THE KING'S POSSESSION

Chapter 75

Chapter 75: I would rather die





"You cannot take anything from me," she mumbled, her voice a strained whisper against the weight of her suffering. "I will fight you even to the last of my breath."

Her fingers grasped the reins weakly as she tried to mount the horse again, but the effort was futile. The horse which was spooked by her sudden collapse and the chaos of the chase, whinnied nervously, its hooves shifting uneasily.

Isabel grit her teeth against the pain as she forced herself off the horse, her movements slow and labored. She stumbled onto the ground with her hands dragging across the cool, damp earth as she attempted to rise. Her strength was nearly spent, but the fire of defiance burned brightly in her heart.

With a valiant effort, she took a few shaky steps toward the darkened forest, her eyes set on the shadows that promised concealment and, perhaps, a fleeting chance at freedom. Each step was a struggle, her legs trembling under the strain of her injury, but she pressed on, driven by the memories of her son and the desperate hope of escaping Lucian's grasp.

Lucian stood at a distance, his eyes narrowed as he observed her struggle. The sight of Isabel's determined advance through the forest stoked the fires of his own anger. His jaw tightened, his eyes filled with frustration.

"Fetch me a horse!" he bellowed, his voice echoing through the courtyard with an authority that brooked no argument. "I will not let you leave me for the second time, Isabel!" He mumbled.

His command was met with swift action. Guards sprang into motion, racing to prepare a horse for him. The clamor of their boots on the cobblestone floor and the urgent shouts of their orders filled the air as Lucian's gaze followed Isabel's faltering progress into the darkness of the woods.

Despite her weakened state, Isabel pressed on, her heart thudding heavily in her chest as she vanished into the protective embrace of the forest's depths. Her hands clutched the wound in her side, the blood seeping through her fingers, staining the ground beneath her.

Lucian's steely eyes followed her retreating figure until she was swallowed by the shadows. His fury was evident as he mounted the horse brought to him by the guards. With a powerful kick, he urged the horse forward, the beast leaping into action with a burst of speed that mirrored Lucian's own relentless drive.

"Do not let her escape!" he roared to the guards, his voice a fierce command that drove them into a frantic pursuit. "She must be captured before she slips beyond our reach!"

As Lucian charged into the forest, the sounds of the chase took on a frenetic energy, the pounding hooves of his horse a relentless drumbeat against the stillness of the night. The darkness of the woods closed around him, but his eyes remained locked on the flickering silhouette of Isabel.

Isabel, struggling to walk, her breath visible in the cold, dark night, began to stumble along her path. Her sight was growing increasingly blurry, and every step was a painful, laborious effort. She could hear the sound of horses behind her, their hooves pounding the ground, drawing closer with each passing second.

Suddenly, a voice pierced the night air. "Isabel! Stop right there!" Lucian's warning tone was unmistakable, filled with both desperation and anger.

She looked back and saw Lucian's glaring eyes, the cold night air turning his breath into smoky plumes with each exhale. For a moment, memories of the days when she first met the king flashed before her eyes. Lucian had once been a man who loved her with everything he had.

What... went wrong?

A bitter smile tugged at Isabel's lips as she breathed out. Despite the pain and exhaustion, she found a fleeting moment of clarity. She cut through the bushes ahead of her, hoping to find a path that would lead to safety, but knowing it was a desperate gamble.

Lucian saw her disappear into the thicket. "After her!" he commanded his men. He led the way with an unwavering determination as he urged his horse through the path Isabel had taken.

The moment Lucian and his men emerged from the bushes, his eyes widened in fear. There, standing at the edge of a cliff, was Isabel. Her back was turned to them, as if she were looking out at the horizon, waiting for the sun to rise. In her hand, she clutched a rock the size of her fist.

Lucian took a deep breath, his gaze shifting to the scene before him. Beneath the cliff was the raging waves of the unforgiving ocean crashing against the rocks.

In an almost unexpected moment, the sky seemed to weep at the sight. Cold drops of rain began to fall, drenching them all. The downpour added a haunting, melancholy to Isabel's broken heart.

"Isabel," he called out, his voice barely audible over the roaring waves and the patter of the rain. "Step away from the edge."

But Isabel did not respond. Her figure remained still. The rain soaked her hair and clothes, making her appear even more fragile. Her own blood began to wash along the steep cliff and Lucian trembled at the sight.

Lucian immediately stepped down his horse anf took a tentative step forward, his men watching anxiously. "Please, Isabel," he urged desperately. "Do not move."

Isabel turned slowly, her eyes once bright blue now reflecting the dark storm clouds above.

"Ah, you found me," she spoke with a bitter smile, her gaze locked onto Lucian's.

"Isabel... My love... please, come to me slowly," he pleaded, stretching his arm towards her. But Isabel inched backward, her weight burdening the fragile edge. Small crumbles of rock began to fall, sending a surge of fear through Lucian.

"Isabel!" he cried, his voice breaking with desperation.

In his mind, the terror of losing her forever took hold. The edge beneath her feet was perilously close to giving way.

Suddenly, Isabel took a step forward, alarming Lucian's men, who instinctively raised their bows, arrows aimed at her.

"He... looks just like you," she mumbled, staring intently at Lucian, her words confusing him.

"Yes... Yes... You're right. He... looks just like me," Lucian agreed, his voice trembling. He didn't fully understand what she meant, but he hoped to ease her away from the edge.

Isabel's gaze bore into him as she spoke again. "There were days I wished he knew who his father really was." She paused, her voice heavy with emotion. "But now I doubt if I would want my Liam to meet you and know you are his father."

Her words made Lucian stand there frozen. The words cut through him like a knife. The realization of what she meant hit him hard, leaving him in shock. His breath caught in his throat as he struggled to find words.

The rain poured down harder, the wind howling around them, nature itself seeming to mourn the tragedy unfolding. Lucian's heart pounded in his chest.

"Liam... is my son?" he stuttered, disbelief and shock coursing through him. Even his men were stunned, their eyes wide as they absorbed Lucian's revelation.

Isabel's eyes brimmed with tears, mingling with the relentless rain, making her sobs appear tearless. "Six years ago, you imprisoned me while I was pregnant," she cried, her voice trembling with pain and betrayal. "I had to escape before others found out I was pregnant out of wedlock—and most of all with the king's child. So yes. Liam is your child... Lucian."

Her body shook as sobs wracked her, her deep, bleeding wound adding to her agony. She flinched, the pain nearly unbearable.

"Isabel! Come to me! Please!" Lucian's voice cracked, desperation seeping through every word. "We will talk about this back at the palace. Please, Isabel, I am begging you."

But Isabel stood firm, her gaze unwavering despite the storm. She had carried this secret, this pain, for too long.

"Your Majesty... I thought you do not beg and apologize?"

Lucian gulped at her question and took a hesitant step forward, his eyes pleading. "No
But I am now."

"So believe me Isabel, I didn't know... I never knew. Please, come back to me. We can make this right."

But Isabel's resolve was unyielding. "No. You can't make this right. You cannot change the truth that my son is dead because of you!"

In a sudden, desperate motion, Isabel raised her hand which was clutching the rock tightly within it. The movement startled Lucian's men, who reacted instinctively to what they perceived as a threat. Bows were drawn back, and arrows were loosed, cutting through the rain-drenched air.

"Isabel, no!"

Lucian screamed, his heart wrenching as he watched the arrows fly towards her. Isabel's body jerked as the arrows found their mark, her eyes wide with shock and pain.

She stumbled as the rock slipped from her grasp and tumbled down the cliffside. Her knees buckled, and she crumpled to the ground, the life slowly draining from her eyes. The world seemed to stand still as the rain pounded down relentlessly, the wind howling in mournful harmony.

With her last ounce of strength, Isabel looked up at Lucian, her voice barely more than a whisper. "I would rather die..." she said, her eyes closing as the last breath left her body.

Lucian rushed forward, but he was too late. Isabel's body fell from his grasp, tumbling over the edge of the cliff and into the churning sea below. He cried, horrified and heartbroken, as he watched the waves swallow her.