Cruel Intentions

Liam was in his study that morning waiting for any news about Noah. It wasn't easy for Liam to pretend that he was unaware of his father's deceitful motives. He secretly despised his father but wasn't brave enough to tell it out loud. He had lost count of how many times his father had called him weak.

'You will never win over that arrogant brat with strength like yours. Train harder or else you will never be capable of claiming the throne!!'

His father's words were ringing in his head every time he participated in the tournament. He was afraid that if he didn't act like he acknowledged his father's words, he and his mother, Lola, would be abandoned by this man and would have to live in the streets. It was not what he imagined but what his father had threatened to do if he ever disobeyed him.

Both the king and queen believed his father like he was their god and any news against him would require a solid proof of his deeds. Otherwise it would lead to a bad ending for Liam and his mother. He had no other way than to do exactly as his father said as both his and his mother's life depended on it.

Since he was a kid he had seen his father abuse his mother right in front of his eyes and if he dared to even let a single whisper out, the abuse on his mother would worsen but wouldn't stop.

Once when he had tried to stop his father, it had resulted with Liam being unconscious and his mother had landed up in the healing room for almost twelve hours after he had woken up. His father told the king that his mother had started a fire in the room with a candle by mistake and he had fainted due to the heat of the burning fire since he was just a little boy.

The extremities his father would go to just to get what he wanted had never ended in a good way. The countless lives his father had taken, the many curses of his victims and their blood on his hands ended up giving Liam nightmares even to this day.

He never did this to Henry because that kid was smarter than his father himself and his mother, Lisa, was a true descendant of the Paralda clan. If he even dared to speak rudely to her, the consequences wouldn't be in his favour since her hometown was known to have the most powerful elementals. So, all the abuse and ill-treatment was only subjected to Liam and his mother.

But now the situation has worsened due to Noah's disappearance. Last night's incident repeated in his head again and again on its own.

Last night...

Noah had disappeared in the morning and it was already evening now. Liam was roaming in the balcony beside his father's chambers.

Suddenly he saw two guards dragging the royal sorceress, Lora, towards his father's chambers in the hallway. He hurried into his room and then out to the hallway and hid himself as the guards took Lora inside the room. After the door closed he went to the door and tried to peek into the room as he slightly opened it.

"You think you can hide something from me for this long? Now tell me what the king is hiding from everyone" Adam ordered taking steady steps towards Lora who was held by the guards by her shoulders.

"There is nothing like you are thinking, Your Highness. The king is just worried about his son's whereabouts, that's all. There is nothing more to hide than that" Lora said, trying her best to compose herself. But the hot metal of the sword which was heated a few minutes ago was in Adam's hand and the threatening look on his face was giving her brutal pictures of her being slaughtered in her head.

"You think I am a fool?!!" Adam roared but suddenly composed himself. "So, you've decided not to cooperate with me. Alright, then let's talk about something else" he said with a smirk which made Lora gulp and her legs started to tremble with fear.

"Fredric, was it? Your brother's name. He is ten now, isn't he? I heard he has topped the sorcery classes. He goes to the gardens near the palace everyday with you, doesn't he? But I am afraid tomorrow you wouldn't be able to go there with him because of the royal meeting. Don't worry, one of my guards will accompany him there" he said and Lora panicked.

"Please, Your Highness. I beg you, my brother is innocent, please don't harm him" she said as she started struggling and crying. Adam approached her weak figure and held her chin roughly and yelled, "Then spill the beans, witch!!". Lora nodded, still crying like a helpless lamb in a wolf's confinement.

"There is a prophecy" she said and paused which got Adam impatient. "What a prophecy?!" he roared. Lora flinched and then continued.

"The strongest Salemander will lose his powers on the blood moon night. The only way for him to regain his powers is for him to perform an act of true love for a hybrid with whom he is destined to fall in love but within the coming full moon. If he fails to do so, then he will become a human and never regain his powers" she said as she almost fainted.

"Good. That's what I expect from the king's loyal dog. Oh wait, now you are no longer loyal, that makes you just a dog" Adam said and laughed like a maniac. He then ordered his guards to take her back to her room. As the guards lifted Lora by her shoulders, Liam swiftly ran to his room and closed the door without making any sound.

Present day...

Now the situation was out of hand. His father being aware of the prophecy will only put Noah's life in danger. He was wondering about what his father's next move might be in his balcony when he heard a faint knock on his door. He asked the person to come in and a maid appeared from behind the doors. She bowed to him and said, "Your majesty has asked for your presence in his chambers, Your highness" she said. She then politely bowed again and left.

Liam was on his way to the king's chambers when he met with Finn, Alec and Daniel at the end of the hallway. All of them were asked for by the king. As the three of them approached the king's chambers they saw Henry and Aiden at the door too.

All of them knew that this was for Noah’s sake. They all entered the room together and bowed to the king. The Queen, Bianca was also present there. The king asked one of them to close the door and asked all of them to get seated on the chairs nearby. After everyone was comfortable in their seats the king started speaking.