Chapter 13: vicious schemes

It was already afternoon in Ardenia, in a special luxuriant garden, a woman was sitting comfortably on a long cushion. Her servants were in a long queue behind her, one of them holding a wide fan to fan her.

She was the second queen and mother to both Dorian and Nova. Her skin was golden brown and her hair was short, it reached her neck. Her eyes were hooded and they had short eyelashes. Her eyebrows and lips were shaped perfectly, and she was beautiful, though her beauty wasn't comparable to Davina's.

She slowly brought the teacup to her mouth and drank the warm tea. "Your majesty, His highness Dorian has returned"

She received information from her trustees, placing the mug gently on the marble table, Her eyes looked around in anticipation of seeing her son. When he appeared before her, she welcomed him with a gracious smile on her lips.

"Greetings mother" Dorian greeted with a smile, he took a sit in front of his mother.

"Greetings son, how was your day? Have you had anything yet?" she inquired.

Dorian shook his head, "The food there is nothing like ours, I prefer to eat here"

"Oh dear, you must have been hard on yourself " She complained with a slight rumble on her forehead, turned to look at her servants, and commanded them to bring a fresh meal for her son.

When the servants were out of view and the coast was clear, the mother and son began to orchestrate their plans. "So how's it going?" The queen asked.

"Very fine mother, surprisingly smoothly" Dorian revealed to her, "With the help of my men, I've managed to turn one-third of the citizens against him"

Elvira's lips twisted into a snide smile when she heard the news, the king must have thought that Dorian was getting into the business that Zephyr was dealing with, It was just her and her son who knew they were doing something different.

"That's very good, tomorrow, let your men take control of the cities in Ardenia so that it would be easier for you to ascend the throne"

Dorian nodded, he had thought about that.

"But... What if Zephyr comes back, you know the throne rightfully belongs to him since he is the first son of his father and also an Alpha, a beta like me isn't fit to rule the kingdom" He spelled out his insecurities.

Dorian would have wished his mother had met the king before Davina, in this way he would have been the legitimate heir and perhaps he would have been an Alpha. He detested the fact that his brother was stronger than he was, and he also detested the fact that his brother was the rightful heir to the throne.

Now that Zephyr was out of sight, he would try to turn the citizens against him. If he were to return, it would be impossible for him to seize the crown and the throne.

Elvira placed her son's hand in hers, "I don't want you to think like that, son, you are better than him and I know you would do absolutely well"

"You shouldn't be bothered that he is an Alpha and you're a beta, you can also rule since he is out of sight"

"All I want you to do is take control of the businesses Zephyr was managing while he was here, and be in charge of the armies, when the time comes, I'll manipulate everything and turn it against Zephyr and his mother" Elvira explained calmly, all the time, keeping her ears open for any slight sound. She didn't want her plan to involve many people, just she and Dorian were enough.

"I want you to look at this," Elvira said, bringing out a sand glass behind her.

Dorian raised his eyebrows, "What are you doing with that mother?"

He knew exactly what that glass was, it wasn't just any kind of glass, but a magic glass that came from a magical realm. He wondered how his mother got hold of it!

Ah, he almost forgot that his mother was a witch, the daughter of the most powerful leader of the covens. He should have known that she could get anything that she wanted from her mother. That grandmother of his was one hell of a being. She was even crazier than his mother.

Oops. He hoped he hadn't said that loud.

"This magical pill accompanied the sand glass. It's capable of taking down any supernatural being at the rate of five years" she explained calmly.

"Who are you going to use that on?"

"Kodiak" Elvira answered plainly, her hands going to carry her cup of tea and she took a sip of it.

Dorian's eyes widened, "Father?" he gasped, "But why?" He almost yelled, Elvira glared at him while she was dropping off her teacup.

"Be careful Dorian" She warned him and Dorian quietened down, his eyes scanning his mother questioningly, he hoped that she was going to tell him what was going on.

"You think it's easy to ascend the throne with your father being alive, we need to clear him out"

"But father is in support of me, he likes me, I don't think there's a need for this" He replied in a hushed tone.

'Whatever' Elvira rolled her eyes, she had done what she needed to do. It's only a matter of time before the sand drains and Kodiak ceases to breathe. "That's what you think Dorian, I know far better than you so just sit and let mother handle this wisely, okay?"

"Hmmm" Dorian hummed, there wasn't a point in arguing with his mother. The crazy woman would always end up winning with a valid point. 'A witch that's good at manipulation!' He thought.

"Then we have to wait for five years?"

"No", "I already planned this years ago, your father has been fed the magical pill four years ago by me, it's only a matter of time before he drops dead to the ground" She smirked.

Mother and son looked at each other, the vicious plans they had radiated into their heads...

After some minutes of silence, the maids rushed into the garden with various foods that they displayed on the table. Dorian looked down at the food and his mouth watered, when last did he have such a good meal?

"Where is Nova, I haven't seen her" Dorian remarked while looking around.

"Don't bother" Elvira said, stopping him from looking for his sister, "She must probably be by that woman's side. I wondered what she ever did to make Nova dislike me" Her mouth was bitter as she voiced out.

"We should find a way to separate her from them before Nova gets trapped" Dorian suggested, he brought up a spoon to his lips to drink fish soup.

Placing the spoon on the table, he glanced at his mother, "What do you plan to do to Zephyr and his mother once I become king"

"As for Zephyr, he would be brutally punished. I hate his guts and I hate the way he always makes you feel imperfect, he would get what he is entitled to.

Then Davina would serve under me, she thinks her beauty can get her whatever she wants but she is clearly in the wrong. I'll show her what I'm capable of" A dangerous glint flashed through her dark eyes, it shows how much hatred she had for the mother and son.