Chapter 97

"My name is Helios," his voice was smooth like it was talking to air.


"I'm-" I was cut off by my words when he suddenly speaks up, I guess he was not rude at all and note the sarcasm.

"I know who you are already the moment you took your step here, I know who you are," he said that she nearly wanted to smack him up, he got a big air in his head, she must tell. Ysabella rolled her eyes and turn around and look at the people busy on what they are doing completely ignoring the names Helios in her back, she can sense that he was not moving and no plans to get out of her room.


"So are you enjoying your stay here dear?" he asked and she was not pleased on the way he asked her.


"I was, not until you showed up," she snaps making him chortle which she finds it sexy, annoyingly sexy.

"You are mean dear, don't be like that it doesn't suit you," he said making his walk to her direction. She can't feel her feet to walk away before he nears her.

"What do you want and why are you here in my room? Are you a trespasser here? I can call a soldier to escort you the way out," she muttered and he can't help himself but smile.

'What's with this man why is he keeps smiling, laughing and everything, do I look funny?' she thought and she wanted to look at the mirror and see herself but she urges herself not to.


"Go on, call them," he challenged and just looking calm.


Ysabella sighed and hold her temper, this man is getting in her nerves that well in fact she just met him a few minutes by now. She wanted to rip herself off and slap, losing her patience this was the first time she felt this way and she doesn't even know why. She holds the back of her dress searching for something and then it struck her, her o tanto is missing, and how idiot of her to realize that her weapon was missing.

'Where is my blade?' she thought, cursing herself for being such a careless woman.


"Looking for something?" he said and a playful smile crossed his lips, those whimsical smile that getting hit of annoyance in her nerves. This man is testing her.


"Just tell me why you are here, you're not yet answering my question," she gritted her teeth but remains her composure she must stay calm, she should not let him how annoyed she is right now.


"Nothing just checking on you, is that bad?" he answered and he looks at her with such amusement.


Ysabella was still twitching in her place, not knowing where her weapon was, she roamed around her eyes looking for anything until her eyes again landed on the smiling man holding what she was looking for, her o tanto. A sly smile was on his lips as he was holding her small weapon.


"Is this what you're looking for huh my dear? Don't stress yourself you could at least asked if someone sees it you know, you're tiring yourself, my dear," he chuckled, Ysabella quickly runs to his direction and snatch away her blade from his hand. He was so tall that can't barely reach his hand, for pete's sake she was too short for him. And she can hear him laugh.

'Damn you,' she hissed under her breath and she took a target that could kill a man for many hours. She kicked hard his treasure which causes him to groan hard and finally she had snatched away her o tanto from him.


He closes his eyes penetrating the pain she had caused him but as soon as Ysabella gets her blade she distances herself and feels guilty about what she had done to him. She leans forward and they were just an inch to the face of each other, she could almost smell his minty breath.


"Sorry, I am so sorry please forgive me. If you just had given my blade back this would have not happened, please are you okay, do I need to call someone for help? Wait here okay?" she rattled and started panicking, she didn't know what to do and what to tell if she asked for help, she will be embarrassed, God what did she had done.

She was starting to sweat, beads of sweats when she heard someone laugh, laugh coming from him.

He was laughing and holding his stomach, he was bursting.


"W-what?" she looks puzzled.
'Why is he laughing and why is he not in pain. Is putting cracks in here? Is he making me a fool?' she thought and her hands clench forming into a fist, her knuckles turn to white.

The laughter evaporated from his eyes. His usual warmth gone faster than summer rain. Indeed even his focus was somewhere on the window behind me as if I had become invisible to him, there was something in his eyes as he was looking behind me, I wanted to look back to see what it was but I can't even move a muscle.

When he turned at last to face her there was no trace of pain, not in his eyes or track marks on his reddening face. His eyes were narrowed, rigid, cold, hard.

'Is he somehow a bipolar person? Just a minute he was in pain and then laughing and then his eyes were now different. This man is scary,' she thought to herself looking at him. Puzzled about whose in front of her.



Suddenly they heard heavy steps and it looks like it is coming now to their direction. A soldier was rushing and catching his breath as soon as he steps in the room, the door was open for he didn't even bother to close it from the start.

"King Helios, the Prince wanted to talk to you," the soldier stated as he bows his head. Ysabella went pale as soon as she heard those words, she wanted to disappear from where she stands, she was talking to the King all along and yet she had the urge to attack him and kick his precious thing.


"I guess this is a goodbye conversation my dear, I'll see you again, you'll see," he said and his deep piercing eyes swallowed her whole personality. He smoothly turns his heels and the soldier let him walk first before closing the door leaving her alone.



First a prince and now a king.





Palace
Twelve midnight

A starry night loomed above, pretty enough to ignite the heart of everyone in the realm. The breeze blew cool announcing the coming of crisp days. The aroma of the tall grasses was an intoxicating perfume, even though there place surrounded with coldness they still manage to plant and take care of the plants and green trimmed grasses. The lamps' reflection in every house of their villagers reflected on the black river together with reflections of the stars up in the sky stretched out like flaming stilts, ruffled by a cold breeze. In Helios' eyes that was the most precious and treasured thing to remember, the people in the palace have their needs and it put smiles on their faces as well as into them.

Helios is on the porch, seeing people all over the place. As far as he knew tonight is his arrival, he didn't give up searching for her. Hades didn't give up for anything, he wanted him to take down, using her. At first, he didn't agree to the plan but for the sake of the people in their kingdom, using a person could save them. He was not in favor of the plans they would make but he couldn't do anything for it, it's him against them. This woman will be their pawn, their lure against Knight, for them to catch the notorious young man, he had killed innocent people, a lot of women were gone missing and all of those is he was the suspect.


***
FLASHBACK


Knight's eyes, were a well of jet black ink, held a gaze more fearsome than a tiger. A thin paper fag hung from his bottom lip, a small trail of smoke escaping from the corner of his mouth danced its way to the ceiling above us. In one hand a sword lay loosely but he knows it too well that Knight was good in playing blades and he must now be too calm, his fingers slowly and gently grip his sword and withing just a flick of an eye his sword swung perfectly and smoothly near to his neck, first the fuller of the sword, the edge, slowly to the central ridge and the point of the blade, he feels something thinly cut in his neck and he was not mistaken, it did bleed a little causing Knight to have a playful smirk crossed in his lips. The smile that every person would see in their last breath.

His eyebrows raised in amusement at his reaction, nothing, not a move, not even a flinch, no trace of fear in his eyes, not a single damn thing.

"Are you done?" Helios was too calm but not on the inside, he must admit he fear him but he was the king after all and he must stand it.

"I think, I will treasure this night truly because tonight I have met the king, the slayer, the cut-throat, the executioner, or the exterminator king. How are you?" he said as he put his sword down beside him.


"You've changed," the only words came out of Helios' mouth making him chortle.

Knight has become a caricature of himself, but he didn't use to be that way. Once his emotions were as variable as the rest, sometimes gregarious, other times moody. Now he's stuck in his negative range and always extreme. Once his face was soft with the beginnings of laughter lines, not creased in that angry way that has become his only face to the world. Yes, the Knight he used to know had changed a lot, the Knight he used to play together with Hades is now a different person, he used to laugh with them, the positive and cheerful kid that always makes them happy and thought them different games is now gone. Yes, maybe they are now a different person, different personalities, and now stand in a different situation that Helios didn't even understand why. He was in his father's shelter a few years back, no-one will say what for because they were completely shocked that his father was alive that for all they know is Knight has no family, but when he came back his personality was altered - severe I assume. Slowly the two of them, him and Hades dropped out of Knight's life, they were worn down by his newfound aggression and negativity which makes him now the opponent.


"I never change Helios, I am still the person you know but sometimes when someone will enlighten us we come to see the truth. Only by looking at an object from many perspectives do you see its exact shape and dimensions, and the truth is the same but does it the same? You only look at it, didn't move or touch it, didn't see the back, the secrets behind it. Truth is treason in an empire of lies. So tell me does it sounds familiar with your empire?" he coldly stated and a smile put in his wicked lips.


"How dare you to tell that! You know nothing!" Helios muttered angrily, he was fumed in furious.

"I know nothing? Maybe now you're the one who knows nothing Helios but one of these days you'll thank me but I'll take your words as an advance. Does the truth imprison us, or does it set us free? Hopefully, you will see the truth in their eyes and words. Some do hear and turn their lives around. Facing the truth about our negative sides is a difficult thing to do. However, none of us can improve without knowing the truth, even when it hurts. If we learn, the truth does set us free Helios, but in my case when you soon know the truth I'll come and perish you.One thing we know for sure, the truth can hurt us but it will make us stronger, it will change us into something we could never imagine but deep of us, we are still the same person just on a different vision," he stated looking calm and Helios can tell he was the same person he met before, he must admit to himself that he was also missing him.


"Damn you for being who you are now Knight, it didn't even cross my mind that you will be this kind of man you are right now. What did you do with the girls who are missing right now, what did you do to them? You killed innocent people Knight, this is not who you are," he gritted his teeth, he wanted to punch his face so hard that he wanted to see his blood and beg for forgiveness but that would be impossible.


"The girls are fine Helios, I am not the man who you think you are but maybe," he cunningly said and look at him with stinging eyes.


"Don't test me, Knight, once I found out the truth behind all of this I'll forget that I know you," he muttered but all he got was his roguish laugh.


"You should tell that to yourself Helios, good night," he said and walks away slowly vanishing his image in the dark alley.






"Your game is here Knight," he muttered as soon as he sighted the carriage coming in his way.





Ysabella frowned as she gets the letter that Xevy delivered, yes, she and Xevy become great friends and she was happy but they can't talk even for a while because the prince said so, and they don't even know what is the reason.

"Open that letter now and let me too read it," Xevy said and he was just so excited to see a letter, he did tell me that no one ever wrote a letter for him, not even his family and I feel sad about him but he was used to it because maybe it was his destiny to be in that situation and someday he will find his woman and not feel her the way he feels and their future children. Xevy is indeed a good man she can tell and that woman is so blessed to have this man.


"Where did it come from?" she asked as she slowly ripped the envelope and unfold the letter.


"It came from your family silly, read it now."


She was about to say something but because of her excitement, anxious and everything she can now feel at that moment come to burst, her family wrote a letter to her. She almost forgot that some of his men, Prince Hades, were in their house.

A tear escape from her eyes that she wipe it away using the back of her hand and Xevy just smiled at her reaction.


Our dearest daughter,
Ysabella are you okay? How are you? We miss you so much, the house is too quiet without you here. Do not worry about us here okay? We are doing fine and were selling good cabbages here and making a good profit. Don't let yourself get sic for we are not by your side but if you're feeling ill just do what I have instructed you to do when you are here okay? I taught you about the herbal and herbal medicines are way better than drugs selling out there in the market okay? Eat a lot you're being skinny these days, a lot okay? and when we say a lot we mean it Ysabella, don't be hard-headed okay? And in any case, you are now living there for quite a few months because the King told us that they were amused by you and they will send you to a fine school or for you to have a better life, you know us very well with your father, we want the best for you Ysabella so please just do as we tell you okay? We love you and who knows maybe one of these days we will visit you there if the King permits us to do so. I and your papa are proud of you for saving that little boy but do not do that again okay? You give me a heart attack when I heard that please don't do that again if you see people who need saving call someone okay? We love you Ysabella, we always do.


Your mama and papa



She didn't know that she was sobbing the whole time that she was reading the letter and Xevy was just sating at her didn't know what to do, but what can she expect from a soldier, they were trained to that emotionless but Xevy is different he might just see it awkward or he was just not used to it. She wants to laugh at his reaction, his eyes were glued on her and his hands were trembling.


"Are you okay Xevy?" she asked.


"In that case, I don't want to have a letter if it makes me cry, I don't want it," he said which makes her laugh.


"And in this case, I might seem to be living here for quiet months from now on and I don't know what I am going to do now," she sighed and folded again the letter and put it inside her coat pocket.



***


'A beautiful woman feels beautiful within, from the love she gives to her ideas and the creative ways she expresses her soul. She is one who wraps her arms around the soul of the world, of all who love her and those who need to love. That is beauty and if you can see that too, you'll be smarter and wiser than most, lover her curves of softness. Age can't touch that kind of beauty, it's just there. Her emotions were not easily hidden on her innocent face. Her pain was evident in the crease of her lovely brow and the down-curve of her lips, But her eyes, her eyes showed her soul. They were a deep pool of restless gold, an ocean of hopeless grief. As I looked into her eyes I knew, all the beauty of the universe could not even hope to compete with this simple thing, passion. Passion turns her eyes into orbs of the brightest fire, and in them, I read clearly that she would fight to the very last tear for her life. She would not let the world break her. Sure she could cry, but she would never let them take her true self from her. She clung to it with passion. The passion that made her beautiful.'

Hades was reading a book near in his window and his eyes immediately landed on the woman that makes his mad insane for just thinking of her, it becomes an annoyance to him. It annoys him so much for he doesn't even know why. His eyes were set on her beautiful face but instantly darkened when his eyes landed to Xevy, they are already as close as friends and he must admit he doesn't like it and there is no reason at all to be given, he just doesn't like it, it was not a good image at all.


"Damn you," he gritted his teeth but it faded away when he realized that she was crying.

"Why is she crying damn," he clenched his fist and there he saw Xevy was just looking at her and smiling.
'You'll get what you want little young man,' he thought and his knuckles were turning white when suddenly it slowly fades, his anger fades away and changed into something he didn't expect, it was totally a slow motion. He didn't even know if he was just hallucinating things up or did he somewhat drink, it was a slow-motion indeed.

Her hair is liquid sunshine against a face so pale as to be striking, the strands down her back, stopping in a line around her hips. A smile flashes across her face from beneath reams of her hair. It created slight dimples. Even though it was gone quickly, it was still there. she dipped her head down and read again the letter she is holding. She glowed out of her near translucent skin.




"What are you doing to me," he grunted and stands from his seat and walk away from the room he was at. He couldn't bear anymore sight of her... for now.




Night had fallen fast upon the land, no more than an hour ago the sky was painted with hues of red, orange, and pink but all color had faded leaving only a matt black canvas with no stars to be looked upon. The darkness was thick and the wind was crisp. This was the perfect description of his life since his woman was gone away, no the accurate term was when he left. He left on purpose, for an important thing but now he had to win her back even though he knows it will make things go complicated.



Knight took a step and look down at his window, his soldiers are everywhere and it comes more and more, thanks to the fools who dealt with him.



"How did it go, my Master?" Antarteces asked out of nowhere and Knight is still amused of her aura, her aura is unique that you can't even feel her presence, even him.



"It didn't go as what I had planned but I still got a piece of information that may help me more. Information that is so very intriguing indeed," he answered and a playful smile crossed in his lips.





"You're stepping in the dark Master and I hope you're seeing it," Antarteces said with apprehension in tone.





"People say the darkness presses in, it doesn't. The darkness kisses up to your skin closer than a mother and whispers excitement into your ears. The darkness is your best friend, it's funny and glib, flattering and cool. the darkness will be your favorite thing right up until your exits are blocked, then it has no reason to hide. if it was easy to spot darkness there wouldn't be a problem, how often are you confused with the day and night? but I can tell you now if you don't understand your own emotions and motivations I can't help you, I know this is your first time to hear me in this way Antarteces but bear with it you don't know so much about me as you think. You are a character, this is your story, now what do you want? What do you fear? know that and you can unlock your cage and step into the light. But in my case, I guess I will be forever lockdown here in my darkness as long as I don't have her, my woman. My sadness is a hollowness. I can't tell you what's worse. Sometimes my hollowness is a shell, holding in a thousand oceans of tears Antarteces. Sometimes though, it holds a thousand pieces of glass that are wedged in between my soul and body. That's the pain. Sometime though, like when I had my first kiss, kissing her I tasted something like sweet, an unforgettable softness and sweetness. I know I sounded strange and you are not believing you are hearing this now but this is the last you will hear that," he stated and stare at the blank dark sky.



His reflection he might say.





"Is there anything I could do for you, my Master?"





"Yes, send her to me," he coldly stated and his eyes were dark and no emotions and turn his heels away leaving Antarteces with sadness in the eyes.









***



"Tell me about the King," Ysabella asked Xevy as they were strolling outside the palace, Xevy was honored to tour her around the palace. It's been a while since then.



"Why do you want to know about him so sudden?" he asked creasing his eyebrow.



"I just met him and he sounds not like a King that is why I am asking you what is he like, for me also to have a background since I'll be here for few months like I said earlier," she answered while looking at the ceiling they were on, it was so high she wonders how did they build such an enormous palace.





"Well above all else, the king was a man, I saw him in good times and bad, always weighed with the responsibility he accepted for others. He is willing to see his flaws and work to be a better human being, kinder, more emphatic. He was brave on the outside, leading with everything. Everyone else had to see him flawlessly, the polished version to inspire such confidence. He was afraid of not being enough, of falling in sacred duty, of his purpose unfulfilled, weighty as it was. He never needed a crown or fine things Ysabella, you know if you get to know more about the King since he is the one who permits you to be in here like you said, like the letter we just read you can describe him. Don't take my description if you didn't get to know him first," he said and a friendly smile crossed his lips making her return the gesture.





"But as I stay here I notice something was odd between the king and the prince," he whispered enough for her to hear it, even though there were just the only two people walking and talking, walls have ears too.







"What made you say that?" she whispered asking she doesn't even know why but it's better to be in the flow of Xevy even though they completely looked like a fool lurking their eyes from left to right.







"You'll see," he answered and as they were just stepping on the marble stone they jolted in fear as someone deep voice speaks.







"What are you doing?"





"Prince Hades."











"What are you doing?" a deep masculine husky voice asked that went shivers down her spine. Slowly she turns her head and there she saw a drop-dead gorgeous man he had never seen her entire life even though he is wearing his mask, she could just want to develop it in her brain and stay it there, no she is getting insane.


"Prince Hades," Xevy bow his head, and Ysabella did too.

"You're dismissed Xevy, I need to talk to her," he said and Xevy immediately obeyed and leave them. Ysabella felt the silence as Xevy was now nowhere in sight, they were just the two of them again.

The sunshine has warmth in its brilliance, reflecting a shimmer from the ends of her lashes, deep brown though they are. She had a kind of understated beauty, perhaps it was because she was so disarmingly unaware of how she is attractive.

He shakes his head for thinking such a thing, that was not in his plans to think. This woman annoys him a lot, in his mind.

"Having soldiers and visitors here are not allowed to talk and at the same time laugh with each other's conversation because it might give others a wrong comprehension Milady, if and only if you could if it is much important," he coldly said making her fumed, he had no rights for him to tell her who she will talk to or laugh with.


"With dear respect, my prince but I don't see any reason not to talk to him, I am just being friendly and I want to have friends, I don't want to sit there and do nothing and talk to thin air, it will make me crazy," she answered, she was holding her smile for she doesn't want to look as if she is joking around.


"There are a lot of things to do in here Milady so you will not get bored by yourself, I guess you have read the letter that has sent to you by your parents huh," he said looking straight through her eyes.


"I don't want to be ordered," she completely blurted out the words that want to escape from her mouth and now she was completely losing her breath as she can see his eyes went darker.

Hades had a lot to be expected to her, she was a dauntless, daring, bold woman he had ever met, and maybe that is he is attracted to her.

'Drawn? No, I am not,' he thought battling the conversation in his mind.