We rode until we reached the water. The long ocean that the Nightslayers were never allowed to cross. It was were our sanctuary ended and the darkness truly began. I looked back towards the trees to see the wolves waiting for us to leave safely. We were accepted here, cared for here. Haydren was another world, new people different views. I look over to Damien, he has a new look in his face, adventurous.. but he seemed angry. Ashamed almost. Ryan was helping Lavria on the ship and Drake was setting the horses free. I looked to the horizon, the sun rising, mixing with the earth turning it's outsides orange. I never really took notice of the sun when it was dawn, I liked it better when it went away. But the Colors reminded me of His eyes. And the way they shine could melt my insides. I could tell he missed home. A lot. He told me about his parents abandoning him here, I remember him telling me his parents always treated him as if he was a disappointment compared to his sister. It almost broke him. He wants answers and so do we. For Damien. For Isla.
Something was different about the boarder. It was like it was neither part of Valtor or Haydren. A no man's land. Mist settled upon the water and the wind crisp and salty. The air was different upon the sea, ominous and scary. The waters were calm, but we were going to create a storm.
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My stomach was queasy and I held onto the pole for dear life. I didn't like it! Open Water?! No! The ship effortlessly rolled in the water. It was amazing but I couldn't look down. My hands shaking and my head hot. Drake was not anywhere near the deck. He was with Ryan inside and Lavria. They felt the same as me. Weary of the open water. Damien loves it though, you could tell he was in bliss at his freedom upon the water. I envied his bravery sometimes, he gave me courage. Damien walked up to me, noticing my expression his eyes suddenly lit up and his lips curled. A plan formulating in his head..oh god.
"Hey Karina can you tighten that rope over there?" He pointed to a rope all the way on the edge of the ship. His smile looking smug. He knew I HATED THIS. Ughhhhhhh!!!! I was surprised and disgusted which showed on my face. He turned his lips inwards to stop from laughing. But the laughter bursted through the barrier as he keeled over in laughter. I wanted to smack him but it was the first time I had seen his laugh in a long time. So what's the harm? He took my hand and pulled me out onto the deck, I clung tighter to the pole forcing myself to stay put. He pulled harder.
"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND!!??" I screamed. If I hadn't know fear before I knew it now. His smiles was devious but he chuckled.
"Come ONN!! I wanna show you something." He said winking. Even though I hated him right now. I trusted him. I let go of the pole and tiptoed closer to him, feeling every wave under the woods of the ship. Just thinking about the movement made me queasy. His hands laid upon my waist as he diverted me to the top deck and placed his hands over my eyes. I swatted them away, he chuckled and put them back there. I could feel we had reached the edge of the ship, his chest on my back and his lips to my ear. He removed his hands. "This is my home." He whispered.
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It was bright. I was overwhelmed by the strikes of light from the sun bouncing off the mere ground. The grass was lighter, the trees were skinnier with leaves of brown, not green. In the high mist revealed mountains with snow draped along the top, and in the distance the glinter of a palace rooftop. I'm guessing Damien's home. The ground were flat unlike Valtor, and the rocks of the sea were shiny, not sharp like I was used too. The whistle of the wind was different too, warmer, higher, lighter. It was beautiful, but it wasn't home. I was a stranger here, and more importantly, an enemy. Damien's eyes lit up and I could see his joy at the sight of his home. But it all became too real for me. He looked at me and his smile faded as he saw mine. His brow furrowed and he placed his hand on top mine and pulled me back. "What's wrong Karina?" He whispered placing a strand of my hair behind my ear. He searched my eyes for an answer, concern dripping from his expression.
"Damien, when I thought I lost you..it broke me. I became weak. I became cold, like you took all the warmth from me with your death. The things I did to Kion.. I will never forgive myself for. Damien I can't loose you, you make me better. If I lose you. I'm not sure if I'll be able to hold the darkness in me together.." he wipes my tear with his thumb and sits me on the deck putting his arms around me.
"I'm so sorry...I'm so sorry I let you go. I should've fought harder. Hearing you scream my name like that.. and me not being able to rush to your side, cut deeper than the wound. Watching you in pain hurts more than experiencing a thousand deaths. Not again, never again. I will ALWAYS be here with you, if not HERE..I'm always here" he points to my heart. He pulls me in for a deep kiss as our lips meet, he slips an 'I love you.' He pulls away, slightly nudging me with his nose. "You don't have to be afraid Karina, because here, I know who I'm dealing with. And they don't want to deal with me."
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"We are nearing land, what the plan Damien?" Drake says.
"We need to be close to them. We both want answers. Being close to them is the best way to get them. We will stay at the palace, my sister will vouch for us. You guys may be detained for a while but I'll sort that out." Damien grunts he is nervous but angry.
"You're sure your sister will vouch for us?" Drake says a little uneasy.
"She is my half sister on my fathers side. My father, before he married my mother, got a woman pregnant. They weren't married and during her Pregnancy my mother also got pregnant with me. We were born 2 months apart. Her mother died in childbirth. She was illegitimately born but my father didn't care. I don't care. She is my best friend. But my mother..hates her. Made her life a living hell growing up. We became closer through the torture. We have been through hell together. So yes, she will vouch for us with my father." Damien says. Drake nods. Ryan stands up and walks over to our circle.
"So we get to the palace..Then What? It's not like we're here to visit! Their not gonna let us stay there without a real reason. So whats our reason?" Ryan says hands on hips. I feel Damien take my hand and bring it to his lips. He smiles as he has an idea.
"Well..Me and Karina could get married." He chuckled. I froze, Ryan froze, Drake froze and Lavria squealed. Uhh did he just propose?!
"Uhhhh" I looked at Ryan for support but he was no help. I couldn't tell if he was happy or annoyed.
"You sly man." Drake chuckled patting Damien on the shoulder. I was gonna rip out his tongue.
"Karina think about it, the reason they came along is Ryan is your brother he needs to be there. Drake is your best friend since childhood and Lavria is your ladies maid. They wouldn't be suspicious. They'll be too busy planning the wedding-"
"All Nightslayer weddings have to have a crystal from the Tree Iqra. It goes in the rings for power and prosperity. It's part of Nightslayers tradition you can't get married unless you have those." Ryan says. Lavria coughs loudly and pulls out her bag. She pulls out two massive dark red crystals in her hand. Ryan looks baffled and so does Drake.
"Now please explain those." Drake says. Lavria looks soo guilty her cheeks turn purple. "Well I (cough) took them. Remember that cabin I said I had near the Tree Iqra?" Me and Damien nod. "Well I have a few Crystals in there and I keep a few with me for luck. You can have them if needed I have loads." The air suddenly gets caught in her throat as she looks down realising what she said. Ryan shakes his head and Drake is impressed. Damien takes one of the crystals and takes my hand placing the crystal into my palm. "Princess Karina Darvos, of Valtor..will you be my wife?" He says gleaming at how cheesy this is. I can't contain joy and I kiss him. Ryan and Drake both grunt in disgust and I whisper "yes."
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The ship pulled into Port and we all suited up. It was still funny watching Damien in black clothes. But I'm starting to like it. I grab my swords and place them on my back with two daggers in my boot. There are people at the port, guards too. They have realised its a Nightslayers ship. They are multiplying by the second. Me and drake lock eyes, it was exciting, we hadn't trained in days so we could use the fight as a practice. Damien noticed our sudden joy and shook his head. We had to infiltrate the palace. Keep your enemies close is right, but Damien wanted us right under their nose.
"I'll go first." He says. He takes his sword and comes walks into the light. Ryan and Drake watch from the window but I can't. I walk by his side. I take out my sword and grip it hard. The sun suddenly in my eye was blinding for a moment, but when I came too I saw nearly 40 guards surrounding the ship with people onlooking, whispering and pointing. An arrow suddenly came flying at Damien's head, I used the forces to turn it into ash before it reached him. The air filled with gasps and fear at the lack of effort I put in for such power. I am Rovara afterall.
"You-you are-under-der arrest!" One of the guards fearfully shouts at me. I raise my eyebrow at Damien and he can see I'm not impressed. He smiles and licks his lips. "Identify yourselves in the name of the king!" He shouts. Damien nudges me to speak taking amusement out of their fear. He wanted to see the look on their faces when they realize who I am.
"Princess Karina Darvos...of Valtor." The 40 guards simultaneously moved back and I laughed as i could hear Drake and Ryan laughing. It's funny that they still think we are some kind of monsters that need to be locked in cages. I can see they were shaking, and I rolled my eyes. Damien was still chuckling. "Alright stand down!" He masculinely commanded.
"Who the fuck are you?!" One of the guards shouts.
"Prince Damien Lucent, of Haydren." The gasps intensified and the guards all dropped to one knee and so did the onlookers.
"I'm so sorry my lord, I didn't recognize you in those clothes. We were under the impression you were dead when you didn't return off the ship. The king wanted to wage war to avenge you." The guards frantically explains. I place my hand in Damien's shoulder as I saw he tensed as his muscles squared.
"Who told you of my death?" He said pissed.
"The king My lord, your father." The guard says. Damien's jaw tightened and he took my hand leading me down the stairs to the land. Ryan, Drake and Lavria follow us down.
"My lord" the guard said standing infront of us. "Are they your prisoners my lord?" He asks.
"No, this is my Fiancée, Princess Karina Darvos which one of your men tried to kill." The guard looks down unable to meet my eye. "That Over there is King Ryan Darvos who is the King of Valtor, Lord Drake Salvadore of the CREE and Lavria Lyndon are friends of mine. Any more questions?" The guard is still weary of me but he swallows dryly and shakes his head. He fears Damien. Damien is definitely pissed as he squeezes my hand.
"I think it's time to get some answers Karina." He says to me. And looks back over to the horses. He pushes through all the guards putting his arm on my back, Ryan, drake and Lavria close behind. Damien lifts me effortlessly and puts me on the back of the horse, then lifts himself up clutching the reigns. Drake jumps onto another horse and Ryan and Lavria share one.
"Stay close and follow me!" Damien shouts to the others. And off we go towards the beacon of light. Damien's home.