The Emperor's Concubine

B.2 Chapter Thirty-Seven

"I said unhand me!"
My powers surge, releasing from my body in a large explosion.
I rip my arms away as the guards release their grips.
I hold my hands out to them, a gold light wrapping around the guards as it restrains them.
Using my powers to push them back, I throw them to the end of the hallway.
I turn around, glaring at Cabel.
"To think you... You who I gave my heart to, would do this to me..." I mutter, feeling my powers run wild.
My eyes move to catch a glimpse of Esmerelda panting, gripping her chest in discomfort until moving to hide behind Cabel.
Cabel brows furrow as he holds his head.
My eyes widen as I hear muttering in the hallway from a raspy eerie voice.
Soon he stands straight, taking a deep breath. His sharp watchful eyes piercing back at me.
He lifts his hand, causing spears to erupt; attempting to impale me.
I dodge his sudden attack, dashing towards him.
"You're really pissing me off." I mutter.

'My own sister. My sister who I brought in to help, and my fiancé who always spoke so sweetly to me. Why did you do this?'
I think to myself, gritting my teeth in anger.

My hands ignite in the gold haze, soon the haze surrounds my feet as I jump, flying down the hallway to Cabel.
I swiftly hit Cabel's chest, pushing him back as I fly down the hall.
My hand glows in a gold light again, the light wrapping around Cabel's neck.
Instantly, I stop.
The momentum of me pushing him, and using my powers to keep him in place, sends him flying down the hall until he smashes into the wall at the end.
I look back at Esmerelda, her eyes glowing neon lime green.
My eyes widen as I see her eyes vividly glow as she whispers something quickly.

Instantly, a hard impact hits my back.
I'm thrown down the hallway, rolling against the ground as I come to a stop.
I look back to see Cabel rushing towards me.
Quickly, Cabel turns me over on my back, pinning me to the ground.
His hand gripping me by the throat, his other hand glowing in an electric red fog; ready to pierce into my chest.
"Any last words?" He asks, his eyes glowing intimidatingly.
"...You hurt me countless of times, and again you keep hurting me... But I can't bring myself to hate you..." My eyes overflow with tears as I look back at him, my heart aching as I try my best to ignore the pain.
A golden light appears around his neck.
I pull my hand back, pulling him down closer to me.
His grip on my neck leaves as he catches to hold himself up on the ground.
I grip his shirt with my other hand, pressing my lips against his as I wait for him to kill me.
His sharp heavy aura surrounding his hand, hovers close to my chest.
I brace myself as I wait for his hand to impale me.
His aura suddenly vibrates, becoming unstable and shaky.
I pull away, confused.
I look back at him, his eyes widened.
"Lu...Luna?..." He whispers.
His hand trembles as the red fog disappears.
Instantly, he winces in pain, gripping his head.
Cabel suddenly stands, thrashing around as he holds his head.
"Argh!" He shouts, groaning in pain.
"Cabel?" I whisper, my eyes widened in shock.
"Stop, stop, stop!" He screams.

"Adormit."
A sharp rough voice calls out.
His movements abruptly freeze.
His malicious aura returns, his eyes moving to look back at me.
Quickly, I restrain his body with my powers, throwing him down the hallway.
I look back at Esmerelda who stands still, grinning.
I stare back at her frozen, feeling a sickly heavy aura in the air that's not from Cabel.

"Over here!"

I hear a voice shout.
Thunderous footsteps rush closer as I realize the knights are coming.
I jump up, breaking through the hallway window as I dive out, catching myself on a tree branch.
Quickly landing on the ground, I sprint through the rain to the barn.

I run to the stables, bursting through the doors, panicked.
Liam turns around to see me.
An older man runs around the corner.
"What's all this noise?" The man shouts, running towards us.
Liam swiftly opens the stall door for Adonia.
Adonia steps out, a saddle already prepared on her.
Liam rushes into the stall as he grabs the duffle.
I quickly jump on Adonia, hooking my feet into the stirrups.
I catch the duffle as Liam throws it to me.
"Thank you." I call out to Liam, giving him a thankful smile.
He waves as I quickly take off out of the barn, before the older man stops me.

I ride into the quiet high district.
The streets emptied, with only the sound of heavy rain being heard.
Ahead of me sits the gold dragon statue in the centre of the plaza.
I jump off, my knees growing weak and shaky as I feel the adrenaline wear down.
Hanging Adonia's reins on the armrest of a bench, I collapse back as I sit.
I take a deep shaky breath, looking down at my trembling hands.
The rain falls down, drenching my hair.
"Esmerelda..." I whisper, clenching my hand into a fist.
The memory of her eyes glowing bright green, running through my mind, the chilling deep voice that called out ringing in my ears.

"Lady Luna?"
I look up to see Lord Christopher.
He stands a few feet in front of me under an umbrella.
"Lord Christopher?" I mutter.
I stand, quickly curtsying.
"What are you doing here?" He asks.
"I... I was just out on a ride." I smile casually.
His eyes glance at Adonia and back at me.
"Do you mean to tell me you brought all that, just for a simple ride?" He looks back at Adonia and down at me, raising his brow.
I look at Adonia, my duffle on her saddle.
I avert my eyes, biting my lip.
"I-I should go." I quickly grab Adonia's reins.
"Lady Luna, wait!" Lord Christopher calls out.
I jump on Adonia, trying to take off.
Lord Christopher quickly grabs her saddle, stopping her from moving.
"I-I'm going back to the palace, there's no need to stop me!-"
"Are you really?" He cuts me off.
He stands under the rain, his umbrella thrown to the side.
"Please... Please pretend you never saw me. Please treat me like a stranger." I beg, my voice trembling slightly.
"Lady Luna, you know I can't do that... For now, come back to our estate, let's talk... I won't hurt you." Lord Christopher looks up at me concerned.
I bite my lip, sighing as I nod.

I ride in his carriage as we sit silently on the way to his estate. Adonia tied to the carriage as she walks beside us.
We soon arrive at his estate.
I glance out the window, flipping my hood up to hide my hair and face.
"What are you doing?" Lord Christopher asks.
"I wish to not be seen right now..." I mumble, looking away.
"I see... Hurry, we'll take this in the parlour." He gets off the carriage, holding an umbrella up.
I nod, following him off the carriage.
We walk past maids and butlers who bow to us.
I do my best to hide my face as I follow him.

"Young lord, would you like me to bring refreshments for you as well as your... Er guest?"
A butler speaks up, meeting us at the entrance. He speaks confused as he looks back at me.
"No, leave us be." He speaks up, walking by the butler.
We enter a parlour room, Lord Christopher locking the door behind him.
"Please, make yourself comfortable." He gestures to the sofa across from him as he sits down.
I remove my hood and sigh, slowly approaching to sit across him.
"Tell me, why are you running away?" He asks.

I explain everything that's happened to Lord Christopher.
He quietly listens as I explain the story.
"And so, I escaped... All that I can do now is leave the empire..." I sigh, ignoring the unsettling feeling in my chest.
I avert my eyes, waiting for him to speak.
He takes a deep breath.
"Lady Luna... I'm sorry." He speaks up.
I look back at him, stunned.
"Pardon? My lord, you have no reason to apologize."
"I know, but it hurts, right?"
I stammer, looking back at him as he sympathetically looks at me.
"Do you know why his highness acted like that?" He asks.
I shake my head and give a feigned smile.
"I wouldn't be running away if I knew, now would I?"
"I suppose not... You can't leave though." Lord Christopher sternly speaks.
"And why is that? I have every reason to leave this empire."
"Because even if this has happened, you're still considered the future empress. Father and mother would not accept it if you ran away on your own. You can stay here and I will help figure something out."
"I'm not the future empress." I take a deep breath, remaining calm, "He publicly labelled me as a murderer. I know there'll soon be a warrant for my arrest. I can't put the marquess' family at risk-"
I'm cut off as the parlour door opens.

Marquess Simone walks in, taking his keys out of the door.
"Father-" Lord Christopher stands, attempting to block the marquess.
Marquess Simone raises his hand, cutting Lord Christopher off as he walks over to stand in front of me.
"Under whose say, are you deciding something for the marquess?" Marquess Simone looks down at me sternly.