CHAPTER THIRTY: VENUS
As I carefully made my way through the forest that led to the castle, my thoughts kept drifting to the raven Xavier left to keep me company while he was gone.
Although it bothered me to leave the cute guy behind at the cottage, I had no choice but to do so to avoid drawing undue attention to myself. After all, who wouldn't be suspicious when they see a lone raven flying towards the castle? 'Leaving him' seemed like the safest choice for both of us, at least for now.
I plan to go back for him later, once I wasn't under surveillance. But for now, my main focus was getting back into the castle without getting caught by the guards.
Although 'sneaking in' might not have been the most brilliant idea, I chose not to use my last transportation gem, as I believe it could be more valuable in a critical situation later on. With no other viable options, sneaking in became the only way for me to return to the castle.
After walking through the forest for a few minutes without encountering any guards, I finally reached the castle. However, getting inside seemed more challenging than navigating the forest because I could see guards stationed at every entrance and exit of the castle.
As I stood concealed in the shadows, my anxiety grew stronger about the possibility of being discovered. My mind raced to find a quick and discreet way to reach the second floor. Then, I noticed the tangled web of overgrown vines enveloping the castle walls, wondering if they could support my weight.
After testing the strength of the vines by pulling on them, I confirmed they could support my weight. However, a new challenge emerged: figuring out how to get high enough to reach the vines that lead to the second floor?
I shifted my focus to the surrounding fence. Observing its height, I realized it was tall enough for me to jump and reach the vines leading to the second floor. With everything falling into place perfectly, I put my plan into action.
Summoning all the courage I had, I carefully climbed the fence, making sure to remain hidden in the shadows as I moved up. When I reached the top, I took a deep breath, determined not to let my fears hold me back. With my heart pounding, I finally jumped off the fence and reached out for the vines, praying to grasp them firmly.
To my relief, my hands securely grabbed the vines, and I began to climb, being careful to avoid any actions that could cause me to make a mistake and draw attention to myself. With the foliage to keep me hidden, I ascended, feeling a sense of triumph with each step as I got closer to my goal.
Reaching the top, I looked down to observe the guards below, to see if they were still patrolling, which they were. So I moved my attention back to the window, steading my nerves as I waited for the right moment to jump through the second-floor window. Once the opportunity arose, I jumped without hesitation.
When I stood up from the ground, I proceeded with quiet steps towards the grand hall, adjacent to the staircase leading to my chamber. But as I reached the hall I heard muffled voices coming from the other side of the grand hall's huge wooden doors, which piqued my interest as to who was in the hall at this time of the night.
Despite knowing I should head to my room, my curiosity overpowered me, and I couldn't resist veering off course to find out who was in the grand hall at such a late hour.
The door was slightly ajar, so I slipped in quietly and hid myself behind one of the hidden pillars beside the doors. To my surprise the people talking were the king and Michael and it looked like they were engaged in what seems like a very serious conversation.
"We must ensure that the prophecy is fulfilled," the king declared, his voice a low rumble that reverberated through the hall. "The child of a witch and a werewolf will possess unimaginable power, surpassing any supernatural creature in this world."
What were they talking about? What prophecy? I wondered, my curiosity intensifying as I continued to eavesdrop on their conversation.
"Father, do you truly believe that hag was telling you the truth? Could such a prophecy really exist?" Michael asked,
"She assured me that it is true, and only a fool would lie to someone who holds their life in their hands," replied King Leon, his tone resolute.
"Okay, let's assume this prophecy is true. Do you think the Peons would allow us to bring such a dangerous and uncontrollable child into this world?"
"They will never find out. We already have Venus here, and there is no way she can leave without our consent."
"But father, after the last incident, I doubt she would willingly come to my bed," Michael expressed hesitantly.
"That was very foolish of you, by the way. But what's done is done; there's no going back. If she refuses to come willingly, you will have to force her until she becomes pregnant," the king stated callously.
My God! How could he say such a thing so flippantly? He just told his son to force himself upon me if I don't want to sleep with him. How disgusting of him.
"Do we truly need her? She defies my every order day by day. Why can't we choose another witch? One who is more submissive," Michael suggested.
"We can not simply select any witch, my son. She must be of royal blood, and the Peon family is the only royal witch family with a female child."
"I understand. Let's say she becomes pregnant. What will we do with her once she gives birth?" Michael inquired.
"She will be of no further use to us, so she will have to be disposed of because the child will not obey us if she is alive," the king stated coldly.
A gasp escaped my lips upon hearing his words, causing Michael to turn around and fix his gaze on my hiding spot.
"What are you looking at?" the king asked, Michael turned back to face his father, his attention diverted for a moment, so I used the opportunity to silently slip out of the grand hall without getting noticed by them
"I thought I heard something," Michael said, but their voices faded into muffled whispers as I sprinted to my room, terrified for my life.
Once I was in my room, I paced back and forth, my heart still racing from the shocking revelations I had overheard in the grand hall. The weight of the prophecy and the danger I now found myself in were suffocating.
How could they treat me as a mere pawn in their twisted plans? And the callousness with which they discussed my fate sent shivers down my spine, I was beyond disgusted by their actions.
Overwhelmed by fear and anger, I understood the urgency of leaving the castle at once. But before using the transportation gem I had hidden, I knew the importance of learning more about the prophecy.
So, I opted to wait until I had gathered sufficient knowledge from the royal library before making my escape.
The next morning…….
In the dimly lit library, I sifted through the ancient history books, desperate to uncover more about the prophecy that threatened my life. As I flipped the pages, my heart pounded, knowing every second counted.
Finally, I stumbled upon an old poem in a book dated back to the first wolves. The verses spoke of a child born under the moon's rare eclipse, destined to possess unimaginable power from the union of a witch and a werewolf and it goes:
"In Twilight's embrace, a child was born,
A union divine, one to adorn.
A witch and werewolf love entwined,
A creature unique, both gentle and wild.
With power immense, it's a being of wonder, where magic and moonlight collide.
A harbinger of destiny, its path unknown,
Shall it sow hope's seed or darkness be sown?
The power to mend or the power to destroy.
A choice lies ahead, a fork in the road,
With scales in its hands, a fate to be shown.
Embrace love and light, with compassion to share,
Peace shall blossom, a world beyond compare.
Yet, if darkness takes hold, vengeance burns bright,
Chaos unleashed, a devastating blight.
The elements tremble, earth shall weep,
O hybrid child, the sculptor of fate,
In your hands, the power to create.
Through love or revenge, the world shall be turned"
If the Aethelwulfs succeed in obtaining this child, I'm certain their intentions don't align with bringing peace to the world. It's truly shocking how they could devise such a sinister plan under the pretense of protecting my people. At that time, my instincts warned me that their seemingly kind offer might have hidden motives, as genuine acts of kindness felt scarce in those days. Now, I deeply regret not trusting those instincts and declining their offer, even if it meant facing disapproval and being disowned by my mother.
As I pondered the idea of using my gem to go to Khandra and share the King and Michael's plan with my mother and brother, doubts arose within me. I feared they might perceive it as an act of rebellion against the marriage to Michael and dismiss my words without considering the truth behind them.
I need to find another approach to deal with this problem because seeking help from my mother doesn't seem like a good idea; I'm not even sure why I considered it initially.
As I considered who to turn to again, my mind settled on Henry Oceanstar, my best friend. I realized that if I confided in him, he might be able to help me approach his mother, who could then speak to my own mother. Hopefully, this would lead to my mother believing me and taking appropriate action against the werewolves who have been deceiving us.
Yes! I would ensure I leave at the perfect moment, so I could make it to the Ovithan boundary before they even realize I'm gone. I'll never let them exploit my child like they plan to—I'd rather sacrifice my own life than let that happen.