39 Between a rock and a hard place

After the feast ended, I went back to my room, my matrimonial room with Torren. I had taken a warm bath and was already in my night gown sitting on the bed and thinking of King Luther's words "I will give you seven days, just seven days Diana, you'll either come to me or you'll loose your husband for good, and not just that. I promise you Diana, Everything you've ever loved will be blown to the wind. Seven days Diana. Seven".

Lord Torren walked into the room. "You've been distracted wife. What is the problem?" He asked sitting close to me. I didn't know if I should be mad at him over his conversation with Aurora or mad at Luther for putting me right between a rock and a hard place. I remember being stuck in this kind of predicament before I married Torren. When I had to choose endless torment or marry a dreadful vampire and die in 3 days. But then, this situation is more critical. It involved the ones I love.

"I missed you. That's all" I lied. Torren definitely knew I was lying but played along. "I missed you too wife" he peck my back palm "is there anything you'd like me to know of?" He asked.

"Yes. I, I...' I sighed, I didn't know what to tell him and before I could put my thoughts together, another words came flowing out "I released Cenred....from the vault. I couldn't vanquish the dragons, no one could except him, so I released him. I'm sorry" since those were the words I spoke out, I had to keep going. "I know. I know you released him, and I know why you did. You had no other options. You did the only thing you could do" Torren responded cupping my cheeks in his palm. He brought his lips close to mine slowly to kiss me but then I remembered his conversation with Aurora and the fact that Luther was actually his biological brother. I withdrew from him "I have a lot of questions for you husband". Torren smiled "ask your questions wife".

"Good. First question, Is king Luther of Draven really your brother?, like your biological brother?."

"Yes he is. Second question?."

"Why did you never talk about him?"

"Because there is nothing to talk about. Third question?"

"Slow down husband. You don't seem to be in a good shape with him, why? And for how long?".

"It's been over 200 years. Luther and I are more like enemies than brothers. We belong to the same vampire family. The royal family. The strongest and special kind of vampire. Never been defeated before no matter how hard the battle is. But then, I had something more than Luther, a special gift. Some kind of strength, power. Every vampire revered me. Even the king. A lot of vampires came to me for powers. I can single handedly defeat a god but Luther can't. He can only alter their powers. 200 years ago, there was a war between gods. I stood in for good but Luther will always stand by evil. He wanted me to take sides with him in fighting the gods of light but I chose to fight the gods of the dark. The gods of the dark had promised him he would rule over darkness if they won the battle. But then, i fought side by side with the gods of light and defeated them and that got Luther very angry. He said I took away his one greatest desire and promised to take his revenge on me. He decided to take whatever it is that made me happy. 50 years later, he managed to find a way. He did something to me. I don't know how but I think he went as far as placing a curse on me. A curse I couldn't take away. No immortal being could. Since the curse wasn't so sincerely I let it slide. I gave up my throne for him just to make him happy but he was so insatiable. He said I had always taken all the glory in our lineage. The lineage of vampires that could freely move about under the sun. The lineage of vampires that could survive years without blood. Luther's curse took away the privilege of existing without blood thirst from me. I wasn't angry about all he took until he took away the one thing I loved the most. Vivian. Our sister. He killed her. I became angry at him. He realized what truly hurt me. And then when I fell in love with a woman. He also took her away from me" he narrated.

"A woman. Aurora? But she still lives. How did he take her away"

"I will tell you that story some other time. Tell me, how were you able to convince Luther to help you?"

"Well, I, I, I just asked him for a favor. In return I gave him Qarinah's magical amulet. That's all" I lied again. "When is Aurora leaving?"

Torren stared at me and smiled "is that jealously I detect?"

"Oh c'mon, I'm just curious" I said and quickly put my body to rest on the bed. "I feel really exhausted. Goodnight my lord".

"Really?" Before Torren could drag me, I pretended to be fast asleep.

Later at dawn. The other kings that had attended the feast set off to leave for their various kingdoms. We bid farewell. After they had left in their horses I turned to Aurora as Kahlan brought a beautiful horse. "Aurora I really must say thank you so much for all your help. I have prepared this horse for you. It runs and never gets tired so I'm sure you'll be in Draven before Dawn tomorrow" I smiled innocently. It was my polite way of sending her out of my kingdom. She smiled "thank you lady Diana. It is my pleasure". Aurora clearly got the message and without arguing, in a few minutes, she was gone.

Now Louisa was left. We all sat down at dinner that night. Lord Torren barely ate his food. Lord Torren started "Luoisa I honestly do not know how to thank you for everything you've done for Diana and my kingdom"

"Yes you do my lord" Louisa said looking so peaceful.

"How?"

"Please, I beg you in the name of the gods. Let her go. My mother. She means the world to me. I don't want to imagine going back to Tron without her. Please if it so pleases my lord, do forgive my mother and I promise she'll never bother you again"

I felt sorry for her. Torren too did but he didn't give her any positive response. That next morning, he released Qarinah from the dungeons where she was locked up. "Qarinah. It would've been my pleasure to finish you but I don't think it's your destiny to die in my hands. I'll let you go but not without a give" he quickly slipped a ring on her index finger "here. Your powers will never work". Qarinah quickly tried to pull it off but she couldn't.

"Don't try so hard Qarinah. No one can take that off your finger. I think that should keep you in check"

"Seriously Torren. First you lock me up in your dungeons and now you're neutralizing my powers?. This is unbelievable. Queen Qarinah now has to live without enemies to bother about. What a boring life Torren, you would've just put an end to it".

"Trust me I'll gladly do that, but your daughter pleaded on your behalf"

"Torren I can assure you this. Liah will come back and you wouldn't even expect....hold on, What? You mentioned a name just now, Louisa? Where is she?"

Soon she met her daughter and they reunited in love before they finally left.

Later that night, I walked into my room to see a box on my bed. I opened it and unfolded the paper wrapped up in it to see the number 5 boldly written on it. That was when I noticed the seal on the box. The seal of Draven.