The King of Darkness | ✔️

Chapter Thirty Four

"First stop is the drawing-room," Manin says as he takes long strides. Who knew this man walked so quickly. I've never really noticed it before but he is rather good looking. It must be because he always tries to talk to me as little as possible.

"How come you always try to avoid conversation with me?" Manin's dark locks swish as he turns his head to look at me. I always thought that he had a kind face but we'll see if that changes.

"Because I like my job and I would prefer it if I wasn't fired for having a lengthy conversation with you," it's weird hearing him say so many words in a sentence. "It's nothing personal."

"Well, I should hope that it's nothing personal because last time I checked I have been nothing but nice to you," I shrug and he actually lets out a low chuckle. What is happening to everyone and why are they all acting so weird?

"Too nice. You always look at me like I am some lost puppy," Manin's eyebrows furrow in what I am not sure is confusion or if he is weirded out.

"That's the persona that you gave me. You always bow and look away and you just give me lost puppy vibes," I shrug. "Nothing personal," I repeat his words - mocking him - and he rolls his eyes.

"I'd prefer you to think of me as your personal guard... not a puppy," he huffs and I can see that this has really put a dent in his male ego. The one thing you should never do to a males ego is feeding it. My main goal is to always starve it. They have too much ego for me to withstand.

"Duly noted," I accept his request and make sure that it doesn't give him a big head.

We enter the drawing-room and I sit on a stool placed beside a very large table. Manin scouts the room for anyone before walking over to a glass cabinet and reaching into his pocket for the key.

Once it is unlocked, he reaches in and takes out a very large scroll - of what I am not sure. Manin walks towards the table and unties the scroll before unrolling it and placing it on the table. Four paperweights are placed on each corner to stop the scroll from moving.

I realise that it is a map of the entirety of Merthia - not only that but the biggest map I have ever seen.

I notice the small island that Darian had forced me to go to, the ocean that I'd practically drowned in... my court and the small drawing of a palace. "Well, they can cross that out now," I joke and point my finger at my court palace but Manin doesn't seem to find it funny.

"This is the oldest map of Merthia to exist. You see that mountain range there... it doesn't exist anymore neither does that island. It has been swallowed by the ocean," Manin explains, pointing his finger at several landmarks.

"So one day... Merthia will be underwater too?" I question and Manin nods his head. So all of this fighting is theoretically for nothing - for something that will not exist in a few hundred years.

"The forbidden forest - that is where the witches will be doing the ritual," he whispers. "This point right here. It's a clearing in the forest that gets the most moonlight so we can guarantee that this is where they will be. We will set up around the perimeter and attack them at their weakest moment. They'll be caught off guard so that will also help us."

"How long have you been coming up with this plan? It seems very well thought out," I ask. A lot of planning must have gone into this for it to be so strategic.

"At first it was an anonymous tip but I didn't believe it so I did my research on the ritual and it is very much true," Manin says, taking a seat on the stool beside me. An anonymous tip - he is really believing this?

"How do you know this is not a set-up?" this seems too good to be true. Besides, who knows this about the Fortuna coven unless it is someone who is a member. If they are a member then it is most definitely a set-up and quite frankly a suicide mission.

"We don't but Sire knows the risks and says that we should cross that bridge when we come to it. Either way, it is still an opportunity to attack and to possibly take down the Fortuna coven once and for all," Manin explains and I don't feel too happy about this.

"So we're just going in blind?" I dare ask and Manin nods his head. "Gods, we're all going to end up dead," I mutter to myself and Manin looks at me like I am speaking nonsense. I am glad he has so much confidence in his plan but I can't say so myself.

"Well, that's not apart of the plan but it is a possibility that could potentially become a very big problem," Manin says and looks towards the map - deep in thought. I guess it is not so well planned as I thought then.

Manin continues to explain the plan but still makes sure that there is no one prying in the halls trying to listen in. For the most part, it seems solid but there are small gaps that can become rather large dilemmas.

"I have another errand to attend to that I am afraid you cannot join me on," Manin says as he puts the scroll back to its rightful place in the glass cabinet. I sigh but find that I have spent a long time with him and it will be time for dinner soon.

"That's okay... thank you for sharing your ideas with me," I nod and he bows his head towards me before opening the door. I walk out and give him a smile of thanks. "I best be getting back to my quarters."

"Would you like me to escort you?" he questions but I shake my head. I'd like to spend my walk back thinking. Thinking is what I do best.

"No... thank you though," I say and he flashes me a smile before turning around and walking in the opposite direction.

I'm glad we got to talk, I've always known that there was more to Manin and I finally got to see this side of him that isn't influenced by Darian. I get that he wants to keep his job but I'm sure a few mindless words wouldn't cause him to lose it... I hope.

When I finally find myself back at my chambers, I see Serene pacing and tugging at the roots of her hair. "I don't know... she never told me," Serene says frantically. I don't think I have ever seen her in such a raw, blind, panic before.

"Well, she couldn't have disappeared into thin air. I swear to the deepest depths of hell, Serene if she is not found I will have your head," Darian shouts as I come into view. "Where the hell have you been?" Darian bellows, his voice echoing throughout the hall.

"I was in the drawing-room," I say, my voice measurably lower than his and more confused. I don't understand what the fuss is about. Couldn't he have just sent me a note or something asking where I had gone?

"How come I couldn't find you then? How come I couldn't feel you?" Darian points an accusing finger at me and I glare at him. By 'feel me' I am sure he means through the sort of connection we have in our minds. I never knew he could feelme though.

"I... I don't know but I swear to the heavens that I was in the drawing-room," I promise but his features contort in what I am sure is disbelief. Gods, he really doesn't believe me, does he? The look on his face says it all.

"Of course you were, just like you was in the library the other night. You know, you tried to make me feel bad about keeping you locked in your chambers but as soon as you get a whiff of freedom you are gone before I can even get another word in," Darian blames me.

I've realised that all we have done recently is argue. I don't think we have ever argued so much in the course of a couple of days than we have the whole time we have known each other.

"I didn't make you feel bad... anyone with a right mind wouldn't find it acceptable to keep someone as a prisoner - to take away their right of freedom. And, I am being wholly and truly honest. If you don't believe me then that's your problem, not mine," I make a point in lowering my voice, hoping that he will do the same.

"I never kept you as a prisoner. I locked you away because I needed to see if I could trust you. Anyone in the right mind wouldn't let an opposer into their own court and run wild."

"You forced me to earn your trust because I had no other way of getting out," I say breathlessly. I am so tired of this. "I'm done arguing."

"When will you stop walking away from things? When will you ever just fight for something and not back down? It will be your fatal flaw, Nova, mark my words," his voice speaks behind me and I say one last thing before I walk into my chamber.

Turning my head, my eyes meet his. "It's hard to fight for something when you have nothing left to fight for," and with that, I enter the bedroom and slam the door behind me.