My heart, My love, My dragon

Chapter 26

"How dare you not tell me I won the tournament" Anya yelled at him harshly. 

King Vulcan looked back and forth from the cook, to Oliver, and to me. "Did they tell you?"

"And so what if they did! If you dare put a single hand on them I'll throw the entire court against you," she threatened. It was a dangerous play and she could see so through his eyes. "I forfeit my place as Queen of Dragons to Libelle. But you're going to keep your promise."

His eyes became dark, "I won't."

Anya came to eye-level with him and with all her hatred, told him, "Even if you won't don't even dare hold onto the hope that you might gain my trust. I renounce! Where's Libelle? I'll hand her over to you. She's carrying your child after all."

"No. Why won't you give me a chance?"

"Forget it," she hissed. "I, Anastasia of High House Hydra, renounce my-"

She couldn't finish because Arin had slammed her into the nearby wall with his hand over her mouth. "I f*****g dare you to finish that sentence."

Anya's eyes flickered to their audience. The entire kitchen staff was gawking at them. She had no escape but to bite his hand. He hissed in pain and pulled away. "Challenge accepted, King Vulcan."

"I, Anastasia of High House Hydra, renounce my position as the Queen of Dragons and reject you, Arin Vulcan, as my beloved."

Arin growled ferociously and grabbed Anya's neck, pulling her up in the air. She flinched and squirmed under his tight hand. Her feet dangled in the air as her hands were wrapped around Arin's wrist, trying to pull him away. "You'll be dead before you ever reject me," he growled.

Anya coughed, "I...I already...did.."

Anya scratched his wrist until he finally let go and she crumbled to the ground in a coughing fit. "You're a lunatic Inferno!" she gasped in between breaths. Her neck held the print of Arin's hand. "I will rather be dead then stand by your side for the rest of my life"

"Are you challenging me?" Arin asked, his eyebrows raised.

On the ground, Anya spread her arms out in an exaggerated form, "Looks like I am"

"FINE," he spat. "Then you'll be a servant. That suit of yours no longer belongs to you but to Libelle. All your clothes are no longer yours. You'll sleep in the servant quarters, eat with them, and work with them."

Anya sneered, "I'm fine with that! I don't need that suite that is disgustingly too close to you. I hate those clothes anyway and I hate those corsets so keep them. Keep ALL of them."

"Watch your tongue. What would Lucia and Hydreich do if they heard you?" 

Anya gritted her teeth. He had hit a delicate spot and she couldn't go anything about it, "My apologies, you Royal asshole. I'm done with being this refined little princess."

"Then you'll have no problem if I do this," he said and grabbed a sharp kitchen knife.

"What are you-" a gasp tore from her lips as he took the knife and cut her hair. A black wave fell to the ground instantly. He had cut it short, only six inches below her shoulder. "Fine. Get rid of that too. I don't give a f**k. The only reason it grew long was because Lucia wanted me to look like Khaleesi. If anything, you've done me a great favor. "

King Vulcan's face turned red in rage, "You know what? You frustrate me beyond comprehension and now I know I never loved you. You are a spoiled little girl that only cares about herself than the others. Only thinking about freedom."

Any stared at him blankly and placed her palm on his shoulder, "You see? No sparks. I rejected you. So....let's connect the dots. If I can't feel the sparks that means I'm not even feeling hurt by your words."

"You'll regret this," he finished off and stormed out of the kitchen. Anya scanned the pale faces of the kitchen staff. Oliver was in genuine shock while the cook gaped at the black pile of hair that had been cut off.

Anya bent down to examine the hair that had been cut off. She sighed, "Damn that dragon."

She gathered her cut hair in her arms and asked, "Where's the trash?"

Oliver motioned to a bin right next to him. Anya practically poured the cut hair in the trash. Oliver focussed back to his cooking but Anya tapped his shoulder. Annoyed he glanced at her. "Erm, what now? I mean, what am I supposed to do if I am a servant. Where do I sleep?"

"How is he supposed to know," the cook pointed out to her. 

"I just want him to show me. I guess it's only for a few weeks since House Hydra will find out soon enough," I shrugged. Oliver nodded and signaled Anya to follow him. She followed him out of the kitchen and into a dark hallway. He lit a candle and a door creak upon opening it. 

Oliver flicked the light open and reveal a small bedroom. It was shabby but Anya preferred this over that suite. Oliver pointed to the bed and the tiny closet to the side.

"Does that have uniforms?" Anya asked but he shook his head 'no'.

He motioned to his own attire and Anya understood. The closet only contained his clothing. Anya knew this would only be temporary because High House Hydra would never permit a member of their house to be downgraded. Perhaps another war will be started but Anya couldn't say for certain. She was determined to do whatever she needed to do to the best of her ability but there was another thing on her mind. Escaping. The portals to the human world were what she needed to discover and time was of the essence.

"Oliver," Anya started nervously. Asking a total stranger for information that might as well be illegal was dangerous. "Do you know of any portals to the human world?"

Oliver narrowed his eyes at her for a moment. An uneasiness spread over them when he shook his head 'no'. But the bookshelf in the far corner had already caught her eye. "You read?" 

Oliver looked offended at the notion that Anya didn't think he read but he shook his head 'yes'. Anya pondered for a moment, "Then you know how to write?"

He shook his head 'yes'.

"Great, that'll be easier to communicate with you because I might be here longer than I think>"

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