Diamant

Time : Pure Hearts (The Past)

Place: Alusa

Lucius's boots made an echoing sound against the floor with each step he took, staining the sparkingly clean floor with mud and blood. His gaze was fixed on the bed at the center of the room where his father laid. From where he stood, he could only see the cloth covering and the pillows but not who laid on the bed. He dropped his weapons one after the other making them clank loudly against the floor and finally he got to his father's bedside. He knelt down at his sick father's feet, dropped the golden specter that wieghed a ton and touched his forehead against his father's bony legs while he held them in his blood-filled hands, smearing them with it.

"You will never have my blessings." Adreno's feeble voice broke his train of thought. Lucius stood up with a straight face and stared at his father's sulkened one. He had become so sick that his skin looked like a withering flesh covering his bones.

So sick and so old...

Adreno stared at his son with sadness. His son had grown tall and lean with a darkness that seemed to consume his very being. His dark skin was smeared with innocent blood but his eyes held such pride that it sickened Adreno much more than his current illness.

"What is the use of a dragon if you don't use it to conquer Kingdoms?"

"It was a gift, a gift of peace!" Adreno's shaking voice hissed, managing to convey his displeasure.

"How can a magical creature that spits fire be a gift of peace?!"

"It is he who wields the specter that has been consumed totally of darkness."

"Are you saying that I am consumed with darkness?" His silent raging voice fought through his teeth.

There was silence for too long that it irritated Lucius.

"I have given you glory more than you can ever imagine. I have made Alusa a great Kingdom. Tell me why I don't deserve your blessings, father." His voice was so quiet but his eyes were stormy, like the tumbling of a silent destructive wave.

"Look at you!" Adreno said forcefully. His body wreaked with fatigue but he pushed through. "Blood of the innocent! You are not my son."

Lucius glared at his father then his lips morphed into a tight smile. He crossed his arms across his bare chest tightly.

"You want to rule a small village? Rule with peace?" He mocked. "Can you not see what I have done?! Can you not see what I have achieved?! With so much greatness, I have brought Kingdoms down, powerful kingdoms. They tremble at my feet and I have given all these to you. I give you their fear, their glory, their bountiness. I deserve your blessings, I have worked hard for it!"

"I don't want it," Adreno spat, "We are people of peace!"

"Peace my foot!" He snapped. "This is only the beginning, father. When I am done, I shall have the whole world at my feet...," he tightened his fists and stared into space, his eyes filled with madness as his mind dwelled on images of trembling Kingdoms then he looked back at his father, the crazy smile still plastered on his face. "...and your blessings." He started walking away.

Adreno turned slightly and watched his son as he started leaving. He felt bitterness and sorrow so much that he could actually taste it. He looked up at the ceiling and a tear rolled down his cheek. "You are consumed with darkness. How did you become like this? You are a bastard! Son of darkness."

Hearing that, Lucius stopped immediately in his track. He gritted his teeth, the veins around his neck probbed and he clenched his fists in anger. He started walking to his father.

"This sickness has driven you far from good reasoning! I might as well put you out of your misery." The two large scars at either side of his cheeks that reached to his jaws seemed to move, anger radiated through his body. He grapped one of the many pillows used to support his father on the bed. Adreno shivered and his teeth began clanking against one another in fear.

Lucius immediately placed the pillow over his father's face tightly. Adreno's hands crawled at Lucius's desperately in a struggle for his life, his whole body jacking violently. He dug his nails into Lucius's lean strong hands to stop him, blood sipped out of the cut but Lucius ignored it. His father's attempts were feeble, weak and uncalculated to him. Soon the struggle stopped, he lifted the pillow off. His father's eyes were glazed over and his mouth was partly opened. He put the pillow back in its place then he placed his hand over his father's eyes, pushing down his eyelids.

"Sleep tight, father." He whispered but was cut short when a clank echoed across the room. He looked at the doorway to see a lady who was slowly slipping to the ground with tears running down her eyes. His face twisted with disapproval.

"Young Master, what have you done?" Her voice came out as a whisper, weak and crumbling from sadness.

"Spread the word, the King is dead."

She looked at him, fixated at her spot with fear and shock.

"Go, now!"

She jumped up to her feet immediately. She stepped on her gown and tripped but stood up quickly. She looked back at the room, fear dancing in her eyes before bolting out.

He stepped to the small table near the bed and picked up the crown, staining the majestic golden crown with dark blood. Then he settled it on his head with a smile.

"A perfect fit."

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Mass release Information

Mass release is determined by the amount of votes. For every 100 votes, a chapter will be released, that means once the votes hits 100 votes, there will be a new chapter. If there is another 100 in addition, that is another chapter again and so on. Note that this is asides the update schedule which will keep on coming as stipulated.

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The Gloss family was like any average family in Lobina. The house was just moderate, the noise was just that of the rattling of the pans and the aroma of baking filled the air. Bread, cake , it was just so relaxing. The lights were on and the rattling continued until it came to a pause.

"So, when do you go across, Grandpa?" The voice came from the kitchen, it was that of a young lady.

She raised her voice for her Grandpa, who has his eyes strained on a couple of scrolls, to hear her.

"Soon enough. I am just worried that I might leave you again. Business now and then, I could almost say, business got more of me than you do at times." He blinked, not liking it.

Diamant walked to him, placing the baked food on the table for him. She had her hair packed in a ponytail and her black eyes sparkled as they flickered towards her Grandpa's wrinkled face. She set the food lightly, then ran to fetch a glass of water from the kitchen while she tucked her stubborn black hair behind her ear.

"But no, Grandpa. No business, no food. No food, no baking!" She smiled as they both settled down to eat.

"That will be cruel on my granddaughter who loves baking." He smiled.

"You look better now or should I say, you look 40." She said grabbing a cup of water to prevent her from choking.

"Am I supposed to remind you that I am way over 40?" He questioned jokingly, knowing his granddaughter's tricks to get him to smile more.

"I know, I know. I am just saying" She laughed then suddenly looked thoughtful.

"I wish I knew them, my family. I wish they didn't die in that ship wreck. It must be hard for you, Grandpa. You won't leave me, right? Grandpa Gloss, promise me that you will never leave me."

At that moment, something flickered in his eyes, something embedded with secrets, a look she never understood, never asked.

"I promise that I will never leave you, my little gem." He said.

They smiled at each other and went back to their food.

"It will be your birthday in a few days, what present shall I get you?" Grandpa Gloss asked while he eat loudly.

"And here I was thinking you would surprise me!" She clapped dramatically.

His smile dropped and he paused eating.

Her eyes filled with worry, "Don't worry Grandpa, after this talk I will still act surprised when you give me my present."

He looked back at her with a smile, "That does it. So tell me, what do you want?"

"I can't think of anything yet. I just want to send the flowers over the river in remembrance of my parents and spend the whole day reading a book."

"My little gem..." He cooed with affection in his eyes. "ever so considerate."

They were enjoying their grandfather-granddaughter moment then there came a knock.

It was silent, so silent that it would have been missed. Then it came again and again, till it stopped suddenly. Grandpa forgot how old he was and forsook the rule of Diamant always getting the door. He took a few hasty steps before using his stick to aid his pace, it wasn't a long walk to the door anyway. Diamant thought the intruder must have left considering how silent it was. She was surprised when she heard hushed argument at the door, then it became silent.

Grandpa slammed the door angrily but he had a letter in his hand, Diamant ran to him. He read the letter and his face was suddenly filled with fear and rage. He must have been arguing without reading the letter.

"What?! What is it, Grandpa?" She asked hurriedly with worry as she helped him to the nearest chair.

They have had to move from several places to another without her being entirely sure of what was chasing them.

Although Grandpa Gloss had always claimed that they were traders jealous of the luxurious profits he made but she wasn't convinced by that at all. Grandpa made no luxurious profits! For such little coins why threaten a person death? This was all so confusing.

Right now, looking at her Grandpa with those looks he had during the days they had made their unplanned trips, she feared for their fates... and their baked food. She hadn't even eaten the food halfway. What a disturbing knock!

Yet her fear and worry surpassed her hunger and she heard herself asking again, pleading to know, "What is it? Please, tell me."

"They are coming."

He said, when he finally got his voice back. "They are coming for us again. Pack whatever you may, I will also go to my room. We shall have to make another trip like always tonight."

Diamant nodded, she obeyed without hesitation. This like it would go on forever. They always had to run, to hide, to leave.

They were always been chased.

Within a short time, they were in the carriage, the little they could pack in it with them. The horses didn't look ready and their only servant, Rider, was so shocked about the trip that he only agreed because he had no where else to go.

"How fast can you get us out of here?" Gloss asked, tensed.

"Aiye sir! Fast? Nay. The road is such a dark, can hardly see a light. Lanterns do no good for such darkness in the sky. This pace, may as well sir, keep us all from danger." He concluded.

"We are already in danger." Gloss muttered under his breath.

"He is right, Grandpa. Our haste might kill us." Diamant held his hand " Before sunrise, we would be out of the village. We can rest a little and continue our journey afterwards, we don't want to tire the horses." She said reassuringly with a smile, even if she didn't understand what was going on, never understood what this was really about.

In the midst of his worries, he accepted.

Some distance further, Rider suddenly stopped the horses. Grandpa tried to raise an objection but he couldn't when he looked out from the carriage. There was a distant light coming towards their direction, everything was silent for a moment then the ground started to shake. The realization of what was happening came like a bolt of lightning to them all. The village was under attack, a bigger village had brought war upon them.

Rider skillfully and quickly got their horses off the road. They had to get out of the village quickly. They had to find another way still. Diamant and Grandpa made it out of the carriage and to the horses in an instant, Grandpa joined Rider on one and Diamant on the other. They disconnected the carriage quickly, their luggages will slowed them down and they had to make it out of this alive.

As their horses galloped in the opposite direction, they could hear the war drums booming in the air, people shouting, animals busting through the fire that was rapidly taking over the village and swords clashing against one another. The smell of blood and dread filled the air.

This was one bloody night.

They were about to arrive at the small river which the horses would gallop across to the other side, when arrows were shot at them.

"Look out!" Diamant called to her Grandpa, her scream deafening.

Now they had to find another way. If they still decide to go across the river, it wouldn't be save, it wasn't a risk that felt worth taking. Rider took the next available turn, he wasn't trained for war and his mind was all over the place. Another set of arrows came their way, they haven't lost them yet. They rode faster only to be met by a dead end. Disappointment washed over Gloss' face, one could tell that he was already surrendering to death.

They turned to be met by another arrow of fire shot in front of them, it almost looked like they were intentionally missing them, like it was all just fun to them. Their horses jumped over the fire and headed towards another direction and this time was shot at terribly. The horses fell, throwing the trio off their backs. Diamant ran to her Grandpa who seem to have broken his leg, his stick no where to be found.

"Rider, help me here." She hushed at him. He helped to pull him up and Gloss groaned in pain. They both had to help him walk. Diamant quickly scanned their environment. It looked like they had lost them.

"Through the cave to the other side, quickly." Diamant said as they struggled to hasten their steps.

"Maybe you should leave me alone. I am old anyway." Gloss whispered.

"Don't say such, Grandpa. We will all make it out of this alive. Rider, do you think we will make it to the cave before they get us?" Diamant asked

"Aiye! looking for us, they will, Milady." Of all the times to have a communication problem, Diamant really wished Rider was more fluent. His answer didn't really even answer the question. But before long, she didn't need his answer anymore because there were warriors pouring from the cave right towards their direction.

"Fall back." Diamant ordered quickly while they staggered back hoping that they would blend in with the trees in the darkness but she was painfully wrong.

They were surrounded within a second and then Rider was seriously wishing that he had taken the sword lessons from his father. Even if he had, one against maybe 40 didn't look like a fair share. Diamant's fear held her immobile and Gloss looked like he was long gone before his death.

One of the warriors came down from his horse and made his way towards her. They all reeked of blood, it was so disgusting.

"Not bad for a lady." He said loudly, as he scanned Diamant with lustful eyes, the others laughed. Some warriors had already grabbed each of them tightly, rendering all their plans of escaping futile.

Then someone came into their midst and knelt to the one whose eyes were still on Diamant. He must be a messenger.

"Major General, the war is over. The lieutenant General says the loot shall be taken." He delivered and by the signal of the Major General's hand he left.

"You heard that, lads?! Take loots and this," he pointed at Diamant, " is mine!"

They all shouted, a shout of celebration. They began to drag her along to follow him.

"Let her go, please, let her go!" She could hear her Grandpa cry out while she struggled violently against their grip.

"Let Milady go, please!" That was Rider. They sounded like they were being hit to shut up.

"I won't leave them. I won't leave my Grandpa, let me go!"

Irritation and ager took over the Major General's facel then gave a wicked laugh bubbled from his throat.

"The lady loves her Grandpa, why don't we take care of him." He said to his soldiers, they all agreed, their laughter formed a terrible chorus.

He walked to where Gloss was lying helplessly on the ground, face to the sky. Then he bent and spoke to him but everyone could still hear.

"I have a little problem with your existence. I would have just ignored it but I am a man of honour. What good will it be, if I displease the lady?" With that, he stood up, smiled at Diamant then struck Gloss in his stomach with his sword.

Gloss cried out in pain and horror, blood gushed out of the large cut. Rider went limp and Diamant struggled as she freed herself and ran to her Grandpa screaming.

"No! No! How dare you?!" She held his head on her laps "No! Please, stay with me. You promised, remember? You will never leave me. We still have to set the flowers for my parents and my birthday, my present. Don't leave me, please." She cried, uncontrollably.

"I... I... I had no choice. I promise...I later .... I ...I...later....loved you." He said with all the strength he could gather while blood dripped from the corners of his mouth. He raised his shaky hand to wipe off a stray tear that ran down her cheek and smiled, "forgive me, my little gem."

Then his head went flying in the air and she was left staring at a bloody neck. Blood splashed on her dress, the smell of it rushed down her lungs. She looked up slowly to meet the bored look of the Major General. He had just beheaded her Grandpa.

Realization hit her like a hard slap. Then suddenly, she felt light-headed. Her head buzzed with different sounds and her eyelids were heavy.

"Take her to my tent. She just fainted." He ordered some warriors and they hurriedly got to action.

He turned to Rider,"You! Any last wish?" He asked.

Rider wished for a lot of things, he wished he had stayed with his family. He wished he hadn't had that fight with his wife. He wished he had never decided to leave his family and come to Lobina. He never even told them goodbye. He missed his kids and his wife's encouraging words. If only he had stayed, if only he had been a little patient.

Then he took a long breath and accepted death,"I wish I had kissed my family goodbye." With that, his head went flying.

"That was such a flimsy last wish."

The Major General said, wiping the blood off the scar on his face.

Diamant who was still being carried off some distance away saw it all, although the image was all blurry to her. She watched the beheaded body of Rider fall forward to the floor. Immediately darkness took over, she could feel herself falling back into a memory of four years ago.

***********

Diamant stared at her neck in the mirror with dissatisfaction. The tattoo was there again, a blue Phoenix with large wings. She groaned to herself.

"Oh, I am tired of this. Wasn't it supposed to last for some years? Is it some years already?" She chuckled to herself. She hurriedly took a bottle from the table and applied its content on the tattoo. She watched it slowly disappear without a trace. A broad satisfying smile took over her, her eyes gleamed with happiness.

"There!" She clapped.

Then she ran to the window and looked out into the opened field. The afternoon was quiet and it smelt like dust. She loved the harmattan for this, although there were a couple of things she hated about it too, like the way it made her lips so dry that they cracked. She had to always apply oil to prevent that. The sun that seeped in through the window made her brown skin glow.

Then she heard a knock on the door, her eyes lit up.

"Grandpa Gloss!" She ran to the front door, knocking some of her books down along the way. "Grandpa Gloss!"

Before she got to the door, it flung opened and there stood her grandpa with a merry smile. She watched his stance as she raced closer to him but something seemed off and her smile fell.

She stopped immediately in her tracks.

"You have no gift, grandpa Gloss. It is my birthday." She creased her forehead in confusion.

He stepped into the room, he sat on the nearest chair with a smile plastered on his face revealing the broken state of one of his front teeth.

"Is it now?"

"Of course," she closed the door. "I am 14 today!" She ran to fetch him a glass of water.

"But that is okay, at least you are back from your business trip and those jealous traders always chasing us has stopped that for a while. Your presence is more than enough present to me." She smiled and handed him the glass of water. He gulped it down and patted his stomach, then stretch his legs.

"So you love me this much?" He asked with a playful smile.

"Of course, I do." She returned the glass.

"And my bald head? Are you sure you really love your leaping grandpa?"

She giggled and he could hear her from the kitchen.

"Yes!"

"Then go and get dressed. Someone will be going to the market square to pick whatsoever she fancies."

She returned from the kitchen, her eyes huge with surprise.

"You did remember!" She ran to him who was now on his feet and hugged him tightly.

He ran his hand across her wavy black hair with affection.

"I can never forget, my little gem."

The scene slowly turn black before her eyes. She could hear strange noises, smell burning wood and could feel herself waking up.

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Diamant came around slowly and just in time to see the fire in the tent burn brightly as there was enough wood, the tent was warm.

Her mind was blank as she tried to take in her environment, she felt so confused and strange. Then she realized that she was naked under the cloth spread across her body. She looked around again and saw a man sitting close to the fire, she stared at him for sometime internally cursing her blurred sight before realizing that it was the Major General. At that knowledge, different emotions ran through her but anger and vengeance topped it all.

I must kill this man! She thought.

"You came around just in time for the wonders. I was starting to get worried and impatient. Worried for my pleasure and impatient for you, Lady. I won't want your first memory of me to be a forced intimate moment, not that I mind anyway. If you impress me enough tonight, I will protect you. We will have so many wonderful nights together, blame it all on your alluring body." He laughed as he swept his eyes lustfully across her body.

Diamant recoiled with disgust as she pulled the cover closer to her. Her anger rouse and her eyes darkened with anger, remembering that he had killed Rider too. She hated him and made a silent promise to herself that she would kill him.

Oh, she wouldn't allow this despicable excuse of a man touch her! She vowed in her.

He came up to her and grabbed her away from the mat, letting the cover fall off her body from the sudden movement. She recoiled from his touch as he pulled her closer forcefully. She began to struggle violently, screaming and biting him anywhere she could. His anger rouse dangerously as he pulled away from her and hit her hard across the face. She felt dazed and fell to the floor as a result of the force, her head was spinning and she was slowly losing control of her focus as her sight blurred.

Unfortunately for her, she hadn't fell unconscious. She wished she had as his hands went over her body and she could do nothing but cry silent tears that weakly escaped her lips.

She closed her eyes and tried to focus on something else. She remembered her Grandpa, she remembered baking for him, their afternoons on business trips, her conversations with Rider about things in the market and she smiled still trying hard to ignore the hand touching her bare back.

Not the hands, not the hands. She said repeatedly to herself.