234 The Great Show

AUTHOR'S POV

Darkness embraced the night skies, and not even one star made it out from the thick clouds rolling above. The night chills raised every fine hair on Freya's skin even through the velvet cloak that covered her from head to toe as she follow Helena's trace through the alleys. As they fled from the calls and wrath of the vicious King, the pair safely made it out furtively without being seen. In between the narrow streets, they stopped before the walls of the palace, looking out for more guards. Helena and Freya stood side by side heaving several sighs.

"Change of plans, but all of the others remains the same", Helena uttered breathlessly.

"Are you sure you know what you're doing?", Freya handed Helena bottle of grayish-green potion in a small apothecary cork bottle.

"Just do what you are told", Helena hurriedly put a drop of the potion on each of her eyes that made her pupils glimmer in gray.

"With no mistakes", Freya was slowly surrounded by a faint light coming from her hands. And with a soft warm breeze blowing her cloak, she disappeared into thin air.

It was then when Helena slipped into the palace like a thief of the night. It was as easy as walking in a valley. As if she's light as a feather, she advanced prudently towards the palace, and up the castle walls in perfect deliberate pace. She led her way to the south of the castle as though she knew exactly where to go. Apparently, there were lesser guards roaming at this time, which she thought is quite suspicious. Approaching closer, she watched out for the royal knights switching their positions. She hid in the dark, and treaded lightly. As she reach the castle, Helena looked at the balcony three floors up. Positively as she perceive, it is the royal drawing room of the King's chambers.

Helena climbed the walls, thrusting her way up on the unclean slopes and uneven stronghold. Finding her perfect footing and reaching for handholds, she reached the top in precise ascension in no time. Grabbing on the balustrade, she lifted herself up to the balcony without breaking any sweat. Landing flawlessly on both feet, Helena was welcomed by the open french doors accentuated with fluttering sheer red curtains and overlapping ruffles while the cool evening air blew in. They were like flames coming out of her own personal hell with arms wide open.

Along with a cautious thought why it's effortless to enter the usually well guarded part of the castle, Helena brushed it off and still decided to step inside. Everyone might be immersed at the castle town, she thought. Besides, this has to be done and over with anyway before more of her loved ones get hurt.

Despite prepared even after stirring away from their original plan, Helena took her time before going in. It wasn't fear that wavered her. It was rather the memory of Umbriel dying in the pulpit, thinking no one in her circle shall face the same fate as what one of her trusted friends did. Eventually, with light steps, she finallly entered.

Helena descended a few steps down in the darkly elegant royal drawing room of the King. She crinkled her nose at the strong scent of leather, and oils in the air. There were quite a few candles on the table tops, and the faint light can show how the room is in complete disarray. Glancing to her sides as her sight adjust to the dim light, she noticed that the flowers on display looked dreadfully dry and withered. The wooden ornate furnitures were all in a total mess. Carefully, Helena walked on some broken glasses shattered on the floor. Rotten fruits were all over the place, along with empty bottles of wine tumbled over on the couch and on the table. It seemed like someone was on a rampage. "Poor wretched soul", Helena mumbled.

Not too long, Helena sensed someone in the room. Feeling a presence inside the candle lit expanse, Helena drew closer towards the middle of the room and stared in the dark with squinted eyes. 'Someone is in there.', she cannot be mistaken. It was idle, stationed so still in the corner. Helena clenched her chest as she contemplate. Suddenly, she caught a whiff of a familiar scent known to her only in battles. The smell of blood arose, as she catch a glimpse of bloodstains on the carpet grasping the idea that she have entered the lion's den.

Thereafter, a silhouette of a man stood up from the corner. Helena kept still as the man reveal himself into the light. The man wasn't even startled when someone intrude the room from the balcony. He was rather calm, composed in his tall stance and royal uniform. "I knew you'd come back to me", he uttered, the brilliance in his crown shone beautifully even with the flickers of the candle flames. Splatters of blood have dried on his face, down to his clothes. The sound of his heel clacking on the floor resounded until he reached the side table topped with lighted candles, showing his face.

"You didn't had to kill Umbriel, Galen", Helena said as she pull down the hood of her cloak. She remained hidden in the shadows of the dark.

"No", Galen shook his head, and smiled. He removed his crown and placed it carefully on a nearby desk. Hearing Helena's voice was music to his ears. It brought him peace and calm to his ragged mind and restless heart. "But I do love a great show, much more of a grand wedding this kingdom would ever have", he moved closer to the beautiful bird that flew in from his balcony. He gazed at her with softness, incomparable to the contemptuous look he gave off back in the castle town.

"We're practically siblings", Helena reiterated a fact that Galen missed.

"Clearly, I'm adopted", Galen smirked. Concerned that she might do some tricks and slip away again, he kept his distance from her. Too close to smell her enticing fragrance, but far enough to just admire her at a distance. "Come to the light, I want to see you", Galen squinted his eyes at the lady in the dark.

With a lump in her throat, Helena stepped further into the light and bravely showed herself to the beguiled king. She kept her head up, with her eyes looking directly at Galen.

With disbelief in finally grasping his keenly awaited reality, he was too enchanted to speak as he sigh dropping his jaw. "Ahh.. how could I get enough of such blinding beauty", this is the first time Galen is seeing Helena's true form. "This.. is you?", he never removed his eyes off of her, moving his head to the side.