chapter 13: Hello, Mr Doom 1

Last night had drained every ounce of energy from her, but Fanaza couldn't stop thinking. Even as she slipped quietly through the open window of her room from the outer ledge—cold air brushing her cheeks—her thoughts circled like restless birds.

Rwaine's expression during the puppet show. That distant stare, the tightening of his jaw, his stiff body and his crossed arms, they all hinted at something.

He didn't like it. That much was clear.

He hadn't even smiled once.

"I just wanted him to have fun…" she muttered as she landed gently on the bedroom floor. The room was quiet. Too quiet.

"But I guess he doesn't really like it." She groaned loudly, brushing her messy hair aside, but her groan was cut short the moment her eyes adjusted to the darkness.

Something was wrong.

The room was unusually dark—heavier than just nightfall. The candles were out. The thick curtains let in no moonlight. Her skin prickled.

There stood a figure. Still, unmoving and standing in the shadows.

She froze.

Fear stabbed her chest, and her instincts kicked in. She screamed, stumbling over her blanket and crashing painfully to the floor.

"OWWW!" she groaned, clutching her side.

Then came a :calm, mocking voice echoing through the room.

"What took you so long?" Lyon's voice boomed.

Fanaza's eyes widened. She wasn't scared anymore , she was pissed.

"How dare you enter a lady's room without permission? Who gave you such rights?" she snapped, struggling to her feet.

Lyon stepped forward with that same smug smirk that made her blood boil. He moved closer, so close their lips almost touched. His voice dropped, brushing against her skin.

"I am your brother- in-law, remember?" he whispered.

Fanaza shoved him back. "Get lost!"

"Where is Sally, and how can she allow someone like you into my room?!"

Lyon gestured casually. "I think she's on the floor."

Fanaza's heart dropped. She looked around—and there was Sally, lying limp on the ground.

"You killed my maid!" she shrieked.

"I did not. I just took her to sleep," he replied casually. "She'll be up in the next few hours."

Fanaza scoffed in disbelief.

"Please leave my room. I am asking nicely." She reached to drag Sally toward the bed.

But Lyon caught her wrist—tight. He pulled her close. Closer. The heat of his breath grazed her cheek. Unlike Rwaine's breath, which made her skin tingle, Lyon's made her skin crawl so badly she almost puked.

He leaned in like he was about to kiss her.

Fanaza shut her eyes tight.

Lyon only smiled.

"I'm not going to touch you without permission, you belong to my brother so I can't devour you."

Her eyes flew open. Devour?

"What? I am not some animal or beef you can devour! I am Fanaza—the daughter of the Dragon Seed Clan!"

Lyon chuckled. He stroked her hair slowly, then bent to smell it.

"You smell... familiar."

"Get out of my room!" she hissed, shoving him again. But he was too strong, and eventually she gave up struggling.

Lyon looked proud of himself. "Oh sister- in- law I think brother will have an issue with you being disobedient and disrespectful. And what do we do to disobedient wives?" he whispered into her ear.

Fanaza hissed through her teeth. "Get out."

"We teach them a lesson," he murmured—and softly pulled a strand of her hair. She flinched and closed her eyes tightly.

"I'm surprised you're not the cheap type who'd throw herself at me. You're the hard-to-get type. And I know you love the chase."

What chase? What the—can he just get the hell out of my room? she thought, shaking with rage.

"Please, my prince, I need to rest. I'm still recovering from my injuries. Kindly take your leave and I won't tell your brother any of this nonsense you just performed."

"Recovering? But I think I saw you sneak out of the palace, into a restricted zone in the mountains..." he said, eyes glinting.

Fanaza froze.

"Keep this between us," she said quickly.

"What are you going to give me in return?" he asked.

"What do you want?"

He leaned in again. His voice dropped low.

"What do I want? I want you screaming my name so loud the whole palace hears it."

Fanaza slapped his chest hard. So hard that she tripped on the blanket again and, in a reflex action, grabbed Lyon by the collar. They both fell—crashing onto the bed.

Lyon landed on top of her.

Their eyes locked.

His breath hitched and Fanaza shivered beneath him.

He leaned in for a kiss. She turned her face immediately avoiding such.

As he moved again, she turned again.

He smiled.

"You're the shy type. I think I'll stop here. Don't want to seem like a horrible in law."

He stood and strolled toward the door, grinning smugly.

"I have a party coming up. And trust me—I hate them. I need someone by my side for the event. I'll literally collapse from the boredom."

"What makes you think I'll go?" she snapped.

"Because you have no choice," he said, then walked out, leaving her fuming.

Fanaza screamed into her pillow and threw it against the door. Lyon disgusted and irritated her every single time.

She remembers the last time they got into a bad fight and how he almost destroyed her jaw. She held her jaw unknowningly.

But what was with that nonsensical attitude he just showed her, how he behaved towards his brother's future wife. Is that allowed she thought and covered her mouth in shock.

*******

Rwaine sat near the fire, his mind haunted by the puppet show. The prophecy had stirred something deep—too familiar to be a coincidence.

And then there was the nightmare he's been having , the one that paralyzed him.

The image of a woman holding a child and then the child being slaughtered. Screams of protest filling the atmosphere with loud voices chanting non stop , the words kept on coming out, the words he himself could never forget.

"Kill the sinister! Kill the sinister! The prophecy must not come to pass!"

No matter how hard he tried to make sense of it, it didn't add up. Sometimes, he thought, his mind was only playing tricks to trap him in fear. It was just a tale and most tales are just a work of art, it lacks reality he assured himself.

Just then, Moaz arrived.

"I thought you were to come back in a week," Rwaine said.

"I changed my mind." Moaz raised an eyebrow. He noticed something felt off.

"Fanaza was here," Rwaine confessed.

Moaz tensed. "I told you to be careful of her. She means no good."

"Then why does my heart beat fast when she's near? Why can't I breathe well anytime she leaves my side? Why do I keep seeing her face in my dreams?" Rwaine rushed his words.

"You've been charmed," Moaz blurted.

Rwaine's brow lifted. "What?"

"Look, son. You're in love. And I'm happy you know what love is. But Fanaza isn't the one. She's royalty. Don't mess with the royals."

"Why?"

"There are things beyond us. Things I can see sitting, that you won't see even while standing. Stay away from her. She'll bring harm, not good."

And with that, Moaz disappeared into the cave.

The next day, sunshine bathed the palace. Everything looked promising. The maids gossiped and laughed over the tiniest thing. Guards paced their rounds. Royals acted as they pleased.

A knock came on Fanaza's door.

Sally opened it.

"For the lady," a tall, handsome guard said.

Sally couldn't stop staring at him. He looked at her too.

Fanaza interrupted. "Thank you," she said, taking the gift.

Fanaza sighed. "Having another crush?"

"He's so tall and handsome. Imagine how his rod would be," Sally whispered.

"Sally!" Fanaza blurted out quickly.

"Don't act like a saint. You're getting married soon, get used to it," Sally grinned.

"Sally..." Fanaza called out again.

"Let's check the gift!" Sally rushed towards the bed.

They unwrapped the box on the bed.

"I wonder who it's from..." Fanaza mused.

Inside was a stunning red dress.

"Oh my God!" Sally squealed, lifting it out, a note fell.

Fanaza picked it up—and her heart stopped.

In the note she saw some disgusting words.

"I can't wait to pin you down in this dress."

She was furious.

Lyon. He has no shame doing this with his brother's future wife.

She grabbed the dress and note, storming out.

"My lady!" Sally cried, running after her.

Fanaza's rage exploded as she barged into his room.

"Lyon!"

Two women were curled around him, giggling. The moment they heard her scream, chaos broke. Clothes flew and the women scrambled out in a rush.

Lyon sat up lazily. The sunlight made him squint.

Fanaza stood there, disgusted.

"Aren't you ashamed?" she yelled, her voice echoing.

She threw the dress at him.

Sally eavesdropped by the door. She had followed Fanaza as she rushed out of the room but she dared not enter the prince's chambers she could only listen to the conversation from afar.

"This! This is stupid and disrespectful! I belong to your brother not you and yes we may be in laws, but that gives you no right to be so sexual toward me!"

He raised an eyebrow. "What's all this about?"

She pointed at the note.

"If you ever send such filth again, I'll make sure you regret ever being born."

Lyon laughed and mocked her. He stood, approaching her.

"You tiny thing. Who do you think you are, barking into my room like a one-legged dog?"

Fanaza's mouth dropped open. That was low.

"I promise, your brother will hear of this." She threatened.

"Have you forgotten I know your secret , what will you tell father when I expose your little act of sneaking outside the palace to a restricted zone, you know the consequences." Lyon smirked.

He got her right there, no doubt,

He saw her become silent suddenly and he walked closer to her closing the gap between them.

"We are equal now." He said.

"I'm not here to fight, but to warn you—stop. I don't tolerate this. You're a jerk, and I wonder why the heavens would give someone like you the title of a prince with such a careless attitude. You disgust me. Your whole existence might be a mistake."

Lyon snapped, forgetting the title Fanaza held both the daughter of a dragon seeed clan and a future queen.

He grabbed her neck, slamming her to the wall.

"What did you say?!" His grip tightened.

Fanaza choked. Coughing. Struggling.

She held onto his hands and tried to free herself but the grip was so tight she could feel her breathing reducing each seconds.

Suddenly—CRACK!

Sally burst in and smashed a chair over his head. Lyon collapsed immediately and became unconscious. Blood pooled at his temple.

"Sally, what did you do?!" Fananza asked shivering and confused trying to get understand what just happened .

"He was trying to kill you!" she cried, shaking.

"Is he dead?" Sally continued.

They stared at his limp body.

Fanaza looked at her maid, heart racing and she was short of words.

"We are doomed."