Plan (3)

Elena caressed the Phoenix stone and waited for the warlock to wake up. Jairo woke up feeling hurt, his neck had healed but still a little sore. "Did it work?"

"You tell me, I just killed you and yet you are still here."

"Is that it, am I a vampire now?"

"No sweetheart. You will become a vampire only after you feed and you can only drink animal blood. You can't stomach human blood on your first try. You I have paid my debt," she said showing him the way out. Jairo left and Lola who stayed and listened to their conversations was shocked.

What the princess had done was illegal in the kingdom. And she didn't even hesitate to turn a warlock into a vampire. She even went as far as to use her blood to do that. She didn't know what to do or say about the matter.

"Come out dear, I know that you are there," said Elena. Lola came out of her hiding place and faced Elena.

"Tell me did you enjoy the show?" asked Elena. Lola had never seen that side of Elena, she felt like she was looking at a stranger who looked like her princess.

"What is all this Elena, What you have done is not allowed in Atria."

"Atria is mine and only I can decide what is allowed and what is not. It is also a crime if someone can prove it and that is not possible to do," she replied with a devious smile.

"Tell me why did you do that and why did you lie to him that human blood was wrong for him," she inquired.

"I did that to save Paloma and I only told him that because he won't be able to stand drinking human blood. He was only human himself so I wanted him to try out something simple on his first try," said Elena feigning politeness.

"Then what do you need the Phoenix stone for?" she asked in anger.

"It was just a keepsake for me. I just had to charge extra for breaking the law," she said.

"I know that you are lying to me. Tell me the truth right now or else I will go to the council and tell them what I saw today," she threatened.

"You are right that I did it for me but I won't tell you why. I have brought Paloma back so feel good about that and forget what you saw," she said and hugged her. She whispered something in Lola's ears and broke the hug. She walked back to her seat and continued to watch the stars.

"Continue being a good Lola to me and I will be a good princess to you but if you want to be a bad Lola then don't blame me for what happens," she threatened to send more fear to the already terrified girl.

"We have known each other since childhood. When did you become like this, you are even worse than your grandmother. How could you change so much?"

"I have always been like this and people don't change. They take the side that you don't like and hide it away and show you what you want to see," replied Elena. "Let's take you for instance, since when do you threaten me?" she asked making Lola feel guilty. She felt guilty about threatening her friend and talking to her the way she did.

"I am sorry," she apologized with her head facing the floor.

"Don't apologize for being you but since you have. I forgive you," she said and dismissed her. She went back to glancing at the moon, she touched the stone and thought of Esteban. "Just a few more hours and we will be together," she said and smiled.

She whistled her favorite song and waited for the night to end. Tomorrow, a storm was going to hit Atria but the storm won't stop there it will affect all the lands in the Enchanted forest. She thought about her wedding and how fun it would be to call Esteban her's forever. She left her seat and went to her room to get some sleep.

"What you are doing is wrong," commented Lola while getting her ready for bed.

"Are you still on this?"

"What are you both talking about?" asked a curious Nancy.

"Nothing," they both replied in unison. Elena glared at Lola through the mirror and Lola mouthed a sorry to her. They bathed Elena and helped her change into her nightdress. They tucked her in and left the room to go sleep.

"Why are people playing this game with me today? Are you going to come out already?" she asked and from the shadows emerged the man who had occupied her mind the whole day. She was so happy to see him that her smile stretched from one ear to the other.

"Did you miss me?" asked Esteban getting in the bed with her.

"No,"

"Are you sure about that? I can tell that you missed me a lot from your smile and what's there not to miss I am handsome," he said.

"Cocky much?"

"Very very much," he replied with a smile.

"Where had you gone? When I woke up you were gone."

"I went home to see my father. It has been a long since I had met him and I didn't feel good about it. I wanted to check how he was fairing and let him know that I was fine."

"Aren't you a good son," she said and hugged him.

They stayed in each other's arms for a long time. Time slowed down and let the two of them enjoy that peaceful moment. Elena held the Phoenix stone in her hand and let her mind wander how successful the first step of her plan was. Jairo was the first step and he was going to activate her second step.

She felt a little guilty about what she was doing but she wanted her happy ever after and a little sacrifice was needed for that.

"Is something wrong?" asked Esteban who detected her uneasiness.

"I am not going to lie to you. I have done something bad and I am feeling a little bad. Little like very deep in my small almost non-existing heart."

"Can you tell me what it is?"

"No."

"Do you have a good reason for what you have done?" he asked and she nodded. "Then don't feel bad about it."

She relaxed and tried to sleep, she had to be well-rested for the things that awaited her tomorrow. She will have a lot to do to make certain everything goes according to plan. She could not afford any mistakes because her entire future depended on the success of her plan.

Her late parents might not approve of what she was doing but she hoped they understood her reasons for doing it. Her plan might even unite the three lands in the Enchanted forest so that was a plus. She relaxed further in his embrace and shut her eyes.

Esteban closed his eyes to sleep but all he could think about was what he witnessed earlier. He witnessed what Elena has done with the warlock, he was curious as to why the princess needed the Phoenix stone. Whatever the reason was he didn't like the thought of the Phoenix stone that was capable of putting an end to his life being close to him.