Princess Lyra rushed out of the cottage, determined to stop Prince Kaelin's rampage. It was terrifying, so terrifying that the energy his omitting from that distance was making the liquid in her body boil. But yet, she felt like he was trapped in himself and if she could just get to him.
But Miana was hot on her heels, grabbing her arm and trying to hold her back. "Lyra, no! You can't stop him! He's too powerful!"
Lyra struggled against Miana's grip, her eyes fixed on the forest, which was elected as his haunting ground. "I have to try!" she shouted. "He's not beyond stopping! If we can get to him....."
Miana's expression was grim. "You don't understand, Lyra. That is him. That is Prince Kaelin. The real him!"
But Lyra refused to listen, breaking free from Miana's grasp and sprinting after Prince Kaelin. Miana chased after her, knowing that Lyra was running straight into danger.
She grabbed the princess's hand again.
''I know him! He'll wear himself out! Trust me!!''
''He is not hurting then?'' Princess Lyra yelled, her eyes searching for confirmation in Miana's own. He said she woke up. Who woke up?''
Miana presses her lips together and heaves a sigh. Princess Lyra pulled back her hand and resumed running, her little legs so fast that Miana tried to keep up.
As they ran, the forest grew darker and more twisted, the trees seeming to writhe and twist around them. Prince Kaelin's laughter echoed through the trees, growing louder and more maniacal. A few feet closer, Miana stumbles, unable to keep up with the radiating energy; thus, the princess got to him first.
Lyra reached Prince Kaelin just as he was about to deliver the final blow to the last bandit. "My Lord, no!" she screamed, halting a few steps away.
For a moment, he paused, his eyes flicking towards her. Lyra saw a glimmer of recognition, of mortality, in his gaze. Behind those blood orbs, behind the bloody hand, behind the heap of bodies, behind those twisted dark trees and vines, she saw it.
But it was quickly extinguished, replaced by a cold, calculating glare. With a swift motion, he snapped the bandit's neck, dropped the lifeless body, and then turned to face Lyra.
His eyes were empty, devoid of any warmth or compassion. Lyra felt a chill run down her spine as he regarded her, his gaze like a cold, dark weight. She took a step back, her heart racing.
He blinked once, and in her repeated action, he was before her, his height towering over her.
Prince Kaelin's gaze seemed to bore into Lyra's soul, his eyes burning with an otherworldly intensity. He raises his hand to her face, his bloody fingers tracing her cheek, his touch sending shivers down her spine.
''Why is Kaelin's bride here?'' His tone was teasing, his lip holding a smirk that was explained due to her shuddering.
''You....you have to come back.'' She managed to voice out. She didn't want to be weak in his presence, but still, he found it amusing.
''From where, princess?''
''You can fight it,'' She sounded bold this time. ''This is not you.''
"Oh, but, you don't know Kaelin princess, he leaned closer. You can't save him from him," he whispered, his breath cold against her ear. He leaned back afterward.
Lyra's fear turned to ice as she gazed into his eyes, seeing only darkness and despair. She was trapped, unable to move or escape.
Miana's voice was a distant cry, but Lyra couldn't respond. She was frozen, paralyzed by Prince Kaelin's mesmerizing gaze.
His fingers wrapped around her wrist, pulling her closer. Lyra felt herself being drawn into his darkness, consumed by his shadows.
''You're something.'' He muttered, his eye squinting, letting the words sink into her brain for a second, before he let go of her.
He took a step back, his face turning into a scowling look.
''Aiza?''
'Sorry? Is he nuts now?'
''I do not know who you speak of, my Lord.''
''It's you again!''
She was totally confused now. He called her Aiza, a person he didn't look too happy to see. She was perplexed and breathless.
But then, something unexpected happened. Prince Kaelin's scowl faltered, and his eyes flickered.
''Eek!'' He stumbled.
Lyra's fear gave way to confusion as she saw a glimmer of confusion in his eye. For a moment, the darkness receded, and she saw the pain and torment beneath. He staggered, his orbs wavering.
''Prince....prince Kaelin?''
''I told you, he'll wear himself out.'' Miana appears behind, panting from the run.
He tore his gaze to them, staggering back and holding his head; a painful whimper intensified from his lip, his eye misting. Miana dashed toward him and held his shoulder slowly, turning him to her embrace. He pulled back, but she resisted the chance. Her eye glows, and she began chanting in a strange language, her hand tightening around him.
Princess Lyra was amazed.
''A witch?''
However, his cry only grew longer; he clutches tight to his toad, eventually swaying out of her arm.
He stumbled backward, his eyes wild with a mix of fear and despair. He covered his ears, as if trying to block out the voices in his head.
"No, no, no!" he cried, his voice cracking with anguish. "Miana, make it stop! Please, make it stop!"
Lyra watched in horror as Prince Kaelin's body shook with sobs, his face contorted in a mixture of pain and terror. He fell to his knees, his head in his hands, and wailed like a lost soul.
Miana rushed to his side, trying to comfort him, but he pushed her away, his eyes flashing with a hint of the darkness that still lingered within.
"Get away!" he shouted, his voice hoarse from crying.
''You're alright! Miana soothes him. You're alright now.'' It's okay," she whispered. "You're safe now."
She placed a gentle hand to stroke his hair.
Princess Lyra only watched as she gently caressed his hair and then carried him. He fell into a weary slumber in an instant. She gazed around, and her stomach crunched at the gruesome scene he made.
Obviously and clearly, she's betrothed to a beast. A very odd one. She got that much. She understood now, the reason she had left the carriage that night, she was drawn to him.
Miana silently carries him back to the town, while she follows behind, her mind wandering on what her future holds. She will be left behind by her parent when the visitation is over. A fact she is scared of. He doesn't seem please with whom he had called Aiza, a person she knows nothing of, but in distant memories. The name lingers.
The walk was silent, and she could tell that the maiden was worried.
''You may tell me what has been a bother to you.'' She spoke, nature suddenly reminding her of the discomfort in the gown she wore.
''He is alone in the palace,:' Miana spoke. ''I fear something might happen to him.''
She furrowed her brow, dusting off dirt from her gown.
''He has me now.''
A smile creased Miana's face.
''Do take care of the prince, Princess Lyra.''
''Well, I was raised for that.'' She absentmindedly muttered; taking more steps forward, she bumped into Miana, who halted her movement.
The act alerted her of their arrival in town, and she also took notice of the cloaked people standing, that has been the reason for Miana's abrupt stop. Their famous cloak gave them off. The void. Two members.
The lady steps forward, her attention on her prince in Miana's arm.
''Mind explaining your intentions with the prince and his betrothed, outcast?''
TBC...