A Call To Answer

Chapter 13(Adonis dies)

King Antonio rose very early in the morning.He needed to go see Adonis today.He needed some answers to his questions but he only, could go to Adonis.So, he asked the ostler to get his favorite stallion ready.

He proceeded to the maids quarters where he ordered for Pearlene.Pearlene showed up immediately with a bow and her hands crossed behind her back.

“I'm going out to see a friend.princess Gersemi is in my chamber, make sure to keep her company until I return”

“Yes his majesty ”Pearlene replied with a bow and King Antonio turned around and left.

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Getting onto his stallion, he held unto the reins attached to the bridle and flipped it.

Clattering of hooves was heard and the dry leaves crackled as the hooves stepped on it.

Dust filled the ground as the stallion began galloping.

After spending an hour and fifteen minutes on the road, the King placed a hand on the stallion's neck and pulled the reins towards his shoulders and the stallion made a screeching halt and it neighed.King Antonio alighted from the stallion,packed some hays which he'd found closer to the hut his stallion was standing in front of.He offered the stallion some hays before proceeding to the tiny door attached at the middle of the hut.

He plants a soft knock on the door.

“Come in his majesty”Adonis' decrepit voice sounded from inside.

King Antonio propelled the door open, his eyes meeting with Adonis'_he looks pale.

“Greetings his majesty”Adonis greeted and struggled with bowing his head as his neck had almost become stiff.King Antonio was appalled to see Adonis in such state.It's been seventeen years he last saw Adonis but the Adonis he's seeing today is far different from the Adonis he once knew.

“The bones are weak.The spirit is strong”

Adonis mumbled with a chuckle.He sat up with great difficulty and struggled to pull out a stool from underneath his old creaky bed.

“What happened to you Adonis?”King Antonio asked as he took a seat on the stool Adonis had pulled out for him.

“I'm 130 years already, what were you expecting?”Adonis asked with a chuckle.

“The last time I saw you , you were 113 years but looked a lot healthier and younger.17 years more couldn't have mussed you this way”King Antonio argued further.His voice was filled with disbelief and worry.

“I'm a lonely man King Antonio.I have no family, just me alone.What were you expecting?”

“Why didn't you inform me earlier? I would have offered you shelter in my home”

“There wasn't any need for that my King.Now, my time is near, and I must return to my home”Adonis said and shut his eyes as he lies down and rests his head on his pillow.He places his hands on his stomach.

“You're here for the princess right?”Adonis asked when he noticed the brief silence that had set in.

“She violated my instruction and has read that novel.Now, his spirit is after her.I burnt the book like you mentioned should the spirit come after her,but the spirit wouldn't leave”King Antonio said calmly.If Adonis hadn't been this worn out and shabby, he would have yelled at him for giving him a wrong solution to chasing Uriah's ghost.

“After making further research on the history of Uriah,I found out that only the princess can chase away Uriah's ghost and that's only if she's the one that burns the book.i wanted to come over but I was ill and couldn't move”Adonis gave his alibi for not visiting the castle all this while.

King Antonio sighed despondently.

“This is bad”He lamented.

“But there is an alternative ”

King Antonio's eyes dilated in delight when he heard Adonis say there was an alternative to chasing Uriah's spirit.

“Which is?”

“She can chase his spirit if she comes in contact with his reincarnation.Then, he will never trouble her again.”

“But how will she know he's Uriah's reincarnation?”

“When that time comes,she'll feel it.remember, she doesn't know all this.she's just living in peridot's form until she and her beloved are united, before she can be a new being, a new Gersemi”

“This whole thing is confusing Adonis”The King said scratching his head in confusion.

“It's going to be further explained when she meets with him”

“I intend on getting her married to someone else.It could prevent Uriah from coming after her right?”King Antonio asked curiously.

Adonis raised his right index finger , swaying it sideways to indicate impossibility.

“If princess Gersemi gets married to someone else, the man will be murdered by Uriah's ghost.The mark on her abdomen is a sign that she's taken and no one else can have her except Uriah's reincarnation.”Adonis explicated.He touched his forehead like he was having a headache.

“Are you okay Adonis, do you need some water?”

“No,his majesty.i'll be fine”Adonis said assuringly and shut his eyes real tight.He made a low sigh and his hands fell off his forehead.

King Antonio stood up from his seat and walked to Adonis' bed.

“Adonis”He called as he tapped Adonis' arm but Adonis gave no reply.He touched Adonis' feet, they were cold as ice and his body had turned very pale.King Antonio sat on the ground and began sobbing_Adonis was dead.

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Princess Gersemi suddenly turned around to look at Pearlene who was busy dressing her hair.She pulled Pearlene's hands away from her hair to get her attention.

“Tell me Pearl, am I cursed? Have I gone crazy?”She asked with her eyes filled with tears.

“Of course not Princess.You're perfectly fine”Pearlene replied.

“Why does he keep coming after me, why?”

“I think that book is spiritual and you made a mistake reading it”Pearlene asserted as she made Princess Gersemi turn to face the mirror so she could continue dressing her hair.

“Have you spoken to Logan and Nettal?”Pearlene suddenly asked causing a loud gasp from the princess_she'd totally forgotten about Logan and Nettal.

“I understand why you forgot.Uriah's ghost has really been tormenting you lately”Pearlene said as she sprayed some hairspray on the princess' hair.

“Once we're done with dressing my hair,we're heading to the dungeon so I can speak to Nettal and you go call Logan for me.The only way to end this mess without my father finding out is sending them away.They have to leave the castle Asap.”Princess Gersemi said and Pearlene nodded in support.

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Princess Gersemi is seen at the Bailey of the Castle building.She's heading to the dungeon where Nettal was kept captive.She has a tray of food in her hands.She had caught some maids stealing glances at her but she ignored their nosiness.If she had been Princess Jennell, then the eyes of those maids would have been plucked out by now.

“Nettal”She called when she was finally standing in front of the dungeon.Nettal was lying on the floor weakly.

Nettal flashed her eyes open and sat up immediately she realised it was princess Gersemi calling her.

“Here, have something to eat”She pulled out the plate from the tray and dropped the food on the ground.Nettal stretched her hand below the dungeon gates and pulled the plate of food closer to her.

“Thank you so much my princess ”Nettal said with a smile and began eating the food hungrily.Just then, Logan and Pearlene were seen walking towards the dungeon.

Logan halted in his tracks when he sighted the princess in front of the dungeon.What was she going to do to him and Nettal?

Has she found out he was sleeping with Princess Jennell?

“Come forward please”Princess Gersemi ordered, pulling him back from his thoughts.Logan nodded lightly as he began walking towards the dungeon.He stared dolorously at his Nettal who was eating her food hungrily.

“Open the gates already”Princess Gersemi ordered and Logan pulled out the key which was in his pants pocket .He opened the gate and Princess Gersemi walked into it, causing others to gasp in shock.

It was also slated in one of the eight laws of Castle Coral that a princess was prohibited from entering into a dungeon, no matter what.

“My princess”Pearlene and Logan called in unison but princess Gersemi ignored their calls and sat on the ground in front of Nettal who had some food stuffed in her mouth.Nettal was dumbstruck to see the Princess seated opposite her in a dungeon.Nettal made to stand up but princess Gersemi stopped her.

“Logan ,i know you've been sleeping with my sister”Princess Gersemi began and Logan bowed his head guiltily. “If her s*x partner had been someone else,i wouldn't have involved my self in this but because you've been a loyal and nice guard in this castle and Nettal has been really helpful to the kitchen department as well,i'm going to help you both out of this.”Princess Gersemi said with a sigh.

Logan raised his head in amazement, Nettal wasn't left out in the amazement.Nettal's shoulders slumped when she recalled how she'd poisoned princess Gersemi's meal even though it wasn't intentional.

Come to think of it, princess Gersemi looks perfectly fine.

“I'll have you both leave the castle as soon as possible,that's the only way princess Jennell can stop asking you to lie with her and it will decrease the tendency of the king finding out your affair with her”Princess Gersemi said and Logan went on his knees.Nettal, on seeing Logan on his knees,went on her knees as well.

“Thank you so much my princess”Logan said in appreciation.Princess Gersemi nodded her head and stood up.But Nettal burst into tears, causing everyone to look at her in surprise.

“What's the problem Nettal?”Pearlene asked instead.Nettal clasped her palms together, apologetically, as she bowed her head in tears.

“I did something terrible my princess”

Logan's heart began beating as he understood what Nettal was apologising for.

“Uh...my princess,she's just being emotional...”

“Allow me speak Logan”Nettal cut him off calmly.

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TBC

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