But what about us.....

"Alfred?"

Her soft-spoken voice came behind Alfred's broad shoulders. He was standing by the balcony as he watched the hills and sunset. Jane walked slowly to stand by his side. He didn't even budge or turn to look at her. He was too deep in thought. "Alfred, look at me." She said again turning his face as his eyes now couldn't help but look deep into hers. "You really can't continue like this Alfred. You...."

"Jane stop it." he cut her through, but she still wouldn't stop talking.

"No. Alfred you need an heir. A duke to take place in your absence. Alfred you cannot continue like this as long as I am alive and still your wife. You have to remarry." The words finally left her as tears clouded her eyes. Alfred clenched his fist. What was it with her telling him to remarry.

"I am not remarrying Jane. Both you and I know that. You are the duchess of Gradenhill and that you will remain to be." His voice was demanding and almost sounded like he was yelling.

"No! Alfred you have to understand. I can step down from being the duchess and let the wife you'll marry take my place. "Jane couldn't control the tears anymore. They just raced down her cheeks.

"This is not about you being the duchess. It is about you being my wife. How can I just remarry Jane. This has to do with you and I. Are you ever so willing to throw us away?" His shaky voice asked as Jane closed shut her eyes. She held tight the railing of the balcony.

"I am not throwing us away Alfred. I am trying to do what's right for us. Please. You have to listen. They are rumors about you, me, us! Alfred, think."

Alfred stood still for a while as he stared at his wife. He stepped closer drawing her to him as their lips locked up in a heartwarming kiss. Tears streamed down her eyes. He could taste the saltiness of her tears.

Slowly he withdrew from the kiss staring at her as he wiped away her tears. He could tell she was hurting so much. "We are going to get through this together. Do you understand? I cannot remarry Jane. I can't."

And with those words. Alfred turned to go. He picked up the glass of wife he'd poured and in one go finished it as he barged out of the room. Jane just watched him leave. Alfred walked down the hall way in a haste as he arrived his study room. He went ahead to sit down. Ignoring the small and dark-haired man by the shelves. That guy wasn't just small. He was short and young. Looking almost like an eighteen year old.

"Rafe?!!." Alfred called as he slammed his palm on the desk.

"Ye..yes my lord." The man known as Rafe shook and pushed his round big and dark framed glasses up the bridge of his nose.

"What would I..I be doing and where am I supposed to be in the next two days?." Alfred asked with quite a demanding voice.

"W..well my lord. For the next two days, you would be meeting with the duchess Ciara for tea parties and many more." Rafe replied with a sheepish smile.

"And who filled that in?." he asked.

"Well, her lady did." he replied with a slight bow.

"In any case, cross it off my list. You and I have somewhere to be and business to carry on."

"As you wish my lord." Rafe bowed and without any delay crossed off the tea parties....

~~~

Passing through the narrow paths was Rafe and Alfred's horse. It was almost evening and they were also arriving the darkest places in the whole capital. It was a place filled with darkness and shadows to be found. A place where there was not a single pure soul alive.

"My lord. Are you absolute we're going the right way?." Rafe asked as his horse followed behind Alfred's.

"Oh can you stop whining Rafe. Its very much annoying and inconvenient." Alfred spoke with an irritated tone.

"Its not that my Lord. Its just that, her lady put you under my care. I have to make sure you're absolute of the path we are following."

"If you say one more thing then I promise you Rafe, I'll behead you and personally have your head fed to the crows." Alfred's voice was so threatening Rafe was forced to wrap his hands round his thin neck. Now they rode in silence as Rafe followed behind Alfred. As time passed, they arrived at a huge wall. One which seemed to be a dead. Not all could see the mysteries behind it.

"Do we go in there? My Lord?." Rafe seemed unsure as he asked.

"Yes Rafe we do." Alfred answered.

"But, my lord it seems to be a..."

"A dead end? Only for you Rafe. For me its just an illusion."Alfred turned to look at Rafe before turning back to the wall. "Follow me." he said and without trace, disappeared behind the wall. Rafe gulped as he followed behind his master.

Slowly, Rafe opened his eyes. He looked up at the beautiful aroura sky. Everywhere around him seemed quite dark and the ground was cracked up and dried. He looked round abit as growling from behind immediately brought him back. He turned to look at Alfred who just hopped down his horse with no emotions or fear showing on his face. His face just seemed plain.

Rafe turned to look behind him. He could see wolves. Quite rare and barely seen wolves. He adjusted his glasses and moved a bit closer to the growling wolves. "Hold on a minute. Are these....."

"Demon wolves? Why yes. Moulded from the very depts of hell and brought to life by its fire of course."

Rafe turned to see who it was. The voice seemed rather quite unfamiliar and deeper than Alfred's. Turning, he staggered back a little staring at the extra tall person who landed in front of him. It was a fine man. His hair was neck length and he wore specially designed clothes. The wings or rather his wings where majestic and dark.

For the first time ever Rafe was seeing a real demon.

"D..demon."

His voice shook as he stared up at the demon....