CHAPTER THIRTY TWO

****THERE IS A MATURED CONTENT BELOW THIS PAGE. PLEASE BE WARNED*****
There is someone for everyone.
Selene could remember her mother's best friend always said
Where was her someone? In all the death and fear. Where was her someone.
Selene opened her eyes. To see the sun, the face the world.
She had passed out on..on the Lord. He had come for her. She had watched through blurry eyes as he slew...a dead...what it was she wasn't sure. But he had killed it again. Sent it to the grave yet again. It had turned someone else. A young girl with yellow hair and rotting skin. A clear mark of the plague.
"What worries you" came the voice at her side.
Selene jerked away. Her eyes settling on the Lord by her side
She looked into his eyes. The dark orbs brimmed with life. Experience. Wariness and worry. Was he worried over her?
She was certain this was the Sol king. Sane. Alive. His eyes did not stay into infinity nor did her ignore her. He was by her bedside.
Selene pulled away, unwilling to let him see how glad that she was he was back to this realm. Normalised. The spell broken.
"Do not fear me" he said. Eyes pleading
Selene snorted and made to stand only to fall back as her muscle spasmed
"You need to rest" he said. Nudging her to fall on the bed again.
Selene turned to her window....no. not hers
Her head ached. Her room had been all but destroyed. She laid on the Lord's bed. His drapes pulled apart only slightly to bring him light.
The hearth was burning and the room warm.
"Do you want to eat? The healer said you eat as much as you can. It will help your body heal" he said and stood up. Fetching a tray by the table where a single chair sat, piles of scrolls laid on the table.
He brought the sweet smelling platter to the bed, placing it by her side.
"It is a healthy vegetables soup" he said and handed the spoon to her.
Selene turned quietly to the wall. Ignoring his entire rambling.
"Selene. You must know I do not plan whatever it is I did. I am yet to hear the full tale. It wasn't...I was not in my right mind" he said. Voice angry and sad
Selene remained where she was, unmoving.
"Please eat. I have duties" he said, touched her cheek tenderly and left the room.
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He smiled. The persecution of three men was not funny no. Not the killing of a child nor feeding of his citizens to a walker. Did he lay with her? He couldn't remember.
What amused him was the frightened look on the faces of his strong warriors. None willing to tell him all.
He was amused to see that they feared him.
He prayed he be forgiven. Surely the gods would not curse him for a crime he committed under a spell.
A spell by a woman he had once loved. Her very image. Brought back to destroy all he worked for.
Her memory was stained. Never would he think of her. Missed her like he once did. She had returned and he had killed her again.
Edgar laid the memory to rest. Never to disturb his sleep or emotions.
In all he had learnt. Life always his best teacher. He had learnt yo let go of the past. By gone left by gone.
He would no longer hold to pain, nor yesterday neither the lose.
"My Lord" the guard bowed and led a couple inside.
An elderly man and woman
"The parent to those you...the deceased. Grand parents to the child" the guard bowed and left
"I...I am glad you could come" Edgar began, trying to place a stoic face despite his deep guilt
"My Lord...is she dead? Only her death will please me..you would never kill an innocent. I know you. I've watched you grow. Oohh my child. My sweet grand child. She killed them" the older woman cried out
The man beside her remained speechless. Eyes red with days of crying. He held his hands your together behind his back and only stared at him with sad eyes.
"She is dead. This I can assure you" Edgar replied solemnly
"I must announce to you. It was under... certain circumstances that I did what I had done. My...regrets I tender to you here. I would not kill any man, woman or child without cause" he said
The woman nodded with tears.
Edgar turned to his scribe and nodded
The man reached forth with a enveloped letter.
"All ownership to the cattle ranch on the east of the manor grounds. The land and vegetation close to it" he said
And picked up a sac from the ground. Throwing it, it clinked on the floor noisily and settled.
"As compensation" the man added
Both were dumbfounded. The man looked longingly at the sac and the woman at the letter.
"Surely it...it must be a joke" the surprised woman choked out
"I do not joke madam. It is yours. My apology for the life lost. Never to be brought back but I hope this gives you some form of happiness" the Lord said
The man bowed, muttered a hurried gratitude and took the sac, stumbling and departing. His aged wife running after him
"Would that be all?" Edgar asked his head warrior. The big man nodded and Edgar rose. Eager to escape the confines of the throne room and the monotony of 'compensation' that had gone on since the day light.
With a slow stand, he made for the door where the guard stood. Instructing all meetings be kept till the next day, he doubted he could talk any more or face the teary faces of aging people. He needed relief. From the throne, from trouble, from power.
He needed to speak with his sister.
She had greatly disappointed him. He smiled. He didn't expect much from her. She was a woman. All woman were manipulative. Opportunist. Gold diggers. But he would make her know she had dug a bit too far.
She had no doubt known he was beside himself and she had already taken the child away? Had he recovered to realise the princess gone. He was certain Alexandra would be a dead person. He could only be lenient for so much. Where had she planned to take her to. What for? To merely mock him and break his heart further? Had he clearly painted to all the regions that he felt for the princess? Was he endangering her?
Edgar shook his head. An headache fast coming to him. He needed time with no trouble. When Edgar entered the room, he had never expected to see the child. No doubt she'd be her stubborn self and demand she sleeps in her ruined room or on a better mind sleep in the many empty Chambers.
But there she was, frail as an egg. On his bed. In his Chambers. She was tired no doubt. Worn out. Frustrated. Alone.
Edgar discarded his overcoat and cotton shirt and sat on his bed. Her hands lay close to his. Her breast rise and fell with each breath. The new tray by his table was empty. The bowl turned over and a half cup of water. She had at least eaten.
She stirred as he looked at her lids, where it hid her eyes. Eyes he could not bear to not see again. Green eyes, not of his lost fiancee, no. He had accepted she was gone for good. Never to return. Be now sought the green eyes with jet black hair. The sort he needed. Wanted. Yearned for.
"Selene" he whispered and watched as the child startled awake, hands going to shove him away.
He quickly caught her small hands in his and brought it to his lips.
"Let go of me" she said and wrenched her hand away.
"How? I want you" he said.
"You can not have me. Your heart belongs to another. I was blind and foolish to believe you before" she said and turned away.
"I was blind and foolish to wish for that which was gone. I am.no longer. You are here, alive. It's you I want"
"To replace her?an alternative, is it for I have I eyes? Green?" She asked, looking away.
"No. It is your fire. It's you differently. Yet my heart beats wildly when you are near" he said. Snatching her hands and placing it over his pounding heart
"Do not torture me any more my Lord. You can not marry me. I will not become your mistress. I can not" she declared.
"Can I not love you?" He asked
"You can not. You do not love" she replied
She was right. He didn't love. But he wanted the child nonetheless. Her eyes, her smile. Her comforting presence. Her fire. Her sharp tongue, her stubbornness. All of her
"I had. I had loved my mother. Life had taken her away" he said
Selene turned to the Lord.
His pain unhidden.
"What happened" she asked
"She had been killed. The plagued. A walker killed her" he gulped
"Fed on her" he added and turned to the wall where her uniform laid. Washed, laundered every week. He couldn't forget all about her.
"She had been a slave in these walls. A mistress to my father. A shame. But she had birthed a boy. Horace kept her.
She gave birth to me not long after. I was taken from the servant quarters. To the royal Chambers. I lived a prince while my mother suffered.
The Queen Hannah had been the wife of my father. Barren for years. Shortly after I came, she put forth the Governess. My step sister. Alexandra.
We lived together. Grew up together. I was groomed...groomed to be a king. My father taught me the world could be cruel and mocking. He was right.
Not long after. My mother was sent away. Sold in the next slave auction. My father couldn't stand the sight of her always demanding to see me. Her son" he said
Turning to Selene who was listening. Eyes brimming with tears
"I...I had begged father. Done all his bidding that he may bring her back. Or send me away. He refused.
And then. One day she was killed. Her body brought to Sol in a muddy cart on a rainy evening. Along with rotten cabbages and peas. She suffered shame even in death.
I could not stand my father. I ended him" he waited as he heard the child's gasp
"At night. I killed him. I became king. Stopped the slave auction and banished all that was of the former king. A new Sol began. A just Sol. I may be cruel but my father...my father was a curse to this kingdom. It had been but a village. Each day people running away or dying of famine. It was reduced to nought. Taxes killed the rich and hunger the poor"
"How? How did you meet her?" Selene asked her burning question
"She was a commoners. A seamstress. Had come to fit my sister for a ball. I met her. I loved her at once. And she, she loved me soon after.
We were to be wed. Already engaged. When...when one morning. I woke and she had been dragged to the stone table.
A fire set up, she was burnt alive. I had seen the plague rat her up in her last minutes. Her beauty gone. Her smile gone. Everything fades" he said. Letting the lone tear told down. Her was certain that would be the last.
"I am sorry" Selene said
"You have no hand in it" the Lord replied
"I should find sleep" he said, moving to the end of the room, where the fire and the candles did not catch his features. He undressed to simple breeches. Placed his sword by the bed.
He could see the fearful eyes of the princess
"I will not touch you child. I will sleep on the mat" he said, smiling at her to assure.
Selene nodded
"I will have the workers fix your room. Of you could move to another chamber. As you wish" he said and settled on the floor.
No mat, there was none.
Silence.
Minutes passed and sleep eluded her.
Selene's eyes refused to close. It laid open, roaming the length of the room. Every shadow seemed to swallow her up
"My lord" she called. Sitting up and peering down at his now sleeping form.
She turned with embarrassment away. Of course that was all she was, a child. A lost and lonely child. The Lord merely wanted her safe, loved her like he would a child. Not a woman.
She had settled on the bed and ignored sleep was well, succumbing to thought.
The bed dipped.
Selene kept her place, unwilling to be shame again
Had he heard her calling or was the ground cold and he needed the warmth of the fireplace by the mattress?
She laid still...hands went around her waist and pulled her to a solid, warm body. She purred. Tears coming to her eyes for reasons she did not know. Something erupted in her. Like she had needed this but never could get it. Like nature was mocking her.
"Do not cry child" came the firm voice of the man. His hands roaming her stomach, her naked legs, her bosom
Selene stiffened
"Shhhh...I will never hurt you" he said
She believed him. Relaxed against him as he felt his way through her chemise into her makes body.
His hands setting her aflame. Making her squirm
He gently kissed her neck, her hair. Her entire body. From her head to her soles. Giving it a slow and sharp attention that made her melt. He returned to her face and kissed her slowly. Undressed her and took her naked breast in his hands, kneading and sucking. Her body shook, violently.
The Lord tortured her further till she cried out desperately. Holding him to her tightly.
He released himself with a low chuckle. Undressed himself too and turned to her. She could only stare. His body marred. Whip marks adorned his torso and upper legs. His manhood stood strong and aroused. His eyes dilated in lust.
He bent down and kissed her again.
"Do you want me child?" He asked her in a low rasp
Selene could not answer. What did this mean? Would he want her after this cold night? Was her body as he wanted or was she too tiny?
His hands went to her core and rubbed lazily
"You are beautiful. Perfect. Warm" he responded as if reading her thoughts
"Yes" she murmured
" Yes what?" He asked
"Yes I want you" she replied shyly
He kissed her again. Kissed her again and plunged.
The maidenhead gave away easily, the pain as small as she was. A burning spread to her belly, mixing pain with want.
She arched, holding him close. Wanting help from the alien sensations that coursed through her.
The Lord moaned lowly. Gently pleasuring her. Sending her to a realm of ecstasy and returning with her at once. He groaned, cried out violently and pulled out to pour his seed on the mattress.
Selene could feel the warm fluid wet her bottom, making the sheets sticky.
Edgar collapsed on her, shifting his weight in his hand. She was still fragile.
He laid his head on her small breast, kissed her again and fell into a peaceful slumber.