"Most gods throw dice, but fate plays chess, and you don't find out until its too late that he's been playing with two queens all along." - Terry Pratchett
Addeline, a feisty and free-spirited peasant lives in a complicated world. A world where vamp...
I watched Hadrian flirt and banter with Addeline the entire carriage ride. I wanted to jump over and strangle the man but of course, I couldn't. Addeline was blushing and just eating it all up. I don't know if she was doing this piss me off or if she genuinely liked the attention. Either way, it infuriated me. But a part of me knew that he would be just the kind of man she needed. He had power since he was the King to be. He treats her with respect, and I'm sure he doesn't have any problems in his kingdom like I had in mine.
She would be safe with him. Perhaps it isn't about what I want and more so about what would keep her safe. Who was I kidding? Telling her how I feel. Daine would never stop his relentless agenda to ruin my life. In doing so, he would find some way to hurt her and that I could not risk. We finally neared King Alexander's castle, and I sighed in relief since I don't have to see them flirt any longer. The door was opened, and the king and I stepped out first. The Hadrian stepped out with Addeline on his arm.
"Ah, home sweet home." Alexander proclaimed,
"Perhaps a home for someone else, soon enough," he whispered to me with a nudge. Yeah, whatever I grumble. We all strolled towards the castle, and my mind is practically yelling at me to look at Addeline. Why put me through more torture?
But I turned around anyway. Addeline was looking directly at me with a cute smile on her face. Hadrian was looking away as he spoke to her, so I got to look at her. I looked away from her. If I was going to let her go, the least I can do is spare myself the extra pain. When we stepped into the foyer, King Alexander spoke,
"King Damien, why don't we leave these two alone and go have that dinner I promise." I begrudgingly walked off with the King.
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I watched as they both walked away towards the dining hall. Damien looked a bit pained, and I wonder if I'm taking this flirting a little too far. I only wanted to ruffle his feathers, not hurt him. Hadrian leads me in the opposite direction towards another room that I am unfamiliar with. Their halls are filled with tapestries and framed weapons. But as we walk a little further down the hall, I could finally see the majority of the artwork. I stopped when we approached one that looked oddly familiar. Hadrian stayed with me,
"Ah, I see you have an eye for art." he smiles.
"Yeah, this piece is...something," I reply as I look it over. The painting depicted some type of war battle. It had the sky painted red, tiny black figured people running and screaming, village homes being burned and scorched with bright fire and a man standing vigilantly on top of a hill overlooking all the chaos with a sword in his hand and shiny white fangs in his mouth. Behind him were tons of other similar men with the same white fangs. The hell was this.
Hadrian stepped forward gleaming with pride, "My father is quite fond of this piece. It was a painting of the Hundred years war. Beauty isn't it." The hundred years war? This guy seriously had the nerve to announce that war proudly in front of a human.
