Part 29

The silver-eyed witch walked into the king's office, her heart pounding with excitement. She had done what she was told, but she still felt a bit nervous. As she shared the news with the king, she watched his face closely to see how he would react. He stayed calm, but she noticed a spark in his eye that showed he was happy with what had happened. He had been eavesdropping on Kristen and his son, and she felt relieved, even a little proud, that she had done her job well."Good. Lock William up in the southern wing and don't let him out until we're finished," the king ordered. "He's given in to bloodlust, so make sure he's well fed." His voice was cold and calculating as he spoke. He seemed pleased with his plan and showed no concern for his son's well-being. In fact, he seemed to enjoy the thought of locking William away and treating him like an animal.The witch curtsied and left the room. The king picked up his phone, and a cruel smile spread across his face when he called Lima, the witch who had kidnapped Kristen. He knew the witch was loyal and would follow his orders without question. She was watching Kristen's friends, ready to erase their memories if they got suspicious, making them believe she had gone away to visit her parents. The thought of messing with innocent people didn't bother him as long as it helped his plan.Lima answered the phone on the second ring. "Hello, my king. What can I do for you?" she asked."It's time. Capture her friends and bring them here," the king commanded, feeling powerful as he spoke."Yes, my king. We'll be there by evening," she replied before he hung up.As Lima watched Kristen's friends having fun at a restaurant, a wave of guilt washed over her. She knew what she was doing was wrong, but she felt helpless. Taking a deep breath, she walked into the restaurant and approached their table. Her heart raced as she cast a spell to make them follow her. Confusion and fear filled their eyes as they quietly got into the car. Inside, she felt terrible for doing this yet she did.Meanwhile, the king was growing more impatient. He paced back and forth in his office, waiting for the guard to bring Kristen to the courtroom. His mind was filled with thoughts of revenge, and he couldn't wait to see Kristen suffer. He called out to the guard outside his office, his voice cold and sharp. The guard jumped at his tone and hurried off to get Kristen. Kristen P.O.V"Something feels off," Peter said. "I'm going to meet my mom and find out what's going on." I nodded in agreement."Are you going to be okay?" he asked, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder."Don't worry, I'll be fine," I replied before he left the room. But his words didn't ease the tight knot in my stomach. My mind raced with worries about what might be happening.I turned to John, who was still standing on the balcony. I sighed and walked over, feeling a rush of emotions. "John, I know William is your friend, but you saw what happened," I said. "I was attacked twice today, by both the King and William. I don't know who to trust anymore."William felt like a different person to me now, and that scared me. "I'm afraid of what they might do to me or the people I care about," I admitted, a tear slipping down my cheek. My voice trembled with fear and uncertainty.John turned his head and looked at me. His eyes looked pained. "Kristen, whatever happens, I am there for you. Even if I have to go against William to protect you, I will. But I must find out what these people are planning to do with you. I will try to get some information and see what they are up to. I know the King is planning to start a war with the witches and is planning to use you against them, but I must find out when and how." He said, wiping the tears from my face. I relaxed in his touch."I think it's time for you to leave this place." He spoke in a quiet voice. John looked past me to the woods and his face darkened. "Kristen, I can't watch you being in danger all the time, you have to leave this place. I won't stop until I find a way to keep you safe." He gripped my hand tightly, showing his determination.I looked up at him, feeling comforted by his presence. "I trust you, John," I whispered, my voice soft. A small smile touched my lips as I added, "I know you'll do whatever it takes to protect me."He nodded in agreement, his eyes never leaving mine. "I will make the necessary arrangements for you to leave as soon as possible, until then, you must control your powers." "I promise you, I will not let anything happen to you."I stared up at him. Not all vampires are bad as I thought. They might not all deserve to die. I thought."Kristen." Lyn's voice broke our conversation. I took a step back from John."Are you okay?" She asked and ran to me."Where were you all this time?" It's your job to protect her." John yelled at her."I took her to the King's office, but they wouldn't let me in, and the maid from the kitchen sent me out to run an errand, and I just came back. Lyn's eyes widened at the sight of my blood-stained clothes. "What happened? "Who did this to you?"I took a deep breath before giving her a brief of what happened. As I spoke, I could see the fear growing in Lyn's eyes."Be with her until I come back." "Never leave her side." John said, looking at her sternly, and left. As he stormed out of the room, Lyn rushed to my side, concern etched on her face. I could feel her trembling hands as she checked me over for injuries. "Are you okay?" she asked again, her voice filled with worry."I'll be fine," I reassured her, trying to hide the fear in my own voice. "Just a little shaken up.""Kristen, I knew something was not right from the way they sent me out. "I was worried sick." She said and hugged me. "You need a shower." She said it with teary eyes. I chucked."Yes. Can you get me some food while I finish my shower? "I am really hungry." I tried to smile."John asked to never leave your side, and from what it looks like, he is right. The moment I leave you, these monsters attack you." "Lyn, I am not the human girl anymore who needs saving." "You know who I am now, right?" I asked, trying to ease the mood. Lyn pulled back from the hug and looked at me with a mix of concern and awe in her eyes. "Yes, I do know who you are, Kristen. "You are the powerful witch who gets herself into trouble the moment I leave her alone. But that doesn't mean I can just sit back and watch you get hurt. You may be powerful, but you're still human at the end of the day, and humans can be fragile. "Besides, John's right, you're in danger, and I'm not leaving your side." She said it determinedly, wiping away her tears. I smiled at her, grateful for her loyalty and care. "Thank you, Lyn. I appreciate it. I am fine now, there is nothing more they can do now. They have done everything they could. Now, can you please get me something to eat? "My stomach is growling." I joked, trying to lighten the mood.Lyn chuckled and nodded. "Okay, I will be quick." She said, before heading out of the room, looking on either side to make sure no vampire was lurking in the corner, and running fast. I chucked and locked the useless door, which gives no protection at all, and went to take a shower."I think something is not right," Lyn spoke her mind."I mean, nothing is right, to begin with, but William attacking you is a bit far. "I never thought he would do such a thing when he always thinks about protecting you." She says and sighs.Well, even I didn't think such a thing would happen, but now we know he is one of them." Even though it hurt me inside, the sudden change of events and William showing his true colors. I must focus on what is next, and I am having this feeling that something bad is going to happen very soon."Don't worry, Kristen. Everything happens for a reason, and John will help us. I believe in my brother." She says and squeezes my hand. I nod. "I hope you are right, Lyn. I am starting to feel like a pawn in their game, and I don't like it. William's betrayal hurts more than anything." I confess, feeling a lump form in my throat. It was difficult to accept that someone I had trusted had turned against me."I know, Kristen. It's okay to feel hurt. But we will get through this together. "We have each other's backs." "I hope John finds something soon. I can't keep living like this, always looking over my shoulder." I said, my voice shaking slightly."He will, Kristen. I know my brother. He won't stop until he finds a way to protect you." Lyn's strong belief in her brother made me smile a little. I squeezed her hand back, thankful for her support.Suddenly, a knock on the door made my heart race. What now? The door creaked open, revealing a small, scared-looking maid. "Yes?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady."Your highness, the King wants to see you in the courtroom," she stammered, her eyes avoiding mine.I stood up from the bed, anger boiling inside me. "What does he want with me now?" I snapped, my fists clenched so tight that my nails dug into my palms. Flames flickered up my arms, and the maid's eyes widened in fear as she took a few steps back."I'm sorry, your highness, but I don't know anything," she pleaded, dropping to her knees. Normally, I wouldn't scare someone like her, but right now, I didn't care about anyone in this castle who served that horrible King. I took a deep breath, trying to calm down, and snuffed out the flames on my hands. "Get out of my sight," I said, my voice raised.The maid quickly stood up and hurried out, closing the door behind her.My fists were still tight, and my heart raced with anger and frustration. "Why does the King keep calling for me?" I muttered to myself, feeling trapped and helpless. Just the thought of facing him made me feel sick, but I knew I had no choice.I took a deep breath and stepped out of the room with Lyn right behind me. I paused and turned to her. "Lyn, you shouldn't be with me now. It's dangerous. Find your brother and let him know," I said, looking at her firmly. She opened her mouth to protest but thought better of it. She knew when to back down."Okay, be safe," she said before running down the corridor.As I approached the courtroom, a few guards stood outside, eyeing me like I was a threat. When they saw my eyes change color, they stepped back in fear."The king summoned me. Could you please open the door, or should I do it myself?" I asked, my voice low and threatening. Their eyes went wide, and one of the guards quickly opened the door for me.As much as I tried to tell myself this meeting would be different, a knot in my stomach said otherwise. When I entered, the first thing I noticed was the giant throne on the raised platform, covered in gems and gold. Sunlight streamed through the windows, making the room sparkle. Tables and chairs lined the sides. The King and a few other men were deep in conversation, facing away from me. I walked up quietly and stopped at a safe distance. They paused their talk and turned to look at me.The King's gaze locked onto mine, and it felt like an eternity before he cleared his throat. His stare filled me with anger and hatred."Good to have you here, Kristen," he said, acting like nothing was wrong. This only made my anger grow. I didn't bother to reply."What do you want from me now?" I asked, raising my eyebrows defiantly.The other men in the room gasped at my disrespect, but I didn't care. His green eyes warned me not to act out, sending a chill down my spine. He gestured for me to sit, so I took a seat next to the others. The King settled onto his throne. I tried to stay calm, but my heart raced. Something felt very wrong about this meeting. The tension in the room was thick as we all waited for the King to speak. I focused on the ground instead of looking at him.Suddenly, I heard footsteps as the door opened. A group of women in cloaks entered. I could sense they were witches. My heart raced when I spotted three humans covered head to toe in black cloth. I felt a strange sense of familiarity with them. Then Linda walked in gracefully, not even glancing at me. She bowed her head to the King before joining the other witches.The King cleared his throat and began speaking: "Kristen, I have called you here to discuss a matter of great importance." His voice was smooth, but I could hear the underlying menace in his words. "As you know, tensions between our kingdom and the witches have been escalating. "We need to take action to protect our people and prevent a war from breaking out." I could feel the weight of his words, and I knew exactly where this was going. The king wanted me to use my powers to fight against the witches. I clenched my fists in anger. I wouldn't be used as a weapon for his selfish desires.My heart hammered in my chest, wishing those people were not the ones I think they are. The king nodded at a witch, and the women removed the covers from all three of the people's heads, and my heart stopped.