Ileus: The Dark Prince

Anastasia and Ileus were too tired after the party but Kaizan's condition weighed heavily on them. 

After she had changed into the nightgown and they were lying on the bed, she asked Ileus, "Mother told me that since there is active integration between wizards and vokudlaks, cells of vokudlaks are protected by the queen so that the wizards are unable to sweep in their cells. It's a rule, a law. Then how could Tamara get into Kaizan's cell? I mean how could she break it? And why is it that I am unable to feel anyone reading my thoughts, except when you enter my mind? And why is it that your mother could easily read my thoughts?" 

Ileus held her close to his chest and stroked her hair with his long fingers. "So many questions!" 

"I want to know it all, Ileus. Please. I really need answers." 

He pressed a kiss on her forehead and said, "I don't know much about the dynamics between Kaizan and Tamara, but the fact that she is a High Priestess means that is a powerful witch. In order to head a temple, where strong energies exist, where people with strong beliefs come, you need to be intelligent and cunning. Tamara is all that and more. She may have been able to cut through Kaizan's mental shield." Seeing how moved Anastasia was at the information, he pulled her on his chest and started stroking her back. "As for me entering your mind, it's normal. We are bonded by blood, by marriage and so that part comes naturally to me. As for you, I have to train you on how to communicate with me mentally. You have this vast untapped potential that is waiting to come out." He let out a long sigh. "And in time I am going to help you discover it." He was already scared that her magic was cooing her, beckoning her… dangerously… 

None of them could sleep properly at night. They would hear Kaizan yelling in pain at night. The healers would give him the draft and he would slumber into deep sleep again. Anastasia prayed to all her deities that he healed fast. She wasn't even bothered about Tamara who was placed under arrest in the east wing.

In the morning, Anastasia woke up with a jerk when a muffled cry of pain reached her ears. She looked out the window. The sun had just risen up. She turned her head to see that Ileus was still sleeping with his hand on her waist. Quietly and gently, she removed his hand, got up from there and after tucking him back in the blanket, she put her feet on the floor. Snatching a shawl from a chair, she walked out of the room. She really wanted to see Kaizan. 

The door of his room was opened. She peeked inside to find the healers sitting on the bed on either side of Kaizan, his face shielded by their backs from her, and Darla standing near the headpost, staring at him. Darla's head whipped in her direction and Anastasia noticed that her eyes were red. Darla's wild panicked eyes met hers. A surge of restlessness made her body tremble. She walked slowly towards the headpost of the bed with panic seizing her chest. When she reached there, she found that the healers were checking his eyes and ears. 

Kaizan blinked and a weak smile appeared on his lips when he saw her, and Anastasia—she leaned on the headpost as panic got washed away by relief. "How are you?" she asked, doing everything she could to not jump and hug her friend. His face was pale like a ghost, his eyes slightly pink and his hair were a mess. "Did you think that you would get away by not attending our wedding?" she reproached him with all the seriousness she could muster. 

A muffled chuckle from him made her feel a hundred times better. She looked at Darla and realized that her eyes were red because the girl hadn't slept the whole night. 

"He is out of danger," said the main healer to Anastasia. "But we have to observe him for the whole day because even though he is physically strong, his mind needs a lot of rest to recover. No worries, no tension—that's the mantra for him today." Then he looked at Kaizan and said, "I am leaving, but my assistant is going to stay here with you." They both got up from the bed and the main healer flicked his wrist. The green orbs of healing lights that were floating on the ceiling rushed towards Kaizan and covered him completely. They got into a dancing motion, touching his skin and swirling away. 

When the healers left, the two girls squealed with happiness and since they couldn't hug Kaizan, they hugged each other. Kaizan's lips spread into a faint smile and he closed his eyes. Anastasia and Darla then sat down beside him, eager to know what happened between him and Tamara. 

Kaizan took a deep breath. He knew that the girls were dying to know. Besides, he remembered that Anastasia had ordered the royal guards to take Tamara under arrest. He had to tell her everything before she took a call.

"You better tell us everything Kaizan!" said Darla, flicking away a green orb that pinched her skin for sitting so close to its recipient. When she was pinched at least four times, she reluctantly had to move away saying, "Damn these orbs!" 

"Yes, don't leave any detail. How did Tamara end up with you?" asked Anastasia. 

He started, "Tamara and I got acquainted with each other when she was fresh out of the wizard academy. The day she was fresh out of the academy, the queen gave the fresh graduates the usual dinner. It was at that time that she came in contact with me. We were young, we were carefree and so… it was just a one-night stand. After that Ileus and I were again sent on a mission. Meanwhile I came to know that she was visiting other kingdoms on personal visits to develop her network. She had become extremely ambitious and power-hungry. I met Tamara three years later and once again it was again a one-night stand and I don't know why I succumbed to her at that time even though I resisted a lot. Over the years, she became powerful and the queen decided to appoint her as the High Priestess." His chest heaved heavily. "I hate Tamara for making me do things I didn't want."

Kaizan stopped and closed his eyes. Darla rushed to get water for him. She scolded him, "Stupid, why didn't you ever come to us before?" She helped him drink water by holding his head up and braving the pinches of the orbs. "That bitch is obsessed with you!" 

He took a deep breath and rested back on the pillow, looking tired. He continued, "I didn't want to bother you all. During that one, weak moment, Tamara must have entered my cell and planted her magic. Every time we met, I resisted her pull and whenever I did that it just gave me tremendous headaches. I would steer clear of her, but when Anastasia had to go to the temple, I knew I was done for. I resisted her control until…" he gulped. "Until yesterday evening… She went wild with her desire…"