The Red Egg

Zulia's P.O.V

I left the house without a place in mind, all I understand from the book verse Flina read, i have to control my powers when I'm separated from them.

I stood right in front of the castle, seems unconsciously I'm used to walking here, I walked right in trying not to be seen as Prince Travis spots me.

"Why are you walking like a thief this late at night, I certainly remember you are not on night duty" he walk closer to me.

His gaze on me, with this stern look on his face,

"You left..." he pauses,

"You left me without saying a word... My Knight of honor vanished into thin air".

"P...Prince Travis, i didn't mean to lea—".

"Where did you run off to?" he backs me up to the wall, with the unwavering stern look on his face.

"You ran off the podium with your sister, and never came back... I was... I was worried until..."

his stern look changes to fury,

"You lied to me, in everything I hate in this world, I hate liars the most, you made mockery of me... Lia or should I call you Princess Zulia"

...my heart races in realization, our eyes locks as we stare deeply.

"I...d...didn't, I didn't lie to you Prince Travis—"

Someone approaches, as Prince Travis grabs my hand dragging me off to his room.

"Why are we hiding?".

"I'm... I'm not hiding.. I am not,"

"why am I hiding?" he mutters to himself.

I laughed at his confused flustered state.

"I didn't lie to you, I never meant to, I had to keep my identity hidden because of Toketa"

"The new Queen of Neodessa?" he asks.

"Yes, My Aunt".

He looks calm than I imagined, he sits on his bed as he stretches his hands out to me, I walked right to him as he hugs me, placing his head on my tummy,

"You're safe here, you don't need to hide anymore",

he raises his head to catch a glance of my face, his look isn't that of a man who is in love but a man who pities me, in his eyes he must be seeing HER.

"Prince Travis, I must remind you that I am not Lady Leonora" I said in a stern voice,

he withdrew his arm from my waist,

"I never saw you as Leonora, I see—".

I know where this will lead if I don't put an end to it, I have no intention of being in love or being swayed by my feelings, I just want my kingdom back and to avenge the death of My Father and My Mother.

"Can I use the arena this night?" I came here for a large space to control my power not to let my emotions take over.

He nods then leads the way, seems he understands I have no intention of Love.

We got to the arena,

"Exactly what I need, a large space"

he taps my shoulder, "I don't know what you plan to do My Princess, but it is nighttime and the moon is out, be quick and return home".

"Okay, I'll bear that in mind".

I sat on the sandy floor crossing my legs, as I took a deep breath trying to connect with Lial, shutting my eyes tight.

I've been sitting for a while and yet I felt not a single thing, Prince Travis still there staring.

is he going to be here till I'm done?.

I tried it again until it hits me, a certain familiar power surging within me. Like a fire wall cave, I'm falling from a high ground... the deeper I go the hotter it gets, finally in I reached the bottom of the cave, with liquid fire-like substance escaping from the ground,

I spot HER nurturing a red egg.

"Ohh it's you" she said,

"This is the first time you searched for me on your own" she says then focused her attention on the egg as she rubs it lightly,

"I don't need you yet... You're not ready as you can clearly see the egg hasn't hatched yet". She says without even looking me in the eye.

"Lial... You're Lial, please bestow me the power I need to aveng—".

She laughs out.

"Need my power?, but it's already yours, it just hasn't been opened yet, My power is your power and your power is MINE".

"It hasn't hatched, go away, you can not contain your power, you'll be turned to ashes by the burning flame if you forcefully take it".

"You can't deny me my power, Lial, it's my power and I am the master" I cussed out

she stares at me fiercely, her golden eyes pierced my skin like a match-lit stick..

"Seems our little eggy is itching to hatch" she looks at me then drops the egg, as it hit the floor my body fell to the ground.

She picks up the egg as it had a large crack, she blows on it, it feels she's blowing air to the flame, my body feels a burning sensation but as she blows more air to the egg, the sensation feels more tremendous than before.

"If you forcefully hatch .... you'll be burnt to dust and I'll have no choice but to take over,".

she ignores my body as she faces the egg, rubbing it lightly.

"Begone human. when it's time, will see if you can withstand the flame".

She looks at me from the corner of her eyes, sending me back to the outside world.

I opened my eyes seeing Travis face infront of mine, my head is rested on his laps as he looks at me worriedly,

I forgot all along he was here with me.

"You're burning up" he feels my temperature with the back of his hand, then he lifts me.

"I can walk myself"

he nods as he watches me walk hoping I fall.

he catches me with a smirk on his face.

"you must be glad that I can't walk"

"No...instead I'm glad I get to have you in my arms".

The walk to his room was filled with awkwardness, why did he say that?.

He gently drops me on the bed,

"Seems there's a lot about you I do not know Lia... I mean Zulia"

"Call me Lia" I said to him, my heart wavers as he calls me Zulia,

he went to the bathroom, "I just ran the water, you should rest a bit in the bath tub to cool your fever down".

"But..."

"No buts" he lifts me up and walks to the bathroom, I don't even have the strength to refuse, allowing him to do as he pleases, Prince Travis who has always been the cold and strict type has gently warmed up to me.

He drops me down and watches me,

"You're not going to stand there and watch me strip, Will you?".

"Ohh..." his red flushed face filled with embarrassment as he turn his back and walks away, I slid into the tub filled with cold water naked, as the water soothes my burning skin,

Prince Travis knocks on the door,

"Relax for a while and I'll fetch a maid to help you later"

"No please... don't do any of that, you shouldn't be treating me this way".

He walks right in

"And why shouldn't I?"

he kneels next to me, as he gently rubs my cheeks,

"You have every right to be treated as a Princess, I'll take my leave now" he walks back out.

Next Morning

I woke up next to Prince Travis who seems immersed in his sleep, I gently tap his face, it's so nice to see your sleeping face,

"Sadly... this will he the last time" I whispered, for I plan to attack now, I will no longer hide but face them.

He grabs my wrist as he opens his eyes,

"And why would this be the last time?".

"Y...You're awake Prince Travis."

"Morning Prince Travis" I immediately stood up from his bed as I noticed I'm fully clothed,

"And why would this be the last time—?".

"Why are my clothes on me?"

"Where should they be, on the floor?". he smiles

"Prince Travis there's no time for silly jokes, you're not Prince Cyrus, I clearly remember getting into the tub naked and I don't remember coming out".

"Ohh you mean that, you slept off in the tub and I tried to wake you up but to no avail you didn't wake up"

"So who clothed me?"

"I... I sent for a maid to do so".

"Ohh a maid" i sighed in relief, I'll be utterly embarrassed if he dressed me up.

"What wild imaginations does the Princess have?"

"My name is Lia not Princess, I have to leave now, thank you for having me".

"And would this be the last time?" he looks at me sadly.

"I'm afraid so Prince Travis". I bowed

"I know ... this must sound selfish but can you... you at least let me see you onc—"

I lean over the bed as I placed my lips on his, his hands reaches for my neck as he pulls me closer, his breath on my skin as i could feel his heart beat.

He slides his fingers into my hair s he pulls a strand gently fondling with it, he parts his lips from mine

"One more time, let me see you... just once more".

His brown eyes sucks me in, my heart wavers, my eyes feel teary, I have no feelings for this man, why do I feel this way?. I walked away without giving him a response.

Back to the house as I walked right in, I've been holding the pain but I couldn't hold it any longer, I fell to the floor as Flina catches me.

"You're burning why are you so hot?"

"Lial... egg cracked... flame ... I don't know"...