Chapter 25

"Stop!" He yelled taking a step back then holding his head with both his hands as if he was in pain.
"I thought you were dead. Do you know what I went through believing that?" My eyes teared up again. Speaking of it opened up new wounds. "Lucian...do you really not remember me?" I asked again hoping everytime the answer would be different but he kept shaking his head and backing away from me. "Do you not remember telling me you loved me?"
"Please stop!" He backed away until he hit the wall behind him.
"Do you not remember holding me or kissing me?
He shook his head violently.
"Do you not remember sleeping next to me while holding me in your arms?"
"Stop!" He fell on his knees then fisted his hair. "Stop!" His voice trembled as if he was fighting himself.
"Lucian?" He didn't seem well. His body was shaking in a way that reminded me of when he had kissed me for the first time. "Are you alright?"
As I neared him he suddenly screamed then started to punch the ground.
"Stop!" I screamed terrified. Running to him I grabbed both his hands to stop him from hurting himself.
"Why are you doing this?" His hands were soaked in blood. Looking at his face he was pale and his skin glistened with sweat.
"I can't make it stop. Please...make it stop." He said grabbing his hair again. Was his head hurting?
"Lucian..." I was confused as what to do so I just wrapped my arms around him. As soon as our bodies made contact I saw a terrifying image.
It was Lucian. He was in a dark place, his body covered in wounds and blood. As more blood seeped from his wounds he seemed to die a slow painful death, but someone clearly wanted his death to be more painful. Suddenly some liquor was poured over him and I saw a glimpse of a match then everything went up in flames. An agonizing scream erupted from Lucians thro as his body burned in that dark place.
Oh God! Startled I pushed Lucian away breaking the contact between us. What was that? Did he die like that? I shuddered then looked at Lucian who was still trembling. Good Lord. What had Lucian done to deserve this?
"Oh Lucian..." I hugged him again instinctively but then the images came back. He was still in that dark, his skin and most of his flesh had burned away but he could heal. I was happy to see him alive but only for a short moment because seeing his progress of healing was more painful than seeing his death. During the night his flesh would heal but as soon as the sun went up he would burn anew and his wounds would open again. Many days he would go through the agony of healing then burning again and it would never seem to end.
Then I saw him trying to crawl out of the what seemed like a well but he had no strength so he would fall back again and wait for the day to come and for the sun to burn him once again.
My heart tightened inside my chest upon seeing these images and rage filled my chest.
"Oh Lucian..." I cried holding him tightly. "I wish I could make it stop, but it's over now. You are safe now." But he only kept trembling.
I grabbed his face. "Lucian look at me."
He shook his head. "I can't."
"You can. Look at me Lucian."
He slowly looked up and into my eyes. "You are here, with me. Let's leave this place Lucian. Let's forget about revenge and live happily together. I want nothing else."
I didn't want him to hurt anymore. I didn't want to lose him again. Even though I wanted to punish those who tortured him but his safety was more important to me.
He grabbed my wrists removing my hands from his face. "Why? Why would I leave with you?" He asked.
"Because...because...I love you Lucian, I love you so much. I never told you before and that's what I regretted the most. Now all I want is..."
"Stop. Please stop." The more I spoke the more he seemed to be hurting. I couldn't understand why but I didn't want to hurt him anymore.
Suddenly he stood up and hurried toward the door as if he was scared of me.
"Will you come back?" I asked.
"Eat the food and keep yourself warm." He said then left without looking back.
Even though he claimed to not know me he still cared. That would be enough for now. That he was alive would be enough for now.
But would he be alright? He seemed to be hurting very much and it wasn't just because I saw his memories but I could feel it. I could feel his pain and something else quiet couldn't understand.
Since I was starving and cold I decided to do as he said. I ate the food he brought then wrapped myself in the blankets to keep myself warm. The place had no windows so I had no clue what time it was but it felt like a whole day or maybe a whole night had passed already. I just wanted to see Lucian again, make sure he was safe. After seeing what had happened to him, all the torture I went through seemed nothing compared to his. All that pain must still be haunting him. He had already gone through enough pain in his life, I didn't want him to go through more pain. I had to convince him to leave this place with me before it was too late.
The question was how?
Suddenly I shivered even though I was wrapped in warm blankets. It wasn't cold but there was someone in the room.
"Hazel."
I looked up at the devil himself. "Lothaire, I have been waiting for you."
"Lucian is alive."
Lothaire didn't seem as surprised as I had expected him to be, almost as if he had suspected Lucian to be alive.
"Where is he?" He asked calmly.
"I am not sure but he is here in the palace and he doesn't look like himself." And act like himself.
"He is in disguise..." Lothaire said thoughtful. "Then how did you recognize him?"
"I just did." I shrugged. I didn't know how to explain it.
Lothaire crossed the distance between us then slowly removed the hair from my neck. "It's the mating mark." He mumbled.
I had almost forgotten about the mark. I wondered if it had anything to do with me being able to see Lucians memories.
"He doesn't remember me." I said.
Lothaire took a step back studying me with his cold eyes.
"Or maybe he is pretending..." I said unsure.
"He would not."
My heart sank. If he was not pretending then he really did forget me.
"Why?" Why did he forget me? "How?" How could he forget me?
"I am not sure why or how. Maybe Irene knows."
Irene! She would be so happy to know that her son was alive. I wanted to see her and tell her quickly but then I remembered how angry I was with her and Lothaire, especially now after having seen everything that happened to Lucian, their son.
How could they not have done anything to help him? How could they have just watched him go through all that and let him die?
I wasn't a parent myself but I knew that I would do anything in my power to save the people I love, even if it meant that I would die myself.
"I should go and tell Irene. Do you want to come?" He asked.
I shook my head. "No. I will wait for Lucian."
Lothaire nodded. "Alright then."
"Lothaire?"
"Yes."
"Why did you not help him?... Even if you and Irene were cursed and could possibly die but a parent would rather die than let their child go through what Lucian did. Am I wrong?"
"You don't know me." He said.
"I don't, but I know Irene. She doesn't look like the kind of mother who would watch her son go through all that." I felt as if there was something they weren't telling me.
Lothaire sighed and his cold eyes softened. He took my hand in his, I was surprised by the coldness of his touch, then placed something on my palm. "Thank you for taking care of him." He said then he was gone.
I looked at the silver pendant in the shape of a moon in my hand. Not only was it beautiful but it seemed magical somehow. It reminded me of Irene, beautiful in a magical way.
As soon as he walked into his room Lucian fell to his knees. Afraid that someone would see him like this he closed the door despite the pain he was in. Tears and sweat ran down his face as he tried to crawl to the bathroom. He needed cold water to stop this excruciating pain, but he couldn't even crawl. It felt like his whole body had been beaten and every movement would cause him to groan in pain.Grabbing the corners of tables and chairs Lucian tried to push himself further but gave up eventually and just lay there waiting for the pain to end.
He should be used to this by now since it happened every night but this kind of pain was impossible to get used to. Besides he was confused as to why it happened to him now when it usually happened at night. Would he have to endure this torture on the day as well?
Why?!
Slowly the pain turned into an icy numbness. His heartbeat decreased and it became hard to breathe. He embraced himself for the pain that was coming because he knew the worst part had only started. Usually he only lasted ten minutes in the worst part of the pain and then slowly black would fill the edges of his vision and he would gradually fall into a sea of darkness.
In that sea of darkness Lucian always tried to swim to the surface but to no avail. He would drown over and over again until he gave up, but this time something was different. There was a source of light from a distance.
Lucian tried to swim once again but now toward the light and as he swam he found himself in his personal garden. Surprised as to how he got there he looked around.
There...in the middle of the garden she sat on a white swing, swinging back and forth while reading a book. As if sensing his presence she looked up from her book and smiled.
"Lucian."
His name never sounded as good as when she called him. Lucian held his breath at the site of her. Never had someone looked so beautiful in his eyes.
She stood up and opened her arms to embrace him."Come." She smiled and he couldn't resist her call but as he moved toward her he realized that she was still far away from him. It was as if he couldn't reach her no matter how fast his legs moved. He realized that she was just like the light he could never reach. It only blinded him making it even more difficult to see where he was going. He felt lost and strangely he wanted to go back to the darkness that he usually despised.
That's where you belong he heard a voice say before he shot his eyes open and found himself in his room. Lucian let out a deep breath relieved that it was only a dream.
It was midnight and the only thing Lucian could hear was some night guards talking outside and the snoring of some people. Jade was half sleeping outside his room so Lucian decided to use another way out. He needed some fresh air without getting disturbed so he teleported himself outside the castle. This time he disguised himself as a commoner and went wherever his feet took him. He tried to not think about anything and just enjoy his walk but he couldn't.
His mind was occupied with thoughts of Hazel. He could not stop thinking about her even for a second. He wanted to be near her again and let her hold him in the protective and loving way she held him before but could he really trust her? If he did he would have to take her word for being his wife.
Could she really be his wife? Could that be the reason everything about her felt so familiar and comforting? Could that be the reason he wanted to protect her, hold her, kiss her and make her his own?
No. He could not think like this. She could not be his wife. She was just a maid, unprotected in this evil place, probably mistreated and tortured many times before and taken advantage of while he was....he was...doing what? And when he finally came back he didn't even recognize her while she had been waiting all this time.
No. She could not be his wife. He refused to believe it. He would not....he would not let her get hurt while he was dreaming of a normal peaceful life. He would not be so ignorant...would he?
His head throbbed again. No no, he had just gone through this pain why was it starting again? He took a deep breath and tried not to think of Hazel and calm down. She seemed to somehow be the source of his pain. Afraid that he would lose consciousnesses again outside in nowhere he teleported himself back to his room.
With a loud sigh he fell back on his bed. Even though he was really tired he knew there was no use of going to sleep, because the nightmares where there, waiting for him to just close his eyes. As he lay there staring at the ceiling he felt something strange, a presence in the room. Sitting up he looked around but found no one, still he knew someone was here.
Standing up he strained his ears and focused his vision, getting himself ready to fight.
"Who is there?" Lucian asked using an authoritative tone.
Silence.... Yet Lucian was sure someone was there. He was not a fool to ignore his instincts.
"Show yourself!"
After a short moment of silence slowly a woman appeared out of thin air. She stood in front of him a few feet away in a green gown that matched her beautiful eyes. Her raven black hair cascaded down her shoulder in elegant waves that stopped right above her waist and her skin was unblemished and radiant. Lucian had never seen such woman before, she was tall and beautiful, and had a commanding presence.
"Who are you?" He asked.
The woman just stared at him, her eyes slowly welling with tears. Lucian found himself utterly confused. Why was every woman crying at the sight of him?
"I asked who you are? And how did you get in here?"
The woman only kept staring at him while so many emotions were written all over her face. Pain, sorrow, guilt but also relief and joy. She walked closer to him as tears strolled down her face.
What was this situation? He should call the guards but he knew it was useless as this woman could disappear just the way she had appeared.
Feeling uncomfortable by her closeness Lucian was about to take a few steps back when she suddenly wrapped her arms around him. Stunned Lucian froze in place.
What was this feeling?
Even though Lucian was shocked by the sudden hug he felt strangely safe. Her warmth soothed and comforted him. He felt as though all the weight he had carried all those years on his shoulders had been lifted away and he could suddenly breath. His body and mind relaxed and a strange feeling of peace brought tears to his eyes. He wanted to cry in her arms and he wanted her to comfort him but shocked by his own thoughts he pushed her away and took a few steps back.
"Leave!" He shook overwhelmed by his own emotions.
He wanted her to leave, she scared him but at the same time he wanted to know who she was as well.
"I am sorry." The woman cried.
He was tired of these crying woman who came to him and added to his confusion. He was already suffering enough, what did they want?
"Who are you? Why did you come here?" He said angry and frustrated.
The woman cried even more. "I am sorry."
"Don't be sorry and just tell me who you are and what you want."
"I...I..I am..." Her voice cracked and she shook her head. "I am sorry." She repeated.
"Don't..." Lucian began to yell but she was already gone.
Roshan had just come out of the tub and was still n.a.k.e.d when Lucifer appeared out of nowhere.
"And you could not wait until I got dressed." He said grabbing a towel and wrapping it around his waist.
Lucifer seemed stressed and maybe even...scared. Roshan had never seen him like this before. He was walking back and forth and then abruptly he stopped.
"Lucian is alive." He breathed.
Roshan paused. "Alive? How? I can still not sense him."
"I don't know how he does it but he better keep doing it now that the curse is broken, or else..." Lucifer clenched his fists.
Or else the demons would try to kill him now that the curse was not protecting him anymore. The curse didn't only keep Irene and Lucifer from meeting their son but every other demon as well, and since Lucian was half witch he was basically an enemy.
Witches and demons never mixed well and while witches protected their kind no matter what demons never took risks, even with their own kind. Anyone who could be a threat needed to be wiped away and quickly, especially if they had anything to do with witches.
"Roshan, as soon as you sense Lucian I want you to summon everyone and if anyone shows a rebellious behavior get rid of them."
Roshan nodded. He could sense Lucifers uneasiness.
Once Lucifer wanted to kill his own son, not because he hated him but because he knew he would suffer a lot and wanted to save him from that. He knew that being the son of the devil and a witch would never allow him to live a normal peaceful life and that both witches and demons would try to eliminate him. But while hesitating to kill his own son Irene's mother was able to put a curse preventing any demon to come near Lucian.
Roshan wasn't sure if Lucifer was happy to see his son alive or if he regretted hesitating, causing his son to live in loneliness and torture while he himself was unable to do anything.
.
"Have you told Irene yet?" Roshan asked.
"Yes, but I shouldn't have."
Irene had probably not been able to keep herself from seeing her son which probably added to his confusion.
"Maybe you want to tell your human friend that he is alive." Lucifer noted before leaving.
Human friend? Klara was anything but a friend.
Since she found out about Lucians death she had been in a bad state. Sometimes she would deny his death and say that she was going to find him and sometimes she would not leave her room and would just cry for the whole day.
There were some other days that she would not cry but then she wouldn't leave her room either, or eat or drink. She really made him confused and sometimes he wondered why he even brought her here and caused all this trouble for himself.
Today he found her laying on the bed being very quiet.
"Good morning."
She still lay unmoving on the bed. "Don't you know how to knock?" She asked in a flat tone.
He did knock but she never seemed to hear his knocking.
"Or maybe you lost your hearing." He stated.
She sat up hastily and glared at him with annoyance.
"You could knock louder. It's not of good behavior to enter a lady's room without permission."
Good behavior? And him? Roshan fought the urge to laugh. He was actually at his best behavior right now or else she would have found herself in his bed. N.a.k.e.d.
"Princess, you are in no position to teach me good behavior. You have been in my home for almost a week, eating and drinking for free without contributing with anything."
Her face turned red with embarrassment and she looked down at her hands.
"I...I.." Roshan knew she wanted to apologize but she was too stubborn. "What do you want me to do?" She asked raising her chin again.
"How about taking a bath, changing and combing your hair first?" She looked like a mess.
Her cheeks flushed again. "I will if you leave."
Klara looked herself in the mirror. She had never looked like this before, she looked like the homeless people she sometimes saw on the streets. What happened to her? What happened to the strong woman she was? Was she just going to believe what people told her or was she going to find out the truth herself?
She better find out herself before grieving someone who was probably not even dead. Lucian could not be dead.
Deciding that she was going to leave this place today to go and find Lucian she went to the bathroom. Klara was surprised to find that someone had already prepared a bath. It was probably Roshan she thought.
Why was he taking care of her so much?
He had let her stay, given her food and clothes without asking for anything in return. Still, she didn't trust him. He had that look in his eyes that told her he wanted something but she wasn't sure what it was.
Klara got into the hot water and cleaned herself then she slid into a new dress that Roshan had prepared for her as well before walking out and in to her room. There she dried her hair with a towel while wondering where she could find a comb. She didn't want to risk leaving the room and getting almost killed again.
While contemplating on what to do someone knocked on the door and soon Roshan walked inside.
He had a comb in his hand. This man was something else, Klara thought to herself. She had to be careful.
"You hair is a mess." He said handing her the comb.
Klara took the comb, ignoring him she went to the mirror and started to comb her hair. It was more difficult than she had thought. It was all tangled up.
"You seem to need help." He pointed
"I am fine." She said but before she was done with the sentence he already stood behind her staring at her through the mirror. Klaras heart jumper to her throat but she swallowed it.
"I could still help." He said in a low voice leaning right next to her ear.
Klara froze in place as he reached for the comb in her hand, which she just let slide through her fingers. Then he slowly began to comb her hair. Why was she not protesting?
As he combed her hair his fingertips would sometimes touch her neck and she would feel heat creep into her skin. His closeness made her imagine things she normally wouldn't, like taking a step back and letting him wrap his arms around her, or leaning her head back onto his shoulder and letting him kiss her neck. She wondered what it would feel like, to let a man have her, to let him kiss her and caress her. Her body shivered in sudden want. If she didn't distance herself from this man she would end up doing something she would regret.
Taking a few steps away from him she turned around. "I think it fine now. Thank you."
Roshan smiled and something about his smile told her he knew the effect he had on her.
"Why do you do this?" She asked crossing her arms over her chest.
"Do what?" He said innocently.
"Helping me. What do you want in return?"
A mischievous smile crept to his face. "You know what I want." He said in a way that made her heart skip a beat.
"No, I don't know." She said trying not to sound nervous.
"You know, you just want me to say it out loud." He said slowly strolling toward her "or maybe you want me to show you."
Klara backed away until she collided with the dresser behind her. Roshan crossed the distance between them then placed his hands on the dresser on each side of her body trapping her between his arms. Klaras mind went blank as he leaned closer and spoke next to her ear. "I want to please you." He said as his hot breath caressed her skin.
A shiver went down her spine. Please her? How?
Roshan chuckled. Leaning back he looked into her eyes. "If you are really curious...." He whispered letting his fingers brush the skin on her face, "then close your eyes."
Klara felt as though she was under some spell that she couldn't resist so she closed her eyes despite knowing what was coming next.
Roshan leaned in, bringing his lips close to hers. This was so unlike him. He never used his powers to seduce a woman, not that he needed to but this woman was tempting him to much. With her wet hair and bare shoulders she was provoking the demon inside of him. Still, he shouldn't manipulate her, he didn't want to. He wanted her willingly so he took a few steps back and left her mind and thoughts alone.
Klara opened her eyes and looked at Roshan confused. What was wrong with her? She was just about to let him kiss her, to let an unknown man kiss her. No. She needed to make it clear that she was not interested in him, at all.
"Listen..." She began.
"It know." He cut her off. "You plan on escapin
"Your highness, let me bring a physician."
Lucian shook his head and Jade's frown deepened.
"But your highness, your fever is not going down I have to do something."
"Listen to me Jade. I don't need nor do I want help. I just want to be alone."
Jade was about to protest but Lucian cut her off. "It's an order, and don't tell my sister."
Lucian had no energy to deal with Alexander's sister. He was already in enough pain. Why he was so sick he couldn't understand but he couldn't just lay here. He came here for a reason, for revenge, but got so distracted and now he was even more confused. Who was the woman that hugged him and why did she make him feel the way he did.
Despite knowing that she would only be a distraction Lucian wanted to meet her again. He had so many questions to ask.
Lucian pushed himself out of the bed with a groan. His whole body ached, then he summoned Julian with a spell that he had learned.
Julian appeared so quietly as if he had always been there in his room. "Your highness, you don't seem well. He said upon seeing his face.
"Any news from outside?" Lucian ignored his remark. He had no reason or energy to explain his condition.
"Well the citizens are not very impressed with their new king, in fact many of them dislike him, especially the poor since he raised the taxes for them. This will be to you advantage. We have now spread some rumors that you might be alive and people seem to respond well, they have hope that you might be a better ruler than your brother."
"Good." Now he only needed to get rid of his brother but getting rid of him was not enough for Lucian. He wanted to torture him, to make his life so miserable that he would want to end it himself. He would make him beg, he would make him wish that he was already dead.
But first he would pay him a visit.
Lucian boiled with anger upon seeing his brother sitting comfortably on the throne while ordering some servants around proudly. He didn't deserve to sit on that chair or have that crown on his head. He didn't deserve to order people around and fill his stomach while his people were starving.
"Oh look who is here. Come in." He said standing up from his seat. "How is your stay here?"
Lucian walked inside while he spoke. "I like it very much." He faked a smile.
They made their way to a table and sat down. Pierre ordered a maid to bring some snacks and then turned back to him.
"I heard you were looking for some maid who caused you some trouble?"
"Oh..." Pierre waved dismissively with his hand. "It's just some servant who needed to be punished, but we have found her so everything is fine." He said.
Found her? Lucian wanted to laugh. His brother still lied easily.
"How is the wedding preparation going?"
"Her Highness is very specific, she wants the wedding to be extravagant and I want her to be satisfied of course."
Alexander's sister was spoiled and arrogant. She and Pierre deserved each other Lucian thought.
"But I am little worried..." Lucian began, "I heard your brother is alive."
Pierre was about to take a sip from his wine but paused.
"Which one?" He asked.
"The youngest one."
Pierre laughed, almost nervously.
"Oh...I can assure you all of my brothers are dead. People just like to gossip."
"If you say so...then we have no problem."
Pierre narrowed his gaze. "You look pale." He pointed.
"Yes, I haven't been out much lately, which I usually do. I should go out for a while."
"Yes of course. We have beautiful places here in Decresh. I could arrange someone to show you around." Pierre offered.
"It's alright. I will be fine by myself."
As Lucian left his brother alone he sense that his brother was nervous and confused. He even called for the guards that killed Lucian to make sure he was dead.
"What did you do with the body?" He asked.
"We threw him in an empty well and burned it. He could not have lived through that, Your Highness." They assured him.
"Of course not." Pierre said with smug look on his face. He was relieved again, but that would only last for a short while.
As soon as the sun set Lucian took the first step toward his plan. He found one of the guards who burned his body and followed him to somewhere quiet where he was wanted to pee. Just as he was about to pull his trousers down he felt someone standing behind him. He froze in place, who was this, he was sure no one had followed him. He slowly reached for the dagger in his pocket and then turned swing the dagger but it only cut through thin air.
No one was there. The soldier frowned. He was sure he felt someone standing behind him. He looked around carefully but not a soul was around. Maybe he had too many drink he thought and proceeded to pee. When he was done he pulled up his pant and when he turned he almost walked into someone.
His heart jumped up to his throat and he was about to curse whoever it was when he saw what he thought he would never see.
No, it could not be possible. Right in front of him stood someone who was supposed to be dead, someone who could not be alive. This had to be a dream.
"It's not a dream, but I sure will make it a nightmare." Lucians lips curved into an evil smile.
The soldier still stood frozen. Adrenaline rushed through his veins but still he couldn't move. The horror made him completely paralyzed and soon he couldn't even stand still so he fell to his knees. This couldn't be true but it felt so real.
Lucian looked at the soldier in front of him. All the blood had drained from his face and he shook in fear. "Yo..yo..your high...ness." He stuttered when he finally could speak. He reached his hand to touch him as if to make sure it wasn't an imagination or a dream and when he ensured that it was indeed real he began to shake his head in refusal.
"Im...impossible." He said crawling backwards.
Lucian took a few steps toward him and the soldier kept crawling backwards until the cement wall behind him blocked his way.
"Pl...please. I did nothing wrong. I...I just did what...what I was ordered." He said shaking in fear. "Please...I will do whatever you want. Just...don't kill me." He said throwing himself at Lucians feet.
Lucian had no intention of killing him...yet. "Yes you will. You will go and tell Pierre that I am coming for him. Tell him to be prepared."
Pierre was enjoying his time with his women, or maybe not much. Hazel kept coming to his mind and he wondered where she could be hiding. Why he was so obsessed with her he couldn't understand but the more she resisted him the more he wanted her. He was determined to make her his.
"Are you not enjoying yourself, Your Highness." One of his mistresses Kayla spoke next to his ear as her hands slid down his chest.
"No I am not. You should all leave!" He said standing up and pulling up his robe. They looked at him confused for a while but then left quietly.
He was in a bad mood although he couldn't understand why. He had everything, he had money, power and beautiful women, lots of them. He couldn't be feeling down because of one worthless woman whom his brother had already used. No, he would not let himself feel down because of her.
Pouring some wine into his glass he was about to sit down and relax when suddenly someone knocked loudly on the door. "I need to speak to you Your Highness. It's important."
Had they found Hazel?
"Come in!" Pierre called.
One of his guards David barged into the room, panting, looking like he had seen a ghost. "Your highness..." He looked like he was going faint anytime.