Chapter 11

Stepping back, Kronos commanded in a wild and hoarse voice, "Strip." Jasmine's eyes widened in shock and horror as she weakly stuttered, "What..?"

"I don't repeat words," he declared, his patience waning. It was evident that if she didn't comply, he intended to take matters into his own hands.

Naked, save for the silky nightdress she wore, Jasmine reluctantly untied the rope at the front, letting the gown fall to her feet. Vulnerable and exposed, she stood bare before Kronos, her attempts to use her arms to conceal herself betraying a conscious vulnerability.

"Arms away from your body," he ordered, and she complied. Inching closer, Kronos circled her, his searching gaze finally fixating on the mark he sought on her thigh, close to her intimate area. The discovery elicited an animalistic growl from Kronos.

Panicked, Jasmine hurriedly covered herself with a veil, her eyes wide with horror as Kronos unleashed his rage. Antiques were flung, mirrors shattered, and the room bore witness to his destructive fury. Turning towards her, his teeth elongated into canines, his limbs extended, and his eyes burned an intense, demonic red. The maniacal look in his eyes intensified, leaving Jasmine paralyzed with fear until she slumped into unconsciousness.

Outside the room, chaos unfolded as Damon's right-hand men and battle assistants returned, led to the chamber where an unconscious Jasmine lay, Damon now possessed by Kronos stalked close to her. The sinister plan became clear, Kronos intended to kill the young woman. Devin drew his sword, armed with poison and silver approaching Damon.

"Sir!" Panic resonated in the voices of others. "Harming the prince would bring serious consequences!"

"It's not him!" Devin stated calmly, advancing with two others.

Over powering the raving prince was difficult and finally after some hours, an Unconscious Damon was taken out.

Jasmine was laid on the bed, barely breathing. The maids, overwhelmed, could only watch over her, their hands tied in the face of this unfolding tragedy.

(Please, keep in mind that Jasmine is now known as Olivia)

Awakening amidst the soft glow of filtered light, Jasmine stirred, her eyes opening to find three faces peering down at her with an air of concern. Emerging from the clutches of a peculiar dream, its elusive details slipping away like grains of sand, she felt an unsettling residue lingering on the edges of her consciousness. She had no recollection of what she had dreamt about. All she knew was that it was strange.

"My lady!" Anna's exclamation carried a note of worry. "Are you okay?"

Yawning and stretching luxuriously, Jasmine felt akin to a contented cat. The three women around her bore solemn expressions, their behavior unusually serious, their eyes hovering over her anxiously

"Is something the matter?" she inquired, noting the peculiar expressions that had settled on their faces.

Just Then the door swung open, and Lady Sophia entered, trailed by her entourage of maids. "Are you okay, Olivia?" she asked, her tone carrying a subtle unease. "I was told you just woke up."

"I must have overslept, but yes, I'm fine," Olivia reassured her. With the assistance of her maids she rose from the bed and was gradually helped into her dress robe.

"We tried waking you up for a long time, but you wouldn't budge," Anna muttered, her gaze flickering with concern.

Jasmine's eyes darted to a conspicuously empty space in the room. "What happened to the mirror?" she inquired.

"The mirror?" Anna repeated slowly, exchanging glances with the others. "You don't remember."

Before she could elaborate, Sophia interjected, "The mirror broke. One of the maids was being careless this morning, and it shattered." She offered a stiff smile.

"Oh, okay," Jasmine responded slowly, sensing there was more to the story.

"It will be replaced," Sophia assured, diverting the conversation.

She nodded, still perplexed. "Is something the matter?" she probed, catching the strange looks exchanged between them.

Sophia dismissed it with a wave. "No, nothing," she insisted, turning to leave. "You should get ready. Tonight's the ball. You should go have your fitting now."

As she was led to a different room, the dressing area beckoning, an unsettling feeling settled in the pit of her stomach. Vague senses that something elusive was slipping through the cracks of her memory left her yearning for answers.

As Jasmine retreated to the dress room, Princess Sophia pivoted toward the assembled maids, a gravity etched onto her countenance.

"No one mentions what happened last night. I repeat, nobody! Good enough, she has no recollection of the event. None should mention it. Ever! What happens in the East wing should remain her. I don't want to hear of this from anyone else. The prince's issue never happened." she asserted sternly, her command echoing in the chamber before she made her exit.

Curiosity gnawed at Sophia as she left the east wing, taking note of the wounded guards and the maids diligently erasing traces of the night's turmoil.

"What happened last night?" she inquired, seeking clarification on the event from a witness.

"The second prince, he went wild and stormed in here last night," the petite maid, who had indicated Jasmine's location the previous night, quivered in fear. "I'm sorry, Your Highness. He came into this wing, demanding to know where she was. I was frightened out of my wits and pointed to her room," she confessed, tears welling in her eyes.

Sophia's brow furrowed with concern. "Where who was?" she inquired, attempting to piece together the fragmented narrative.

"He didn't say a word more than that, but I could tell he was asking for where the new Princess, his bride, was."

A revelation unfolded before Sophia, a shadow of realization darkening her features. "Wait. So you're saying the second prince came straight here and then headed to Olivia's room?" she questioned, her voice laced with incredulity.

"Yes, Your Highness. I don't think it was the Prince," the maid hesitated before continuing. "I've only seen the prince on two occasions, but his voice was completely different. It was like the devil spoke through him itself!" she cried, her whispered words carrying the weight of a chilling revelation. "It was like, he went berserk!" She whispered.

Sophia's command cut through the air, her voice taking on an icy edge as her stormy expression demanded immediate attention.

"Get up," she instructed, her tone unyielding, and her gaze piercing. "Don't tell a single soul what you just told me," she warned with a cold finality. "Not about the prince going berserk or what happened at the princess's room."

As the maid swiftly retreated from the room, Sophia's thoughts were a tempest of contemplation. Amelia, her loyal maid in waiting for years, couldn't contain her concern.

"What are you doing? The second prince is dangerous! He should be sent out of the castle, not covering up what he's done!" Amelia exclaimed in disbelief.

"No. This has got to be the first time he went unhinged and had a particular target. Kronos would usually just destroy things indiscriminately. But he specifically targeted Olivia," Sophia mused, her expression deep in thought.

Amelia raised a pertinent point, "Your Highness, it could be he found out his new bride was sent, and he wanted to kill her, just like the other ones. He killed them himself, remember? I wouldn't put it past him to want to get rid of his new bride."

"You're right," Sophia sighed, a weariness etched across her features. "Still, I can't help but feel there's more to this. It's obvious Kronos felt threatened by her presence alone. They hadn't even met yet."

"Let's just watch for now. Whatever it is, it's clear he sees her as a threat. And besides, Olivia has no recollection of what happened," Sophia declared, her voice laced with questions.

"Sir Devin, Damien's right hand, said they found her unconscious, so it could be she was asleep when he attacked her, so she has no knowledge it happened," Amelia pointed out.

"Yes, you're right, that could be it," Sophia acknowledged, though a hint of skepticism lingered. "Keep a close look on Olivia. There's something really odd about her."

"Yes, Your Highness," Amelia responded, pledging her vigilant watch over the mysterious turn of events.