Chapter 8 - Shattered
Paris stood leaned over at Nick with his sword pointing at his chest. Besides him, Jack stood urged him further to end this whole nightmare, they would never have another chance like this again. Just on push, and everything would be fine. But Paris looked down at Nick, he probably doesn't care if he lives or dies. With a deep sigh, Paris throws his blade onto the ground besides him and reached up to his belt and takes the hand-cuffs and puts them onto Nick's wrists. Jack drops his chin to the ground.
''What are you doing? Are you crazy?'' He hissed over at his best friends. Paris looks up at him before looking back down at Nick.
''I can't, I just can't. I have already taken one life, I can't take another.'' He said sadly. Nick turned his head away.
''We'll give him to the police, we have enough for them to lock him up.'' Paris added as he picked up his sword and put it back into his belt. Jack still didn't like it, but he nodded his head. Paris then turned back to Amazonia and she ran into his arms. He kissed her head as he embraced her.
''You're safe. It's over now, it's all over.'' He sighed in relief. Amazonia shook her head and pulled away slightly too look up at him.
''No, there is much more. There is something that you need to know.'' She smiled. Paris frowned his eyebrows in confusion.
''Leon left everything to you and Zandra in his will. The entire mansion and all of the properties belongs to you.'' She said.
''What? How do you know?'' He asked her. Amazonia's smile faded away as she glanced over at Eric's lifeless body.
''He told me.'' She said sadly. Paris turned back and kneeled down besides Nick, grabbing him by the collar.
''Where is the papers?'' He hissed with gritted teeth. Nick looked disliking up at him.
''In the safe. Zandra's birthday.'' He replied him. Paris let him go as he grabbed the hold of Amazonia's hand and they walked back up to the mansion. Everybody was still fighting, but Paris had to get into Nick's study first. The two of them walked inside the mansion and up the stairs into the study. Paris walked over to the safe and dialled Zandra's birthday. He throwed all of the other papers onto the floor until the finally found the folder he was looking for.
''It's true.'' He sighed in disbelief. Paris didn't even know that Leon had written his will yet. Now everything that Leon had told him started to make sense, taking back what Paris had stolen from him.
''I need to stop this.'' He said as he and Amazonia went back outside. They stopped on the top of the stairs, looking over the small battlefield before them.
''HEY!'' Paris yelled and everybody stopped and turned to him.
''If everybody wishes it, we can stop all of this now. We can keep on fighting until the very last man, but what good will that do?'' He said before sighing deeply.
''Many of you probably already know who I am. I'm Paris, and I was Leon's right hand. And it was me who killed him, and for that I'm truly sorry for that and if I could take it back, I would have.'' He smiled as he looked down at Zandra, before looking down at the folder into his hand and sighed.
''In my hand, I have Leon's will. I'll read to you what it says; I, Leon Caudillo, give every single one of my resources to Paris Lestrange and my niece Zandra Caudillo, in hope that they will continue my work and that they will find it useful. Zandra and myself, if she agrees, will do as Leon wish, but for cause. We can use our strength for something that is important to all of us. Eldorado. Together we can protect it and make this a safer place to live, because I think that's what the most of you want.'' Paris added, with dozens of eyes staring at him.
''If anybody here wishes to do so and are willing to give me a second chance, so am I. But if you don't, there is the gates that leads down to the life that Leon all saved us from. Homeless, alone, broke. Those who wish to leave, do so now.'' Paris said and pointed over to the iron gates leading down from the mansion. Everybody stands like glued to the ground looking at each other. Zandra was the first one to take an initiative by walking up the stairs to where Paris where standing clapping her hands. Slowly, but surely the rest of the courtyard filled up with applauds.
''Paris! Paris! Paris!'' They all yelled cheerfully. Paris smiled as he turned to Zandra and the two of them shared a hug.
''They listened, they actually listened.'' He said, still in disbelief after thinking that they where all going to limb him. Zandra laughed as they broke apart again.
''You're fantastic. You were born to be a leader, that's what Leon saw in you.'' She replied him as one young soldier came out from the mansion with a bottle of champagne and gave it to Paris.
''Thank you.'' Paris smiled as he and Zandra went down the stairs to join the others in celebration. In that moment, Jack came back up after the police had come and arrested Nick. He frowned his eyebrows.
''Did I miss something?'' He asked as he reached Riven. Tulio was already gone as he hurried up the stairs and ran straight into Amazonia waiting arms. He lifted her up off her feet and spun her around before setting her back down and pressing their lips together forcefully but passionately. When they broke apart, Tulio cupped both her cheeks as they rested their foreheads against each other.
''Are you okey? Did he hurt you?'' He asked concerned, afraid that what he had seen and heard in his nightmares would have been true. Amazonia shook her head and smiled as she let a satisfied sigh escape her lips.
''I'm fine. Both me and the baby are, now that you're here.'' She replied. Tulio sighed in relieved and smiled widely as he once again embraced her.
As the two young princess patiently but nervously waited for any word from the boys, Chel searched for some advice from Musa about her insecurities about Paris and Zandra.
''What are you talking about? Paris adores you. Zandra being here isn't going to change that.'' Musa said to her sister-in-law as the two women sat into the kitchen eating ice-cream. Chel sighed deeply as she stirred around into her melted pineapple ice-cream.
''I know, that's why I feel to bad about doubting him because I know that he would never betray me.'' She began and put her spoon down and rested her head into her palm as she sighed deeply again.
''But you should see the way he looks at her. Zandra is just like the female version of Paris, it's like they are meant to be together.'' Chel barely managed to finish her sentence before Musa abruptly interrupted her by throwing the spoon at her but missed by an inch or two.
''Hey!'' Chel gasped. Musa shrugged her shoulders and smiled slightly.
''Well, that's for being an airhead. Trust me Chel, you're the only one for Paris.'' Musa said. Chel nodded and smiled back at her sister-in-law.
''I just wished Teddy was here so that I could take my mind of it.'' Chel smiled by the thought of Teddy. His goofy smile that lighted up her day in seconds, his funny sense of humour and his noble and heart of gold.
''I miss them too, but it helps knowing that they are safe.'' Musa smiled and joined hands with Chel.
''Hopefully, everything will be back to normal.'' She added and Chel nodded. She couldn't wait.
All of them stood gathered around a bed of logs and a human body wrapped into a white cloth. Paris and stood in the front, with Zandra besides him holding a torch of fire. Paris took a deep breath.
''I have known Eric for many years, and what I learned about him was that he were a loyal, honourable man, a great fighter. And it's mostly because of him, that all of this was possible today. Eric died, fighting for what he believed was the right thing to do. He'll be missed.'' He said sadly. A tear ran down Zandra's cheek as she walked foreward and placed the torch on top of Eric's chest and in seconds the entire log bed burst into flames. As all of the watched in silence, Amazonia wrapped her arms tighter around Tulio's waist.
''He was the only one that cared for me in there, make sure that I was alright.'' She said sadly. Tulio stroke her back softly and planted a kiss on top of her forehead.
The sun had set a few hours ago, but the mansion courtyard where lighten up by the fire, loud music and one or two glasses of champagne. Paris and Zandra stood talking to Amazonia, Tulio and Riven when Jack walked past them with his arms around two girls. Paris frowned his eyebrows.
''Where do you found them all?'' He asked and looked slightly disgust, even though it wasn't really surprising to him. Jack used to come home with a different girl each time back in the days, Paris was quite sure that he hadn't had sex with the same girl more then once. Jack grinned.
''A hidden talent of mine, and my good looks. They heard the music and decided to check it out.'' Jack began as he looked from one girl to the other.
''And I'm glad they did.'' He added before he and the girls walked inside. Paris rolled his eyes, but Zandra didn't. She watched as Jack disappeared inside, and for the first time she was reminded about how Jack's healthy labedo was one of the reasons why she and Paris weren't together anymore. Anger filled her entire body and she was tempted to throw the skanks out of there, God know she could. But in the end, she decided against it. She had time to take care of Jack later. Instead she turned around to look at Paris.
''I'm going to take some air into the gardens, want to come with me?'' She asked. Paris nodded and they walked inside. Paris opened the glass-doors and holding it open for Zandra.
''Thank you.'' She smiled and walked outside. Paris closed the door behind them and walked outside into the lighten garden. They walked around for a few seconds before Paris turned around to look at her.
''So, now when Amazonia is back with her family, your brother is behind bars where he belongs, are you going to kill me?'' Zandra looked back at him and frowned her eyebrows with a smile onto her red lips.
''I thought about it, but I don't really see the point. Killing you doesn't bring Leon back, neither does it make Nick normal again.'' She said sadly. Paris sighed and they both stopped and turned to face each other.
''I'm really sorry, I know you where close.'' He said. Zandra smiled and nodded.
''You know, being outside here brings back a lot of memories.'' She blushed slightly and turned away from him to hide it. Paris smiled slightly and put his hand onto his hips as he nodded his head.
''It does, many memories. We had a few good years didn't we?'' Zandra sighed softly and turned back to look at him.
''We sure did. But we were young, very young.'' She replied him as she walked over to one of the threes and reached up and picked a dark red flower. Paris smiled as he walked over to her. Zandra turned around to face him and for a second they looked into each others eyes, just like they used a few years ago. Without either of them planned it, they slowly leaned in towards each other and their lips meet. Zandra's slime arms wrapped around Paris's neck and his wrapped around her waist. A few seconds past and they pushed away each other.
''We shouldn't have done that. You have a girlfriend.'' Zandra said.
''Actually, she's my fiancée.'' Paris said as he scratched the back of his head. Zandra faked a smile, but she could feel how her heart were being ripped out piece by piece.
''And you love her.'' She added.
''More then my own life.'' And he did. Paris would gladly give up his own life for Chel. A world without Chel wouldn't be worth living in.
''And I'm your colleague, we need to keep it that way.'' The both nodded.
Tulio burst outside through the main entrance of the mansion. His face was almost matching the same shade of red as his hair. He walked over to Amazonia and Riven standing talking to a group Zandra's guards.
''We're going home right now!'' He said, trying to hide the fact how angry he was. Riven nodded.
''Yeah, we probably should. Amazonia you must be tired, and I knew two woman that is dying to meet you.'' He smiled and stroke Amazonia's back. Amazonia giggled and was on her way into the mansion.
''I want to meet them too, I'm just going to say good-bye to Paris.'' She said and was about to go inside, but Tulio grabbed her arm and pulled her back to him.
''No, you can't.'' He spat. Amazonia frowned her eyebrows of his strange behaviour.
''I have already told him that we're leaving, he'll come by tomorrow.'' Tulio smiled. Amazonia nodded her head and the three of them walked down the road to mansion and boarded the ship. As Amazonia and Riven walked inside the cockpit, Tulio stayed behind and took out his cellphone. He pushed the 'play' arrow and a video clip of Paris and Zandra kissing played and Tulio gritted his teeth. The video ended as the two of them pushes away from each other as they realised what they were doing. 'Edit video'. 'Trim video'. Video trimmed. He played the video once again, but this time it ends before Paris and Zandra is able to push away each other away. Tulio puts his cellphone back into his pocket before going inside the cockpit. He sat down into the passenger seat and helped Amazonia sit down across his lap. She leaned her head to rest on his shoulder, letting a satisfied sigh escape. Tulio smiled and put a hand onto her small baby bump. Finally she was back with him, where she belonged and where she was going to stay forever. After the short ride back to the palace, as the ship landed into the courtyard, two figures came running from the darkness.
''Amazonia.'' Musa squealed in happiness as she and Chel ran over to Riven, Tulio and Amazonia. Both of the princess hugged their sister-in-law and good friend at the same time.
''I'm so happy that you are okey.'' Chel said as she pulled away, but Musa still holding a tight grip of Amazonia's neck. Amazonia laughed as both Riven and Tulio had to pull Musa away from her.
''You have no idea how good it feels to be back.'' She replied him.
''Well you must be hungry, lets get you something to eat.'' Musa joined hands with Amazonia as they together with Riven started to walk inside but turned around to see Tulio and Chel not following them.
''Go ahead.'' Tulio said before turning his attention back to his older sister starring at him.
''Where's Paris?'' She asked. Tulio sighed sadly and grabbed Chel's hands in his. For a few seconds, he thought about what he was planning to do. This would break Chel's heart, but Tulio knew that Paris was wrong for his sister and it wouldn't take long before Paris would go back to Zandra anyway. The first few weeks would be the hardest, but himself and the rest of the family would be there supporting her and eventually the right guy would come along.
''There is something you need to know.'' He whispered. Chel frowned her eyebrows confused, but soon she got scared when she got the feeling that she wasn't going to like what she was about to be told.
Tulio and Chel sat together onto the bed in her bedroom. Chel was shaking her head in disbelief at him as Tulio fold a firm grip off her hands.
''No, Paris wouldn't do that to me. It's not true.'' She whispered with a lump into her throat. Tulio sighed sadly.
''I'm really sorry, I saw it myself. They kissed, then they went upstairs together.'' He said, but it still hadn't convinced her. Tulio reached into his pocket and took his cellphone out and showed her the video. Tears started to well up into her eyes as she took the phone from her younger brother and replayed the video again.
''How could he?'' She whimpered as she could hear Paris's voice inside her head telling her that he's loyal to her, which brought her even further to tears. Tulio placed on of his hands onto her shoulder, making her turn back to face him.
''You can't let herself get humiliated this way, you need to break it of.'' Chel couldn't stay here for another minute. She ran out of the room and down the corridors. The image of Zandra and Paris kissed haunted her mind and she couldn't get it to stop. Out of breath she finally stopped and sank down to the floor with tears running down her cheeks. Tulio walked towards his bedroom that he shared with Amazonia, and when he got there he found her peacefully asleep in their bed. A wide smile crept onto his lips, she was finally home and both she and the baby was safe. He walked over to her and leaned down to plant a soft kiss onto her temple. Then his thought went back to Chel. He knew how much she was hurting, but he was doing her a favour and he wanted the best thing for her. Chel and Teddy would both be better of without Paris in their lives.
Wow! Tulio, your sneaky little bastard. How could he do this to his own sister? How will this effect Chel's and Paris's relationship? Especially now when apperantly Paris and Zandra is going to run the mansion together.
Oh Jack you're such a playboy ^^ Zandra doesn't seem to happy with Jack because he is one of the reasons that she and Paris where seperated in the beginning. Will she make his time in the mansion a living hell and will Paris let her pick on his best friend?
And now Amazonia finally it back with her family and she and Tulio can start to plan for their baby to arrive now when Nick finally is put behind bars, but will he really remain there forever?
And next chapter is a bit extra special, believe it or not it's the 100th chapter of this series(Not counting the Authors not in Just another day). I can't believe that I have soon written 100 chapters, if feels like I started this whole thing last month. My, my, time does fly. So I would like to thank you all for reading and giving me feedback, you are all fantastic. So just for fun, it would be really fun if you would like to answer some sample question.
1. Who is your favourite OC female character and why?
2. Who is your favourite OC male character and why?
3. Which is your favourite couple and why? (After MusaRiven of course, duh ^^)
4. Which characters that haven't/aren't a couple, would you think might be a good couple and why?
5. Which character do you think needs to finds some love in their life next?
Next time, Paris and Chel meets again since they left for the mansion.