The dramatic yet intimidating sound of the heel of the shoe clicking the floor reached my ear as the person walked towards us probably.
"Mr. Commander Walter" A familiar cold voice which sent chills along my spine said, my stomach started tying knots as I felt really nervous. I felt dad standing up from beside me, letting the cold air envelope me.
"Prince Amadeus" dad said in a respective way.
"Didn't expect you to be here"
"I'm here....with my daughter" dad said the last part as if he was helpless.
"Daughter? I didn't know that you had children"
Dad remained silent,
"How many children do you have?"
"Only one daughter, Sire"
"Where is she?"
I suddenly felt self-conscious as I felt two stares on my back.
"She is your daughter?"
I licked my dry lips,
"Yes Prince, Cordelia, please stand up" dad said.
I took a deep breath and stood up, my stare remained on the ground as I stood beside dad. I felt the burning stare on me making me scared and nervous.
"Is she really your daughter?"
I scoffed internally, 'is she really your daughter' I mimed him. Dad inhaled a sharp breath, oh dear! They can hear me! I'm such a fool! I mentally scolded myself.
"That..You are" Prince said
I clenched my jaw and licked my dry lips.
"Wouldn't you invite me on dinner,
Mr. Commander Walter?"
Ser--don't think anything Cora!
"With all due respect sire, you are welcome in my house at any hour, please do join us at the dinner" dad spoke with utter respect.
"Miss Walter? Anything you want to..think perhaps?"
The people surrounding us chuckled, I sneered at them, Stupid souls. That made the Prince laugh, which was intimidating yet it oddly tickled my stomach.
"I'll be on my way to your house,
Mr. Commander Walter"
"We will meet you there" dad said
"You, will meet me there, Miss Walter will accompany me to the house"
"No" I said instantly as I involuntarily looked up at his gorgeous face and was totally intimidated by him. His razor sharp icy cold stare could literally shred me to pieces, I took a step behind dad, where I sort of felt safe.
Dad bowed and said
"I'm sorry, Prince, she's---"
"Did I ever ask your permission
Mr. Commander Walter?" the Prince asked in a sort of angry tone, I bit my upper lip.
"N-no, Prince" dad said defeatedly
My heart started thumping in my chest like crazy, no..no no no no! Please someone save me! I don't wanna go with him, my breath came labored as tears pooled in my eyes, I don't wanna go! I can't leave my dad's side.
"How about you come with us, Prince?" dad asked, I moved behind dad so that he was totally covering my petite frame, I sighed a relief and wiped the tears which escaped my eyes.
"You think that I'd leave my Royal Carriage and sit in your car?"
I clenched my jaw, I wanted to scream at him! How can he even say that?!
"That's because I'm a Prince, Miss Walter. And I do, say and get anything and anybody I want"
"Then do whatever you want, if you wanna come then come alone in that royal carriage of yours, or don't come"
Several gasps echoed around me, what can I do?! My blood was boiling in my veins! I was angry at him for disrespecting my dad! I don't care if he's a Prince with a lot of superpowers! He dared to disrespect my DAD!
"Stop screaming, Cora" dad said in a low tone as he look at me from his shoulder.
I licked my dry lips and bent my head so that my forehead was touching dad's back.
"I don't wanna go" I said, my voice barely audible. I don't fear strangers, but there is something about him which scares the crap out of me, it's the bad and dangerous vibes he radiates, his demeanor is so cold that he could kill anyone just by staring at them. He is handsome, very handsome, perhaps the most handsome guy existing, but he's lethal, I could feel it. And I had no plans on getting killed so soon, I mean, I'm just 20! I have a lot of things to do, a lot of things to achieve.
"If that's what she wants then, take her with you. I will meet both of you at your house" Prince Amadeus said.
I looked up, totally shocked, my dad looked at the Prince as if he had demanded dad to give him both of his kidneys, his eyes were wide as if they would pop out any second.
"T-thank you Prince, thank you very much" dad said and bowed.
"Very well" Prince said and walked away without taking a single glance at me. A guard opened the door of carriage for him as he got in it, the guard closed the door and sat beside coachman. And soon the carriage rode away from our sights, the people around us stood up and started walking back to where they were, not before giving me weird looks. I rolled my eyes at them, dad caught my wrist, I frowned as his hands were cold. He pulled me towards the car and opened the door for me , I looked at him...he looked scared. No..No, can't be, dad isn't scared of anything. I sat in and so did he,
"Dad? What happened?" I asked as I looked at his tensed face.
He licked his lips and gulped, his eyes refused to meet mine as he turned towards me.
"There's..there's this..ritual, Cora.." Dad trailed off.
"What is this ritual? Why is everyone so scared of it? And how does it concern me?" I asked, I was totally confused, I know that Prince Amadeus scares the crap out of everyone, but what ritual does he do? Sacrificing of black souls? I gulped at the thought as I got scared. I was brought out of the train of my thoughts as dad held both of my hands in his cold one's. I looked at him, he never looked so tensed, his eyes held sadness, so much that I was nervous of what I had to bear.
"I promise Princess, that I'll do everything to protect you from it" he said and kissed at the back of my hands. I nodded, unsure that what was he talking about, but I trust him with my life. I took a deep breath to calm my senses, dad gave me a reassuring smile and left my hands, I buckled my seatbelt as he started the car. The drive to home was silent,
"He isn't here yet?" I asked
"He has to take a long route around the city, so he'll be late" dad said
"Oh!" I said still unable to understand a single thing. We walked in, Avery was nowhere to be found, so I assumed that she would be at her parent's place, she's been going there a lot. I walked into my room, it was 10 pm and I was sleepy, so I decided to take a hot bath and sleep. I walked into the bathroom and took a skin burning shower and walked into my closet. I chose a black hoodie and leggings. My phone stared ringing so I received it without looking at the ID
"Hello?" I asked
"I'm in the homeland, come fast at the airport!"
"Andrew?!" I asked totally shocked