Peace In Desperation's Hour

Chapter 10

I couldn't believe it. Aaron...the boy who saved my life, is actually a Hakaite. But not just any Hakai, but a prince of the very nation. I just stood where I was with my eyes widened, and no words able to escape my lips. How could he not tell me something this important?

As I looked at him and Shade, Aaron's eyes were filled with despair and fury. From where I stood, it looked like he was ready to kill Shade on the spot. Shade was just smiling with pleasure. "What's the matter, little brother?" He asked mockingly. "Too emotional to know what you should do? I'm surprised you didn't tell your pitiful little band, especially your little girlfriend over there."

"Shut up!" He shouted.

"What? Did I strike a nerve?" He questioned sarcastically. "There's nothing you can do. If you were to fight me now, you and I both know that I would win."

Aaron didn't speak after that, he looked down in shame and his teeth were clenched. I've never seen him like this. I looked at my rapier. The blade glistened in the sun and I didn't want to stand around and do nothing. I tighten my loosened grip on the handle and looked at Shade. "Then I challenge you!" I declared, raising my sword up.

A few gasps were heard, but I didn't look at anybody except Shade. Shade looked at me, and was a little surprised for a second. Then he went back to having that smug look on his face. "You honestly think you can challenge me to a fight?" he asked, with a smile on his face.

"I'll have you know that I'm skilled with this sword. I may not be as strong as the boys, but I can still fight, in case you weren't watching earlier." I explain.

"It's true, she did take out most of the army with that rapier." I heard Sage speak.

There was suddenly a commotion with everybody who saw me fighting turned into a gossip, yet my focus was still on Shade. Shade looked irritated and then yelled out. "Silence!" The noise was suddenly stilled and everybody looked at the two of us. "Alright. You can have your match with me. However, let's turn this into a deal."

"What's the deal?" I asked.

"If you win, I will let you and your group go, and you won't be bothered by the army again." He stated. I knew he was lying about it, but I pretended like I cared.

"And what happens if you are the victor?" I asked.

It took Shade a second, before his creepy smile came back. "If I win, I have to take your group and lock them up for good."

Before I could say the next word, I was cut off. "Jewel! Don't do it!" Aaron spoke.

I looked over at Aaron; his eyes were dead serious. "You can't trust him! Shade is the best swordsman in the Hakai Empire Even if you do win this match, you won't win. He finds a way to make everything perfect according to him!"

"If you think I don't already know that right now, you don't know me. I can read him, so I know what kind of person he is." I said. "I'm still gonna fight him." I looked at him. "No harm comes to any of my friends. I accept your deal!"

"You foolish girl." Shade said, taking his robe off and handing it to one of his soldiers. He snapped his fingers and the soldiers then took my team and held him back. "Be extra careful with the princess boys. Remember, she's still royalty." Shade instructed.

"Yes your majesty." They responded.

Shade then took a blade from a fallen soldier and stood in a fighting position. Knowing him, he won't move until I attack first. But I've never fought him before, so I don't know his fighting style. I studied him closely, and I figured if I can get him in the back, I will be able to strike him. He doesn't have any defense there, so it should be my only option.

I quickly ran towards him and allowed him to block my attack, causing me to jump back. He then came towards me at speed that was much more than my own. I quickly jumped to the side and swung my blade at him, only for it to meet the metal of his blade. Our blades clashed for a while, and I jumped back to catch a breath, but he came running and struck my rapier again. I blocked it and used all of my strength to keep him from pushing me down. "You're a pretty skilled yourself. Did that idiot of my little brother teach you? If he did, he must've missed a few pointers." He mocked.

That got my blood boiling. "Shut up!" I yelled at him, pushing him off of me, and having fire in my eyes. I quickly jumped around Shade and was ready to swing at his back, when he moved and turned around. Then before I could block him, he swung his sword and sliced right through my rapier's blade, breaking it. The force of it caused me to fly back and let go of my sword.

I lost. Now my team was definitely going to suffer the penalty for my foolishness. I looked at my broken rapier with widened eyes. How could he have broken it? I sank to my knees and placed my hands on the dry grass. I was scared. My actions caused my friends fate. "You were a challenge, but that puny blade wasn't any good." I heard Shade say. "Now, you must keep your end of the deal, my pretty."

I could hear him walking closer to me. I wanted to move, but I couldn't. What was holding me back? "Take all of them to the dungeons, including the princess." I heard Shade instruct him army.

"Yes your highness." They said.

"My lord, what about the girl?" I heard the commander ask.

"Leave her to me. I have something else in mind for her." I heard the evil in Shade's voice say.

"No! Jewel, run! Get out of here!" I heard Aaron yell at me. As much as I wanted to, I couldn't leave and leave my friends to suffer my penalty. Besides, this unknown feeling was still forbidding me to move.

"She won't be going anywhere." Shade said, grabbing my upper arm and raising me to my feet. He then grabbed my chin and forced me to look into his green eyes. "You see little brother. I've noticed this kingdom isn't properly accessorized, and I've finally have the final piece in my grasp. You see, I'm taking your little girlfriend and she is going to be my queen."

I gasped, and pulled away from him. "No!" I shouted at him. "I'll never be yours! Not even your queen! I'd rather rot in a dungeon cell for the rest of my life."

Shade didn't seem moved. "I'm still surprised that you don't really understand this, my dear." He spoke, walking towards me. He then grabbed my hands and held it behind my back. "You don't have a choice, unless you prefer that I kill every single one of your teammates right now in front of your precious aqua eyes. I think I should start with that green haired girl."

"You wouldn't dare!" I told him.

"Oh but I will. Unless you do just as I say." He said. "It's your choice. Be my queen and your friends live. Refuse this, and all of them die and you will be left alone in a cell."

I was in another stuck situation. I couldn't let my friends die. I already lost my parents, and my friends became my new family for the past few months. But, I can't become Shade's queen. My heart already belongs to Aaron, despite that he kept his secret about him being a prince. I looked over at everybody, and they were shaking their heads at me, telling me not to accept being queen.

I can't lose my family. Not again. I looked at Aaron, and his grey eyes were filled with sadness and it looked like his heart about to break. "I'm sorry everybody. But I can't lose my family to death again..."

"No, Jewel!" I heard Lora yell out.

I relaxed my stiffened body in defeat again. Aaron...I hope you understand that you still have my heart... "Emperor Shade, I'll be your queen."