Chapter 37

Julian stormed into the room. He was angry and sad at the same time. Angry at himself for not being able to do anything to save Katrienair. The sight of Katrienair being immersed in the holy water without being burned still surprises him and in some way, he's believed that she had the power to deal with this herself: that gave him a bit of hope but the feeling of responsibility still taunted his conscience. He carefully locked the doors of his chamber and walked into Emiliar's room. She was sitting at a corner of the room, weaving a woolen cloth. Tears were visible on her face and she seemed lost in her own thoughts. Julian felt pity for her, he craved to know what exactly was going on in her little mind. He sat on the iron cushion for a while staring at her, in some way he enjoyed the silence, the serene atmosphere. Emiliar noticed a silhouette of a person in her room, at first she was gripped with fear, she's been caught. But on a second thought she began to calm down.

"Joel?" She asked and it came out rather as a whisper. Gush! She's so much scared.

There was no response. She was becoming more tensed.

"Is that Joel?" She summoned enough courage to make it sound louder

"Joel? No" Julian said. She sighed deeply." Julian? Yes."

She turned around forgetting the tears on her face. " Joel" She gasped

" You're crying?" He walked towards her seat. He held the edge of her seat and knelt by it.

" Why do you shed tears Ms Emily?" He whispered.

Emiliar quickly wiped off her tears, looking weak in the presence of anyone is one thing she detests with passion and right now she's been betrayed by her own tears. " Why do you care Joel? " She said."Is this you own way of satisfying your guilts?" She challenged him.

"Guilts?" He arched a brow." Did you just say guilts? Never! I do not feel guilty for anything. All i'm doing here is for the best and you are supposed to be thankful to me- not shed tears." He said --his breathe teased around her nape.

Emiliar decided to ignore this time for some reasons she didn't wan to believe herself. Joel's always had this effect on her. " Where's Katty?"

 Julian stood up and walked back to the cushion. For the first time he felt broken, he felt like a failure. Yes, he is a failure.

"She's save for now." He said knowing fully well that that could be a lie but there was nohing else he could say to Emiliar to pacify her.

" I do not understand you. Where's she now?"

" In the dungeon." He said flatly , keeping the rest of the story to himself.

Emiliar felt crushed, like all her hopes just got drained away, she's anticipated for the time Joel would come in with her soulmate. Now the dark emptiness is back. " What are you saying Joel? You promised to get her out of the dungeon yourself." he was quiet and she was losing her patience. she swallowed." What the hell Joel?!"

"Julian is my name."

" I don't give a damn 'bout names. I expected more from you than this crap. What's wrong with you? you promised to get her yourself. What damn explanation do you have to give?!" She paused waiting for an answer.

Julian was quiet again. The truth being that he has nothing to say, witches behave like humans sometimes.

" Speak Joel! You're driving me crazy!"

" Nothing!" He yelled back at her." I have no explanation to give you! AND do not yell at me. I tried my best little witch of the whit coven. I understand this territory more than you do cause it's my home. Rushing things would put the three of us in trouble we cannot afford to have"

He saw her attempt to talk back and he shunned her. " SSSH! Keep your voice down Ms Emily. Our doors aren't sound proof and i have maids around."

The room fell silent-- both parties were thinking. Thinking of a way out. But is there really a way out of this dark territory? Like Roger had said" No one breaches our territory and goes out alive."

" Locking me in here was a bad idea after all. It would had been better if i too was imprisoned like her." Emiliar broke the silence

" No" Julian said frustrated, he was ready to spill it all for her if that all she need to hear to understand the danger in the situation at hand." I say No Emily. Keeping you here saved yourlife. The last time i checked you were to be the King's plaything and as far as i remembered my father do not spare any of his playthings . He loves the taste of their blood. Do you think you would have survived that?"

" What about Katty? Would she survive this? How are you so sure she is safe wherever she is right now?"

"Katrienair was put to death before the assembly today" He began to narrated." She survived to everyone's amazement. she just made history by surviving our Holy water. Katrienair has powers, she's not an ordinary creature like us"

"like us? power?" Emiliar gasped.

"I can't explain further" He shook his head. " With the way things her i believe Katrienair can do this herself. All she needs from us is our safety tii she's back and our support. She can fight this on her own, she just needs little of our support"

 " What are you saying Joel? I..."

"JULIAN!" he cut her short." My name is Julian."

"It's Joel i know. I'll never call you a demon's name. Better you start accepting it."

" Your choice." He grinned. " What do you not understand? Katrienair cannot be killed a long as i'm the crown prince."

"But we have a purpose."

" More reason why we should stay safe. This is just the beginning of tribulations for us." HE SWALLOWED." But we will begin our plans as soon as we get Katrienair."

"When will that be?"

"Very soon"

"How soon? What's your plan?"

" She'll join our army."