Dreamer

24.

Orion.

"He will return." I utter those words, as even I, do debate if my words are to convince me or the leaders.

"And what is your assurance that he will? With what we know, only one man has ever survived the forest of the dead." Queen Felicia speaks.

"As you have said, one has survived it before, who's to say octavius also wouldn't, we all know the wisdom and strength he possess naturally." I respond to them.

"If you have been to the forest, you would know that strength or wisdom doesn't cover it or give you the grace to." Queen Nadia's voice comes through as after her words, the hall remains silent, knowing indeed she would know about it, considering her father was the one to survive it.

Unfortunately, he no longer lives as he paid the price of bringing back his dead daughter, Queen Nadia, whom the claws of Dumac drove through her during the first war. At the time, king lupicus couldn't bear the thought of loosing his daughter too, after which his wife had just died some months ago. So, he paid the price, as with dark magic, comes a price, and it took his magic and later on, his life.

"We cannot make a decision based on just facts, that we know. As it is, we may never know if octavius might return or not, but if he does, it is in good favor for us, and if he doesn't, I suggest we come up with another way of defeating Articus, but as of now, my decision stays null." Queen Felicity is the first to speak, as her words are reasonable but not satisfying.

"Queen Felicity is right, we barely cannot make a stand based on what we believe may happen. Especially when dealing with Articus, not everything works in your favor, but I would take your words into consideration, and speak to my people on other ways we can approach this matter  safely, with minimum casualties." Queen Nadia adds.

"I sit with the Queens on the decision. Why jump into the lion's den, when you have no way of killing the lion or taming it." King Lucius adds something reasonable since the time he's been here, as this time it is left to king Adrian to make his choice.

"I stand with the leaders on the decision. This is not just about securing the chosen, we also have to be ready for the number of bodies that would drop, so when there is a better strategy that requires less casualties, we'll make a stand then." King Adrian speaks,  as I sigh in defeat running a hand to my temple.

"But,... if octavius is to return successfully, then I stand with the plan." King Adrian's voice comes through as with his words, a smile covers my lips.

I guess Aurelia's presence, is indeed useful after all.

Its not a secret that king Adrain had always had an eye for Aurelia, and seeing that she's on our side, I figured it would be he useful to have her here to gain more favors to our side, and it does seem its happening just the way it should, as king Adrian's gaze moves to Aurelia.

"Thank you, king Adrain." I nod gracefully at him, before turning to queen Felicity who seats closer to him. "Queen Felicity?" I ask for her own vote on the issue.

Queen Felicity meets gaze with king Adrain as he gives her a nudging nod, and seeing as the both of them are fond of each other's clan, queen Felicity should also be placing her vote with us.

"Fine, but we'll need to be kept in on every move and decision that needs to be taken." Queen Felicity speaks.

"Definitely, your Highness." I nod with a smile to her, before moving gradually to queen Nadia.

"I would only be on this, to make sure that the demon's blood is not used in the wrong way, only for us to defeat Articus. Once we have that cleared, you have my vote." Queen Nadia says.

"You have our word, your Highness." I speak truthfully to her as with that I sigh in content, knowing we have only king Lucius to add his vote. And either he wishes to stay with us or not, his vote at this point does not entirely matter, as the the majority had already taken charge.

But, all due to courtesy, I'll need to ask him, of course. "King Lucius, kindly take your vote." I speak to him having a specious tone.

"Well at this point, I doubt if I'll decline. Majority has already taken the vote, hasn't it Orion?" King Lucius speaks, while I only stare at him with an unfazed gaze. "Anyways, since it is to defeat the common evil, why should I stand in the way of that." King Lucius adds as his words come as a statement, rather, I know it to be a question.

"Thank you, your Highness." My words as sly as his reply comes through. 

"If that is all Chief Kane, I do have other places to be." Queen Felicity gets up while speaking.

"That is all your highnesses." Chief Kane nods respectively in response to Queen Felicity. Having done with the meeting the leaders begin to leave the room.

I turn my gaze to Aurelia and Ares with a smile on my lips, as when my feet begin moving to meet them, they stop at a certain call of my name.

"Orion." I turn back hearing a familiar voice call me.

"Queen Nadia," I respond, before having my initial destination swifted back to Queen Nadia. I meet up with her, while the rest of the leaders leave the room fully, leaving Ares and Aurelia seated far away, while Chief Kane escorts the leaders out.

"Do you need anything, your Highness? I thought you would have left." I speak attentively to her, noticing the gaze she has on her.

"Not at all, we just need to talk, that's all." Queen Nadia speak, as the expression I hold before, swifts.

----------------

The sound of waters running cool my thinking as the words of Queen Nadia ring in my head, her words that remain in my head, yet, I fear to speak it.

Her words of great reminder of just what it is we're signing for. 

I sigh rubbing my hands over my wet hair as the water wash through my body. If only it could wash away my worry as well.

My mind drifts off to Athena, as of what Articus may be concocting in her head, because one thing I know is,  Articus is definitely planning something.

I can't help but feel the burden in my chest of having to save her, yet, I can't at the moment. I want to write the wrongs of what she thinks of my people, to show her that we're not the monsters she thinks of us.

I won't deny the fact that with Athena, I do see a resemblance between she and Isabella, yet, I can't help but feel it isn't just that.

Seeing her calm defining orbs, swift into fire blazing ones, with anger and revenge filled in them, one I dearly hope Articus do not take advantage of.

The last memory of her still in my head, as of how she begged with her life for Articus not to harm me at my weakest point, and with that, it makes me believe that whatever rage is inside her, is something not from within and can be erased, if only Articus does not harness it first.

Because, one he does, all may be lost.

I run another hand through my hair, with the waters still dripping  down, until I feel a cold touch wrapping around my abdomen, taking me by surprise.

"Hey baby." Adele's familiar voice comes through, as her hands rub around my abdomen.

"When did you come in?" I ask, with a side of my eye gazing at her naked body in the shower with me.

"A while. I heard the shower running, and figured I might as well join you." She replies, as with her last words she bites her lips sensually.

Adele's hands begin moving to places around my body, most especially my lower part, as with her strokes I find myself drifting off my earlier thoughts.

Thoughts of a war to come, that concerns one particular person in the middle of it all.

Atheena.

Adele comes in front of me, as her hands now wrap around my neck, lowering my face down to hers, until she has my lips in hers. With her sucking and biting, it doesn't take long for me to respond to her and my hands are all over her, pressing her to the wall.

My hands roam her behind, before they raise her up so she has her legs wrapped around my waist. Adele's lips leave mine l, as her hazel orbs stare straight in mine.

"Forget all your worries Orion, let me take them away. Let me comfort you." Her gaze still on mine, with her words uttering genuine, yet, I can't help but feel different with her methods, because one thing is certain, she is not what I need, and she may only distract me for a while, but what happens after that?

My hands move gradually away from her, as I slowly drop her down, while she stares at me in perplexity. "What's wrong? Did I say anything wrong?" she asks me.

"No, you didn't. I just... I just don't think this is the right time for this." I tell her while turning off the shower 

"You don't think this is the right time?" She repeats my question. "Then when is the right time Orion, because you were just over me too." She says, but I remain silent, not finding a suitable response. "You know what? Lately its starting to feel like I'm the one forcing myself on you." She continues.

"What? You're not, I didn't say so." I reply gently,  seeing  anger beginning to build up in her.

"Then what is it huh?" She furthers asking while to me I may have the words, but i can't find ways to express them as not to sound like a douche.

"I just have a lot on my mind lately, that's all." I lie.

"You think I don't know that? Why else do you think I'm trying to ease it all for you. Isn't that what this is about?" She speaks with her hands gesturing her words, while I stay quiet after that.

"I know it is, just...now's just not a good time. I'm not in the mood." I tell her, trying to cut the discussion short. 

"When we agreed to this, I recall saying no strings attached, but, it doesn't give you the right to make me feel like s**t, or just some girl who f***s you without respect." Adele spits in my face harshly, making me realize how much of a douche I may have sounded at the end.

Shit.

Adele wastes no time, before she leaves to exit the restroom. "I didn't mean it that way... Wait...Adele..." I try speak after her, but she neither turns to me, nor acknowledge my calls.

"Adele," I call again, as this time she picks up her clothes and slips them on.

"Are you done acting like a jerk?" Her only words to me, with her demeanor erecting with anger. I stare at her speechless, the words staying glued in my head, knowing I've hurt her feelings.

"Yeah of course." She scoffs, nodding her head negatively at how I can't even find words to explain myself. With that, she begins to walk away from me to the door.

"Adele..." I call after her, but she doesn't respond, nor turn, as she opens the door, ready to exit the room. I notice her pause in trance by the door thinking she may actually be willing to let us talk it out, but, when she moves away from the door, revealing her reasons for stopping, both she and I now carry the same look on our faces.

Stun. 

"Octavius..." My gaze remain still, as I stare at the man at my door.

"Hello Orion."