King?" she was still afraid to give a straight answer.

"I think I am making the same mistake again. I have decided to put an end to your life already. I don't know why I am doing this. Your death won't stop the truth from prevailing" she said regretfully.

"Take her back!" Queen Teresa commanded the guard. "You execute her by first light tomorrow" she affirmed.

Julia was dumbfounded. Queen Teresa was obviously a wicked queen mother. She watched her slowly as she walked away. This was obviously her last chance.

"I will say it!" she bellowed. "I will say it, my Lady" Julia cried.

Queen Teresa kept walking away like she didn't hear her.

"I will say it, please" she wailed.

Queen Teresa turned back to her and nodded.

"That is all I wanted to hear" she said and turned away again.

"What?" Julia was confused. "Please let me say it to her face. Michael will testify to it, she gave him something...." she cried on.

"Enough" the queen turned back to yell at her. "Take her back now" she shouted angrily at the guard.

Julia wept hard. She was confused. She had accepted to do what she wanted, yet she wanted her back in the cell.

"Please,don't kill me. Don't kill me" she begged desperately.

Queen Teresa didn't turn back anymore until she was out of sight.

"No!!" Julia screamed.

"Keep quiet" the guard yelled at her. "She has already revoked your death" he let out.

"Then why am I still going back to the cell?" she asked.

"For your safety" he replied reluctantly.

Julia heaved a sigh of relief. She didn't fully believe what the guard said. It was either this scenario was bigger than she thought or they were lying to her.

She walked back quietly to the cell. It was hard to decide. She didn't know who to trust or not. She regretted ever trying to take the matter to Queen Teresa. She was only trying to save Michael and the Alpha King. Now her life is at stake.

She walked into the cell and the guard locked the gate.

"You will be safe in here" he groaned and walked away.

Julia nodded. That was hard to believe. But there was nothing she could do than to play along.

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

James made a fire and put an animal over it. The fire kept going out. He had become frustrated. He had left the palace with all its luxuries just because a sorcerer told him to do so.

That was stupid. He would kill Quentin if he didn't do what he promised. He ignited the fire again and wanted to put the meat.

"It is going to die that way" a voice said slowly.

James looked around. He quickly realized who it was as he couldn't see anyone.

"Quentin?" he asked.

"You know it's funny to see you struggling to get meat done. Tear the meats into pieces, find some sticks to....." Quentin's voice instructed.

"Do not lecture me how to roast animals!" James yelled and threw the meat away. "When will I come back to the palace" he gasped angrily.

"Why are you so toppled? I came to you by myself" he expressed surprise.

"I'm tired if staying out here. I am going home today. And that is certain" he hit his hand on the ground.

"I brought good news for you. But your wrath is threatening me. You are destroying my mood" Quentin's voice said slowly.

James was quiet for some time.

"What news is that?" he asked softly.

"It's time for you to come home" he asserted.

"What have made that hard for you to say since?" he asked angrily again. He rushed on his feet and moved toward his horse.

"Will you wait and hear what I am about to tell you to the end?" Quentin said to stop him.

"You will tell me as I continue on the way" James retorted.

"You are always impatient. Your father is bedridden right now. You will go back there and claim you know the cause. You will look everywhere and find the potion underneath Michael's bed" Quentin seemed to be happy.

"That's good. When is father going to die completely? You know there is no way I will kill his killer unless he is dead" James stopped himself from being too excited.

"That's going to be determined by how strong your father is. He will hold out until he is internally destroyed. But he will eventually die as your physician will never be able to get the cure" he assured him.

"That man is stronger than you can imagine. If we are waiting for him to be destroyed. Then we will be talking about weeks not days" James felt a little bit disappointed. He was expecting something better than that.

"Maybe you can finish him up. Every blame will be on his sickness anyway" Quentin's voice advised.

"I told you already,I'm going back today. Everything will be in place in a week time" James concluded.

"That sounds good. Time to get my reward his looming" he rejoiced.

"In a week time if your evidence is convincing enough" he asserted.

"You are doubting me. I think doubts run in all the Alpha's vein. You can come back now or anytime you want. Martha!. Your guest will leave soon" he said as farewell.

"Whatever" James mounted his horse and rode out. He was still worried about the part where his father was holding on. He should have just died away.

He rode fast through the woods. The Kingdom of Darnley was a few hours journey from here. He had no time to waste.

"Michael, you are so easy to fool. By a woman, right? I am coming to pass your death sentence right away" he said to himself and laughed.

He started thinking how he would kill his father. Queen Teresa seemed to be an obstacle. She would rarely leave the king's side and she would also try all her powers to protect Michael.

He regretted not including her in their plan. They should have had something ready for he by this time. She shouldn't be a problem.

"Quentin are you still there? Can you hear me?" James yelled. He didn't quite understand how he used to communicate with him

"Anyway if you are listening. I just want to talk about Queen Teresa. She will delay the process. It will be better if you have a way to take her out of the picture" he breathed heavily.

There was no response. Quentin didn't hear him. He was such a damn useless fellow. He was not always there when he was needed the most.

"Queen Teresa, I have to deal with that one by myself" he soliloquized.

He believed he would find a way to stop her eventually.