The King of Darkness | ✔️

Chapter Six

"It is only I that lives here, if you truly need to know," Darian finally gives in and I furrow my brows in confusion. He takes a sip of whatever concoction is in his chalice, probably trying to avoid any more conversation and I mimic the gesture.

The drink in my own seems to be some fruity mixture - truly odd but sweet nonetheless.

However, I deny him the luxury of no longer talking about this topic. If he wishes me to stay here then I may as well be as annoying as I please.

"Why?" I question and he ceases all movement as if the question physically stopped him. The silence that fills the space between us is immeasurably loud, the tension so thick one could quite possibly slice it with a blade.

"I've had enough of this conversation... any more and I will have you seen back to your chambers," Darian slams down the chalice, its contents spilling over the rim. I should find his caginess suspicious but it only fuels my agitation towards him more.

Despite how much my mind is begging for an answer, I push the plate forward and stand up again. "Manin, was it?" I turn to face the guard, who escorted me to this hellish room, and he bows his head. "Please would you take me back to my chambers, I wish to dine alone," I see Manin's eyes flicker to Darian but he abides by my request.

"Follow me, m'lady," Manin says softly and I give Darian a sly look before following the guard out of the dining hall.

As I follow Manin's lead down the long and narrow hallways of the palace, I simply cannot wipe my memory clean of the look on Darian's face as I left. The mere thought causes me to burst into a fit of laughter.

Manin halts and turns to face me, confusion etched onto his features. I wave my hand haphazardly and try to hold back another laugh. I really cannot understand why I am finding so much amusement in such a simple expression.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry," I profess and continue waving my hand as I feel myself getting rather drowsy.

"Are you alright milady?" Manin takes two long strides before he is at my side. "Should I call upon the King?" he suggests but I shake my head.

"No need, I'm sure it's just because I haven't eaten in a while," I explain and Manin nods his head before leading me down the corridor again.

"I shall fetch a maid to bring sustenance to your chambers," Manin offers and I thank him for his kindness. A small smile plays on his lips and I ponder on the fact that I may have just found myself my first friend in this blasted place.

We finally reach my quarters and Manin tells me that a maid will be up very shortly before he leaves the room.

I walk over to the small bookshelf that resides in the far corner of my room. I begin to skim my fingers over the delicate spines - drinking in all of the famous authors and books that I have longed to read again but simply haven't had the time to.

After settling on an all-time favourite of mine, I pull out the book and walk over to the armchair placed by the casement window.

I sink into the chair, basking in the comfort that takes over my body. Opening the book, I bathe in the familiarity of the words and how at home I feel within the pages. I feel immediately sucked into the world and the characters.

When all is wrong in the world... books will always be there.

After a while, I find myself having to re-read the sentences, the words almost mashing together into one big mess. I rub my eyes before trying to continue but I cannot find it in me to decipher the words.

Confused, I place the book down. A sharp pain runs through my temples - as though someone had quite literally set my brain alight. Wincing, I stand up - not long before a wave of nausea hits me.

A knock sounds at the door but it's impossible to acknowledge over the banging in my head and the unfathomable need to expel the contents of my stomach.

"Lady Nova?" a woman calls as she walks through the door, food in hand. "Oh, you look awfully pale dear. Are you alright?" the maid questions as she notices my sorry state.

I open my mouth to respond to the woman but I can't hold back the need to be sick any longer. I am sure that I have never run so fast in my entire existence. As soon as I am within reaching distance of the toilet, I hurl until I am no longer capable of breathing.

"Oh heavens! I'll call a doctor!" the lady says but I finally manage to muster up a response.

"It's fine... I just haven't eaten, that's all," I manage to say in between heaving. Heavens, I hope that is the reason. Darian will have my head if it's anything else. I don't have it in me to even entertain the thought.

"I don't think this is a matter concerning whether you have eaten or not. I'll notify the King," she states, her erratics only worsening the nausea and migraine.

"Do. Not. Tell. Darian," I say through my teeth. I refuse for him to see me in this state - for him to see me this weak. I take deep breaths as I feel perspiration forming on my face, a shiver of coldness running through me.

"I'm afraid that I am obligated to m'lady," she says softly before leaving the room.

I groan and hug my arms to my stomach, begging for just a moment's peace. My vision becomes hazy as I try to stand. I stumble through the bathroom towards my bedroom. I just need to rest. If I just rest, I will be fine.

With as much strength as my frail body has, I pull back the covers and manage to climb into the bed. I revel in the coldness of the sheets, attempting to dissipate the cold sweat covering my body.

My breathing becomes laboured as I try to settle the nausea and the several other pains throughout my body. The door sounds but I'm too far gone to even care.

"Well, what's wrong with her then?" I hear Darian say and I want to throttle the maid for getting him despite me requesting her not to. His voice is muffled, as though I am underwater and he is just at the tip of the surface.

"I am not sure sire... has she consumed anything in the last thirty minutes?" the maid asks slowly as if the question is forbidden and a long stretch of silence engulfs the room.

"... I've only seen her drink. Where is my cupbearer?" Darian's tone changes drastically and I groan as another sharp pain hits my abdomen.

"Please. Stop. This," I cry out. I will do anything to stop the pain coursing through my veins right now - I would get on my knees and beg any higher power to just stop this.

To my surprise, Darian is at my side - kneeling beside the bed.

"I will find out what is wrong. In the meantime, Serene will be here to attend to your every need," Darian explains, hastily, before his shadows return and he's gone just as quickly as he came.

"What can I do to help you, m'lady?" Serene says from across the room. The thought of any kind of food right now only intensifies my nausea but I know that if I do not eat, everything will be much worse.

"Food," I manage to say and I hear her shifting around, metal and ceramic clanging. All of the noise sending shooting pains through my mind.

"Here you go," she says softly as she places a tray before me. There lays a bowl of soup with several pieces of bread - almost as if she knew that I was going to be coming down with this sickness of sorts.

"Thank you," I whisper and she gives me a small smile before her face turns stern.

"No more talking, you need to rest," Serene states and if I was in better health I would have some rude remark back about her ordering me around.