Chapter 28

"I am alright." Hazel smiled. "What happened to you?"
Klara still had a few visible bruises on her face from her fight with Irene whose face now turned into one of guilt. Irene had apologized a hundred times and taken care of her but Klara knew she still felt guilty.
"Nothing much. You know I fight a lot."
Hazel nodded.
"I'll bring something to eat. Klara would you mind helping her change?" Irene asked.
"I can change myself." Hazel said quickly.
"I don't think you can even walk. I'll help you." Klara insisted.
Irene left to bring some food while Klara prepared a bath and brought some knew clothes. When she walked back into the room Hazel had already undressed, her body was covered with even more bruises and a few scars. Klara couldn't imagine what Hazel could have gone through.
Hazel quickly wrapped herself in a towel when she took notice of Klara then smiled. "You don't need to look so worried." She said.
"I am not, but you should be. As soon as you recover I am going to teach you how to fight and defend yourself."
"I look forward to that."
Once Hazel took a bath and got dressed they sat at the dining table with Irene and ate in silence. Everyone seemed to be lost in their own thoughts and for a moment Klara wished that she had Irene's ability so that she could know what they were thinking.
"You are probably tired so get some sleep." Irene told Hazel once they were done eating.
Klara had many questions to ask Hazel but seeing her conditions she decided to wait. It would probably bring back painful memories, she thought.
On her way back to her room she wondered where Roshan was since she hadn't seen him the whole day.
Wait! Why would she want to see him? She shook her head, she was losing her mind. As she entered her room her thoughts went back to Hazel. That woman must have gone through hell. Klara wanted to comfort her but at the same time slap her for her stupidity. Why didn't she come with Lothaire earlier?
With a sigh she began to untie her dress when someone suddenly cleared their throat. Turning around Klara found Roshan standing behind her with his arms behind his back.
Klara was sure that the room had been empty when she entered and that she had locked the door behind her, so when and how did he come inside?
"How...?" She began.
"I would tell you if you would believe me but you don't even believe what I told you last night."
"Well, it's not a believable thing you said."
"Nevermind, would you like to have a glass of wine with me?" He had been hiding a bottle of wine and two glasses behind his back.
Klara looked at the bottle in his hand. It had been so long since she had some mine so she thought it couldn't hurt to have some. Or maybe it was just an excuse to be with Roshan a little longer.
Before she could say anything Roshan already put the glasses and the table and began to pour some into each glass. "It doesn't hurt to have some, besides I am sure you have many question so why not ask them while having a taste." He put the bottle down then motioned toward the chair.
Klara went and sat down and so did he.
"I'll just have a taste." She said. She didn't want to get intoxicated.
"Suit yourself."
Klara grabbed the glass and took a sip but as the taste filled her mouth she realized she might have a little bit more than just a taste.
"Do you like it?"
Klara nodded. "Yes. It tastes really expensive."
"It is." He took a sip as well but his eyes stayed focused on her. His gaze was so intense that she looked down quickly.
"Don't look at me like that." She said embarrassed.
"How?" He asked putting his glass down slowly.
"Like...like...I don't know."
He seemed amused. "I think you do."
Klara looked up and met his gaze. Those Hazel eyes promised her things, things she didn't know but wanted to. What was he telling her with those eyes?
She wasn't very shy but the way he looked at her always made her blush.
Feeling nervous she gulped down the rest of the wine in her glass.
"I thought you would only have a taste?" He raised a brow.
A taste? Her gaze fell on his lips for a moment but she looked away quickly.
Roshan chuckled which embarrassed her even more.
"Want some more?" He asked.
Klara looked at the bottle again. She wanted to say no but the wine tasted so good and made her feel relaxed. Without saying anything she reached her glass out and Roshan poured some more into it.
"So you won't tell me what you really are?" She asked.
"I told you what I really am."
"A demon?" Klara said raising a brow in suspicion.
"Yes."
Klara sighed. "How do you expect me to believe that?"
"Think about it." He said "You do feel that I am different and I can do things normal people can't. So if I am not a witch than what am I?"
Was she really going to believe that he was a demon?
"If you are a demon than how can you look like this? Like a normal human being?"
"This is not how I actually look like. This is just how I appear to other."
"Then how do you actually look?"
He took another sip then put his glass down before looking her in the eyes. "Once you really deep down believe that I am a demon you might see what I really look like."
"Can't I see before that?" She asked.
"Only if I show you but I don't want to."
"Why?"
He narrowed his gaze. "It's not a pretty sight and you might never forget it."
Klara was getting frustrated. How did he expect her to believe him if he wasn't going to show her? Or maybe he was just messing around with. She gulped the second glass down then reached for a third one.
"You shouldn't drink so fast. Take it slowly." He said while pouring her some more-
Klara tried to drink slowly but she didn't know when she finished the third one and now reached for the bottle. Was this actually helping her? Then why did she suddenly miss Astrid and even Rasmus. She missed her home so much. Would she ever be able to go back?
What would happen to her know? She couldn't be living like this.
Klara reached for the bottle for the fifth time or was it the sixth she didn't know but Roshan took it out of her reach.
"I think you had enough." He said.
This annoying man. Why was he denying her a drink?
"Just one more." She said.
Wait, why did she sound so strange?
Strange women, Roshan thought. She had said that she would only have a taste but she almost drank the whole bottle. He had wanted to stop her earlier but she had looked so sad and so lost in her own thoughts.
"You are annoying." She said apparently drunk. "You.." She pointed "You were the one who suggested to have drink."
"Yes a drink. Not the whole bottle."
Her cheeks were flushed and she looked at him as though she wanted to fight him.
"I need more." She said stubbornly.
"No."
Standing up hastily she tried to reach for the bottle in his hand but lost her balance. Roshan quickly grabbed her by the waist with one arm while still holding the bottle with the other before she fell.
Klara looked up at him, at first startled but then slowly her lips curved into a smile. "You always hold me like this." She slurred.
"Oh well..." he let go of her and was about to take a step back when she wrapped her arms around him.
"I am not complaining." She said holding him tight. Roshan could feel her full b.r.e.a.s.ts pressing against his chest and her rich scent filled his senses. He needed to get away from her before he did something stupid while she was in this vulnerable state.
"I'll let you get some rest." He said trying to withdraw from her hold but she tightened her hold around him.
"Don't you want me?" She asked looking at him with a sad expression.
If she only knew, Roshan thought. Her mere presence had been torturing him all these days and he hadn't been able to think of anything but her.
"You don't find me desirable as well?"
As well? Who didn't find this woman desirable? Oh...she was probably talking about Lucian. Roshan felt jealousy stab him like a knife. She was still heartbroken.
"You are very desirable." He assured her.
Her arms slowly and sloppily went around his neck. "Would you kiss me then?"
Klara brought her face so close to his that he could feel her hot breath on his mouth. It took every amount of self restraint for him to not grab her by the hair and kiss her right there and then.
"Klara I..."
"You don't want me?"
God, she was torturing him.
"Would you make me your woman?"
Roshan stiffened. He knew this had nothing to do with him. He knew she was being like this because of Lucian and the alcohol but still.
"You don't say that to a demon."
Klara woke up feeling a bit disorientated. How and when she got into her bed, she couldn't quite remember. She wasn't even wearing her nightgown, which was strange because she always changed before going to sleep.
Not thinking further about it she went to freshen up. Once back into her room she changed into a new dress and began to comb her hair. What happened last night? She remembered drinking with Roshan, having one glass more of the delicious wine, but after that she just couldn't recall anything. She got probably wasted.
Foolish girl. You were only supposed to have a taste, she scolded herself.
Once she got ready she left the room and headed to the garden where Irene liked to serve tea every morning, but once she arrived only Hazel was seated there.
"Good morning." Klara greeted.
"Good morning." Hazel smiled.
Klara sat down and poured some tea for herself. "Did you sleep well?"
Why was she asking like she cared? But then she kept remembering all the bruises she saw and wondered if Hazel could even lay down without being in pain.
"Yes I did. You?"
"Well if you are not complaining then I can't say otherwise." She shrugged.
Hazel just smiled.
"I heard why you are here. I am sorry it turned out like this and I am forever grateful to you for saving and helping me."
"I am actually regretting it right now." Klara joked.
Hazel chuckled.
"Is...is Lucian alright?" Klara asked.
Hazel nodded. "Yes."
Klara looked down at her tea feeling suddenly strange in this situation but then she decided to say what she was really feeling so that she could get a closure and put everything behind her.
"Hazel. I Don't want to pretend like nothing happened anymore. Yes, I liked Lucian, I mean I still do but I just... I am not trying to get him anymore. I know I wasn't the nicest person to you and what I did was wrong but I was hurt and angry. Angry because...while I was waiting he got married to someone else. Hurt because he was the only person I ever liked but he couldn't be mine. Yes, I was selfish, I grew up learning to never give up but eventually I did because I wanted him to be happy and I wasn't the person who made him happy."
Klara felt her heart ache at the last sentence.
"What I am trying to say is..." She continued. "Is that Lucian belongs to you and I am not trying to change that...I just..."
"I know." Hazel cut off. "I have actually tried to put myself in your shoes. What if I liked someone very much and he suddenly showed up with a wife. What would I do? How would I feel? It's not like I could stop liking him suddenly just because he got married. I would probably be as angry as you were and project my anger onto someone else. It's understandable, you don't have to explain anything. I don't have any hard feelings for you."
Klara nodded a bit relieved that Hazel was understanding. Unlike her, Klara grew up using her fists instead of her mouth so she wasn't very good at explaining herself. This was actually the first time she had a long conversation with a woman other than her sister and it felt good.
"I can really understand why Lucian loves you." Klara smiled.
"You are not so bad yourself." Hazel said with a smug look on her face.
"Oh really?" Klara pretended to be surprised and Hazel chuckled. "By the way, where are the others?"
Hazel shrugged. "Irene said she had somewhere to be and the others, I am not sure."
Klara sighed. "You know, I am tired of just staying here. I want to go out for awhile. Want to join?"
"I am not sure. What if we don't find our way back?" She looked at the gate and just then it opened and Irene walked inside. "Well Irene is here, she could go with us." Hazel suggested.
"What are you two chattering about?" Irene said as she neared.
"Nothing. We just...I mean I wondered if we could go outside for awhile?"
"No darling it's very da..." She stopped as if changing her mind. "Actually you might want to with us somewhere."
"Us?"
"Yes, me and Hazel."
"Where are we going?" Hazel asked.
"Lucian released his men but they have a hard time reaching home safely."
Hazel stood up quickly. "Well then we have to help them."
"Yes. Are you ready to leave now?" Irene asked.
Hazel nodded.
"I am coming with you." Klara said.
"Let's go then."
Klara packed some food while Hazel went to fetch some water and Irene brought a few medical kits. When everything was packed Irene used her magic to transport them to where they could find the soldiers.
Klara gasped upon her arrival where the men were resting somewhere in the woods. Many were injured but most of them looked starved, their bodies only skin and boned. These men needed something to eat.
"Your highness." They noticed Hazel who was standing in the same place, frozen in shock. Then slowly her face turned into one of anger and concern but she tried her best to hide it.
"Oliver." She breathed looking at a young soldier who seemed to be in a very bad condition.
They all stood up and bowed.
"Your highness what brings you here?" They were all surprised.
"Lucian....sent me here to help you." Hazel stuttered.
They all looked at each other, probably wondering why Lucian would do that. Send his own wife to help them.
The one that Klara recognized as Lincoln looked at her questioningly but he didn't ask what she was doing there.
"You don't have to stand up, sit down. I got some food for you." She said and hurried to give everyone something to eat.
They looked happy and thanked her. Irene had already begun to tend to someone and Klara went to help. She went to a soldier who seemed to have hurt his leg.
"Can I look at it?" She asked kneeling down.
He looked at her surprised. "I am fine." He said.
"It doesn't look like it. Let me take a look." She said.
He just nodded with large eyes.
Klara looked at the wound on his leg. It was from a sword she could tell but fortunately it wasn't deep so there was no danger there. She just needed to keep it from getting infected so she began to clean it.
The man seemed uncomfortable and Klara understood that he knew who she was and having a princess kneel down and clean his wound could be distressing. When she was done cleaning she wrapped his wound with a piece of fabric.
"It's done." She said.
"Thank you." He breathed.
Klara went on to the next one and realized she knew this man, she just didn't know his name.
"Princess Klara, I didn't think I would see you again." He said. He seemed to be in a slightly better condition then the others despite having more injuries she realized.
"And you are?"
"Callum, My Lady and I am alright. I think the others need more help."
Klara looked around. No one seemed to be as badly injured as him and most of them only needed food.
"I'll help you first." She said and then without waiting for him to protest she began her task.
He didn't say anything else and got occupied with watching Hazel as she helped the others.
"You don't seem happy to see her." Klara said.
He averted his gaze and looked at Klara. "I thought Her Highness was dead." He got silent for a moment and inhaled deeply. " And even though I am very relieved to see her, I can see she has been through a lot."
He was talking about the bruises and probably about how thin Hazel became.
Guards and maids without knowing usually got attached to the one they served the most and even though Callum was one of Lucians men, Klara could see that he was more attached to Hazel.
"She is strong, so she is probably fine now." Klara assured him.
"May I ask why you are here, My Lady?"
"It's a long story." Klara replied.
He just nodded but then took notice of Irene. She was hard to miss and all the men seemed to have their eyes on her. They weren't just looking, they were ogling and drooling.
"Who is she?" Callum asked staring at her.
Lucians mother, Klara thought with a shiver. And a witch by the way.
Klara still had a hard time digesting that fact. It would probably take her awhile and she still had many unanswered question on why everyone thought Lucians mother was dead, when she was very much alive.
"Just a friend." Klara shrugged. "I am done now."
"Thank you." He said.
Standing up she looked for anyone else who might need help but to her surprise Irene was very quick and took care of all those who were injured.
"I think we are done." Irene said brushing dirt off her dress.
"Yes," Klara said and then they both looked at Hazel who took her time to speak to everyone and make sure they were alright.
"She has a pure heart." Irene said watching.
Klara nodded in agreement. "She just needs to use her brain sometimes."
Irene chuckled. "You are funny."
Klara left to look for water to wash her hands with. As she found a bottle and grabbed it some pieces of her memory from last night came back. She remembered pouring more and more wine into her glass and drinking until she was wasted and then...Roshan..no, no, no!
She shook her head violently as her memory slowly came back. What had she done? How could she? No! God help her, she wished the earth would swallow her right then.
How would she ever be able to face him again and why did she even ask those questions?
"Is everything alright?" Hazel startled her. "You face is red."
"No, nothing is alright." She said waving with her arms, making the water splash everywhere. "I am so stupid."
"What happened?" Hazel asked worriedly.
"I asked him to kiss me. Why?!" She yelled.
Everyone who was busy eating their food now looked at them but Klara was too embarrassed to notice. "Why would I do something like that? I even asked him to make me his woman?" Klara wanted to die of embarrassment. No, she just wanted to die.
"Well," Hazel began trying to give her a sign that everyone was looking and that she needed to calm down. "Talk slowly. Who is he?"
He? He was an annoying man who made her feel things and do things she shouldn't. How would she face him now? He would see her as a woman desperate for love or maybe even worse, s.e.x.
"Klara?"
"Yes!"
Hazel looked at her with a frown. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Nothing is wrong." Klara said to embarrassed to even tell anyone. Walking passed a confused Hazel she went to sit down near a tree alone. She tried to come up with ways to avoid Roshan or explain herself as to why she acted that way, but nothing she came up with seemed logical.
"Maybe I can help?" Irene came twirling with a mischievous smile. Of course she listened to her thoughts. So annoying.
"How?" Klara asked. "Will you erase his memory or something?"
Irene laughed. "No. Memories are precious and shouldn't be erased."
"Then?"
"I was thinking that you could pretend as if you still don't remember or..."
"Or?" Klara strained her ears.
"Or you could act as if it's not a big deal."
"It is a big deal. My life is over Irene."
That seemed to only entertain her more.
"Then it's option number one I guess."
It was late and Pierre should have gone to sleep but instead he decided to drink. Sleep was not something he looked forward to these days especially with Lucian hunting him in his dreams, or more correctly his nightmares. Everyone around him were only making things worse by talking about Lucian all the time. Now even his own son claimed to have seen Lucian. Levi was probably just affected by the rumors as he himself was.
His brother could not be alive. He would not allow it.
"Your Highness." A guard barged inside Pierres chamber. Pierre who was about to pour some liquor into his glass stopped halfways and turned to the guard.
"Didn't I say that I don't want to be disturbed?" He asked outraged.
"Your highness, prince Lucians men are gone."
Pierre stood up with such force that the chair fell backwards.
"What do you mean gone?!" He asked.
The guard shook in fear. "They escaped."
"How can they escape?" Pierre yelled.
"I think someone helped them." The guard said looking terrified.
"Are you telling me now that my dead brother came back to life and helped them escape?"
Didn't sound logical but Pierre knew something wasn't right. There was someone who was trying to frighten him and he would find the bastard and make him leave this world in the most painful way.
The guard stood there shaking in fear. "I am not sure but someone or...something helped them out."
Something?
"And where are those who were supposed to guard the place?"
The guard shook even more as if he had seen something that terrified him to death and his face turned pale. "They are gone. We can't find them."
Pierre smashed the bottle on the ground making the glass shred into a thousand pieces. "I want you to find them and bring them alive or I'll deliver you corpse to you family. Do you understand?!" Pierre tried to hide his fear with anger.
The guard nodded and hurried away. Pierre fell back on his chair feeling defeated. Maybe his brother was alive. It would explain how Hazel disappeared and now even his soldiers. But how was that possible? Could Lucian really the devil's son?
"Your Highness, everything is ready. The rumors worked and people are now waiting for your return. To speed up the process we even spread rumors that Pierre is not mentally well to be ruling a kingdom and now the royal army are getting concerned. General Black has decided to visit to see if it's all rumors or not. That's when you need to strike and use your mind games on your brother." Julian explained.
"I don't need to do much. Pierre is already losing his mind."
Pierre had become aggressive since he found out that Lucians men had escaped. He had been killing his own men, beating the maids, never sleeping and only drinking. Lucian didn't think it would be this easy to make his brother lose his sanity. Everyone in the palace were already talking about his condition and it wouldn't take long before people outside knew as well.
"Good. General Black is a very powerful man. He is the one who leads the royal army and everyone in the army is very faithful to him. He is the one to impress. Once he loses hope in Pierre I'll introduce you to him."
Lucian nodded.
"And yes, don't try to use your tricks on him. Some people are just immune to it."
"Why?"
"I am not sure." Julian shrugged.
Would that explain why he couldn't read Hazel's thoughts?
Suddenly the door to his room swung open and Alexanders annoying sister stepped inside
"Alexander! I can't marry that...that man." She said with a wrinkled nose.
"Which man?" Lucian asked with the purpose to annoy her.
"Oh come on! You know who I am talking about. Pierre!"
"And why don't you want to marry him?"
"Because he is insane and no one likes him. You know I want to marry a charming man." She said crossing her arms and lifting her chin.
"Alright then. Pack your things. You can leave tomorrow with Jade. I need to stay here a few more day and take care of a few things."
She looked at him surprised. "Really?"
He nodded. "Oh god, thank you." She said looking up but then back at him. "I'll go pack my things. Don't change your mind." Then she left quickly.
Julian appeared again. "I'll send her brother once she is home."
The plan was to manipulate her brother into thinking that he was here and therefore he would never know that he had been gone for days.
"I'll see you tomorrow. Have a good night." He said and vanished again.
Alone again, Lucian wondered if his men reached home safely and since he had nothing to do for now he decided to go and look for them. He could of course teleport but then many question of how he got there would arise so he decided to ride.
The first place he rode to was Lincoln's home and his wife almost died in shock when she opened the door and found him standing on the other end.
"Yo..your highness?" She reached her hand out to touch him and he took her hand in his. "You are alive."
From the way he surprised her Lucian knew that Lincoln was not home yet. "Yes, and so is you husband. He will be home soon."
Her eyes widened. "He is alive?"
Lucian nodded and her eyes teared up. "Is...is he alright. When will he be home?" Her voice broke several times as she spoke.
"Very soon. Take good care of him." Lucian said
She nodded.
"I have to go now. Take good care of yourself as well."
"You too. I am glad you are alive."
Lucian was surprised that she wasn't mad at him for almost getting her husband killed. Now he had to make sure that Lincoln and all his other men got home safely. Waving goodbye he climbed his horse and rode away to find his men. They had to be somewhere close.
Lucian sharpened his senses to see if he could hear them or smell them, but instead he heard something else. Someone or something was following him. He looked behind him but saw nothing.
Lucian rode faster through the woods but then suddenly the horse stopped and reared causing Lucian to almost fall. Lucian tightened his hold tried to take control over the horse but it kept rearing wildly until he fell off and the horse rode away on its own. Lucian lay on the ground confused. Something had scared off the horse and Lucian could feel it nearing.
As he stood up many red dots that gleamed in the darkness surrounded him blocking his way everywhere and soon several bodies appeared from the shadows. These bodies did not belong to humans.
These beings were tall, with long limbs and claws. Their skin looked thicker than normal and somehow had a purple undertone to it. As they neared Lucian could see that they had some strange marks on their neck that looked like chains and they wore several earrings on their pointy ears. As they grimaze he could see fangs hiding behind black lips.
Whatever these creature were Lucian knew they wanted to hurt him.
One of them lurched trying to claw his face but Lucian was quick enough to reach for his sword and cut its arm off. The creatures stumbled backward holding his bleeding arm and the other began to attack viciously.
Lucian was very fast, dodgin their attacks he struck at every opportunity until all of them fell dead around him. Or maybe not. Just when he was about to put his sword back they suddenly rose from the ground, their bodies intact as if nothing happened.
How?!
They just looked at him with crazed eyes, striding toward him. What were these things and what did they want? He would ask them but they didn't seem like the type to communicate with words.
Lucian decided to save himself som trouble and teleported somewhere else but just then he felt something sharp tear the flesh on his back and before he could turn around one of the creatures clawed at his face.
They teleported with him?
Blood seeped down his face blurring his vision and anger built inside of him. He would not waste time fighting, he would just burn them. Setting their bodies on fire, he wiped the blood from his face but what he saw shocked him.
The fire got consumed, almost sucked into the creatures skin and the skin color turned from purple to grey. Smoke came out of their their nostrils and their eyes turned into a dark red.
They looked more mad than before.
Lucian was utterly confused. Maybe he was in a bigger trouble than he thought. These monsters were not dying.
Grabbing his sword he held it in a steel grip. There had to be someway to kill them. He would find their weakness sooner or later.
Just as they were about to attack they got distracted by something. They bloody red eyes darted around the darkness and they seemed slightly scared.
Lucian could see something moving very fast through the darkness and then suddenly something jumped out of the woods and began fighting the creatures. It looked like a man, holding a dagger in each hand.
Lucian watched stunned. The man, if he was one, was very fast. He striked precisely without missing once and moved with such ease and grace as if fighting was something he was born doing.
This time when the creatures fell to the ground they turned into dust. Lucian was confounded. Who was this man and how did he kill them all and so fast?