"Mary what are you doing here?",Hanna asked in disbelief. Mary couldn't be working with these people, could she? Mary was her closest friend. She would never betray her.
"You seem surprised to see me Hanna", Mary said. She sounded like she was enjoying herself.
"You asked me to meet you at the edge of the forest",Hanna said. "Didn't you?".
"Oh that",Mary said and laughed. "It was just a plot to get you out of your house. You couldn't be kidnapped with your nosy neighbors always wanting to know what's going on".
Hanna was beyond shocked. This couldn't be happening, she thought.
"I don't understand",she said. "You're working with these people? Oh no, you've been working with them since the beginning?".
"You finally got it together Hanna",Mary said. "But you missed quite a few part. You see, before the night of Evaleen's delivery, I got a message from my master here".
...
Twenty five years ago
Before Evaleen's delivery
"Are you sure about this?",a voice asked.
"Yes Master",Mary said and nodded her head for emphasis. "The King is the father of the baby. I followed him as you asked and discovered that Evaleen is his mistress. But he doesn't know of the pregnancy. If he does, he would make her his Queen".
"That cannot be!",the voice said sharply. "She cannot be allowed to rule this Kingdom! Her bastard son can't sit on my throne!".
"What do you suggest master?",Mary asked.
The other person was quiet for a while, deep in thought.
"Watch her closely",the voice said. "And when she delivers a son, kill the baby".
"Master that would be impossible", Mary said. "I won't be alone with her. Killing the baby would be difficult".
"If the King hears about an heir born to him, he would definitely make her his Queen. And I cannot allow that. The throne is mine and mine alone",the voice said.
"Then we must make sure the King never hears the news",Mary said. "When the baby comes, I shall give a sign to the spies with me. They will lie in wait. Once Evaleen bears a son, or a daughter, she plans to send word through a messenger to the King. The spies will kill the messenger, and the news will never reach the King".
"Making Evaleen think he doesn't want her anymore",the voice said.
"Yes Master",Mary said.
"That would work. When is she due?"
"In about two days Master",Mary said.
"Good. Take three of my trusted spies with you. Let them do according to the plan. The King must never find out about this child".
"Yes Master".
...
"Mary how could you?",Hanna asked. Tears brimmed in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. The betrayal was too much for her to bear.
"All this time, I thought you were someone I could trust. Evaleen was your friend. How could you do something like this to her?". Hanna's voice was raw and broken with emotion.
"Spare me the moral outrage Hanna", Mary snapped. "I did what I had to do. I couldn't continue living a miserable life like you. My Master has promised to make me a duchess of the Kingdom of Duville. I only have to help in destroying everyone that has eyes on the throne".
"And what about the Princes?",Hanna asked bitterly. "Do you also plan to kill them all? One of them will get the crown".
"My Master has everything planned out",Mary said. "The Princes don't even stand a chance. They will all be removed and my Master will rule all of Duville".
"Oh great gods, you've been brainwashed Mary",Hanna said.
"I know it's hard for you to take in Hanna", Mary said. "But don't worry. Your sweet Sebastian that you're so worried about will meet his end soon". Her voice turned vicious. "As long as he's alive, he's a threat to the crown and to my Master. I could have killed him a long time ago but Evaleen kept him inside at all times, always with him. Now that he's a man, it would be difficult. But like I said, my Master has everything planned".
Hanna was shocked beyond words. There was no way for her to get in touch with Evaleen or Beatrice. Sebastian was really in danger now and there was nothing she could do about it. She began to regret her decision of not telling Sebastian about his true identity.
"Don't look so sad Hanna",Mary said. "My Master is going to give you a quick death".
Hanna's head snapped upwards and she looked towards the figure that remained seated in the shadows. She couldn't make out if it was a man or a woman. The voice was neither masculine nor feminine. It was just flat. But since Mary kept saying Master, she could only assume it was a man.
"What shall we do with her Master?", Mary asked.
"I beg you Mary. Spare my life. Don't do this",Hanna pleaded as she cried bitterly.
"I really don't want to kill you Hanna", Mary said with a fake sad expression. "But now that you know everything, you can't be allowed to live. You need to die with this secret".
"I swear, I won't say anything about this",Hanna pleaded in tears. "I will leave Duville and never return. Please spare my life".
"I wish it were as simple as that",Mary said. "Don't worry. People won't know where you are. No one saw you leave. And no one will miss you".
"Enough!",the person sitting in the shadows said sharply. "Kill her. Now".
"PLEASE SPARE ME!",Hanna screamed but her pleas fell on deaf ears. The man that punched her earlier grabbed her head in a tight grip and twisted it backwards. Hanna's body shuddered for a moment and became still.
"Get rid of the body",the voice said and a deep sigh was heard. "As long as that boy remains alive, he is a threat to my throne. He can't be allowed to live".
"Leave it to me Master",Mary said. "Just give me three men and I will make sure he doesn't see the next daylight".
"Remember he's not an ordinary being", the voice said. "He's a hybrid. Half demon and half Angel. It won't be easy bringing him down".
"Three of your strongest men is all I need Master. And it shall be done",Mary said.
"Very well",the voice said.
"What about the mother? The King's former mistress",one of the men in the room asked.
"Leave her to me",the voice said. "I want her to feel the pain of loosing her only child. Then I shall destroy her slowly".
"Yes Master",Mary and the men in the room said and bowed.
______________________________________________
Prince Stephan was walking towards his chambers when he heard whisperings. He paused and cocked his head to the side, trying to figure out where the sound was coming from. It was from one of the dim passages. He walked quietly towards the sound. He could hear it clearly now. They weren't whispers. They were moans. Stephan grinned and quietly turned round the corner that led to the passage and he wasn't surprised at what he saw.
Apollo had a maid bent double over and her her dress was pulled up. He was slamming into her from behind, his hands gripping her waist. His head was thrown back, his eyes closed in pleasure and he grunted as he pushed his hard rod into the maids sleek entrance. The maid had her hands on her mouth, trying to stifle her moans of pleasure. She was clearly enjoying it because she didn't try to escape. Stephan wondered why Apollo would screw a maid out here when there were hundreds of rooms in the castle.
"You're such a hypocrite",he said out loud.
Apollo's eyes snapped open at the same time the maid froze abruptly. She tried to move away but Apollo held her tight, preventing her from leaving. He relaxed when he realized that it was only his younger stepbrother.
"A hypocrite?",he asked lazily and continued moving inside the girl. A nasty grin appeared on his face as he threw his head back again.
"You accuse Ferdinand of sleeping around with the maids and yet, you do the same",Stephan said.
"So what are you gonna do?",Apollo asked. "Run along and report me to father?". He suddenly increased his pace and the maid cried out in ecstasy. He stiffened and moaned as he felt his release take hold of him. He emptied himself into the maid and then pushed her away from him. She quickly arranged her dress and fled. Apollo gazed lazily at Stephan as he tucked his rod in and zipped his pants.
"I'm not a snitch",Stephan said. "What you do with the maids is none of my business".
"Thank the gods you know that",Apollo said sarcastically. "Because I don't need to tell you what I'll do to you should father hear about this".
"Is that a threat?",Stephan asked with a dark smile on his face.
"Oh no",Apollo said, a similar dark smile on his face. "I wouldn't dream of threatening you dear brother. Besides, it's your word against mine".
Apollo pushed passed him and continued to his chambers, where he had been heading to before he saw the maid and lust took over him.
Stephan chuckled darkly and continued walking to his chambers. He had his reasons for not reporting straight to the King. Apollo and his mother were unconsciously planning their downfall and he would help by giving them a little push. They would never see him coming.
He got to his chambers with a smile on his face and pushed the door open, his smile widening as his eyes landed on the mouth watering sight before him.
The young woman lay on the bed on her stomach. Stephan's eyes devoured her naked body. From her disheveled hair to her smooth shoulders and back and down the flair of her hips to her plump creamy heart shaped bum. This night was just getting started.