Prince Lysar-II

"Bad things?" I repeated sitting up straight despite my sham of a sickness. This sounded very grave. "What are you talking about? Speak clearly." 

"Creatures of the dark." He answered in all seriousness.

Creatures of the dark? I laughed at that. "What?" My smile remained. "What are you talking of?" My laughter remained as I heard his words. Creatures of the dark? It was the first time that I had ever heard of them. Perhaps, I had heard of them in tales but nothing more than that. 

He sighed in resignation as if he did not want to continue this conversation any further but he was forced to do so.

"I think you are not aware that women, young girls, and boys from my country are being brought into yours without your permission."

Without my permission, yes. Without the crown knowing it? Yes. I happened to know it tonight.

"Why is that happening?" Did the 'creatures of dark' or so he mentioned responsible for the disappearance of the young children? I did not understand. 

His shoulders were slouched and his facial expressions look fallen. "Because of them. The creatures. They come out of nowhere and take the children away. The next time you see the children, they never want to return home. They are willing to stay with those people."

Was he joking? Why would someone who was abducted ever stay willingly with that person? None of this made sense to me. Yet, the matter was intriguing.

"Why so? Why would anyone want to stay willingly with someone who pulled them away from their families?"

"That is the mystery, Princess Genevieve." His answer was vague and did not satisfy my curiosity. "The mystery we have not been able to solve."

"Have you tried to?" As a member of the crown, was he concerned enough? 

He scoffed and then glared in my direction which j could see through the curtains. "I understand that my kingdom has been named The barbaric ones of all but that does not mean that we do not care about the people. People are what make a Kingdom and we have been doing everything we can to understand the root of the problem but we are coming up with none."

"You want help," I concluded. "You want your help and other countries to solve this problem." I looked towards Merilyn who was listening too.

"No."

My head snapped back towards his. No? Did he just say no? 

"I bet your pardon, your Highness," I was aware of what I am going to do but it is either of the two things that are happening at the moment. One he was not aware and the second he war here for something else which I cannot possibly understand. "If it is not help that you seek from us then why have you demanded an immediate Audience with me?"

"Because princess sometimes one cannot help themselves in a situation. The odds seem to be far greater and Powerful." Once again my eyes glanced back to Marilyn as I felt something crawl on my back. His words held an ominous warning making me believe in whatever he was trying to convey.

Footsteps in my direction ceased my attention once again. He was walking towards me, through the curtains towards where I was sitting.

Merilyn stepped further and spoke hurriedly, "Your Highness, please refrain fro—"

"Hush." He whispered and stood behind the last curtain allowing me to assess the man. He was tall like a warrior and amazingly tall. His back stood straight and his presence commanded authority and attention which he had. He knew the attention he deserved was given to him. 

"Now, where was I," I saw a smirk crawl its way back his face as his eyes stared into my mind making me flush and look away from his. "Yes, the odds. I am not here to seek your help for your guidance." The words seemed like mockery as if he knew that we could not provide him with either. "I am here to warn you about the situation that will arise in your country soon and let it be known to you that you would not be able to control it."

"Control it? My armies can control it very well Your Highness." I spat out of anger never pay attention to the tone I used which could have easily offended him.

"And what is it that is seeking to warn me of? The creatures of the dark?" I chuckled at him. "Do they even exist?"

He stepped through the last curtain making my eyes widened at his daring action. His smirk was long gone and his eyes held sincerity and seriousness.

"Such a lovely Princess," he commented as his eyes took in my seated form. "Even though you are suffering from a sickness as you look divine."

I had never been in the presence of a prince for the past many years and I had no idea about what to do. I could not possibly offend him knowing that my words would cost me and my kingdom a lot but remaining in his presence also seemed like a torturous punishment.

"So beautiful yet so sharp-tongued." He chuckled and I could see the anger surging through my veins once more.

My lips were pursued a bit to make me not talk into him. Offending someone was no less than a crime but this man was forcing me to commit one.

"Prince Lysar," No longer did I use my warm and honeyed tongue. This prince needed to be put in his place. "I suggest you do what you are here to do and then leave."

He smiled at me, still staring. "You are so beautiful. I now understand why you behave that way and immediately betrothed to the prince of Astria." His words made me shiver and is wanted him to leave but something told me that he was not going to any soon.