The Blackguard.

Chapter 2!

Dominiah ran and ran until she was almost out of breath. She didn't know how long she had been running but she knew that she had reached a good distance so she could take a breath. She had thought that she was caught for sure when Henry had pinned her down and blocked her escape route to freedom. She never wanted to be in his bed and where he got that ridiculous idea was a brainstorm for her. Had she made any advances towards him? Had she given any kind words over six years that he had thought she wanted to be his bedmate?

Where did he get the idea that I wanted to sleep with him? She thought as she set down beside a tree and looked at the falling sun on the horizon. I must have run awhile if the sun is already setting.

Of course, she knew that leaving Henry alive was her greatest fault. She should have just sliced that asshole's gut deeper so he would be left there for dead. Who knows how many women he has tortured and killed? But Dominiah knew that there was enough. As far as she could see into his mind, she knew that he had no mercy when it came to killing. He did it out of enjoyment and she wished she had cut that bastard into a million pieces before leaving him there. Who knew that she had a soft heart when it came to killing when the other didn't have a weapon? But that had never stopped her before.

So what happened? She asked herself as she took a sip of her water jug. Why couldn't I kill him?

He was the most gone in the brain and all that was replaced was just hate, lust and thirst for blood. That was all that she saw in his mind. There was no turning back from that. She knew because he wasn't the only one that she had encountered. It had been during her earlier years when she started to discover her ability that she realized that EVERYONE was different.

It didn't matter if they were wealthy or poor. They all had their own dark secrets that were kept from outsiders. But Dominiah saw some that were even wild for her own little mind. Images of all kinds of things still lingered in her mind as she went through the years trying to survive in the palace. Each day she discovered there were many different things on everyone's mind. Some were so horrific that she had to kill them in order for those memories to stop shaking her break to the point of insanity. That was the only way to get rid of her nightmares' also. She loved it if she got a good peace of mind when going to sleep.

Shaking her head, Dominiah thought that she had better find shelter for the night or else she would be out in the cold in the dark. Don't get her wrong, she might have the ability, as they call, "demon", but she wasn't really thrilled being the night in the open without a disguise. Her survival skills had always led her in the right direction, so she thought she had better put them to good use as she scanned the following area around her.

She had walked for a short time before she spotted what looked like a cave. Inches closer, she could see that it looked like a cave from the outside, but taking a closer look, she realized that it was an old structure of a house. Old wood had fallen and was covered by the evergreen bushes clocking it from the outside view. The evergreens hung like lush curtains as she moved them away to enter. More close inspection provided that it was an old castle than just a house. Some of the old towers stood against the darkness with the evergreens covering every inch without realizing it was brick. One would think that it was a mountain with all the green on it. Walking in more, she saw part of the throne room and what was probably the stair to the chambers. But all there stood was three-part stairs and nothing else. As if someone would start walking up there and fall right into darkness.

Dominiah knew that it wasn't much but it was shelter for tonight and she could at least start a fire without being seen by anyone. Picking logs and brushing up for a fire, Dominiah carefully started her fire to at least warm her up.

Picking along the ivory, Dominiah made a nest like bed for herself for the evening, since it was almost winter time and the leaves of trees had already fallen away. She could see a few blowing in from the wind as part of the tower gave to a sheltered cove while the other part was open to the chili breeze. She was glad that she was able to see the night sky and stars at least, but also hoping that no one would find her if the smoke got out.

Oh well, she thought and, nestling in her cozy spot near the warmth. A small shiver ran down her spine as she sensed that someone was watching her. Shrugging it off as one of her ways of being paranoid after running away from the palace, she knew that no one would be up here in the depths of the Dark Forest. There had been many rumors of all the things that people had heard and seen while trying to cross through that and it sent chills down everyone's spine that they avoided it all together. Many had made different paths around the Dark Forest but those were some trichoride roads that they had to travel. Some that were not careful have lost their lives, while others tried finding many routes around the Dark Forest. All in all, there was only one safe way around the forest while five others were totally taken if necessary. Don't know what that means, but almost always, there are hardly any riders that come out of the other five ways, and really are never heard from again.

Shrugging to herself, she started thinking about her life when she was with her clan and her family before she was taken. Those were the memories that she had always kept in her mind so she could reflect on them in bad times. But they were also the ones that made her succumb to her tiredness and fall asleep very quickly.

Daddy, look what I got?

A little girl with long auburn hair came running towards the chief as he was talking to one of the guards on patrol in a hushed but stern voice.

I wanted to be sure that everything was settled and had the right amount that we needed for the winter. The Chief spoke to the guard, who bowed his head and walked away from his father.

What does my Dominiah bring me today? The Chief asked as he squatted down into his beautiful daughter's eyes and looked at her tenderly. She was the only one that took his hazel eyes and cute long nose. The way she squinted her eyes at her father, made the chief think of a cute baby doe. Her hair was braided by her mother every morning and was put into a bun due to how long it was. He would rather have it fly free, but he had heard how hard it was for his wife to brush Dominiah's hair out every time, so he just let it be.

I found some very beautiful flowers down by the river. She said as she held her hands out towards her father" I have never seen them before. Are they new?

The Chief looked at the mixed colors of petals in his daughter's hand and smiled. His child was so cute that he couldn't help but laugh and hug her to his chest as he picked her and her flowers up in one arm. The chief was known for great strength, but because of his little-eight-year-old weighed as much as a cabbage head. He couldn't help but shake his head at his bundle of cuteness. Yeah, all his children were cute, but they were all boys and he had only one daughter. His treasure. His second love.

closely at her again, he realized that she was still waiting for her answer as she starred at him and then at the flowers. Her eyebrows arched really high into her head as if they also disappeared and he laughed again at her gestures. Oh how he loved his daughter so much. There wasn't a day that went by that she didn't bring a smile to his face with whatever she was doing. It didn't matter if it was a sentence or a phrase, but she made him smile no matter what.

Those are Lantana flowers; The chief answered her after he finished his smiling moment. They grow everywhere along the banks of the rivers, but not during the winter.

Why? Dominiah asked as she stared at her flowers in her hands." I wish that they could grow every time.

The chief smiled at his daughter as he walked towards their big hut that was meant for storage of food with Dominiah still in his arms. He could feel that his little girl was growing up as much as she was starting to weigh in his arms. From all the training and the exercises that he had been putting her through, they seemed to be working. He needed her strong. He needed her to be a survivor. He needed her hard core. But he also wanted her to find her own happiness in the future too. He didn't always want her to live in the life of battle. He wanted her to have her own children one day, or at least until she was ready. But now, he wanted to train and have her conquer all those that dare to harm us..

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Henry stalked angrily towards his parents' study room after he had his wound bandaged and f****d the resistant maid that was helping the doctor. He had sent the doctor out when he had made his move. He didn't care if he hurt himself while screwing her, but he needed his release. He had imagined that it was Dominiah beneath him and thrashing around wildly while he plunged into her over and over. But it wasn't. The maid, though, had put up a fight and he had lost control. In the end, he just walked away from his room after that. He had asked his secret guard to take care of the mess that was left and now here he was, walking to his parents' study to see what the hell exactly happened. He needed information if he was going to bring Dominiah back to him. He already had the Captain Of The Guard, Helsen, on his side and a few minor officials to back him up in taking the throne from his father. For over ten years, he had put his own trusted men by his parents and the officials, that he knew which ones that he ought to trust in helping him. The only problem was the Duke. His own cousin Thias. He was built and meant to rule, as Henry's father had always told him, over the years. If it weren't for the fact that he was a bastard. The previous king had a delight in eating and that was what he would do all day. His stomach could feed an army as low as it hung. The late king spent most of his time in the kitchen where he fell in love with the cook. There was a saying that said " A man's heart is through his stomach". Well, that was technically true for him. The cook conceived a son, while the queen, a girl, was only born. No woman ever ruled the Kingdome. It was always men. That was the law.

Henry shook his head as he thought about Thias. He couldn't let that bastard have what was his. The throne was his and he would be dammed if it was taken from him by a bastard. Even though Thias was skilled in the army, which is why he is a Duke, awarded by King Henry The First, he had many officials believing that he would be the one that would rule well. Henry didn't give a s**t's ass about that. As long as his advisors and his officials did what they were told when he would take charge, then they wouldn't have problems. He just wanted his Kingdome to run smooth and strong. As long as he can f**k as many women as he wants without anyone yelling at him or his parents, then it will all be hunky dory. But he knew it wasn't that easy. Thias also has fifteen thousand soldiers under his command. Which was a lot more than what Henry had himself in the entire Kingdome. Where all those men came from, Henry doesn't know. But his father has not been able to touch Thias or his power for four years, and Henry wonders if it had anything to do with today's attack. But from the colors that he saw, they didn't look like it. Everyone had a specific color and banner in their own kingdoms and ranks. The one he had seen was from King James!

Shit! s**t! s**t! He thought as he raked his hand in his golden hair. He wasn't supposed to come till next month! He ruined everything!

Henry cursed loudly in his mind as he opened the door to the study and found it empty. He had thought his parents were there talking about things, but it looked like they were doing other things at the moment. Henry didn't know what to do. He just needed answers and he needed them right now. All this pinned up anger wasn't doing anything for him and he felt like ripping someone's throat out. King James coming messed things up with him overtaking the throne, but it was all planned. Now he had more preplanning to do and it pissed him off greatly. He wanted to rip King James, that fucker, apart. He should have waited as per instructions. But of course, being the hot head he was, he had to do it earlier than planned. Henry knew that he should have found someone to kill James, but there were great things that his Kingdome provided that Henry wanted. Some of the things which Henry's own Kingdom didn't have.

Shaking his head to think clearly and without rage, Henry left the study, slamming the doo behind him. He needed to know what was going on and what his next plan was. He had to get the Kingdome but, most importantly, he wanted to find Dominiah. Since it was nightfall, he knew he would just have to send men in the morning for her. There was no point in sacrificing the lives of his men while it was dark. Hopefully, his tracks would wash away as he had good trackers that he had under his command. They could find anything anywhere.

Walking down the corridor, Henry started thinking of his next plan. He was so lost in thought that he bumped into his mother, catching her before she could fall and hit her head on the stone floor. The Queen let out a surprised shriek as her son hauled her up to stand on her two feet again.

"Sorry mother." Henry apologized as he stood tall and proud in front of his mother. The Queen adjusted herself as Henry took the time to look at his mother. The years were starting to look upon her face as crows' feet couldn't be covered by the thick ceruse. His mother wore a purple dress with small lace around the edges. Her brunet hair was put up into the crown with a few strands of hair falling around her oval face. Her blue and vivid eyes shone in the night lamp right through Henry's eyes. He almost felt like running away like when he was a child and did something bad. There wasn't a day that his mother would ever let him get away with things. She always found out and she always found ways to punish him. There were things which she knew nothing about and he was bound and determined to keep them that way. He didn't know what his mother would do if she found out. He would hate to find out. He never liked her dark side and she never stopped until she was satisfied.

"Why are you in such a hurry Henry?" Queen Anne, as she gazed at her son with her eyes as if she was scanning his body right into his soul.

"What is going on?" Henry asked, making sure he lowered his eyes a little away from his mother. She knew everything just by looking into someone's eyes. That's how she unpeels one layer so she can find out the truth. That's how she breaks goes anyone and everyone that goes against her.

"Your father is discussing things with King James down in the gardens." Queen Anne said as she looked at her son closely.

Henry could hear the blood pumping in his brain under his mother's closed eyes. He could tell that she was trying to figure something out but didn't know what that was. He just had to get out of here but needed more information.

"So why is James here?" Henry asked, as if he knew nothing of the matter. He shrugged from one foot to another before trying to get another glimpse of his mother's eyes on him.

"He asked your father for assistance to find someone from his Kingdome that was lost long ago." Queen Anne said as she looked at her nails as if nothing wrong had happened. Henry knew that look, his mother only made that look if she was bored.

"Who?" Henry asked again, looking at his mother. "Who are they looking for?"

"The daughter of his guard?" Queen Anne replied as she looked at her son. "By the way they were talking it seemed as though...."

"What?" Henry asked curiously, tilting his head to the side as if he was in his immature nature.

"Nothing." Queen Anne said, shaking her head and waving at whatever was on her mind.

It can't be. She thought again and looked at her son. Henry was a great replica of his father, The First. But he got her eyes, which made a great clash of combination. There were not many that had blond hair and blue eyes and those that were, well, they really weren't that wealthy. So they didn't have all the extra luxuries that the royal family had. They hardly showed their own faces without dirt on them. That is why they are separate classes.

"I can't know?" Henry asked, trying to see if his mother would give him a little more details.

The Queen just shook her head and walked away from her son with small swaying steps. Henry thought that she was bipolar by the way she just brushed off all the small smiles, and acting like a cute little son for her, she just walked away without giving him anything to the mysterious person that James was looking for. Hell, he didn't even know he was looking for anyone in that matter. Henry had thought that they were the same idea of him taking over the throne from his father and getting things that he wanted from James Kingdome.

Shrugging his shoulders at his mother's weird attitude, Henry leaves in search for the traitorous snake King James of Scotts. He didn't want to know what was going on in his mother's head. He had bigger things to deal with and bigger fish that he wanted to fry. Smirking to himself, he walked away without realizing that his mother had taken a long look at him before walking down the hall to her own bedchamber.

The queen did take a good look at her sons, but it wasn't for the reason that he thought. She wasn't sure, but there was something that bothered her about Henry. She was going to make it her mission to find out. And her son had better not have any kind of unspoken situation that would bring down the kingdom or there would be hell to pay.