Chapter 2 The hide and seek game

The grand palace court was filled with an assembly of ministers and subjects, their faces etched with tension and panic. The air crackled with hushed discussions about the previous night's invasion.

King Judrith sat on his throne like a storm cloud of rage.

How dare someone attempt to take his life-within his own walls?

The bitter reality of the assassin's escape gnawed at him.

"I am so sorry, my king, but the man was incredibly skilled with the best swordsmanship I have ever witnessed," Luke explained, kneeling before the furious monarch, his head bowed low.

"He killed ten of my men, and you let him go, you rascal!" the king roared, slamming his hand against the table with a resounding thud.

Luke cowered, silently praying for his life.

"What were you doing? Almost fifty guards couldn't catch a single man! What a disgrace!" Judrith bellowed.

"Forgive me, my king, however-"

A sudden loud commotion and a crashing sound from outside cut him off.

"What is going on outside?" the king demanded, his voice booming with authority.

"Check it this instant, Luke," he ordered.

His gaze swept across the court.

"And where is Jade? He-"

The door burst open violently.

A wounded Luke staggered in, blood pouring from his body. He clutched his stomach, an arrow lodged deep within him.

His breath came in ragged gasps.

"Your Majesty..." he groaned, stumbling forward.

All eyes turned to him.

"We are under attack!" he shrieked, his knees buckling as he crashed to the floor.

The king stared, stunned.

"What do you mean?" he demanded.

"The-the palace is under attack," Luke forced out.

Gasps filled the hall.

"Attack? Who dares walk into their own death?" the king shot to his feet, disbelief blazing in his eyes.

Then the distant screams and clash of swords made sense.

Reality hit.

"Your Majesty, we are truly under attack!" one of the ministers cried, fear lacing his voice.

"We must act, my king," Lord Riverdale said, his tone steady despite the fear beneath it.

"Jade. Where is Jade?" the king barked, his gaze fixed on the writhing Luke.

"He... he-"

"And why is the king seeking my presence?"

A voice cut through the chaos.

A young man stepped into the courtroom-his hand gripping the princess's neck, a thin trail of blood marking where his fingers pressed into her skin.

In his other hand, he held a bloodied sword.

The king's gaze snapped to his daughter-and what he saw in her eyes was pure dread.

Rage exploded within him.

"And who are you?" he demanded.

"Jade," the man replied, his voice cold, savage. A mocking smirk curled his lips.

The room fell silent.

But this was not Jade.

The man bore none of Jade's scars, none of his roughness. Instead, he stood tall and striking, his neatly kept hair tied to the back.

Yet the resemblance-

It was unmistakable.

Judrith's breath hitched.

"You... you are alive," he stammered.

Prince Damon's smirk widened. His grip on the princess tightened, drawing a pained whimper from her.

"I've waited for this day, Judrith."

He shoved her forward roughly. She nearly fell.

"Finally... Judrith."

"You dare betray me!" the king roared.

Damon let out a cold snort.

"I came to take what is mine. And trust me, Judrith-no one here can stop me."

"You bastard! You dare walk into my territory and try to humiliate me?" Judrith spat, eyes bloodshot.

"You think you deserve to live? After what you've done? Slaughtering innocent people, stealing their home-...." Damon's voice dripped with fury.

"You deserve to die, Judrith. I am here to make you pay."

Judrith burst into a twisted laugh.

The court stared at him in disbelief.

His laughter cut sharply.

"You wish."

He descended from his throne, a sinister smile forming.

"I'll give you credit. You fooled me."

"You wormed your way into my trust. A groveling dog, yet seething with vengeance... impressive."

Damon's jaw clenched.

"You should have stayed hidden, Prince Damon."

Gasps echoed through the hall.

"Guards!" Judrith roared.

Soldiers flooded the court, swords drawn.

"Capture the traitor!"

No one moved.

"What are you doing?!" he bellowed

Damon smirked darkly..

With a simple flick of his hand, the soldiers moved but not toward him.

They seized the king.

Forced him to his knees.

Shock rippled through the court.

"Father!" Princess Sabrina screamed, struggling as a guard forced her down.

"You son of a snake!" Judrith spat.

"You do not rule here, Judrith," Damon said coldly.

"You think you can kill me and walk out alive?" the king snarled.

Damon stepped forward, gripping his throat.

"I could kill you right now... tear you apart piece by piece," he said softly.

His grip tightened.

"But death would be mercy."

His gaze shifted to the frightened princess.

"I prefer something worse."

Judrith struggled violently.

"Don't you dare!"

Damon ignored him, dragging the princess forward.

"You remember that night?" he said.

"You made me run... made me believe I had escaped. Then your men dragged me back."

His voice darkened.

"You threw me into a dungeon. Tortured me for two years."

His grip tightened.

"I was ten."

Silence.

"I begged for death... and you denied me even that."

His eyes burned with fury.

"You didn't want to kill me. You wanted to destroy me."

The court trembled.

"So now..." Damon said slowly,

"I return the game."

He leaned closer.

"Hide and seek."