FATE #3 *(A ROSE IN BLOOM)*

PALATABLE ENCHANTMENT*

GENERAL POV

"Once anyone eats from that dish, their minds will be open to be warped, that way you can begin overthrowing her government, you only have six days to do that Devan, your success at this depends on your own self now, but... One warning to you..." She turned towards him with blazing eyes.

"No harm must come to her, not even a strand of hair should fall off her body, otherwise I'll plant whosoever I deem fit on that throne and suck you dry Devan!" She smirked  whiles he stared at her.

"Don't you think that will be impossible? There's no way she won't retaliate to earn punishment?" He stated, when she walked towards the exit.

"Humans, always shallow!" She muttered and left him hanging, he smiled knowing what he planned to do on the contrary...

She walked in the open deliberately calling for Lucious' attention, he dreaded the fact that it's all over, he stormed after her in fury.

She camouflaged into thin air when he rushed back to his brothers oubliette.

He screeched to a stop, holding on firmly onto the door... "Whatever she's planning with you, I'll make sure you both never succeed Devan, I'm ready to protect Pearl with every drop of blood in my body, haven't y'all done enough to her?" He rashly vented, firmly grasping unto the iron gate to a shake as Devan stared at him, he burst into laughter.

"Oh my! I really needed that laughter, aren't you funny seventh boy! Birthright never fails actually, you might wanna revisit your choice list once again, Lucious! You could still be useful to our empire if you choose to hold my hand... Pearl is already a goner I must confess, she was the only one left of Quaye's lineage, right?"

His question and words got Lucious boiling inside... "I would have spared her you know but then again, Kim's blood runs through her, I want to start a lineage with her, and for that to be the only line she will ever have, I have to take care of Pearl, do you get me huh?"
He calmly conversed succeeding in irritating him the more, Lucious banged on the Metallic door separating them.

"Be careful Devan, I won't hesitate to take your life if you push me anywhere near that kind of wall!" He spoke through a clenched teeth when Devan calmly drew closer to him and stared in his eyes...

"Or a better choice, stick by her side and lose your life along with hers, don't forget about Joey too, Lucious! I barely have any proper connection with him, since he's also dear to you, I won't hurt your dead soul more by keeping him with me!"

He motioned back and giggled his heart out, as Lucious walked away with a disturbed mind. he might not know more about their plan, but with what his brother said, he knew they have something extreme planned for Pearl.

He worried, thinking he got fooled and trapped with his desire to Pearl's demise. He thought what if exorcizing Zherra was only part of their plan to finally reach their goal?

He screamed feeling no way out of his clouded mind. He fell on his knees in tears and pain, feeling guilty towards Pearl, for the fact that he easily became prey with his desire.

Jemilla sped towards him, and sat beside him... "Just keep watch and do nothing, Lucious!" He swiftly looked towards her at the sound of her voice. " Your brother only wanted to get to you, don't interfere in it just watch everything unfold, and when it's done, leave to Unalia with her, That's all I can say to you!"

She disappeared again. "I hate you, monster!" He yelled after she was no more.

The time came, when they had to feed, the dish was served to every corner with a prisoner in the empire, even he Devan was, he watched as the guards fed on theirs.

From generals and commanders to prisoners, except those in the Southern Province, everyone ate from that dish. fter observing them settle after the dish, he planned to try out something.

"I can't believe you locked up a brother because a little girl asked you to, what does she know about keeping a people safe, all these are my father's hard work, how could y'all forget him so soon? He was there for you all, you watched him slaughtered in public and y'all supported his murderer just like that?"

" We're sorry your majesty, we had no other choice, our lives were at stake too!" He chuckled into laughter, he told them about Pearl's condition now and how they can help him save the empire from her.

They released him from the oubliette, he took the same story to the generals and commanders' gathering and easily had their support, Jemilla stood on the roof observing him.

He now turned the generals and commanders to his disciples as they went about sharing his gospel to the rest, the prisoners working and those still in the dungeon.

Thessa began suspecting something as there was too much murmur going on but instead of getting to know what was engulfing the waves, she rather called for order.

Meanwhile in the vampire's universe,  Nathan was finding it a little uneasy coping without Pearl, he was getting tired of only having her in his memory...

He mounted his horse and rode towards the boundary site, Lloyd seeing this without enough information, went after him also...

He watched from a distance, Nathan hopped off the horse and paced with his arms buckled behind him...

He growled whenever the thought of Lucious being there with her runs through his head, Lloyd walked to his side. "Are you... Alright?" He questioned, the king looked at him with the corners of his eyes...

"What do you think?" He replied with a question, "You're missing the empress, I do too perhaps not as much as you!" They looked at each other...

"Do you think I succeeded in leaving a print on her heart huh?" The king queried when Lloyd took a moment to stare at him. " I can't confirm that, you did much, and she is also too complicated, I can't tell..."

He answered knowing well why he was feeling insecure now, he felt it had something to do with Lucious.

"Sandra's ceremony is still on going, I'll go and check up on her... Take it slowly alright? Everything will probably be fine!" Lloyd added before departing...

"I hope so! After all I've sealed her soul... You're only mine, Pearl! I'm anxiously waiting for you!" He rode back into the palace...

Sandra received the mantle as the kingdom's head sorceress, she noticed Lloyd's presence and felt excited for that, he waved at her with a smile as she did same.

Else where Ariana with the excuse of going back to school found her way to the gate of  their new rising rivalry kingdom, south Akilis, She wore an unfading smile as she stepped in with a seal of the kingdom.

"Just a little more time, Nathan! You will
Have the best queen material with you again, I'll make sure no one else counts, you'll see and want only me!"

After presenting the seal, she was led straight to the palace. The king and the royal house hold gathered in the throne room to welcome her, she kowtowed in front of the throne and hailed him.

"May you live long your majesty!" She enunciated.