Chapter 15 • Framing Athalia -3
1187 Words
"Well, well, well, look who we have here", the one iron legged woman smiled, grabbing Owen's arm. He began to struggle, groaning.
The one eyed man tightened his grip on Athalia's neck. "I am going to enjoy pounding your body to pieces", his voice came out husky and rough; pulling Athalia's body closer to his face as he watched her struggle.
She gasped for air.
"Calm down, Don, we can not kill them here".
"But why, El!?" He quirked his brows to the iron legged woman.
"They told us to kill them outside, in the forest, to be precise. Before the palace guards get here".
"Ouu", he nodded.
They? Who's they? Athalia asked herself.
The man called Don then jerked Athalia's body, causing her to grunt. "Let's go!" He dropped Athalia on the ground, grabbing her by the back of her neck.
He then pulled out a long heavy hammer weapon, pointing it at her skull. "You make a single noise and I will smash your head in a second!" Athalia gulped.
"Let us go! Through the back door", the iron woman called El, lifted Owen, tossing him over her shoulder like a small bag of potato. They began padding towards the backdoor.
~
Walking through the shrubs of the light forest behind the village residence; Athalia grunted, being pulled and dragged by the neck like an animal—injuring and scarring her bare feet.
Reaching the deeper plantation of the forest, Athalia accidentally stomped her feet, tripping and hitting her knee caps on the rough soil.
Don hissed, "Get up, b***h!" He pulled her up from the ground, being too ignorant to notice Athalia clutch soil into her palm.
Athalia grunted, following his movement and letting him pull her violently by her hair.
They continued to walk in deeper, surrounded by only trees and bushes.
Don then stopped, raising Athalia up in the air to his face, smirking. She cried at the incredible pain that filled her scarp as he held her hair in a rough bun. He slowly pulled out his large hammer. "Let's see how far your head can go with one swing", he gave her a dirty smile.
Slowly about to raise the hammer in thr air—Athalia instantly shot the sand in his face. "AH!" He dropped his hammer, accidentally letting Athalia slip from his grip.
She plummeted unto her bottom, groaning.
"Don, you i***t!" El hissed, eyeing Don over her shoulder. Owen—who hung on her other shoulder—took the opportunity to stab his fingers into her eyes.
"Ah! f**k!" She released him from her grip, holding unto her face. Owen fell himself to the ground, briskly getting up. Athalia quickly charged forward, grasping Owen's wrist and charging straight into the woods.
The two bounty hunters wiped their eyes, clinging their jaws in anger. They snapped their eyes at the direction of the siblings. "Get them!" El shouted, charging forward. Don followed.
~
"My king! My king!" Kevin, the knight, charged into the royal guest lunch room, falling at his knees at the presence of the king and queen; and the queen and princess of Werleria.
"What is it, Sir Kevin?" The king narrowed his eyes.
Kevin gulped, "Your ma– majesty... L– Lad– Lady Athalia isn't–"
"Oh spit it out, Kevin!" Queen Petra hissed.
"Miss Athalia is not in her house. So is her brother".
"Are you sure!!?"
"Yes, my king. The house was in good condition, with the back and front doors left unlock".
"Oh my", Lyzebel stole their attention, "That sounds shady, if you ask me". She shrugged. The king scowled deeply, turning back to the knight.
"Did you check the palace? Or her work quarters?"
"Yes, my king", Kevin bowed, "We checked everywhere and even asked her neighbours. No one knows where she or her brother are".
"And her father!?"
"We did not ask about him. Should we summon him, my king?"
"Yes! At this instance!" King Amos suddenly stood up. His wife followed. He looked at the royalties of Werleria seated opposite him, "Excuse me, ladies, I have to attend to this urgent matter. We will be back soon".
Lyzebel and Lamia nodded. "We understand, king Amos".
And with a subtle bow, the king and queen of Sunndrom strode to the door. The king snapped his fingers at the knight, "Get me the guards!"
They all walked out of the room. Shutting the door with a big bang; Lyzebel and Lamia remained seated in the quiet room. A smile stretched on their lips.
Lyzebel chuckled, "What did I tell you? Grief and hurt are biggest gateway to mistrust and stupidity".
"Ha! The humans did not even take a second to think if what we were saying were false or not".
"It is only a matter of hours before a bounty will be put on their heads. That is if our hunters have not beheaded them already", Lyzebel chuckled.
"I am unfortunately sorry to announce that there is some delay in your plans", a deep soothing male voice echoed in the room.
The two ladies turned their heads in slight confusion. Suddenly, a crow bird suddenly flew in—dissovling it's being into black smoke dust.
A man's figure slow materialized from the dust particles. A handsome paled skinned man appeared, dressed in a long black robe with sliver designs.
His long straight red hair fell below his shoulders, with his slender fingers and nails pushing his strands away from his face.
His beautiful blue and white eyes skimmed over the two women. They stood up.
"What do you mean, Kenneth?" Lyzebel asked.
Kenneth chuckled, picking his nails ignorantly with a grin. "What I mean is–" He looked at them, "Your foolish bounty hunters lost them".
"What!!?!" They shouted.
"As we speak, the two children are running in the forest, maintaining more than enough safe distance between them and your hunters", he chuckled, pulling a strand of his hair.
Lamia snarled, "Those idiots!"
"Do not bother yourself, sister", Lyzebel crossed her arms.
"What do you mean do not bother!? They escaped their grip!"
"Yes, but it is too late now. Their absence from the town has already made them look suspicious and presented them as culprits. And if they stay even longer in the woods, the king will put a bounty on theirs heads, tagging them as runaway criminals. So whether our hunters kill them or not, they will surely be dead before tomorrow".
"Good reasoning, your highness", Kenneth nodded.
Lyzebel chuckled, feeling her supremacy. She then turned to the door, "We have already done enough damage to the dimwitted king and queen. Now? Just sit back and watch the rest of our plans play out".
She glanced at Kenneth, "Do not bother yourself with watching child's play, I have more important work for you. Go to the Slitherwit empire, keep me updated".
"Yes, my queen", Kenneth bowed, before his flesh evaporated into black mist—then into a crow.
He fluttered out through the window, crowing.
Lyzebel and Lamia then turned to the door and walked out.
- Writer
