Half a heart, half a crown

T H I R T Y E I G H T

Her wicked heart was something that she did not change in the past few years. I watched as her expressive blue eyes sent daggers towards my soul as she continued on staring—more like glaring at me. She faked her identity just to become the queen. I wondered does anything happen to her during the years I was away or did King Devilon never talk about it to her.

I mastered the fakest smile I could possible can. "It's been a long time, Queen Alizarin Baer Arisen."

I watched as her face flinched slightly as I addressed her by her full name, probably never used to being called like that.

"You—" she walked towards me, "Don't tell me—"

I took a step towards her startling her with my sudden movement. "Yes, King Devilon brought me here and I am incredibly happy to accompany you for the next—who knows when—it might be forever."

"You—"

Immediately, I caught her hand before she could hit me and I held it there as tightly as I can. I could see the pain grimaced on her face as I squeezed her hand even tighter with the strong force I had. She tried so hard to move away from me but it did not do her any good since the more she moved, the more harm it caused her.

Satisfied with her struggle, I smiled sarcastically, "I did not expect that from you for our first meeting after a long time since I thought you missed me so much."

I loosened my grip as I heard footsteps walking towards the both of us. I watched as she rubbed the pain on her wrist while glaring at me so hard I thought her eyes would come out.

"You are so evil— that heart of yours is probably frozen." Another cold smile formed on my lips.

And you are not evil?

"Mother."

The source of the voice did not fail to make me nervous. The butterflies in my stomach woke up again.

"Son." I watched as she did an elegant curtsy towards King Devilon and plastered the fakest smile I had ever seen.

You are not his biological mother.

You tortured his biological mother.

This is the first time I had witnessed him staring at her knowing so well she is not his biological mother. I expected to see disgust and hatred in his eyes but there were none. He looked at her just like how he used to looked at her: respect. I could not understand. It was so clear that he did not addressed her the truth. He had not spoken to her about it. I wondered why?

"I personally baked these pies for you." She picked up the pie, "I hope you like them."

I watched as she cut the pie into even pieces and feed him just like how a mother would do. His silver orbs brightened slightly as he tasted the pie. I tried so hard to fight the bitter feelings within me. He should not do this; he should not think of her as his own mother.

I slowly moved away leaving the two of them alone. I could not understand. There were many confusions in my mind as I made my way towards the secret entrance. The place where his biological mother got killed. Deeper and deeper into the dark entrance, I had realized that the place was still the same: same stain of blood indicating that the there were no new tortures in here. Had King Devilon really changed?

I grabbed out the heart pendant that was surprisingly still in my pocket. My fingers traced over the stain of blood on the pendant.

I don't think he would avenge for you. I don't think he believe my words at all.

"So, you are here..."

The dark tempting voice made my breath hitched in my throat again. He slowly wrapped his arms around my waist pulling me so close to him.

"Why?" My voice became so quiet all of a sudden and I hated it.

He was silent. He knew what I am talking about.

"Why?" He turned me around, staring at me, "why are you like this? She's my mother—"

"She's not your biological mother!" I snapped at him cutting him off quite sudden.

I watched as his eyes darkened and his gripped on my forearms tightened, "How dare you—"

Before he could finish, I cut him off again, showing him, telling him that he is not in his right mind. I knew he has a soft sensitive spot for his mother, but why can't he has it for his biological mother?

"King Devilon, this—this woman over there," I pointed towards the pathway, "that woman over there—she's faking her identity just to have her throne and position in the palace. She took you away from your biological mother just so she could satisfy her own goods. She wanted to be the queen and in order to succeed that, she needs to have a son. She took you. She took you away from the woman who love you so much. And you—you let her."

I did not know that I was screaming, only to realized that my throat hurts after talking. My voice echoed throughout the whole place.

But his eyes—oh god his eyes—they were glaring through me with so much hate. The same old look that I had seen years ago. The devil that I once called a monster. His silver-blue eyes turned completely silver, that was when I knew, he had snapped.

Abruptly, he pushed me against the wall, hurting me during the process but I never flinch over it. Although it hurts, I covered it up with an emotionless face because I don't want him to have the satisfaction knowing that he had affected him, physically and mentally. His grip tightened on my chin bringing my face towards him until I looked at him straight in the eyes.

"You—did not change, Magnificent Dillionio." He stared through me, "not even a single bit."

My heart was beating so fast but this time, it was out of terror.

"You are still selfish and evil." He spat.

Our faces were so close that I could feel his uneven breathing. My heart slammed so hard out of anger. He don't deserve to call me that.

"How about you?" I smiled sarcastically, "you let the false conquer you because the truth could not provide you power and authority."

I knew I had reached his limit. I started to feel so small under him. I did not notice that I was shaking. He had the power over me. He knew that.

Shakily, I pulled out the sword from his scabbard while he was oblivious and pointed it straight at him.

This is the first time I had held a sword after years. My balance was not great but it was enough to make me feel like the old Magnificent again.

He was surprised, not at the sword on my hand, but at the sudden movement of mine.

I took a step forward.

He stayed in his position.

I took another.

He still stayed.

"Does it have to take your skin to bleed in order for you to realize that—the woman that this heart pendant belonged to is the woman who you should call 'Mother' ?"