knights

Chapter Five: Two Nations Apart (Part Two)

Two Nations Apart (Part Two)

Leanah and the others stood patiently waiting for Kyle’s and I return, and once we were together again the cloaked man silently moved over toward a small reddish symbol on a far wall; waving his hand once across it before moving to the side. My chest tightened as the steel doors leading into the conference hall opened before us; revealing nothing more but dim light and darkness beyond.

This was it. Whether or not I leave here alive or broken lies waiting for me in the room beyond these doors.  If the Queen knew of the events that haunt my past, would she have still sent me back here? Back to the belly of the beast? A part of me thinks not. There would be no way she would even send her only daughter to this place given she knew what truly takes place here, let alone send me back. In that, I was almost certain.

“The Emperor will be with you shortly, please sit while I send word of your arrival.” The cloaked man spoke quietly; his voice inhuman, almost like that of a ghost.

Leading us into the great conference hall where a giant oak table sat surrounded by matching chairs, the cloaked man suddenly slipped into the shadows as quickly as he emerged from them earlier ago. I seemed to have been the only one who noticed as the others nervously took a chair.

“Would you like to take a seat Sir. Daren?” Welferd moved a chair out from next to him and motioned me to sit, but I only shook my head at him.

“I rather stand, if that‘ll be alright?” This was the last place I wanted to sit and try to get comfortable at, and knowing the danger we were in only heightened my sense of wanting to stay on alert. Though I wasn’t the only one who smelled the thickness of death in the air, for I could see Merlie too was on guard as she inched a hand slowly near her claw-shaped weapon; two gauntlets with five razor sharp blades that protruded from between the fingers.

“As you wish.” Welferd answered with a nod of understanding. He turned his attention toward Leanah by placing his hands on top of hers. Out of all of us, Leanah seemed to be the most calm.

“Ah! It brings such fresh air to see new faces amongst this damp, dark Palace! Sorry to have kept you waiting my Princess Leanah.”

I bit down on my lower lip with such force that I’m sure it bleed. The man that I despised with every inch of my being approached from the head of the conference table; his dark soullessly eyes locking onto mine only briefly before moving his gaze to Leanah.

“Emperor Malvir, it’s a pleasure to meet your acquaintance.” Leanah stood to her feet, raising a hand toward Malvir as he approached her.

I wanted to get sick. My stomach turned in directions I never thought possible, and as I watched my old master take her hand gently into his; creasing it softly before lifting it to his mouth in a gentleman’s kiss.. All I wanted to do in that moment was take my blade and cut it off! The desire and urge so strong that I had to turn my head away.

“On the contrary my dear, the pleasure is all mine. You are definitely your mother’s daughter, a splitting image of her beauty.”

“T-Thank you Emperor Malvir.”

“Please, sit back down my Princess. I’m sure you’re weary from the long travel here. Forgive me for not having a welcoming party for your arrival. It’s been, an exhausting few months for my people, as well as for myself. I hope you’ll understand?”

“It would’ve been more than what we deserve my Emperor. Thank you for your kind thought none the less.”

Even though my head was turned away, I could feel my former master’s cold, death stare. He needed not even have to look at me directly for me to feel his dark presence; his mind attempting to enter mine like a deadly plague; and even though at this point in time, at this very moment, I couldn’t stop myself from thinking about the one I held most dear. The one I once looked up to and so loved the most; my brother. Was he here now? Watching me from some dark corner? No. If he were I would’ve felt his presence; he wasn’t here, and for some reason, it saddened me.