The Princess and the Two Dukes

By the Beach

  Zari just zipped her bag after she just finished packing her luggage for the mission. She just have to make use of whatever clothes she has as she has no desire to go back home first and pack another. She finds it unnecessary and she could just go shopping there if she needs more clothes. Also, she still has the enchanted satchel that she used during their time travel. 

  Once she put away her luggage, Zari let out a deep sigh and looked outside her window. The moon shines brightly in the night sky.

‘Are you ready for the mission?’ Zari asked her lycan and angel, but both of them seem to be quiet.

‘Okay, what’s wrong with both of you?’

  She could still feel them pace inside her head but just keeping quiet.

‘What’s with the silent treatment?’

  When she still didn’t get any response, Zari hissed and then she opened her window. Then she leaped out and shifted midair. When she landed on the ground, she was on all four and she dashed towards the grass field.

  Zari enjoyed the wind against her fur as she run like a bullet. She continued to run until her legs gave out and she slumped on the grassy ground.

‘Okay, what’s wrong with you two? It’s very unlikely that you two don’t respond to any of my words.’

  Then Zari felt Andromeda took a step forward.

‘I am just confused.’ Her lycan spirit said.

‘Confused? Of what?’ Zari asked, and she heard her lycan sigh.

‘It’s about Demetrio. I don’t know if it’s because of the messed up timeline or something really changed in him. It’s really hard to explain.’ Andromeda told Zari.

‘Is it because he seems a stranger?’

‘Sort of. Yes the attraction and pull was there but it isn’t as strong as the one I felt before.’ Andromeda said, and now its Zari’s turn to be a bit confused.

‘What do you mean about that?’

‘See it’s confusing.’ Andromeda said and then she started pacing inside Zari’s head.

‘I didn’t know lycans could be confused of their feeling towards their mates.’ Zari said.

‘I know right. And you know what’s even more confusing? I am getting worried about Davorin.’ Andromeda said and that surprised Zari.

‘You’re worried about him?’ Zari asked and she felt Andromeda nodded.

‘I feel like Aeliana’s worry is rubbing off me. It’s frustrating me big time.’ Andromeda said.

  Zari then reached out for her angel.

‘You’re really worried about Davorin huh. I am too, but I’m sure he’s fine.’ Zari told her angel.

  Aeliana who has been curled at the corner of Zari’s mind, sighed and lifted her head.

‘I cannot help but worry. We left him unconscious and fighting for his life, and now he was missing and no one can tell if he’s okay or not.’

  Zari heard Aeliana’s soft voice that was clearly in pain.

‘Avo, I miss him very much.’ Aeliana cried.

  Zari then shifted back to human form and let out a sigh. She felt Aeliana’s pain and she understood very much.

‘Don’t worry Aeliana, I’ll make sure he is found. You will not lose him again.’ Zari said, and then she was about to get up when darkness suddenly took over.

  She saw herself walking around in the forest filled with ferns that some has different colours and old wood stump was covered with moss. And then she heard a branch snap. When she turned around she saw a figure, and out of curiosity she approached that figure. As the image become clearer, she realized that it was Demetrio.

  They stood in front of each other, under the moonlight. And then he offered his hand to her which she gladly took. Then they began to walk away hand in hand.

  Zari gasped when she got out of the darkness. It was a vision. And as she pants, she touched her chest and she could feel her heart races. Then she stood up and looked towards the forest. Something pulled her towards the forest, just like in her vision. Without any word, she dashed towards the forest. She was looking left and right as she run, not caring about any tree branch.

  Then she suddenly stopped as she felt the place is familiar to her. Huge ferns are around her that has different colours. Aside from the usual green, there are those of colour yellow and orange. She definitely saw it in her vision, and when she heard a branch snap she immediately turned around. And just like in her vision, she saw a figure standing there.

  Zari squint her eyes as she took a step towards the figure. And as she gets closer, the figure becomes clear. And it was Demetrio indeed who was surprised to see his beloved in the forest that time.

“Zari... What are you doing here?”He asked.

“I could ask you the same.”Zari said.

    Demetrio smiled and scratched the back of his head.

“Roko and I are flying back to Croatia tomorrow morning so I went out to feed.”Demetrio told her.

“Roko?” She asked.

“Oh, you two weren’t introduced yet. Roko is my second in command, executive secretary and best friend.”Demetrio answered.

“Hmmm. He sounds like a very busy person.”She said and Demetrio chuckled.

“Yeah, since I dump all my work to him. He’s in a short vacation that’s why he’s with me here in Hobart.”He told her.

“Did you even have the chance to explore Hobart? There are plenty pf places to go to.”She asked and Demetrio shook his head.

“Too bad, this is such a beautiful place.” She told him and then they looked at each other.

“Uhm... I still have time. Why don’t you join me in exploring right now?”Demetrio asked Zari and then he held his hand out to her.

  Zari looked at his hand and remembered the vision. She slowly placed her hand on his and then when he grabbed into her hand, he intertwined their fingers together.

“So where are we going?”She asked as they started walking.

“I heard the waves when I was finding my way out of this forest. Would you like to check on the beach?”Demetrio asked, and the Zari nodded.

  Demetrio smiled and Zari suddenly felt conscious of herself. And then Demetrio pulled her towards the direction where he heard the waves splashing. They started to walk hand in hand, like a normal couple having a stroll under the moon.

  The trails they are walking in slowly become lighter and more spacious. And while they are walking, Demetrio cannot help but feel that it seems like there is wall between. It’s like it blocks them part, so he decided to make a small talk to break that wall.

“Have you talked with the Elites?”He asked, and then Zari nodded.

“Yeah, I met with them earlier. I gave them the assignment and we have a schedule. We’ll be flying to your territory tomorrow night after every equipment will be ready.”Zari paused and then she looked at Demetrio.

“But then, I did some research and it’s a thirty-one hour flight! Thirty-one long freaking hours from Hobart to Croatia!” She exclaimed and it made Demetrio chuckle.

“I know it’s a very long journey.”Demetrio said.

“I can open make an opening so the travel will be cut short, but I don’t think I can hold that long with all the equipments and stuff.”Zari mumbled to herself.

  Zari can just open a portal towards their destination, but she hasn’t tried opening a portal with a thirty-one hour distance. She’s apprehensive of it and worried of the risk of something might happen.

“I called my staff back home and I arranged the guest house for you and your team. I would have offered for you to stay with me but I don’t think your father will appreciate that.” He said.

“Guest house is fine, besides my team needed privacy for the planning and they intend to be rowdy sometimes.”Zari told him and Demetrio nodded.

  And then once again they fell silent as they walk. Zari was thinking of many things and she hasn’t realized that Demetrio was looking at her. As Demetrio watches her, he noticed how her eyebrows knotted together and her lips pursed. He smiled as he finds that cute on her.

  Demetrio was about to speak when they both noticed how the sound of the waves became louder. They looked at each other and smiled; and then they started to jog towards where the sound is coming from. And once they got passed the last tree line, they were greeted by a steep ravine that leads towards the beach.

“Wow.”

  Zari cannot help but be amazed by the sight before her. The beach in front of them is not like any other, it was glowing.

“This place is amazing.”Demetrio said.

“I know right.”Zari mumbled.

  Then Demetrio pulled her and led her towards the trail that leads towards the beach. Demetrio never let go of Zari’s hand as they climbed down the trail. And once they are down, they walked towards the shore where the bioluminescent planktons were washed by waves into the shore, making it glow.

“It looks pretty. Like someone dumped what’s inside a lava lamp into the sea.”Zari said and then Demetrio nodded.

“Yeah I agree.”

  Then they decided to sit on the sand and just watch the waves glow.

“What was your territory like?”Zari asked and Demetrio looked at her.

  He lets out a sigh before he answered.

“Braeden territory is the whole Istria County, but Braeden House is located at Pula. It’s a city by the sea that has many old buildings.” Demetrio told her.

“The place sounds lovely, and it seems like you can go to the beach anytime you want.”

“Sometimes. I mostly stay indoors; a force of habit since vampires used to burn under the sun.”Demetrio said, and then Zari grinned.

“I was born way after grandma made all vampires be able to walk under the sun. But when we went back in time, my cousins and I witnessed how bothersome it is to wake up at night and sleep during day.”Zari paused.

“I remembered defending the walls of the Kingdom against lycans during broad daylight. Davorin was shocked to the core when I stepped out in the sun and didn’t burn at all.”Zari said, smiling at the memory.

  She remembered how Davorin remained under the shade and watched her threw off the lycans. They even exchanged some words like how he was named Davorin; they converse causally like old friends. And he didn’t leave her; he waited for her to come back in. He made sure she was okay, that he even caught her when her knees gave out and lost consciousness.

  Demetrio looked at Zari, and seeing the serene look on her face when she mentioned Davorin didn’t sit well with him.

“Were you close with my brother when you were in the past?”He suddenly asked.

“I can’t say that I am. I met you first and I knew then and there that we are mates. But Davorin, it took several interactions and some flashbacks before I realized that we are mates too.” Zari honestly answered.

“Flashbacks?” Demetrio asked and Zari nodded.

“His beloved Aelena, her soul is in me.”She answered, and Demetrio was taken back.

  He knew the said woman; she was a human servant and Davorin loved her deeply. When she died that is when his brother went derailed, abandoning his position as the heir of the House.

  If it’s true that she is his brother’s beloved, then he’s sure that he will do everything to have her. And that thought alone is something Demetrio didn’t like a bit. And to calm himself, he grabbed Zari’s hand and rubbed his thumb against her skin.

“I think your brother is right.”He blurted, and the Zari looked at him.

“Huh?”

“I am jealous and insecure.”

“I am jealous of my brother because you seem to be closer to him. When you talked about him, you were smiling while when you talked about me, you were crying.”Demetrio said, and Zari suddenly felt bad.

  She does realize that when she thought of Davorin earlier, she couldn’t help but smile. But when she remembered and talked about her encounter with Demetrio in the past, she was crying.

  Zari looked down for a bit before she shifted her eyes towards the glowing waves.

“I intend to get to know you better Zari. I hope you can give me that chance to make you smile while you think of me.”