The Queen || ✔

Chapter 34: True King Returns

Claudia

I couldn't believe what I had just heard no matter how many times it had replayed in my mind. Of all the things that Charles could have done, he decided to piss me off the most by complicating a situation I had just uncomplicated.

I turned away from Blade, now facing the closed doors which behind them were my family.

I couldn't let any of this happen. He had to be found. I couldn't let any of my family members get hurt, I couldn't let him get Hilary and TsiTsi back. I had my family back, but I wasn't done with Charles just yet. His punishment was meant to last him a very long time.

"Where is he?" I snapped at Blade angrily, scaring the man out of his mind. He had been with me for a very long time, he knew what I was capable of doing.

I looked at him and saw that his gaze was just as intense as mine, as though he were thinking of his next words carefully to me.

"Claudia... he is nowhere to be found..." He said in a hesitant tone, not realising how over the edge I was feeling.

"What is that supposed to mean?! Why can't you find him?!" I barked out loud, not realising how fast I had become angry.

Luckily, Blade noticed how fast and loud my reaction was as he immediately grabbed me by my arm and dragged me discreetly towards the elevators, and made sure that no-one was with us while we went up all the way towards my penthouse.

He let me go once the doors closed and I kept telling myself internally to calm down or else I would regret my next words or actions. Charles did that to me, he always seemed to find in himself to drive me crazy no matter how in control I am.

"Claudia... think clearly about what to do next. You have your children, family, Hilary, Jermaine and Mason here so now they are right under your nose, where they are the safest." He explained my situation, helping me map out my plan, "But this also puts them at the highest risk because being near you makes it their most obvious location. Now that Charles is completely under the radar and missing, he knows that you know it. He knows that you will be too scared to risk anything, so therefore he knows that you will bring them to you. Which you have already done. He knows where they are now. What now?"

I thought carefully about my next move, not leaving one stone unturned. Yet still, nothing came forth in my mind which seemed perfect enough for me to execute it. If they stayed, Charles would know exactly where they are, if I moved them, they would be away from my watchful guard therefore putting them in a more riskier position.

"He knows everything now. He knows where we all are, he knows how to get to us, he even managed to slip out of my tight grip. That is not what the usual Charles would do..." I looked at Blade in realisation of what was happening, "... do you think that maybe..."

"... the old Charles King is back?" He caught on to where my thoughts were going, "... I don't think so. I know it. And I also know that this is not good at all, this will not end well. Our lives are in danger and we have no idea how to fix it."

Once he finished speaking, the elevator doors opened and we exited, knowing that continuing this conversation in public was a very dangerous move. Now that the ruthless man who changed me was back, I wasn't going to risk anyone or anything. Not with my own life.

Once we entered my penthouse, we went into my livingroom and sat down in front of the now lit fire.

For the first time in more than two decades, I was scared. That man had returned, if he was capable of taking an innocent like the previous me and turning me into a demon, not even God knew what he would do to get Hilary and TsiTsi back.