THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS

The Challenge for Battle

Chapter VII 

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 My dwelling in the castle could be the most difficult.

After presenting myself to his highness in the great hall, I found myself sitting on a well-crafted chair facing a long dining table filled with various victuals waiting for me to dig in

The prince is on the other side of the table. He is very conscious of choosing what utensils suits his predilection, and suddenly murmured a few words by himself 

“ahmmmm... you’re highness?”  Struggling to find some words to say, I became stupid for asking his attention. My heart keeps on throbbing so fast, It was like there’s an outrageous scrimmage inside me 

 “I am quite interested in you though ”  he said without any small hint of hesitation 

 “I am not worthy of such interest you're highness” the only direct word I uttered since my arrival.I lowered my head for some irrational cause. He stood up from his chair and surprisingly march nearer to where I am sitting. He stood beside the table and put his hand on its empty edge, then draw his face closer to mine, quite amused “How could you say that? Knowing that you are beauty caught my attention instantly” I am about to lose my sanity. His so close to me and it bothers me so much 

 “I----I’m” I stand up to face him, and tried to act casually in order to avoid any further errors “I am very pleased By the Hospitality you are giving me You’re Highness, Excuse my rudeness but, I wish to proceed to my quarters”

“You must be so tired now, of course!” the prince summoned a servant to escort me towards my room. 

As I walk along the servant, I notice the prince’s eyes won’t cease to follow me.

My room is much better than I imagined. Before the huge doorways, two gigantic urns was designed to welcome its guests with gaudy fresh roses on its aperture. The next side is a small shelter where my bed is located. Far ahead of us is a green partition, meant to conceal the imposing hidden waterfall-- which seems enjoyable to take a bath to. I am so excited to lay my hands on its sturdy water.

The servant excused himself and left. I went to lie on the bed to examine if it is comfortable enough, and it didn’t failed me at all. It is as soft as  cotton fiber soothing my entire body. I regard my eyes to the ceiling, thinking  about what the prince said. I don’t know what he really means to say, but, I guess it is a not very organized habit of getting himself be praised by his Charisma. I must not let my guard down. In the second thought, why would he do such hassles when he is already a prince. I have heard so many things about him, and most of them are so admirable.

“At his very young age he receive his maiden battle. Both his intelligence and combat skills are tremendous. He is the Hero and the living savior of his people, and the king is very proud of his son” 

My Nagum told me stories about the Prince, that he possess a power to control anything 

 If there is such a perfect Prince, it could be him. In this world where goblins, gnomes, elves and anonymous creatures exist, the prince’s ability is somewhat normal.

 I opened my eyes after I realize I fell into a deep sleep. I went to sit down on a drawer properly adjacent to the bed which is equally coated with the same color. I look at myself in the mirror, and suddenly decided to go out. I took my chance to see the nearby garden with a big fountain centering the green grass. The place is surrounded by orange light bulbs and even more glimmered by the flying crickets. I held a few steps closer to one of the light bulbs and got startled by the voice behind me 

“what are you doing here late at night?” it was the prince with a grim expression 

“I----I wanted to breath fresh air so” I said, he chortled fairly, revealing his sweet dimple and enticing lips 

“but you can breathe fresh air from your quarters right? It has no ceiling except from the tent” 

“I wanted more air, Fresher one!” 

“You think the air here is fresher?” 

“Yes! Why? Isn’t it?” 

“It sometimes vicious” he whispered through my ear. I cleared my throat for any possible meaning of his response. He took hold of my face and grab my waist closer to him “very much vicious” an undeniably breathtaking scenario “it is my pleasure to be abducted by your beauty”     

I started to feel his palm roaming behind me, dragging me closer and tighter. He overwhelmed me with his gentle kisses slowly digging deeper and deeper, showering me with a raging excitement into a never ending journey towards satisfaction. 

why am I letting him invade me! am I being possess or manipulated by his charm? for sure no one in our small tribe would ever treat me like this. No one would dare to touch the Ayah of the tribe. the sister of  Lamon. But I am a reckless woman, no, perhaps I am not a woman for them I suppose, for I have been one with my brothers who does hunting and battling beasts, which is not a woman normally do. But, why do I feel like a woman now? 

I felt so wistful and came to my sense, Oh, great god! Help, I am about to offer myself to a stranger, whom I just met for a day 

I pushed myself away from him and ran directly to my quarter. How regretful, for it was stunning. Yet I’m so scared, how could I? How cheap am I? I’m sweating hard for the place has become so hot unlike a while ago. What should I do then? The most unthinkable question I ever asked to myself. Does the prince shared the same feelings as I have? I wonder how he feels for me... despite of the dimness of the area, I can still recognize the prince with his blue coat designed with sleeves and collars, adorned in golden patterns .

 I can’t think of any possible way to get him out of my mind, but only to ask gods for it. However for some reasons, the gods aren’t answering me, and instead, they are compromising the situation. A sudden knock came to recover me. And I was so sure it is the servant girl I asked to come by long after I arrived, my place is so gloomy and I need someone to talk to 

“oh, thanks goodness maka, you’ve....” 

I startled and held my words backward, for it isn’t maka who visited me.It is the prince. He let himself walk in and let the door shut on its own 

“I came to apologize for my impudence” he spoke plainly “It’s okay you're highness, I should’ve not act like that as well. Let’s just forget about it, besi....” 

“Don’t get me wrong Arayan” he suddenly impede “I apologize for my manners, but, I do not regret my actions, what I did is what I did, you can never erase it from what has happened” 

I was astonished by his words

 “You see...I have encountered lots and lots of different beauties wanting my attention, yet, I don’t think it was your beauty alone who drove me into this... and I am still not sure what it is” the prince’s tone began to tranquil and put his attention away from me. He cover half of his face with his hand to conceal his embarrassment. His face started to redden 

“if that’s what you want my prince, then I couldn’t...” great goddess of the seas help me to control my feelings, or not, I am terrible of finishing my sentence before this man. My intention was to comfort him but, it is not what I did. I laid my hand on his face and kissed him the way he gave me at the garden, until, for the goodness of my own evocating interest, I allowed him to dominate over me. In response. He soak himself into my neck and invade me with  his oppressive touch. From my waist down to my tights and undress me with eager passion. He then took his upper clothing before throwing me into the bed. then himself at me. 

My body is burning with compassion. I am supposed to be innocent on these things. DEAR ME, I cannot handle myself. The way he grope his hands all over my body. His lips and his urge to pursue my virtue is ever-increasing. Damn it is unbearable. I wanted to fall back, step over him and ran away,  to relax, to calm myself I suppose. However I am as well imprisoned by on my own desires of him 

“Can I ask you one thing my prince?” such manner induce him to halt, catching his breath as I do

“yes?” he grinned cleverly. 

“What exactly do you feel for me?” for I am not confident with my looks nor my body.

“Do I have to answer that?” 

“Do you care?” 

“I want to know too” he seems not sure what he is talking about. Or is he playing with me?  his concern focuses on what we are doing. It seems that he has no intention of digging why, and that I have let a wolf devour me. How foolish of me, throwing myself into a sudden fire, knowing that I might get burn. Nope, for sure I will.

.........

ARAYAN? 

......

Arayan do you trust me?

 ...

Arayan woke up inside the metal bars of an underground prison with Quamran and Magnus. She noticed the likeness of the prison to the ones in Shuixron, and assumed that they might have taken into the Qionar’s kingdom palace. It seems that the idea of pretending to be her brother is wrong. The place is light up by only a single torch at the stairway. The area is close while the moths are covering the light, and there is no porthole to provide air, causing them difficult to   breathe.

“Thank goodness, how great we’re here!” Magnus exclaimed sarcastically “Hey! You don’t have a right to complain, you’re at fault too…”----“oh really, only I thought your brother has a wonderful reputation!” the place became more stifling with the two’s rubbish argument “stop it! You two” Quamran yelled. For so long they never heard a word from him throughout their travel and it surprised them a lot to finally do. Stunned enough to make them quite “sorry” the two hushed themselves in the corner until the door from above the stair made noise to open. Another light of a torch is approaching. Behind those walls, a woman in a Qionar’s culture gown appeared. 

A long brown cape with a baggy shoulder coat that allows her to expose her shoulders but not her hands and stomach “hello Lamon” greeted the woman. Her low voice sounds like she is seducing someone “I never had a chance to meet you. It never occurred to me that I will get to see you like this” said the woman while casually walking towards Quamran

 “how surprising to see you here after your victory over Kamuary. Is there someone you are looking for?” she supposed by staring at him in a sardonic look

 “ahmmmm... I think you’re wrong, that one is Quamran” Magnus clarified

 “oh please! Now what? Are you telling me that you are Lamon?” the woman turns her head and raising her eyebrow to Magnus, refusing any possible option he would give 

“nope! But he is” Said Magnus,  pointing out the other boy whose face implies of a woman’s, standing on the other side, raising both of his eyebrows, but in shock and hesitation

 “Him? Hah!” the woman laugh just the way that fraud slave merchant did 

“oh god, this can’t be another one” the woman sighted “What? You don’t believe me?” 

all of them looked at Magnus simultaneously

 “he might not look like a strong man but gathoms are known for their litheness and ingenuity in war. You will test him and you will see how he will prove your judgement wrong”

 Magnus, despite looking like a foolish beggar, his tall tale is convincing the woman. While Arayan is dreading herself forcefully smiling back to the woman, as if asking her to spare their lives. 

The woman sternly examined her before coming up into a conclusion “well then if you are Lamon yourself” she leered at her “prove it, and if you’re not. You will meet your consequences for deceiving me” 

Arayan was all stunned after her. Analyzing how everything went up from her being Lamon into her proving herself as Lamon. Whereas Magnus looks ostensibly relax and Quamran is the only one trying to clear things up, but the woman won’t let him utter even a single word for her defense. She already made up her mind over the said Lamon

 “You are to prove yourself tomorrow” said the woman before leaving. 

“Arayan, there is no need for you to fight, we know Lamon is not here”— “Huh!” Arayan shook her head to wake herself from the nightmare. But it wasn’t a nightmare at all, it is all real, and the woman’s threat is real as well

 “We must find our way to escape” Quamran suggested “I agree” said Magnus “Shut up. You are the one who put us into this situation” Quamran yelled at him and forced him into the wall, he was about to hit Magnus when Arayan stopped him from doing so 

“Yeah, because it is not entirely my fault, you are the one who pretended to be Lamon at the first place” Magnus inferred. 

“Maybe we’ll just tell them the truth” said Quamran 

“No. I will face it” she never really had any good idea but, establishing a name to attract those who possibly kidn*pped her brother might be better than wondering around looking for him with no trace to where he might have brought to. And of course, Gathom’s will never decline a battle.