Diamant

Chapter 27 - A Trap

Diamant woke up with a smile plastered on her face. She had a great night full of warmth. Speaking of warmth, she felt like she was in someone's embrace. She looked at that the bed and what she saw threw her mind into shock.

For how long had she been in his arms? She struggled to be set free and DL woke up. He let her go.

"Why would you hold me like that?" She questioned, really angry.

"You were having a nightmare and I had to hold you close to me." DL said his ever confident voice flattered.

She stood up in rage and stared down at him. "Those nightmares are your fault." She said with angry tears. "You can't do anything to take them away. You are useless."

Immediately he stood up and was right in front of her. He was angry too, his eyes darkened as he felt he had been greatly insulted. "Remember your place, Slave." He said to her maliciously while they stared daggers at each other.

"My place, yes. I shouldn't always forget it the way I do." She said and stepped away from him. "But like I said before, it is all as long as you have the chains." She said and went into the bathroom slamming the door firm.

How could she? How dare she? Lay next to the one who had brought death upon her Grandpa, one who had ruined her life and was unapologetic about it! How dare she had seek comfort from him in her sleep?!

His scent still filled her skin from how long they've laid together.

It annoyed her that it calmed her down, made her relax. She went into the tub and started washing it away.

What was wrong with her?

She had to remain focused. She had to do what she must quickly. Quickly before she won't be able to do it anymore.

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Diamant watched the bird fly away and she smiled in fulfillment.

"I am sorry for what happened this morning." The familiar voice said and the smile on her face faded away.

Why was he apologizing? This way it would be so hard for her.

He walked closer to her and she could already feel that familiar warmth. It wasn't even a week yet and she was already feeling herself attached to him.

What nonsense! She walked away.

"Where are you going?" He asked.

"To look for Dimitri." She replied.

"Ania." He called out darkly. His voice powerful enough to stop her in her tracks but she continued.

"I want to get out of here as quickly as I can. I don't think staying here longer will be any good for me." She said as she left.

DL ran his hand arcoss his hair in frustration. He sat on the bed and stared out the window.

Whatever was happening between him and Diamant, he sure found it as an escape and he didn't want them to leave anytime soon. After yesterday night, he had thought to himself, if the mad moon was playing tricks then he could as well enjoy it. It wasn't like it would stick with him forever.

He heard the door open again and Diamant came in looking a little crossed.

"Lucas is outside there drunk and he thinks that I am Dora." Diamant explained and she sat back on the bed.

DL laughed. He went outside and came back in.

"Breakfast in bed?" DL asked "my lovely wife."

Diamant rolled her eyes. She didn't want to play the game. It kept getting dangerous and dangerous.

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The festival still stretched on, it would go on for days and one aspect of it was watching the fireworks.

Everyone would gather outside after the dance to watch the fireworks. It was always very intriguing and captivating.

Diamant and DL left immediately after the dance. It wasn't an easy task to get away from Lucas never ending stories and Dora's deafening silence. No complain about Dora but Lucas just won't keep quiet.

DL had to spill wine on Diamant's gown for them to get away from Lucas.

Now they were facing the dark left hallway at the West wing. Their dark costumes allowing them to blend in with the darkness. They moved carefully and swiftly but there were only few warriors there guiding the hallway. It was no hard task finding the main door that held what they were looking for. It was easy to find it.

It was the only door.

They pushed the door forward and it opened giving them a free entry. DL's face twisted in suspicion.

Wasn't it too easy? Except if too easy was the protection they gave over the scroll.

He tried to push his suspicion aside as Diamant wasn't saying anything about it. They went in and the room was lit dimly by a candlelight. At the middle of the room was a box and it was the only thing in the room.

Diamant pushed ahead and went to the box that was placed on the bricks built up for it. The candlelight danced and Diamant's eyes glowed with curiosity. She tried to opened the box but DL stopped her as soon as she stretched her hands to it. The warmth from his tight hand sipped into hers but she focused on him instead, focused on his searching eyes. He was looking around the room for any form of trap. After being satisfied with what he saw, he allowed her to try to open the box.

It was locked, it had a secret way to unlock it. Now that was more like it, DL thought, his eyes bumming with satisfaction. He was an expert with things like that. He opened the box in no time but disappointment soon washed over the both of them.

The scroll was empty. It was a trick.

DL didn't allow himself to wallow in self pity for long, he looked around quickly knowing that this was a trap. He saw the door closing slowly and he held Diamant's hand quickly, dragging her out of the room as fast as he could.

They blended into the shadows as they ran quickly out of the hallway towards their room to not get caught. They could hear a bell distantly ringing to alert the guards of their disturbance at the West Wing. Warriors poured into the hallway quickly but they were still able to get away.

They were cautious as they approached their room. They had changed their clothing to simple ones but they were still being careful. They were distance away when they saw warriors with torches around their room. Diamant pulled DL into the bush quickly with her and they watched them. They weren't close enough so they couldn't hear what they were saying. King Canilus was there and some warriors stood close to the room. Lucas and Dora were being spoken to. Dora's face was twisted in pure boredom but Lucas seemed really angry, King Canilus didn't seem pleased too. One warrior had Dora's hands in ropes. It felt like they were being threatened.

They looked further and someone was dragged to the entrance of their room. From his dressing, he was a minister. A bag was over his head so they couldn't tell who he was but he looked like one that had been badly beaten. King Canilus walked over to him and the bag was pulled away.

It was Dimitri.

DL clenched his teeth in anger. They had been discovered. He just didn't know how much they knew and if they stay here longer, it will be unsafe for them. Here he was wasn't with his staff, here he had no dragon, no Goben and no millions of warriors. Here he had Diamant, only Diamant.

He pulled her away slowly and soon they started running.

One thing was sure, they were in danger.

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They still kept silent. It had been a while now and they were far from the palace and they were heading to the River, one of Canilus borders. Yet the borders weren't safe places to go, they would be ready for them. Still, they really didn't have any choice but the border they had choose to pass through is one that were used by the elders of Canilus during a war. A secret escape route through the river that was abandoned because of how dangerous it was. The river wasn't really a cooperative one and the tides killed a lot of people. The river is the one linked to the Death Bridge in Alusa.

They had stopped to breath when they heard people coming behind them.

"Forward, I saw them!" Someone shouted and Diamant's heart raced. DL's fist clenched in rage, he wasn't used to running like this. He was a warrior, a King! Still, sometimes running was the smarter thing to do and now here he was again, running.

Still the torches caught up with them. Some warriors poured in front of them and soon they were surrounded. Swords came clashing immediately. What kind of warrior surrenders easily to the enemy? The kill was easy for Diamant and DL , they were winning and not minding the blood that was splashed on their clothes in the process. The moon was bright and Diamant couldn't help but think how peaceful the night would have been.

They had their backs turned to each other and they were watching each other's back but Diamant wasn't watching well enough. As Canilus' warriors were trying to retreat from having been hit badly, an arrow was shoot at Diamant.

It came flying at her and she looked up a little too late. She stiffened her body in anticipated pain. Time seemed to stop and when it moved back she felt no pain. Her hand slowly creeped to her chest where the arrow should be dug in but it was still okay. She looked in front of her to see DL pulling out an arrow from his arm. His face twisted in pure rage and agony. It took her sometime to process what he did.

He took an arrow for her.

"You should know by the way I built my Kingdom. The Capital is at the front!" She remembered what he said on the early days of her being a Black Mask. Now it made sense, he would put himself in danger instead of his warriors. Diamant felt knives digging into her heart and her hand went up to her chest. Her eyes glittered with doubt. Her mind wasn't stable again, too many thoughts ran across her mind and her throat hurt from the pressure of unspoken words, tightening from choked tears.

"Not the lady! Run, we are in trouble!" One of the warriors shouted, his voice sounding distantly to Diamant. The warriors all shook in fear, as they all dropped their weapons and runn away.

DL lifted his sword which now suddenly weighed a ton. He couldn't understand, this wasn't the first time he had been injured in battle. Infact injuries like this were nothing to what he had suffered in the past. He thought about how this too would undoubtedly heal soon as he walk confidently to Diamant.

"You should be more watchful." He scolded, his voice flat but she paid attention to his bleeding arm, as he towered over her. He started walking away. His face now devoid of emotions.

"Hurry, they will be back for us. Don't just stand there." He said again his voice devoid of emotion as he hurriedly took a bow and some arrows the warriors had left. He had to watched where he stepped carefully as dead warriors were scattered everywhere.

Diamant nodded and took some arrows too. She started walking but she was still behind so she started running to catch up with him.

As he continued his confident and quick strides, something felt wrong. His head became fuzzy and he became really dizzy. He shook his head in denial as he blinked his eyes furiously. It couldn't be it, he thought to himself.

He fought to regain control but he could feel himself slipping away slowly into the darkness.

It couldn't be!

He soon felt the hard ground crashing against his skin, hitting his b****y arm against the ground as the pain jammed into his head. He could hear Diamant's hurried feet hitting against the ground as she ran to him with fear flooding her mind.

His breathing became heavy, his heart beat rapidly and he tugged at his throat which was tightening in pain.

He was losing and he felt strength leaving him, slowly he was slipping away then suddenly all he could see was darkness.

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He woke up slowly and looked around him. He felt a palm over his mouth, the smoothness against his own lips. He looked up to find Diamant looking down at him.

It was cold, and he discovered that it was still at night. She made an eye signal to him and he looked at the direction she was staring at. They were hidden but some people were at the other side of the bush.

They had their torches but their was one that had a black mask over his face. He paced back and forth like he was furious. The warriors around him stood in fear.

"You can't just lose them like that. Find them! I want her and if any harm comes to her, I swear that Canilus will pay with his life. I will also wipe you all from the face of the Earth!" He said darkly to the one who looked like the leader of the warriors.

"Your wish is our Command." She said and bowed quickly.

"Which one of your warriors attacked her?" He asked again ignoring her response.

"He is dead as you have instructed." She replied him expecting praises.

"That wasn't my question!" His voice stung with rage.

The leader of the warrior shook with fear but she quickly regained balance. "Bida was a young warrior, just recruited, he only wanted to please you Ma..."

"Shut up, Dora!" He said quickly as he tightened his hand on Dora's arm. She tried to hide the pain she was feeling but her eyes flashed in pain. She bit her lips to stop herself from shouting in agony. "I have no use for explanations. I want her safe, if anything happens to her again, I won't hesitate to kill that Lucas of yours myself! That talkative i***t that knows nothing!" He shouted to her and let her go roughly. She staggered back, glad to be free.

Dora felt uneasy, she wanted to defend Lucas but it wouldn't be worth both their lives.

"I won't disappoint you, My Lord" Dora bowed and all the warriors did.

"Better, for Canilus sake. For the whole of Canilus you better not, you know how I am when I am angry." He said as he held his his left hand that was shaking slightly in his other hand.

"We will not fail you, Master." She said again.

When they left, DL and Diamant were still in shock. Canilus had known all along. They looked at each other and they felt trapped. Dora was a warrior in disguise, Lucas knew nothing about this, Dimitri had been caught and the one who they had been looking for had been there.

The Masked Man was The Master.

Still who was the man behind the mask? Why had Diamant been so important to him? Was Liliana Giffred, Dora? Could it be possible?

They looked away and lingered in silence for sometime. The question kept coming back.

Who was the Master?