AUTHOR'S POV
"From there, Celeste took a mile.", Galen continued as he pat Celeste's head. Slowly, and gently with with his eyes looking down at the sorceress. "I got bored so we made things more riveting that we helped Argus build his army of dark healers.", he said casually.
"Evil . . .
astounding,
pure evil . . . "
Helena couldn't imagine the dread behind Galen's soft features. We all have something to keep in the dark, she thought. Some skeletons in the closet, and a few dirty linens. Yet, what Galen did is nothing more bone-deep wicked but nonarguably absolutely brilliant.
"I wouldn't say that I'm a fan but, they are truly haunting. Scary fuckers who doesn't know how to die. Until you came along", he shifted his eyes of blue to Helena as he reminisce the first moment they locked eyes. It was magical for him, and life changing. However, it was nothing memorable for Helena.
"And if I didn't come in this kingdom?", Helena squinted her eyes, wondering if she hadn't met the prince.
"Then, I and Evandrus would be ashes in an urn now. Or maybe, the entire kingdom would be annihilated!", Galen slouched on the chair stretching his legs. "Evandrus… I envy that man. I got to be honest. He have a mix of everything good in this lifetime. But of course, not all… because you are mine", Galen never liked how Stellan looks at Helena. All those moments that the paladin and Helena were together, the growing heat at the back of his ears burns. Undeniably, they had a chemistry that was not too difficult to notice. What he hates the most is how Helena looks back at the Stellan. Something he haven't got from her. "I know you healed him too. No one else could. And I'm bloody sure he knows what you are…", he said in a serious tone. The fact that Stellan did nothing about Helena being a soul traveler bothers Galen. The paladin knight, who never showed interest at anyone, softened to Helena. "…which I don't give a damn anymore because you are trapped here with me for the rest of our days", he added.
"Stellan fought for you. He nearly died saving your life!", Helena justified the years Stellan served the prince.
"Yea, yea… from when we were children until I became a prince… You think I didn't know that Helena?", Galen felt a sting in his chest as soon as Helena uttered the paladin knight's name. "He's one of the many casualties… Besides, who would know that paladins have vulnerabilities? The great paladin knight, Evandrus. Ha! ", Galen presumed that Helena seemingly have grown closer to him, as shown at the corners of her frowning lips. "Don't worry my dear, he will have a very special role to fill in soon", he said that left Helena very concerned.
"What do you mean?", she wondered. "Isn't it enough that you have me here? What is it there to risk for? What more should be done?", Helena knew that despite the monstrosities Galen does, he keeps at bay with her presence and at every word that she utter. Her great advantage, she believed.
"Are you worried about me? That's quite refreshing!", Galen teased. "I admit that getting hit by a dark healer's power myself is a little bit overdramatic. Though, no one became suspiscious of me after that. And thanks to you… the girl with a crest, as what my mother always say, saved me from that hellish death. Like what is written on the lines of our palms, you're my destiny, Helena", Galen leaned forward to get a clear view of Helena's irresistible charm. Then, he stood up and slowly walked towards her. "Just between us, my mother is not dead. Her soul is just drifted away.", he revealed as he lower his head, inching his lips on hers.
Helena couldn't stand being too close to Galen that she stood up in an instant, dodging his attempt for a kiss. "Nothing is really impossible with a little witchcraft", Helena said, turning her back against Galen.
Like an impulse, Galen grabbed Helena by the arm and buried his face on her nape. "Yes…", Galen's lips brushed against Helena's cold skin. "You're here but, it seems you're still too far away.", he whispered. "You're mine Helena. Your body, your heart your traveler soul", he said with his warm breath blowing on her nape making Helena flinch away.
Rubbing her nape, Helena glared at Galen with repugnance like a lioness ready to pounce. The young King just grinned at her from ear to ear, enjoying every bit of Helena. He finds her reactions amusing, rather than offensive… no matter how disgusted she is like in his presence.
"My King…", Celeste softly called, nervously.
"I'm thinking Lord Harlan's death was also part of your plan?", Helena asked, while noticing Celeste's restlessness, eyeing how the sorceress started to feel uneasy by looking out the door and the walls repetitively. "He was a good man", she continued, trying to allow Galen to focus on her more and ignore Celeste.
"Yes", Galen agreed with a slight nod, giving all his attention to Helena presumably. "I debated with myself on that. But, he was too smart! He almost figured out that I'm behind all of these. Too bad you were there on my first attempt to kill him, you saved the old man. Greatly, Rowan did me a favor.", Galen sat on the seat that Helena emptied.
"I do not understand. Why would you have to go through extreme measures? The throne is yours, and have been yours all along", Helena went over facing the young King, blocking trying to understand Galen.
"All my life I've been a laughing stock Helena!", Galen responded. "You don't know what I've been through. The crown was never mine in the first place. It was never my birthright. I was born from the mistakes of my mother. Her stature saved her from humiliation. Just imagine how much she paid to be married to your father", Galen scoffed. "In the eyes of the people, I'll forever be the royal courtesan's son, who happened to be adopted by the great King. That generosity won the hearts of many. And me? I'm nothing but a product of the King's kindness", he said with so much pain, as if a sharp object is stabbed on his chest. "Despite reassuring me that the throne is mine, it never felt that way. I'm no paladin, and definitely not a soul traveler. I'm just an ordinary son. Useless and powerless", Galen recalled the moments he felt small in front of the King, the paladins, and the people of Nether. "When I saw you, I found a different meaning to my existence", he stood up and faced Helena. "You opened an entirely new future for me. You, my dear, painted me with your colors and you sculpted my rough edges.", he held her arms, fondling them with his thumbs. "The way you released your spiritual sword, and allowed me to wield it… I instantly gained an inexplicable power and confidence that I started to feel highly of myself", he clearly said with a sense of calm. Helena tried to break lose from Galen's grip, but he latched onto her firmly that it started to hurt. "I wanted to be something, so no one will ever look down on me.", tears welled up in his eyes but not one tear fell. "So Celeste, thought of a good spell using all the magic stones that you have there to make me… special.", Galen flashed a devious smile as he stare at Helena's eyes.
"Spell?", she asked, squinting her eyes at the deranged look Galen gives off.
"The triangulation spell", Galen replied.
"My King", Celeste called, still kneeling on the floor. However, Galen was so engaged being with Helena that he just ignored the sorceress. "My King", Celeste called again.
Galen's eyes darkened and peeked out at the sorceress. "Celeste, will you keep your mouth shut?! We're talking here!!", his voice thundered in the room that clammed Celeste up.
"Triangulation?", Helena whispered, furrowing her brows at the unfamiliar spell Galen is exploring, for she have never heard of it before.