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Chapter 2
The way he stood solidly and unshaken with only his backside in view and that back view seemed very familiar, the long black hair and expensive long coat.
Then realization coupled with fear descended upon me...
'That isn't any butler, that's him! The man from my vision yesterday!'
I slowly moved closer towards him, fear lingering at the corner of my heart but I was only subduing it as I moved closer. What was he doing here and who was he by the way?
Each step I took closer to him intensified the mystery and my curiosity only increased.
Slowly I walked across the long corridor and when I finally got close to him, someone somehow suddenly bumped into me, distracting my focus.
"Ria, are you alright? I've been calling your name for centuries now"
It was Edward my brother.
"Oh I didn't hear you, I was just..." I quickly looked towards the mysterious man but the place was clear, he wasn't there.
Where did he go? I looked around but couldn't find him.
"Uhh .... Looking for someone?"
"Yes! A man! He stood right there, facing the wall"
"Who? Butler Steve? "
"Was that butler Steve?" I was very doubtful.
"That was butler Steve and he left some seconds ago. " Edward said, staring at me with inquisitive and worry filled eyes while I stood betwixt confusion.
"Are you okay Moriah? I can call the physician " he stepped closer with concern.
" I'm okay brother. I just thought it was someone else. I'm so tired, I'll head to my room now, bye" I managed a little smile and he smiled back while I hurried to my room.
Though Edward said it was butler Steve but I know it wasn't butler Steve. I know who I saw and it wasn't butler Steve or any of the butler. It was the mysterious man.
Something is definitely wrong with me and I don't know what it is. First it was the daydream yesterday and now this.
What is going on?
I stepped into my room and shut the door, the image was still very fresh I'm my memory, getting me all the more worried.
"Maybe I'm just stressed out" I closed my eyes, taking in a deep refreshing breath and exhaling. It made me feel only one percent better but at least it was something.
_ THE DITCH _
"I have found her" Luwin said.
"Well, Isn't she very stunning?" Ashlyn emerged from behind a very tall wall, eyes bright with a green glow which enabled her see properly in the dark.
"I have not seen her face yet but her voice is magnificent " Luwin said, recalling the way her voice flowed through the atmosphere so smoothly.
After Ashlyn told him about her coming of age and her plans of getting married, Luwin made haste to find and connect with her.
He sent out his soul to search for the young girl and found her in the palace of Danté, as was prophesied.
EDWIN LUWIN'S POV
Moving stealthily through the quiet hall of the palt, I wondered where the said Moriah Archwin Danté was.
I found everyone except her. This got me wondering if she had been married off already. I decided to go outside to search, perhaps she had stepped out.
Breezing through the garden, I heard a voice that struck me deeply. A voice that caught my attention coming from a distance and I hastily moved closer, there she was, holding hands with a strange boy.
Definitely, the plan of getting married was already at the final stage, I had to do something, I had to reveal myself to her.
Casting a final glance at the back view of the duo, I decided to wait for her where I knew she would see me clearly.
**
WRITER'S POV
"And why didn't you show her your face?" Ashlyn's voice sounded but she was no where to be seen in the darkness.
"She will be greatly disturbed by it. As it is very obvious I have lost my charming features " Luwin sounded a bit sad.
"Well that is your fault, isn't it, dear Luwin? If you had not gone contrary to the law of Acheradon, you wouldn't be here"
"I did it for a good reason "
"It does not matter for what reason you disobey the law. Law is law and disobedience attracts punishment"
Luwin exhaled in sadness, a tingling sensation drew his attention to his hands, he lifted them up and watched as they gradually became thinner and dryer, same with every other part of his dry body.
With each passing hour, his skin became thinner and if it goes on without any help, he would definitely turn into bones.
The process of thinning out was usually very painful and unbearable but for someone like Luwin, he was already used to the pain and anguish that he no longer felt it.
"You are running out of time" Ashlyn spoke and magically made herself visible again.
"The clock is ticking, what are you still doing here? Go out and find her!... Go!... Send your soul... Inform her about the assignment!... Go!!"
_ THE PALACE _
"The twenty second of next month" a deep old voice sounded. It was the voice of king Wesley Eddington, father of Jude Eddington.
He sat with king Lucas Danté over a game of chess.
"Twenty second? Is it a perfect date for the wedding?"
"It certainly is, I have checked and the weather would be favourable too"
"Alright then! Twenty second it is!" King Lucas Danté cackled joyously while sipping from his glass of wine.
"Oh what a wonderful day it would be, I cannot wait to join the two families "
"It would be very splendid!"
That afternoon while both kings sat together, Moriah and Jude had gone out into the township area to have a pleasant view the kingdom. It was Jude's idea and Moriah could not reject it as he was her future husband.
It would do no good to start disagreeing with him even before marriage.
Both rode together all the way to the town square, they had arrived and were already walking together with two guards behind them.
They attracted onlookers as they walked but it was a normal thing so they did not react to the numerous stares which they got.
So many activities were going on at the town square, there was a little display of artistic dancers who performed for little tokens. People stood by and made way for the young prince and princess to also watch.
"Such a beautiful performance" Ria was amazed but Jude did not seem very impressed by the looks on his face.
"But they are not so perfect" he said with an unpleased look on his face. He dipped his hand into his pocket, brought out some money and tossed it into a small wooden box beside the dance group.
"Shall we leave my princess? There are so many commoners and peasants around"
He took her hand and led her away from the crowd, Moriah followed him as they went to a different site, there was a slab where both sat and watched the people.
"Wait for me, my princess. Let me get us some treats " Jude placed a warm kiss on her hand before leaving.
Moriah watched him leave before she exhaled. All she could wish for was for their marriage to be peaceful, peace was all that mattered, wasn't it?
She looked down at her dress and cleaned off some dust. The wind blew softly, creating a cool soothing atmosphere but suddenly it turned eery and uncomfortable.
Moriah stared up and looked around, to her surprise she was all alone out there. The villagers had all gone!
"Where is everyone?" She turned to her guards but there was no one around her, she looked far and beyond but it was very vacant, just her alone in the town square. What is going on?
She remembered when this same thing happened in the palace, quickly she looked around to find the mysterious man but there was absolutely no one.
"Prince Eddington?" She called
While searching, she looked to the side and noticed a very dark path at a distance just ahead of her. A clog of angry cloud had gathered just above the path which made it dark, like it would rain soon. Streaks of lightnings could be seen in the clouds.
"What is that?" She questioned with great wonder and found herself walking towards the path, the closer she got to the path, the clearer it became that it was not a dark path but a cave.
Just like the cave in her daydream the other day. Perhaps this was another daydream. An opportunity to know who the mysterious man was.
She hastened her steps towards the cave and without fear, she went into the dark cave, walking in confidently like she had a very important ordeal.
Once again, there he was. Same posture, same aura.
Moriah did not bother to talk to him, rather, she walked around him to see his face and obviously did not like what she saw. Her eyes widened and her heart literally stopped beating.
The horrific face of the man frightened her, his skeletal figure and boney face, he had no flesh left underneath his pale skin, it was just skin and bones, round eyes, thin chapped lips, hollow cheeks
Luwin moved his eyes and connected it with Moriah's scared ones and just as expected, she was freaked out to unconsciousness. Her body went numb and she met the ground with a soft thud.
Luwin exhaled tiredly.
"Am I that bad looking?" He touched his face with sad eyes.
.
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TO BE CONTINUED...