A Daughter's Betrayal

Graceona

I finished my breakfast, walking upstairs, walking into the bathroom to take a shower. I took my clothes off, looking at the various bruises from the training; I ran the water, stepping into the shower, the hot water relaxing my sore body.

Kyra

I looked back at Pompetor making my way to Infernias. I sighed. Ammon, though I knew he was the enemy, I still find myself madly, and truly in love with him. It was tormenting knowing that I was in love with the enemy, and betraying my parents, but I couldn't sleep, thinking of Ammon, the looks on his face when Felix was struck, no one could fake that look, looks of fear for his brother's safety, and anger that my father would attack him. I wiped a tear from my eyes.

After twenty minutes, I stood in front of the palace looking up at it. With a sigh, I walked inside it. The guards were thick, they looked at me, "I want to speak with Ammon. I came to check on him. How is he, is he well?"

The two guards looked at me, then at one another. "Let her through, gentlemen. She's no threat to us."

Ammon stood behind the guards at the bottom of the stairs. The guards looked at us moving out of my way; I walked over to him; he glared at me. "Why have you come?"

I looked at him. "Can we sit down, my legs hurt from walking all the way here?"

He looked at me with a sigh, motioning his head towards the sitting room. We walked into the crimson red room; I sat down on the couch. "Ammon, I've not slept. I've barely eaten. I know I'm supposed to hate you. I just can't bring myself to hate the one person I fell in love with."

His gaze never left mine. "Foolish lamb. You know this is impossible. You traveled this far just to tell me this."

"You don't understand, do you, Ammon? Can you even acknowledge love, do you think I want this war? I don't want to see your pain and suffering. Nothing is fair in love and war. I would never hurt you intentionally."

"I understand that your family had brought my pain and suffering! What do you want from me? You've lost no one valuable to you. I've lost two brothers. Of course, how can you relate! Leonard does well at hiding the truth of what he is."

I looked at him as he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, casually hiding unshed tears. "You've delivered your message. I think you need to leave. I have nothing to talk about. You can show yourself to the door."

He turned away from me, resting his hand on his fist. I stood up, walking towards him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "You're trembling. Please calm down. Talk to me, please don't chase me away, please." I looked at him with unshed tears in my own eyes. "Please, just talk to me."

He turned his head to face me, tears staining his beautiful face. I reach up to wipe them away. He sighed. "The lamb falls in love with the viper."

"Silly little lamb." I wiped his tears from his face.

He placed a hand on my cheek, looking at me; I leaned in to kiss him. As he gently led me to him, our lips met as I wrapped my arms around his neck. He drew me closer. Wrapping gentle arms around my waist, effortlessly lifting me from the floor. I wrapped my legs around his torso; the kiss broke as we looked at one another, catching our breath. I looked at the once fierce lion with a smile. "The lion and the lamb."

"Foolish lion."

"Foolish lamb."

I lay my head on his neck as he stroked my hair, kissing it, laying his head on mine.

"Sir, did you forget the meeting with the elders?"

I looked at the man, who interrupted, then at Ammon. "I haven't forgotten, I was busy."

The guard looked at me with a raised brow. "I can see that, sir."

"If you see I'm busy, why are you still standing there? Leave us!"

"Yes, sir! Right away my Liège." The guard ran from the room. Ammon sighed, shaking his head.

"I can wait here for you to return."

He looked at me. "No, you can join the meeting. I know I shouldn't, but I trust you." He put me down, "Besides, you're my woman now, you're not leaving my side." I looked at him, as he extended his arm and I placed my hands on his arm and we walked from the room.

I looked around at the pictures on the wall. Looking at one, I stopped, causing Ammon to stop as well. "Is this you and your brothers?"

I looked at him as he looked at the picture. "It was taken two years ago."

I looked at him. "All of you were beautiful. You all have the same beautiful black hair, the same bluish-gray eyes. Tall."

He looked at me. "Beautiful, hardly matching the beauty you possess. Come, let's get to the meeting. We can discuss this later."

I smiled, holding his hand, and we made our way to the meeting.

Once we arrived, Ammon opened the door, allowing me to go first, walking in behind me. Figures dressed in black hooded cloaks sat around the table. Ammon pulled my chair as I sat down. He sat down beside me.

Though I couldn't see them, I felt every eye in the room on me.

"Lord Crimson, what is this woman doing here? She is an outsider."

"Let the child stay, Brock. She's family. Don't get yourself paranoid, I see no deception from her." The elder man removed his hood. "She has come to us, out of love. Who are we to come between that? Since she has chosen our side, should her family find out about her betrayal, she would be a black sheep or killed. I demand we house her. Is there any way I stand unclear?" The other men took their hoods from their heads. "Now, Lord Crimson, we have sent out the message that the Afflicted Warriors have three weeks to prepare. It has also come to our attention that August, has met his end. Saves us from having to get our hands dirty. It would be wise if we follow our own orders. We need to use this time to prepare our troops for battle." The older man spoke again." Resting his hands on the table. "What are your orders, Lord Crimson?"

Ammon looked at them. "We train twice as hard. When we go into this battle, we take no prisoners. Should they gain the upper hand, we always have Plan B. We are to win this war at all costs. We are to release the Aglists and have Rayth return to us, at the right time. I refuse to lose this war. We attack Leonard and Nicolae first. You are to focus the Aglists and spirits on those two. We can handle the army. I've witnessed firsthand that Nicolae is no match for Rayth, so Aglists and Spirits of Rayth's rank, use them to take out Nicolae, Leonard. Leave him to me, should he gain control, eliminate him. His affliction marks are on his chest. Aim there. The Shepherd Princes are still flesh. No creature is indestructible. Destroy them, then the army will a be a flock without a shepherd, strike the shepherd and the flock will be at our mercy. I conclude the meeting, you may all go."

They stood up as I felt eyes on me; I looked to see Brock. "Is there an issue, Brock? Need I shut whatever feelings you have up." I heard Ammon say beside me. "You may go."

Brock walked from the room. I looked at Ammon, who stood to his feet. "Let's go get you some clothes, and something to eat. You need to eat something." I stood up holding his hand the two of us walked from the room.