"Leonardo I am not good enough-"
"You are everything I want and everything I need." He stops me. "Will you wait for me?" I did not even need to think about the answer because no matter what my mind told me, my heart knew who it wanted. I nod. He grins triumphantly. He takes me by surprise and attempts to pull me into him but my shoes slip and I stumble backward into the portal taking him with me.
We clash onto the hard floor. Leonardo lays beneath me, smiling that brilliant smile of his. He looked like an angel when he smiled like that. I look down at Leonardo for a moment too long and forget where I am. Leonardo is watching me. What is he thinking? There was a cough and we suddenly realised where we were. My mouth drops and I feel my body tense. No, no, no! I noticed the dirty stares I am receiving. Caroline, looks at me with a look of shock and I can't help but notice she has grown.
King Isaac is staring down at me coldly. Let us just say he doesn't seem amused. I find Josephine standing by an older woman in the corner, both of their eyes turn to knives. Members of the court stare at us disapprovingly. What did we just fall into?
"Did I forget to mention that we are going to portal into the courts?" Cam said apologetically whilst covering his eyes and running his hand through his hair nervously. I am visibly pale. Somebody just shoot me with an arrow and put me out of my misery.
I lay there in the Center of the courts. Not only am I straddling someone else's fiancée. I am on top of a prince, a future king. In front of every important member of Rumore, including his father and sister. This could only happen to me.
"You always know how to make an entrance, Miss Bourdet." Isaac mutters bitterly.
Chapter Thirty-two- Never
So here I was straddling a prince, in the middle of the grand hall. I was not only straddling him in front of all the nobles, but his fiancee. Yet that was not even the worst part. I was straddling him in front of his younger sister, my boss and his father, the king. Brilliant Leila! Just brilliant!
Cam stood on the edge of the room, cringing at the scene with one hand over his mouth to stop himself from laughing. He was torn between laughter and nerves. All the young ladies stared at me with envious eyes whereas others with horror.
Josephine though looked like she wanted to skin me alive. She narrowed her eyes and her nose was all scrunched up. I blushed at the shocked faces of the nobles. I got up so quickly, I felt slightly nauseous from the sudden movement. My world began to blur and all at once I felt light-headed.
Leonardo caught my arm and steadied me. Everyone was looking at his hand on my arm. "Are you okay?" He did not even bother to look at the startled faces of his subjects or his fiancee. Whispers filled the room. I felt sick and weak to the stomach.
"Leila...Leila." He repeated.
"I am fine." I try to push him away. All I want at this very moment is for people to stop staring at me. I would do anything to stop all the attention I am receiving. That is when I felt myself go cold, very cold. But I ignore the ill feeling.
"Leonardo!" Isaac barks. "Would you care to explain where you have been and what is going on?" Leonardo is forced to tear his eyes off me and both of us turn to the king. He sits on his throne proudly. His cold exterior is as fearful as ever yet when I look at him now, I do not hesitate to look directly at him.
He had lied and hidden secrets from me. He was one of the few people who knew who my mother was but I doubted he would be willing to share. Why did he have me in his possession when I was a baby? Why didn't he tell me who my parents were? Why would he hide me in a small town? There were so many puzzle pieces that I had yet to understand. Too many.
Leonardo only had to say three words to create absolute chaos in the throne room. "Eris is dead." Whispers, shouts, and gasps bounced off every wall, window and pilar only to slap me in the face.
"Pardon?" The king stares at his son as if he is a ghost.
"Eris, the mistress of Evil. Will no longer be a problem for Rumore. I, Josephine, Leila, Cam and Bayard made sure of it." Every individual gives Leonardo an appalled look as he says each of our first names.
"You expect me to believe that she was defeated by..." He stares upon Josephine first, then Cam, Leonardo but he stops on me. Then he narrows his eyes and I can see the wheels in his brain turning. Wait, if he knew my mother was a sorceress- then he knows about me?!
I am dead. Rest in peace Leila. Rest in peace. I gulp down hard. This life threatening information had only dawned on me.
"How?" Isaac's cold eyes did not leave me.
"It was not easy, I mean there were dragons, we had to go to the gutters, we fought demons, we ran into medusa..."
"What about that Minotaur?! I mean, I still have not gotten over how unlucky I am! Oh and don't forget the man eating trolls!" Cam adds. They spoke between them calmly, as if they were discussing the weather.
"Oh yeah, I almost forget about that!" Leonardo laughed.
"The fake folk also were far too tricky. They love making new ways of playing with words. They have creative ways of avoiding the truth." Cam muttered.
"What about the pixies? I did not particularly like that. But I suppose the whole getting thrown into jail with bandits was the worst." Neither of them bothered to look at the gobsmacked expressions of everyone in the courtroom. I slapped myself in the face, so much for not drawing attention.
"That was the worst for you! I thought the nearly dying would have been the most disagreeable part."
"Which time?" Leonardo laughs. "I think I lost track...after all we were cornered by medusa, the seelie queen, trolls, Eris, a dragon, thieves, that witch."
The king makes a gruff sound that snaps them both back into reality. "So who is Bayard?" The king must have been doing a headcount during their conversation. I physically tremble and my thighs feel heavy all of a sudden. What is wrong with me? I must just be nervous.
"The bird." Leonardo shrugs.
"You named the bird?" The king looks at Leonardo as if he was a stranger.
"Of course, the bird has a name. What do you expect to call him 'Mr. Bird'? It's rather dull don't you think?" Cam gives a look of pure foolishness. Isaac takes this to heart as his stare grows even colder than before, if that is possible.
"It's a long story..." Leonardo runs his hand through his hair "but right now, I believe all of us need a well earned rest and clean. With your permission sir."
"Of course." The king nods, looking at us. That is when I see the struggle in his eyes and I realise why I am still breathing. He cannot execute me without proof. He can not touch a hair on my head without evidence. He can't admit he ever knew my mother- because that would lead to unwanted questions. He can't do anything. He is stuck in his own web of lies. "But first I want to say something whilst we are alone. Servants and guards escort Mr....?" Isaac shouts Cam a look of repulsion as he eyes him up and down.
"Cam." He introduces himself.
"Mr. Cam and his bird to a room. As well as, her lady Josephine. Make sure she is well attended to." The king pauses, seeing the mud covered gown that Josephine is wearing. If he disliked her appearance I wondered what he was thinking about the rest of us. Cam, Leonardo, and I had been beaten and battered. A layer of dried blood, fresh dirt and grime laid on the east of our skin. He waves the servants and guards away. "The rest of the court please leave." I turn to join the rest of them but he stops me. "Miss Bourdet, you are not done yet."
I stay firm in place and I feel as if my legs are stone weighing me down. I feel like I am sinking. Like I am slowly drowning. I can feel the air becoming thicker and harder to push down with every second.
The heavy doors close with and bang. There was a brief silence before Leonardo spoke. "What would you like to discuss?" My temperature began to rise and words seem to muffle into one.
"I want to know how it happened...how you killed such a powerful sorcerer? Armies have fallen at her feet. " That's when I see it, the wound on my left thigh. It is a narrow diagonal slit but from it oozes a black bubbling liquid. It al
most looks like what I imagine a melted rock to look like. The demon had me.
"Leo-" I begin but the king cuts me off.
"HOW DARE YOU INTERRUPT ME! I AM YOUR KING. HOW DARE YOU ADDRESS MY SON BY HIS FIRST NAME..." I never heard what he said next because a gasp escaped my lips as my lungs burned, it was as if someone had set them on fire. I could feel this flame set alight from inside me and my eyes watered from the pain.
"Leila!" Leonardo shouted, reaching out to me. I felt myself go loose and limp. Lights began to fade away.
"You have a large scratch from a demon, you have venom in your blood. I need to get you to the alchemist..." Leonardo's arms wrap themselves from beneath them and I feel all his muscles tense.
"Ethel is no longer in the castle. She seems to have abandoned her post." I overhear the king muttering annoyed.
I am sorry that me being in agony is such an inconvenience. Pure, wholehearted, sarcasm. "Dr. Proudcloud, should be of some use."
"Where?" Is all Leonardo asks and even though everything blurs I can still see the worry in his eyes. I am not as tough as I claim.
"The tower, Ethel's old quarter's."
I feel a burst of wind brush through my hair as Leonardo turns on his heel in another direction. "Leila, just hold on. Hold on." My heavy-lids begin to shut. I catch a glimpse of horrified faces as I am carried down the hall.
I drift as my eyes finally close. A bright light forces me from my slumber. I find myself standing in a large room. The floor is a shade of silver-grey marble. The walls are decorated with golden ornaments. A persian handmade carpet sat in the middle. The pillars were made of pure-solid gold and a chandelier hang above me. Marble sculptures of angels sat on white stone pedestals. Large windows allowed light to burst thru and everything seemed to glimmer. Where am I?
I stared down at my clothes. I was no longer in dirty, ripped, and torn clothes. I smelt a mixture of rose petals and sea air. My hair had been brushed and combed. "Hello!" I called and my voice echoed through the room. "Anyone here?"
"I am right here darling," I turned to see a figure standing in the corner. He was leaned against a pillar. The gorgeous boy with the dragon tattoo. "You!" I narrow my eyes at him and I feel nothing but hate.
"Me." He smirks and unfolds his arms. It is terrifying how much his darkness his smile could hide. "I have heard you have been up to no good. You killed Eris?" He walks towards me with the grace of an angel. How did he know? His eyes watch me.
"I told you, I am not to be underestimated." I snap.
"I would never underestimate you, my love. But you forget to get rid of that annoying dragon and I am pretty sure it will want some sort of revenge for you killing it's master." He winks. The boy with the dragon tattoo was something so dangerous, because he was always one step ahead. "That golden dragon will come back and it won't be kind."
"I can take care of that." I bite my lip. I look up to find his eyes on my lips. He radiated evil yet he managed to take your breath away all at the same time. He takes a step closer, too close for my liking.
"Or I could help you...for a price." He sighs pushing back a strand of my hair and I push his hand away.
"I don't need or want your help." I spit. He simply smiles at my defiance. He turns to sit back down on a golden chair.
"As you wish, princess." He crosses his legs with a smile across his lips.
"I am not a princess." I glare at him. His grin simply widens. I look into his eyes and see darkness. Miles upon miles of darkness but I see my world crumbling and falling into pieces.
He runs a hand through his thick hair. Goosebumps came in, with no purpose, just like rain drops. To describe him, would be like to describe heaven and hell. He was beautiful and everything every girl dreamt of. He was the perfect sculpture, as if the gods and goddesses had shaped him themselves. He was everything you ever wanted but inside he was cold-blooded. He was without a doubt the devil in disguise.
"Who are you?" I ask. But I really stare currently and he does not remove his intense gaze. I wanted to scream. "What do you want from me?!" He gets up from his chair and strides towards me quickly.
"Tell me, little girl..." He begins to circle me like a panther, circles its prey.
"Don't call me that!"
"You know so little about me and I know so much about you..." He sighs.
"You know nothing about me." I take a step back.
"I know when you were a child you would lay awake and sleep in a corner beside the fire flames." He steps forward.
"Lucky guess. Everyone sleeps by fireplaces or they would freeze to death." I shrug and pretend not to be startled even though I am slightly nervous.
"But you slept by the fire so that every so often the flames or a spark would burn you. You did it to stay awake. To hide from the monsters of the night but most of all to awaken you from the nightmares." I stiffen all over. "You would dream of a better life...a life with loving parents that would only support you. You dreamt of a home..."
"Stop!" I glare at him. "Get out of my head." I warned. I stormed off heading for the door but as I pulled the lock, a knife threw and jabbed its way into the lock. I tried to pull it open but it was no use. He had a good aim but that only made me hate him more. I try to pull the lock more but I cut the side of my palm on the metal of the blade. Everything stops and he casts an immobilizing spell my way.
"Be Careful love, you are going to hurt yourself." I try to move but I cannot. He smirks at my struggle. After a moment or two, he reverses the spell.
"Send me back." I demanded. "Leave me alone! Find someone else to torment." He is suddenly centimeters away. I feel his hot breath on my neck and I shiver. He still looked as good the first day I saw him.
He had been caged against the wall and I thought about slapping him or sending him a spell but that would be of no use. I could sense how dangerous he was and I was not sure if I could overpower him or his binding spell.
"You still haven't figured it out have you."
"That you're a nosy psychopath with an ego." I dig. But he just rolls his big silver eyes. "Oh I am forgetting to be arrogant."
He simply chuckles. "Arrogant?"
"Yes. Extremely." I snap.
"How?" His warm breaths stroke my neck.
"You spy on my thoughts, you see my memories without any permission..." I argue. Suddenly, I feel angry. "I don't even know who you are!"
"I don't need permission." He snarls. "Because I shall do as I please."
"Oh we will see about that." I snap. He chuckles at my harsh comments and cold eyes.
"Don't challenge me." He warns. "I am not the kind of person to test, and walk away alive."
I stare at him expressionless even though inside my heart is racing. "So you're a murderer?"
He smirks. "Oh darling, I am far worse than that..." His hot breaths stroke my cheek. "The worst is yet to come, my darling." He smirked at my racing heart. I could hardly breathe. My pounding heart was racing."Scared yet?"
I gritted my teeth. "Never."
Chapter Thirty-three- Partner in Crime
They were so deep, so dark secrets that he keeps... Pitch-black darkness swallowed me. Then I woke up with a blur and the words echoing in my mind. His words resonate in my mind.
"Leila." A musical voice sounded but I sat up immediately. I could feel the heat of my temperature. I felt like it was a hundred degrees in here. I felt the sweat on my brow and I felt the heat on my skin. "Breathe. Breathe. Calm down, I am here. It's me Leonardo." He cups my face with his hand. His hand's feel like ice against my burning skin. My skin is covered in droplets of sweat and I feel like I am in a tropical climate where the air is thick and heavy. I gulp down clumps of air but I feel as if I can barely breathe.
I turn to look into his deep caribbean eyes. I blink several times before recognising the room I am in. "It's okay, you are in the infirmary. Where Ethel treated you last time." I nod, taking in this new information.
"Just breathe." He repeated. Leonardo sat on t
he edge of his seat analyzing every inch of me. "You passed out in the courtroom, I brought you here. The new alchemist, Mr. Proudcloud told me it was amazing you survived. The pain your body had to endure to fight the toxins." He looked down at the floor grimly. "Leila, you just stood there as if everything was okay...you hide all your agony to yourself. You keep it all to yourself."
"I felt fine." I lied through a croaky voice whipping by forehead from sweat.
"You just lied to me again." He stares at me angrily. "Your body was in agony. Proudcloud told me about the effects the poison can have."
"Maybe he is wrong. I felt fine." I sigh.
The Golden Year and the Sorceress Page 31
