34. His arrival.

Archie and the others arrived at the airport to receive Samael. As expected, the paparazzi were already there waiting for them given the importance of the event. It was a historic moment for every citizen of Vamp Prime. To avoid the chaos from the media, Edward advised Archie to enter through the back gate where the jet would be. After a few minutes, Samael came out with his team. He looked intimidating in his black overcoat and regal with a beautiful crown on his head. Everyone could see how his face glowed with excitement but dimmed when his purple eyes couldn’t find Niya amongst the people waiting for him.

*Where is she? She should be here*, he thought, looking at Archie with anger in his eyes. He walked down quickly down the steps, meeting Archie in the middle, scowling when he witnessed Archie’s smugness.

"Long time no see, little brother." He smirked, looking at him. Archie chuckled at his statement.

"Not long enough. If it was up to me, I would have never allowed a prick like you to stand here on my land," he said, taking a step closer to him with a smirk.

"Let's talk business then. Where is she? Why isn't she here?" Samael asked, controlling his anger by breathing deeply.

"She is the Queen, Samael. She has a lot of work to do. She is out of Capital right now." Archie rejoiced at the fact that Niya's absence really irked him and he was enjoying his irritation.

"I won't sign a treaty without her, I hope you know that." Samael looked around, trying to distract his growing anger.

"Don't worry, she'll be back before that," William replied instead of Archie. Samael looked at William with a mischievous smile on his face.

"William! My best friend. I missed you," he said, hugging him tightly and giving his back a hard slap. Smirking at Archie’s clenched jaw. William jerked off his hands.

"Don't do this, Sam. I'm not your friend anymore," he said, looking at him with anger and fury in his soft blue eyes.

"And you still call me Sam?" He chuckled at the fact. *Denying our friendship but still calling me by the name only those close to me use, you can’t have both, Will*, he thought while watching William roll his eyes.

"Samael, can you just behave? None of us are interested in inviting you here. It was Niya's decision. Let's go before I change my mind," Archie said, moving towards the back gate, avoiding all the paparazzi. Samael rolled his eyes and followed them with his team.

The journey towards the castle was beautiful, to say the least. Huge green trees could be seen from every window on the car. He was fascinated by the vast green that surrounded his sight. The car made a turn as they entered the business district of the capital. Samael looked at Niya’s picture being showcased on most billboards and he couldn’t fathom how someone could be so beautiful.

He hated the fact that he was impressed by the surrounding architecture. Never thinking that Archie could’ve built such a beautiful planet. He wanted Archie to cry, to beg in front of him for his life when he sat on the throne but now, Archie himself was a king and he hated it. He was supposed to suffer, to be the weakest in the universe, yet here he is with beauty and riches at his disposal. How was he able to-

*Lucifer! That bastard*!, Samael concluded, *That has to be the only explanation*. Loosening his tie a bit, he tried to maintain his expression neutral regardless of the anger boiling inside of him.

After a few more turns, they reached the palace. Samael looked at the golden gates that surrounded the palace with shocking expressions. It was otherworldly.

Schooling his expression, he stepped out of the car with his assistant behind him and met Archie in front of the steps of the palace.

"Come on, let's get inside, King Samael," Archie said, hating to address him by his title as he didn’t deserve such a thing. Entering the palace, Samael glared at the awe expressions displayed on his team’s faces. When that didn’t work, he cleared his throat, making them school their expressions and lower their gazes to the ground in fear.

"Welcome, King Samael," Elena said, wearing a fitting pink gown. Samael looked at her and paused for a second, trying to place her familiar face.

"Elena? How are you? It's been a long time," he said, taking her hand and kissing it. Elena forced a smile on her red rosy lips and rolled her eyes, taking her gloved hand out of his grasp.

"George, can you please tell Ethen and Maria to take them to the guest floor while we verify the luggage?" Elena asked, looking at George. George nodded and signed them to come with him and the royal guards took care of their luggage following after Elena. Samael turn to leave, but when he heard Archie’s phone ring, he paused n front of a painting. Letting his team pass as he pretended to admire the artwork, he smirked when the echo of their voices reached his ears.

"Where the hell are you, Niya?" he asked in a frustrated tone. Moving closer, he was able to see the backs of the three men.

"Put it on speaker," William demanded.

"Hi, Will! Archie, I'll be there before the meeting tomorrow, I promise. We are working on a deal but the miners and villagers are not agreeing on some points," she said from the other side of the phone.

"We are missing you, Niya. Come back soon. And... Samael is already here," William said, pushing his hair back with his hand.

"I am trying, Willy. I'll be there as soon as possible. Governor Kenneth has arranged a party where all the CEOs of the mining companies will be invited so I hope our plan will work tonight."

"You do your work, we'll manage here," Edward said, looking at Archie and William and they both nodded in response.

"I have to go. I'll call you later," she said and hung up.

"It's a good thing that she is not here," William said, looking at Edward and Archie who were looking at him with confused expressions.

"I mean we can plan a surprise without any tension now," he smiled.

"Ah! Absolutely. Let's go and plan her birthday surprise. What should we gift her?" Archie said, putting his arm around William's shoulder and Edward followed them. Samael silently watched as the trio left. He glared at their backs, his heart was burning with jealousy towards Archie. He got everything, his friends, Niya, and this beautiful planet.

*How could be he so lucky? He should be suffering, I will*-, his train of thought was suddenly interrupted by one of his team members.

"Sir, please this way. Your room is on floor 1065," she said, walking towards the elevator and holding the door open for him.

Rolling the tension off his shoulder he made his way up to his room and he hated how he was instantly impressed with his room. The room was huge with multiple balconies on every window where you could see the royal garden. There he could see the trio once again conversing. Turning away from view, Samael freshened up and had his dinner in his room.

It was almost 1 a.m. and he couldn’t sleep. He decided to explore the palace and the first thing he wanted to see was Niya's room. Thanks to his assistant, he knew exactly where to go. The halls were dark when he stepped out of his room, he passed so e guards who bowed to him as he made his way to the elevator.

Arriving at her floor, he was surprised at the amount of security stationed there. If this is how they are when she’s not here, I can’t imagine how it would be if she was. Before he could even think about opening the door, a guard stopped his advancements.

"Sorry, Sir, you cannot go further, it's a restricted area," one of them said, looking at him. Samael carefully observed him and smirked, he didn't argue at all and went back to explore the rest of the hallway that wasn’t restricted.

Turning a corner, he quickly used his powers to turn invisible. Foolish guards thinking they could stop me, he thought as he stood once again in close to the door without anyone noticing. Smirking when the door was opened for a maid, he quickly followed her in and stationed himself in a corner, watching her put some towels in the bathroom before leaving.

He remained invisible, not wanting to risk getting caught, and began to walk around the room. If he thought his room was big, words couldn’t describe this room. They could probably fit his room many here. He looked around noticing one of the walls filled with picture frames. Stepping closer he could see some were of Niya and Archie, the whole group together.

*They look so happy*

He was once again mesmerized by her beauty as he touched her photograph softly. He had never seen her in real life, something would always get in his way. Looking at her photograph, he seethes as memories flashed through his mind.

Archie trying to hide Niya’s body from Samael

Archie raising war against him when he wanted to save Niya’s body

Archie leaving Drac Prime with her body

*I will not spare you this time, Archie. You have to pay for your deeds*, he looked at his picture and gritted his angry teeth.

***

On the other side of the planet, Niya was quickly getting ready to finally attend the party. It had been in full swing since early in the evening but Niya and Kenneth had been busy a few floors above negotiation with the miners and industrialists.

Niya smiled at her reflection after the successful meeting. She was relieved that the issue was solved and hoped it remained that way. She walked down the stairs, hearing the chatter and music get louder but everything stopped when a guard beside her announced she had arrived.

She slightly blushed at the sudden attention as everyone bowed and raised a glass at the success of the meeting. The music and chatter turned back up as she saw Marcus and Darius amongst the crowd and smiled as she made her way to them. She passed Kenneth who nodded at her as he talked to one of his many VIP friends that he had invited to the party.

Reaching them, she hugged them both as they congratulated her, trying to hide her blush as Marc squeezed her hand affectionately. Before she could ask them anything, a voice interrupted them.

"Marc!" A high-pitched squeal reached Niya’s ear and the three of them turned to the source. A girl probably in her late twenties glowed in her golden gown as she made her way to the crowd towards Marcus. Her pink lips were stretched in a smile and her blue eyes sparkled with excitement.

Before she could ask who was she, a figure met her in the middle, hugging the woman and spinning her around while their laughter filled the already loud space. It took Niya a couple of minutes that Marcus was the one hugging her and quickly walking back towards them with his hand wrapped around hers.

Niya looked towards Darius but found Kenneth as well with shocked expressions on their face and sporting smiles.

*Who the hell is she?*, Niya thought, looking at them, hugging and giggling as they approached them. The girl bowed in front of Niya and Kenneth.

"Nice to meet you, Your Majesty," she said, looking at Niya with a smile on her face. She was indeed a very beautiful woman. Milky white skin, sharp facial features, and the pink blush on those cheeks made her look like a cute little doll. Then she turned to Kenneth and hugged him.

"Uncle Kenneth! I'm so happy to see you," she said, looking at him.

"Me too, sweetheart. But what are you doing here? And what is going on here?" Kenneth asked, looking at Marcus.

"The guy I told you about last week? Remember?" she asked, looking at him.

"Yeah, the one you are dating right now?" he asked.

"Yes. That's him. General Marcus." She proudly smiled at Marcus. He smiled down at her, kissing her temple.

"Wow. Why didn't you tell me?" Darius questioned, taking some steps towards her and punching Marcus slightly on the arm.

"Oh my God! D! You are here too?" She hugged him tightly. "I was about to tell you. I wanted to give you a surprise."

Niya was looking at them like a lost puppy.

"She is my niece, Rhythm Cole, Your Majesty," Kenneth explained looking at her confused face. She nodded. She didn't utter a single word after that. After completing all the formalities, she left immediately. Marcus tried to see what was wrong but she dismissed him, telling him to enjoy the night, that she just needed some air. He agreed, reluctantly.

She went straight to the garden and sat on a bench, trying to catch her breath. She exhaled deeply, trying to keep her emotions in check.

*Marcus? He is dating Rhythm*? Wow, she scuffed at the bitter revelation. *Does that mean Marcus wanted to come here with me just to meet her?*, she again chuckled at herself with teary eyes. She wanted to laugh at her foolishness, she wanted to cry at her fate, at her stupid luck.

She wiped a tear quickly but ended up wiping more in anger as her flood gates opened. *It’s just a crush, Niya, don’t be stupid, you’re a queen for god’s sake, you can have anyone you want.*

She remained alone in the cold dark night, hating how she always ended up alone.