The Shadow Prince

Chapter 9

"Don't go out with stranger"

I remember mother's word about not going with stranger when she explain one day about being kidnapped.

She warned me since I was young about that and now is the first time I ever break those word.

Being in the back of motorcycle of a stranger.

Do you know where he's going to take you?

What if he's a Murderer?

Or worse.... a r***r"

No.. No.. No.. I shouldn't have that negative thought.

At least some people know you'll go with him, so if anything happen he won't go anywhere.

Shut up!

"Lucia.."

Huh?

I kept my eyes close for a minute with my arms still around his waist until I feel his hand touch me.

"Not that I don't like you hold me tight like this, Lucia. But we're here" He speak amusingly. I gasped and quickly pull out my arms from his body with red face.

"Sorry" I whisper.

"I'm not complaint but we should go"

Malcolm help me jump up from his huge motorcycle by holding both of my hands.

"Oh!!" I blinked several times when I realize where he take me.

This is the famous Black's mansion.

Wow.. It's huge.

And it surround by the forest.

The forest is not that scary like people thought when were inside it. I can tell why their families build the house here, it's so calm and  pretty.

Then I saw Tobius stand beside a black car with a picnic basket on his hands with a big grin plastered in his face.

Honestly the Black's mansion didn't looks like an old mansion like Cindy told me that it was build 100 years supposedly looks, shockingly the building looks modern unlike what they told.

"Hello again, my queen" I chuckle when Tobius greet me oddly which I know was only a joke but still make my heart beat faster when he grab my hand and kiss it.

Malcolm and Tobius had this weird gesture like they're from Victorian area which is odd since I never find any man who can act like them anymore.

"Morning, Tobius" I smile warmly.

"You brought my request?" Malcolm raise his brow with his gaze lock on Tobius hand that holding mine while he speak.

"Yes, I brought it, sir" Tobius release my hand quickly when he speaks before shove the picnic basket to Malcolm.

Then without said anything, Malcolm grabs my hand and start walking away after he take the picnic basket.

I didn't know how to not look rude leaving Tobius like that, so I quickly waves my hand and he smile kindly when he notice my gesture.

"Have fun!" He shouts at the same time we go into the woods.

Everything changes as soon we step inside the wood.

It's darker and colder inside.

Scared, I pause and stopped on my track.

"Don't worry, nothing will harm you" Malcolm said firmly before he start walking with me.

"Where are we going?" I asked when I start moving my feet to follow him.

"Somewhere special" He replied "I found the place one time and decide to go there when I'm tired with everything and need a break, noone beside Tobius knows about this place" He explain "I want to show you the special place so if.. IF anything happened, you'll know where you'll go and I always find you there" I frowned when hearing his strange words.

IF anything happened, you'll know where you'll go and I always find you there

Why he said that?

"What do you mean?"

"We're here" he interrupt and I let go of his hand to see a wall of leaves and trees.

This?

But Malcolm walk straight ahead until he remove the branches and it show a small cave.

Shocked, my eyes widened when I see how dark the cave is.

I'm not going..

"Um.." I didn't move and scare with how dark it is.

What is he going to show me?

In that dark place?

Told you he's lunatic.

No.

He wait with his raised hand for me to grab.

"Trust me" He whispered softly and I didn't know how, but I can't see lies in his eyes. There's only kindness and oddly.. admiration.

You're crazy, Lucia. No! My mind shout angrily when she knows what is my answer.

Malcolm smile when I take one step closer and take his hand.

we walk together hand by hand to the dark place. Malcolm know where he's going and lead the ways while I can see only darkness.

Thank God it didn't take a long time until the scene shocked me.

"Oh my God"

The cave is a gate to amazing waterfall inside the forest.

I don't know if there a lake under us and a small waterfall surround by the trees which is so beautiful.

Now I now why he likes this place.

I bet noone knows about this place.

He start moving and with my hand still in his, I follow him and we stop to the small tree house not far from the waterfall where was the best place to watch all the scene around us.

"Tobius help me build it" He said when put the picnic basket to the small tree house.

"I never go to picnic before" I told him when help him with the food.

"Ever?" He frowned and stopped.

I shook my head "My parents, well.. let say they lost their loves long ago when I'm only 6 or 7, I thought it was fine seeing them arguing and didn't talk and also father never home anymore while mom start living with her works so.. yeah.. I never went out for a picnic" I don't know how I can speak easily to him and blush when realize it.

Malcolm Shockingly touch my cheek and smile, he didn't say anything like he knows I don't like people's pity.

"But I always have books" I added simply with a small smile.

We stood there for a second, staring at each other eyes until I hear a wolf howling loudly around us.

"Oh God, what is that?" I speak panicky while Malcolm sighed with his eye close.

"Stupid guardian dog" He murmur and I didn't know how to respond that since I didn't know he wants me to hear it or not.

Guardian dog?

"Don't worry" I turn my gaze back to him when he speak "It's a forest so there's wild animal" He told me and held my hand for assurance for a second.

"Is it okay? Are they going to find us here?"

He shook his head and start pulling out the food again "Tobius and my other bodyguards already clear the area around my mansion so no, noone going to where we are right know" He explain and added softly "I'll kill then if they dare"

What? Killed?

Did I hear clearly?

"What?" I gasped but Malcolm just smile.

He looks different.

How can he look darker and like having a dark aura the moment we step inside the forest?

His face still looks the same perfect like before but there's something more.

"Someone told me that your family build the house more than 100 years ago" I decide to make a conversation, he nodded and I keep going "So you have your grandfather name?"

"My grandfather?" He ask confusingly.

"Malcolm.. Phil said that this land around here is owned by Malcolm Black since 100 years ago, it's your grandfather, right?!" I explain and notice how his eye twitch for amusement after I speak "What?" I frowned.

He shook his head and chuckled "I forgot that this town had special story about me and my family" He replied and I just realize that maybe there also bad story that this town spread about his family.

The story that isn't true, I guess.

"This is small town" I said and he nod.

"Everyone want to know about everything"

I chuckled "Yeah and you know someone warned me for spending time with you" I speak lightly but Malcolm smile drop and he look serious after I said that.

"What? Who?" He asked darkly and I can see how tense he looks now.

Did his eyes turned black?

I wave my hand nonchalantly "Don't mind, .I'm not going to listen what people say anyway" I said simply but still see the tension in his gesture.

He didn't say anything after that and after all food are outside the basket, I just realize that it is enough for 6 people.

"Wow" I amaze and he gave a warn smile.

"Tobius and the maid prepare this" He stroke his neck nervously.

"I'll definitely gain weight" I chuckled.

Malcolm frowned "you're not on diet aren't you? You're too skinny and need more meat" He look serious when he speak and I laugh.

This feels right.

How come spending time with him feels right?

"How far is that waterfall?" I ask when we start chewing the food and sight seeing the beautiful scene.

"Not far" Was his short response and I turn my gaze quickly.

"But we definitely will be dead if we fall"

"Oh yeah, you afraid of heights?" He teased.

I shook my head "Not really but I don't want to fall down there, it look dangerous.. and far" I answer him truthfully and gulp when I studying the height where the waterfall fall under us.

"Let's jump and find out"

Choked on my own food, I need a second before speak.

"Excuse me? You're crazy!" I coughing and shook my head while try to stood up.

Malcolm stop me by grasp my elbow.

"It's fun" He grinned.

He definitely crazy.

"Malcolm, It's suicide" I reason and wave my hand to the waterfall "I'll die the second I jump from there" I shivered thinking about dying, I'm too young to die and so many thing on my check list that I need to do.

Malcolm shock me and snap me from my mind by touching my hand before my hair that fall in front of my face.

"You trust me?" He lock his eyes when he speak.

I don't know what's with those eyes, but I lose myself the moment I meet his eyes.

Darn it!

I rolled my eyes "No, if you want to kill me by asking me jump from there" I bluntly answer "It's going to be cold too, right?" I said without realize he walking closer and gasped when he grabs me and put me in his shoulder like I'm weightless.

"Malcolm!!" I Shockingly shout, knowing his intention when he walk closer to the cliff.

Oh My God..

Then my heart beating faster when he keep walking to the cliffs.

"MALCOLM?!" I hit his back, realize what his plan. "LET ME GO! NO.. MALCOLM NO!!"

Then he stopped and put me down on my feet.

He studying my face for a second with amused expression.

When I thought he won't do anything bad...

"Let's go!" He winked.

What?

I frowned, confused with his action.

Until, he jump with me.

"AAAHHHHH.....!!!!" I scream out loud and put my arms on his neck.

I'm going to die.

I'M GOING TO DIE!!!!

"I HATE YOU, MALCOLM!!"

********

"You're freezing"

"Thank you for that" I snap rudely and keep walking with trembling body while Malcolm just chuckled. I almost can't feel my skin, it's too cold and scary.

"I told you It's fun"

Jerk.

He make fun of me.

"Fun my ass" I rolled my eyes and again hear him chuckled.

"Here" He put his jacket in my wet clothes since I didn't bring any change clothes so we walks back in this freezing air with our wet clothes because of his stupid action.

I didn't say anything when he put his dry jacket and sighed when I smell his scent.

"Oh my God, what happen?"

Tobius frowned and two other people comes then two maids come to help me and drag me to one of Black's room.

I look back to meet Malcolm gaze who nod and mouthed 'sorry'

"You're freezing, my queen" I gaped when hear one of them speak and call me.. "queen?"

What the hell?

Why everyone called me that?

I thought it just a teased word that Tobius said to me, why the other call me with the same word?!

"Hurry, hot bath and new clothes!!" The maid shout panicky while I try to say that I'm okay, but she keep pushing me to drink hot chocolate first before she drag me to take a hot bath.

Inside the bath, I just realize how fancy it is.

Three people can take a bath together since it so big with a gold color which make it looks elegant and a small TVs where you can watch something while you're taking a bath.

This bathroom is definitely bigger than my whole house back in the town, I chuckled and shook my head thinking about it.

When I finished, the same woman waiting for me with a clothes beside the big bed.

Wow.. who's room is this?

This is amazing.

A big king bed, with white couch and then little library with a set of Red and black couch to read those book then one big plasma TV.

how does it feel to life like this?

"Master Malcolm said this clothes suit you more than a dress that I prepare" The maid voice snap me from my mind and I smile when I see a jeans and a black sweater in her hand.

"Thank you, it definitely my style" I said truthfully and she nod before try to help me wore the clothes.

"I can.." I try to say something but she insist and keep standing with the clothes I'm her hand.

Thank God, I already wear underwear that she left inside the bathroom.

"We're happy he finally find you, ma'am" She start when I put on the jeans.

Pause, I frowned when I realize what she told me.

"Find me?"

She nod firmly "Master go anywhere to search you ma'am and we all glad with his successful" I didn't say anything and just listen to her "And I am proud to be your helper, Oh.. I am Gwen, it's nice to finally meet you my queen" She said cheerfully and kindly with politeness that I can find on Tobius and Malcolm

Queen? Helper?

What the hell?!

What is he talking about?

Knock.. knock..

Gwen smile politely before she open the door for Malcolm to come in and leaves us alone.

"Hey" He greet with a smile. "You okay?"

I nod "I'm fine, thanks for the warm bath and the clothes" I replied when two helper walks in with snack in their hand before put it on the table.

"So, you like my room?" I choked and my eyes widened with the news.

"What? Your.. your room?" I said Shockingly.

He shrugged "Sorry for the fright" He said softly and take a seat on one of the couch beside his small library "I shouldn't do that, I acted like a child" He breathe.

I sighed before follow him and take a seat beside him.

"It's fine, I guess after all I find that.. um.. fun" I admit shyly and saw him smile.

"But I shouldn't do that, Tobius mad for put you in danger" He breathe "I forgot that you're a human and fragile"

What?

Human? Fragile?

Everything didn't make sense. Why he says that?

Everyday I spend my time with them, they act and speak non sense..

And make me wondering, if the scary story about the Black family is true?

What are they?

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