114

❤️ Meeting Him ❤️

"I don't understand you Kando, what do you mean by 'They are gone' there is nothing out here," Cando said, his eyes moving around the forest. He saw nothing extraordinary.

"The fire...the child...the assassins and the face of a young man I couldn't place where I had seen before... all are gone Cando," Kando said, not believing his eyes. Nothing was there except for trees, where he had seen those assassins and the young man were now filled with overgrown grasses and tall trees. It was as if no one had ever been there.

"I still don't understand you brother, what child are you talking about?" Cando asked with interest as he look at his brother.

"After I left Gwen, I flew around for a while then decided to return home only for me to realize I was hovering around in the forest behind our master. And when I looked closer I swear I saw people, dressed in blacks; definitely assassins, and a young man with a little girl at that place." he responded pointing at the place now filled with grasses and trees. "I came to bring you here and as you can see, nothing is here again." he added, looking back at his brother. "And no, I did not drink."

"I didn't say that brother, besides, we don't drink."

"I am not lying."

"I know, you wouldn't come up with something like that," Cando said, "Are you sure this young man didn't see you?"

"He didn't, I was as quiet as a corpse when I was spying on them." Kando answered.

"What made you think you have met the young man before?" Cando asked, remembering that part.

"I have met him somewhere Cando, as strange as it may sound, I think I have met him before in Ashland."

"Well, there are plenty of people in Ashland and the other kingdoms as well," Cando said. "Besides, you haven't been to Ashland apart from the night we went there and when you and Kira had gone there. So you can't tell me within those days you have memorized the faces of everyone in Ashland."

"When I said Ashland, I actually meant the palace."

"Probably one of the guards then," Cando said after a minute.

"Probably. I will remember with time," Kando said and gestured with his head towards the empty place. "Do you feel anything?" he asked.

Cando smiled a bit and then became focused as he once again let his gaze swept the entire forest. He lowered himself at the place his brother had pointed and breathed in deeply, closing his eyes as he did so. Two minutes later he was flying to meet his brother with a troubled look on his face.

"Did you notice anything?" Kando asked anxiously as he looked at his brother's face.

"Kando, I smell strong magic, it's as if whoever it is has purposely left his scent." Cando answered.

"Meaning?" Kando demanded not understanding what his brother has said.

"He wanted you to know he has seen you. He smells of power and I think he did this to warn you to stay clear off his path."

"His path? We will see about that," Kando said and then suddenly remembered something. "Do you think it's related to that X symbol on master's forehead? Do you think they are the same person? I think they are the same person."

"No, I don't think so. Whoever created that X symbol on master wants to stay hidden but this one wants you to know how powerful he is. I highly doubt it. If he was the same person, why would he hide away from master? He would have made himself known to our master to control him instead of hiding. I have a hunch though."

"A hunch?"

"Yes brother, what if it is his plan?"

"His plan?"

"Yes, his plan. I am telling you whoever you saw, I think he had planned it out. I think he knows you would be here and I think he wants you to see him."

"Let's assume you are right, what does he achieve to gain from it?"

"You will go and tell our master and then master will think it's that dark devil and then..." Cando trails off with raised brows directed at his brother.

"War, if our master was hesitating then this will make him attack Ashland and who knows what will happen."

"So you see, don't inform him yet."

"I won't, I am not that stupid," Kando said. "But Ashland..."

"Don't tell me you will be flying to Ashland tomorrow to search for him?"

"No, until I remember his face- where I had seen him before- I will be here, besides I have more urgent matters at hand." Kando replied. "Let's leave." he added and without wasting another minute both brothers left the forest and flew back to the Palace.

Kando fly back to his room and fell down on his bed- boots and all- as he couldn't stop himself from thinking about Gwen. All through the night, he didn't sleep an inch.

***

Ashland Kingdom: Palace:

Kira stopped her horse and waited until Gwen got down before she came down and gave the horse to a guard who was waiting for her.

No sooner has the guard left with her horse, Storm and Morgan enter.

"Why didn't you want to ride with me?" Morgan asked Gwen immediately he was off his horse. The guard returned and took both Morgan and Storm horse. "Didn't you want to ride with me?"

"You can ask her your questions tomorrow Morgan but Gwen needs her beauty sleep. She is tired and doesn't want any disturbance." Kira told Morgan and Gwen gave her a nod of appreciation.

"I will talk to you tomorrow," Gwen supported Kira statement. "I am tired and I need to rest, urgently."

"Come to my room, I will massage your feet for you," Morgan said hopefully.

"I will pass that offer, Morgan, I will stay with Kira. Don't worry, we have a lot to discuss tomorrow." Gwen told him and didn't wait for him to speak before leaving for Storm's room.

"Who knows what she went through in the hands of Uncle Dean and Kando," Morgan said, watching Gwen.

"She looks fine to me," Kira said with a snort.

"Yeah, she wasn't injured," Storm agrees with Kira. "Besides, you should go and rest too," he added.

Morgan stared at Storm and at Kira then he shrugged his shoulders and left for his room.

At that moment, Emera returned.

"They have gone back to their camp Storm," Emera said, yawing out. "Goodnight, I will see you both tomorrow." he added and thanked the guard who collected his horse and left for his room leaving Storm and Kira alone.

"Kando is in love with Gwen, though he pleaded for me not to tell you." Kira said.

"And look at who is keeping to her words. Anyway I noticed it but chose to ignore it. Gwen, you and everyone's safety was what I was thinking."

"Aren't you angry at him?"

"Why will I be? The heart chooses who it wants, so sad that Gwen won't see it that way. She loves Morgan, sweetheart."

"I wouldn't be that sure about Storm. I think Gwen is in love with Kando and not with Morgan anymore."

"You think? Well I know for sure that she is in love with Morgan, so until she tells me herself, don't keep assuming things."

"I feel bad for Kando."

"Why do you feel bad for him?"

"He will be in so much trouble for what he did. I don't know if I should talk to Dean not to hurt Kando, he will listen to me and-"

Interrupting her abruptly. "You are not going to see him and neither will I allow you to talk to him," Storm said, possessively lifting Kira up as if she had no weight and Kira wrapped her legs around his waist. "Kando chose his path, he should walk it. No one forced him." he added nibbling at her neck.

"So you would have left Gwen with Dean?" Kira asked, trying to concentrate and not what Storm was doing to her neck.

"No, I would have come up with something."

"Storm let go of me, I really need to talk to Gwen," Kira said as she tilted her head to give him better access to her neck.

"I can't get enough of you sweetheart."

"You know we are outside."

"And so?"

"Storm, I am serious, let me go." she said with seriousness and Storm did, letting her fall down on her a$$. Glaring at Storm as she stood up to her feet. "Why did you do that?"

"You asked me to let you go and i did just that sweetheart." Storm replies with a lopsided smile on his handsome face.

"Yes but not for you to drop me like that."

"Well next time be specific with your words Kira," Storm said, blowing kiss in her direction. "I know I will not be sleeping in my room tonight, something tells me I wont be welcomed, so let me go and meet my brother's." he added. "Goodnight sweetheart," he quickly kisses Kira and dodge Kira and comes for his head. "Love you too." he chuckled and left.

Kira went to meet Gwen and was surprised to see her crying quietly on the bed. The bedsheets she and Storm had used earlier on had been changed, she said a silent thank you to whoever changed it. Locking the door with the bolt, she went to meet Gwen.

"Is everything alright with you Gwen?" she asked as she approached her and sat next to her on the bed. "Why are you crying?"

Gwen didn't reply to her and she didn't ask again, instead she started whispering 'It's okay Gwen'.

"I messed up Kira," Gwen finally answered her. "I really messed up."

"What did you mess up? If it's about Kando then believe me when I tell you he loves you."

"He doesn't love me Kira. If he did, he would have told me. I told him about my feelings for him and he didn't believe me. He told me I was confused," Gwen said facing Kira. "Do I look look confused to you?"

"No, you don't, why will he tell you that?"

"That's because I told him I was in love with Morgan, then after Cando kidnapped me and I finally realized my feelings for him and told him, he said I was confused." Gwen answered. "You know I thought I was in love with Storm until I met Morgan and also thought I was in love with him, but my heart showed me who it wanted and that's Kando, I don't know why doesn't he believe me when I told him I love him. He doubted my sincere words."

"Gwen, I won't lie to you, if I was in Kando shoes I would do exactly the same, do you know why?" When Gwen shook her head, Kira continued. "That's because he has been here and saw the chemistry between you and Morgan and also like you said, you told him with your mouth that you are in love with Morgan so he will find it hard, very hard to believe you. I know Kando, he is guiding his heart and doesn't want to be hurt if he is not already hurt by allowing you to go."

"So what should I do? How can I make him believe that I truly love him and it's him that I want."

"Well you just returned and Morgan is here, what if you see Morgan tomorrow and you realize you truly love him and not Kando as you'd thought?"

"That's impossible, the way you feel about Storm is the way I feel around Kando, it just took a kidnapping to make me realize my angel in front of me. I know what I want, Kira, and it's Kando."

"You never can tell Gwen, but if you believe you are no longer in love with Morgan, then talk to him tomorrow and so the things you both have been doing before you were kidnapped, do this for two days and if you felt nothing, well, it means you are truly in love with Kando."

"No problem, I will do as you say to see if what I feel about Morgan is still there," Gwen said wiping off her tears. "Thank you."

"What are sisters for," Kira said with a shrug. "Now go to sleep." She added removing her boots and Gwen following suit. Both girls lay down on the bed.

"Storm..."

"Oh don't worry about him, he won't be coming tonight."

"Okay, I am going to look for a nice room around, probably close to Uncle Emera to be staying now that you are going to be staying with him in this room."

Kira didn't argue with her but nodded in agreement. They slept off immediately.

%%%

The next morning they were woken up by Morgan who was constantly knocking on the door on the verge of breaking it down. And if he wasn't Storm's brother Kira could have beaten him black and blue for waking her up at that time. When she saw it was him, she shut the door back on his face and bolted it then went to freshen up before opening the door once again to Morgan's surprise look.

She left Morgan but not before waking Gwen and wondering why the knocking didn't wake her up.

She went to her father's room and met him with Storm.

"Good morning father, Storm."

"You left me alone against the freezing hands of darkness but I survived it." Storm jokingly said.

"Don't blame me, someone needed my attention," Kira said with a smile as she went over to kiss her father on his forehead and Storm on his lips briefly.

"I love this sweet side of you sweetheart," Storm said with a wink. "I am falling deeply in love with you the most," he added.

"Juno, will you do me a favor today?" Emera said before Kira could reply to Storm.

"What favor, father?"

"I haven't heard from Rumi since, it's been more than two days since she visited the palace. I want you to please go there and check if she is okay."

"Why wouldn't she be okay?" Kira rolled her eyes. The witch again. "The reason why you haven't seen her again is because I and Storm are now together."

"I doubt that Juno, even though you and Storm are together, that won't stop Rumi from coming to see me."

That's true. Kira thought. At least she will get to see what Rumi is up to.

"I will do that before the end of today father, happy?" Kira said with a sincere smile.

"Thank you, I could have gone but I feel tired."

"I will be coming with you sweetheart,"

"There is no need for that Storm. I will go alone so there is no need to tag along."

"Okay," Storm surprisingly agreed. "I am tired, I didn't get enough sleep last night." he added when he saw the narrowing eyes Kira gave him.

"What about Gwen? How is she?" Emera asked.

"She is fine, Morgan is with her. I left both of them before coming here."

"I am hungry, do you want to come with me?" Storm asked, walking out of the room and did not wait for Kira's response.

Kira followed Storm out of Emera's room.

***

Kudarma Kingdom: Dean Palace:

Kando, who didn't sleep a wink, was surprised when Dean still hadn't called him to ask for their hostage. When he saw his brother along the hallway inside the palace building he didn't fail to ask if he had seen Dean.

"I saw him early this morning, he was mumbling to himself and didn't pay anyone attention. I think he is thinking of something." Cando whispered his answer.

"Good, whatever he is thinking should keep him busy for now," Kando said.

"Have you remembered?" No one needed to tell Kando who his brother was referring to.

"No, I haven't."

"Why?" Cando eyebrows shot up, "Knowing you, by now you should have remembered where you have seen his face before."

"I have been thinking of Gwen since. So tell me how do you expect me to concentrate when my head is filled with Gwen." Kando told him with a shrug. "Give me time, I need time."

"Kando, if she is truly for you, then you have nothing to worry about but if she isn't, bury the love in a corner of your heart and wish her well." Cando advised.

"You're right Cando,"

"Why do I feel that there is a 'but' coming."

"But I love her and I can't stop thinking of her even if I want to."

"I know you love her Kando, I really do, but you have to start thinking about what our master will do to you instead of her and if everything goes well- and you are still alive- then you can start thinking about her but now focus on the matter at hand."

"Master won't hurt me, he might give me a grave punishment but not death."

"What if his grave punishment is telling his dragon's to eat one of your arms or legs."

"You're right, he might do that." Kando agreed with his brother.

"Let's hope none of that happens," Cando said. "Anyway I am supervising some new recruits that want to join our army today. While the old ones are trying to leave, the new ones keep coming."

"Well, when you have someone like our master ruling over you, then you will understand."

"But then again, it's not easy to escape from here. I will leave you now brother to carry out what you were doing before," Cando said with a smile and then was about to continue his walk when he remembered something. "What about Kira, when is she coming back?"

"Haven't I told you?"

"Tell me what?"

Moving closer to whisper against one of his ears.

"That Kira is in love with Storm. She confirmed it to me. So she is not coming back, ever."

Cando didn't hide his shock from his face when he heard those words.

"Does our master know?"

"No, I can't tell him that."

"Anyways I wish Kira all the best, I just hope Storm knows how to defend himself against our master, if not..."

"I don't want to think about it."

Cando nodded his head with a grimace and left and Kando left for his room.

***

Ashland Kingdom: Emera House:

Sarah silently watched Rumi dancing around while dressing up. She felt something was amiss when Rumi had returned yesterday and was glaring at her all through the rest of the day. Even when she closed her eyes to sleep and opened them a few hours later, she saw Rumi staring at her from the door of the room she was staying in.

She couldn't sleep at all and had to open her eyes until this morning and now...now she is preparing to go out again like what she did to her yesterday wasn't weird.

"Where are you going Rumiana?" Sarah asked.

"Somewhere." Rumi answered.

"Why were you scaring me by staring at me like that yesterday after you returned?" Sarah asked when Rumi didn't continue.

"Was I? I wasn't staring at you mother."

"Don't take me for a fool Rumi, if you were not glaring at me yesterday, what about when I woke up and saw you in my room, what would you say about that?" Sarah said.

"I just came to check up on you mother, was it bad to check on my mother?"

"But you've not been doing that since except yesterday night."

"It's called changing mother, I am changing to be a good daughter for you," Rumi said as she wore her boots. The black long gown fitted and brought out her shape. She put on a matching black cloak before returning her attention to her mother. "My turn to ask you, are you hiding anything from me?" she asked.

"No I am not hiding anything from you," Sarah said almost immediately. Has she found out the truth of me not being her mother? Sarah thought as she tried to read meaning in Rumi's emotionless face. Rumi is very good at it.

"Are you sure? Don't you have a friend- any friend- you want to tell me about?"

"I don't have any friends Rumi, you just released me from my prison so what time do you think I have to look for a friend or friends?" she said.

"Okay," Rumi said with a shrug. "Take care of the house while I am gone. I don't know how long I will stay but when I return I want the house clean and food ready, mother." she added as she left the house without a backward glance.

"Stupid fool ordering me around, you could have turn me into your servant," Sarah said to herself as she watched Rumi leaving the compound through the window. She suddenly placed one of her hands on her heart. "I have become a servant in my own game. Everything was perfect from the beginning so how do I end up like this." she added using her free hand to clean the invisible sweat from her forehead.

%%%

Ashland Palace: Storm's Room:

Gwen was grateful that Kira had woken her up before she left her alone with Morgan. Seeing him right now made her realize her heart wasn't racing at the sight of him.

"How are you feeling?" Morgan asked

"Fine," Gwen answered, getting out of bed as Morgan closed the distance between them. "You? Hope you slept well?" she asks as she puts some space between them and Morgan gets the hit because he stopped walking. Even with his intense stare on her, she felt nothing.

"I couldn't sleep last night, the thought of you kept me awake." Morgan said as he hid his hurt from his face, he wondered why Gwen doesn't want him close to her. "I hope you were treated well?"

"Yes, I was." Gwen admitted.

"Sorry but I find that hard to believe."

"Kando treated me well," Gwen said with a smile as she mentioned Kando's name. "I am here right? Unhurt right? So whether you believe it or not, it's none of my business." she added.

"I am sorry if what I said didn't sit alright with you." Morgan apologized. "Are you hungry? I can get you something to eat from the kitchen."

"Definitely, I will like that." Gwen said with a sincere smile. She did know how hungry she was until Morgan mentioned food to her.

Once Morgan had left the room, she quickly locked and went to have her bath.

What will Kando be doing right now? Will he be thinking of her?

She thought.

***

Kudarma Kingdom: Dean Palace:

Taking her sweet time, Rumi walked the length to Dean's Palace, when she reached the walls, she made herself go invincible and passed through the wall. Once she had covered some distance from the wall, she made herself visible again and just like she did the previous day, she took her time but until she got to Dean's Palace, she felt nothing unusual.

Could it mean the unknown man isn't hiding in any kingdoms in Kudarma?

Rumi finds that hard to believe.

"Stop there, who are you?" One of the guards guiding the palace gate demanded.

Rolling her eyes, she could have used her magic but decided not to, "My name is Rumi, I am here to see your Emperor."

"For what reason?"

"Tell him Sarah had sent me to him and I am here to help him."

That made the guards there started laughing at her. How can their Emperor need the help of a mere girl? The guards all wonder hence their laughter.

Rumi laughed with them and then suddenly lifted up one of them and collected his sword and removed it from its sheath, swinging it multiple times then put it back into its sheath and put the sword in the guard hand and turned her back towards him.

A minute passed before the guard fell down to the ground in pieces, his body having been cut into tiny pieces.

"Laugh like that again," Rumi said laughing a bit before she became serious, her face so serious you'd think if she was the twin sister of a demon. "And you will end up like him, do I make myself clear." she added.

Expecting a response from them but instead…

"What is going on here?" A deep baritone voice- Cando- shouted.

Rumi turned around, one of her arms raised up, ready to blast away the new voice but came to a sudden halt when she saw the owner of the voice. It was as if her brain has been frozen. She slowly brought down her arm, her heart beating much faster than before if possible. Suddenly she felt butterflies in her stomach as he approached them, her.

Who was he?

She wondered.