Chapter Two
Sora had fallen asleep during the journey. But the sudden halt of the carriage had bolted her up. The King looked around and asked to no one in particular, "What's going on?"
No answer was heard.
The king decided to go out of the carriage. As Sora started to follow, the King made a movement for her not to move. Sora just nodded back but her eyes told him to be careful. She can feel that something wrong would happen.
The King stepped out of the carriage and looked around, his eyesight adjusting to the darkness that was engulfing them. "My King." a man in the dark said as he held a shinny knife for the King to see.
The King drew out his sword and looked around for any more people. He saw that his two henchmen were already killed. "Who are you?! What do you want!?" the king asked.
"Have you forgotten about my father who you killed?" the man asked as he kept his face under his hood.
"I killed no one!" the king replied. But as the man stepped towards him, realization dawned.
"You… you're… you're" the king started to stutter as he backed off.
"Yes, your highness. I am the son of the real king. I am the true king!" the man said as his face was shown with the moonlight beams.
The king's eyes widened.
And Sora, went out of the carriage. "Father, are you alright?" Sora asked.
"My queen." the man said as he tried to approach the king and the princess.
"Sora, hurry! Run away!!!! Get away from this man!!! And whatever happens, don't listen to a word he says. You will believe no one… no one except yourself… hurry!!! Go!!!" The king assured as he pushed Sora off.
"But fa-"Sora tried to argue but was pushed off.
"GO!!!" the king demanded.
"But father, I-"Sora said.
"I order you, DO AS I SAY!" the king yelled.
Sora felt hot tears welling up in her eyes as she slowly carried her feet and ran through the woods.
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"Father, you never told me that I had a fiancé!" Taichi said as he banged his fists onto the table.
"This engagement was long ago decided. When you turn 20 and have not found a wife yet, she, the heiress to the Takenouchi Kingdom shall become your bride" the king replied.
The queen entered.
"My husband… I have terrible news" she said.
"Nothing can be more terrible than this.." Taichi mumbled as he slowly slid off to his seat.
"My wife, that has to wait. Taichi has to understand-"
"This cannot wait, my beloved. Something terrible has happened." The queen said.
The king looked at his queen.
Even Taichi and Yamato looked at her.
"King Takenouchi has been assassinated… their carriage, was thrown on the road side and three lifeless bodies are dipped in puddles of blood"
"and the Princess… is she alright?" the king asked.
"She is nowhere to be found… she-"
"Taichi! Where are you going!?" Yamato yelled as he saw Taichi ran off.
The king smiled.
"If you'll excuse me, your highness. I find it best to help Taichi." Yamato said.
"Yes, please." The king replied.
And Yamato left.
"My husband… what's happening? Sora has not yet known of the truth about her past and we are the ones who are supposed to tell her and Taichi. What if-"
"I don't think she is dead yet, my love. There are far more greater things to happen that has not yet occurred. Princess Sora is out there somewhere and Taichi is going to find her. For their fates are entwined."
"I hope so..." the queen mumbled as the king pulled her into an embrace.
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Sora ran through the woods as fast as her feet can carry her.
"Father… please be alright" Sora mumbled in between her pants.
Her eyesight adjusted to the darkness and when all seemed all right, she slowed down.
She knew that this wasn't her style. She never ran off from a battle. But when she saw the terrifying man and the look on her father's eyes, she just had to take off and leave.
Her heart thumping wildly, Sora rested herself on a tree.
Suddenly, she heard footsteps closing into her.
Sora looked around and controlled her breathing, not to let the one following her know her presence. She quickly hid behind a bush and looked across the forest, seeing if there are any movements.
She found some movements from the right and she lowered her head.
"Come out, come out wherever you are princess… I know you're here so don't hide" the man said. His voice was of those of dark and eerie his voice was cold and demanding
Sora had stay put on her position but her heart was thumping really fast.
"Found you!" the man said as strong arms wrapped around the Princess's neck and the knife was directly in front of her throat.
"Move and I shall have you killed." The man said.
Sora could hear his breathing over her shoulders and the movements the man was doing around her waist, made her disgusted.
One arms was around her neck with the knife. While the other was moving it's way around her waist and going to her breasts.
"You're beautiful, my queen" he said as he buried his face within Sora's neck and planted little kisses.
"Where's my father?" Sora asked.
"Your no-good-excuse of a father is lying where he truly belongs… on the ground!" the man said, following it with laughter.
Sora had enough of her attitude. She held the man's left arm that was holding a knife, and threw him unto the ground. And with all her might she ran off again. Tears were streaming down her face. Not because of fear of death… but fear of being alone. Her father was just killed by that man and her thoughts can stop swirling as her greatest fear had come true
Sora finally got off from the forest and ended up in a road. She looked to the right, then to the left. Not knowing where to go.
Suddenly, the man too came out of the forest and held a sword up to her. "I had enough of you, princess. You will do as I say and come with me and bring me to my rightful place as king and every night, you will be reminded that you are my queen. Whether you like it or not." He said.
Sora's eyes darted with anger at him as she picked a stick up and aimed it at him.
"a stick? What can you do with a stick?" the man asked with a laugh.
"You'll see." Sora said angrily as she charged forward at the man, fighting head to head with him.
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"Taichi, slow down!" Yamato called up from behind as his horse tried to follow Taichi.
Taichi didn't slow down. But eventually, Yamato caught up.
"What got you so worked up? I thought you were-"
"I wasn't. but the thought of my future queen being in danger frightens me." Taichi replied.
"But you haven't met her yet, Taichi." Yamato explained.
"I don't care. Even if I had met her or not, she is still my queen." Taichi replied.
"Do you realize what you just said?"
"Unfortunately, yes. I have. For one thing, I don't care if I love her or not anymore. All I care about is being king and having a queen. The rest, it's history." Taichi replied as he sped up more.
Yamato was lagging behind with a great question mark on his head.
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The battle between Sora and the man was still not done. Sora had wounded the man on his right arm where a gush can be seen. But unfortunately, Sora too, was wounded on her left foot that was stabbed by the sword.
Sora could feel her head spinning as blood came oozing out of her leg.
She could hear thunder and the night became darker.
"I'll kill you… I'll kill you for killing my father!!!" Sora cried out as she charged at him once more.
The man stepped back and was about to hit Sora by her abdomen with the sword but she shielded herself with the wooden stick she had. But it made the stick snap into two and made her fall backwards.
"You'll be mine!" the man yelled as he was about to plunge the sword into Sora.
Sora closed her eyes and waited for the metal to come in contact with her skin. Nevertheless, it didn't happen. All she heard was a clang of metal and she opened her eyes.
There, in front of her stood a man with princely clothes and a sword that protected both her and him.
Sora tried to open her eyes but soon, the dizziness invaded her and she fell into unconsciousness.
"Who the hell are you!?" the man asked angrily.
"Her knight in shining armor." Taichi replied as he pushed the man back using his sword.
The rain started to pour down and the man looked at Taichi.
"You'll pay for interfering with me, Prince Taichi." The man said.
Taichi smirked, "We'll see about that." He said as he positioned himself once more.
But before he could do anything else, the man put his sword up and a crash of lightning appeared before him.
The man had disappeared and so did his frightened horse than went galloping off.
Taichi threw a curious look. "That man was a magician?" he asked with a stunned face.
He suddenly remembered the princess and quickly bent down towards her.
All he saw was a beautiful face and when he carried her to his arms, he could feel the soft creamy skin of the princess.
The rain started to pour much harder and Taichi looked around. He suddenly heard a rumble and looked to his left to see an avalanche. "I better get us out of here before we end up dead!" he said as went into the forest.