“One day, Diabolis, you will take my place on the throne. When that day comes I know I can count on you to be a fair and loving ruler over the people. However, it is not a task you can easily burden on your own. You will need a Queen capable of supporting you as you support the country.” Diabolis recalled his father telling him. It hadn't been too long ago he had sat Diabolis down and talked with him about the importance of having a Queen. Of course, Diabolis didn't know it then, but his dad was slowly preparing him for the day that he would reveal to him his bride to be.
Diabolis sighed, taking in the warm morning air as he strolled through the castle garden. It was early Spring, only a year after his father was murdered, and five months sense his mother was proclaimed missing. It was just him and his brother now, the only royalty left living in the castle. Diabolis' father had been an only child, and so had his grandfather, who too had passed on. His mother was the daughter of a Duke, who after she was married, was locked up for stealing money from the royal treasury. There were no other family members to the two young princes' and thus they were left with no choice but to stay in their fathers' castle, with hand servants to raise them.
Diabolis was nearing his eighteenth birthday and would soon be crowned king, over all of Domun Country, and then the Domun Lords could rest easy.
“Young prince!” Someone called after Diabolis as he admired his favorite flowers. Diabolis turned his head to see the head of the castle servants rushing towards him.
“Hello Synthia, what's the matter? You look exhausted.” He commented. The elder woman stopped to catch her breath under the shade of a nearby fig tree. Sweat beaded down her brow and she wiped it with a lace handkerchief from her pocket.
“Lady Hannah Hollow is here to see you. She is waiting for you in the East Wing sitting room.” She panted, stepping closer to the prince.
“Oh,” he smiled, his eyes brightening, “I forgot she was coming over today.”
“I really do think you should consider her offer to you.” Synthia sighed, worry written all over her face.
“You know I broke the marriage off with her only two months after father passed away. He may have thought it was wise for us to get married...but I just don't want to do it that way.” He frowned, disappointed she had brought it up.
“I understand that, but you will be crowned king in just a few months. You could really use the support of a wife, of a QUEEN! I know you have been training and schooling for this and you have worked hard, but it will be too much for you.” She insisted, placing her hand on his shoulder.
“I know you mean well Synthia, but I can't marry someone I don't love. Me and Hannah are good friends, but she stresses me out so much, I don't think she would ease too many burdens for me. I need to be able to find her on my own time. I'm already being rushed to the throne, the last thing I need is to be rushed into a relationship too.” He patted her hand, gently grabbing it into his own. She searched his kind face, her eyes distraught, her mouth was open as if she was just about to speak, but no words came. Instead she lowered her head, sighed in defeat and gave a light chuckle.
“Alright, you've told me a hundred times already, but can you blame me for trying again?” She teased.
“No, I really can't. I do however, think you ought to know that just a few moments ago I saw a young girl climbing over the garden wall. I climbed to the top to see her better, but she had already gone. I think you might want to go give Toby another one of your scoldings.” Diabolis winked. Synthia clenched her fists, her teeth gritting. Fire burned in her eyes and she immediately turned from the prince, angry murmurs twisting from her mouth like hot smoke off a volcano.
As she stomped off to throttle the younger prince, Diabolis turned and rushed in the other direction, racing through the garden like a fox in pursuit of a hare. He leapt over hedges, stomped through the garden brooke, and cut across the lush grassy lawn. His heart was racing by the time he finally got to the East Wing sitting room. He barged into the room, out of breath, his face dripping with sweat and red as a cherry. The bottom of his pants were wet from the stream, and his sandals sloshed with every step he took. A few tiny leaves had managed to stick to his clothes and his hair stuck to his damp forehead.
“Oh my.” Hannah snickered as he entered the room, taking a seat in the chair across from her. “You've been out having fun today, that much I can tell.” She giggled into her black silk glove.
“Yeah, I was just enjoying the fresh air, the gardens are so nice today. I was trying to get my mind off of...well...you know.” He scratched at the back of his head, feeling a bit awkward for bringing it up.
“It's ok if you want to talk about it. I completely understand. Even though it's been a year, I know it has still been rough for you. I don't think you really ever get completely over the death of a parent, at least...I never did.” Hannah sighed. She picked up a cup from the table in front of her, looking down into its contents as she remembered her own late mother.
“Some days I feel sad about it, other times I just feel frustrated. Like, he's not here so I can't ask him all these questions about ruling over the country. And every now and then I get angry, not knowing who did that to him...it eats me up inside!” He growled under his breath. Hannah simply nodded, gently moving her arm in a way that swirled the contents of the cup in circles.
“I think...I keep telling myself that mother will come back. She's just lost, or stranded or stuck and one day she'll come back. But at the end of everyday, when she isn't walking down the front path, my heart sinks and I can't help but know that something terrible has happened to her.” Diabolis looked up to the ceiling, frustrated as he tried to push his feelings deep down. He had spent weeks crying about it, feeling like there was no point in living. He felt it was time he got on with his routines.
“How is Toby dealing with it?” Hannah set the cup down, turning her attention to the large glass window, looking out into the garden.
“I don't know, he hardly talks to me about it. He mostly stays locked up in his room, but I know he's sneaking out of the castle at night, heavens knows where he's going. I've tried to go up to his chambers to visit, but he wont let me in. He's just so...angry. I mean, he's always been on the hot tempered side, but it's like he's mad just to see my face or hear my voice. I know he's probably sad deep down inside, but he wont let me near him.” Diabolis grabbed his head, raking his fingers through his own hair
“Have you heard from Saroura?” Diabolis changed the subject. He could see Hannah flench at the mention of their old friends name.
“Diabolis, you know she stopped writing me letters years ago...after...after it was announced that you and me were arranged to be wed.” Hannah explained, a slight look of irritation in her eyes. Her dusty black hair draped over her shoulders and she looked down, hiding her eyes behind her bangs.
“I know, but I just thought that maybe sense it's been broken off she has written you.” He shrugged, slightly disappointed there had been no word from their former friend.
“No...i did try writing to her after your mother went missing, but she never replied. It almost makes me wonder if she ever even got my letter.” Hannah sighed again. “Do you think...it would be ok if I went and tried to talk with Toby?” She looked up with concern. Diabolis shrugged,
“Go ahead, no harm in trying, he always did listen to you, well more than the rest of us anyways.” Hannah stood, dusting off her silk black dress. She strolled for the door, but stopped,
“You know, I don't want to see you get hurt anymore. You will always be my friend Diablolis. And although I doubt we will ever be lovers or see each other in a romantic way, my offer still stands. You were forced into betrothing me, and I know you want to make your own decisions. But if the time comes where you really need a Queen, just know I will always be there for you.” She assured him. Diabolis smiled kindly back at her.
“Thanks Hannah Hollow, I appreciate it.” And with that she nodded, and left the room.
Part 2
Diabolis made his way up to his own chambers, his heart heavy. His talk with Hannah had been nice, but it reminded him of his parents, of simpler times, and of friends that had been missing for quite sometime.
He locked the door to his chambers behind him, then sulked over to his own bed, flopping down on it with a loud sigh. He wasn't on the bed long before he felt it jolt, just barely, under the pressure of something hitting it. He didn't have to turn his head to know Bialus was in the room with him.
“I didn't hear you open the door.” Diabolis murmured into his pillow.
“Who said I came through the door?” Bialus practically purred. Diabolis could feel his tiny paws pressing against his side as Bialus crawled on top of him. He walked in a few circles, before curling down and sitting on Diabolis' back.
“Ugh, you smell like sweat.” Bialus grunted, his whiskers twitching.
“I was in the garden all morning.” Diabolis responded, still talking into his pillow. Bialus was quite, his eyes shut as he soaked in the sun rays that shone through the open window.
“You're sad...again.” Bialus commented, as if he was wise and insightful. Diabolis grunted into his pillow before turning his head to look out the window.
“Do you ever think about...Marcus or Saroura?” Diabolis whispered. Bialus began to purr, stretching out over Diabolis' back.
“Sometimes,” he hummed, “I've looked for them...can't say i've had any luck in finding either of them. I was at Marcus' cottage the other day...it's super dusty and the garden is wildly overgrown. But everything else is exactly how he left it. I heard his wife was found dead not too long ago, beaten and dumped in a ditch.”
“What about their son!” Diabolis exclaimed, still lying on the bed.
“Hasn't been any news of the kid. They didn't find him, and I don't think whoever killed her has the kid, there would be no point in keeping him.” Bialus thought. A tear streaked at Diabolis' eye, running down his cheek and dropping into his covers.
“I miss them.” He whispered, looking longingly out the window. His heart throbbed in his chest and he felt like sobbing. Bialus stepped off of his back, strolling towards Diabolis' face. His yellow eyes shined in the sunlight, his red fur glistening, his tail curling at the end.
“I do too.” Bialus replied. He rubbed his head against Diabolis' tear stained cheek before plopping down, curled up in the crick of his neck. Diabolis couldn't hold his emotion in, and silently let the tears trickle down, most of which dripping onto Bialus, but he didn't mind it. Several minutes of quiet passed before Bialus finally got up and hopped off the bed, not speaking a word to Diabolis. Diabolis didn't move, continuing to stare out the open window. Suddenly he felt a hand on his foot, undoing the clasp of his sandal. He cast a quick glance towards the end of the bed, spying Bialus in his normal form. He had his red tangled dreads pulled back behind his head, revealing his tan, scarred face. Bialus looked up, grunting,
“You really shouldn't lay on your bed with your shoes on, especially of they are wet and muddy.” He tossed the muddy shoes to the floor, and began undoing the buckle of the other sandal. Diabolis turned to look back out the window, grateful that Bialus had forced himself into his life all those years ago.
“What would I do without you.” Diabolis whispered, causing Bialus to grin. The other shoe was soon discarded onto the floor as well, and Bialus walked off to another part of the chambers. Diabolis could hear him turn the water on in the bathing room, but he didn't bother to ask why. He soon returned with a wet rag, and began cleaning the mud off of the sandals.
“I'm filling the tub for you. You need a bath, you don't exactly smell...great.” He teased, earning a grumble from his friend.
“Like you're one to talk. When was the last time you bathed?” Diabolis jabbed at him.
“This morning actually.” He held his chin high as if to show off how clean and hygienic he was. Diabolis finally pushed himself up, stood, and walked towards the bathing room.
“Hannah Hollow is here by the way.” Diabolis commented.
“I know, I talked with her at the gate when she arrived. She's always so melancholy. She did seem happy enough today though.” Bialus shrugged. He finished with the shoes and then got to work wiping the mud tracks off the tile floors.
Bialus secretly hoped that Diabolis wasn't slowly turning into an emotionless shut in. He had seen what pain and loss had done to many people, and already Diabolis was beginning to show signs of depression, he had to do something fast. If he could somehow find a way to bring back one of the people who had gone missing, perhaps Diabolis would snap out of his sorrow. Bialus knew that bringing back his father was impossible, and the whole country had been looking for his mother, and if nobody could find her, then he knew he probably wouldn't have much luck either. Marcus had been missing for years, and the late king himself had half the military out looking for him, but it was no use.
“I need to find Saroura.” Bialus muttered to himself. Saroura was friends with Diabolis way before Hannah or Bialus had even met him. She and Diabolis had shared a special bond, but after the proposal had been announced between Diabolis and Hannah, she began to push herself away. Bialus knew that Saroura had been deeply hurt. After that they saw less and less of her until one day her parents decided to travel Domun country to further their research, and Saroura didn't hesitate to go with them. She had kept in touch with letters, here and there, but after a few months the letters stopped and no one had heard from her sense.
Bialus knew Diabolis still had feelings for her, he had thrown away thousands of draft letters, all written to her, but never sent a single one. Bialus had read a few, but he eventually had to stop, it brought him too much pain to read the sorrowful letters of desperation and pleading.
If he could find Saroura, then perhaps she could mend her relationship with Diabolis, and things would slowly get better from there. Determination coursed through him and he immediately jumped up, grabbing some parchment from Diaboli's desk.
“Gone out, see you tonight maybe.” He wrote in ink and left it on the prince's pillow before he climbed through the window and scaled the wall down.
This wasn't written in parts, so I felt like this would be a good spot to end chapter 1. Otherwise this would be waaaaay too long.
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