[ YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE NOW ]

Azura could understand why Africh wanted to leave for Ambaf city, but there was no way she was going to let her go. She knew he felt rejected and unwanted, just like he did on the day he found out that he was not a prince but an adopted child. Not just that, he didn't even know who his real parents are.

For a while, he kept standing at the queens door with his head bowed, waiting for her to say something. Azura on the other hand didn't know what to do, or what to say. She knew if she treats Africh like one of her subject, he'll go far from her. But she can't plead with him either.

"You can't leave just yet. There are some things we need to clarify before you leave." Azura said and turn to go back to her bed, but Africh held her by the hand and went on his knee.

"Please sister Azura, I know you are doing all this for me to get a place here, but I don't want it, am okay with whatever I have. Please let me go." He knew getting on Azura's soft side was the only way he can get out of the palace.

" Don't you wish to see father anymore? Don't you want to know who your birth parents are? If you see me as your sister, then let me help you this much." Azura said and all Africh could do was to stare at her in a daze.

He really wanted to know who he is and where he came from, he wanted to see the man he had always call father but never saw for once. He wanted to feel welcomed, wanted and loved, but all this can happen only if he gives Azura the chance to help him.

"Sorry for disturbing your night, I'll take my leave now." Africh said as he got on his feet, then kissed the back of Azura's hand before looking at her.

He then turn to look at the ladies behind him, who were standing few steps away from him, in the persons of Lora, Lucia and two female guards. Azura had not noticed them because of Africh, but when she did, she was glad they came with him.

Men were not allowed in Azura's residence, except for the king and a prince if there is any. But Africh being a step brother, had to follow some rules, if not he can be punished by the king.

Azura watched as the guards and Africh left her door and out of the corridor to her room, before going back to her bed with Lora and Lucia waiting on her by the bed side. She wanted them to leave, but she let them be, knowing it was their duty to wait till she's asleep before they can also retire.

Few minutes after making herself comfortable on the bed, she felt a strange scent in the room. She didn't know how to react since her ladies in waiting were with her in the room.

Suddenly, a sound came from the bathroom which got the attention of both Lora and Lucia. It was as if something heavy fell to the ground and they rushed to see what it was, leaving Azura alone in the bedroom.

"What are you doing here?" Azura asked out of fright. She didn't want anyone to see a man in her room.

"To get you back as I said I would." Abesselom said simply, getting closer to Azura's bed. "You know you have to be with me and not that King." He continue talking with a smile when Azura didn't say anything.

" What? I will rather be with him than being with a liar like you." Azura said coldly, trying to get Abesselom out of her room before anyone sees him.

"Queen, did you hear what you just said? Calling me a liar won't change the fact that am here for you." Abesselom replied calmly.

He had no reason to be angry with Azura, since he could hear her thoughts and all that she was asking for was for him to leave before someone sees him. He could understand her fear, but he wasn't going to do as she wants.

" And do you think you'll be happy?" He asked, hoping Azura would get into her right scenes and go with him. He didn't want to forcefully take her away, but Azura was giving him no choice.

" I prefer drowning myself in sorrows or even in the sea, than being with you." She replied coldly, even though her heart was saying otherwise.

She then turned to the other side of the bed and covered herself with her duvet, and closed her eyes, forcing herself to sleep and not feel the presence of the man sitting beside her on her bed. Thankfully, sleep took her in no time, but to where, she had no idea.

_________

Azura waked up by the raise of the sun. The sunlight which shorn on her face made it difficult for her to open her eyes at once, making her take a while to adjust to the daylight and her surrounding.

To her surprise, she found herself onboard a big ship, one that she was sure was similar to the last ship she onboard. She looked out to the sea and then to her feet which was standing on the upper deck of the ship in anticipation, and memories she thought she had forgotten came in her mind instantly.

"Has everything come to an end? Was she back to her real life, the one she remembers." She thought as she begin to rejoice.

She was on a ship with her family before the darkness, before everything started, and before she became Queen Azura. Being hear on the ship made her feel she was back to her own life and the role of Azura was over. She was back, and she became excited as she took in the air, but her excitement was shot lived.

Turning around, She came face to face with the smiling face of the man she didn't wish to see. The one she addressed as Enoch, her late husband, but doesn't know his real name. He was looking at her slander body with a smile on his thin lips.

"You have to choose now Queen, to come with me or to drown in the sea as you said, and you know where that will take you." Abesselom said with a smirk.

Azura couldn't understand what was going on, was she dreaming again? Yes that is it. but why is the man in front of her so real, not just him, everything was. She pinched herself to be sure it was just a dream, but before she could conclude it was, she saw him making a move towards her.

"What is he going to do?" She asked herself inwardly as her heart begin to pound heavily, wondering what Abesselom was up to.

Abesselom walked to her and the nearer he got, the louder the sound of her heart beat. Her mind was shouting at her, and her heart rose to her chest. The urge to run away from him increased with every step he took closer to her.

"Red eyed man, I am begging you to save me if I drown." Azura muttered softly as she was preparing herself to jump.

Abesselom giggled at her ignorance then stop in his trace. He wondered why she was asking him to save her when he intend to jump with her if she does. He wondered if she knew who the red eyed man was, since he remember showing himself to her only ones in the palace at the royal court.

Just when Azura was ready to jump, a man climb up the deck of the ship interrupting them from their tension filled conversation. "Sir, You have to get down. The captain said no one is allowed here. This place is reserved for someone special and powerful."

The man said as he looked at Azura who was still in her evening dress, gluing his eyes to her breast which was plumping in the dress because she had nothing to rap her C size breast. This made Azura felt uneasy and upset Abesselom to the core as he gazed at the man.

"Look who we have here. The disrespectful servant of the captain. You remember me?" Abesselom asked the man as he unshielded his sword bravely, ready to kill someone.

Azura jumped backwards out of fright. She had never seen Enoch with a sword and now that she did, she couldn't tell why he had to take it out. She looked at him and seeing his angrily face, she hoped the life of both she and the man would be spared.

The man took a quick look at Abesselom and seeing who he was, he went on his knees and begged for his life. "Please spare my life sir, I was just following the others of the captain."

The man said with his head dowed and his body began to shake in fear and panic, wishing he was dead before meeting the man in front of him again.

Earlier the previous day, he disrespected Abesselom in the house of the captain, thinking he was a commoner because he was dress like one.

Abesselom didn't say anything to him even though he was asked out of the building that belongs to him. Only when the captain heard the commotion and came outside, did Abesselom asked who the man was.

From how the captain spoke to him, the man got to know Abesselom was someone powerful, not just that, he got to know that the man he disrespected, Abesselom was the boss of the captain, his boss. He begged for punishment instantly, but Abesselom ignored him.

Now on his knee in front of the same man, Abesselom looked a lot different from what he saw in the morning the other day, and he knew it was time for him to get his long awaited punishment, but the one to give it to him kept laughing at his reaction.

"It seems I was wrong. You are just a little cat." Abesselom said sarcastically.

"Sir, please spear me, I have kids and a wife...." The man continue to beg as he lifted his head to look at Abesselom.

Abesselom didn't let the man finish talking. He grabbed the sword and swing it with little force and... Blood spread on the wooden floor of the deck. Azura run to the corner of the bow and squatted in fear of what she just saw, forgetting she had a power that could take her out of there.

The bill rose to her mouth and she vomited her guts out. Her eyes teared up a little bit and she begin to shake in fear. She kept squatting, listening to the sound of Abesselom's footsteps getting closer and closer to her.

She raised her head and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand as she listened to Abesselom talking. "You saw with your own eyes the fate of those who contempt with me." He said coldly.

His dark eyes sent chills down Azura's body, she dragged her heavy body and dashed away from him, not wanting to be anywhere close to Abesselom. The man she just saw was nothing like the Enoch she knew.