Chapter 60 - Late Loss

James bent down and ran his hand across the ground. He caught a rod, he picked It up and threw it at the guards furiously.

The guards rushed aside to dodge the rod.

James was burning hot. He was overwhelmed with anger. His breaths were heavy and fast.

"What do you mean, you couldn't find anything. Something was used against your king in this palace and you could say you didn't find it" he reprimanded.

"My Lord....." one of the guards wanted to say something.

"Do not say anything. Don't let me hear anything" he yelled to interrupt him. "Now you are all going back to Michael's chamber to find this thing in there" he led the way.

"And where is that foolish physician" he turned back and asked angrily.

"He has gone back to the king's chamber. He said he will find a way to make a remedy" one of the guards replied him.

James was not happy with that but there was nothing he could do. He continued toward Michael's chamber.

He forcefully pushed the door open and rushed in. He went directly to his bedchamber and checked underneath the bed. It was empty. There was nothing there.

"It was supposed to be here" he murmured to himself.

"We have searched all this place. We couldn't find anything. Someone must have given you false information" one of the guards said to console him.

James didn't know what to do. Quentin had failed him. He said he kept the evidence here. Michael was slipping off his grasp slowly.

"Tell the announcer to sound the alarm" he instructed the guards. That was the only option left for him. Everyone would gather in the palace hall and Martha would testify of Michael's involvement in their father's ailment.

That was enough to pass a death sentence on him. It was not going to be easy. There was going to be a lot of nonacceptance but he shouldn't miss the chance.

The guards went out at once. James headed to the dungeon. He would go and bring Martha out from the cells to testify.

He hurried to the cells and went to Martha.

"It is time to give your testimony. I will send guards to bring you to the hall right now" he quickly notified her.

"That means your father is dead, isn't it?" she asked like she was disappointed.

"He isn't and your evidence is not found where you claimed it would be" James emphasized for her to know she was also at fault.

"So you are planning to pass a death sentence with the victim still breathing? Doesn't that sound foolish to you?" she yelled at him.

"Just to kill a sick man, you couldn't and you want to become the Alpha King. You need to rethink that. Michael will make a better King" she lashed out at him.

"That is what I am going to do and you are going to support me. You understand?" he asked strictly.

"I have no problem with that. I am just saddened by your incompetence that is stinking" she moved far away from the gate.

"We have both committed errors. All we need to do now is to cooperate and make it work. Everything now depends on you to move forward" James persuaded her and walked away from the cells.

They wouldn't achieve this if they kept pointing out each other's mistakes. He would go to his father's chamber right away. He could still get a chance to kill him.

That would wrap everything up. He needed to be fast. He heard the alarm went off. He came across some guards as he proceeded.

"Direct everyone to the palace hall" he said to them. "And bring the prisoner right away" he ordered them.

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

Michael couldn't say anything to Queen Teresa. He didn't know exactly what to say. He was wrong and she was right. She had been protecting him.

They both keep watching over the Alpha King. They both knew his life was in danger and were clueless about how to stop that.

"Teresa" the Alpha King moaned weakly.

"Michael, is that you?" Queen Teresa asked. She wasn't sure of what she just heard.

"I heard it too" he looked at the Alpha King but he didn't seem to have make any movement.

"I thought he talked just now" Queen Teresa asserted.

"But he doesn't look like he just talked" he was also doubting. He kept looking at the Alpha King that he would talk again.

Some minutes had passed. The Alpha King neither talk not move. Michael concluded both of them might have been hearing their own thoughts.

Michael bowed his head. He was getting weaker but he would rather stay here weakly than leaving his father's side now.

"Michael" Queen Teresa called suddenly.

Michael raised his head up instantly and found the Alpha King turning on his sides. He looked at him for sometime to be sure he was really seeing what was happening.

"Teresa" the Alpha King called again. "Can you please help me up?" he groaned.

"Are you really awake?" Queen Teresa couldn't believe her eyes.

"Of course, you heard me talking just now" the Alpha King scolded her.

Michael reached for him and helped him sit on the bed. It was still a miracle to him. He remembered Julia promising to do something like this.

It seemed this Julia was more than meet the eye. He should accord her more respect. She had really brought his father back from the dead.

"Michael, there is something I wanted to ask you" the Alpha King coughed.

"And what is that, Father?" he asked calmly.

"What did you put on your body that was smelling that bad?" he chuckled. "I was throwing up" he added.

"Poison, that was rubbed on him by Quentin" Queen Teresa said before Michael could open his mouth.

"Quentin?!" the Alpha King opened his mouth wide.

"Yes. You were right about Martha. Martha is Quentin and he came here to kill you" she continued her explanation.

Michael was only watching her mouth. He didn't know a bit about all she was saying.

"Where is she right now, I mean he?" he chuckled.

"She is in the cell holding" Queen Teresa asserted.

"We must make sure he didn't escape this time around" the Alpha King enforced.

James rushed into the chamber. He was visibly angry. He walked towards where Michael and Queen Teresa were seated.

He stopped abruptly. He was just seeing the Alpha King seated. It seemed he was not expecting that.

"I am taking Martha to the hall to pass judgment on her and all her accomplices. She shouldn't be alive in the next coming hour" he put his anger to show.

"I think that's not necessary. The Alpha King has woken up" Queen Teresa announced happily.

"James, I appreciate your efforts but this issue is complex than you think. The man involved that is posing as Martha had history with us. We need to be careful" the Alpha King enjoined him.

"So you are all saying we should let her go despite what she has done?" he asked in confusion.

"He has failed. I am alive" the Alpha King laughed.

"I discovered he has some people working with him in the palace. We should expose them and give them deserved punishment" he complained.

"My Lord" a guard rushed in. "The prisoner had escaped" he declared.

James looked like he has seen a ghost. He was obviously lost and didn't know what to do.

"No, she can't escape. There is no way she could escape" he grabbed the guard and swung him around roughly.

"James I think this is a time to celebrate than being violent. Your father has recovered" Queen Teresa urged him.

"Exactly James, everybody should be happy right now" the Alpha King supplemented.

"I am happy that father did not die" Michael hugged James very tight. He was happy that his plan had failed him.

"I am happy too. I just want to make sure all those responsible pay with their lives. All those involved in it" he stressed.

"Do not worry, brother" Michael reached for his hand and pressed it with his hands. "We will work together and fish them out. Soon" he assured him.

James couldn't control his breath. He was breathing heavily. Despite how much he must have tried to hide his sadness. It kept appearing all over his face.

"Brother. I think you need to relax. You are still worked up a little bit" Michael patted him on the shoulder.

"Do not worry about me" James forced a smile. "I will get myself together" he slowly took Michael's hand off his body and headed out of the chamber.

Michael exchanged glances with Queen Teresa. They didn't exchange any words but they both surely understand themselves.

"You know I see that, right? What does that mean?" the Alpha King had definitely noticed them?

"We are just congratulating each other. We have triumphed" Queen Teresa explained.

"But he has escaped" he reminded them

"He lost" Michael asserted.