Sir. Oliver was harshly thrown to the ground as Francis' monstrous look worsened. His skin was turning completely into fire laced scales and his eyes burned like never before.
The old man just didn't understand why Francis was suddenly like that. Yes, Francis carried the power of Lucifer but he almost never went wide if it wasn't the crescent night.
Why was he suddenly asking after a woman that they both agreed to kill?
Why was he willing to burn down the whole village just because of a woman who is tagged as nothing but a curse?
Why was he fighting for Mala, the woman who was destined to kill him?
Before Sir. Oliver could blink, Francis was gone. He could sense trouble looming. The devil and the wizard of the west wanted THE SAME WOMAN.
Francis' body emitted smoke the moment he arrived at Lord Chris's room. He was just in time.
****
~Aurora's POV
I cried until my throat was sour. Lord Chris had taken off his clothes and he was left in his underwear. His abs were beautiful but at the same time, I knew that strength was obviously going to kill me.
I shut my eyes as he was about to take his last piece of clothing. I hated what was going to happen afterwards. Then I could smell him. .. I perceived Francis' scent and I recognized it that instant.
"And what brings the King Francis himself into the chambers of a lowly wizard like me?" Lord Chris asked with that deceitful smile hanging on his face. He offered a slight bow and acted like nothing was wrong.
I could see it in Francis'eyes that he wanted to rip Lord Chris apart. "What confidence," Francis growled and lord Chris still smiled.
"Your highness, is everything okay?" Lord Chris asked and like a speed of light, Francis caught lord Chris and pinned him against the wall. Francis' hands emitted heat like his hands were a steaming iron and lord Chris choked.
"You. ..you …your highness!" Lord Chris said, trying to free himself from Francis' grip.
How did I end up in the midst of these dangerous people; I wondered.
"I can be forgiving with every single thing, but I never joke with what belongs to me!" Francis growled. His voice sounded like the voice of a thousand men combined.
Francis let go of Lord Chris's neck and he immediately landed on the ground. Lord Chris had blood running down his nose and his neck had bruises.
Lord Chris spat, smirked and raised his head. "I was only trying to help. After all, you have left her untouched," Lord Chris said and Francis kicked him again.
I gasped as he hit the ground but the arrogant bastard wouldn't stop. "Since you didn't want her, I decided to make use of her. I know how much his highness hates wastage. Isn't that what you tell everyone in crescent? Not to waste things?"
Hit!
Francis hit him again.
Lord Chris coughed and he started to get pale. "It's unfair that you want to have her all to yourself, your highness. We can share her evenly if you don't mind."
Obviously, Lord Chris's words hit Francis on the wrong side. Yes, I was quite offended that Lord Chris referred to me with such disrespect, but what marveled me the most was the fact that Francis was fighting because of me.
Why?
I thought he hated me?
I thought he never wanted to see me?
Lord Chris was levitating in the air and Francis strangled him. "The only reason I haven't taken your life is because my mother told me never to kill one of my own. Listen to me, Chris, let this be the last time you'll ever think of laying those hands on Mala. If you dare, I would take them away and leave you with no limbs. Dare me," Francis threatened like a devil that he was before he came to pick me up.
At first, I feared that the heat from his body would hurt me, so I closed my eyes and cried. He held me closer to himself and his voice was calm. It felt like he wasn't the same person that had just threatened Lord Chris.
"I won't hurt you. I can't," he assured me and I slowly rested my body.
"Mala is mine. I found her first," Lord Chris said weakly.
"She's only allowed to love me. Like I said, earlier, dare me," Francis answered and we appeared in his room.
He dropped me on the ground and he hugged me just like he did that night.
His grip was firm around my back and waist and his huge body rested above mine. "Please, hold me. Like you did the other day," he desperately begged and I did.
I held him and gently stroked his back even though I feared that he would end up yelling at me afterwards.
Minutes passed and Francis remained comfortable in my grip. He finally broke the hug and he looked normal again, like the Francis I used to know.
The scales and steam was gone, but he kept his eyes shut.
"What have you done to me?" Francis asked me.
I already knew he was going to ask me but the heavens knew that I did nothing.
I shook my head and swallowed. "I…I haven't done anything to you, your Highness, I wouldn't dare," then I decided to bring up the issue about what happened days back. "I was confused when you suddenly left the other day. I was scared and worried that you wouldn't come back."
I couldn't hold it in, so I burst into tears.
"Because you were away, Lord Chris tried to take advantage of me and his wife tried to kill me. I felt so unsafe and empty when you were away. It felt like everything that I had was suddenly snatched from my grip. Yes, yes I know it sounds weird but ….I think I have grown to love you just like you have asked," I cried.
A confession wouldn't hurt, would it?
I wasn't the type of woman to fool around and hide my feelings.
Francis grabbed my hand. "Aren't you scared of me? Tell me why you're fearless. You should be scared for me!" He yelled.
I shook my head. "I know you wouldn't hurt me. Even when I try to be scared….I end up feeling safe when I'm with you," I answered…it was nothing but the truth.
I could sense how uneasy Francis was. "But you still haven't answered me. What have you done to me? If it's something that you can undo then please, undo it Mala ..I beg you! Please, set me free. Lose whatever it is that you have tied! I beg you!"
He wasn't raising his voice.
He begged me with all sincerity and I was really confused.
"I did nothing. Why would I want to hurt you when all that I do is want you?" I asked, sobbing.
"If you haven't done anything, then tell me why it suddenly feels like I can't breathe when you're away from me?" He asked and he suddenly pulled me into his embrace. He placed my head on his chest and rested his head on mine. "It only feels better when you're this close to me," he whispered.