Chapter 2

The voices of the birds showed the peaceful nature of a fresh morn. Zoe was still deep into her sleep when her new servant knocked on the door. She had cried herself to sleep. She quickly disrobed into her nightgown and opened the door for her servant. She came in with a tray of the meal ready for Zoe.

''Did you sleep well princess?''

''Yes, I did." she lied

''I will go and make your bathing water.'' the servant said as she moved to the bathtub. She filled the tub with water after emptying lavender into it.

''Let me take off your gown.'' The servant said and quickly took off Zoe's nightgown. She requested Zoe to sit still in the bathtub and Zoe did.

''It's a privilege to be giving you a shower princess.'' The servant advertised.

''Rita'' Zoe muttered out

''I'm not Rita, I'm..."

''From now onwards, you are Rita.'' She asserted

''Yes, princess.'' the servant acknowledged as she delicately washed Zoe's s hair. After she was done, she dressed Zoe in a new blue gown and smoothed her hair to fall on her back.

''This will do.'' she said as she relished her handiwork.

''You look gorgeous princess.'' she continued

''Do you want to see your face.''

Zoe nodded and she went for a bowl of water.

''Now look at yourself.'' she said as she handed the bowl of water to Zoe. Zoe smiled at her reflection in the water. Even sometimes, she found it hard to believe her radiant beauty. The kind of beauty which the hyenas were known to have; her almost cooper hair, straightly shaped nose, her provocative lips, and the most breathtaking of all, her amber eyes. Zoe, the princess of the hyenas, the next queen of the clan.

''Rita,'' she said.

''Yes, princess.''

''I want to go out alone. ''after Zoe concluded her statement, the servant swallowed hard and gave a startled look.

''Don't give me that look, Rita will be back before you know it.'' She assured her.

''I don't want to be on today's menu.''

''Come on, don't say that.''

''I'm afraid I can't let you go princess.'' the servant spoke the words as if her life was going to be taken after she was done.

''Okay,'' Zoe said. The servant became relieved and headed for the door when she heard Zoe speak.

''boom!'' Zoe said smirking at the servant and Rita knew it was too late.

''NO PRINCESS'' Zoe disappeared into thin air before the servant could react.

''I know am going to be used as feast this evening.'' The servant said as she left the room.

''THE GURU IS HERE! THE PRIEST IS HERE!''

The guard shouted out as the Guru entered the queen's palace with an army of guards following suit. Queen Nepheli, dressed in total black with her deep green eyes and dark red lips, walked firmly to receive the priest, and her servants followed with their daily routine of rolling a carpet underneath her feet and holding her dress. She wore on her head a crown made up of diamonds about three feet tall, one could query how she could wear something so huge and heavy on her head. The priest stooped to Queen Nepheli and she did the same.

''It such an honor to have you here'' Queen Nepheli said entranced

''I don't expect you to overture this early'' She continued

''You are doing a great job Nepheli'' The priest said. He looked at Nepheli for some time as if relating something to her and soon, everyone was gone.

''It's just the two of us now Guru.'' She said

''I did not only come here because you wanted me to find a gallant for your daughter. '' Guru said

''Is something wrong'' she whined out as she signaled a servant with a tray of blood wine to come over

''No, in fact, i's good news.''

''What is it then. you of all people know how much I love good news'' she smirked as she took a golden chalice of blood wine and brought it to her lips

''The chosen one is close to us Nepheli.'' After the priest spoke, Nepheli became numb trying to make meaning of what the priest had just revealed.

* * *

''Why did you have to blindfold me Dami?''Zoe asked as Damianos led her to an unknown scene.

''It's a surprise remember'' Damianos susurrated into her ear as he guided her from behind.

''Easy my light'' he said.

''Okay, are we there''

''Don't be so impatient''

''Come on my light, we are almost here.''

''My love I'm curious.''

''I know, now stand here.'' he commanded Zoe.

He untied the blindfold and Zoe became stunned by what she saw. Blue Morpho butterflies arranged so beautifully to right ''I love you'' in the air''

''I love you too Dami said'' She said as she hugged him.

''Wait, my light, there is more''

''More'' Zoe said surprised.

''Let's move to our love tree'' He takes her hand and led her to the tree.

''What are we coming to do here'' Zoe asked curiously.

''Zoe, princess of the hyena clan, the light of my eyes, I want to create paradise, but without you, it's impossible'' bowing to Zoe he continued

''Let's create paradise together and live in it. Will you be my better half, my life partner, my beloved wife. Tears filled Zoe's eyes after Damianos was done.

''How can you even ask me Dami, It not suppose to be a question, YES, YES, YES'' She threw her hand in the air and turned herself around as she insisted on her answer, yes. They both laughed ceaselessly as Damianos took Zoe and spun her around. * * *

''We don't joke with such things Guru.'' Nepheli said angrily

''Do I look like I am joking'' Guru replied

''Our ancestors have been waiting for this news for years, it never came and now...''

''The chosen one is from your league Nepheli. she will rule the whole of Zukard.'' He said after he caught Nepheli short.

''A ' She' '' She spoke with excitement in her voice.

''Yes, your granddaughter.''

''My granddaughter, then let's get Zoe married as soon as possible. we need to act so fast that the lions won't see us coming when we ensnare them.''

''Not so fast Nepheli, She can only have the chosen one with the man our ancestors have provide.''

''So that is where the suitor comes in. who is he?''

''A striped hyena, Achilleas, the son of Iasonas.''

''Achilleas... I least expected him.''

''Yes, Nepheli, your daughter must get married before the full moon.''

''Before the full moon, that is so soon.''

''If you want to defeat the lions, soon is not enough.''

''How will I get Achilleas to come here?''

''No one can refuse to marry a maiden like Zoe. You and I know she is breathtaking.''

''Yes, that is because she is my daughter. Don't forget in my youth, I was the fairest.''

''You still are my queen. Achilleas will be here this evening. You can introduce your daughter to him. She is lucky she will have the chosen child.''

''Thank you, Guru, for making my day with this news.'' Nepheli sat her blood wine down on the tray again to properly acknowledge the priest. The Guru turned to leave when Nepheli called out to him.

''What is it, queen?''

''After my daughter gets married, we will range another war. I have to avenge the king's death."

''It's up to you, queen, it's all up to you.''

''Give me your right leg Zoe'' Damianos demanded

''What for?'' Zoe asked

''Just give me your right leg''

Zoe stretched out her leg to him without another word and he tied an anklet to it.'' this, my light, is a symbol of my love for you.'' he said as he tried it.

''I will always love you Dami, but our marriage is almost impossible, It is like treason.'' Zoe divulged

''love can never be treason Zoe'' Damianos shrieked

''I know but if we want to be together we will have to elope my love''

''Zoe we won't elope'' Damianos said as she cubed Zoe's face in his hand

''We will get to marry in front of everyone'' he affirmed

''I have a bad feeling about this dami''

''Don't be scared, now come'' Damianos led Zoe to the tree and suddenly came to a halt. He began to speak without turning to face Zoe '' let's write our names on the tree, this tree is immortal therefore, our love will be immortal.''. Zoe nodded and took Damiano's hand.'' Yes, let's do it'' she murmured. They both wrote their names on the love tree later, Damianos stood back to read it out loud'. ''ZOE AND DAMIANOS FOREVER'' he hollered. They drew a love at the end of their written declaration. For some time, Zoe got lost in thoughts thinking of what to give Damianos. She remembered the necklace around her neck with her name and took it off. Stretching her hands to Damianos she said ''Take this Damianos, this is a titanium necklace, it will never break'' Damianos took it and hugged Zoe tight. ''We will eventually be together Zoe.'' he muttered out. ''I know.'' she responded and kissed him.

Everything felt awkward for Damianos as he moved into the pride lands. Half of the lion league had transformed into lions and half paved way for him without taking their eyes off him. For some time, he thought he had messed up something but he realized his father would have come looking for him already. When he entered the lion's castle, he was bewildered to see every royal seated but what caught his eyes was a new set of lioness in the castle.

''Dad was is going on here'' he asked

''Son'' Vasilis answered

''Everyone, my son is here!'' he continued. As he spoke, there was some pride in his eyes. Everyone in the kingdom gathered outside the palace, both lions and their colonies. ''come son'' Vasilis said as he led his son to the top balcony of the castle. That place was only used when there was either good or bad news. ''Everyone! listen up!'' Vasilis hollered. "The moment we have all been waiting for is here'' as he spoke a park of lions came from behind, the leader of the park transformed to become human. She looked perfect-deep blue eyes with blond almost white-like hair in a full gown-and she came to stand beside Vasilis'' Father.'' she said. Damianos was completely taken by surprise. The only sister he had was married and out of the castle. However, his doubt was cleared when Vasilis spoke once again. ''The forefathers of the kingdom have spoken. The chosen one is about to be born...'' before Vasilis could finish, everyone begun to jubilate ''That is not all, the chosen one will be born to my son, Damianos'' he continued lifting Damiano's hand ''and lady Halsey'' he once again recapitulated taking the blond blued eyed girl's hand. Damianos became shocked upon his father's last statement, he was broken down the more when Vasilis continued ''They will get married in four days.'' Damianos repeated.

''You are finally back.'' Rita scolded Zoe

''You are lucky I came early.'' Zoe replied

''Change and go have your seat beside your mother.''

''Is something wrong, Rita.''

''No, just let me help you dress.''

''Okay.''

Queen Nepheli was addressing a clan of hyenas who sat comfortably in a Cushing pillow when Zoe entered. Zoe stooped to her mom and went to sit beside her. ''You look stunning as always Zoe'' Nepheli whispered ''Thank you mom'' Zoe whispered back. Just then, Achilleas the son of the head worrier of the hyenas entered moving graciously to Queen Nepheli. He bowed to her and Queen Nepheli ordered him to sit at her left-hand side since Zoe occupied the throne on the right. ''Queen Nepheli, what is Achilleas doing here?'' Zoe whispered to her mother. Queen Nepheli ignored her and began to address the clan. ''As the queen of the hyenas and its colonies, I have gathered you all here today because there is both bad and good news.''

As Nepheli spoke, Zoe became nervous. She felt something was watching her closely and turned to see Achilleas admiring her. ''Can't he just listen to my mother'' she said to herself and became surprised when Achilleas answered ''Why should I listen to her when you are here'' Zoe turned to him and realized he was listening to her mom. How would he have heard something she said to herself. She heard her name being mentioned and looked intensely at Achilleas. He was calling out to her without even speaking. She turned to look at her mom again ignoring her name.

''The bad news is, the Lions are yet to bring forth a chosen one'' Queen Nepheli continued. Everyone began to freak out when Queen Nepheli silenced them.

''However, we will also have our chosen one. The chosen two chosen ones will battle against each other, the one who wins....wins the entire Zuk'' Nepheli recommenced. Nepheli turned to look at her daughter for some time and simpered. ''The chosen ones, the ancestors have said, will come from my daughter princesses Zoe and the great worrier son Achilleas'' After queen Nepheli spoke, everyone began to jubilate once again yet, Zoe found herself up and going to Queen Nepheli on impulse. However, she came back to her senses and sat down to look at Achilleas who was only smirking. Then, the realization began to hit her hard, she raised her gown a little to see the anklet Damianos gave her and remembered the proposal. Her greatest fear had set in and now she was ready than ever to abscond with Damianos.