BLAZE

BEGGINING OF DESPAIR

Zohar

The mist had swelled up the whole ocean and there was nothing to be seen around, except the tiny light hanging from the pole to guide a path in such a situation. It is going to be another long journey in the dark of night.

No wonder how much calm the ocean appears, soon there is going to be a storm with tornadoes, swallowing us whole. Even in this heartless cold, I was persistent to take this order personally. The questions are still left unanswered and there is no time left to find more, unless it gets all twisted. The chills were there but nothing to feel, because there was this certain feeling I got which made me lose my mind. I was hoping that it won't get too bad or worse, even if it is true. But I know it's hopeless to think about that way.. what the destiny has decided for one's, it's going to happen.. eventually.

The ripples in the standing water send a few waves across the pole, It caught my attention.. I wonder what it means that, even if we had to change, maybe for a while… it is still going to be the same as destined.

The trembles in my heart weren't going to be calm any sooner, and now I have a reason to be anxious. After all, it's all rooted from the same ground, isn't it? 

The boatman took much longer to reach the destination but would we complain? I guess, no. This thick fog was different and dangerous.. no one wants to put their life at risk.. but we all have to.. some day or everyday… It's just a matter of perception of one's thoughts.

Just like what happened a few hours ago.. It shocked me to the core.. however, I did maintain my confidence in front of the team.. but deep down, I am scared too.

My mind travelled back in the past, just a few hours ago…..

A body? How did this happen? No one can survive a storm.. but this girl did. There is no other way she came here though.

"Shut your mouth!! I am investigating her.." the medic help on the boat retrieved Abria from the iceberg.

A few more broke down the big chunk of ice and revealed her to me. A frown grew deeper on my face, knowing no one can survive in an iceberg this long, however, this girl did the impossible. I shouldn't have taken her in an easy way.

"What do you say?" I asked the medic staff.

He looked perplexed and hesitant to respond to my question. But after a while, he broke the silence and put us out of the suspicion "She appeared to be alive as I could feel her heartbeats. But it's surprisingly taken my confidence down because I have never seen such a case before. To be honest, I feel she was here for a week or something. only a demon or a powerful god is able to survive such consequences.. I hope this doesn't mean any bad luck or something but I do feel something weird about this girl.."

"Can you enlighten us?" The creases on my foreheads were doubled after hearing his words. 

They sounded real and terrific, more I recalled what Daphne informed me after she met Elijah in Vancouver.

Elijah didn't keep her away for no reason, I am sure.

"Prince Zohar, I cannot elaborate everything I feel but I do have something to say.. I can be wrong but this whole thing doesn't look fine to me. I feel some kind of.. negative energy!!" He said.

I narrowed my gaze at him, "you shouldn't have said those words for the princess of verglasia." My knuckles turned white and my gaze was fixed on Abria's blue toned body.

The whole team gasped when I revealed her identity. I didn't mean to but I had to.. they are going to know about this anytime, so it's better not keep anything hidden.. Unless…

"The long lost Princess? Are you sure, sire?" Luke, who was standing all the time beside me, finally asked me. He looked flabbergasted.. and why not? Everyone knew that the princess was kidnapped and the royal soldiers, search teams and specialists gave up when they did not find a single trace about the abducted girl. And now she has appeared out of nowhere..

I looked at him and nodded my head slightly. Then I sighed deeply and elaborated to them, "we have been looking for her for a long time and we almost got her but the witch of the forbidden forest took her away from our gaze.. so far, we did not get any clue where she went but now, she is here.."

Luke was a calm person but he looked more exhausted and depressed today…

"Did she kidnap her? How did she managed to do that?" He grabbed his fist and punched the solid rock next to him, breaking it in small pieces..

"No need to waste your energy like this, Luke.. it won't change the past.. more, Carmen wasn't the real abductor.." I put my hands on his shoulders.

I don't want to take Elijah's name here… he is going to be the king and it will only stain his dignity.. perhaps, it is worthless to make them understand why Abria was abducted in the first place?

"Now what? What do we have to do? We still haven't found any clue about lord Elijah… What are we going to explain to the queen? It's all so messed up.." Luke gritted his teeth in frustration…

I exhaled deeply and turned to Abria..

"We will take her to the place and inform the queen that we haven't found anything about Elijah.. there is no reason we should keep her in the dark.." I said.

"Everyone!! Pack up… we are leaving with the girl…" I ordered the team and they started to finish the job as fast as they could..

Oh god!! Luke is right… this is all so messed up..

The boat was still rowing over the water and the edge of the land was nowhere to be seen. The colour of the sky was lightened and I assumed sooner we will watch the dawn, after a long time. Within minutes, the sun appeared glowing from the horizon and the thick fog started to melt down back into the ocean. It was a sign of relief that we noticed the land, not so far.

"Prince Zohar… if you allow,can I ask you something?" Luke was depressed and quiet since then, but now he has put his courage to ask something..

"Sure…"

He was reluctant but finally spilled some words..

"Is that true Lord Elijah kidnapped the princess Abria, and he is the father of their girl?" He was looking down at his hands.

My eyes widened hearing those words because no one knew about this except the council members and a few royals. Could it be?

"How did you….?" I had no intention to growl at him but it was my first reaction.

Immediately, he fell quiet and got to know that he had crossed his line..

"You better not open that mouth of yours in front of any other… it will only land you in trouble.. ." I averted my gaze and warned him.

"So… it's true…." He responded after a long pause..

I stayed silent.. guess I had no option but to accept the comings..

Soon after, we reached the landing spot. It might give others a sign of relief to see the land again.. but for me.. it was the beginning of another despair.