Seventy-three
One of the guards runs to his King, reverencing him as soon as he stood in front of him.
Oscar— My King!
— Search the palace, I want you to search for the queen and find her as soon as possible!
Oscar— Right away, sir!
— Majesty! — called fearful. — Please, what is happening, your Queen is in danger?
— Benjamin warned me that Kaila his second wife, managed to escape. He believes she is coming here, behind Mila!
MILA
— Did you like it? — he asked proudly.
— My God!
— You are facing the most valuable works in the world! — presented. — Made of gold, with a mixture of rubies. No other country has such great thrones as these. Their history and wealth is what put them at the top of the list of most wanted objects.
Julie’s story was real, everything she said about Benjamin and the murder of the Kings was true.
— W—why? — I ask perplexed, covering the glitter of gold with the sliding of my fingers. — Why do you hide them here?
"The question is, how did he get them in here?"
Gold, a darker gold due to its junction with rubies. Lions, columns and a crown at the top, the accent was large covered by a velvety red, with marked designs. It looks three thousand times more comfortable than my bed and two thousand times heavier than an elephant. The two were identical and still kept a slight stain of old blood on their seats.
— After Dastan died, it made no sense to leave them exposed in the throne room.
Years ago the throne room was in the same place as the giant staircase in the lobby.
— Why didn’t you give them to your grandson?
— I wouldn’t be able to let someone sit on it, that’s the only thing I have of my son, which reminds me of him...
— You have Thomas, he is the fruit of your son, your blood too!
— Dastan hated that boy! — she told me leaving me even more shocked. — Whenever I tried to turn him into a man, the boy faltered, bringing disgust to our family members.
"Is it serious?"
— Transform him? — I repeat. — Are you saying that you wanted to turn a five—year—old into a man?
— He was a rebellious child, who lied and ran away from responsibilities just like you! — he said. — I didn’t know how to lower my head, much less follow the rules without disputing.
"Now I’m understanding everything..."
— So it was your fault... I think out loud. — Everything that Thomas is today is a reflection of the fucking creation he had!
— You don’t know what you’re talking about. Thomas had a wonderful mother and a very dedicated father, they did everything for that boy!
The stories about Dastan and Serena are nowhere near the term goodness. Even outside of the books, everything they said about them was chaotic and horrible. My sisters and I used to get goose bumps when our dad decided to tell us about Clifford’s. I even remember having nightmares.
— Do you love your grandson, Lucian? — I ask curious. — Have you ever liked him?
— I love him, but not as I loved my son. And if I didn’t like that boy, I wouldn’t have had all the bastard brothers he had killed.
"Brothers?"
— Did Thomas have any siblings? — I’m amazed.
— Many, but children who are not the fruit of marriage can cause problems in the future, so I would have killed one by one... —he counts without showing the least remorse. — Twice I was lucky to find the mothers still pregnant. I got my son out of a lot of trouble.
— The...what is it?
Immediately I lean on the wall stunned by what I hear. My whole body softens and my voice disappears. I couldn’t be there, I had to find a way out without looking too weird. I carried two of another man’s children in my belly, children who were easy targets for that psychopath.
— You...you killed babies...little babies? — I question with my hand in front of my mouth.
— Stop it Mila, don’t be so dramatic, they were just babies, babies who didn’t walk yet!
"Fuck. He is sick!"
— Does Thomas know that? — I ask in shock. — Do you know what you did?
— I don’t think so... —spoke thoughtfully. — Actually, there was a time when Serena ended up neglecting her older sister. It was a girl, firstborn, the first.
"A little girl?"
— She took a picture of the girl and kept it as a souvenir, Thomas ended up finding the photograph a while later. It was hard to make him forget, he always came back on the same subject wondering who the baby was.
— And where is she, what did they do with her? — I question. — Did they put the girl in the adoption?
— Adoption? — He laughs.
Laughing like a madman.
— Are you crazy? — mocked. — She was the first, Mila, and she also had our blood. We couldn’t let her wander around. Can you imagine if this girl claimed the throne?
"I don’t need to stand here and listen to these barbarities!"
Determined, I turn my back refusing to hear more of your monstrosities.
— Mila?
— That’s enough!
— Stay! — He said.
— I will not stand here listening to this shit! — I speak near the exit, face facing him. — You...all of you, are unbalanced killers!
— You’re a fool!
— Bye, Lucian! —I don’t know.
— If you take one more step, I swear I’ll break your legs!
Her voice is strong, she paralyzes my body not allowing me to create courage. The tone he uses is so deep that I forget my movements.
— What do you want with me? — I turn slowly, ready to protect myself from your attacks.
— You know very well what I want, Mrs Clifford! — she spoke, examining their thrones.
— No, I don’t know!
— I’ll be straight with you! — said. — I would like to make it my trophy, just as Benjamin has his!
"WHAT?"
— What is your problem? — he can only be playing with my face. — I am already married, Lucian, married to his grandson!
— That’s not a problem, I’m his creator, I can easily destroy him!
— Destroy him like he did his brothers?
— Forget that story, I just want to know if you accept...
— If you’re thinking of using me as some kind of collection of wives, you’re crazy!
— I do not intend to have three wives, only you are enough for me!
— I don’t want to. I don’t want anything to do with you!
Strangely, he starts walking around the room surrounding me. There I move away from his steps placed on the wall, just waiting for the first opportunity to escape.
— While I was traveling, one of my informants informed me that Benjamin had transformed another woman. I confess that I was very impressed, since the rumors about their wives were fascinating women. — he spoke, quietly chasing me. — Jealous, cruel, possessive, but he loved them anyway!
— Lucian...
— Listen!
"What hatred of me, how could I be so stupid."
— Many women killed themselves to have him as their creator, but only three had his blood...
"I could scream, but it’s very likely that my voice won’t reach Thomas!"
— It’s been years and no other lady has been added to your wish list —
— I! —cut him. — He transformed me!
— Yes. you are!
Without him noticing, I look at the hole calculating my escape.
— I understand why he was attracted to you! — he said biting his lips. — She is an extraordinarily beautiful woman. But turning you has created many doubts, doubts that many other vampires question.
— Nobody knows what I am! — I correct. — I have nothing to do with Benjamin and I am not associated with his image either. Even your wives didn’t know about my transformation.
— That’s what you think... he answered by digging a hole in my mind.
A hole full of questions.
Meticulously, I analyze your gestures seeing a chance to escape. I run into the hole when he turns, but then he catches me in the passage pushing me against the wall.
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— VICENT! — shouted.
— Sir?
— What a fucking delay!
— I’m sorry, I was checking the exits like you asked!
— I need you to keep an eye on Iris!
— But isn’t she locked in the basement? — he complained. —I heard Datto guarantee that the spell would work!
— I do not know how long the spell will keep her down, I worry that Kaila has gone after Mila, or warn Eleonor that I locked her granddaughter!
— It seems to me a strong barrier sir, Iris could not escape even if it had help!
— You don’t know Eleonor. If Kaila has gone after her, we’re lost!
— And where are you going?
— To the Palace! — replied, taking the car keys.
— TO THE PALACE? — repeated scared.
— I need to see Mila!
— Do you want to die? — he asked. — Have you forgotten what she said when she left here?
— She cannot kill me, Vincent! — she assured, entering the garage. — If she does that, she will also be signing her own death sentence.
— How can you be sure of that?
— Because my blood is the only thing keeping her alive, so if I die, she dies too!
— But what about the children? — he spoke worried.
— What about the children, Vincent?
— If that dragon has been taking care of these babies, wouldn’t it be wise for you to stay away from them?
— You want me to get away from my kids?
— Is that —
— I’m ready! — warned entering the garage.
— Come on, Hector, come on!
Disregarding all the threats they received, Benjamin and Hector leave for the Palace, worried about the escape of the second vampire and what could happen to the Queen if she caught up with her.
— Bennet... he said sitting next to him. — I need to warn him about something I found out!
— It’s about Kaila, do you have any leads on her?
— No, it’s actually about your children!
He stares at the wizard with his eyes sunk in worry, hoping for the worst.
— I didn’t like the way you said it...
— If you prefer, I can keep it to myself!
— As the vision you had? — he remembers. — Not even. Now tell me!
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— MILA! — shouted in the garden.
Oscar— My King, troops have been sent to investigate all terrain!
— Great. Have you checked the back yard?
Oscar— The Queen has never been in the back garden, she knows she can’t get near the water!
— We’re talking about Mila, Oscar. Knowing the rules and "following the rules" are very different things for her!
Oscar— Okay, I’ll check it out myself!
— Go!
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— I thought we agreed not to fight today...
Her cane lands on my shoulder and furiously pushes it with my hand, activating my eyes.
— Nervozinha! — spoke with a smile on his face.
I was without weapons, with nothing to defend me beyond the hands, already he had his staff and years of transformation.
— Will it be so then? — Confused by her pause, I squat on the floor carefully, until I reach one of the sheets and the tear wrapping in my hands.
— If you accept my request —
— NO! — highlight. — I already said no, damn it!
— Okay!
Quickly, Lucian tries to hit me in the head, but I raise my arm causing his wood to clash with the cloth. Five steps in front of me make him face to face with me, until I join all my forces in the palms of the hand pushing his chest. That attack makes his body a few feet away from me, making him even more skittish.
— Very good! — he said packing his clothes.
— I don’t want to fight!
"I just want to get out of here and leave my kids safe!"
— Just when things were starting to get fun?
— You’re going to kill me just because I don’t want to marry you? — I let go of all the air I held in my chest, but still watching him. — Aren’t you exaggerating?
— You’re his favorite, anything that happens to you will wreak havoc on him!
— What’s your fucking problem with Benjamin? — I’m angry. — Is it because of Dastan? — I touch his wound. — Why did he take your son from you?
— I ABHOR HIM! — replied. — DASTAN WAS ALL I HAD AND HIS CREATOR TOOK HIM FROM ME!
— Hurting me won’t bring you comfort Lucian, let alone bring your son back!
How difficult it is God, how bad it is to feel it, to feel that I can lose, that I can fail in my duty to protect you.
♡♡♡♡
