Chapter 7

One night, Ciel received a vision from the elder tree, one of the oldest and wisest entities in the forest. It warned her of an imminent attack from the king's forces.

Wanting to stop the attack before it can begin and not wanting to risk the life of the other creatures, she decides to intrude into the King's castle in her fox form.

The fox spirit runs through the enchanted forest and makes her way to the King's room, trying to end all of this tonight.

She was hoping that everything could end up peacefully but she knows deep down that she will probably have to leave this castle with her hands tainted with blood.

Raphael slept fitfully, plagued by nightmares of the enchantment forest. In his dreams, the trees reached out to strangle him, their roots twisting like serpents.

He woke with a start, bathed in sweat. Glancing around his chamber, he saw the silhouette of a fox standing by his window. He reached for his sword, but it wasn't there.

He must have dropped it during one of his nightmares.

"Who goes there?" he demanded, squinting at the shadowy figure.

Ciel transforms back into her human form, her bare skin exposed by the light of the moon. The light pink hue of her skin shining slightly and her brown eyes gleaming in the dark.

"Who do you think it is?"

She says almost in a whisper as she steps closer, taking advantage of the fact that he wasn't armed.

Startled by her sudden appearance, Raphael instinctively backed away. He recognized her now - the creature from the enchanted forest.

"So it's you," he said, his voice laced with disbelief. "What are you doing here?"

Despite his surprise, he remained cautious, keeping a safe distance between them.

She kept coming closer, now almost climbing on his bed.

"The elder tree warned me of the assault you planned. I am here to stop you."

Ciel's voice stayed calm and low. The tone sounded friendly yet, it was easy to understand the underlying threat.

Ciel couldn't help but frown. She wasn't stupid enough to look back at her naked form. But, for her, as a creature of the forest, being naked was pretty normal.

"Why would I do that?" She asks as her confused gaze leans into his. "I just want to stop you before you kill my people. Whatever the way."

She leans closer a little more, now fully on his bed.

Raphael smirked, his heart pounding in his chest. He could feel the heat radiating off her body, sense the wildness in her eyes.

"Perhaps you've come here for more than just a chat," he suggested, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. "Admit it, fairy. You're attracted to me."

He leaned forward, his lips brushing against her ear. "You want me…"

Ciel pulls away, pushing him a little by pressing her hands against his chest.

"I think you misunderstood the situation." The frown on her face deepens. "I am here for a chat or to end your life if you don't comply."

Raphael laughed, a low, menacing sound. He grabbed her wrists, pinning them above her head.

"Oh, I understand perfectly," he whispered, leaning in close. "You're terrified, and you're using whatever weapons you think you have to try and control the situation."

He tightened his grip on her wrists, his eyes burning into hers. "But let me tell you something, fairy. Your charms won't work on me."

Her brown gaze stares back into his eyes. She doesn't try to fight back when she finally sees his real thoughts about her.

"You're a bad liar," she starts, her lips forming a little smile "I see it in your gaze, you burn off desire for me."

Raphael glared at her, his jaw clenched tight. He released her wrists, pushing himself off the bed.

"Don't flatter yourself," he spat, turning his back to her. "You're nothing more than a means to an end."

He strode across the room, pouring himself a drink. His hands trembled slightly, betraying his nervousness.

Ciel stays on the bed, staring at him with her gleaming gaze.

"And what would be the end to being attracted to me?"

She tilts her head slightly, her eyes never leaving him.

Raphael turned to face her, his expression hardening. He took a slow sip of his drink, his eyes never leaving hers.

"The end?" he repeated, a cruel smile tugging at his lips. "Oh, fairy. That would be conquest. And possession."

He set his glass down on a nearby table, his gaze darkening. "And maybe…" his voice lowered to a dangerous whisper, "a little fun."

"I am not a fairy. And it's not my name either."

She lays in his bed, daring to look away as she didn't feel in danger at the moment. Ciel's naked figure was so lightly shining, enlightened by the moonshine.

"For what it's worth, you won't be able to conquer anything by 'having fun' with a guardian."

She sighs and closes her eyes.

"This is a shame that you want to conquer something you know nothing about."

Raphael scowled, his irritation growing. He crossed the room, looming over her.

"Well, since you insist on reminding me of your name," he hissed, grabbing her chin roughly, "it's Ciel, isn't it? Now, let's get one thing straight, little girl…"

His voice was filled with venom as he leaned down, his hot breath washing over her. "I don't give a damn about your forest, or your rules. And I most certainly don't care about your feelings."

She sits up on the bed to stare at him.

"You seem to care more than what you pretend or you wouldn't have known my name."

Ciel leans closer to him, her gaze now reminding the one of an enchanted fox.

"But don't wait for me to leave before you either choose to leave my realm out of your stupid project of war and conquer or you either die."

Raphael snarled, his eyes flashing with rage. He released her chin, his hand balling into a fist.

"Fine! If that's the way you want to play it," he growled, punching the wall beside her head. "Then let's see how much you enjoy the consequences!"

He advanced on her, his eyes blazing with fury.

Ciel frowns, hating how stubborn this capricious King could be. She moved slowly around him on the bed.

"Why don't you simply give up on this idea already?? What would you win to conquer a realm that has nothing to do about you?"

Her gaze was actually honestly curious, trying to understand why he is so stubborn.

"You would win nothing as my people hate you and would try a revolution as soon as possible."

Raphael glared at her, his fists clenching at his sides. He could feel the heat rising within him, a primal urge to dominate, to conquer.

"It's not about winning or losing, fairy," he snarled, advancing on her. "It's about power, about asserting dominance!"

His eyes burned with a savage intensity as he loomed over her. "And I intend to assert my dominance over you and your pathetic forest."

Ciel's gaze hardens as she leans towards him with defiance.

"I see that you are nothing but a kid throwing a tantrum."

She pulls away, walking towards the window of the King's room, the pink hue of her bare sling gleaming beautifully under the ray of the moon.

"So, there is really no way to convince you to not conquer my realm and kill my people?"

Raphael scowled, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. He hated how she looked at him, as if he were some petty child.

"There's nothing to discuss, fairy," he snapped, striding towards her. "My mind is made up!"

He grabbed her arm, spinning her to face him. "Now, you should be thanking me. I'm giving you the chance to serve a great ruler instead of wasting your life protecting a pitiful forest."

His eyes raked over her body, a wicked grin spreading across his face.

Ciel stares at him with an unreadable expression on her round and innocent face.

"So, this is what you want? To possess me?"

Raphael nodded, a cruel smile playing on his lips. He stepped closer, his hand moving to cup her cheek.

"Yes, fairy," he murmured, his voice dangerously soft. "That's exactly what I want."

His thumb traced her lower lip, a predatory gleam in his eyes. "And I assure you, once I possess you, I will never let you go."

The pink haired woman kept staring into his eyes. She wraps her arms around his neck, making him gently spin slightly so he is the closest to the window, the moon now directly enlightening her gaze.

"But… Even if I agree, you won't leave my people alone, right?"

Raphael stared down at her, his eyes darkening with desire. He could feel the warmth of her body against his own, the softness of her skin beneath his fingertips.

"No, fairy," he admitted, his voice a husky whisper. "I won't."

His hand moved from her cheek, tracing a path down her neck and over her collarbone.

"But I promise you this… As long as you're by my side, they won't suffer."

His lips brushed against her earlobe, his hot breath sending shivers down her spine.

Ciel's hands slide down, stroking the King's chest. She tries to keep her gaze as innocent as possible.

"Can you elaborate? What will happen to them, exactly?"

Raphael's breath hitched at her touch, his resolve wavering for a fraction of a second. He pushed her hands away, stepping back to maintain some distance between them.

"They will learn their place," he growled, his eyes flashing with anger. "They will submit to me, or they will perish."

He took another step back, regaining his composure. "Now, answer me. Will you serve me, fairy? Or shall we settle this the hard way?"

Seeing Raphael stepping closer to the window, she couldn't help but grin.

"Oh. I think I'll take the hard way."

Ciel said before rushing towards him and pushing him to make him fall by the window.

Caught off guard, Raphael stumbled backwards, his balance thrown off by the force of her push. He managed to catch hold of the windowsill before he fell completely, his fingers digging into the stone.

"What the hell—!" he snarled, glaring at her. "You'll pay for this, fairy!"

Ciel comes closer, her gaze determined but sad. It's clear that she wanted to end all of this in a pacific way, but her people come before her morals.

"We'll see."

She takes his fingers and forces him to let go of the windowsill.

"May you be kinder and wiser in your next life."

Raphael cursed as he fell, his arms windmilling wildly in a futile attempt to regain his balance. He hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the wind out of him.

He lay there, stunned, for several long moments. Then, slowly, he pushed himself up onto his elbows, his breathing ragged and labored.

He looked up, his eyes meeting hers. There was pain there, but also anger. And a hint of regret.

"You'll regret this," he croaked, his voice barely audible. "I swear it."

With a final, defiant glare, he turned his head away and closed his eyes, surrendering to the darkness that swallowed him up.