BLAZE

LOVER'S INSTINCT

Silver

The night’s fall was now down with stars and dusk glorified with the beginning of new hope and a new start. Time passed and there wasn't a wink of sleep in my eyes, as I sat on the balcony, waiting for that one news about the love of my life. My heart was pounding louder in my chest and it was difficult to keep it calm inside the little space in my ribcage.

Apart from the feeling, there was something I caught in the air. Something very unusual which is not picky at all, but something so different I can't explain it either. Something about a feeling I never had before, like it's giving me a sort of sign that something is about to happen. Good or worse? Only time will tell.

Now the sun appeared and started to shine in the sky, I got up from the balcony and went inside my room. No sign of my lover and my daughter. The stress was breaking me to the core, and I am not sure how long I will cope with this. All this time, I was betrayed by Lucian and now when I got a chance to live my life with someone I love, he just disappeared. 

There was a knock on my door and I got alerted. No one has ever come to my room at this hour unless there is something important. The thrills got my heart racing like electrifying bolts of power. Hoping to see brother Zohar at the door, I rushed to open them, only to meet a pair of green eyes in front of me.

“Daphne? Is everything okay? You never come to visit this hour unless there is something…” I was in the middle of my words when Daphne interrupted.

“There is something important that you have to know… may I come inside?” she looked worried and I nodded, letting her inside the room.

I safe locked the door behind and watched her expressions dancing on her face. She wasn’t confused but she was worried. I hope everything is fine.

“What is that, Daphne? You said you have to tell me something important? Is that about Elijah? Have Zohar found him?” I bombarded her with my irritating questions.

“Silver listen, calm down... Have a seat..” she gestured to me and I did what she just said.

Now I am anxious to know what she has to say.

“Zohar has crossed the borders last night, in search of Elijah, but…” she was hesitant to spell it out.

“But? But what? Tell me, Daphne... What but? Tell me..” I shook her so she can respond as fast as she can.

“They haven’t found him yet... There was no clue about him…” she said with a heaviness in her voice…

There was an awkward silence between us.

“What does that mean?” I was too shocked to say anything because my mind was blocked with all the running thoughts in my mind, while my eyes clouded with tears.

“Did he die or did something happen to him?” I was sobbing.

“Or maybe, he just left, escaped from our sight… maybe he had planned this all the time, and we were too ignorant to see this coming…” Daphne blurted out.

I was shocked to hear those words but there was a possibility of that situation..

“How can you be so sure that he might have left us?” I was dumbfounded at this point, it was so heartbreaking.

“Didn’t he do the same thing twenty years ago? He left all of us stranded when we thought he had died in the war. He even kidnapped his own daughter and took her away… there was no remorse on his face when I encountered him first after that abduction… I don’t think he wouldn’t have hesitated a bit doing it again..” Daphne’s words were sharp as stones but maybe she is right.

I was blindfolded by love and didn’t notice that. How can I be so ignorant? A queen must have her guards on every time… and these situations were so sensitive... 

“We all fooled by him.. It’s not just your fault… we trusted him.. And, on the other hand, he took advantage of that trust…” Daphne sounded aggressive... I hope this incident won’t trigger her post-traumatic stress disorder.

“I don’t think so that what you said is completely true, Daphne. I saw that in his eyes.. He was determined to protect us and willing to be the king.. We wanted to stay with us… my heart doesn’t believe he would do anything like that…” I was reluctant to believe it.

“Your heart wouldn’t believed Lucian’s intends either, Silver. You are too naive and easily get manipulated by men. Though I never liked Lucian since the beginning only for the sake of the kingdom, I chose him as the best. Of course, it turned out bitter but we got him in time. However, Elijah is different. I have raised him, and he is not what he appeared on the surface. In all these years, I never understood him and his mind.” she sighed at the last.

I was sorely silent after hearing what Daphne has to say about this. The lump was formed in my throat and it was difficult to swallow it down. I was anxious and hyperventilating but I kept my steady and calm gesture in front of her, I don’t want to trigger her stress issue.

“What option do we have now?” I asked her.

“Nothing… we have no clue where did he went? What is inside his mind? Did he take Abria with him or not? All these unanswered questions leave us to nothing... There is nothing we can do now… we should wait for Zohar to arrive..” she sighed and sat on the stool, while she rubbed her face after the revelation.

But I could not believe it somehow, I still consider that something is being left out. My palms were sweaty, even in this cold weather and my heart was racing like a rollercoaster.. It wasn’t the feeling of love, but not less than it.

I dropped down on the stool next to Daphne’s and wondered where did we go wrong? Suddenly, there was a gentle knock on the door and Daphne got up to check it. 

“Yes!!” she said..

“The duke has arrived in the territory and sooner they will be here, in the palace…” one of the royal guards informed her.

“Thank you…” she nodded her head and shut the door behind..

“Zohar has reached the kingdom… we need to see him as soon as possible… there might be some information which we are not aware of… who know we are thinking about Elijah is entirely wrong…” i suggested Daphne, hoping that what i said will be true..

She shook her head and smiled faintly, “you don’t get it… do you? I am not the easy-going one here.. But still, my instincts never lie to me..” she gulped the lump formed in her throat..

“Daphne, you should be positive, at least we hear what Zohar has to say.. Then we will handle this case accordingly… if he is found guilty, he will be punished for his actions, brutally.. That’s a promise… because I have made up my mind that I will not fall into another trap or lie..” i glared at her.

She nodded her head and hugged me, “I am so sorry, Girl.. you had to go through so much of pain all these years.. You never tasted what happiness tastes like.. Since the birth and till now, you have been suffering… always being a survivor isn’t easy.. It tears you from the inside, to appear strong from the outside.”

“It’s just fine… there is nothing i can do much.. Except being strong.. At least my people gets inspired seeing bold and confident queen.. Who knows what goes inside in someone’s life..” i smiled slightly at her..

“Let’s go and wait for the search team… your presence is mandatory…” Daphne reminded me and we left the room to head to the throne room.

I fixed myself before entering inside the hall and taking my position.. I was surprised to see all the ministers present there in the hall..

“I think they must have received the news..” Daphne whispered in my ears.

I nodded and turned to the ministers, “shall we begin the meeting? I need a record of all the financial expenses done in this month.. All the deals in an official paper…..” 

I was giving the orders when the gates of the main hall were pushed and opened widely.. I was furious with such behavior and rose from the throne while staring back at the guards who interrupted my meeting..

“Your highness, forgive us for visiting you like this but we have an important piece of information for you…” they said.

I will not tolerate such behaviors and i personally made an effort to make you leave your wok and run away if your information doesn’t fascinate me…” i was glaring at them harshly..

They bowed to me and said, “Prince Zohar has arrived in the Palace and they have headed to the infirmary..” 

“What?” Daphne gasped loudly, “is he okay? Something happened to him?” she was worried for her husband.

“My lady, Prince is fine and healthy but they sent us to inform the queen about his arrival.. They have requested your presence in the infirmary..” they added further.

“Why??? Why isn’t he here.. I must be the one who supposed to see him first…” i jabbed at them.

“Forgive us, your highness, but the prince told us nothing to tell you.. I am afraid i can help with that.

“What do you mean? If he is not hurt then why did he go to infirmary.??” Daphne asked him..

“Umm… Ummm//” the guards appeared to be confused.. “There was a body of a young girl in their hands.. I heard that this girl was floating in the frozen ice.. And I heard a rumor that this girl is believed to be the long-lost princess.

I narrowed my gaze at him until I realized what he just said..

“What? My daughter? She is here?”