Ionia are you up, can I come in?
Come in.
It's late why are you still in bed?
Are you ill?
I'm fine Lucien and I'm not going to any stupid training, why should I?
You are going to die anyway why stress myself over some stupid training.
Ionia are you still angry?
I'm good Lucien I'm just going with your plan.
Ionia, Lucien said sitting on the bed.
I'm sorry for what I said, i've just never felt so out of control of a situation before.
And I don't think I can live with myself if anything happens to you.
Fine you can do whatever but you have to promise me you will be careful, yes?
Lucien I said reaching out to hold his hand.
I know you are not use to someone having your back believe me I understand because i'm like that as well. That is the reason why I'm not letting go.
We only have each other Lucien.
It's us against them, not each other.
Now i've been thinking a lot about everything and i'm sure they will be looking for me right now.
We have to go with their plan for now to buy us time till we figure out what's going on.
Okay, you are no longer angry, yes?
I'm good Lucien.
Why don't you wash up and come down for breakfast.
Okay I will be with you shortly.
After Lucien left I washed up changed into another new pair of clothes and went out to meet him.
Wow! they look and smell delicious, you do know that for the life of me I can't cook.
With the way you love eating my food it is surprising you saying you can't cook. But it's fine I will make sure you never go hungry and you are well fed.
I will hold you to that I told him with a wink biting into the delicious pancake he made.
Lucien, I usually find clothes waiting for me when I wake. Who own's them?
They are yours.
Mine?
Yes it's a special trick of mine and I'm not sharing.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha okay if you say so. They are so beautiful and they fit me perfectly. Thank you I love them.
You are welcome.
We both sat in comfortable silence and ate our food
Lucien brought me to the training room, and as usual there was no one around.
Don't worry I'm invisible, and I will go with you.
Looking at him I nodded my head in acknowledgment.
We entered inside to find everyone talking, immediately they saw me they all went quiet.
Ionia where have you been asked Frances angrily.
I was feeling down and went to my mother's grave.
Is anything the matter?
You've been summoned by the king and you are to go meet him immediately.
Is anything the matter I asked looking at everyone.
How am I to know, my job is to pass a message and i've done that.
Okay I will be going then.
I'm here with you don't be nervous Lucien said walking beside me as we entered the throne room.
My king, I greeted with a bow.
My queen I also greeted with a bow.
Ionia where have you been?
My king I visited my mother's grave, I must have lost track of time.
Since yesterday?
My king I only went there early this morning
Where were you last night?
I was at the east wing of the palace practicing what we where taught I went back to my room quite late.
Well that's all right you're here now and that's what matters.
My king I'm sorry if I offended you.
It's alright you are here now.
I have an important mission for you ionia, and you are the only one I can trust with this. I hope you won't disappoint me?
My king I am here to serve you.
That's what I want to hear.
Now, I will take you somewhere later today and you are to stay there for three days after which I will come and get you. In those three days you are to do whatever you are told to do and learn everything there is within that three days. Remember not just I but the whole of Ataraxia is counting on you.
As you wish your majesty.
You can go back to your training.
Thank you my king.
I can't believe the king did not tell me what is going to happen, supposing I haven't met you or eavesdropped on their conversation I wouldn't know what I'm up against and would have gladly done everything he asked of me thinking I was the doing the right thing.
I feel as if everything I've known is a lie Lucien.
Hush now, go train I will see you later Lucien consoled me touching my hair.
After leaving ionia, I decided to go patrol the woods as usual. Hopefully I won't meet anyone this time.
I don't think I have it in me to fight anyone.
After making the rounds I went back home to discover my father in the garden. I quickly made my face visible and made him see the demon.
Have you been waiting long father?
I'm no father of yours you beast.
And this is not a social call.
I'm not known for being ungrateful, I'm here to reward you for your help in keeping my kingdom safe.
I have a gift for you, and I will be bringing it later in the day. This gift is yours for three days after which I will come take it.
What sort of gift is it that will be mine for three days and still be of use to you?
A woman Lucien, I am bringing a woman to you.
Is she aware of what she is walking into?
It does not matter if she is aware or not, what matters is that she is yours for three days.
Don't tell me you are not happy to have the company of a woman? I bet you've never been with a woman before. And so you know she is a beauty.
What would a beautiful woman want with a monster like me? I don't think it is a good idea.
Don't tell me you are rejecting my offer, since when did you have a heart?
Of cause not father.
However look at the way I look, I don't want to meet a beautiful woman only for her to be repulsed by my appearance besides what am I going to do with her? I'm more beast than human you can't possibly expect me to be intimate with her do you?
She will be coming here to spend three days with you whatever it is you want to do with her is up to you as long as you don't kill her.
She will be your plaything for three days.
Consider it my token of appreciation, am I clear?
I understand father, you are most gracious to consider a vile creature like me.
It's a good thing you know your place.
Training did not last as long as usual but it was still hellish.
I called Lucien immediately I got to my room.
So what's up any news I asked
My dad paid me a visit to tell me he will be coming with his token of appreciation later.
That for the next three days I am to do whatever I like with you with the only condition being I should not kill you.
Of cause he won't allow you to kill me I have to spy on you and get back to them.
Lucien, why don't we go snooping around today maybe we might hear something.
Okay.
Father you mean everything is ready?
Yes Isobel I've informed the beast all that is remaining is for me to take Ionia to him.
And to think she is thinking it's a mission is extremely funny, how I wish I will be there to see her face when she discovers who she will be living with for the next three days said Emmett.
Father what do you think he will do with her, will he you know sleep with her? Questioned Daryl
Daryl
Mother
How is it your concern what the creature is to do with her?
Mother he is more animal than man if he does sleep with her, will he not end up killing her?
I told him not to kill her so be rest assured she will come back alive answered the king.
Now it's evening send words for Ionia to meet me in the throne room Caius.
Yes my king.
Take me to my room I said to Lucien.
Ionia are you inside?
Yes I'm coming.
I opened the door to see Jasper.
Come with me.
I followed him to the throne room and I met only the king, already Lucien has left.
Come here ionia.
I went to stand next to the king and with a wave of his hand he opened a portal and gestured for me to walk through.
I walked through the portal followed by the king and we appeared in a garden I'm all too familiar with.
Ionia you will be staying here for three days remember everything i've told you.
We are all counting on you, I will be here in three days time to get you.
With that he walked back through the portal.
After the king and the portal vanished, I walked inside while shaking my head.
I saw Lucien with a plate of fruits, eating an apple. I decided to join him and took one myself and sat beside him while biting into my apple.
Since you did not come out I thought maybe you where not around.
There was no need for me to make my presence known.
So you will be living with me for the next three days?
I'm here aren't I.
Where is your bag?
I did not bring any.
Why?
Because I'm sure you can take care of my clothing, besides the ones I own is not as good as the ones you give me.
If you say so he said with a smile.
You are already used to this place but if there is anything you need tell me and I will provide it for you.
Sure but since I will be here for three days I suggest we make good use of it and train.
Okay sounds good.
Lucien I've been meaning to ask you, your mom's belongings do you still have them?
Yes I do why?
Well if those people have something against your mom maybe we can find a clue in her belongings.
Do you know if maybe she kept a journal or a diary anything at all?
She had a lot of books mostly on spells, herbs and potions.
She also taught me how to read and write.
After her death I did not touch or throw away any of her things in fact I haven't been to her room ever since.
Well we have to go take a look I told him.
Will you be alright going through her things?
I will be fine.
Okay then lead the way.
Lucien took me to one of the rooms and when we opened the door, the room was filled with dust and spider webs.
After making our way through with the occasional coughing fit we went through her things and found a diary a very old diary.
We left the room and went to my room.
Before we open this why don't you wash up Ionia, I will go do same and make dinner as well.
After taking our bath and eating Lucien and I sat on my bed and opened the diary.
It was written in a language I don't understand.
Do you know what it means I asked Lucien.
Taking the book from me Lucien began reading it, by his expression he seems to know what is inside.
After about one hour of him reading he finally finished it and dropped the book
What is it Lucien?
What does it say?
Hey are you alright I asked him trying to figure out the reason for his silence.
I'm fine.
So tell me then, what is it?
My mom is or rather was a princess. She was supposed to get married to an elf prince but she did not love him and decided to run away.
The kingdom she ran to was at war with Ataraxia and she ended up being taken as a prisoner.
But if she is a princess who ran away definitely her people would have searched for her.
According to the diary by refusing to marry the elf prince as well as running away she had severed all ties with her family while bringing shame and dishonor to them.
What's wrong with all our families! I exclaimed.
So is there anything written in there as to what happens on your twentieth birthday?
I'm supposedly to unlock my true powers at twenty.
Wait, what!?
You mean you are not powerful enough already?
And which kingdom are we talking about here I mean where is your mom from?
After what felt like forever Lucien finally spoke.
Raviel.
What! I screamed.
Raviel?
The mysterious and all powerful kingdom?
Of cause now it makes sense I mean now your power makes sense.
So you mean you are a prince of Raviel as well?
Not just that ionia.
What now, don't tell me there is more?
My mom was the eldest daughter as well as the high priestess. When she left she was cut off from her ancestral power making her less powerful. However I seem to have inherited her powers.
Wait so your mom was a high priestess?
Then add your father's powerful bloodline, it is no wonder you look hideous at birth that's so much power Lucien for anyone to handle let alone a child.
But why will these people want to kill you?
You are a member of the royal family, why would they want you dead?
I don't know Ionia I don't know what to believe.
I've always thought my mom was a commoner, you know someone ordinary. I even thought her kingdom no longer exists. And now I'm finding out she is not just a princess but a high priestess and of all kingdoms Raviel. And here I am living like a monster. I have too many blood on my hands.
How is it that everyone is rejecting me and wants me dead?
I am not needed anywhere ionia, what a cruel fate I have.
Spirits protect us all I said softly.
I'm sorry Lucien this is all so messed up I don't know what to say.
I can't pretend to understand how you are feeling right now.
But this too shall pass okay?
At least now, we know why those people want you dead before your twentieth birthday and the mystery surrounding your mom's origin is known to you.
I'm fine Ionia don't worry about me.
I have a favor to ask of you Lucien and you have to give me your word you will do it?
What is it?
No, give me your word first.
You have my word.
Can you please take off your mask?
It was quiet all of a sudden too quiet actually.
However I refused to change my mind and instead continued staring at him.
I don't know what I look like Ionia so you better brace yourself he said taking off his mask
I was both excited and scared at the same time.
I really want to see his face.
Lucien has the perfect body with beautiful hands and rich complexion. His muscles are well defined and toned. He is not too skinny and not too bulky just perfect and don't get me started with those eyes of his. Surely such a person can't have a ugly face. Just his body alone and he's the best looking man in Ataraxia and beyond.
I need to see what his face looks like.
It took him seconds to remove his mask but to me it seems like hours, I was practically holding my breath.
When he finally removed the mask the face that I saw left me speechless.
I didn't even know when a tear rolled down my face.
I knew you won't be able to take it. I told you I was a monster but you wanted to see my face said Lucien in an angry tone as he hurriedly tried to wear the mask again.
Without thinking I quickly slid to him and press my lips against his.