Ileus: The Dark Prince

The winds were blowing at scary speed. If she didn't hurry back, she was sure that she would get covered with sand in no time. However, she couldn't let go of this opportunity. The shadow in front of her was blurring with the wind but attempting to come back again and again to feel her. It caressed her face. She closed her eyes to let it feel her. 

"That's you Ileus, right?" she asked, hoping against hope that she was correct. The black shadow reached her hair, but the storm had geared speed and the shadow slipped away and started to retreat. "Ileus!" She shouted as she got up and ran after it. She tried to grasp the shadow in her hands, but only dust came. "Ileus, come back!" she cried. "Please…" she pleaded with him. "I don't like it here. I need you," a sob raked her shoulders. Tears rolled out unbridled. There was no one who would understand her agony. She could tell it to no one. 

She chased the shadow but it blew away with the storm. She couldn't go very far as the storm forced her to retreat. Reluctantly, Anastasia came back to the room with a heavy heart. 

That night she only thought of one thing—once she went to live in the palace, how would she visit the dune? 

Next day in the morning, Jor'gas helped her pack the bag. 

"Don't step out of the north wing. Seraph is not going to stop, okay?" Jor'gas warned. 

"I won't," she replied gloomily. 

"I would suggest that you don't even step out of the queen's quarters." Jor'gas said like an overprotective sister. 

"I won't Jor'gas," Anastasia replied, shaking her head. "You are too worried." 

"I don't want you to end up in that place, Natsya. It's not for you." 

Anastasia stopped folding her dress and then smiled. She held her friend's hand and said, "I will make sure that I am close to the queen, okay?" 

Jor'gas nodded and then hugged her. "I will miss you." 

"So will I." 

As promised, the queen had made arrangements for her to stay in a room right next to her quarters. Her room was a small one with just a bed with a chest in the front and small cabinet for her things. She had to use the common bathroom for all the maids. She unpacked her bag and arranged her things. 

The fact that the king usually stayed in his harem made things easier for Anastasia. She wasn't in the line of trouble for now. That day she spent her entire day tending to the queen's needs. If she was asked to go out, she went out with at least two handmaidens. In the back of her mind she knew that if Seraph wanted her, even an army of guards wouldn't be able to protect her. So the best option for her was to stay as inconspicuous as possible and she also hoped that Etaya kept a leash on him. 

After a day's hard work, Anastasia went to sleep in her room, but her mind raced on ways to go out of the palace and visit the dune. She changed into her casual drape and lied down to rest. Absent-mindedly her hands went to the medallion. She whispered, "How long will you take to find me Al? How long?" She turned to her side and looked out of the window at the night sky of Zor'gan. It was so dark and starless. She realized that this was the beginning of the downfall of Vilinski. Etaya's truth had to come out. Many ideas raced in her mind on how to expose her. 

Baby Dolgra's cries came from the queen's chamber. A maid must have picked her up for she heard a lullaby next. She cradled her head in her hand and sighed. 

"So here you are," a low, dangerous snarl emanated from her back. 

Anastasia whipped her head around. Blood drenched from her face and hair lifted on the nape and arms. She jumped out of the bed and her shoulders tightened. Seraph was standing right there, his eyes a yellow slit and his chest heaving with anger. His lips curved up in a dangerous smile. "Are you going to come to the west wing or do I have to force you?" he said. 

Panicky as hell, Anastasia's breath burst in and out when he took a step closer. The room was so small that she couldn't run out of it. And how did he find her? More importantly, where was Og'drath? She would use her magic if needed. Was there any way to alert Etaya? 

"M'lord, this is not right. I am the queen's maid," she said with trembling lips. 

Seraph came closer. His wings quivered in anticipation. "Do you think that the queen could save you?" he snarled. "I am the prince and even the king can't save you from me." He sounded ominous, as if obsessed with her. "You are not going to stay here. You will be a part of my harem." 

"B— but Princess Etaya won't—" Anastasia said and stepped back feeling ultra repulsive. 

He chuckled. "I am not bound to Etaya for these things," he said and then stared at her. 

Seeing the way he was approaching her, she said, "Stay away from me." 

"You dare to threaten me?" he fumed. "Do you know how many women want to throw themselves at my feet to join my harem? I have had my eyes on you for a long time. Did you think that after that incident I would forget you?" He walked closer. "No, my precious. You are the most beautiful demoness I have ever seen, and you deserve to be a pearl of my necklace. You are not meant for serving people." 

"Don't come near me," she warned as she stepped back but there was no room left for the walk. Her body pressed to the cabinet. "If you come near me, I will make sure that your head rolls down!" 

"That is interesting, Natsya! I would love to tame a feral cat. For the first time I have seen a ferocious girl who had guts to stand against a royal. I like your spirit!" he said as if excited. He strode to cover the distance between them and grasped her upper arm. 

"Leave me!" she shouted and struggled. Magic wanted to come out of her. Her chest thrummed with anger, with hatred, with repulsion. 

He didn't leave her and started to drag her. 

"Ileus!" she shouted like a plea, with her hand still clutching the cabinet.

And suddenly a huge burst of shadows and smoke erupted around her. 

Seraph left her and stepped away as he watched the shadows twirling. "Natsya!" 

His eyes widened when he saw that the place where she was standing was engulfed in dark shadows that rippled. In those shadows, he saw the golden eyes of a man burning with anger and the next moment the girl vanished along with the shadows. 

"Ileus," she murmured with reverence. "You found me," she said softly and sagged with relief. 

Seraph stared at the place where Anastasia was standing with a stunned face and stiffened shoulders. Who was Ileus?