CHAPTER 18

CHAPTER 18

Deborah looked at the Prince, who also looked at her.

Then she looked at Esther, who also looked at her, then signalled her with her eyes to face Reed.

Deborah turned her eyes back to Reed,who kept on waiting for an answer.

"What's going on here?You..?!", he faces the prince.

The Prince frowns at him,and folds his arms," Yes?".

"What are you doing here?"

The Prince then said,trying to look smart in front of Reed,"Talking with my friends. Is there a problem?".

He looks at Deborah and Esther,with a charming smile,then back at Reed.

Reed just stared at him.

He then said,cracking the bones of his finger,for the Prince to hear,"Others are busy preparing for tomorrow's party,while someone is busy doing what I don't know.Should I call it nonsense? ".

He asked, still cracking his fingers.

The Prince understood what Reed meant by the cracking of his fingers.

So he too decided to show off too.

" Hmm!,I don't know Reed.By the way... it's your party not mine.So anyone you see,not doing anything, is a servant to you right?".

The prince smiles at Reed.

Reed noticed that the prince was trying to pick up a fight with him.And he was ready for it.

Reed gave a cute smile,which made his lip to curve like a charming daredevil.

He looks at Deborah, who was feeling nervous to even speak to him.

He lifts his right hand up,and dresses his hair well,then stares at the Prince.

Deborah's eyes where on him.

Everything he was doing,was making her to daze at him even more,that she just couldn't take her eyes off him.

Reed then said to the Prince, "Right?!,its my party.And it will always be".

" After listening to your sad tale earlier, I realized that even if you remain here or I set you free,and you return back to your little toy house you call a palace,You can never,...never ever,throw a party like mine in your life time.Believe me".

Shocked,Deborah and Esther gasped at what Reed said to the prince.

The prince grew angry and wanted to deal with him.

Quickly, Deborah came in their midst to stop them,"That's OK,pls!".

The prince frowned and walked away.

Deborah didn't like the way the prince and Reed were fighting,because it made her sad.

Reed was still standing with the both of them beside him.

Deborah and Esther then decided to leave,and rest for tomorrow.

"See you tomorrow then", Esther said.

" Sure,tomorrow. Good night ",she said.

They were about going their separate ways,when Reed asked Deborah,"Where are you going to?".

When he asked that question, Lucy,who was coming out of the room,heard him.

She hid near the door of the room to listen.

The both of them paused and looked at him.

Deborah then replied," The dungeon".

She wondered why he asked.

Reed then said,walking pass the both of them,"You won't be staying there anymore. Come with me".

Surprised, Deborah wondered why she wasn't allowed to stay in the dungeon again.

Curious, Both of them followed Reed.

Lucy too become curious,as she followed them secretly.

It didn't take long at all,Reed stopped in front of a door,and opened it.

Deborah and Esther looked inside,and gasped at the sight of it.

The room was big,beautiful and spacious.

It wasn't as big as Reed's own,but it sure was bigger than the room,where all the girls were staying.

Deborah and Esther kept on admiring the room.Until Reed said,"This is where you'll be staying".

Astonished, Deborah glanced at Reed,"Really?.I can stay here?",she asked,looking happy.

Reed saw the happiness on her face,which made her even more beautiful.

He smiled at her and said,"Yes,You can stay here".

Lucy stood close to the room.

She peeped and saw the size of the room.

She was shocked,and jealous.

"How come Deborah got a room,and..and I have to stay with those girls that can't even spare someone a place to rest your head?.This is unfair".

She had an unhappy expression on her face," Reed can't do this to me.I'll ask him to give me a room too".

Despite the fact that Lucy was Deborah's stepsister, She doesn't want Deborah to enjoy life more than her.

She walked away from where she was standing,and went somewhere else to wait for Reed.

Deborah thanked Reed for the room he gave her to stay in.

He smiles at her again,and said, "You don't have to.We're friends after all".

He walks out of the room.

Still focused on him,Deborah blushed and said within her," Yes,we're friends. Soon...we'll be more than friends for life".

She sighed and turned back to admire the room the more.

Her eyes met with Esther,who had a suspicious look on her face.

She was wondering what was going on.

"What happened?, why the suspicious look?"," If am not mistaking, ..did he just say the word 'Friend'?",Esther asked.

Deborah scoffed and walked up to the bed.

She jumped on it happily, spreading her body everywhere, "Finally!,a bed to lay on", she said out excitedly.

Esther also jumped on the bed and screamed out excitedly," And am going to stay here too!.If my friend don't mind!".

Deborah laughs at her,and said,hugging Esther,"You can stay here with me. It's our room now".

"Oh!,that makes us roommates, Yes!",Esther was happy.

She has been laying on the ground,and her body always ached her.

Now,she has seen a bed to lay on,and she's not stepping back into the girls room again.

Meanwhile, Reed was heading for his room,When Lucy came in front of him.

She was looking upset.

Reed wasn't interested in knowing why she was standing in front of him,or even looking upset.

He pushed her aside,and kept on moving.

" You gave Deborah a room of her own.What about me?"She said out loudly.

Reed stopped,and turned to look at her.Then he said,not showing any sign of concern at all,"Deborah deserves it more than you.You are already enjoying yourself with your friends. Gossiping if I'll say".

"You don't even know how to lift a sword,or even defend the castle".

He walks up to her,and said,facing her," And you want me to give you something in return?,That's rubbish",he scoffs.

He was about to leave, when Lucy said out angrily, "I deserve something better, than Deborah".

" Yes!,she's good with swords,that's why she saved the castle, because it's her duty".

"But me!,... am not like her.But..", she places her right hand on her chest,acting Innocent,"... am different from her.But I did something she could never do".

She became serious.

Reed couldn't take it anymore. He stretched his arm out,as if Lucy was making him bored.

Then Lucy said," I gave you a very precious stone,which I brought with love.But it seems like you don't care at all".

As soon as she said that,Reed,who was feeling bored of her,suddenly became stunned.

He faced Lucy,still looking stunned,with his eyes fist on her.

"What did you just say?",He asked,giving her a scary look.

Lucy became afraid of Reed.

The way he looked at her,planted fear in her.

" I think I said too much. Now he'll ask me,where I got the stone from".

"Simple!,I'll say...its a secret", she thought to herself,still looking scared.

Just as she predicted, Reed asked her," Where did you get that stone from?".

Lucy began to act smart in front of him.She folded her arms,boldly and said,"That I won't tell.It's a secret".

The way she was behaving, was provoking Reed the more.

He asked her again,"Where did you get that stone from? ".

And she repeated," That...I won't tell. Because it's a secret.Listen Reed,just...".

Before she could even finish her statement, Reed stretched his hands towards her.

Creating a force that pushed and pinned her to the wall.

Terrified, She looked at Reed.

He was full of rage.

He asked her one more time again,and this time,she didn't hesitate.

"I'll tell you.I found it at the entrance of the dungeon,on the floor".

" It looked so beautiful and attractive that I decided to give it to you as a gift. You know I care for you.That's why I hid it in your pocket".

Without wasting time,he storms out of her sight.Heading straight for the dungeon.

Lucy noticed that the force holding her was no more there.

She sighed in relief and wondered why Reed was angry,when he heard about the stone.

"Is it because am the one that brought it or he just don't like it?", she wondered.

She decided not to bother herself about it," Well,since he didn't like it,it's OK.But..",she began to blush and act like a little shy girl,"..tomorrow, I'll sing and dance in front of him. With my waist twisting here and there.Then he'll know that am special ".

She giggled,dancing and walking back to her room.

At the dungeon, the giant slug was busy giving the prisoners food.

He saw Reed,coming inside the dungeon, then he bowed at him.

Reed looked round and asked the slug," Today,some demons where brought in from the river side".

"A red stone was found at the entrance of the dungeon, and I think it belongs to one of the demons.Do you know that demon?".

" Hmm..,I think I do Master ",the slug said.

Reed became relieved.

He then gave an order to the slug," Good.Now,go and check the demon".

"If there's any red stone on him,seize it and destroy it"

"Yes master!", the slug bowed and slithered away, to carry out the task.

The next day,the monsters were excited about the party.

They were all preparing themselves for the fun they'll have all night.

Some monsters were busy decorating and arranging the hall,the monster way.

Everything was set and perfect for the party.

" Can't wait for tonight! "," Me too!",two monsters exclaimed excitedly.

They spotted the prince,looking at the hall,with a strange expression on his face.

They walked up to him,bumped him on his back and shoulder,and became to chat with him.

"There's going to be an arm wrestling"," Fighting! "," Food and drinks","So many things to do.....Aren't you excited? ",one of them asked the prince.

The prince planted a fake smile on his face and said," Of course I am.Just can't wait for tonight ".

The monsters didn't know that behind the smile,the prince was angry.

" He wants to have fun huh?,Let me see how you have your fun,When I steal the spotlight",he thought to himself, smiling devilish.

Meanwhile, Lucy and the girls where at the arena,practicing their dance.

"OK,One,two, three and one,two,three", she was teaching them.

They were dancing,when Agnes came inside the arena,cat walking like she was the owner of the castle.

Lucy saw her and screamed happily, irritating the others.

She ran to her mother and hugged her," Mother!".

"My baby, how are you?".

" Good ",she giggled.

Agnes looked at the girls,then back at Lucy,then she asked," What's going on here?When I came at the gate of the castle, the monsters didn't refuse me from seeing you.They looked happy".

"Is there something I don't know of?", she asked curiously.

Lucy smiled and said," There's a party taking place tonight "

"Agnes gasped and said,holding Lucy's hands," Party?!",

"Yes!,and I've decided to perform with my group at the party", she bragged, with her shoulders high up.

Agnes patted her head and said in a low voice," Good good.Make sure you're the most attractive. Make sure he looks at only you,and make sure your dance moves are better than the others.Don't teach them the best moves OK?".

"Trust me mum,I'll never let anyone steal my chance.Except for one person", she frowned.

Agnes understood her daughter,and knew who she was talking of.

She hissed and said," That wretched girl?,she can't do anything my dear".

"Your dance moves will woo Reed immediately. Just don't mind her".

Lucy was happy.

After gossiping, Agnes left the castle,while Lucy resumed back with her dance.