Concealed Love

Chapter- 27 His past III

           He went back that day and later gather whatever news he could find on her and her situation, most of the times he could not get any news as her existence was a secret even from most of the demons. Later on when he reached 20, the generals on seeing his powers and the nation's stability, urged him that it was time to call for an all out war with him as the leader.

            He also knew that he was to take the position of the leader so he had made up his mind to fight in the war, no matter the wounds it would cause on her, the little girl who didn't knew she was held in chains would feel sad for the people who hurt her.

            When he had made up his mind, an angel from the heavens came down, saying she'll give her assistance in the war. He had nothing to lose and her joining his army was greatly profitable both for him and his allied so he agreed.

             Later on, his father's and the ministers talked of their marrige as a possible knot to tie the relationship between the heavens and earth, also hoping for a stronger standing army between to fight against the demons.

             The angel, Minerva was a nice lady with a gentle character, so he had nothing to appose their marriage, more like he had no profitable reason to decline.

                He accepted to the proposal for their union and saw that Minerva was also happy about it. He never gave her special attention and just took her as one of his generals.

             In such situation, the war began. He fought in the battlefront for nearly a month and all through that, all he could think about was whether the little girl was safe somewhere else, away from the war and chaos.

                At the time when the war was coming to an end he finally fought head to head with the demon king. Their battle was long and hard.

             While their fight was ongoing, the demon king sneered and said, " You're a selfish deceiving prince, why fight this hard for the people who chain you and to whom you deceive. "

               Al asked him with the same stern face, " What are you talking about?"

              The king laughed with a sneer and shouted, " I know about it all, the stupid woman and her daughter broke the curse that was given to you by the one's you people call heavenly, didn't they? I thought she was acting sneaky but since I put that much scars upon them, I thought they would have learned something by now but no.... she had to go and betray me. "

          Al shouted at him, "why? why did you do that to your daughter and your wife, why do you treat them so harshly ".

          " Why shouldn't I? I searched high and low just so I could find that woman and have her powers but I got nothing, she was useless and even the child of her.  I hoped for a son that would die for me but instead of it a weak girl with a weak heart was born. Still I have my use of her, she shall not die before killing you and your people as well as herself. " He laughed as he played his scheme in front of Al.

               Al was angered by his words and shouted as he breath heavily, they were still clashing their swords, none overpowering the other, " She is your daughter as well. "

                " I don't care, she's a person who would destroy everything on her way when the time comes. I can't risk bringing her into my life or my environment but, if you want, you can gladly look after her. But that's unlikely, we humans and demons will kill each other as long as even a single one of the other exist. " His eyes burn in hatred as he talk and thought of killing every one of those weak little humans by his own hands.

                Al's desire to kill the demon king grew and with his full strength, he defeated him. The war was about to end as the enemy king had fallen, the people of the enemy nation would suffer as much as the hatred they had installed on the humans.

               He could not effort to pity or worry for them but her, he wanted to safe her, he wanted to protect Asfet. He was bout to go straight to find her wherever she might be but the demon king was still a bit concious, and with his last breath he uttered, " My child is there, in her tiny little castle, where her world revolves"

              The demon king died looking at the big vast sky above his eyes. No one knew what his last thought was, whether it was contempt, Hatred, Regret, or peace. He just laid there as a small sorrowful tear slipped down his unfeeling eyes.

             Al looked at him and gave a short pitiful glance at the man who had died feeling alone and his lifelong goal unachieved.

             He rushed towards the castle, less someone got there earlier than him and had hurt her. He saw the kings castle from afar and made his way towards it and just like he had hoped, there was a small castle close to it.

            It was a bright castle, build to suit a childs taste but in the eyes of a person  who had seen half the world and it's homes, the castle the little child called big was a small and humble one. Perhaps the little girl who was always between the walls thought that the world revolved round her little castle.

                Her castle was silent and unprotected, not a single living sould stopped him on his way around it, he opened a room with a big door and there she was lying on a bed peacefully, unknown of the chaos caused by the war around her.

         Her mother, the queen was lying beside the bed, stroking her head gently as she hummed a song, as if she had seen everything and had nothing to be afraid of but, that was not really the truth.

           When Al entered the room she didn't act surprised, she didn't even turn to look at him as her eyes was fixed on Asfet but with her usual gentle smile she talked to him, " So you've come. Have you made up your mind? "

              Al understood what she was talking about, " I have, I want to bring her with me and protect her. Iam not sure of the future but I will make sure she's safe."

             Her mother laughed gently, " I'm sure you will. But young prince, your lives together will be full of dangers and pain. Do you still wish for it? "

            " It's okay " After a short pause he added, " I don't know about how she'll feel but I want her to be free. "

             She turned to him and said " It's okay, the child will be happy if she's with you. But with her current mentality, she will not last long. "

              Al asked in worry, " What happened to her? "

                " The last time her father was angry, he said some words and she eventually ended up finding out about her nature, of what she is and meant to bring. " Her eyes unmoved from her sleeping princess she kept talking to him.

               Al frowned, he had not shown as much emotion in all his life as now, except on the day he first met Asfet, " How is she? "

               " She was crying, terrified of herself and harming herself not wanting to accept herself nor her faith, I gave her some medicine and put her to sleep. If she is to go with you, she'll have to forget everything, including the fact that she ever met you. "

              Al clenched his fist and with tight knitted brows he said, " If that will be safer for her than I accept but what about you, what will you do here on out? Won't she forget you too. "

               She turned to him finally and smiled, " You both really are kind children, in your next life I hope you meet in a better and safer world. "

              He was going to ask her some more but when she turned to look at him, the blood that she was covering flowed out freely.

           He looked at her in surprised not able to form a word out of his mouth, " What.. "

           " The time for me is short and it would be better if she could forget me. I'm sorry I can't help the both of you but I can at least ease her pain for a short while, she'll really forget everything after I erase her memories. Please, take care of my child. " She bend down to kiss her forehead and rubbed her round pink cheeks lovingly.

            He looked at her and said, " I'm sorry. " In a guilty tone. He realised that the one who gave her that wound was the demon king who found out she had saved his enemy and couldn't apologise enough.

            She said, "it's not your fault " stroking Asfet's forehead gently and said softly, " Goodbye my child, my precious little princess, forgive mommy, mommy loves you... " She finally uttered, " Forget everything and when you wake up a new world will be waiting for you. "

              She sobbed quietly, holding her child's hand tightly with her forehead leaning on it and manage to say her final, graceful words, " Take care of my child, please protect her for the both of us..... Asfet dear, mommy's love will always remain with you."

            She slowly fall on the bed and breathed her last. Until the end of her life, she was a gentle, graceful and kind.

            Al walked up closer to them, and after carefully placing the queen in the middle of the bed, he picked up Asfet and flew out of the castle.