Awake ?

"WHAT !?" Silas feels that his mind blows up. How in the hell did Anise vanish right when she was supposed to be taken? He looks at the beaten knights that lay on the ground. Filip couches blood after finishing telling the king the whole event.Silas had a good stamina enough to crush both of them .

Silas turns and closes his eyes. His plan took a turn but he feels that it might have been better this way. Ilona is in his hands and he bets that Victor will want to marry her. Another opportunity to make Victor his marionette is seen by his keen eye.

However, he feels anger building up knowing that Anise escaped. He smells that something unclean was there. No way the girl vanished out of nowhere without somebody telling her that she would be taken away. The only one who knew of his plan was Victor.

Silas clenches his teeth. 'The bastard will pay heavily for interfering with my plan …how dare he!' The man is turning towards the two knights.

"Rise! "His voice thunders the hall and the knights lift themselves. Their heavy armor is on the ground and their bruised bodies are aching in pain. Good thing they still had the power to stand up in front of the king.

"Go back and guard Victor back to the castle. Take a few more guards! Leave!" The king spoke and the knights took their armor from the ground and dressed up fast, leaving the hall in a hurry.

"WAIT! Tell Victor to come in the basement after he arrives." Silas looks at the terrified knights who are not ready to bring the news to the prince. His dark eyes are piercing their hearts and they know, the odds are not in Victor's favor at all.

….

Half a day distance from where the carriage is now till they arrive at the castle. Victor is stopping near a river to replenish their water reserve. Lily is helping with keeping the horses still since they were eager to drink some water too.

"Lily! Lead them here slowly." Victor raises his hand signaling the girl to where to come.

The girl whistles a little and the horses are obedient enough to follow her lead slowly.

As the horses drink from the place Victor found to be suitable for them, Lily grabs the boy by the corner of his robe.

"Yea …what's wrong?" Victor looks at the little girl who can't seem to find a way of telling him what she wants to say. She fidgets and in the end spokes.

"I think Ilona has to be changed …she has not been washed for a few days." Hearing it Victor gulps.

"Do you want me to change her? If I have to do it …promise to not tell her that I did it." The boy makes eye contact with the girl and he sounds ready to do it as long as Lily agrees with his terms.

"Ok…." Lily nods.

Taking a deep breath, the boy walks around the carriage and jumps in it. He looks at the pale girl.

He takes his robe off and takes off the blanket that covers Ilona. She is dressed in a long white shirt that reaches her knees. Guess it was the only removable cloth that would give access to her wounded back without having to struggle to undress her.

Victor freezes when he sees that she is still lifeless as a few hours ago. He checks her pulse. Low ….

His mind is blank. If only he knew how to cure her! He knew just the basics from his friend who was a good doctor. But Ilona needed more than plants put as a compress on her wounds.

As he brushes a few strands of hair off her face, Lily watches him. She sees that the boy seemed very disturbed. His frown and the way he bites his lips is making Lily wonder if his cold demeanor crumbles only toward Ilona.

Till now the little girl saw how cold he was towards her and the knights as well as the boy who ran with Anise, all because he cared only about Ilona. She smiles…. this time she knows for sure that her savior is in good hands.

Victor is ready to undo the buttons of the shirt when Ilona opens a little her eyes …. she whispers intelligibly," Water …"

Victor is blinking and freezes in place having his eyes open wide.

"Water …put ..me ..in …wa..ter "Ilona repeats her request mumbling since her lips are dry and her voice not used in a few days is weak.

The boy sprouts," What?" He is staring at her unable to process what just happened.

'I am not dreaming …right?' His mind finds it hard to believe. He frowns.

"Get me …in ..water ..bastard…" She tries to raise her voice but fails miserably as her voice cracks with every word spoken.

"What the fuck!" Victor covers his face and falls on his butt as he tries to process again what he just heard.

"Don't …swear ..at ..me …. bastard …" Ilona forces a frown and wants to move but her body is sending signals that she won't be able to lift not even a finger without feeling pain. "Ahh…" She moans...

Lily watches the whole interaction and tears, tears of joy fall on her cheeks as she runs towards the carriage. Her smile is wide.

 "Ilona …You are alive …I thought you won't make it …" The girl is taking Ilona's hand in hers and tears , joyful tears fall on their hands intertwined.

"End …the drama …. Put..me ... in the water ..!" Ilona moans in pain as she forces herself to speak.

'These two motherfucker …. I will end up fainting if they don't put me in water …My hands will blow up …"

Her hands are still in the black leather gloves. She told Grey to not take it off no matter what. As her last words, Grey did exactly that.

Ilona's hands are burning hot and she knows that only water will heal it for some reason. Her magic was the reason she fainted. The arrow wounds on her back weren't the cause of her state of complete weakness. Few wounds could ever cause her to faint like that without waking for a few days. However, the wounds have their part in keeping her pinned down.

Her magic which seemed to be out of control was the reason Ilona was on the verge of death. If only she would know how to control it or at least escape from it.

Lily wipes her tears and shakes Victor who is covering his face.

"Sir! We have to get her in the water!" She yells at the guy who uncovers his face and glares at her.

Ilona watches the boy. His eyes are watery …he probably covered his eyes because he was about to cry. 'Unexpected from a bastard …' She smiles mentally.

"Why would I put her in the river? She will catch a cold!" Victor mumbles as he tries to push his emotions away. He feels relieved that she is awake but he still feels like crying. The frustration that he shows such emotions in front of her makes him angry. He was supposed to act cold towards her.

"Just do what she says!" Lily becomes aggressive as the boy sounds like a stubborn dork. Ilona must have her reasons for why she wanted to be put in the water.

Victor frowns and seeing both of the girls glare at him he loses to them. His hands go underneath Ilona and she grits her teeth as she tries to repress her moan. Her hand is behind his neck as he carries her like a princess.

As he steps towards the river having her in his arms, he observes her. She has a dark look as her forehead is knotted in a frown. The paleness makes her look even scary. He giggles mentally.

'She is the same strong girl I knew …. having her in my arms like this …it was a dream almost faded a few minutes ago….' He feels glad that Ilona is alive.

But …his mind is invaded by dark thoughts.' How am I going to tell her about Anise? She will hate me …'

His hands wrap tighter around her. She looks at him glaring as she moans.

"Bastard …it hurts!" Her mumble is waking him up to reality.

"Sorry …" Victor keeps his frown and avoids her glare. His legs drown in the deep river and she feels the water engulfing her body after a few steps. Both are under water …just their hands are seen by Lily.

Ilona lets out a breath as the cold water cools her hands off. She feels refreshed and as she tightens her fists the power of her grip seems to have returned to her.

'Good …. knew it was because of the magic …' A small smile is gasped by Victor who glances at her.

She glances at him and frowns." Take your hands off me. Now I am good." She takes her hand off his neck.

Victor raises his eyebrows." Like hell, I will let you alone!" His voice is firm as well as his hands that are around her waist.

"….." She slips underwater. His hands are empty.

"SIR! WHERE IS ILONA?" Lily yells from the edge as she doesn't see Ilona in the boy's arms.

Victor goes underwater after her.

'Damn girl …'