Chapter 55

In front of the palace, Havila.

"Citizens of Havila," Lailah said for the hundredth time, trying to fight her way around words. Yet the screaming of the lot outweighed her voice, swelling in size and number. All she kept hearing was, "Fuck off, bitch!"

"We deserve justice!"

"Lailah must die!"

"All the strangers must go."

At a point, Lailah would be forced to resort to her dark magic, but she didn't want to. She wanted everyone to have a shot. A chance of lending his or her voice.

The days of anarchy and coercion were gone. But the only thing which could steer the beast in her was if anyone lay their hands on Ja. She might set the fellow on fire.

"Die, Lailah. Die!" one of the men hurled a stone at her, and it hit her in the face. Ja gasped and wanted to come to her aid, but she held her hand up to prevent him.

Jim was quite behind too and was beginning to feel concerned when the people chose violence. Lailah, on the other hand, found no qualms.

She looked sharply at the chiefs behind her. They loved the view and violence. She could tell by the peace in their faces.

"Die, Lailah. Die... Die, Lailah. Dia... Dia, Lailah. Dia..." the chant kept coming as the people kept hurling stones and wood at her. The chiefs were beginning to excuse themselves into the palace to avoid being hit, but Ja tarried, ducking the throws.

Lailah's face was already bleeding from the force of the stone. Yet she didn't say a word. Then at once, she said as loudly as she could, "Have you all had enough?"

The place was gulped by a thirsty silence. The men and women began to tap themselves, allowing the peak of the silence.

"I asked you all a question, animals!!!"

She was enraged but was trying as much as possible to contain her emotions. The gate to the palace creaked, and the chiefs walked out again, wondering from where the peace had hailed.

Those in the groups who'd had rage and determination on their faces seemed to have traded it. Twas a wonder how keenly they all dread Lailah.

She took two steps forward, and the crowd shuffled. She heard a few of the men muttering in fear. She felt proud of herself and looked at her yet-to-be husband. She would die for him.

Ja had worry spread across his face. There was no point feigning the tough guy. She smiled at him and looked away.

"Who wants to throw one more stone?" she said as she bent down and picked one of the stones hurled at her. "You, take it and throw it."

She walked to a man and tried handing the stone over to him, but the fellow retreated instead.

"Die, Lailah. Die. Cowards! Has your anger been snuffed? Or is your burning rage fanned by the haughty winds?" her voice rang across the space as more people began to join the crowd. It seemed like everyone in Havila was present. Listening to the tough babe, Lailah.

"At first when I arrived on earth, I was without the faintest hope. I was wretched. I was unconscious and without a bearing, but then I found him."

She turned to Ja. Ja gasped as he held her gaze with his. Her bloody and wounded face had been cleared. There was no trace of blood on her face anymore. It seemed like a new skin sprouted and covered the beaten.

She looked away to the crowd, and they were also awed by the change. There was a brief mutter.

"He saved me and took care of me, without having any idea who I was. Such thing Poseidon would never do."

She paused occasionally to see what effect her speech had on the audience. She loved what she was accomplishing. There was no better feeling other than this.

"Then he asked me for sex. Well, I had no idea what it was back then. I am a Nymph. You probably haven't seen the likes of me before," she explained. She knew that men were bound to disbelieve and make exceptions at what they believe in. She couldn't help save some details.

"I did offer him sex. I did because I thought he had asked as a charge of being nice to me. That was the order in Philiah. Nothing happens for free. One thing for the other."

Twas amazing how enthralled all the people were. Some were so swept off their feet that they began to sit. Jim couldn't help but laugh.

Lailah shot a gaze at him, and he rolled his eyes. She didn't know if he would ever appreciate anything.

She continued, "But after tasting sex, I loved it so much I couldn't help but ask for more. But my love couldn't satisfy my urge. "

"I thought of easing him of the duty and looking for other helping hands. So I went in search of several other men and started having sex with them. But unfortunately, the first two I met were his siblings."

She didn't look at Jim. Not because she was scared; she just didn't have the time. She was being considerate of the crowd, whom she had won over with her petty tale.

She ignored other details and reeled over her points.

"While testing the will of men, I discovered that the king of Kula intended to kill all the princes. Well, he killed the prince of your former king."

The crowd reacted in a rather harsh manner. The majority of them hated to be left in the dark when it came to the issues of their land.

"The king of Kula wanted to play games with the other Kings, and I joined even though I wasn't invited. Then I discovered the odd motives clouding. I killed all the Kings. The king of Kula for the odds, and the rest for fun."

She scoffed and continued almost immediately, knowing full well that the crowd wasn't ready for what she was about to say.

"About the Emperor and the two others killed, I ensured their death because they harmed my Ja. If I didn't save him, he would be dead. Why should a man be killed because he is a stranger? Aren't you all strangers on this land? You have an idea how many spirits lived here before the forests were cleared and houses built? Did you know that Centaurs and Imps once lived here?"

She paused abruptly. Her facial expression changed immediately, and she began to speak in a hurry as though she was late for something,

"The reason I made this call is to tell you that my love, Ja Lia will be your next king. It isn't a proposal but an order from a Nymph. It is compensation for hurting him."

She turned away from the crowd and walked to Ja Lia. She could see the majority of the men were protesting and chanting. She didn't care.

She got to Ja.

"That was a hell of a show," he said, but she only stared without a response. She leaned upon him and rested her lips on his. They both disappeared.

The crowd scattered.