Flames of the Past #4: A Tangle of Lies (A Ninjago Fanfiction)

Chapter 11

"This is unacceptable!" Alec's roar filled the throne room. "How difficult is it to track down one man?"

The messenger shrank backward. "T-they are trying, Your Highness," he stuttered. "But he is a ninja."

"A ninja is still human," Alec hissed back. "This criminal has been on the loose for three days already. Having this problem is a humiliation to the kingdom!"

"Y-yes, sir. I'll be sure to remind the guards of that."

Alec heaved a deep sigh, slumping back onto his throne. On his one side, Chantria looked down on the messenger with disgust, seeming to share her husband's opinion. On the king's other side, Skylor and Chester watched in silence.

"What about the other ninja?" Alec demanded. "Are they acting out?"

"We've been keeping a close eye on them as you ordered," the messenger replied, "but they've done nothing to cause suspicion."

Alec's blue eyes narrowed. "That doesn't mean they won't," he growled. "Keep watching them. And for God's sake, find the red ninja!"

The messenger stumbled backward. "Y-yes, sir!" he gasped out.

Alec waved his staff in dismissal and the messenger hurried out of the room. The king let out a soft growl when he was gone, tightening his fingers around his staff. "A beheading is what that criminal deserves for disrespecting royal blood," he muttered.

Skylor's eyes widened in alarm. She stared up at the king, wondering if he was being serious. But Alec's face was stone-cold, and she knew he wasn't one to bluff.

Her heart pounded inside her chest. She couldn't let them kill Kai! He didn't do anything wrong, she thought miserably. She looked up at Chester. The prince had given her his throne to sit on and he was standing beside her, leaning against the back of the chair. He had a smile on his face and Skylor felt a bit of her worry wash away. Sometimes Chester acted like a gentleman, treating her kindly and with respect, while others... he acted quite the opposite. It confused her. Moreover, it freaked her out when he entered the room, for she never knew which version of him she would get.

It was something that refrained her from confessing how he hurt her. Because sometimes, he was there. He was good. He really did love her—even when he struggled to show it. That's what he told her, anyway.

But then she remembered Kai. She remembered the words the red ninja had said whilst fighting Chester.

"You're wrong if you think you can push Skylor around! That's not what love is! Love is respecting one another, not beating each other up!"

She wondered exactly what he had meant. The way Kai was so gentle with her, and listened to her when she talked... was that what he'd meant?

Kai had never done anything to hurt her. Above everything else, he'd only protected her. And because of it, he was going to be thrown into the dungeon.

Can't I do something? Skylor asked herself. She glanced back at Alec. She—she had to tell him the truth.

Suddenly, she felt Chester's hand grip her shoulder. She froze, her eyes traveling up to the prince. His facial expression hadn't changed and he still faced forward, but the gesture had been enough to remind her who was in control. Sometimes it felt like Chester could read her mind.

She decided to keep quiet. That's what she'd been taught to do in these risky situations. Besides, if she got the king and queen to believe her side of the story, that meant Chester would be beheaded. Fear swarmed inside of her. As much as she didn't want Kai killed, she didn't want her husband killed, either.