Everything Under The Covers (Plastic Wrappers)

The Duke part II

2016

The man opened the car door as I continued screeching for help, using all my strength to hit his body, as he literally threw me inside. I tried quickly to jump out, as the door closed in front of me. In the dim interior of the car,my breath came in panicked puffs as nausea rolled in my stomach. I felt unbridled terror as I was left in darkness. I heard the click of the other door as Dev's uncle came inside and closed the door. I scrambled to the other side of the limo in his presence. I started sweating and could feel my bladder cramped in the panic. My stomach always hurt whenever I felt tension or anxiety and now wasn't any different, as I stared at the villainous man.

"You killed Him" I choked out.

It felt like a hallucination. I had never met a wielder before, not to talk of one using his powers, violently in front of me. I knew that Dev must have inherited some of his mother's magic but I'd never seen him demonstrate any of his powers. Neither had a lot of people. I understood that they didn't really venture outside their lands, as they stereotypically felt too superior to the rest of the human race. They rarely came this far. That's why I had genuinely not encountered any before except Dev. And that was because he was of mixed blood. I wasn't sure about how the abilities passed on to their offspring, since a lot of pureblooded Abians reportedly didn't have them. It must have been because he had been a prince. A prince no more. I thought bitterly as the car began to move.

"I'm being kidn*pped. By a man I don't even know" Memory was a bit foggy, on if he had told me his name in the confusion.

We drove for a while before my captor spoke up. "Dont fret, precious one, I wouldn't want to harm a child like you".

I could feel him coming closer. His voice travelled closer as he moved in front of me. His hot breath gave me goosebumps. I had to stay calm. He obviously wanted something from me. If he'd wanted to hurt me, I wouldn't have been in this car. "At least not for now." My thoughts continued to race as I visibly forced myself to be calm. I was a hostage. For which purpose, I needed to figure out. "Maybe as a bargaining chip?"

My stepfather was a very powerful man. And his son was heir to one of the most powerful dynasties in the world. Two, in fact, from both his parents. Maybe I was going to be a political prisoner.

"You've suddenly gone quiet, fair one".He eyed me shrewdly. " I'd like to pick you apart and inspect what's underneath." He grinned eerilly, flashing his fangs. Trepidation wormed into my stomach. I suddenly became suspicious that maybe he had no ulterior motives. "Maybe he wanted to toy with me."

"You killed him." I stated , my breath coming in fast and short. "Is there a reason why you forced me here? Where are you taking me?"

"Nowhere specific, I need to kill time and must just want your company"

He sized me up and that made me realize that I was still putting on my school uniform..I felt naked under his stare, feeling like he could see under my clothes. The light cardigan suddenly felt flimsy as my thighs exposed. I worried that he would hurt me after all.

The car door was opened suddenly, jumping in fright. I realized in my panic that I hadn't noticed the car coming to a stop. With a small jolt, another person entered the car. The man spoke into the com control system, commanding the driver to turn on the lights. The interior lit up, revealing the face of the new car occupant. A beautiful redhead stared at me with disdain. She had the unique and exotic features only Scandinavian women could possess. She wore a red tailored jacket over a green slip dress that opened at her chest, and held a fur shawl. She was long limbed, sloe-eyed and pale, but as she opened her mouth to speak to the man. A strange language emanated from her tongue. It was with a lyrical tone in which she spoke with my captor. Glancing at me, she posed what sounded like a question to him. He gave a reply at which they both laughed. Seeing how friendly they were to each other, I concluded that she wasn't a friend. She wouldn't help me escape. She was a part of this whole hidden agenda of His. She spoke up again and he responded in English.

"She's a pretty girl but nothing as spectacular as you. My Queen."

"Was she royalty?" The man probably was. He carried himself as someone with immense power and since he had claimed to be Dev's uncle. It made sense. But this woman's origins were murky. "Had the people of Abian sworn in a new ruler?"

During my rounds I'd have heard news of a queen. I knew their monarch had died fairly recently with no heirs. He had unfortunately been plagued by poor health since his younger years which had left him sterile and unmarried with no heirs. The royal lineage would've fallen to his siblings and cousins and maybe their progeny. The throne, they said, needed someone to unite and control the twelve clans. Someone with immense power and influence. Fighting over the throne had always been a bloody affair.

The royal line was untainted with power in their bloodline. A bloodline that Dev's mother had passed on to him. And if this man was Dev's uncle, that meant he would be in line as a successor. And calling the female his Queen would mean she could be his wife. His coming to America during a volatile time of power grabbing, told me that this action taken against Dev was deliberate and well planned. He hadn't come for me. He had come to kill Dev and take his throne. It made sense now. I was a witness, that was probably why I had been nabbed.

Dev had been antsy these past months. His uncle's death must have been a trigger for his recent reintroduction into European high society. I had been silly not to realize that he'd have a claim to the throne even if he'd not been a direct royal heir. I didn't think he would have anything to worry about or to prepare for. I now saw that, since his mother's family had been direct descendants of the sky king, he was definitely a legitimate heir and apparently a thorn in his uncle's side.

The two individuals continued their hushed conversation, as I worked all this out slowly in my head. Coming to the conclusion, that he'd shot Dev after I'd served as a distraction. Maybe Dev had even arranged the meeting. He' d probably suspected something was coming and had moved to my estate with more privacy, in preparation. That was probably why he had sent the staff away. He hadn't expected me to be in the house, thinking that Kendra had taken me with her.

"You're a quiet one, my pet. I expected you to be more curious about our visitor". He spoke

"She must be imagining the absolute worst of you, Konrad. I'm sure you have offered her no proper introductions. Your manners need more work" The mystery woman finally spoke to me with a grin.

"My name is Ralia Maevaur, the royal consort to the reagent. the Grand Duke of the fifth clan, His grace, Duke Konrad Lenchen ". She finished with flourished.

"At least I finally know whom I'm dealing with" satisfied at being correct in my estimation of the Duke's motive. "She called him a reageant" That meant he was temporarily ruling in place of the future monarch.

"We were planning to negotiate with young prince Devlin, about some matters. And here, to our surprise, you're just the perfect bargaining chip, aren't you"?

She drew a deep breath, her eyes flashing red. " Your essence is very sweet". Her eyes danced as she slowly came closer to stroke my hair. " Don't fret child, we'll conclude our business with you very soon."

"What do you mean?" I spoke up finally.

She said nothing, only staring at me as she griped my head a bit tighter. She finally let go after applying some more pressure and leaned back to her seat, satisfied at rattling me with her strange behavior.

"Why! we informed young Prince Devilin of our intention to tour this country and visit his American family one by one, starting with his adorable younger sister, who would have expected him to be right there waiting for us?" She asked innocently.