Call Of The Dark

Yul looked away as if thinking deeply. "It's like she is waiting for something."

"How can you say that?" he asked, as Emma grunted and crawled out of his lap.

"She keeps looking out of the windows time and again. My guards have reported it."

Lazarus sighed. "Yul, you are just too worked up. All this activity has taken a toll on your thinking."

"What? No!" he blurted. "I am rather enjoying it." He gazed at Emma and raised his glass. "Anything for that beautiful girl who is your mate."

Lazarus growled at him. "Are you flirting with her?" He jumped out of his bed, and walked towards him, cracking his neck as if challenging him for a fight to death.

Yul rolled his eyes. "Even if I flirt with her, trust me she would never have that interest in me. So just go back, old man."

Emma barked a laugh. "Kill it, Lord Lorza," she said. "Yul is like a brother to me."

Lazarus stopped in his tracks when heard the word 'brother' and a wide grin donned his lips. As for Yul, he drained his glass in one go. He had shit luck.

"Yes, he is like a brother to you," Lazarus repeated and went to pick a glass of wine for himself. He was extremely content today. The most potent competition was slayed with one beautiful word — brother. He leaned against the edge of the bar and with that grin intact, he tilted his head towards Yul and said, "Brother. Emma's brother."

Yul grunted while Magnus laughed at him and so did Olya.

A while later when they had had their share of fun, Yul reported, "Maeve is very fragile at the moment. Just two days are left for the full moon. Today, she might go after Emma. She is going to use all her means to find her."

"Let her," Lazarus replied. "She will get dust."

The five of them talked until it was evening, each talking about their adventures. Emma revealed about Nephie to them and they all became curious to see Nephie. "Where is she?" Olya asked. "I want to see her again."

"Gods above!" Yul said excitedly. "I would love to ride a dragon." He got goosebumps. "I want to see her, Emma. Please, you must take me to her. I am going to keep special care of her!"

Emma chuckled. "I will. Let this get over."

"I must go and check on Maeve," Yul said. "We have spent a lot of time talking. The sun is setting and I do believe that she must be up to something."

"Let Magnus check upon her this time," Lazarus said. "She should know that he is also back in the palace."

"That's right," Magnus said, getting up. "How is our father doing?"

"King Viktor has called me for dinner," Lazarus said. "Along with Emma." He rolled his eyes. "Maybe he wants to say his final goodbye to Emma."

"That old man is cunning, Lazarus," Yul remarked. "Be careful. I don't trust him one bit."

"I know!" Lazarus replied with sneer. "I know his shrewdness very well. He is waiting for Maeve to possess Emma and waiting for me to mark her, but I know why he is waiting so patiently." He took a deep breath in and looked at Emma. "He wants to kill her so that I die with her. He is a bloody bastard! He can't kill me directly because of his vow to the Lore. That is why he will target Emma."

Emma gulped. The palace was so full of conspiracies and she was the eye of the storm. She lowered her head, feeling horrible about it. Lazarus walked up to her, sensing her misery. "Emma, there is nothing wrong that you have done. It is just a game of thrones. That's what we royals do. We are very fucked up." He lifted her face, curling his fingers beneath her chin and kissed her lips. "I am there, love," he assured her.

Emma cupped his cheeks. "I feel bad for you, Lord Lorza. Why can't they simply let you take what is yours?"

He chuckled and pressed her face in the crook of his neck. "If only it was that simple."

A few moments of heavy silence descended in the room. They all became quiet. After a while, Magnus said, "Olya, please stay here, okay? I am going out to check upon Maeve."

Olya nodded and kissed him on his cheek. Magnus left with Yul while Lazarus stayed with both the girls. Olya came to the bed and the girls chatted excitedly when all at once there was a noise behind the secret door of the passageway. Lazarus whipped his head towards it, shocked as hell. The next moment, he grabbed both the girls and traced them to the adjacent room. When he came back, the door swung open. It was swaying slightly, its hinges creaking.

Shock blasted in his chest. He ran inside the tunnel to find the culprit, but there was no one. It was too dark but he was able to see well. All he could see were the cobwebs hanging low. A soft breeze blew inside from the other end of the tunnel and he knew that the door must be opened. He strode to the end of the tunnel and as he had predicted, the door was open, but there was no one. He stabbed his fingers in his hair, feeling anxious. He snapped his head around to see who was there or to pick up the scent. Nothing.

He closed the door and came back inside, afraid of Emma and Olya's safety. He opened their door and found that their room's door was also open. Instead of Emma and Olya, Maeve was standing. She looked… healthier.

"Lazarus," she said with a smile.

He narrowed his eyes on her, his heart thundering. He would kill her if she had kidnapped Emma.

"I think I am close to finding Emma," she said. "Don't worry, I will get her to you before tomorrow."

"That's good," he replied, keeping his anger under control. There was definitely a connection between the passageway incident and her coming inside Emma's room.

"Great!" she chirped. "See you tomorrow at the ritual." She turned and walked out of the room.