Nicklos's POV

I shut the door softly, hoping not to disturb Alliah. It took everything in me not to fall to her desires. With her lack of fabric covering her body and the creamy look of her skin was enough to make any man crave her. Her black hair spilled out over the pillows, her moans where torturous, and the way my name came out on her soft lips...she was driving me mad. Every inch of me was itching to shove myself deep inside her and satisfy her need for release. But I wasn't here to indulge myself in my future wife, I needed to grab those plans while she recoopererated. I cracked the window open and tossed the incense stick outside. Hopefully by the time I came back, the drug would wear off and we could slip outside the mansion. I just hoped that Michael and Seria where having better luck that we where.

Thanks to my thick mask covering my face, the incense couldn't penetrate the fabric and enter my nose. With that in mind, I started my way down the hall. Moans, screams, and begging calls filled the atmosphere as I beelined it for the golden door. I tried not to let the obscene noises tread on my nerves as I passed each and every door. It made my hairs stand on end, knowing that Alliah was alone in one of these rooms. All it took was one reckless man to walk into her room and find her incapacitated. Just the thought alone was enough to make me want to turn around.

If I hadn't known Laylia was so dangerous, I wouldn't have a problem bringing Alliah with me. But Laylia wasn't known as a crime lord for no reason. She has earned her reputation, and this facility was a huge cover up. This place was a beacon for danger. It lures in criminals from all over the lands. This is how she conducts her meetings under the guise of pleasure, but I know for a fact that they are planning something more horrible than just over throwing the throne. When my Kingdom was attacked, the guy I had snagged had practically spilled everything. She plans on world domination. The world was cruel and unkind to her and her mother, so she wanted to repay in kindness by casting the kingdoms into darkness.

Alliah already has so much on her plate that I couldn't put anymore on her shoulders. That was one of the main reasons I had returned to her during the banquet. I wanted to gain her trust so that we coul conquer this problem together, but little did I know how difficult that was. By the time I reached Celestia, she was already knee deep in problems. I didn't have very many chances to explain to her what was going on between her cold shoulder and leaving the castle. By the time she was ready to listen, I couldn't bring myself to tell her what had happened, burdened by my guilt that I couldn't save my family.

I need to redeem myself, and gain back Alliah's trust entirely. I know she doesn't completely trust me despite giving herself entirely to me. There is still a dark cloud over her head, and that won't go away until the threat of danger is gone. I honestly have never seen her so determined before. She would cross the lands and put herself in danger just to snuff out her enemies. She was no longer the weak girl that let the bullies push her around. I was proud of how strong she has grown since our time in Knight training. I had worried about her once we had graduated. Alliah was great with a sword, but not with her tongue. Seems like time and experience hardened her resolve.

The golden door started to creak open, and stole me from my thoughts. I ducked behind on of the tall pillars and tucked my self into as much as I could into the shadows. There was six pairs of footsteps coming down the hallway. That must mean that Laylia was leaving her office to go down to the dungeon. For Seria and Maxwell's sake, I hope they found a place to hide already.

"How close is he to submitting to me?" A woman's voice cooed. It was low and seductive. I hated how she was like an alluring snake more than a shameless fox.

"I have no doubt that we will be getting his cooperation soon. The torture is enough to drive any man mad. Soon his resolve will crumble and his pride will vanish." That voice, it sounded like Nathaniel's. I've heard his voice a few times as I patroled the castle. Just hearing his voice was enough to send waves of anger through me. I still couldn't forget this quiet man killed his brother.

"Splendid! Thanks to my idiotic sister and her plan to stall the banquet, I've had more than enough time to prepare the poison. The Counsel won't even know what hit them. When I am coronated as Queen, I will summon all the royals and Counsel men to the Kingdom. They will drink the poison and then they will all die. I will set my people upon the Kingdoms and wreak havoc until they all bend a knee to me. I will be the Queen, and they will all feel the sufferings us orhpans feel." Laylia laughed menacingly as they walked by, completely oblivious to my presence.

"You are most horrible my lady. I am honored to work by yourside." I couldn't see his face as his back was facing me, but you could hear the smile in their voice as they continued to walk. They where surrounded by men wearking black leather armor. They must be assassins with how many blades where adorned on their belts and holsters. The rumors about Laylia's mom being related to the other two crime lords must be true, otherwise, how else would she get so much support.

As they continued down the hall, their chattering got softer. Once it was well out of ear shot, I stepped out from behind the pillar and continued my descent down the hall. We needed to get out of here as fast as possible. She had too much power, we wouldn't make it out of here alive if she knew that we where invading her walls. I could only hope that poor Maxwell could keep her occupied long enough for us to get out.

Without any more interruptions, I finally made it to the door. Grasping my hand around the door know, I quickly opened the door and rushed inside. I couldn't help but pause as I entered. Her office space was huge. A large oak desk sat on a large red floral rug. Book cases covered one side of the wall, and a huge window with a glass door covered the other. A king sized four poster bed sat against the wall, deep dark red fabric covered the bed with many fluffed pillows.

Papers sat in neat stacked piles along her desk, a promising sight as I quickly made my way over. I quickly started scanning the papers, hoping to find anything that has to do with the Counsel, or maybe letters back and forth to her people about her plans. So far, I only found reports on their attack progress on Alliah's Kingdom. I was angrily rifling through her papers when I came across one that made me pause. I had to re read it a few times before I came to terms with reality. Alliah was in much more danger than I thought.

I enjoy working for you, future Queen. You seem more reliable than that stupid sister of mine. I don't care for the throne, but she can't even act as a proper princess. She runs around and swings a sword like man. I don't wish to live under a sister that has the desires of treating herself like a man. Alliah is so stupid to think that father cares for her. He only sees her as a political end piece. Once he has a male heir, he will toss her aside just like he did me. I want her dead, to feel the pain I feel when him and I are behind closed doors. He doesn't care about daughters, he cares about sons. But if you can over throw him, you can change the whole world. I will gladly give you any support you need to achieve your goals.

- Illia

I angrilly wrapped gripped the paper in my hands. I wanted to feel surprised that Illia had turned on her sister, but something deep inside me already told me that she had turned. The way she acted when I was in the castle said enough. Any time Alliah got near me, she would glare her down until she left. Then the night Emmanuel escaped, she had smiled coyly while everyone else panicked. Even Alliah, already having planned to release him, had seemed genuinely upset at the situation. So everything happening inside the castle was all at the helps of Illia. She was the mole within the walls that kept giving away all of Alliah's plans.

"You seem upset, could it be that you where being deceived more than you think?"