Arrest The Traitor
For the first time since her arrival at Elyria, Elora saw vampires vulnerable. Her eyes moved through the guests. They had their heads and eyes down in a pleading bow. The royal family too had their eyes lowered. It was truly as if she were their last home.
Clutching the sides of her dress, Elora’s breath increased. She dipped her head low and her legs trembled underneath her gown. Were they genuine? It was strange for vampires to plead or lower their heads for humans, especially a weak human like her. It must mean that they were truly desperate for her help, right?
But….but, Rafael….
Rafael and Zireya.
Rafael without her.
“You can’t ask her to do that for us.”
Her head lifted when she heard Arielle’s loud response. “We haven’t even confirmed if truly Zireya is The Gifted One.”
“Do not speak again and let the lady give her reply.” The Queen warned.
Elora felt a shiver run down her spine, her throat becoming parched.
“I…I..”
‘I don’t want to return to Yvlies.’ She wanted to say. ‘I don’t want to give my husband to another woman,’ she wanted to add. For some reason, she couldn’t bear the thought of returning to Yvlies even though it was all she’d wanted. It would kill her to think of Rafael each time. It would kill her to picture him with another woman. It would kill her to think of him living without her, happier and freer. Would he buy Zireya flowers or painting brushes just like he did for her? Would he clean her wound and tend to her when she gets hurt just like he did with her?
Her eyes suddenly became glossy. The thought alone made her bunch her dress tighter, she felt it rip a bit.
She didn’t want to. She wanted him just for herself.
“Lady Elora.”
She lifted her gaze to stare at the eyes that watched her keenly, waiting for her reply. If she said no, wouldn’t that mean that Elyria would remain cursed and…and deaths might occur? One thing was certain. They too deserved color and life.
“I…I.” But she couldn’t bring the words out of her.
“Do not answer now,” the Queen cuts in, her voice low, carrying a hint of disappointment and something cold that Elora couldn’t discern. “We can talk about this later. Have a drink and eat for now. Someone, pour tea for the princess.”
Elora let out a sigh of relief. She sure needed the tea for her parched throat and racing heart. A servant walked down to her and began to pour tea into the teacup on her table.
“This is a fine tea from Yvlies. Please enjoy,” said the queen.
“You’re too kind, your Grace.”
The Queen watched her carefully and keenly as Elora curled her fingers on the cup’s handle and began to bring it upward to her lips.
But just as her lips made contact with the cup, the door of the funeral dining hall suddenly flung open with a bang. Everyone’s eyes flew to the double door and they flinched at the sight of the tall figure who marched into the hall like a storm breaking into the hall.
His eyes were fixated on a spot in the hall and when she finally was able to see the figure clearly, she gasped.
Elora froze. The Queen rose from her seat.
He walked majestically into the room like he owned the place, the kingdom, and its inhabitants, dressed in his usual colour with a familiar spear in his hand. Behind him were his two men and several armies. She watched with wide eyes and frozen body as he marched toward her, her eyes following his movement.
She let out another gasp when he stopped before her and suddenly snatched the cup from her lips.
“Arriving at a royal funeral after the rulers is a crime,” the Queen announced from behind.
Rafael’s eyes darkened, the wind blew stronger and the windows slammed against the walls as he slowly brought the tea to his nose and sniffled.
“Wh…what is wrong?” Elora mouthed. She was about to drink that. Her throat was totally dry from the tension of being surrounded by vampires.
“Second brother sure has no respect for his majesty.” This time, it was Lilth who spoke. “He deserves to be punished.”
The royal mother agreed. “I agree.” She turned to the king. “I plead his majesty to punish the second prince for disrespecting not only the throne but the dead. He is…”
Gasps, murmurs, and shrieks rippled through the hall when in the blink of an eye, Rafael swiveled around and leveled the sharp-edged silver spear against the queen’s throat, silencing her words mid-breath.
The queen stiffened. Her eyes almost popped out of their sockets and her body began to tremble like a leaf. She was completely frail in comparison to the Prince and she was aware of one thing. She wouldn’t survive a strike from the prince’s age-old battle spear.
“Ho…how dare you?” The king rose from his seat. “Guards, arrest this traitor and lock him up,” he commanded.
Elora shot up in panic when armed soldiers swept into the hall.
“Rafael.”
She dashed forward to him.
“Stay back,” he yelled.
She panicked when the guards began to step into the Dias but they made no attempt to arrest the prince. It was like they couldn’t dare.
What was going on? Why all of a sudden?
The queen’s eyes narrowed. “Didn’t you hear? seize…” She clamped her mouth shut when the spear drew closer to her throat. By now, her legs were putty underneath her black garment and her eyes were filled with trepidation.
Silence filled the hall when Rafael brought the cup of tea closer to her face, forcing her to sniff. “Do not pretend to be innocent,” he gritted. “You must have a death wish, which I must grant.”
“I…l don’t know what…what you’re talking about.”
“How dare you tamper with my wife’s tea?”