Chapter - 2

“Ariana, run”

“No mummy, not without you”

The little girl clutched the fringe of her mother with tears in her eyes not ready to leave her at any cost. The mother took her in her arms while crying. Fear, pain, this was all they could feel.

Running through the woods they were exhausted. The sound of footsteps getting nearer and nearer every passing second.

“Baby listen to mummy, will you?”

The little girl nodded with fear lurking in her eyes. Her mother making her sit behind a huge tree covering her with grass and mud made sure that no one would be able to see her.

“Sit here quietly until mommy comes back, okay?”

“Mummy don’t leave me alone please” the little girl said while sobbing

“I won’t baby I will come back okay” saying she kissed her and stood away from her. She could hear people surrounding them. She could hear them making fun of her father.

Hearing her mother’s cries, she stood up wanting to run to her mother. Yet before she could reach a bulky man stopped her not letting her go to her mother.

She cried, wanting to be with her mother. They tortured her mother in front of her. And finally, after getting done to their heart’s content they pierced her killing right in front of her eyes. She was traumatized, hating her situation, hating the whole world. They finally left her; she ran to her mother calling her to wake up yet her mother never woke up.

“Mummy…. Mummy wake up please”

“Mummy”

“Mummy”

She opened her eyes. Once again, the nightmare which has haunted her sleep for decades, the nightmare which has fueled her to get ready for revenge.

She touched her cheeks feeling the wetness, she wiped the tears and looked outside. The day was dawning, one more day bringing her near to her destination. It has been 2 days since she has  reached the capital, the count's house and garden is really very big and spacious. The count had introduced her as his daughter who was under the care of her Aunt in neighboring kingdom and has now returned to her father's side.

Not wanting to experience the dreadful past through her dreams. She got up and got dressed in a light gown and went outside in the garden to freshen her mind.

The flowers were blooming, and so was her desire to get revenge every day.

Wandering through the garden which was facing the woods, she suddenly remembered the lake where she used to go with her mother when she was a child to play.

She started walking towards the lake which was in the middle of the woods. Not many people knew about that place, and even if they did then it was dawn nobody was awake, so she wouldn’t have to face the people anyways. Soon she reached the place. There was this beautiful lake in the middle with wildflowers blooming since the spring had come. She sat on the green grass by the lakeside. The fresh air of morning and the peaceful environment, this was all that was needed for her.

She sat there reminiscing the past as if living through them again. The moments when she was surrounded by joy, gladness, love, and peace. When she was naïve yet was happy. She remembers her mother who used to sing her melodies and songs.

She, already lost in her own fantasy world, starts to sing the melody, which her mother taught her.

Oh, the sound of love, so soft and sweet;

Oh, the sight of love, so gentle and meek.

Pride shall fight, with jealousy and strife;

But oh, the victory of love is so bright.

As she sang, unaware of the fact that there was someone else there too seeking peace, and was very well finding it in her voice.

Let the whole world stand ‘against thee;

Vicious serpent, the strongest weapon

But oh, the victory of love;

Shall forever stand bright.

As she sang, as the animals stopped their talks, the whole forest stood still, wanting to listen to her with great concentration.

For years the fight has gone,

Whether love or hate is strong.

When hate reigned people died,

But power with love has always shined.

Whereas on the other hand, certain someone was in awe of her voice and the words coming forth, finding so much solace in them.

What an amusing irony could be seen, here she was singing about the significance of love yet at the same time was burning in revenge. She hated the King for his hypocrisy and yet was being hypocritical herself. Having sung to her heart’s content, she stopped singing and sat there quietly for a while. And he sat there just gazing at her beauty wondering what might have brought this beautiful soul here in the middle of nothing.

She sat there closing her eyes wanting to forget the world for a while, wanting to get lost in the beautiful memories she had cherished of her with her loved ones. While on the other hand he was there gazing at her face wanting to lose himself in her soul in hope to find solace.

Walking back home she got dressed for the day and the things awaiting her.

“My lady, the viscount wishes to know if you will accompany him to the palace today”

“I will, when will we go there?”

“In the afternoon my lady”

“All right, prepare the bath”

“Yes, my lady”

The carriage stopped at the entrance of the palace. Viscount got down first from the carriage.

Ariana got down after, unlike others she was not at all in awe of the beauty of the palace, after all she had grown up in one.

Walking down the halls of the grand palace, the only word that came to her mind was extravagance. Even though she had herself grown up in a palace still this was much grander than her childhood home. They came across a set of huge doors with beautiful designs on them. Walking inside there was what she assumed was the lounge with a sofa arranged in the middle and a beautiful coffee table completing the look. Right across the sofa was a huge glass window which gave them a beautiful view of the mountains and village houses.

“My Lord, the king and queen will appear right after a moment until then please have a seat and enjoy the view”.

“of course, thank you”

 Bowing to them the servant went away not before pouring tea in their cups.

*Door Opening

Two servants opened the door with the king and queen entering the room.

“My King”

Viscount and Ariana bowed to the king and queen.

“Viscount Edmund, what a pleasant surprise!”

“Yes my king, yet returning to the capital was even more pleasant”

Viscount said with a smile on his face with a laughter followed by the king. The king looked toward Ariana with smiling eyes.

“And this must be your daughter I assume.”

“Yes, your majesty” the viscount said.

“Your majesty” Ariana bowed to the king and queen. Although she looked calm and collected outside, she was burning in rage inside. The same disgusting laughs ringing in her ears.

“Come let’s sit,” the king said.

“Come dear, let us take a walk to the garden” The queen said to Ariana.

“Of course your majesty, it's a lovely day afterall.” She sighed in her mind. She could not help but be thankful to the queen for the and probably for the last time in her life.

Walking through the garden Ariana was really impressed by the beauty of the garden. Maybe the garden was the only pretty thing she could find about this family.

“Ariana, have you ever heard from the royal family of Aztlan. Since most of  the time of your life you lived there.”

Ariana went stiff at the question. Since she had learnt well to hide her emotions she didn’t show it on her face. She knew that the queen and her mother used to be friends but everything fell apart after that horrible incident. She knew the queen was innocent but she could not help but feel disgust for that bastard whom they also call the king.

“Ariana! where are you lost?”

“ah! pardon your majesty, I was just a bit lost.”

“Are you fine my dear?”

“ yes your majesty”

“Your majesty, his majesty the is asking for your presence”

“Alright, I'll be right there.” Adeline said while dismissing the servant, turning to Ariana she said “Dear i think i need to go if you wish to spend some time here you can by all means feel free alright.”

“Yes, your majesty,” Ariana said, bowing a little to the queen. Aeline smiled a little and went away.

Watching the queen going away Ariana sighed. Turning and gazing at the garden she couldn't help but feel refreshed and feeling a sense of deja vu too. After all this is where most of the time her holidays were spent. She walked around caressing the beautiful flowers unaware the same eyes gazing at her drinking all of her as if afraid she’ll again get away from him. But this time he had planned to make her his completely and eternally his forever.

Turning to look around the pretty roses never had she ever thought that her eyes would get locked with the same pair of eyes gazing at her with so much passion making her shiver again. The eyes which were diverting her from her path. Which was not to mention was very dangerous for her, for him and for everyone. When their eyes met, It was as if a storm had started and it was never going to end, not  until they all would submit themselves to it. To let it reign forevermore.

The storm had started, the fight had begun. Now it is in the hands of the one who writes destiny to decide whether love or hate will win.

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