A young man of sixteen dressed in training clothing and a steel sword strapped to his waist walked down the halls of the castle. He was covered in sweat and grime, but he never cared. He might be a part of the royal family, but he never cared about fancy clothes or even about money as his eyes remained fixated on his one goal. To become the Captain of the Royal Guard and the Knight Protector of the Realm.
"Lord Mephisto! We should get you cleaned up immediately!"
He waved his hand dismissively, "where is she?"
Marian knew not to try and force the young master to do something he didn't want to, so instead she bowed her head and answered him with two words and left to fetch tea and lunch for the two.
Mephisto's mind was on autopilot as he made his way to her chamber's where he would most likely find her surrounded by books. Or on her break from training as she had just come back from the Haven Realm, where she had spent the last two years training her healing and telekinesis magic. Either way, she was always busy. Training to not only be the First Queen of Valentine, but to prove that she was more than capable of surpassing her older sister.
Grasping the cold silver knob, Mephisto walked into his youngest cousin's room. Closing it behind him, he wasn't surprised to find the teenager levitating a couple of feet up in the air with her legs crossed and her eyes closed. She was dressed in a white silk gown. Her training attire from the other realm. They advised her to wear white clothing in order to calm her mood, to help her focus on her ability to control her magic.
"Hey kiddo," he stood right beside the young girl and watched as she peeked her eyes open, a smile breaking out on her face. Calmly, she jumped down onto the ground and jumped the much older and taller teenager. "Woah careful or you might strain your magic."
"Meph!" she buried her face in his stomach as she held onto her older cousin. "I've missed you! Uncle Cedric said you weren't coming home until tomorrow morning!"
Hugging back the red headed girl, Mephisto ran a hand through his hair as he let out a chuckle, staring down at her. "I had to come see my dear cousin."
The way she looked up at him, eyes glimmering and a bright smile as she giggled. It was rare to see his much younger cousin laugh or smile these days since she started training to be Queen. Every time he saw her, she grew more and more withdrawn and indifferent. He hated it.
"Meph! Let's have lunch together!"
The way she bounced up and down made him chuckle. He couldn't ever think of denying her, she was too good. It made him grow sorrow as he knew that it was because of his other younger cousin that Annabella was suffering.
"Anything for you," his response elicited a sequel from her before she marched over to the doors and began shouting out a lunch order to one of her maids.
"Please Mephisto, I require that you tell me what it's like away from court for a few weeks at a time."
"What about your ladies in waiting?"
Annabella rolled her eyes with a scoff, "brainless woman."
Mephisto raised a brow, surprised by how blunt she had insulted the woman. He could already see the changes Annabella was going through from being a child to a young woman destined to wear a crown that she never wanted to begin with. A crown she was growing into perfectly fine.
"They can't be that bad," he teased
She blanched.
"They only care to be in my good graces to win my favor for when I'm Queen to make suitable matches to climb the ranks of court."
Mephisto couldn't argue with her. It was true. His mother insisted that he start courting one and marry her when he turns eighteen. His father wanted him to marry a princess from the continent Alakitasia. Either way, marriage was going to be a part of his plans for the future.
"Then let's go have lunch in the garden," he suggested, watching as she immediately smiled. "I haven't seen the Bleeding Hearts tree since I returned."
"That's perfect," she walked into the bathroom with a bundle of clothes and closed the door behind her.
Taking a seat on her fainting couch, he relaxed as he set his sword in his lap. Marian walked in with a rolling cart with a pristine white tea set. The scent of peppermint tea with honey immediately gave him a wave of nostalgia from their childhood.
"Thank you Marian," he smiled at the older woman who nodded before serving him.
"The Princess missed you dearly while you were gone," she murmured.
Mephisto was surprised. The fact that Marian, Annabella's lady maid, had picked up on her feelings as she was always good at burying them deep down. Which could only mean that her missing him was great if people were to notice.
"I plan to remedy this as soon as possible."
Marian smiled, "it's good to have you back home sir."
"How many times must I tell you to just call me Mephisto?"
The thirty four year old woman had taken care of him since he was born, had watched over him just as she watched over Emmaline and Annnabella when they were born years later. She had taken care of them and still continued to do so.
"Marian, did I do this right?"
Annabella stepped out of the bathroom. She was dressed in a simple cream colored gown, lace sleeves and a beaded belt. Her hair pinned up with her simple silver tiara adoring her head. She was attempting to fix the bow that she had tried to tie the silk belt perfectly. The older woman walked over with a smile, untying the belt, she had taken but five seconds to do with precision.
She looked more like a young woman than a teenager. Mephisto didn't like how his kid cousin was growing up too quickly for his liking. She should spend her days daydreaming of far off places than training to take the throne and become the first Queen.
"You're getting better at dressing yourself," Marian smiled. "I'm proud of you dear."
He had remembered from the letter that he received from Annabella, months ago, that she had decided that she would do simple mundane tasks like dressing herself, making her own tea, and other small things herself. He thought it quite odd, but he could see now why she chose to make that decision for herself.
"Thank you Marian," she smiled with grace before turning to Mephisto. "Ready?"
Standing, he offered his hand to her "always."
"Anna, you left the party early and I just wanted to check up on you—" Mephisto blinked in confusion as he stared at his much younger cousin. "Good graces, what are you doing on the floor?"
Striding over quickly, he helped the bewildered woman off the floor and onto her loveseat.
"I'm tired," she responded quietly, "it's been a busy two weeks."
Mephisto nodded. "Yes it has been, would you like some help getting into bed?"
Shaking her head no, she stood from the loveseat and walked over to her bed. "Thank you for the offer but no, I'm quite tired and wish to be undisturbed for the rest of the night. I have several meetings tomorrow with the court."
Mephisto took notice of the two teacups, her distracted behavior and disheveled appearance. She appeared to be quite content and fine, he debated on staying with her. However, he knew that she hated being babied. Deciding not to say anything on the matter of her physical and mental state, he would leave the conversation alone for another time.
"We will have lunch together tomorrow and we'll talk about everything." Walking over to the balcony doors, he closed and locked them close. "It's quite dangerous to leave these doors open, anybody could break in and assault you."
Tucked underneath the safety of her blankets, Annabella hummeded as she closed her eyes. Smiling, Mephisto walked over and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "Goodnight, dear Annabella."
"Goodnight Mephisto,"
He smiled.
Taking his leave, he locked the door behind him and left her to rest for the rest of the night. Rogue waited until the Captain of the Guard was a few corridors down before stepping out of the shadows. Sitting up in bed, Anna jumped into Rogue's arms. Helping her wrap her legs around him, he sat on the bed as he felt her relax to his touch.
"Should I need to worry about the Captain of the Guard vying for your affection too?" Rogue teased half heartedly
Annabella snorted, "Mephisto is my older cousin."
Rogue blinked.
"He's your older cousin?"
"We look similar," she stated as if it was obvious.
Rogue took a deep whiff of his lingering scent and could smell the traces of their scent being similar and wanted to smack himself for not noticing before.
Too content in his embrace to elaborate, she burrowed into his arms further. "I've missed your warm embrace."
Rogue smiled against her head, "it was hard staying away from you for the two weeks we were apart."
"I'm sorry, it was not my intention to hurt you."
Running his hand through her hair, it was a small attempt to reassure Anna that he wasn't upset or angry with her. "Don't apologize, just rest. I'll be here when you wake."
Rogue could sense that she wanted to argue with him but the sag of her shoulders, he knew that she was submitting to him. That she would sleep without arguing.
"Just don't let go of me…please…I don't want to be alone."
"Never again," he murmured, "rest, I'll be here when you wake."
It was odd for her to wake up at peace rather than confused as she usually felt when waking up. Last night's events immediately played in her mind as she remembered falling asleep in the arms of the man who saved her life more than once. Peeking her eyes open, she was met by the sight of said man who sat at the end of her bed polishing his katana. Shirtless and his hair up.
She wouldn't mind waking up to this view every morning. Flustered by her girlish thoughts about the male at the end of her bed, she tried to shake intimate notions from her head.
"Good morning your highness," he greeted without even turning towards her. "Sleep well?"
She cleared her throat, "yes, I did, thanks to you."
Rogue sheathed his sword, set it aside before he came to her side as she slowly sat up from bed. Taking his seat beside her, he cupped her face in his hand, he smiled as though he didn't have a single care in the world.
"I'll be checking on you every night to guarantee that you get some sleep," he stated. "It's not healthy for you to not be taking care of yourself, you have responsibilities, and people to look after and you can't take care of them when you collapse from exhaustion."
Anna narrowed her eyes at him.
Rogue knew exactly what to say to get his point across, to ensure that she would take care of herself like he wanted her too. Deciding not to argue with him, she nodded. He smiled.
"Good girl," he growled as he placed a soft but forceful kiss to her lips
A soft moan escaped and with one whiff, Rogue knew that she was aroused by his behavior. Tempted to steal a few more moments with her, the sounds of the castle beginning to stir is what forced him to pull away from her. Albeit, he instead pulled her into his lap and placed his head against her chest, where her heart rested as he closed his eyes.
Realizing the meaning behind his actions, she wrapped her arms around his head and held him. Warmth replaced her arousal for the man.
"Rogue, darling, I'm right here."
and Rogue knew that she always would be…
A few hours later, Annabella was sitting in the garden with her cousin Mephisto for a late lunch. They always ate here when they were together, it had become a safe place for them, where they were able to hide away from their responsibilities to the realm and just be themselves.
Stirring her cup of tea, she watched as he nimbly ate his lunch with a calculated stare.
Something was up and she knew it. Now to only be able to break the ice.
"You're engaged…to Bastien"
Nevermind then.
"I am," she glanced at the large but simple diamond that rested on her finger. "It's exhilarating."
Mephisto shook his head, "you don't love him and we both know it, so why on earth-land are you marrying him?"
"I do love him," she focused on her tea rather than the incredulous look he had given her.
He snorted, "I'm not one of your ladies in waiting who believes everything they see and hear or lest you forget dear cousin it is I who also grew up with you two."
Clenching her jaw, she thought over her carefully considered response. "You've been away Mephisto, I don't expect you to understand."
Mephisto narrowed his eyes at his younger cousin, not because he was angry with her, more so was the fact that he was angry because she was right. He'd been gone when she woke up, he didn't see her until several weeks after and she wasn't the same girl he remembered. The meek and smiling young girl had become an indifferent woman. His cousin had become a more mature, sophisticated but cold person who ruled with utter surety.
"Then help me understand," he stated. "From what I remember, the Bastien I knew was in love wi—"
Annabella cut him off by slamming her cup down on the table with a grimace, "you know better than anyone that things change."
There it was.
The Late King Octavius had a cold anger that his daughter had inherited and there it was. Her eyes flashed a darker blue, her lips turned into a snarl as the grip on her teacup caused it to shatter in her hands. The shards cut into her skin, blood and tea seeping from the large cuts and staining the white tablecloth.
Mephisto clenched his jaw this time, "if you're engaged to Bastien then why did I find you alone in your bedchamber on the floor disheveled and with two cups of tea?"
The cold anger she felt never wavered, instead what he said only fueled it a bit more. "I was waiting for Bastien."
There was no telltale sign that she was lying and Mephisto hated that he didn't know if she was or not. Hated how his dear cousin and himself were usually arguing when they got together as of late. Like when she woke up and she immediately started yelling at him about him being brought back by his father, Duke Cedric, to arrest Lucilliá Heartfilia and her friends for the assasination attempt on his cousin.
Personally, he knew it couldn't have been Lucy to attempt to kill Annabella. She had no reason to, especially since she had no memory of her until Anna had taken her memories of her back then, after the death of her mother. However, when his father summoned him home, he was obligated to follow orders from the acting King as Annabella had become comatose from the poison.
A poison that Lucilliá knew how to brew as she also knew the antidote.
Just another reason why Mephisto knew it couldn't have been Lucilliá to try to attempt to kill Annabella. As she was the one to cure her if anything, as only a handful of people knew how to make the antidote and even less knew how to make the cure. Mephisto knew that Annabella had given Lucy the information when they were kids.
But that wasn't why they were arguing now. No it was because he was questioning her actions as though he didn't have faith in her decisions, in her, and he had wounded her unintentionally.
He sighed, "I apologize for my words as it's not my intention to anger you little cousin."
Her anger died down to a flicker immediately, but he could still see she was a bit defensive, "no, I must apologize for my actions as it wasn't my intention to strike out at you in anger. You would be confused by everything that is taking plac—"
"I shouldn't question your decisions however,"
She held up a hand, the one that wasn't bleeding, "truce cousin, I wish to not have discord between us."
"Truce,"
Annabella smiled.
He smiled back.
"You should clean that up before it gets infected," he gestured to her bloody hand with his knife before taking another bite of his food
She waved off his concern, but healed her hand nonetheless, leaving nothing but a clean flawless hand and a bloody tablecloth behind.
"It still amazes me to see you heal effectively without having a bloody nose," he stated thinking back to when they were all practicing magic. "You struggled to access your magic for the longest time."
Annabella made herself another cup of tea, slowly stirring it with a small spoon. "Indeed, it's all thanks to my mentor that I'm able to access my magic, I'll forever be indebted to him for it."
And so easily, they slipped back into a comfortable atmosphere as they caught up with one another. Annabella eagerly eating up every single detail of his adventures around the continent. The way she smiled so openly and beamed with happiness as she recounted her time with Lucy and her friends caused him to still.
Looking across to the woman that sat before him, his mind strayed to the last time he saw so much emotion from her.
Mephisto had been the one to gather intel on Lucilliá, or rather Lucy now, as she only trusted him to spy on their childhood friend and report back to her with his findings. It was those reports about Lucy that had given her the motivation to continue moving forward.
When he had delivered the report about Lucy and her entire guild disappearing, Anna had screamed and cried in despair. Collapsing to her knees, she screamed, which caused all the windows in the room to shatter as her control on her magic slipped and immediately caused everything around them to be forced back.
It was beautifully terrifying to witness. His first instinct was to comfort her but he had to wait until she collapsed from the strain of magic she had used. To which she did and he was there to catch her and put her to bed.
"Do you plan on bringing her back here to court?"
Annabella flickered her gaze towards him, "yes, but that won't be until tomorrow night."
"I'm assuming that you already knew where she has been this entire time," he mused
"Of course I do," she stated. "If anything, she had used the plan that I had as a failsafe I put in years ago but I refused to look into it to ensure I wasn't breaking the law."
He chuckled, "plausible deniability huh?"
Annabella smirked
"My dear little cousin, you've learned how to navigate the treacherous waters of court, my, you really have grown up."
Standing, he offered his arm towards her, taking it, she leaned her head on his shoulder as he led the two back to the castle. To face the reality that they were no longer carefree but were in fact adults and had duties to fulfill.
"One must be susceptible to adapt otherwise they will fail to survive if unable to," she merely stated with a slight shrug
"Should I know of anything that you've planned?"
She clicked her tongue in response.
"Plausible deniability?"
She nodded.
"Where will I be guiding you today?" The change of subject caused her to frown as she would be dealing with the whining claims of her court
"Throne room, another declaration I'm to make."
Mephisto didn't need to look to know that she was irritated. She always was when it came to court, they were as she insisted "snakes dipped in grease."
Glancing up at her cousin, she smiled softly, remembering the day he had become a knight in training. It had been a very happy day, one of the many few before everything unraveled so quickly. And the sad thing was that she couldn't blame it all on her older sister, Emmaline.
"Princess Emmaline and Princess Annabella,''
Both young girls entered the throne room with the grace and dignity every princess was required to have. They held their heads up high as their tiaras glistened in the sunlight, their faces beaming. They respectfully bowed to their Father, before they took their respective seats beside their parents on their thrones in silence.
Annabella in a white dress and Emmaline in a black one. Their Mother, a very beautiful woman with black hair and electric blue eyes, wore a purple dress with her hair up in a bun wearing a gold crown. Their father, a handsome man, with red hair and sapphire blue eyes wearing a black suit with a purple tie and the crown.
It was a formal event and the public was invited to watch their cousin, Mephisto, graduate to the next level of his training to become a knight. The priest droned on, Emma was bored and had to keep herself from yawning because she was tired, they had to wake up really early to get ready for the special occasion.
Anna, on the other hand, paid rapid attention to everything that was being said. She had read up on the trials and many levels of training that knights were required to go through before becoming a Knight and climbing the ranks to get the highest position. Knight Protector of the Realm. A position that her Uncle Cedric currently filled.
Mephisto, her older cousin, glanced at her and grinned.
He radiated complete and utter joy. She could practically feel all the positive energy in the room, especially from her Father, he looked so proud of her cousin.
That was one of the last formal events that her family had all attended together, and one of the very few that wasn't laced with underlying melancholy. For the loss of Lucy, Emma, and…herself.
It was with great satisfaction that Annabella had delivered the news to her court about the new declaration. A declaration that basically told her court that their endless freedom wouldn't go unchecked, that they would give a report of everything that was done. As under her Uncle's rule, he gave the nobles free reign to do as they pleased, to where they weren't doing their jobs. No more would she allow them to abuse their responsibilities to the people.
Taking a deep breath, she was already exhausted from the day's events and it was only early evening. There was still so much to do. Her only comfort was in the fact that she knew that Lucy, Rogue and their companions were alive and safe. This would all be worth it. Once she had enough proof to out her Uncle for his treason against the crown, then would she be able to lift the reward on their heads and welcome them to court openly.
Safely behind the closed doors of her private chambers, she laid on her bed, closed her eyes and focused on her breathing. Lucy had recommended doing it as a way to help her when she felt like she was becoming too overwhelmed. So far it has helped. That and drinking tea. Even after finding out her tea was poisoned, it didn't stop her from drinking it religiously. She laid there, for what felt like minutes as she felt herself slowly drift off into sleep. Annabella knew that she still had things to do but a short nap wouldn't hurt. Marian would come and wake her when it was time to get ready for dinner.
Waking up to a soft clicking noise immediately caused her to sit up only to discover her hands had been handcuffed together. She tried to look for the culprit only to have a hand cover her mouth. Her heart began to race as the hairs on her arm raised in fear. Only for her heart to drop into the pit of her stomach as she stared into the smirking face of Lord Silvius of Moonshire. He crawled on top of her, trying to lean far from him, they both fell back onto the bed, his body pinned hers to the bed, a perfect position to keep her from escaping so easily. Glaring at him, she watched as his eyes twinkle in the candlelight.
"Queen Annabella, now that I have your attention…" his voice was barely above a whisper, he leaned in and licked her cheek. "I was hoping that the tea would have killed you but I am happy that you survived, because death would have been too easy."
Growing up, she hardly had any interaction with him. He was twelve years older than her and had been a loyal friend to her father. What was his grudge against her? Why had he tried to kill her? He wasn't even on the suspect list. She always thought he was creepy at the way he used to stare at her and her sister when they were younger but never had anything happened. What was he going to do, if not kill her?
"Scream and I'll cut you" he sneered, as he jabbed a knife to her neck.
How did she not notice that before?
Nodding, she tried to bite back her fear, but failed as soon as he dug the knife deeper into her throat. Slowly he raised his hand away from her face, as he did, she got a huge whiff of alcohol and blood. Annabella gagged at how the scent seemed to encase the both of them. She was searching for a way out, to get him off of her and to run to get help. To Rogue.
"W-why are you doing-g this..?" she choked out, tears beginning to form in her eyes as she watched him stare down at her body with hunger
"Valentine has the means to conquer the other continents. Simple." he pulled out a piece of cloth as he reached toward her. "You talk of peace and unity when we are meant for greatness, to conquer the world and take what belongs to us. If you won't do it then I will."
He grabbed a chunk of her hair and forced her up, and made quick work to gag her. Trying to use her magic to get him off of her, she felt her magic surge forward in her body only to be stopped at her fingertips. Her heart sank. That clicking noise she woke up to. He bound her with magic sealing stone handcuffs, which meant that she was powerless.
Pushing her back down onto the bed, he picked up the knife and began to tear apart her dress, tears flowed down her cheeks as she tried to fight him off of her. Getting one of her legs free from underneath him, she tried to kick him away. Only for him to slap her a few times. Both sides of her face stung from the abuse she had just received from him.
"Make this easier for both of us and give up," he snapped. "Don't fight back, just let me do what needs to be done."
Tears continued to blur her vision, as she sobbed. Her sobbing seemed to make it worse for him as he raised his hand again only to make her flinch back. She quieted her sobs as she stared up at the ceiling. She felt his hands begin to touch her skin slowly, and it took everything in her to not flinch as she felt her skin crawl. It wasn't until she heard him begin to fumble with his belt buckle that she began to jerk underneath him. Even as she laid half naked, Annabella continued to scream and cry against her restraints and gag as she felt a boost of adrenaline surge in her.
Once again she was able to free her leg and she raised it to kick him again, he reached over and slapped her once more. But she refused to allow that to stop her. Her parents died to save her, she wasn't going to step aside and allow him to defile her and win her Father's crown that he didn't deserve.
"Stop fighting, the sooner I ha–"
It was the last thing she heard before the shadows of her bedroom had begun to swallow the room. However, the shadows never touched her, and it was then that she knew.
She had been saved.
He had come for her.
Silvius paused on top of her, she could feel him trembling as he watched the shadows close in on him. A dark shadowy figure loomed over them, she could make out talons as it snarled at Silvius. It bared its razor sharp teeth at him as it waited in anticipation to rip him apart.
It thrilled her.
Excited her even.
However, before she could think anymore about the sudden feeling in her chest. She began to sob in relief and happiness as Rogue materialized behind Silvius, his eyes glowing red as black markings covered his face. Just like before.
Beautifull…
She should have been terrified as she watched Rogue brutally beat the man, but something clicked as she watched him protect her, to fight for her honor. She sensed something unhuman take over her dragon. Rogue's claws flexed as he paused, his nose turned towards her as his gleaming red eyes landed on her scantily clad form. Embarrassed, she covered herself, but she realized he wasn't looking at her, rather, he was looking at the cut on her abdomen.
His nostrils flared, as he whipped his head back towards Silvius who already began to counterattack, causing Rogue to bare his fangs at him involuntarily. Using the blanket from her bed, she tried to cover herself as scrapes of her dress fell to the floor and stained red from the puddles of blood. She didn't care. As all she could feel was Lord Silvius' phantom touch on her. Her body began to shake, sobs causing her shoulders to hunch and shake.
"Rogue.." she whimpered in a croaky tone
It was all she remembered as red eyes filled her mind before it faded to black.
Before she could even open her eyes, she heard voices, arguing in hushed whispers from somewhere near her. Two distinct deep and male voices. Mephisto and Bastien. But they weren't the ones that held her. Immediately, Anna's body tensed. Somebody cradled her body. She felt warm, safe, as the familiar scent of rich coffee and woods. The scent that belonged to her rescuer, to her dragon.
"Rogue" Slowly she blinked open her eyes, a hand immediately grasped her cheek, stroking it with his thumb softly. "Rogue?"
"I'm here koi," it was a soft whisper in her ear, followed by a kiss on her forehead. "Forgive me,"
Annabella stared up at her dragon. His eyes were still glowing red, the black markings decorated the side of his face as his fangs were still on full display. He is beautiful.
She glanced around her surroundings to find that she was still in her bedroom, on the floor, in Rogue's embrace. Her room was doused in candlelight as the shadows loomed over the two of them, in an almost comforting way. Her cousin and fake fiancé stood near the fireplace, hunched over and whispering. Her eyes flicked over to the body that laid crumpled on the ground. It was Lord Silvius. His clothes were shredded as he laid in a puddle of his own blood, a wound was prevalent in his side. He was barely breathing.
First, she felt remorse and guilt.
Secondly, she remembered what he was about to do to her. How crazed he looked as he touched her.
Finally, she prayed that he would die a slow painful death…
She swallowed.
"He will never touch you again," he snarled, his grip on her tightening, as he licked at her neck in an affectionate manner. "Forgive me for not being at your side soon—"
"Thank you for rescuing me…" she spoke, tears gathering up in her eyes
The events finally settled in on what would have happened had Rogue not arrived and saved her. Annabella, didn't want to think of the outcome of what would have happened. All she knew was that she felt nothing but wanton fear and anxiety.
"Rest," he whispered, and placed a kiss on her forehead. "I'll watch over you."
Annabella didn't want to sleep but she felt it, she felt the exhaustion that had been creeping up on her. She needed to rest, otherwise, she risked her already failing health. If her plan was going to be me in success then she would need to take care of herself as she promised.
Promises…
Closing her eyes, she openly welcomed his aura, scent and sweet nothings to pull her into a deep slumber. She trusted that he'd protect her.
He never failed to protect her.
Lucy and Yukino walked around the castle, pretending to gossip and giggle when one of the Lords looked their way. Playing their parts well, they were able to eavesdrop without getting caught. They were playing as Ladies in waiting for Lady Jessamine, who just so happened to be with Lord Bastien. Rogue had gone to go watch over Annabella, while Sting went to keep an eye out for any suspicious activity amongst the men in the parlor.
"How are you Lucy?" Yukino asked as they rounded into an empty corridor.
"What do you mean?" Yukino glanced around the corridor to make sure the two of them were truly alone. Satisfied, she pulled her aside and repeated the question. "This must be overwhelming for you, you, yourself haven't really been given a chance to think over the events of the last few weeks."
Yukino was right.
Lucy hadn't given herself the chance to fully comprehend the new situation that had unfolded before her. Sting had been very kind to allow her to talk but most of the conversation had to do with Fairy Tail disbanding and how she felt lost once more. Her home had been taken from her, her family had left, she had sacrificed Aquarius and just as she was getting comfortable with being alone again. Fate decided to throw her back into a life that she hadn't known about. A life where half of the people she knew were already gone.
King and Queen Octavius and Josephine had been murdered, Emmaline had disappeared, Duke Cedric and Mephisto were treating her as an outsider. Perhaps she was an outsider. It has been many years since she walked away from this life and created her own, only to step back into this one unknowingly. Annabella still treated her with kindness and compassion but Lucy suspected that she was hiding things and she couldn't blame her. She was Queen and she had responsabilites and secrets that came along with the shiny crown that adored her head.
However, she still felt lost.
In this world, she was Lucillia Heartfilia, daughter of Jude and Layla Heartfilia, Queen Hisui's representative. Gone was Lucy of Fairy Tail. A short but beautiful chapter in her life that made her want to scream, to cry, and to yell at her family for abandoning their morals. For abandoning Namaka as it was so easy. As though it meant nothing to them.
How was she to cope with so many changes?
If Natsu were here, he'd smile at her with that toothy grin and make her laugh before dragging her into some kind of trouble.
Her heart clenched as Natsu's fanged smile flashed in her head. The image was so vivid, so beautiful, and so painful. Her heart ached for her best friend. Lucy missed Natsu and Happy breaking into her house, sneaking into her bed, and damaging her things. She missed seeing Natsu everytime she turned, and missed his troublemaking ways.
Although she missed her happy go lucky best friend. Sting had helped her let go of anger that she felt towards her guildmates, for leaving. They were all going through their own grief and she couldn't bring herself to be angry anymore, she'd be a hypocrite.
So, was she alright?
Yes and No.
Physically?
Lucy was thriving, she was training more and learning more about her magic. Her body had grown accustomed to more physical fighting.
Mentally?
Lucy was wavering, she had a hole in her heart but she had family and friends to rely on in this difficult time in her life. Yukino, Sting, and everyone from Sabertooth19 had welcomed her with open arms. Especially Yukino. She had helped her pick up the pieces of her old life and start anew. A debt she would never be able to repay.
"I'm managing," she spoke truthfully, "it's a bit overwhelming however, having you and the others makes it feel not so scary."
Yukino, under her disguise, started to tear up.
"Etto Lucy, we'll always be here," she spoke quietly, as she used her fan to cover her face.
And Lucy knew that she was speaking the truth as another part of her heart felt as though it was mending itself.
Resuming their walk, the two young women continued their stroll around the castle. However, it is soon interrupted as they hear the clink of metal and the sound of marching feet. Their eyes widened as they watched with bated breath as Lord Silvius, shackled, as he was being escorted in the direction of the dungeons. His clothes were rumpled, stained with his own blood as he barely seemed conscious. Once the six guards had turned into the next corridor with their prisoner, did the two women make haste towards Lady Jessamine.
They found the older woman in the parlor, playing cards with a few of the other ladies. Discreetly and with demure, they inched their way towards the unsuspecting woman.
"Lady Jessamine, a word?" Lucy, still disguised, bowed as a proper lady in waiting
The older woman politely excused herself from the game before turning to follow Lucy and Yukino out of the parlor and away from the gossiping ladies. Once in an empty corridor, did Lucy and Yukino explain what they had just witnessed.
"Lord Silvius was arrested…interesting."
Lady Jessamine, with narrowed eyes, began to search her memory and dig up the profile she had on the older man. He was squeaky clean, followed orders and fulfilled his every duty…yet he had done something to warrant being arrested. Especially in such a wounded state that the two wizards had described him in. She'd need to investigate the situation more, especially since she wasn't sure if Duke Cedric or Queen Annabella had the usually stoic and reserved man to be arrested.
"Find Lord Bastien and give him a message for me," Lord Jessamine murmured, "Aiko."
Lucy nodded and left Yukino with Lord Jessamine as she went and sought out the ex playboy Lord. She took from the message being some kind of code between the two.
There was a list of things that shocked Mephisto and that list was rather short. And what he was witnessing wasn't one of them, it made him wonder just how much he didn't know. He had nobody to blame but himself, he had taken time away from court to pursue freedom before he was to claim the role of Protector of the Realm and be forced to always be at the side of his cousin, the Queen.
On the ground lay Lord Silvius, a man that was close friends with his Father and late Uncle, a man that he had watched growing up. He was barely conscious and laid in a pool of his own blood. Not too far from him, was the man that was wanted for treason, against the crown, for the attempted murder of his dear cousin. But he looked different, more wild, crazed even. His eyes glowed red, his faces covered in black markings and his teeth had elongated as he snarled at him. However, he was cradling Annabella's scantily clad body close to him, the ma– no the creature growled at him.
As though he was warning him to back away.
As though he was protecting the unconscious Annabella.
Backing away from him, he stood near the other side of the room, by the fireplace as he watched him relax slightly. His focus slipped back to Annabella, as he murmured her name and caressed her softly. Blood covered his hands, as it seeped into the shredded dress that hung loosely on his cousin's body.
Mephisto internally brought up the profile that his Uncle had given him when he was tasked with finding the group of conspirators behind the attempted assassination of his cousin.
Rogue Cheney, shadow dragon slayer. A member of the guild Sabertooth, and one of the twin dragon slayers. His companions were a small exceed named Frosh. A young man of twenty four, who was raised by a dragon. No criminal history and a star citizen. Even received accolades by Queen Hisui of Fiore, herself.
How had this man become so familiar with Annabella and why was he in her chambers along with Lord Silvius? Mephisto had plenty of questions and waited patiently for Bastien to get here and answer some of them as he knew that the slayer was too busy protecting his cousin to answer them himself.
He busied himself by starting a fire in the fireplace, as the sun began to dip in the sky and the dark began to take over. The fire provided some light in the rather dark room, but Mephisto suspected that Rogue did it on purpose. Luckily he didn't have to wait long before Bastien bursted through the doors, slamming shut behind him as he rushed over to where his cousin lay.
Rogue began to growl at him, clutching Annabella protectively against him. Mephisto was about to intervene before he watched Bastien crouch down lowly, in a submissive position. "It's just me, Bastien, how is she?"
The shadow dragon slayer stopped growling at him but didn't release his tight hold on her, instead he just shook his head. A silent communication seemed to pass between them. Bastien finally nodded and backed away slowly, before he turned to him.
"What is going on?"
Bastien gestured for him to move closer to the fireplace, to put enough distance between his cousin and them. He didn't understand but he respected Bastien's advice.
"Rogue is protecting what belongs to him," Bastien started out in a hushed whisper, "until he feels as though it is safe, he will lash out at any potential danger."
"What is his connection to my dear cousin?"
Bastien shook his head, "you'll have to ask her yourself."
Mephisto narrowed his eyes at the bemused Bastien. The two men had grown up together, had been thick as thieves once upon a time and now he felt as though he knew nothing about the man before him. Knew nothing about his cousin or anything about the world he lived in. He didn't like the fact that nobody would tell him anything, that he was the one left out in the dark while who knows what was going on behind closed doors.
"Do you know what has happened to cause Rogue to attack Lord Silvius?"
Bastien blinked at him as though the answer was obvious and maybe it was, maybe he had been trying to convince himself that Rogue was the bad guy and not the man he had grown up admiring.
"Lord Silvius tried to rape her and Rogue had protected her just in time"
As soon as the words were said, Mephsito felt ill. He glanced over at the nearly unconscious man and wondered how Rogue had not killed the man for what he had tried to do. The more he watched Lord Silvius' chest rise and fall, the more his hand twitched as it was just aching to drive his sword through him.
"What was the reason for his actions?" Mephisto didn't understand why all of a sudden Lord Silivus wanted to commit such a heinous act. Was he behind the assassination attempts? There were too many variables and too many people involved.
Bastien's eye flickered away briefly, just for a millisecond before they stared back at him. A tell tale sign that he was hiding something. A sign that he knew all too well from when they were young and free. Just how many secrets was he hiding from him? And how many did he share with his cousin?
Mephisto glanced at the other two people in the room, and he watched with rapt attention as Rogue caressed his younger cousin with a gentle touch as his gaze never left her. His lips moved as he whispered to her. His shadow creature loomed over them protectively as the shadows began to go back to their master. His markings vanished and his eyes no longer glowed.
Annabella woke up.
" ?"
The man barely glanced at him, barely acknowledged his presence, but it didn't matter as he stood, carrying his cousin in his arms. His shadow creature left the room.
"Leave us," he stated. He laid her down in her bed, he took off his cloak and covered her near nude body with it, all the while he kept his eyes on her face.
"Who do you thin–"
Bastien grabbed him by the arm and started pulling him towards the door, "please update us later on the situation and her condition."
Mephisto kept his mouth shut until the doors were closed behind him. He was silent as he stared at the doors. Why would Bastien leave his fiance alone, unconscious and with another man? Nothing was making sense and Mephisto was getting pissed that he wasn't getting answers.
However, before he could even question Bastien. One of the mercenaries that accompanied Lady Jessamine to the palace was quickly making their way towards them.
"Bastien," he acknowledged with a small nod, Bastiend merely stepped aside and watched as he strolled inside Annabella's chambers
"What the hell was that?"
Bastien ignored him as he went back to a thoughtful look. They stood there in silence for a few minutes before Bastien finally turned to him.
"Call the guards and have Lord Silvius locked up until Annabella wakes up."
He didn't like the fact that Bastien was ordering him around like he was some kind of child that didn't know any better. Especially since they were the same age and he had no clue what the hell was going on but something in his gut told him to trust his old friend's judgment. With reluctance, he did what was advised. Once the guards had escorted a nearly unconscious Lord Silvius out of her chambers, Marian quickly began to tidy up the chamber upon summoning.
His eyes couldn't help but look towards the large bed. His cousin, still in the same position but Rogue sat by her bed, his eyes never straying from her face. His friend, standing a ways behind him, arms crossed as he stared at the both of them with an unreadable look. They were protective over her. He would need to have a long talk with Bastien and Rogue, they shall give him the answers he sought.
Marian left after she brought them tea, Bastien and himself stayed near the fireplace. Not wanting to anger or set off the protective dragon slayer. There was a knock at the door, Bastien went to open it and when he returned a young woman ran towards the bed. A woman that he recognized as one of Lady Jessamine's ladies in waiting. Rogue and the other gentleman allowed her to push them out of the way, and she began to fret over Annabella.
"Rogue, carry her into the bathroom for me," she ordered
Mephisto paid rapt attention to the way she began to order the two men around. Once in the bathroom, she closed the door behind her. Which left him alone with the other three men.
"Care to explain what is going on?" Mephisto questioned
Finally, Rogue turned his attention to him. He looked more calm and collected compared to before. He nodded slowly after he stared at him for a while.
"We should wait for her to finish attending to Annabella before we explain," the mercenary explained as he took a seat on the loveseat
He didn't miss how the man addressed his cousin with informality. As though they were close familiars. He took note to ask about it after they explained what had happened. Quietly, they all drank tea while they waited for the Lady to finish cleaning up Annabella. Which didn't take too long as she had walked out with a pink haired woman in a maid outfit who carried a still unconscious Annabella in new clothes and set her down on the bed with great care. She turned to the brunette woman, murmured something and disappeared in golden light.
Turning to them with an uneasy smile, she clapped her hands together. "So what happened?"
Rogue began to speak first, "I came to check up on Anna and when I did. I found that filth had handcuffed her with antimagic handcuffs. He was on top of her, ripping her clothing as he attempted to rape her. My dragon instincts took over and you saw the result."
For someone who almost killed a man, he didn't seem bothered by the fact that his hands were still covered in bruises and dried blood. Mephisto made a mental note to add to his file later.
"Why would he try to rape her now? She announced her plan to marry Bastien to provide stability to the kingdom as they had been wanting her to do for almost three years now." The mercenary voiced as he stood close to the woman
Bastien was the first to answer, "because if he had done so, she would have been forced to marry him as she would provide a bastard heir and no man would want to marry her if her virtue wasn't intact."
Rogue's mouth curved into a warning snarl at Bastien's words, however, there wasn't any malice directed at him. Mephisto had an inkling of what was going on between the two men but he'd wait for more events to unfold before he said anything.
"We'll stick to the original plan," the woman spoke softly as she nodded towards him and the man at her side. "I'll inform the others of what has happened but we must contain what happened as we aren't sure that others are involved especially since the guards that were supposed to be patrolling this wing of the castle weren't at their stations."
His stomach dropped.
He had been so wrapped up in everything, it had slipped his mind that the guards that he, himself, had ordered to patrol the corridor had all but vanished. They had abandoned their posts and left his cousin vulnerable to an attack.
Mephisto cleared his throat, "I will find the hole that is in the security."
Bastien nodded, "we have drawn a suspect list if that would help in your search."
"It would,"
"I originally came to provide a message to Bastien," the young woman explained. "Aiko"
Glancing in his direction, all he did was nod silently. To which she bowed her head, finished her tea and left. The other gentleman who was in the company of Lady Jessamine stared after her in longing. Interesting.
Bastien made quick work to clean up all the teacups, before he turned to Rogue. "I will have your friend fill you in as you will stay and watch over her."
"Thank you,"
The young lord shook his head, "no, thank you."
Mephisto took the queue of Bastien's glance to follow him out of the room as the mercenary stayed back with Rogue. Glancing once more towards his sleeping cousin, he felt nothing but regret as his negligence had allowed such an event to happen. He would remedy the situation to the best of his abilities. Until then, he wouldn't pursue his goal to become Protector of the Realm.
After everyone left, Sting had stayed back to speak with him before taking his leave, which left him completely alone with his beautiful intended. He sat there for hours, quietly watching over her, as she slept peacefully. He still had yet to wash the blood off his hands as he feared that if he took his eye off of her, she'd be in trouble once more.
Rogue stared down at his hands, blood was beginning to crust off, he didn't care. It made his blood hot as he had showed up to see that filth on top of her, attempting to steal something that he wasn't deserving of. To commit such a sin against an innocent person. It made him sick but that feeling had been quickly replaced by hot rage. He didn't even remember beating the living soul out of the man, the only reason why he hadn't killed the man was because he had heard his mate whimper. She had called out for him. He had left the man on the floor, fully intent on letting him bleed out slowly to attend to his mate. Who laid abused and nearly bare.
His dragon had taken over and Rogue had no qualms with stepping back and allowing his dragon to shed blood in the name of his mate. To kill who had wronged what belonged to him. He was intent to make sure that he would pay with his life for the crime he commited and the heinous act he tried to see through.
"Rogue" it was a breathy sigh
His gaze slipped back towards the object of his affections. Her lips parted as his name fell out in a soft whisper. As he reached out for her, he cringed as he suddenly remembered that his hands were still covered in dried blood. Deciding to refrain from holding her, he leaned away.
Blue eyes stared at him behind long red lashes, soft pink lips curving into a smile as she blinked up at him. Immediately, her hands reached out for him, only for him to lean farther away. Her smile dipped into a frown as she wore a confused look. Until they flickered down to his own hands, she didn't even blink as she threw the covers back and leapt into his arms. Leaving him with no other option but to catch her, otherwise she would have fallen and gotten hurt.
Cradling the young woman to his chest, he was hyper aware of flakes of blood littering where he held her.
"Don't shy away from my affection because you have blood on you," she murmured
"I don't want to get you dirty," he stated, "especially from anything from that bastard."
A wicked gleam shone in her eye, "his blood is but a small price to pay,"
Rogue should have been concerned by the personality change from his intended but he couldn't bring himself to care because his dragon and himself only cared about the fact that she was alive and okay. Anna was in his arms.
Readjusting herself in his lap, she straddled him as her arms hung limply around his shoulders. Allowing his hands to slip down to her hips before he let them fall to his sides as he began to dig something out of his pocket.
"I created this gift for you," Rogue handed her the small black velvet box
Opening the box, it it laid a sterling silver necklace with a heart shaped ruby, however, a small black of swirling mist seemed to be encased in the red jewel.
"It is a beautiful gift," she smiled
"A piece of my shadow is in there. Simply hold it and say my name and it will alert me if you're in danger and will protect you until I can get to you" Rogue whispered as he took the necklace from the box and clasped it around her neck as it fell a bit lower than her locket.
"Makes it all the more precious, if a piece of you is in it."
"It is the first of many gifts," he stated, Anna looked at him confused. "In courting you, I am required by tradition to give courting gifts such as jewelry, clothing, and anything that you enjoy, as I am also to present acts of strength, power, and other skills to demonstrate that I am worthy of your affection and a worthy mate."
Leaning over, she placed a soft chaste kiss to his lips. Annabella felt a shiver run through her body as Rogue's hands slid up her hips, sides and landed on her neck and cheek. He was careful as the kiss deepened, as he continued being gentle as he tasted her. His actions were slow, tentative, and tender. When it came to her, he always put her and her needs first. The thought made her moan softly. His hands tightened, and Kagome heard a soft rumble in his throat. His kiss became possessive and a bit demanding. She felt the smallest brush of a fang on her lower lip and felt her heart quicken as excitement blossomed in her chest.
"Anybody who dares to touch you is begging for a death sentence," it was a dark promise against her throat as he scraped his fangs against the spot he would mark her. "They will be asking for mercy from the devil himself."
And he meant them.
Rogue refused to allow for his intended to be put in harm's way. He detested the fact that he was forced to step aside because of the crown his intended wore. That he couldn't protect and provide for her needs openly. Yet, he loved the small moments they shared. The soft whispers and stolen kisses. The chase thrilled his dragon as he enjoyed watching her face flush from pleasure or embarrassment, how her lips curved into a smile when he declared his affections for her, or the way she always called out to him in her sleep.
"You saved me once more," she nuzzled her nose to his. "Thank you my dragon."
Returning the affection, a soft growl reverberated from his chest at the pet name she had spoken. His inner dragon purred, pleased at the affection they were receiving from their future mate. Rogue's chest swelled with pride at the compliment he was receiving from her as she ran her hands through his hair. Her soft praises of bravery weren't lost on him as they only fueled his ego and desire to protect what was his. Annabella belonged to him and he'd be damned before he allowed anybody to take what was his.
"Rogueee…" she whined in a delicious moan
Snapping his attention back to her, he watched as she bucked her hips against his in a desperate manner. A fog of lust clouding her eyes. Smirking devilishly, he leaned forward and began to kiss on her neck causing her to buck her hips even more. A low groan escaped him as he could feel his own lust take over his body. She let out another simpering whimper, her arousal permeated the air, mixed with her scent of strawberries, vanilla, and roses.