Raging Storm {book 2 in SOSfanfic series} [ON HOLD]

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At the mention of Jaya's name, no matter how low it was spoken, Mr. Ambrose felt Reyna's leg tense like a live wire. His heart missed a beat. Had she heard? Who would she kill now?

"Kaur! Bal told me that you were expecting your third child!" Mr. Ambrose jumped at the sudden sound of Reyna's voice. Kaur paled but she forced a smile.

"I- uh-... yes."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Reyna laughed the same as she did always, but this time Mr. Ambrose's skin prickled. He saw the hair stand up on Kaur's arms. She felt the same, so he wasn't imagining it. Somehow, Reyna had threatened both of them to stop talking, in front of everyone and Bal by just laughing as she always did. Mr. Ambrose felt a prickle of fear. But Kaur was different, she jut her chin out as a silent challenge.

"It is no secret." Kaur sounded sure even though that was not the appropriate answer to the question Reyna had asked. Mr. Ambrose felt the conversation shift till there were only two players: the women.

Bal's smile slipped but Reyna's widened.

"I should've known." She nodded to herself, "I did see you with Nana a little while back. Lovely woman, she is, always working for the welfare of people. She and I are really close as well."

Kaur blanched. That was a clear threat, but only to her. In plain sight.

"Love, are you well?" Bal asked, concern flashing in her eyes. Kaur ignored him and used her entire energy in maintaining her eye-contact with Reyna like a stare-off.

"Really? Whatever for?"

Reyna shrugged, her smile never faltering for a second as she took a swig of thick wine, staining her lips red, "Potions to calm me down."

The memory of the vial flashed in Mr. Ambrose's mind. Potions to calm her down. For example, taken after Reyna relived her memories or when she went through a haunting phase. No wonder why she was so relaxed at the moment.

Kaur rose a delicate brow, "And you got close because of that? You tell everyone your entire story so that they can help you?"

Reyna lifted a perfectly arched brow in response. The air grew electric. Bal frowned.

"Of course not. But Groot Moeter is rather close to her. She and I have shared something far greater than Nana could comprehend. Or appose."

That was the final say. Kaur visibly flinched. Bal stood up and thudded closer to her, placing a calming hand on her shoulder. She let out a breath in defeat. Her hands went around her swollen belly as if to protect her unborn child from harm.

"I see." She smiled weekly at Reyna, who nodded and smiled graciously and went back to eating her fowl.

"I don't feel very well. Please excuse me." She was not lying, her face was white and she was sweating excessively. Kaur nodded at Mr. Ambrose and got up shakily. Bal was immediately there to support here. The married couple slowly walked away, Kaur leaning heavily on Bal.

"What was that about?" Bal's deep rumble was easily heard all the way back to where they were sitting.

"Oh, nothing love. We were just continuing a previosely incomplete conversation."

He took her word for it. Whatever Reyna had said to Kaur had really shaken her up.

Mr. Ambrose turned to Reyna slowly who was enjoying her meal obliviously.

"You're a demon."

Reyna snorted as she cut another piece of meat.

"Took you an awfully long time to learn that."

She brought the fork her lips and munched on calmly. She gulped it down with wine leisurely.

"But the last time I checked, you explicitly required my services, despite my protests. So now you're stuck with me, darling husband."

Stunned silence filled the Kamer. Everyone was frozen, not eating, not chewing, drinking or talking, barely breathing. Dagger drop silence. Every eye was on Reyna Mertya.

She lifted her brow again and looked around the statue room. The only thing moving was the light of the torches flickering and Reyna.

"What?" She sounded bewildered.

"Husband?" Someone squeeked.

"'Am alqarf yanqat." Reyna pressed her eyes shut.

Alqaraf indeed.

-*-

"Husband?" Groot Moeter echoed in disbelief. No one had moved yet. No one knew how much time had passed.

Reyna winced, "Nay! Nay, not really. An irritating term of endearment that stuck."

"Husband!" She roared. Reyna shrugged in response, "T'was a disguise. Believe you me, calling him husband is much more difficult than calling him Ibn himar."

Mr. Ambrose frowned.

"Drop dead, darling wife." He sounded cool as ever as he sipped his wine, his appetite had long fled.

"Eat shït, darling."

"Rot off, sweatheart."

"Fall on your dagger, honey."

"Shoot yourself, love."

There was silence. Reyna squinted at Mr. Ambrose, her left eye narrowing.

"Shut your mouth, handsome."

"Make me, beautiful."

"Is that so, Casanova?"

"Want to bet, princess?"

They stared at each other, every second passing like a flint being struck, so close to setting something ablaze. They couldn't look away from each other, and neither could the entire village stop watching them like a tennis match. Mr. Ambrose wondered how many more moments before she gut him like a pig, yet he didn't run away.

"Oh just kiss and be done with it! We have to eat!" Askandar dropped his head into his hands. Groot Moeter smacked the back of this head with her staff. The old woman had fire in her eyes.

"Reyna!" She barked like a commander of an army, "Don't you dare move! We have to talk! And take that man away to the dungeons! Let him rot!"

Reyna groaned and rolled her eyes, "Not again!"

"Every time!" She whined, "Every time I bring a boy to you you go off and kill him! This one is actually cute!"

Mr. Ambrose looked so offended that it was easy to perceive he wanted to 'rot forever' rather than stay with Reyna. Ah, true love.

"Do not jest with me little girl! You do not know what you play with!"

Reyna's voice dropped an octave as she narrowed her eyes at Groot Moeter.

"Trust me, I know exactly what I play with. I invited it after all." She growled.
   

 
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My fiery Ifrits,
In the upcoming chapters, you shall be introduced to a book with many paintings in it. Would you like whether I included pictures in that chapter as well? Or do feel that pictures ruin the effect?
Let me know in the comments below.

Moreover, I also regret to inform you that my vacations are drawing to an end. I will hope to write as many chapters as I can today and tomorrow, but I fear that I shall be unable to continue this story for more than eight months. I apologize in advance for any problems created. I know you all love Reyna and want to read more and more. But believe you me, I want to write more as well. I will try my utmost to balance the two lives and update once a month.

And don't worry, you have a few beautiful chapters I have already written. And maybe a Christmas and Halloween special as well ;)

Yours,
M