Guardian Vs. Hybrid

A Pub and a Arena

“Lady Rose? Are you okay? You seem lost in thought?”

                Like a slap to the face, I blinked a couple times before glancing over to Mace, realizing I zoned out completely in the middle of our conversation. I took a deep breath while I bit down on my bottom lip. I had tried so hard to forget that starting moment up on the tower, but it was never going to go away. He scarred me for life, and I was never sure if it was a good thing, or a bad thing.

        With a sigh, I shrugged and took a big drink from my mug. “So, you’ve known all along that the Prince and myself had been…involved?”

        Mace nodded. “Yeah, I was in the lighthouse at that point in time putting more oil in the lantern, but all the other incidences were pretty…out in the open…We all knew that you belonged to him.”

        “That they were, out in the open...” I sighed again. “You know, that’s why we’re here right now, right? The princess always takes men to that courtyard to get intimate, and now we have to wait for them to be done. It’s quite depressing saying it out loud. From decorated soldiers to babysitters. I saved the Vampyr King and his children, several times! And yet, here we are. Waiting for our master’s to get done fucking.”

        At that he agreed. “I kind of figured that’s what was going to happen. If you want we could…?”

        I didn’t mean to laugh, but I did. “I don’t think that would be wise. The Prince might kill you if he ever found out. Well, that is if he even cares anymore.”

        “Yeah, no he would definitely end me in a very painful way, and I’m his best friend. I had to offer though. Now, where is that barkeep with our next mugs?” He said as he stood to go find them more drinks.       

        The moment he was gone, I felt like I could breathe. Mace wasn’t bad company, I just normally didn’t have any. After downing the last bit that was left in my cup I felt familiar eyes on the back of my neck. With a little smirk, I glanced over my shoulder to see Prince Zohar standing in the doorway with an interested look in his eye.

        Come to see what me and your companion were doing together? I thought, looking back in front of me, knowing he was coming over.

        Zohar snorted his amusement. Actually, yes. Now it seems I was worried over nothing since you just rejected his proposal for s*x.

                I am more than capable of handling myself in that department if I ever get an urge. I said as an officer of mine placed a fresh mug of beer in front of me. I nodded to him before he walked away. I figured you and the princess would have been preoccupied for the rest of the night.

                 He smiled devilishly while watching me take a long drink. Did you now? We didn’t get very far before she panicked and ran back to the castle.

                I raised an eyebrow. Panicked? My princess? What did you do to her, Lord General?

                Don’t worry. She simply saw me without clothes on. Zohar took my mug and drank the rest of it. Said I would ‘rip her apart’, and then ran.

                At that, I swallowed hard and let out a huff before I glanced over to him. The look in his eyes was unreadable. Like this I wasn’t sure what he was thinking, he was so different all the time. I couldn’t keep up with his ever-changing mood swings.

                Well, I should go to her then. Good night, Lord General. I got up and started for the pub door. Behind me, I could hear him laughing.

                You know, that wasn’t the first time I was told I was going to rip a woman apart? Zohar smiled as he watched me whip back around to stare at him with a completely shocked face. Good night, Rose.

                With nothing left, I spun around to leave as fast as I could. Running through the town to get to the one place that was mine. The one place I felt in control the most. My combat arena.

                The moment my feet touched the dirt I let out a high pitch scream, opening my arms out wide, causing a bright green shock wave that tore through the dirt like an earthquake. Leaving massive cracks in the ground around me. With a huff, I dropped to my knees. In one outburst, I destroyed the arena. My heart slammed against my chest as I thought about what Zohar said right before I left.

                “He remembers…” I whispered, put a hand to my throat and another to my scar on my chest. “Why do I feel like this? I don’t need this feeling…”   

        “Bell! I’ve been waiting for you!” Princess Daphne cried out as she ran over to embrace me. “I have so much to tell you!”

                I let out a deep breath and smiled down at her. “Tell me everything, your highness.”

                “Okay, first. I took the prince out to the rose garden, right? I thought it was going to be romantic and we would have a hot exciting night together.” Daphne said pacing around her bedroom.

                “Isn’t that what your honeymoon’s for, my princess?” I asked as I sat back and watched, listening to the Princess rant.

                Daphne huffed a strand of her hair out of her face while rolling her eyes. “Yes, but I wanted to test the prince out before I was chained to him forever. Anyways, after we got there it took an immense amount of time to get him to realize what I wanted. Everything was going great, we were kissing and I took his shirt off. He watched as I slid my dress down to my ankles seductively, and I told him to take his pants off…”

                I tried to keep my teeth from grinding as I listened to the princess. Everything in me was angry, but I was doing my best to suppress the feelings. “You ordered the Lord General to take his pants off? Your highness, I do not understand.”

                “Keep listening.” Daphne said turning to pace the opposite direction. “So, I sat down on the bench to enjoy the show, but I was shocked instead. Bell, the size of that man would have killed me! I can’t do this! There is no way I can take that man between my thighs! He will rip me apart! What am I going to do? I’m just a human!? We are to be married, which is all fine and dandy, but what is to happen when I must consummate the marriage? I don’t want to be killed having intercourse with a monster!”

                Wait…what? My eyebrows furrowed as I tried to comprehend what I was just told. The princess panicked because of the size of Prince Zohar? I…don’t even know what to do now…

                Without seeing how stressed I had become over the news, Daphne continued with her rant. “Do I stall forever? I don’t think I can make up that many excuses on why I don’t want to be under him. Maybe I can have another woman who looks like me go to bed with him? But I don’t think that will work very long…Plus, if he killed her then I’d have to find another replacement. What if I told him that I was to remain celibate for a very good reason? I don’t think that would work either. What do you think I should do, Bell?”

                “Um…” I let out a sigh. “I think you should give it some time, your highness. Maybe after you marry, you can have him start slowly and work with you on taking him in?”

                Daphne raised an eyebrow. “Bella, the sheer size of that man will kill me no matter how slow we take it. Plus, I don’t think the prince is one for slow and gentle love making. That was what was so exciting! I was hoping for that wildness he possesses, but I also like walking.”

                Hearing that made me stifle a laugh. That was one of the funniest things I had ever heard the princess say, and she didn’t even mean it as a joke. Before I could respond there was a loud knock at the door.

                “What?” Daphne called out while she stopped her pacing.

                “There is going to be a hunting party leaving out in the morning and the Queen invited Prince Zohar to join the group. Your mother wishes to know if you wanted to go along with them?”

                Princess Daphne groaned while glancing over to me. “Should we go?”

                I shrugged. “It’s better than being in bed with him, right your highness?”

                “Cheeky.” Daphne said smiling big, needing the teasing to lighten her mood. “Fine, tell mother that me and Bell will be there.”

                After a few moments, the princess undressed into her nightgown and headed off to bed, while I left to start my nightly patrol before I too went to bed.

                As I walked the castle grounds, I couldn’t stop thinking. Thinking about everything. About what Daphne said, what Zohar mentioned as I left the pub, about the nights on the battlefield with him, under him. My mind raced with so many thoughts I had to stop and close my eyes to keep from screaming out in anger. This was not how I usually was. I was supposed to be calm, collected, and sturdy. Now, I felt so shaky, and frazzled. Unable to make even the easiest decisions. With a sigh, I put my head high in the air and continued on with my patrol.

                Third P.O.V.

                At the pub still…

                “Prince Zohar? Are you okay, your highness?” Mace asked as he sat down next to his master after Rosabell left. He watched their exchange and knew he had been right all along. “When did you finally remember Lady Rose?”

                Zohar smirked over at his oldest friend. “I never really forgot about her. Just forgot the memories of her, and those I remembered when I kissed her in the barracks. The Haze was a bad time in my life. I was lucky if I could remember my own name when all of that was over with.”

                Mace nodded. “Yeah, I remember what is was like back then. I was surprised when we showed up to Ja-kkar and Lady Rose was here. Never thought we would see her again.”

                “I did.” Zohar said as he took a big drink of his mead. “That woman haunts me. A ramification of what I did to her.”

                At that, Mace raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean, your highness?”

                “I was going to kill her, Mace. Everything in me wanted to taste her flesh, her blood, her heart. I was going to destroy her. Rosabell gave herself, her body, her blood, to keep herself from being slaughtered by me. Over and over I took her under me and drank from her until I was lucid. I would move to hurt her and she would distract me with her body and blood. Rosabell was the first person I drank from after my turning. To me, I owe that woman my life. I would have truly become a monster if I would have had my way and tore her existence to shreds, I’d be a murderer. I would not be this person you sit with now.” Zohar said as he ran a hand through his hair.

                Mace sighed. “If the Lady means so much to you, then why not marry her instead? I’d rather see her as my future Queen. She’s your true mate, I know you feel it.”

                “I can’t.” Zo said as he got to his feet. “My father will never allow me to break off this engagement. You know that better than most, Mace. At least I’ll have her somewhat by my side for a few days. That’s better than nothing.”

                Before he got to say anything back, Zohar set down some coin and moved to the door. When he was gone Mace turned back around and let out a deep breath. “Why is it, my brother, that you are never allowed to be happy?”