"Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories."
Sun Tzu
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Song: The Wounded Soldier, Silkroad Ensemble, Yo-Yo Ma
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The next day was chaotic. Ophelia cried herself to sleep the previous night after he explained what missing truly meant. Zeus had felt all her emotions: grief, sadness, confusion, and the heaviest of all; guilt. Once Ophelia fell asleep Zeus started working. He was going to fix this for her.
After personally calling in favors the investigation was underway. Victoria called after receiving a threatening letter. The letter made many demands but the one demand that caught his attention was not about money, nor fame, but they wanted to speak to Fiona Clarke. The woman who sat in the dungeons of the castle. The woman who has refused to sign his soul binding contract even after days in solitary confinement.
He had refrained from going down there in fear the inner monster would reveal itself. The one he has tried to bury deep inside. The one he never wanted Ophelia to see. But he was angry. Angry at Fiona, at Ophelia's tears, and frankly at her other siblings. Ophelia didn't know he could feel scars beneath her clothes on her back, of course he wasn't absolutely sure that they were caused by Fiona but he had a feeling it involved the older women. He knew his knowledge of her past was limited but it wasn't pleasant with her timidness and lack of knowledge. Never in his life did he think he would be affected this much by his soulmate but she was all he could think about and she seemed to intensify his protective instincts.
His body buzzed with the electric energy that grew more frantic as he made his way down to the dungeons. A storm brewed outside, feeding off his energy. The skies rumbled and lightning struck.
"My King." A guard bowed and opened the entrance to the bottom level.
Zeus walked down the stairs. The light slowly disappeared and his eyes adjusted. Torches hung on the walls casting a dim orange glow. Prisoners that slept awoke to the shift in energy as he walked by.
He continued on his path until Fiona Clarkes cell was in front of him. Zeus grabbed the handle, focusing all his energy, and struck it with a bolt of lightning causing it to unlock but not break.
The older woman sat cradled in the corner. Her hair was knotted and frizzy, her bones stuck out slightly more than when she arrived, but her eyes carried the same emotions.
"Hello my friend." Her dreadful voice cracked. "To what do I owe the pleasure to have the king visit little old me." She smiled like a Cheshire cat.
"Fiona." Zeus stepped in, slamming the door shut engulfing the two in darkness. His eyes adjusted immediately, hers did not.
"Where's my Ophelia? Does she not want to play?" Zeus ignored her. He was here with a purpose, and wanted to remember that.
"Your daughters are missing." He stated, stepping closer to her.
"You lost Ophelia already?" Fiona sat up straighter fully paying attention.
"No, your other daughters Mary and Emily."
"Oh." She slumped again. "Why should I care?"
Zeus was curious. Why did Fiona hold claim and worry for Ophelia, the child she never let into the world and not for her other children.
YOU ARE READING
The Dancing Queen
Romance*Ophelia June Clarke* She was soft, sweet and nice. Her mother sheltered her from the world while the rest of her siblings got to venture out. *King Zeus* He was the great ruler of the skies and western land. He had led his people to prosperity...
