23 I'm Still a Monster

Lance left Alzian and hurried to the palace. His travel got him a little dizzy. He entered his room and summoned Frida.

"News." He sat down on his chair and massaged his temples.

"Yes Your Highness, this is the information I've got from my 'visit'," Frida handed pile of papers to Lance and continued.

"She is Ariya of the Western tribe, she practiced sorcery and is very good at it. She is an elemental witch. It is said that we witches can control elements, however our abilities are limited. Take myself for example, I'm a wind witch which can also be a sound witch. These two elements are what I can easily control and manipulate, we can control also control other elements but not to the extent just like our first and second element." Lance nodded taking down the information bit by bit.

"So you mean, you can only took full control of two elements?" Lance inquired. The witch nodded and continued.

"But this sorceress is different." Frida looked down and sighed.

"Why so?" Lance noticed the change of expression in the witch' face.

"She can control all the elements. Including the blood inside of us which is thought to be a sacred type of witchery. A very dangerous one." Lance closed his eyes contemplating what's to come next.

"You may go." Lance glanced at the paper on his table and started to scan at them. A strong wind blew and enveloped him making him look more mesmerizing.

"Ariya. What a pretty name. We can even be friends, but..." His expression is murderous and his smile is chilling. He's not the calm Lance that everyone knows.

"...that will depend on your behavior." Little did he know that the sorceress he's chasing to is beside him all the time. This must be fate playing with them. Nevertheless, this come to an endless chasing.

"Let's get to business. Ariya can wait, but my Queen can't." Lance chuckled and pulled out papers that has "Matrimonial Ceremony" written on it.

"Time is precious no wasting it." He went through the documents and busied himself for his much awaited wedding.

****

"Your Highness!" The guards assigned to watch the Alzian's King bowed down.

"Open." The bars clang as they were opened revealing an old man whose eyes were about to loose life.

Ariya stepped inside unmasking herself. She let her magic fall revealing her true self to her enemy.

"You..." The King's heart is filled with rage and horror.

"Yes me." Ariya's brow arched.

"You couldn't have forgotten me, could you Your Grace?" Ariya chillingly smiled. The Alzian King broke into cold sweat. He stumbled on his feet, kowtowing to the Lady in front of him.

"I.. I was wrong.. forgive me..have mercy.." He shivered. His lips trembled and swallowed hard.

"Mercy..." Ariya stood in front of the King whose body is bowing to him She smiled mockingly at him.

"What is that?" Ariya coldly replied.

"Release the Princess and bring her here." She added. The guards who stood complied and dragged the Princess inside the cell. There she saw the pitiful state of his father bowing to the unknown person in front of her.

"You! You don't know who you're messing with. You piece of--" before she could finish, her father tugged the hem of her skirt with pleading eyes. Ariya's brow arched with satisfaction.

"I miss you too Princess." She pulled a sword from one of her guards and pointed it to the Princess.

"If I may." The Alzian King stumbled on his feet blocking Ariya. The Queen stared at him murderously. Her eyes showed no mercy.

"Don't please, we'll do whatever you want." The King's desperate pleads didn't moved the Queen at all. In his heart he is cursing how heartless she is. Totally heartless! Disgusting!

"Oh well, of course I won't hurt your little princess, she has nothing to do with this, but you however..." She pointed her sword to the Alzian King with a smile plastered on her face.

"You are one of them. The one who cause me suffering. Because you are afraid that I'm different, that you see me as monster just because I am born with this power. But now things have changed, except that, I'm still a monster." She swung her sword and blood splattered on the cell. The Princess was aghast and froze seeing the head of his father fall off. Ariya's white dress turned red, and her expression with no remorse made her even more terrifying. The Princess screamed on top of her lungs. Her wails and cries is heard all over the palace. However, those who heard didn't feel pity, but success. This is our way to move forward, no turning back.