To hell and back

The kind man from the past has more to him...

I stopped there for a second as I was sure that this was the end of my current person... and maybe even my life if I did not move fast enough. Once again, just as back at that ballroom, my whole body froze in place as all the possible outcomes of this situation played over in my mind in the speed of light.

Before I could decide what my next move should be, or before I could move the man from before, the beloved king of the light kingdom stood in front of me with an unreadable look on his face.

Fear and panic stirred in my stomach as I forced myself to look away. There was no need to enrage him even more by staring at him directly.

"You got here just in time. Cousin Edwin just got here and wanted to discuss the situation."

Okay... so he is not here to sentence me to death, but I am sure that it si still not out of the question.

Slowly, I made a short curtsy and lifted my eyes to his face, trying to get a read out of him. It was crucial for me to figure out what he was thinking and what he was going to do about our little encounter, as it was clear from what he said back at the ball that he had not forgiven or forgotten about what had happened when we first met.

But when I looked at him, his face was unreadable.

There was not a hint of real emotions in his eyes which was unnerving as I had no idea what he was thinking or feeling. The cold stillness behind his eyes was something that reminded me a bit of the dark king, as he had this same look in his eyes that was always covered with the fake layer of border that he portrayed to the world, that left everyone questioning his true intentions. So I guess in a way it was a common king thing.

"Your Highness."

He did not say anything just continued to look at me with the same empty look in his eyes.

The young Birdie was the one that broke the uncomfortable silence in the room and the stillness that we got caught in as she grabbed my hand and dragged me to the couch at the side of the room that I sat on before as it was the only one empty and pulled me to sit along side her.

"My lady, I don't think its..."

"It's okay miss Cali, cousin Edwin is only stickler to the rules in public, when its in private like right now, he is a lot more chill."

"Birdy, do not describe the king of our lands as chill, its not proper."

The lady of the house said with a sigh of disappointment as she turned an apologetic smile to the kings.

"It's okay, Lilian. Birdy does not mean harm with her words and it's not the worse I had been called over the years. And as she said, this is not an official visit from the king. Just me visiting my uncle and his family."

When he looked at the older woman, there was gentleness in his face that made him look a lot more approachable.

"Thank you, Edwin."

The older woman smiled and leaned closer to her husband. Edwin gave her another smile and then turned back to me and Birdy as the smile from his face vanished.

"So we can get back to you telling me what happened."

It was clear that the question was meant for the younger girl.

"Well as I was saying, Daria was showing me her new bracelet when in return I wanted to show her mine I noticed that the gemstone had cracks in it and not a moment latter it snapped in half right in front of my eyes."

"Are you sure it was not broken when you put it on?"

"I am sure, miss Cali gave it to me before we left for the ball and it was looking brand new without any cracks... I spent the whole ride there looking at it because miss Cali said it was supposed to protect me and I could figure out how a simple bracelet could do that."

At that moment I felt everyone turn their eyes to me. Now came the time for me to explain, but I had to be careful in what I can say or not, especially in front of that man. I was already on the bad side of that man and it was clear he was not trusting me... so saying something that would make him question me anymore will not help my case.

"It snapped because it served its purpose."

"It's purpose being?"

The low rumble of the king's voice send goosebumps down my arms.

What the hell?

I never reacted to anyone like this, and I had worse creatures breathing down my neck with a reaction half as bad to this one.

After all the s**t I went thought, all that I survived, I will not let this man make me crumble. If I die in this place, then I will do it on my own terms, with my head held high.

Mentally, I forced myself to shake it and not look so affected by him. There was no way that I was going to give him the upper by seeing me crumble. Instead I was giving him back the same cold look on my face with the calm cold eyes he was giving me.

"To protect the person wearing it from an attack by taking on the blow of the attack."

From the look on his face I could tell he was not buying any of it.

"And are you sure it really worked?"

I could not stop myself from rolling my eyes.

"Yes, it worked and it had to be attack of quite the magnitude to break it."

"Are you sure that you did not get scammed by some con artiste that sold you a fake protection? You would not be the first and not the last."

Okay, now he was getting on my nerve.

"Because you called me claiming that there was some crazy attack on my cousin, and all I see to back it up is a broken bracelet and words from some new maid. Who even sold you it? Or is it just a scam to get money from my cousins family."

I had to take a calming breath so I would not start shouting that this was a high-quality charm that I made myself before leaving the dark kingdom, that it was magic that not even the most skilled practitioners of the dark arts had seen. And yes, I trust myself and my skill to know that it worked. So instead after taking a deep breath and sitting up I met his eyes.

"Yes it worked and I trust the person that made it. I agreed to help them because a friend asked for it, but if you don't see the need for my assistance and continue to call me a con artiste of some sorts, I will then, but do not insult me like this. If this is the case, then I will leave, but do not blame when the girl gets killed the next time she steps a foot outside the house, because whoever is doing this is not settle or aim for anything else other then death... For the charm to break like that, there is only a few spells that would case it to break apart like that... for the gemstone powering the protection to break... the only explanation is that it was a spell that would have taken a life."

My words put everyone to silence, and I could feel like it was almost ringing in the room.