Chapter 8 Dark King

KIARA

" Lily. " I turned around to face them.

" Lara. Mary. " I looked at all the beloved faces one by one.

" Only God knows how much I have loved you girls in my life. Only God knows that you were closer to me than my own family. Whenever I felt like I was weak, you became my strength." I confessed, fearing that I was never going to see them again like Crown Prince Kylo Antiglone and my brother Zuko.

" You shouldn't talk like this, My Princess. This is not the time to show your weakness. " Lily interfered, saying the same words that she had always said to me.

" Lily! Don't interrupt me. Not right now. I know this is the time to tell you this because I fear I might not get the chance. "

" No, My Princess. We will not let anything happen to you as long as we are alive. " Lily, Mary, Lara and Madam Alina said in unison as if it was a practiced line for them.

I squeezed my eyes shut. " That's what I fear. "

Silence ensued.

" Just know this...You were not my servants like everyone always believed. You three women has always been my family. " I opened my eyes and spoke with love and sincerity.

" We know and we love you. " Lily spoke for all three of them as Madam Alina watched our exchange with tear filled eyes.

Then, we waited. In the silence of the eery room.

We refused to look at each other. Lily insisted for me to keep my wound covered, but when I commanded her to stop bugging me, she followed my command and stopped pestering me.

My breath was caught in my throat as I heard the noises drawing near. They were close and they were coming.

After some time, all noises ceased. My heart was beating on a fast rhythm.

" Are they gone? " Lara whispered.

" I am not sure. " Mary whispered back.

Silence fell between us as we all stared at the wall which was the door.

Something was there. Something was coming. A voice screamed inside me.

My hand reached out for the small dagger which was always hidden under my skirt, strapped against my thigh. I pulled it out and Lily noticed the move.

She gulped visibly as we both shared a cautious eye contact. She could feel it in her bones too.

Silence was never a good sign when we were getting attacked. It was like the enemy was keeping us in the dark, playing with our emotions.

I pushed my left hand behind my back, the dagger clenched between my fingers and palm tightly.

My jaw went taut as my heartbeat sped. Sweat began to coat my body.

All of a sudden, the wall in front of us smoothly slid away, revealing four men wearing full warrior black armours, their faces covered with their helmets.

They found us. My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach and my fingers tightened around the hilt of the small dagger.

Lily, Mary, Lara and Madam Alina came in front of me, forming a wall which would fall only when they all died.

My heart swelled in my chest as I watched the four warriors staring us down without making any move.

Why were they not doing anything?

My question was answered right after a moment when they parted to give way to cloud of darkness which made its way from between them and then a figure appeared.

My eyes fell to the figure's feet which were surrounded by dark smoke. Slowly, I trailed my eyes up the black leather pants, then the black fitted shirt which clung to his body, defining all his muscles.

My eyes stopped at his chest which seemed to be too still for him to be human. My heartbeat slowed down this time, the remaining hope leaving me at once.

Power was his companion. It seemed to be an entity instead of a simple trait when it accompanied him. He stood as if he was the stoned powerful statue everyone admired after seeing for the first time in their life.

" Princess." A deep compelling voice called out to me, sending chills down my spine.

My eyes rose to the sharp angular jaw of the figure and then to his plump cherry lips and then to his straight pointed nose and then to his eyes, the house of darkness, dark as night.

My breath was still struck in my throat and everything seemed to be only getting worse, the longer I looked at him.

" The Dark King. " I whispered back to him, compelled to look into his black eyes.

My heart began to thump against my ribcage, in crushing fear.

He was here. Right in front of me. Calling me out. Ready to rip me apart. For the first in my life. And the last time too provably.

This moment right here - this moment was the most feared moment of my life. I never wanted to meet him, see him or even know how he looked like but here he was, crushing all my wishes in a heartbeat.

I released a breath when he took a step forward and my ladies-in-waiting became a wall between us both. They were trembling. Anyone with eyes could see that and it pained my heart to see their devotion to me in such a moment.

His eyes moved to look at them. A stillness was clouding his vision, making him look scary even if his face was the most handsome face I have seen in my life.

Now, I could understand why everyone was traumatised after seeing him. It was not that his face was that of a monster with horns like some often told in tales - it was his reputation for being the most heartless person alive that scared people, it was his stillness which made one feel as if he rose from the dead to chew at the flesh of the living and it was the darkness - always the darkness and it was the acceptance that he was not a human, indeed.

" You ladies are blocking my way. " He hummed and his threatening voice made me gulp the lump in my throat.

" Step aside. " I ordered them.

He would kill them. Fear clutched me into its claws, making my heart bleed.

" My Princess. " Lily tried to interfere, but I shot her a vicious glare to shut her up.

I wouldn't risk her life for a lost cause.

" STEP. ASIDE. " My voice grew dominant and powerful.

The Dark King observed me keenly, the smugness in his gaze sending shivers of dread down my spine.

My small wall of protection slipped aside, giving way to the Dark King.

My muscles tightened when he stalked towards me, his movement holding the same stillness of a stone, making my heart thump harder against my ribcage.

I held my head high when he stopped in front of me, a distance of one step left between us.

His eyes bore into mine. The darkness reaching out to me in a strange way.

" Are you not too fearless, Princess of Mylvania? " He mocked in a throaty voice, maliciousness reflecting in his tone.

My feet trembled, threatening to give out from under me and make me fall on my knees. I resisted the weakness in me even though the fear was clouding my judgment and the Dark King could see it clearly.

His hand slowly reached forward and my own left hand pushed forward.

I wouldn't die like this.

The dagger almost penetrated his side. Almost.

But he grabbed it between his fist at the last moment. Shock claimed me and my eyes lowered to his hand which was holding the dagger.

" Nice try. " He commented and then his hand touched the crown resting atop my head.

He ripped it off my head, my small scarf falling on the floor and some of my hair breaking off the roots, making me hiss.

A small sigh escaped his lips, his hot breath fanning my face.

If I was afraid before, now I was about to faint due to horror.

I watched him. With my tears and terror filled eyes. My hand was twisting the dagger to push it further and his hand was holding it in place.

He didn't care that he was bleeding and his blood was now staining the floor and the dagger and my hand and my dress.

This seemed to be amusing to him.

He twirled my crown between his finger, taunting my existence, my position, my life.

Anger filled me and hate followed shortly.

Then, he looked back at me slowly. Our eyes met with a heart-wrenching ferocity.

The crown gradually slipped out of his fingers and fell down on the ground, making a cling noise. The sound fell on my heart and a tear slipped past my eyes, tracing my cheek and disappearing down my neck.

The biggest ruby in my crown broke out of the gold and rolled over to his feet.

The Dark King snatched the dagger out of my hold next and then stepped away from me, before turning around and marching back to the guards.

I released a breath, my eyes fixated on his back.

Before he left, he didn't forget to command the guards. " Bring all of them. If anyone resists, kill them. "

He glanced at me from over his shoulder, making my breath hitch in my throat. " But don't hurt the princess. If she resists, kill her little friends for her mistakes. "

Then, he turned and left us with the guards who didn't waste any moment and marched forward.

My mind was in shock. He left just like this. I didn't know if it was for better or for worse that he was taking us with him instead of killing us here.

" What do we do, Your Highness. " Madam Alina whispered, backing away towards me.

She would protect me with her life. I had no doubt about it.

" Do not Resist. " I ordered all the women, leaving everything up to fate.

" But My Princess! " Lily shook her head.

I looked at her, my head still held high. " Do. Not. Resist. That's an order. "