chapter 42
Diana's death
Duren forgets the layout of the drawn plans for the water transportation channels and goes back home. He would have sent a guard but he went on himself. He passed the throne room and continued on the hallway when he saw the same maid, Diana scared off.
The maid bowed and gave him his due respect but asked if anything was wrong
Maid: Your highness, please is anything wrong with our Queen? I mean, you came back home early, and the queen mother went into the Queen's room in a hurry, although quietly as if something was wrong
Sir, if anything is wrong, please let me help!
King Duren: Nothing is wrong. I'm not sure anything is wrong. But if something is happening, I will send for you
Maid: Thank you, your highness (bows and leaves)
Duren: Something is not right. (Goes in the direction of Cynthia's room instead of his study room)
Duren enters the room in time to see Cynthia freezing a wolf
Duren: Oh my world! (Quickly closes the door behind him) What is going on here Cynthia?
Cynthia: Um, this wolf tried to attack me so I freeze it.
Duren: Why would it want to attack you? What is it's business with you?
Are in you in danger of some sort
Cynthia: (scoffs) I can never be in danger.
Duren: Then what happened here? Explain!
Cynthia: (signs) I'm tired of hiding everything from you. You are a man, I shouldn't be protecting you.
Sit on the sofa let me talk to you (Duren sits down and she sits besides him)
Promise first to take everything gently and calmly
Duren: I promise
Cynthia: Remember, it's a promise, it can't be broken
Duren: I know, just speak already
Cynthia: Hmm. Your mom isn't your mom
Duren: I don't understand
Cynthia: Um, how am I going to say this? The one that poses as your mom and the queen is not your mother
Duren: Then Who is she?
Cynthia: Diana. The goddess of wildlife.
Duren: What? I have been calling a goddess my mom? So I now have a goddess wife and a goddess mom?
Where is my mother since you said that the queen is an imposter
Cynthia: She is dead
Duren: (sprangs Up) What? What did you do to her!
Cynthia: I didn't do anything I swear. It was all Diana's doing
Duren: You knew all this while but kept quiet?!
Cynthia: I was trying to protect you from danger!
Duren: I am not a child!
Cynthia: I am sorry.
Duren: How did all this happen? Tell me!
Cynthia: Well, there is a prophecy about a princess being cursed to fight with death but in the cause of the fight with death, which is Thanatos, she will be the cause of both her parents death, if she's not careful, she will die too and make darkness rule the world and if she wins, she will have to sacrifice being loved by a man forever
Duren: The prophecy is real? I thought it was a myth or something
Cynthia: It is real and it's already happening. The princess in the prophecy is Alysia
Duren: What?! Alysia? She's too innocent to be cursed
Cynthia: Prophecy happens. Doesn't care about innocence or anything.
Alysia herself is aware and the fight is on already. I even helped your brother save her from the demoness sent to capture her for Thanatos and that is why this stupid goddess was sent to kill me
Duren: Wait, Did you just say my brother? Like my blood brother, my elder brother
Cynthia: Yes, he threatened me to help him, he is too proud to beg
Duren: So my brother is alive? (Elated)
Cynthia: Um, I won't say alive but existing
Duren: What do you mean by that?
Cynthia: He is a ghost. Couldn't go to the afterlife because he is part of the prophecy, he must help Alysia.
You were part of the prophecy too but you escaped. You were to lead her to her early destruction where Thanatos would have ended her easily even before she discovered her powers, but I took you from her. I kind of even saved her life. (Hissed)
Duren: Wow, so I was in the dark of all these? Good thing I know now.
Cynthia: Yeah, yeah. Since you know everything now, will you allow me to dry this goddess with light and make her go into exile?
Duren: Um, sure. Do that
Cynthia: Turn away and close your eyes (Duren obeys and Cynthia shined so bright in the room as she turned to the moon and Diana turned to dust and disappeared. Cynthia turns back to human) You can open your eyes now
Duren: (Turns to her with eyes open) Where is she exiled to?
Cynthia: To an isolated prison made for deities that are exiled to stay there for centuries before they can come back to Earth again, if they are lucky that the almighty doesn't end the world.
Duren: Wow, okay
Since all these are happening and that fast, don't you think I should tell Alysia and my brother about it?
Cynthia: Why would you care?
Duren: The prophecy is manifesting quickly. Thanatos has emerged, made Diana to kill you, who knows what he will do next? Attack them at once?
I need to make them be aware, both my brother and Alysia my friend!
Cynthia: Alright alright. Go, I'm waiting for you here
Duren: Will you do good to make it seem the queen died of an accident or something
Cynthia: She went for a meeting and got killed on the way, couldn't find her body. Don't worry I'm skilled at acting, I will take care of everything. Just go
Duren: Thanks a lot Cynthia. You are nice
Cynthia: I know. (Duren leaves) Thanatos wants to go on exile. Imagine. And god of light is playing it all neutral, making poor Alysia go through all these.
I will play it all neutral too. I shouldn't be concerned with affairs but those who dare hurt Duren and try to hurt me will be killed!