Chapter 70 - Do I?

-Beach in Elmir; Midnight- 

Kryll's eyes narrowed as he studied Luxana's neck. "Princess, what happened to you? That mark looks nasty."

Remi leaned in, her brow furrowed with concern. "It's all dried blood. Here, let me..." She reached out, gently brushing her fingers against the wound.

Luxana flinched at the touch, her eyes darting to Cillian, who was still avoiding her gaze. The tension between them was palpable.

"I'll fetch another ice pack," Kryll offered, already turning to leave.

"Don't bother," Luxana snapped. "What I need is-"

A booming voice cut through the air. "FINALLY! I've been searching everywhere for you!"

Luxana's blood ran cold as she recognized the voice. It was him - the creep who'd been stalking her on the cruise. Without thinking, she leapt to her feet and darted behind Cillian, her fingers digging into the fabric of his shirt.

"It's him," she hissed, her voice trembling. "The freak who's been following me."

Cillian's posture stiffened as he felt Luxana pressed against his back. He turned his head slightly, catching a glimpse of her frightened face, before fixing his steely gaze on the approaching man.

The tension in the air was palpable as Cillian's eyes locked onto Ron, a dangerous glint flickering in their depths. His lips curled into a menacing smile before settling into an impassive, cold mask.

"Well, well, if it isn't my dear cousin, Ron," Cillian drawled, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I suggest you fuck off while I'm still being generous."

Ron's face contorted with confusion and indignation. "You don't understand! That girl is worth a fortune! The King of Domino is offering a billion-dollar reward for her return!"

Luxana, still hidden behind Cillian, felt her heart skip a beat. She peered around his arm, her zircon blue eyes wide with disbelief.

Kryll's brow furrowed, his voice laced with skepticism. "What are you talking about?"

Remi, however, couldn't contain her excitement. "A billion dollars? Are you serious?"

Ron nodded vigorously, his words tumbling out in a rush. "It's true! There's a massive reward for anyone who finds a girl with orange hair and blue eyes, just like Princess Luxana of Domino. The King is desperate to find her!"

"WHAT THE HELL-" Kryll began, but Remi cut him off.

"That's incredible! But why would the King do something like that?"

Cillian and Luxana exchanged a glance, their expressions mirroring each other's disbelief at Ron's apparent stupidity.

"He's not the sharpest tool in the shed, is he?" Luxana muttered.

"Clearly not," Cillian agreed, his tone equally unimpressed.

Luxana, her curiosity piqued, ventured to ask, "But why is the King of Domino going to such lengths?"

Ron's face scrunched up in thought. "Well, I heard the Princess went missing. Some say she was even removed from the Family Registry!"

"Missing?" Cillian's voice was sharp, his interest suddenly piqued.

Luxana felt her breath catch in her throat. The world around her seemed to slow down as the implications of Ron's words sank in. She stepped out from behind Cillian, her eyes wide with a mix of disbelief and something that looked almost like...fear?

"Removed from the Family Registry?" she whispered, more to herself than anyone else. Her mind was racing, trying to process this unexpected turn of events.

Cillian's gaze flickered between Luxana and Ron, his expression unreadable. "Ron, where exactly did you hear this information?"

Ron's revelation sent shockwaves through the group. His casual demeanor contrasted sharply with the weight of his words.

"Oh yeah, it's been all over the news in Domino," Ron continued, oblivious to the impact of his words. "The King we've known isn't the real one. Turns out he has a twin brother who's been ruling all this time using black magic. They're saying he'll be executed for treason!"

Luxana's face drained of color, her eyes widening in disbelief. "What- do you mean?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. She began moving towards Ron, her steps painfully slow, her eyes shaking violently as she struggled to process this information.

Before she could reach Ron, Cillian moved swiftly. Without warning, he struck Luxana from behind, rendering her unconscious. She crumpled to the ground, the shock of the news and the sudden blow overwhelming her.

As Luxana collapsed to the ground, the coral-haired boy's eyes widened in shock. The cookie he had been holding slipped from his grasp, falling forgotten to the sand. Without hesitation, he rushed to Luxana's side, his small face etched with worry as he knelt beside her unconscious form.

Ron stood frozen, his mouth agape and eyes wide with disbelief at the sudden turn of events. He seemed unable to process what had just transpired before him.

Cillian, his face a mask of determination, scooped up Luxana's limp body. "Let's get going," he said firmly, already turning to leave.

Remi quickly sprang into action, grabbing the box and papers they had salvaged earlier. She fell into step behind Cillian without a word. Kryll hesitated for a moment, glancing between Ron and the retreating group, before making his decision and hurrying after his companions.

As they walked away, Ron remained rooted to the spot, still visibly shaken. The coral-haired boy lingered briefly, torn between following Luxana and staying behind. With one last worried look at the unconscious girl, he reluctantly trailed after the group, leaving Ron alone on the beach, surrounded by the chaos of the ongoing rescue efforts.

-A few hours later, Inside Carriage at 4:52 AM-

My consciousness returned slowly, like a gentle tide washing over me. The first thing I noticed was the warmth surrounding me, a cocoon of comfort in the early morning hours. As my senses sharpened, I became aware of the rhythmic swaying of the carriage, its gentle motion lulling me into a state of peaceful semi-awareness.

I found myself nestled between two sources of warmth. Above me, slow, steady breaths tickled my hair, while below, a smaller form radiated heat against my legs. Curiosity finally compelled me to open my eyes, blinking away the remnants of sleep.

Lowering my gaze, I saw the coral-haired boy curled up on my lap, his face pressed against the exposed skin of my thighs where my reddish-black dress had ridden up. His warm breath ghosted across my skin.

Carefully, I turned my head to the left, my gaze trailing up a pair of familiar black pants. My heart skipped a beat as I realized it was Cillian, his head resting gently atop mine, his own leaning slightly against my shoulder. His rolled-up sleeves revealed pale, ivory skin, his hands resting casually on his thighs. The intimacy of our position sent a flutter through my stomach.

Across from us, Kryll and Remi were lost in their own world of dreams. Kryll's head rested in Remi's lap, one arm draped dramatically over his eyes while the other lay across his stomach. Remi herself was propped against the carriage wall, her hands splayed on the plush seat beside her.

But it was the view to my right that truly took my breath away. Through the window, I could see the sun emerging from the ocean's embrace, painting the world in hues of white and gold. The light danced across the water's surface, creating a scene so beautiful it almost hurt to look at. I found myself mesmerized, drinking in the sight of a new day dawning.

A smile tugged at my lips as I gently ran my fingers through the little boy's soft hair. The silky strands slipped between my fingers, each touch a reminder of his innocence. He truly was adorable... his peaceful expression tugging at something deep within me. My hand paused, resting lightly on his head as I studied his face, committing every detail to memory.

He was cute. very cute and pretty handsome......and so was the man that leaned beside me................Yeah I admit it, Cillian's handsome. My gaze drifted to his face, taking in his strong jawline, the curve of his lips. He was undeniably handsome.. Very very very very very, extremely very handsome. He's exactly like Jack Frost from the movie of The Rise of Guardians. I thought, making me chuckle softly, the sound barely audible in the quiet carriage. I held my breath, careful not to disturb anyone's slumber.

The gentle sway of the carriage continued as I sat there, lost in thought. The warm weight of Cillian and the coral-haired boy remained constant, grounding me in the present even as my mind wandered.

And then, my smile suddenly faded..........and memories of all the times Cillian hurt me flooded.

When I first met him.........I liked him........he was so cool. When I talked to him........he had an undefinable personality..........When I stayed with him............he was cruel................he tried killing me, tried harming me, tried hurting me, tried marrying me off, tried kidnapping me...........he did everything...........everything I didn't expect of him.

The soft light of dawn filtering through the window seemed to dim as these dark memories surfaced. My fingers, which had been gently stroking the little boy's hair, stilled.

My thoughts began to trail off...............even though I had even more pressing matters to think about, I wasn't interested in any of them. I don't give a shit whether I am or not a part of Domino. But.........HAAAhhh.........

A quiet sigh escaped my lips, barely audible over the rhythmic clop of horse hooves outside.

Cillian...........................why did Cillian do all that he did? Is he gaining something by doing so? Or is he just obsessed with hurting others??????

Obsessed? Yeah.......Kryll mention Cillian being obsessed with me. But what the hell even am I? WHAT THE HELL DID I EVEN DO TO HIM TO MAKE HIM OBSESSED? OBSESSED WITH ME! I mean, no wait, he doesn't act like he's obsessed, he just lingers around me and does the most meaningless things ever. And I don't even remember having a proper conversation with him, let alone show any affection or interest in him. Besides- He has a fiancee. 

My eyes widened suddenly..........yeah.......fiancee.........he's already got a fiancee.............How did I forget? But............he said he didn't like her........and wanted to break up with her.......wait did he break up though? If so-

WAIT. Why am I even thinking of him? I don't even like him anymore! 

The carriage hit a small bump in the road, jostling us slightly. Cillian stirred but didn't wake, his warmth still pressed against my side.

Do I?

Do I really not like him?

Do I?

Do I hate him?

Do I...................even...........

Each question hung in the air, unanswered, as the landscape outside slowly changed from the deep blues of night to the soft pinks and oranges of early morning.

Sigh.

Another quiet exhale, this one longer and heavier than the last. The weight of my thoughts seemed to press down on me, as tangible as the physical presence of those around me.

I got my head upright, causing Cillian's head to fall onto my shoulder.

The sudden shift in position sent a small jolt through my body, bringing me back to the present moment. The warmth of Cillian's cheek against my shoulder was a stark contrast to the coolness of the morning air seeping in through the carriage's small cracks.

There's no sign of Myla, Mylo and Veles. Helios turned out to be a victim of abuse. Hades returned. I was removed from the Family Registry. Xerxes is my ancestor who made a contract with Helios. The Whisperer's daughter regins Omeen, not him. Meaning Roxana, my mother, never really hated me. I killed people. The Holy Empire thinks I'm some sort of Goddess. That Rudbeckia heckia legit kidnapped me and hung me up on chains.

Random things are going on in my life without me even being able to do anything about them.................sigh. My life's such a joke. I thought, chuckling once more, smiling.

The early morning light filtered through the carriage window, casting a soft glow on my face as I contemplated my next move.

Well then, what do I do? I thought, looking out of the window, still smiling, gracefully and beautifully.

Do I just..........end my life here? I thought, smiling.

Maybe........maybe not. I thought, still smiling.

But I will end theirs, regardless. I thought, smiling deeper, getting myself mesmerized into the look.

The landscape outside blurred as we continued our journey, mirroring the hazy future that lay ahead of me.

It's getting late. I should take action on my own. I thought, sighing off and pressing myself against the back of the sofa, defeated and tired.

The soft fabric of my reddish-black dress, a confection of ruffles and lace, rustled against my skin as I shifted slightly, trying to find a more comfortable position. The movement caused a dull throb from the unhealed bite mark on my neck, drawing my attention to it once again. I resisted the urge to touch it, knowing it would only irritate the wound further.

My gaze drifted down to the dress, its hem barely skimming my thighs. The once elegant garment now felt constricting and impractical. I longed for something more comfortable, something that would cover me completely and offer some protection against the uncertainties that lay ahead.

As the carriage continued its journey, I couldn't help but feel exposed in this outfit. The off-the-shoulder neckline and short, ruffled skirt left me feeling vulnerable. It was a stark reminder of everything I'd been through - the chaos on the cruise ship, the revelations about my past, and the dangers that seemed to lurk around every corner. I made a mental note to change into something more suitable at the first opportunity, preferably something that would conceal the bite mark and any other visible signs of my recent ordeals.

To be Continued...