chapter 5

All seven visitor find themselves back in the diamond castle. They notice a white bed with furry white rug and a bird cage hanging near the balcony. The room had small, round diamond tables and chairs which is connected to the floor and glittery chandeliers on top of them. They also notice a teen with long straight hair standing near a cupboard with a knight uniform and sword hanging from his waist.

It was night time and when Aika enter her room slowly, she gasped at the sight of the boy staring straight into her.

“Khalid! What are you doing in my room?”

“I should be the one asking the question! Where did you go?”

Aika looks flustered and answered him, “Just, walking around the garden outside and arund the castle. Nowhere important.”

“I am not a fool, Aika. I am your personal knight. It is my duty to know your whereabouts and take care of you. You sneak behind me once more after practising your gift.”

Aika scowled ta him, feeling annoyed, “I am alright, Khalid. You don’t have to to eb worried about me! I want you to leave my room now!” She raised her voice lightly.

Khalid approach her and knelt down. Aika jumped back but not before he raised the end of her skirt lightly.

“Black dirt, not from Zhatier and smell of Elnysia flower. You went to the forest didn’t you?”

Aika eyes widen, confirming Khalid’s doubt, “Why would you do that? You could get yourself hurt! I woud never forgive myself f something had happen to you, Aika! Why did you do something so stupid!” He raised his voice at her.

“Please, Khalid. It’s not what you think. I didn’t go too deep. I was just resting there, nothing much. You can’t tell anyone. Not dada and mama.”

He clench his hand and shook his head.

“No, I can’t do that, Aika. This is very important and I would never lie to the king and queen.”

“But I will be queen one day too. I beg of you. You’re my friend aren’t you? You can’t tell them. Or else I won’t be able to visit the meadow again.”

“Again? You are out of your mind. I have to tell them, Aika. It’s the only way I can stop you from going.”

Khalid was about to leave but Aika, with tears wetting her cheeks pull his hand and hug him from behind, “Please, Khalid. Please, please, please! I beg of you. You can’t tell them. Oh, please don’’t do this!” She cried out to him

Khalid turn around and shook her shoulder making her cry harder, “Why? Why are you so stubborn? What is it about the forest that make syou acting like a fool? Why Aika, why?”

“I’ve found my soulmate!” She cried out. Khalid eyes widen at her words. He looked shocked and indisbelief.

“You are lying right? Tis’ only a joke you are saying to me? Tell me, Aika. Tell me!” HE shook her shoulder harder making her winced. She pushes him away and shook her head from side to side.

“I’m not lying.I found him. The meadow deep in Kyarakhi forest, I always go to see him. He told me that I was his mate. This is what the Goddess have planned for us, Khalid. I_”

“Mate? Why would you say mate? The only creature that would use that term are…NO! It can’t be, Aika! A wolf? Are you out of your mind? You are making a grave mistake!”

“No, Khalid. I love him and he loves me! Please. You can’t tell anyone about this.”

Khalid moves backward, weakly and lean on the brick wall. Suddenly, a voice form outside Aika’s room can be heard calling to her. Aika’s eyes rested on the door and Khalid repeatedly. She went to the door before saying, “Please, Khalid. You can’t tell my parents. I’m not ready yet. Please.” She pleaded him then left the room.

Khalid just stare ahead for a while before falling to his knees and sa on the floor. He had a serious expression but tears start to fall nonstop. He didn’t cry out nor he scream but he was silent and looking ahead with tears wetting his cheek.

Right then, everyone in the room became quiet and understood that Khalid actually had feelings for Aika. He was in love with her but his feeling was unrequited and the painwas so deep it ran through his chest.

Again the background melts with Aika sneaking out to see Romanov. When they arrived at the garden, Aika was panting and tryig to tell something to Romanov when both Aika’s parent emerge form behind them with Khalid’s own father approach them as well. Aika was drowned in fear, absolutely terrified looking at the expression both sides had for each other. King Aidan was fuming with anger and he wore a knight suit while Queen Aaliyah had tears in her eyes.

King Romanov Sviatoslavich I was fuming. Rage boils in side of him. He moves closer towards them two who are currently holding each other’s arm. His sudden approach made King Aidan moves closer and held out a long diamond sword while Romanov’s father hold a silver sword to his. Romanov’s father looks furious the whole time and spoke.

“This is where you were all this time, boy? Behind my back, shagging the enemy? I never knew you were this brave, going against my order. You looking for a detah wish, son?”

Aidan’s gaze thin out on Romanov’s father. Anger pulsing in his vein. Aika starts to become emotional seeing these two about to fight.

“Dada, please let him go. I don’t want to see anyone get hurt, please? Don’t do this.” She pleaded.

“Stay out of this, Aikaterina!” Aidan raise his voice.

“But father?”

“Return to your mother, now!”

Aika suck in breath. She stares back to him and he had the same fear in his eyes. She tried to move but his hold was tight. He refuses to let her go and he shook his head slowly, asking her not to go. Tears brim in her eyes as she turns back to her parents.

“Dada, mama. I love him. I can’t let him go, please.”

Both Aidan and Aaliyah looks upset and somehow disappointed at Aika. More wolves gather behind King Romanov, his father while other Zhatierians knight including Khalid showed up to protect their king.

“Son, you come back here now or I will make you watch me rip that witch and make you bleed as well.” He growled with his fangs protruding from his mouth and eye glowing with anger.

“I love her father, she’s my mate. Don’t do this to us. Just let us leave. We won’t bother you anymore.”

King Romanov I became furious and gave a loud roar, making Aidan and his knight becoming more guarded with their magic while others have their sword, swirling with gift to increase their attacks.

In a second, dozens of wolves from behind King Romanov launched themselves to Aika and Romanov but one by one end up thrown back to the trees behind them or on each other. Their tummy had white spot, ice forming from the gift used by Zhateirians. Some of the wolves even lurched itself on some of the knights while King Romanov, attacks King Aidan. Queen Aaliyah was surrounded by some of the knights and taken away to a tree enarby while other Zhateirian knight defend themselves.

King Romanov had a grin on his face as he fights, throwing insult s after insult at King Aidan but he was undeterred and continue to fight without using his gift. When many are already wounded, Romanov and Aika both ran to their parents, hugging their backs and pleaded them to stop. King Aidan pulls Aika to his front and force a strong grip on both of her shoulder.

“Is this what you want? To see your people, die while protecting this beast? Is this worth it, Aika?” He yelled at her.

Aika’s gasped, her tears couldn’’t stop falling. Romanov was holding his father that is adamat to get his claws on King Aidan. Aika and him turned to each other with Aika shaking her head, none of this was worth it. Romanov looks shock and calls out to her but Aika spoke to her father the words he wanted to hear. Aidan put back his swords and took his cape, covering Aika and lead all of them away.

Some of the wolves wanted to attack but Aidan moved his hand and the wolves froze in their spot. All covered in ice and slammed loudly on the ground, making the rest of the wolves including King Romanov to shudder and backed away. If looks can kill, the Zhatierians would be dead by now. As Aika moves deeper into the forest with queen Aaliyah holding her, whispering words of concern, she hears her Romanov grunts in pain and sounds of beating after the other can be heard. She whimpers, feeling upset and afraid for Romanov knowing she couldn’t do anything about it. Only the soft whisper of apology from Queen Aaliyah was able to stop her from crying out to him. The hard grip from King Aidan hints that none of what had happen is over.