The Dark Hunters

Chapter 32

Odeya POV

Braden and I look around. Our eyes fall on a huge, tan mansion. No doubt the Duke's place.

Braden and I walk towards it, and when we reach the doors (After climbing about forty steps!) Braden pulls the rope hanging from the tall ceiling.

We hear a huge, gong-like sound echo through the house. A couple moments later, the door opens, and a man in about his mid-twenties, with jet black hair, a slight mustache, and warm brown eyes, opens the door.

He comes right out and claps Braden on the back.

This must be Erik.

"Wow." Erik says. "You had me worried there." He turns to me. "You must be the famous Odeya." He kisses my hand, I flinch, but he doesn't notice. Instead, Erik quickly ushers us inside, shutting the great doors behind us.

Braden grabs my hand as Erik leads us down a gorgeously lit hallway. Life-size paintings of gardens, flowers, mountains, pastures, basically any kind of scenery you can think of.

I look around in awe.

Braden squeezes my hand. "I know right?" He murmurs. I nod absentmindedly. Something catches my eye.

I let go go of Braden's hand and walk to a painting. I stand on my tiptoes, tracing the brush strokes with my fingertips.

"Ah." Erik says, noticing I've stopped. "Pink Spring Hill. A beautiful place, really." He pauses, waiting for me to say something. Realizing I'm too immersed in the painting, he says. "Have you ever been there?"

I trace my fingers up the tree trunks, through the rolling hills, and over the pink petals that fall from the trees. I turn to Erik. "It's my favorite place in the world."

Then I rejoin Braden's hand with mine.
Erik takes the hint and starts leading us again.

Soon, we come upon a big brown door. Erik stops right outside it, and knocks.
"Whaddaya want?" A gruff voice asks from inside.

"Kasel? It's Erik. Your two o'clock is here."

There's a pause.

"Of course, of course." Kasel booms. "Let them in!"

Erik gives us a half smile. "Good luck! Just remember, you've got me on your side." He winks at me, opens the door, and Braden and I walk into Kasel's chambers.

Kasel is a very built person. Broad shoulders, buzz cut brown hair, hard abs, and long wide legs. Muscles are quite visible through his clothing.

Looks just like a military sergeant.

I see Braden's face harden as he catches me staring.

My face turns a little pink and I hold back giggles.

Kasel stands about ten inches taller than I.

"You must be Braden." He says, shaking his hand. "And you, Odeya." I nod. "I pick up that you need my help. Convince me." He sits down in a chair and gestures for us to sit as well.

I get straight to the point by saying, "Do you trust Kernai?"

Kasel looks at me for a moment, then starts snorting with laughter. "Of course not!" He says between snorts. "She's powerful, and even though I'm only a Duke of a small town, I don't trust her for a second. I know what she's done."

Titan's words run through my mind.
We are not the only ones who see through her lies.

This is what he meant. I know now, Kasel will help us.

"I believe you are a fair ruler." I say slowly. "Though you are only a Duke."

He's about to interrupt, but I hold my hand up. "Please. Let me finish."

He doesn't say anything, so I continue.

"We want to rid the dimension of Kerani. We want to throw her out of the palace. She doesn't belong there. We know of her lies, and what she has done. We need to end this." I pause for effect. "But. We can't do it alone. It's just Braden and I against Kerani and her army. We need your help. We need you to distract Kerani's army, while
Braden and I find Kerani, and end this. Then, you are welcome to take her throne."

Braden and I look at him hopefully.

"Strong words for a small, little girl." He says. I clench my fists, but Braden puts his hand over mine, shaking his head, silently mouthing, Not worth it. I relax a little bit, and Kasel smiles. "But I do like your offer for the throne."

Kasel rubs the stubble on his chin, deep in thought. After about five minutes of awkward silence Kasel finally says, "You've got yourself a deal. I get you in, and I get the throne. We leave tomorrow at sunrise. Erik is waiting for you outside the door, and he will show two to your room." He dismisses us with a wave of his hand.

Braden and I both jump up and leave.

Both super happy and ready for this to end.

Once we shut Kasel's door behind us, Braden and I both let out triumphant yells and embrace.

"So I take it, it went well?" Erik surprises us both.

"Yes!" Braden pumps his fist in the air.

"I didn't expect it to be that easy." I comment. "I mean, with me trying to commit suicide and all." I look at the guys who seem to have suddenly turned bashful.

"What?" I say warily. "What aren't you telling me?"

"Well, love." Braden says. "Kasel doesn't exactly know about......"

"We thought it would get you a better chance of winning him over if he didn't know." Erik jumps in.

"Oh. Ok. That's alright." I say, a little disappointed they didn't tell me.

Braden senses my disappointment, so he wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me to his side. "But we did it, didn't we?" He says.

"Yes." I say confidently. "We did it."
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Erik leads us to a nice suite, in the Main House, and a servant picks up our stuff from the Healing Wing, and brings it to our room.

I instantly take a nice long shower, and change into some pjs.

I crawl into the big canopy bed. Soon after, Braden joins me.

We lay on our backs, facing the ceiling.

"Are you ready to get peace?" Braden suddenly asks me.

I turn my head to face him. "That's one way of putting it." I say. "But no. I probably will never be prepared to do something like this. But I will do what's right." I say honestly.

Braden leans over and brushes the hair from my face. "I know you will." He says softly. "Now get some sleep." Then he rolls onto his side and closes his eyes.

I kiss his cheek and snuggle up next to him.