The Dread Of Upcoming War

"You are not going to bring him!" I warned my mother. It hardly happened, but whenever it did, my mother scowled and glared at me.

"You can not stop him from attending a royal meeting, Erva." She warned but it was not something we could debate on.

"A royal meeting with monsters. Why do you want to put him in danger? I thought you loved him." Her eyes went red and she glared at me.

"I love you too. Am I not letting you attend the meeting?" I flinched at her raw anger. 

She used to love me and tell me I was her angel! A part of the god that she had received as blessings. 

But at some point when my thoughts started to clash with her ruling, we drifted away. It was more because I had been a rebel and often to the side of commoners.

They love me and she hated me for this trait.

"I did not mean it like that…" I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. When I felt her warm hands touching my cheeks.

"We are your family. We can not leave you alone at this crucial moment. Your brother has the responsibility to protect you." I wanted to remind her that my brother is just ten while I was nineteen. I should be the one protecting him but I knew the topic was beyond discussion now.

"One threat..'' I finally opened my eyes and stared deep into hers. She knew I was challenging her once again the way she stiffened, "and I will send Michael back to his room."

She glared at me with narrowed eyes and I wondered if it would ever end or were we going to fight till the vampires came and see how divided we were?

But would it even affect them? They could kill all of us at once.

"Your highness." The door knocked and I had never been so happy to see Anne walk those halls.

"Agatha is supervising the other maids, so she has sent me to help you in dressing up." The young girl bowed her head and smiled but when she noticed my mother she tried to take a step back.

"You are better when it comes to dressing me, thank you." I encouraged the meek girl. Her gaze shifted to me again from my mother. My mother pressed her lips into a thin line and left the room.

"Your majesty is angry." she whispered when i shook my head, resigned.

She had been on edge since I told her I had sent an invitation in Bali Kilos to invite their lord.

She commented that they were not thinking about our empire but I had drawn their attention. But we all knew, they were following a pattern in attacking the kingdoms. And their one and only goal was to win the whole continent.

"Would this be good?" She took out the golden gown. It had minimalist jewels yet the golden laces and tight fitting design was already too attractive.

"No! I am not going for a feast, Anne." I reminded her when she sighed.

"Must you really do that?" her words stuck in my throat and i nodded.

Looking back, I picked up a black gown. It was bought for the mourning. "I will wear this one."

She gasped for a second but nodded. The black dress had a high neck and full sleeves that fully covered my skin. Its skirt was flowy with many layers added to give it volume and a single diamond was attached meshing the cloth around my waist.

It showed how sad I was and I hoped it was conveyed to my men.

When I walked out, Damon was standing there silently. He did not say a word, yet his cold eyes looking at me showed his displeasure.

"I am here to escort you, your highness." I nodded and gave my hand in his extended arms. He pressed my fingers with raw strength but I did not flinch.

"You are in good health, commander. I know that already." I chuckled as I started walking when he sighed and the pressure faded a bit yet he held me tightly as if I was going to drown and drift away.

"Must you do this?" he begged and I closed my eyes. Must I prove every single person in the kingdom that I was not doing it for myself? 

Damon had always been the wise man. He was not only best at wielding his sword but he made the best strategies. I have always admired him and that was the base of our love.

"Need i remind you that you lack power and strength against a vampire?" my lips twisted in a mocking smirk when he paused for a second.

And it was enough to tell me he was hurt by my comment. But I still felt better. 

"I mean, we could have done the negotiation. We would have met the king and conveyed you his conditions and your reply would have been sent to him." That was new! He was not against the idea but me against meeting him.

"I am afraid for you. I did not know how to explain it to you but dread is filling my heart. There is an ominous feeling that something horrific would happen today and I should not let you go."