Can you love me

the truth

Going back in the time pipeline, Serpent King was the magical snake created by royal magicians and warriors to surround the palace like a protective wall. Whole body was made poisonous and if any enemy tried to attack they could never make past the snake.

But no barrier is unbreakable or so everyone said as they tell this story.

And to break every barrier we need an insider to get us through.

There was no way to kill the snake, not the fire , not magic not anything but it could be put to sleep by a mermaid inside the palace. Her voice was the only thing that could put it to sleep for few hours. It was because the snake grew up drinking her magic tears and her voice was like a mother's lullaby to it.

But there was another rebel like we have for every ruling part and this one made the mermaid fell for his charms and asked to open the gates for him. Mermaid did open the gates for him but as soon he was about to get in, the protectors tried to stop him with all their power. In order to defend himself ,he combined with the snake's form making him almost invincible.

So Serpent King is the human snake deadly combination which created a havoc on world till the blessed sword was created to injure it enough to make it more man than snake. That doesn't mean it was not evil. It killed many, created the plague. What stopped him was his wife, the mermaid, commonly known as Serpent Queen who he killed right before he went to deep sleep.

The man in him was still thriving so he felt the guilt on killing the one he loved so he kept quiet for too long. But somehow he was awake now.

Not somehow , he was back because the night his Queen died her darkness was transferred into me and I was some incarnate and next heir.

***

Silence made my footstep echo in the hall. There was my staff, principal, some soldiers and knights, Celine. Everyone of them looked scared as hell. But somehow I didn't feel the fear. I felt angry , just angry.

As I moved closer I saw the so famous Serpent King. He was very much human just green in shade. The shock hit me like lighting when I saw his face; I have seen him in dreams or to be specific in my nightmares. He was of average height, lanky structure, blood shot eyes and bald head. He wore red robes and carried a gleaming silver dagger as if he needed it.

"Annalise Curtin, it's good to see you in person. Come closer." His voice was one with the hiss I have dreamt about.

"I could have said the same if you were not invading my dreams." I spat out and saw the shock on every face including the Serpent.

"That was all the power I had to communicate and I could not afford to grow weaker till I know I have a successor. My followers tell me about your power." And he stepped closer.

"Then you must keep a safe distance from me, Serpent King." My anger was building even more.

"Killing someone as dark as me will only make your condition worse Annalise or should I say better for me." He smirked and his red eyes stared right into my soul.

"And what if I kill myself?" I challenged him.

"Do that and right after you die I kill everyone you care for ; your parents, your friends if you have any, your boyfriends and I could list a few others." I saw that coming.

He will not allow me to kill myself.

"Or I could just go around killing every single minion of yours before I go all evil incarnate."

And this time I stepped closer showing him I was not afraid, of him or of dying right now.

"Don't test me, Annalise." He hissed and Kasper coughed out blood.

He was doing it to see how I will react. There were two black ninjas as his guard.

I stepped forward and touched one of them disintegrating it right there. Those who didn't know about my power like my teachers and Principal looked shocked and scared.

"Leave him be and it would be better if you don't test me, King." I threatened him looking straight at his red eyes.

He sighed as if letting this go and gave me a sly smile.

"Silas, people calling me Serpent King is burdensome so call me Silas."

"Why are you here King?" I said the word just out of spite.

And he bent closer to whisper in my ears, "To remind you that you have nineteen more days till you find your true love."

"Something like that doesn't exist." I didn't let my voice waver.

This time his eyes hardened and he said, "Trust me it does. I killed the one I loved."

"I will never do the same." His eyes wandered on the three guys behind me and he said, "We will see about that."

****

I was left alone after that. There were arguments on how I should be thrown out of the school and I was not safe for other kids but Luca managed to convince them to keep me here since I have no other place to go.

So I was staying here but locked inside my dorm room. As if I was not lonely enough, I was not allowed to meet anyone now. At least they left the phone with me so I could call but I didn't do that because I had no idea what I can say in this scenario.

With the sounds outside I knew there were guards. How tough they were I had no idea. I was brought food and daily newspaper and class assignments. I mean even if I was evil I need to be educated, right?

The newspapers added to my already worsening nightmares condition. There were attacks on civilians, several deaths, kidnappings. There are few of our type, the Knights and protectors and lot of people out there who need protection.

I felt helpless and useless all of a sudden because all my life I have been training to be a Knight and here I was sitting like a monster or a ticking time bomb.

"She needs to see her results." Kasper's voice pulled me out of my misery.

"And we are told to allow no one to see her," Guard told Kasper.

"Do you want to battle right now?" Jayden's voice made me climb down from my bed.

"You two can't get past us." Guards said.

"But I can command you to leave, right?" Blade was here as well.

"Sir, we will lose our jobs."

"Do you want to lose your lives as well?" Kasper threatened and I could almost feel his cold gaze.

After few seconds gates opened. I wanted to run and hug the three of them but obviously, I can't.

"So, did I fail miserably?" I asked trying to lighten up the atmosphere.

For some reason, they looked pained and guilty.

"You are the top scorer," Blade answered in a sober tone.

"I am?" This surprised me more than it should.

"But you are disqualified from Knightship,." Kasper said and now I knew why they all look pained.

"It doesn't matter. You heard what Silas said, I should die or I am becoming something that will kill and not protect." I sat down back on my bed feeling slumped after hearing that I didn't qualify.

"Time up guys, get out before I inform the authorities." The guards outside reminded.

"Only limited time to see the monster in prison guys." I joked though I felt like tears might flow any second.

"We are coming back to get you tonight," Kasper whispered.

"And where will you take me, wherever I go he will find me and if not I will kill others with my presence alone. My condition is worsening." I confided in them since I trusted them and I had no other option.

"That's why we will take the fight to him," Jayden said with determination.

"We don't care if we die. We will make sure you just kill him and then Blade can heal you like his grandparents did to the plague affected by his poison years back." They told me there maybe plan.

My darkness was mine to hold not a disease or injury that could be healed. It will be there unless someone's touch can destroy it. But i formed my own little plan in my head. I will kill Silas, as many of his monsters possible and then I will kill myself.

It was still fifteen days before I went on full dark and wicked.

"Great, so we are running away again tonight?" I said in a fake excited tone which fooled those three gratefully.

"Get ready and pack light, Frozen," Jayden said with a smile that hurt me in ways he could not understand.

I might not see this smile again.