Threats And Decisions

A few hours had passed, Vanessa held a tray with a plate of beef and a glass of water on it in her hands and took it down into the dungeon and to Neo's cell. She also had his chains removed earlier after she confirmed that he truly her mother's killer. Crouching to her knees, she placed the tray into a rectangular slot at the bottom of the gate that allowed prisoners to get their food.

"Um..food's here."

She spoke nervously, after everything that had happened this past few years with her hunting him down and capturing his family members who were brought in for execution. She didn't know where to start apologizing from.

"Finally! I'm starving!"

Neo rushed to his feet before grabbing the tray and sat on the ground. He stuffed his mouth with the beef and displayed no table manners, he also mumbled while eating.

"Being imprisoned sure takes a lot out of a dude."

He took a sip from the glass of water before he downed the rest of the beef, in a matter of minutes he had devoured the whole food and water.

"Oh..Kay.."

Vanessa a bit confused slowly sat on the ground right infront of the gate and crossed her legs, her face was placed at Neo's sight but she diverted her eyes away from him and bit her lips gently.

"Uh...you feeling okay?"

Neo could tell she was extremely nervous to even face him, someone that was hell bent on making him pay earlier had turned to this.

"Why.."

Neo's eyebrows rose as she muttered a single word softly.

"Why what?"

Vanessa couldn't handle the guilt anymore leading her to attack Neo with the questions that trampled on her sanity.

"Why don't you hate me!?"

Her eyes wavered as she was overwhelmed by the crimes her father made her commit against the Tempest family, deep down Vanessa was a sweet, loving and caring individual but her father lied to her inorder to awaken the warrior spirit she inherited from her mom and to have her vengeance whilst fulfilling the king's selfish desire at the same time.

"You seem like a nice person, why the hell would anyone hate you?"

Neo missed the big picture, the memories of the previous inhabitant of his body rushed through his mind earlier. But he was too distracted by everything that happened so far that the memories of Vanessa capturing his family for execution was left dormant for now.

"I'm the reason why your family's dead! I'm the reason your in this cell and the reason you'll soon be executed so why don't you hate me?!"

She lowered her head sobbing softly with tears escaping from her eyes, she felt guilty after realizing what she had done to innocent people. Neo on the other hand was yet to embrace the memories of the previous host so he didn't feel the rage and hate the previous Neo Tempest had for her.

The young assassin let out a sigh before approaching the gate and putting his hand through the hole and on her shoulder.

"I'm not that angry and I don't hate you, you had your reasons. You thought I killed your mother so your actions were justified, well till they weren't."

Neo chuckled before drawing back and laying on his back staring at the carvings on the ceiling.

"But I am a bit pissed you threw me inside this cell, and chained me up for hours."

Vanessa sniffled before smiling as Neo's actions signified his forgiveness and that put her at ease.

"Don't worry, I'll get you out of here soon enough."

[The next day]

The king, his son and Tazuki made their way into the throne room where they were to finalize the execution of Neo Tempest who is now revealed to be the child of the prophecy who was to put an end to the plans of King Leonard. The bigger question was what plans did the prophecy referred to?

Vanessa was determined to get Neo released so she decided to plead with her father inorder to change his mind about the prophecy but Incase that didn't work, she threatened the king special advisor that unless he got Neo released he'd forfeit his life. It was merely a lie but her actions the previous day made him think otherwise.

Reaching the third floor she spotted her brother, her father and his special advisor approaching the throne room and muttering to each other.

Knights were placed at the entrance of the throne room as it was a private meeting so she had no choice but to use the secret back door which was known only by the royal family, installed for emergencies to eavesdrop on them once more.

"Your majesty, as your special and royal advisor, I suggest you don't go through with this."

The king sighed with frustration, they had this argument times without number and it was starting to get old.

"How many times do I have to tell you this Tazuki, it is irrelevant whether or not Neo Tempest is innocent. As long as that prophecy came from the Sage Of The Cross he must be taken care off."

"At what cost your majesty!?"

Tazuki raised his voice at the king, it looked as if he was pouring out his frustrations but actually his body was trembling from Vanessa's threats.

"You are afraid that the boy will put an end to your reign? you killed his whole family because of that, you wiped out your elite force which is the most crucial factor for our victory in this war that you! you your majesty started all because of your desire to acquire the other kingdoms resources.

It doesn't matter if it's not the Tempest family that ends your reign because by killing them off you have cut down half the strength of our forces."

King Leonard was unsure whether he should feel guilty or angered for his advisor raising his voice at him, but it all changed when he caught a glimpse of the left arm of Tazuki.

"What happened to your left arm Tazuki?"

The king stood up from his throne and approached him slowly, Tazuki realized that there was a bruise on his fragile arm caused by the tight grip of Vanessa. He hid his arm behind his back swiftly.

"I said what happened Tazuki!"

He grabbed his special advisor by the robe and dragged him towards his face. There was nobody Tazuki feared more than the king as he knew the dirty things he had done to maintain his reign. So he came clean.

"T-the princess, s-she threatened me, she said if I don't tell her about the prophecy s-she'd kill me.."

"Oh?" Prince Nicholas chuckled softly crossing his legs, he knew his sister so he knew once she heard the prophecy it would turn her inside out.

The king grunted grinning his teeth before shifting his gaze towards his right side muttering to himself.

"I should have known.."

He tightened the grip on Tazuki's robe and gave him a death glare.

"Is that all you told her?"

"Y-yes! I swear that's all I told her!"

King Leonard pushed him to the ground before rushing to the entrance of the throne room. Vanessa left swiftly after seeing her father hurriedly walking to the entrance of the door, she knew what he was about to do next.

"Guards! bring me Neo Tempest! Be cautious, his execution begins now!"

The knights available that heard the commands of their king including the ones that guarded the throne room all rushed down the stairs towards the dungeon.

"Tch, I never thought she'd be just as tenacious as her mother, that Vanessa.."

The king's eyes twitched in frustration as he awaited the arrival of his knights, he decided Neo's execution was to be done by beheading him.