Memories Of That Night

we meet again

Melanin POV

"Malik, stop running ". I shouted

"No mom this is fun".he replied playfully

I hissed in frustration before running after him. how can a boy of his age be this fast I thought to myself.I ran after him until I caught up with

"You think you are smart, huh?". I asked while dragging him along with me.

"Mom".he shouted

"No Malik, no". I protested

I took him away while he was struggling in my hands.

"This is bad mom, this is bad ".he protested.

I ignored him and took him home .when we got home, we met lali by the door. Malik left my hand and ran up to lali

"What is it my dear Malik".lali asked while touching Malik face

"Mama doesn't want me to go out and play ".he replied her .lali gave him a pity look before bending down so that she was almost the same height with him

"Mama is just trying to protect you Malik, the village is not safe anymore, and you shouldn't be playing around for now "

"Why can't I play ".he asked

"Because we are under attack "she replied him while rubbing his shoulder

"Dose that me I can't play anymore?".he asked in a hurting voice

"No darling,it's just for the main time okay"

"Really ".he asked hopefully

"Yes".she replied with a smile on her face .he smiled at her before running inside the house

"Stop running". I shouted

"Let him be".lali chuckled

"You are spoiling him". I told lali

"Allow me ".she replied

We went inside the house and met lali husband and Malik playing a game

"Don't you think the guards are too much "

Lali asked Dean(her husband)

"I don't think so".he replied her

"It's feels like we are in a cage". I spoke up

"It's for our safety". Dean replied me

I hissed and sat on the stool.

"I heard the emperor will visit the village today ". Dean said those words directly to me.

"That's the more reason I and Malik needs to stay indoor throughout the day ". I replied

"You don't have to hide from him ".lali spoke up

"It's pretty obvious Malik is his son the green eyes the black think hair and his skin color is too much of a coincidence"and I don't want him to see him ". I told lali

"I support you on this ".lali spoke up "after all you still haven't gotten any memory of that night and so has the emperor".

"I pray he doesn't remember a thing". I spoke in a calm voice."my life here is better off than in the palace ".

"Malik will start asking questions"

Dean spoke up

"When that time comes I will explain everything to him "I told him

Both lali and Dean gave me a sad look before looking away.I hissed in frustration and stood up from the stool

"Malik ". I shouted his name, but got no response from him

"Malik dear". I called him again and still got no response from him

"Where is the kid". I hissed and walked away. I check his room but couldn't find him, I checked backyard, but there wasn't a trace of him.

I walked into the living room and met only lali and dean there .lali must have noticed my worried look and stopped what she was doing

"What's the matter?".she asked with a worried look

"I can't find Malik". I replied with a worried face

"He will be somewhere around".dean assured me

"No I have checked everywhere around the house, but I couldn't find him". I spoke with so much fear in my voice .the village wasn't safe for us and I don't know where Malik is .lali Walk up to me and held my shoulders

"Calm down, let's go find him".lali spoke those words, and we walk out of the house.

We search the backyard and the neighborhood but still no sign of him.

"Let go separate way ".lali told me.

I agreed with her and went to the left while she went through the right.

I searched for a while before I saw him in a friend's house playing with their daughter

"Malik". I called out.

He turned around and saw me

"Mama you finally found me ".he spoke with a childish smile on his face

I walk up to him and held his hands dragging him alongside with Me

"You think this is a hide-and-seek game huh". I asked him while dragging him along

"Mama I want to play ".he pleaded

"No Malik not today ". I told him with anger while dragging him along with me.

We were almost home when I noticed the royal cottage coming before us

"That must be the emperor ,he can't see me, he can't see Malik". I thought to myself

"Keep your face down ". I told Malik

"Why mom?".he asked

"Please just do as I say ". I told him

Immediately he kept his face down and the royal cottage passed us. I made a sign of relief as I noticed the cottage passed us.

I was about dragging Malik along with me when I noticed the cottage stopped, and I saw a guard walking towards us

"I just pray it's not what I was thinking". I told myself.

Emperor Kia POV

"Stop". I commanded. the Chariot stopped immediately I said those words.

"Who was that ". I asked

"No idea my king". One of the guards replied, "Bring them to me ". I commanded

One of the guards walk up to them and told them I wanted to see them.I could feel my heart beat increased, and I became restless the Moment those two figures were walking towards me

The lady has the skin color of Melanie, but she looks more beautiful in appearance even though I couldn't see her face and that of the boy with her.

I was still in thought when the guard told me the lady and her child were here. I opened the curtain covering me from seeing her properly and came down from the Chariot

The moment I came down from the Chariot, I came in contact with Melanie.

She stares at me with shock before falling on the ground while dragging the boy with her.I removed my focus on her and stare at the boy .he was bowing like Melanie, but I could see that he was scared.

"Stand up".I commanded .she hesitated for a moment before standing up and raising her head up without looking at me. I took a better look at her and noticed she was more beautiful than the ones I have in my memory.I stare at her for a moment before a tiny voice caught my attention

"Can we go now mom".the tiny voice pleaded.

As soon as he said those words,, I took a better look at him and realized he was Melanie's son. I took a better look at him and saw he has beautiful set of green eyes just like Mara.where could he have such green eyes, it will definitely come from the guard his father.

He stares at me who those green eyes.I look at him and saw that he wasn't scared of me any bit. most kids always run to their mom whenever they see me except from my daughters. but this kid was staring at me right in the eyes with no fear.

"Greet the emperor ". She told him while dragging him to bow before me .he hesitated before bowing his head

"Greetings".his voice was cute and too bold for a child his age .when he raised his face and lock eyes with me, it felt like I could see myself in him .he had my black thick hair and the same set of green eyes.

I finally noticed I was quiet and decided to speak up

"How have you been doing". I spoke while staring at her

"Very well my emperor".she said those words still facing the ground. I really felt frustrated and really wanted to look in into her eyes, those eyes that have been tormenting me for years

"Look at me, when you speak ". I commanded .it wasn't my intention to speak to her in that manner, but that was the only thing I could do to see her beautiful face.

Immediately I said those words she gently and slowly raised her face and lock eyes with me. Imediately I lock eyes with me, I felt my heart beat increased and felt funny butterflies in my stomach. the last time I felt this way was the day she gave birth and was in my arms, and that was the day I lost her forever.I hissed in frustration and closed my eyes not minding she was in front of me.

"Mama, I'm hungry".those cute little voice brought me back from my thought.

"Shhh".she told him while closing his mouth with her hand. he tried removing her hand with a frown on his face and I find it adorable.

"Forgive his manner, my king, he is just a kid ".she says those words without looking at me.

"Are you hungry". I said those words without realizing when I said it.

"Yes".he replied quickly, even when her hands were still on his Mouth.I chuckled softly at his behavior before turning to my guard.

"Bring some fruits from the basket". I commanded my guard. he nods his head and quickly went to the Chariot

"You don't have to do that, my king". Melanin spoke while giving her son a death stare .he just smiled innocently at her before smiling at me. I swear I literally saw my smile on him .shit what was I thinking. the boy can never be my son, he was Melanie and the guard son

"Here it is your highness".the guard stood in front of me with some fruits with him.

"Give him "

The guard gave the fruits to the boy who happily took it from him, ignoring his mother's angry look.

"Thank you ".he said those words while smiling at me. I did not know when I unknowingly smiled back at him. I noticed what I was doing and quickly compose myself.

I look at Melanie and noticed she was really getting uncomfortable, and it was really obvious.

"So you stay in this village". I asked, still staring at her.

"Yes your highness"

"The village isn't safe and you guys should be in your home ". I spoke not in anger but with concern .the thought of something happening to them really scare me .even if I had nothing to do with them

"We are almost home ".she spoke up while bringing the boy closer to her,

I was about to say something when I heard

Mara calling out to me.

"Father ".she shouted and was about coming out of the Chariot.

"Stay inside, I will be back ". I told her while staring at Melanie.Melanie lock eyes with me but quickly look away.

"Permission to. leave your highness".she spoke up with her eyes on the ground. I hissed in frustration. despite she was out of the palace she still behaves as one of the maids . I stare at her one more than before moving my gaze to the cute little boy .he met my eyes and smiled at me.I felt my heart flutter the moment I saw his smile and for some strange reason I wish I could see those smiles every day.

I noticed I have been quiet for a while and decided to speak up

"You can leave ". I told her. Imediately I said those words she quickly bow her head and like a speed of light she dragged her son along with her and left my presence.I stare at her and noticed she has gotten a good shape, and you wouldn't know she was a mother.I kept looking at her until they were out of my sight.I hissed in frustration before walking back to the Chariot

"Let's go". I told the guards