Chapter 11

❤️❤️ Separate Ways (Part 11) ❤️❤️







"This is just the beginning," Rumi said and disappeared afterwards.




*******

Warlord Emera House:

Juno and her father were seen standing together next to a newly covered grave. It hasn't been long since they buried Grace. Warlord Emera had accepted the fact that his wife is dead and she's not coming back again. It was hard for him to accept, but he has to face the truth staring right there in front of him.

Warlord Emera and Juno's eyes were red and puffy from crying.

"It's okay Juno, everything is okay."

Juno didn't say a word, she could only nod her head.

"Don't worry, I will surely find out your mother's killer," Warlord Emera said. "Paul," he called out to one of his guards, "Is Rumi awake yet?" he asked.

"Not yet my Lord," Paul said with a slight bow and strengthened up to look at him. "But I will go and check if she is awake." he added and left to check on Rumi.

Rumi had stayed the previous night in Juno's room. The female servants who had carried Rumi out of  her room had taken her to Juno's room immediately and applied some herbs on her wounds to stop the bleeding. Ever since Rumi fainted, she hasn't regained consciousness yet.

"I am sorry I couldn't protect your mother Juno," Warlord Emera said again, cleaning his eyes with the sleeves of his clothes. "I hope I didn't fail you." When Juno didn't say a word, Warlord Emera placed his hand on top of Juno's head. "You not talking to me is killing me slowly Juno." he finally said his worries.

"I am okay father, I am just thinking and wishing everything that had happened yesterday was all a dream," Juno finally said.

The guard returned.

"She is yet to wake up your highness," Paul said to them. He had gone to check on Rumi as ordered and found the girl sleeping peacefully on the bed with herbs on her cheek as it had stopped the blood.

"You can go back to your position Paul, thank you." Warlord Emera told him. "We will have to wait for Rumi to wake. Only she can tell us how it really happened. Maybe the assassin's might leave something behind that would give them away."

*******

Emperor Ariadne Palace:

The Royal guards returned with a bleeding Storm and one quickly went in to report to the King about Storm's condition.

Emperor Ariadne who was with his wife and his other three children in the dining room eating left his food and followed the guard who had told him the news.

"Storm is injured your highness." That word alone set the Emperor running out of the dining room like a madman.

Seeing the sight of Storm sent chills down Emperor Ariadne's spine. He quickly collected his son from them and pressed his hand against the wound, trying to stop the blood from pouring out, ignoring Storm's pained groan. Apart from the blood, he also saw bruises on his face.

"Quickly go and summon the Royal physician," he ordered some of the guards who were standing and three of the guards went to do as ordered.

"What happened to him, who hurt him?Who did this to him?"

"It was Juno, your highness, she stopped us half way and dealt with him,"  one of the ten guards that went with Storm answered.

"I don't believe you. Juno cannot hurt my son, she saved him from getting hurt the last time she was here," Emperor Ariadne said, not believing the guard's words. "I can't believe that lies."

"Truly your highness, it was Juno who had beat him up like this, she threatened us and we couldn't do anything. You know she is stronger than her age."

"Go and call me Emera right now." he ordered and five guards left to carry out the Emperor's order.

At that moment, the Royal physician came. He and the Emperor quickly entered the palace and went to Storm's room. Emperor Ariadne who had carried him all the way from outside to the room and gently dropped him in the bed. The physician first of all gently forced some water into the mouth of the storm and that put him to sleep immediately.

He began pacing around the room, his eyes moving to where the physician was cleaning his son's wounds. Thirty minutes later, the physician was through with his cleaning and applying some oil on the wounds.

"I have done all I can, your highness," the Royal physician said as the Emperor stood next to him. Both of them are staring at Storm. "The wound will heal but I'm afraid it will leave a scar."

"He is Royal, no scar should be on his body and most especially on his face."

"Whoever did this to him should be punished. Was it an animal that did that to him?"

Before Emperor Ariadne would answer that, a knock sounded on his door.

"Who is it?" Emperor Ariadne asked, staring at the door.

"Warlord Emera is here,"

"Tell him I am coming and he should wait outside," Emperor Ariadne said and focused on his son and then went back to the physician. "You want to see the animal who did this to my son, right? Come with me." he added and left the room.

Warlord Emera and Juno were outside waiting for the Emperor Ariadne. Juno had insisted on following her father. She wanted to see Storm again.

It didn't take long for Emperor Ariadne to come and Warlord Emera was surprised when he saw the Royal physician with him.

"Is anyone sick?" Warlord Emera asked in concern when he saw the blood on his friend's clothes.

"Come with me," Emperor Ariadne said and walked back to Storm room.

"What happened to him?" Warlord Emera asked as he saw Storm's face and the bloody pieces of clothes used in cleaning the blood.

"Why don't you ask your daughter that." 

Warlord Emera was thrown back at that rude remark.

"I don't understand you my friend."

"Your daughter beat up my son mercilessly, if not for the friendship we both shared and the death of your wife. I would have ordered for her head immediately." Emperor Ariadne told his friend. "He is here," he said pointing at the Royal physician, "To stop the deep wound your daughter had inflicted on my son. If she didn't like Storm like the others did, she should have stayed on her own instead of hitting him." 

"Juno, did you hurt Storm?" Warlord Emera asked his daughter.

"I did not hit Storm father, I haven't left the house except when we bury mother."

"This is Storm's blood on my clothes," Emperor Ariadne said. "He woke up this morning and told me he wanted to visit you, I gave him my permission and you sent him back home to me covered in blood and bruises."

"I don't understand what is going on, I did not hit Storm and I like him. So I don't know where this is coming from," Juno said.

Warlord Emera slapped Juno on her cheek. Surprising even himself. "Don't you dare lie to my face and in the Emperor's presence. Apologize."

"You don't believe me father?" Juno asked in surprise. she wasn't expecting him to slap her. "I did not do that to Storm."

"So the guards are lying?" Emperor Ariadne asked and at that moment the startled gasp not loud enough was heard coming out from Storm. He tried to move backwards, away from Juno.

"Who did this to you son?" Emperor Ariadne asked gently.

"Juno did," Storm managed to say and close his eyes. He didn't want to see her. "I don't want to see her."

"Are you going to deny that also? He said it is you," Warlord Emera said.

"I did not do that. Why are you not believing your own daughter over him."

"Apologize to him right now,"

"I won't father because I did not do that. I only apologize when I do wrong." Juno told him and left the room angrily.