The Son of Hades - Born of Fire

Hailey Chapter 22

 A small army dressed in green armours were marching toward the Kingdom of Alenore. There were as many as five thousand and they were all soldiers of Myron. They came from the ten ships that landed on the Alenorian Port. Lionel, the King of Myron and his son Leon rode on their horses, front and centre through the streets. Horns and Salpinx were being blown to announce their arrival. Two of their men were walking slowly ahead of them, raising their King's banners proudly for all to see. Sewn into the green cloth were the symbol of a Bear's head in a roaring position.

King Lionel was a very fat man, he had a huge grey beard that hid the fat hanging from his neck. His son Leon was not particularly muscular or handsome but he did however possess a rich head of long brown hair that looks more like red whenever the sun would gaze upon it. He had only a stubble on his face and by the look of him he seemed a year or two older than Hailey.

The people of Alenore cheered their guests as if they were their own men returning home from war. Most of them were dancing and smiling, waving at the King and his son in hopes to gain their attention.

"Do you hear them father?" the Prince shouted into his Father's ear. "They love us."

"They will love us even more when you're married to the Princess." The King of Myron assured him as he kept waving back at them, forcing a smile to please the crowd until their entry into the castle's courtyard.

Hailey was not taking part in any of it. All she did was stood next to her father with vexation written on her face. "Smile Hailey and wave your hands," her father advised.

"I rather not," she replied, while her father continued waving to his good friend.

"I wasn't asking you," he said, angrily.

The Princess unwillingly began waving her hands. The expression on her face still showed signs of displeasure. "Is this good enough?"

"Now smile like you mean it," he commanded. She forced a smile and pretended to care. Her eyes were the one thing that was showing how miserable she really was.

King Silas stood firmly where he was, awaiting King Lionel and his son as they jumped off their horses and proceeded to take their time before approaching them. She stood behind her father while he exchanges hugs from his old friend. The Prince stared at Hailey with a broaden smile upon his face, while she kept her head down toward the ground.

"How are you old friend?" Lionel asked.

"I'm fine, what about you Lionel?"

"Never better."

"You remember my daughter Hailey, Princess of Alenore." King Silas said proudly, as he introduced them.

"Your Grace," she said, bowing her head.

"You still look as beautiful as you were a babe," said King Lionel, with a sincere smile. "You look even more like your mother."

"Yes, thank goodness," said her father with a laugh. "Unfortunately for me, she has my temper," Silas then joked.

Lionel grabs hold of his son, pushing him forward to meet the King. Leon extended his hand for a shake which Silas accepted. "This is my boy Leon, Prince of Myron. Does he look the same as you last remembered him?"

"It's an honor to stand in your presence, Your Grace," spoke Leon as he bowed his head before the King.

"He looks well grown from last I saw him," Silas commented. "Sadly, he takes after you."

King Lionel busted out with a loud laugh, hardly controlling himself. "The meanest thing you've ever said, but so damn true."

Hailey couldn't help but stare at her father strangely, for it had been a long time since she'd seen him laugh and talk the way that he has at this very moment. It was a strange sight from where she stood. Silas rested his hand on the shoulders of Lionel as he carried him into the castle, toward the dining room.

"Tell me all about your Myronian problems."

"I will, as soon as I fill my belly." The King laughs at each other while their children followed closely behind.

Silas and Hailey sat near each other at the dining area while their guest Lionel and Leon were seated opposite one another. The table was filled with so many food and so many different flavored wine that not even twenty men could eat it all even if they tried.

"It truly means a lot Silas," said Lionel, "having us here."

"Friends of mine are always welcome here," King Silas replied.

"To joining our houses then." King Lionel said, raising his glass filled with red wine.

"To being Family," said Silas, before toasting to each other.

Hailey refused to join their celebration while Leon looked at her, amused. She just sat there wishing for it to end.

"I've heard something quite remarkable in the recent weeks," said Prince Leon, breaking his silence. "I heard this city had been attacked by a large monster. A giant of some sort."

"An earthquake, I assure you," King Silas told him.

"That's not what the people of Myron is saying," replied the Prince.

"What are they saying?" Silas asked.

"That the children of Gods roam the land," Leon told him. "One in particular they kept on mentioning, the son of Hades."

When the Princess had heard what they were talking about her eyes became brightly lit. She now seemed interested in the topic. "And you believe that nonsense?" she asked him.

"Not really," the Prince confessed. "But if such men do exist, he will be much like his father. Filled with hate and deceit."

Hailey was growing annoyed as the Prince kept on blabbering on things he knew little about. She was annoyed because she knew that none of the things he spoke were true. She started breathing heavily, clenching her fist as the vexation poured from her face. She looked at Leon as if she wanted to hurt him, both with her fist and with words.

"What if the son of Hades is not evil but good?"

"As long as Hades blood runs in his veins he will always be the embodiment of evil. Beings such as them are like parasites, they feed off of negative human emotions. "

"But what if...?" she asked before her father interrupted.

"Enough Hailey," said Silas while he stared at her.

"If you'll excuse me," she said, almost immediately. She then left without an excuse.

"I'm sorry for my daughter's behavior."

"It's alright," said the Prince. "She's only sharing her opinion."

Hailey found herself standing near the ocean, staring out into the deep with her eyes filling with tears. She tried focusing on the waves as it climbs and crashes, but it did little on easing her mind.

"I apologize, if I offended you earlier this evening," said the Prince joining her. He stood near her, staring out at the same view as her. "How are you?" the Prince asked.

"I am fine thank you." Not soon after she had finished her words, he leaned in and kisses her from the side. She pulls away from him, before taking a few steps forward with her gaze still set on the ocean. She wipes her lips as fast as she could as if he had left a stain on her.

"I know you loved me before, maybe you can learn to love me again. I only wish to be a good husband to you."

"I will not give my heart to you again, not after what you did."

"They say you never forget your first," he whispered, placing his hand between her legs as he stood behind her.

"I did," she replied, before hitting him on the face with her elbow. "You fooled me once and then you went along fooling my maid Helen. I won't be your victim anymore."

"I'm not the same idiot boy anymore," he confessed, holding onto his jaw. "What's really bothering you?" he asked.

"You, are what is bothering me," she said, leaving him all by himself.