Chapter 54 The King's Promise
"Argh! Let me go!"Maya cried in pain as Nina pulled her hair, dragging her across the sand towards the other shadow wielders. Nina released her then almost immediately landed a harsh blow on Maya's face.
"How dare you think you can just go scot-free after ruining everything? Huh? How dare you!" Nina screamed in Maya's face, giving her another slap. Maya's face stung badly but she managed not to cry.
"Bind her hands!" Nina barked at a female shadow wielder who immediately did as told. "Why don't you just kill me now, end it already. Since I'm that big of a traitor." Maya panted, she was visibly exhausted. There was no fight left in her.
"As enticing as that seems, whatever happens to you is left to Damon. Though I would love to see you get fed to the rogues or rather kill you myself." Nina replied with a spiteful smirk. She turned around and ordered everyone to open the portals.
A smile crept up Maya's lips, she didn't care what happens to her next. She was just glad that Fernanda had finally returned back to Sebastian, he would protect her even more this time around. And that's exactly what the catalyst needs–protection from those who aim to exploit her powers. People like Damon.
She got pulled up by two shadow wielders and they all disappeared back into the portals.
Fernanda struggled to sleep. She just couldn't. Not when Maya was still out there, not when she wasn't sure if she was alive or not. She woke up in a panic not long after she managed to drift off, gasping for breath. "I can't do this." She told herself as she got up.
She was in Sebastian's royal tent but he wasn't in there with her. Fernanda recalled him staying till she closed her eyes, she hadn't heard him leave. They've not spoken a word to each other since the promise he made her, but Fernanda knew there was a lot to say.
Not far from the royal tent stood Levi and Sebastian."Tell me everything Levi, what happened," He demanded, his eyes fixed on his tent. He wanted to be with Fernanda but he knew he had to have a conversation with Levi.
Levi also stared at the tent, he was thinking about a lot at that moment. Maya. "There's an organization called the secret great order, led by Damon Ferrars. He is the one who took Fernanda at the palace. He controls legions of shadow wielders. Every single one answered to him." Levi explained.
"What did he wanted with Fernanda?" A dark expression settled on Sebastian's face. "For her gift. Fernanda..." Levi sighed, his hands burrowing into his dark hair. "What kind of gift?" Sebastian asked, he was visibly confused.
"Fernanda is the catalyst in the prophecy, the one said to either be our doom or our salvation. She is the one." Levi told him. Sebastian looked at him like he was out of his mind. "Are you sure you haven't hit your head on your way back vice commander?" Sebastian asked after a moment of awkward silence.
Surprisingly to Levi, he had an amused smirk on. "I wish I had. But her highness believes it too. There's so little I still know but with everything I saw, the shadow wielders would not stop until they have her. Especially Damon." Levi firmly stated.
Sebastian didn't know what to say. They both didn't. They stood in silence for a while until Sebastian spoke, "Where is this secret order?" He said, there was a slight change in the tone of his voice, they no longer held curiosity but pure dark rage.
Sebastian had always dismissed the prophecy growing up, always called it a fake. If the moon goddess truly wanted to fix the balance of the realm, then she would have done so since and not have to send a catalyst.
But the catalyst now happens to be his wife, how ironic. But then again, Sebastian's life has been filled with ironies ever since he wedded Fernanda. "I'm not certain but their lair is stone built, right in the middle of a dark and foggy forest. It didn't look like any notable place on Lunareth. And that could only mean–"
"It is a decoy place. You need magic to get through. That explains the portals they use. I know of a few decoy cities in Lunareth, they aren't on the map." Sebastian said and Levi nodded in agreement.
"We need an emerald pendant to create a portal and also someone who can harness it's power." Levi murmured. "There's a prisoner. We'll make him create the portal first thing tommorow morning. You should get some rest untill then soldier." Levi nodded again, "Goodnight your majesty." Sebastian watched him leave with a grim look on his face.
As he stood to further strategize, his eyes caught a movement outside of his tent. "Fernanda!" He muttered, immediately making his way towards her. She had both her arms wrapped around her body, wearing a scared and worried look on her face.
"I thought you fell asleep already." Sebastian when he reached her. Fernanda looked up to meet his worried gaze, she had forgotten how tall and big he was, and also she was cold and shivering, she felt safe standing in front of him again after so many days.
"I couldn't sleep," She told him. Sebastian came closer, carefully reaching for her shoulders. His hold was firm but very gentle at the same time. "You are cold. Let's go inside." Sebastian replied, his voice deep with concern.
He held her close by his side as they walked back into the tent. Sebastian immediately took off his fur coat and draped it around her frame over the one she previously had on. Fernanda stood awkwardly in the middle of the large tent, watching as Sebastian started a new fire to make the room warmer.
He turned to face her and was surprised to see her fidgeting on a spot. It was then he realized he only had a shirt on. He looked so normal it surprised Fernanda herself.
Sebastian smirked, "I truly hope you still remember you are my wife and I'm your husband."
Fernanda clutched her hands tighter around the fur coat Sebastian had draped over her. "How could I forget such a major phase of my life," she replied with a small smile. Although Fernanda's smile was a quick one, Sebastian kept playing it in his mind over again.
Fernanda wanted to run into his arms without care, and surrender herself in his safe arms. She wanted to tell him how much she wanted him at that moment but that would only make her feel more guilty about everything that's happening around her.
How dare she try to seek happiness?
Instead of speaking, Fernanda simply looked away. "Fernanda–" Sebastian started to say but she cut him off.
"I have something I need to explain to you Sebastian." She whispered, her eyes stinging from the tears threatening to fall. "You don't need to explain anything to me Fernanda." Sebastian said, closing the distance between them.
"No but I have to," Fernanda's voice cracked, "I've made everyone suffer enough just because of what I am and I don't want that to keep happening."
Sebastian gently held both sides of her face with his hands. "I know. Levi told me. So stop trying to explain it." He told her, dropping a gentle but firm kiss on her forehead. Fernanda held his right hand as he did so.
She was crying now. "I'm the reason Anderson is dead, I'm also the reason why Maya went through everything she did." Fernanda said between sobs. "It isn't your fault." Sebastian firmly told her. "Look at me Fernanda," he said, tilting her face upward so she can meet his gaze. "None of this is you fault. I don't want to ever hear you blame yourself again. Is that clear?" His words sounded like an order and that made the corners of Fernanda's lips lift into a small smile.
"We need to get Maya back, Damon would hurt her. He's a bit insane." Fernanda told Sebastian. Hearing her say that and the tremble in her voice made him ask, "Did he hurt you? In any way?" When she nodded, Sebastian rested his forehead against hers, pulling her closer as he did so.
"I will have his head Fernanda, I promise." Sebastian wasn't sure if he swore to Fernanda or himself more.