Vanessa hurriedly unlocked the door and rushed out to see Ciara squatting and shivering with her eyes tightly closed.
"Ciara! Are you okay?" Vanessa asked as she hurriedly approach her.
Vanessa patted her shoulder softly but she didn't open her eyes. Before Vanessa could try anything else, she heard several footsteps approaching.
Almost all the people present in the entire house, rushed in the direction of the scream, only to spot Ciara in the same state Vanessa found her.
"What happened?" Cindy asked Vanessa who stood in front of Ciara.
"I don't know. I found her in this state after I heard her scream." Vanessa replied truthfully.
"Something is definitely wrong" Arnold said, as he squatted closer to Ciara to observe her.
"Ciara, open your eyes" Arnold said softly but yielded no response from Ciara.
"She seems to be unconscious of her immediate surroundings" Arnold said
"Tell your men not to leave their post" Theodore said looking at Raymond, and stood in front of Ciara.
"Is it an attack from the powerhouse?" Edith asked curiously but no one replied because no one knew.
"I want to check something. May I?" Theodore asked as he looked at Arnold.
"Sure" Arnold said and moved slightly away from Ciara, making way for Theodore.
Theodore squatted in front of Ciara, touched the left side of her head and said,sounding more like a command yet softly;
"Ciara, open your eyes"
Ciara slowly opened her eyes, as a pool of tears streamed down her eyes.
"Blood! Blood! Everywhere. They killed her! They murdered her!" Ciara said, audible enough for all of them to hear.
"I know" Theodore said as he helped her stand up.
"Theodore, I am afraid" Ciara said as she tried to scan her surroundings.
"You don't have to be. We're all here for you" Theodore said trying to calm her down.
Ciara who was still shivering, nodded slightly.
"She'll be fine. She needs some rest" Theodore said as he looked at the people before him who looked like they couldn't fathom what was happening. Theodore turned to Arnold and said;
"Keep her safe" and Arnold only nodded.
As if on cue, Ciara hurriedly rushed to Arnold who in turn, hugged her tightly. It was obvious to the people around them at the moment that, there was a spark between them.
Vanessa and Cindy remained with Ciara and Arnold after all the others left. They were all still trying to process what happened but it only yielded more unanswered questions except Theodore. He now knew why the powerhouse alerted him. It was going to be a 'cold war' and he needed to prepare if he wanted to save his wife and her siblings.
****
"Your Highness" Maya greeted.
"Theodore. Just Theodore would be fine" Theodore said.
"Thank you for saving me" Maya said.
"How many years were you withheld?" Theodore went straight to the point. It was obvious he wasn't in the mood for any games.
"A decade" Maya replied.
"Who let you out?" Theodore inquired
"I escaped" Maya replied
"Do you know why I summoned you?" He asked
"I am yet to find out, my Lord" she replied
Theodore drew a dagger out of his pocket and handed it to Maya to seemed confused.
"Take your own life" Theodore ordered.
"My Lord!" Maya bursted out as she fell on her knees, trembling. She immediately knew Theodore had found out. "Forgive me, my Lord. I was forced to do it. Please spare my life" Maya trembled uncontrollably, because she knew Theodore very well.
"I may spare you if you pledge your undying loyalty to me" Theodore said
Maya raised her head, to look at him. His face held no expression and that scared her enough to look down. Elves can pledge their undying loyalty to only person, the Elf King or the heir to the throne. Theodore was neither, even though he was a royal. Maya has no choice left. It was either she took her life or pledged her loyalty to him.
Maya slit her left palm with the dagger and pledged;
"I, Amaya Lancard, pledge my undying loyalty to you, Prince Theodore Roosevelt Creston. I promise to answer only to you and do as you say. I promise to be a loyal servant to His Highness"
After Maya's pledge, the slit closed, much to her surprise. She knew it wasn't her doing and it only meant Theodore had sealed it.
"First assignment. Find out what Carl is up to" Theodore ordered and began to walk away.
"King Carl?"Maya asked looking confused.
"He's your king not mine"