As the man turned to look at Astraea, he uttered in a deep, husky voice, "Hello, stranger." Astraea considered fleeing, but the same voice called out, "Don't worry. I will not harm you." She stood her ground, frozen in place. She wanted to find David, but something held her back, and her fear kept her from approaching the stranger.
"Are you crying?" Fearing she would flee, the man took slow steps toward her. "Can you tell me why you're crying?" When he was close enough to see Astraea clearly, he gently wiped a tear from her cheek. "Can you tell me your name?"
The man spoke with such elegance and power that Astraea assumed he was a high-ranking official, despite his servant's attire. "Astraea," she responded automatically, her voice dazed as if under a spell.
"Astraea," the man tested her name on his tongue. When she regained her composure, she shook her head and took a step back.
"Who are you?" Astraea demanded, her cold gaze fixed on the figure before her.
He chuckled, turning to face the log. "It doesn't matter who I am." He sat down and patted the space beside him. "Please, take a seat." Astraea glanced at the spot, then back at the hooded figure, wishing to see his expression. Hesitantly, she approached and sat down. "What matters is why you're crying. Perhaps I can assist."
Astraea sighed. "I came to the forest to spend the day with a friend." She blinked back tears threatening to spill. "But we got separated. He seemed lost in thought, and I was irritated he wouldn't tell me what it was. I looked away for just a moment, and when I turned back, he had vanished."
The man listened quietly before sharing his thoughts. "Don't assume something bad happened. He might have strayed without realizing it. Did you have a plan to meet if this occurred?"
"I should check the cabin," Astraea said, her eyes brightening. She stood up and brushed her dress elegantly. The man smiled faintly as he watched her actions. "Thank you," Astraea said, dashing away.
He locked his gaze on Astraea's receding figure, an unfamiliar smile creeping onto his lips. "Goodbye, my darling princess."
She followed the wisps as Ophelia had suggested, ignoring the nagging doubt that David would be at the cabin. The familiar path emerged. When Astraea saw the cabin, she quickened her pace and nearly tripped.
"David!" Upon noticing the familiar face in the cabin's doorway, she smiled and called out, rushing to embrace him. "What happened? Are you in pain? I was so worried!" Her words tumbled out so quickly that she could barely comprehend them.
"A princess does not ramble or hug commoners," Ophelia pointed out. Astraea stepped back, embarrassed, and apologized for her impulsive behavior.
"I was abducted," David explained. Astraea scanned him with concern. David offered a reassuring smile. "Don't worry; I'm fine. They took me away from you and drove me in circles until I lost my bearings. Then I noticed the wisps. I followed them, hoping you would too."
"Princess?" Astraea turned to Ophelia, who had called out to her. "Did you encounter anyone?" Astraea's thoughts returned to the strange man, but she shook her head.
"No, I didn't," she replied calmly, surprising herself. Ophelia nodded, though uncertainty flickered across her face.
"Your soul has changed. Depending on who you met, it could be a positive or negative change." Astraea pondered Ophelia's words, wondering who the stranger was.
"Let's go inside," David suggested. Astraea nodded, and they entered, closing the door behind them.
"The ritual will take place tomorrow at midnight," Ophelia reminded them before departing for her room.
______________________
Bright green eyes bore into the kneeling man from the throne. "Have you found my sister?" Astrophel inquired. When the guard shook his head, Astrophel seized the nearest vase and smashed it against the wall, letting out a frustrated yell.
"Do you have any idea where she is?" He glared at the guard, who flinched as Astrophel stooped down to his level. "I'm giving you one week to find her." He turned, commanding, "Bring them in!"
The doors swung open, and two guards entered, one dragging a middle-aged woman in her early thirties and a young girl no older than six. Astrophel stood and grabbed the woman's hair, pulling her close as she screamed in agony.
Astrophel drew his sword and threw the woman to the floor in front of the kneeling man. "You have one week. This woman will die if I don't see the princess within that time." As he looked at his wife in torment, the man sobbed. Astrophel motioned to a guard, who brought the child closer.
"It's alright, sweetheart. Everything is going to be fine," the man said, attempting to comfort his wife. His expression turned to horror as he saw his daughter struggle against the guard's grip.
"Leo, I'm fine," the woman reassured him, her voice trembling.
"I'll let you decide which one dies right now," Astrophel said softly, unsheathing his sword.
Leo shook his head, panic washing over him. "I can't do it, please! I'll find the princess; don't do this!" he begged. A scream pierced the air, making his eyes widen. As he turned slowly, he saw his wife's tear-stained face, her eyes dull and lifeless. "Honey?" he cried, reaching out to brush his hand across her cold cheek.
"Mama?" his daughter whimpered, struggling to reach her mother.
"Allow me to reveal a secret," Astrophel whispered darkly in the man's ear, "Your wife was pregnant." Leo's tears flowed freely as he remembered their conversation just before he left for the palace.
"I have a surprise for you, sweetheart," Sarah had said. As he stood up, a bitter laugh escaped him. He kissed her cheek before departing.
"From your reaction, can I assume you did not know?" Astrophel's voice dripped with mock sympathy. He glanced at the dead woman, then back at the child. "I wonder, who would you have chosen if you knew?"
"You're a psychopath," Leo muttered, his voice trembling. Astrophel glared and kicked him in the back of the head. Leo yelped in pain, crawling toward his daughter.
Astrophel seized Leo's dark curls, yanking him back. "Get. Me. My. Sister," he growled, throwing Leo to the ground. Astrophel walked toward the doors. "Clean up the blood, lock up the girl, and get him out of here," he commanded, and the guards yanked the doors open as he exited the throne room.
"There's blood on my sword."