_05_
"Right here and now, I want to renew it. No, I want to totally clear off the old deal and make a new one with you." Lothanna's voice was not only icy but it was laced with finality in it. "What do you think, good, right?"
"What...?" Xavier Brooks stuttered. "What do you mean by making a new deal with me?" Whatever Lothanna means, it doesn't sound good at all — no, it's far dangerous than worst.
"Stop being naive, Xavier, a king should understand better and I'm sure you do." Lothanna blurted out as he stared at Cara, settling his gaze permanently on her. "I want to totally clear off the old deal and make a new one with you by having your daughter instead."
Xavier Brooks' mouth hung open in fear and shock and he looked as though a bomb was dropped on him. "W-what...?" His voice came out as whisper and he barely could hear his own voice, words stuck in his throat.
He opened his mouth to say something else but nothing seems to be coming out, he felt as though his own voice had betrayed him awfully at the moment it wasn't supposed to — rendering him totally helpless.
"Why do you look shocked as though you've seen a ghost?" Lothanna asked, as he took a few steps towards where Xavier Brooks was seated. "Isn't this what you wanted, Eh?"
Xavier had wanted to scoff, snicker or even chuckled darkly at Lothanna's response but he can't; expressing his authority will only ruin things further and he can't risk his daughter's life for his own foolish reaction.
"What I want...?" King Xavier asked, carefully threading on his words so as not to provoke Lothanna's anger. "How are you supposed to know what I want; when you aren't even mind reader nor a fortune teller."
"Do I need to be a mind reader for something very obvious as this, Xavier, of course not — I mean why should I?" Lothanna enunciated in an awfully calm voice. "I can see the desperation in your eyes, you are tied and you can barely do anything about it."
Xavier understood what Lothanna was trying to insinuate; and true to his words, he's crying deep down in him with desperation — to save his kingdom as well as his daughter, Cara, too but he can barely do anything about it. He'll have to sacrifice one for the other!
Lothanna's lips were curled in a dangerous smile, seeing King Xavier battling with his inner turmoil made his stomach churn greatly with fulfilment; he loved it — he love seeing humans shudder with pure fright, desperation and trepidation.
"The decision is your, dear mighty King." He muttered, his voice laced with sarcasm and mockery and the pronunciation of 'mighty king'. "You can choose to save your dear daughter from me and watch your kingdom go down in ruin — or of course, the other way round."
"This isn't right, Lothanna, you know it's not." King Xavier countered, his face crumpled in a displeased expression. "It's not even the deadline yet, you can't just come in unannounced with a different decision. It's uncalled for!"
"Are you protesting against my decision, dear mighty king?" Lothanna's voice might be laced with mockery but the dangerous emotion that flicked in his eyes wasn't something to be taken for granted — and king Xavier is aware of this.
King Xavier swallowed his saliva hard, unable to tell on which direction the conversation might be leading to; but one thing is for, no matter where it heads, it probably won't end well —and that's just the kind of person Lothanna is!
"Can we talk this out instead, Lothanna?" Xavier Brooks pleaded, a tear escaping his eyes for the first time since he could remembered — the last time he cried was almost two decades ago when he lost his wife.
As a father, he wouldn't mind his position as a king; he would brawl his eyes out, knowing that his daughter's life is on the line as well. "I'll do as you pleases if you let go off Cara." He continued, trepidation and desperation gnawing at him. "Name it; land, wealth — anything! I'll give them to you without blinking an eyelid."
Lothanna laughter was uncomfortable, sending cold chills down Xavier Brooks' spine — his laughter sounded as though a demon had risen from the pit of hell! "Why would I want those from you, eh?" He asked, his left brow raised. "I have thousands of them — even large numbers of army you wouldn't dare think of."
Xavier Brooks felt as though he's been trapped in a room with no door or any other escape route. "I know how mighty you are, Lothanna." He confirmed, his lips still quivering and tears already streaming down his cheeks. "Offering you all of these is all I can afford — having more wouldn't hurt."
Xavier might be pleading with his life on the line but Lothanna felt insulted, his anger doubling. Paranoid and in a twinkle of an eye, he lunged forward and grabbed Xavier Brooks by his neck and forcefully dragged him off his seat.
Lothanna's reaction attracted a loud gasp from the guest, their eyes widened in shock and fear. Cara, on the flip side, wasn't left out. She felt her heart clenched in pain and as though her breath was knocked off her for a while, frozen in place. What in Pete's name is this man?
"How dare you, Xavier Brooks!" Lothanna thundered, his voice resonating. He had had enough talking — he need to show everyone how mighty and superior he is to them. Filthy and weak human shouldn't dare raise their eyes to meet his nor talk back at him, but Xavier Brooks dared?
"Please, Lothanna, spare my daughter..." Xavier Brooks choked out, his teary eyes were as red as blood.
Cara couldn't stand her father being maltreated but there's nothing she could do about the man as well. He seems to be out of the league of human; considering his strength and speed, he's more — if not a vampire!
Realization struck Cara immediately. Now, she understand her father's fear, as well as that of everyone present. No one would dare go against such being as Lothanna — instantly, fear kicked in, afraid that the man could choke her father to death if nothing is done to stop all of it.
Without second thought, Cara fell on her knees before Lothanna, holding back the tears that was threatening to fall — born out of anger. "Let him go, Lothanna." She muffled out, earning a raised brow from him. "It's me you want, you can have me instead."
Xavier Brooks widened his eyes in fear. "What are you doing, Cara..." He stuttered, despite losing his breath slowly. "You can't do this, I'll take care of it with him."
Cara shook her head negatively, dreading the outcome of things if she delayed — even for a moment, she would rather be the lamb than watch her father in pains. Without sparing her father a glance, she declared her intention. "I choose you, Lothanna." Her voice was clear and firm. "I'll marry you, just as you've proposed!"
Lothanna's emotionless face light up in a mischievous grin, letting go off Xavier Brooks. He stared down at Cara, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes. "You can't go back on your words, little woman."
Something was off with his choice of tone — sternly warning Cara of the decision she made. It sounded as though she had just signed a lifetime deal with the devil himself. Whatever the outcome may be, she was sure she would regret it...!