Chapter 04 - ' Grenades are weapons too. '

A single line of sweat ran down the royal tailor's neck. If the Crown Prince rejected this outfit, he wasn't sure what he would do. Sitting in an armchair in the fitting room, Waide looked far from pleased. In less than four hours time one of the Princesses would be married off. What was supposed to be a happy occasion was filled with tension.

The most uncomfortable place to be in the castle at this moment was the room where Prince Waide's aides stood. They tried their best to keep a neutral expression, but the air betrayed the emotions they felt.

Waide turned away from the tailor. He focused with great concentration on what happened outside. The beautiful view of the ocean was a taunting sight. It reminded him of the night gone by.

Why'd he kiss me on the seashore, if he would follow through with today?

"The suit from before, I'll wear that one," said Waide. He was just about done playing tyrant.

A collective sigh could be heard in the room. Waide glared at the aids causing them to hold their breaths once more. They knew the Prince was quite temperamental. One trigger was all Waide needed to release his pent up anger. The heart throb of Xyra exploded into a furious rant.

"What are you all standing here for? Did I not give an instruction to be carried out! Where is my suit! Should I have all of you gutted and replaced! Imbeciles! Get a move on it! Where is Tyler!"

The room came to life, running in different directions the aids busied themselves to appease the Crown Prince. Neon green eyes glared at the aids as they moved about the room. A loud shatter was heard. His neck snapped to the direction of the noise.

"You!"

"Please! My liege, I beg for your pardon!" The young maid stammered, tears running down her cheeks. On her knees she looked across to the Prince.

A growl erupted from Waide's chest. Rising from his position he took purposeful steps in her direction. Carefully side stepping the pieces of the broken vase which was a gift from a visiting Princess. He bent down and extended a hand to the aid. She looked around the room nervously.

Waide caught her eyes. The dangerous neon green colour was exchanged for a softer light green colour. A bright smile which held all matters of frustrations behind it was shown to the aid.

Unaware of the word spoken softly among the earlier noise, magic was at work in the room. The second her fingers came to rest on his gloved hand. The subtle clues of magic suddenly became apparent in the room. An explosive force rushed forward from the corners of the room. The dark tendrils acted as a shield against the shards of ice that surrounded the aids neck.

"They say I am the worst of the worst. I believe that title belongs to you Young Prince. Have you no liency to those beneath you? Here I thought benevolence was one of your virtues!" The deep voice caused Waide to spin on his heels.

The disembodied voice had yet to take a physical form. A twisted feeling resided in Waide's stomach.

Caught!

Trying to salvage whatever face he had left, Waide said, "You are mistaken Your Highness. It was only meant to be a warning, no harm would have befallen her."

His Eminence chuckled softly. Walking in the inbetween, he positioned himself right next to Waide.

"That's not what the rumors say, you nasty creature," said His Eminency. His words whispered into Waide's ear were the truth and then some. Waide could not stop the shudder that reverberated through his body. This voice! A crafty smirk pulled on Waide's lips.

"Well since you are so informed..." Before Waide finished his statement. The shards of ice broke through the temporary shield that was created by His Eminence. The aid fell to the floor with a blood curdling scream. The red liquid pooled around Waide's feet. Stepping out of the shadows His eminence stood less than a hair's width away from Waide.

"Was that necessary?" said His Eminence.

"Very."

Without further explanation of his actions he sauntered over to his seat. Crossing his legs he looked at the King of Darkness. The childish innocence that he showed many times over to the King was long gone.

"Get ready, you wouldn't want to miss the wedding," said His Eminence.

Waide's blood boiled. How dare he say those words so casually! Waide was reminded of the very reason for his anger.

"Maybe I should stay here!" said Waide.

His Eminence's attention was focussed solely on Waide. With a surge in dark magic, the Crown Prince who had forgotten his place was immediately reminded of where he stood. Dark blue eyes glowed dangerously bright. Neon green eyes refused to decrease in intensity even as the black tendrils cut off his air supply.

One by one the room's occupants fell to their knees begging His Eminence for mercy on behalf of the Crown Prince. The mournful symphony grew in volume, the tighter the tendrils squeezed on Waide's neck. Yet Waide himself refused to seek forgiveness. His Eminence narrowed his eyes at the foolish Prince.

"You will get dressed and be ready for the wedding!" said His Eminence. His voice dared the listener to challenge it. Waide sat catching his breath but never taking his eyes off the man before him.

"I will not be in attendance. Your ... Highness," said Waide, before continuing in the same breath, saying, "Unless, you will be marrying me."

The silence was best described as a hushed wind. Not a soul dared to breathe as the Crown Prince's words fell within the room. Marriage between two men was practically unheard of, much less marriage of two men who were royalty.

His Eminence smirked, "Don't say such things. You're embarrassing yourself." With that he left the room for his own designated chambers.

The second His Eminence left the room, Waide snatched the nearest cup sending it to the wall. The loud shattering of the glass was heard. Falling to the ground he screamed his lungs dry.

Screw you!

All the attendees present were of royal or high status. The room that held close to fifty people buzzed with life. Waide stood with his two friends Lily and Liam. The beet red wine swirled within the glass he held. His magic was static in the air around them.

Though the conversation they held was light in terms of the topic. The heaviness from the unspoken words loomed over their heads. They both knew of Waide's rendezvous with the Dark King and how deeply it affected him.

Rather than calling it love or even the most primal of human instincts, Waide insisted it was much more than that. His friends could in turn only lend a listening ear and patronise his delusional thoughts.

The hall, decorated with fresh flowers of many colours and vines which added a much needed touch of greenery. Everything was perfect for receiving a Princess of the Spring.

The door opened and in a loud voice a manservant announced, "King of Underous, has arrived with his entourage." The room fell into hushed whispers. His Eminence entered the hall and glided effortlessly to the front where the King and Queen sat.

Waide quickly moved to the front near his parents, while somehow managing to aviod the eyes of the one standing next to them. Everyone took seats according to their status. The King looked at his subjects and when he was pleased with the silence in the room he began.

"Blessings of the Gods and Goddess that rule over this land onto you. Today we will witness the choosing and marriage of one of my three daughters today. I pray for their happiness. I also pray for the successful union between the Dark Kingdom of Underous and ours," said the King. Smiling brightly he seemed to have forgotten the subservient position he held.

Waide's scowl deepened, the air around him that held his magic snapped softly around him. Navy blue eyes noticed the changes in the Crown Prince. Ignoring the tantrum that was ongoing his eyes changed trajectory focusing on his King. His King was about to change history.

His Eminence walked over to the three women clad in gold wedding dresses as was the custom in Xyra. They all carried the traits of the nymph. Large green doe eyes trained to look at the floor, hands clasped lightly on the stomach. The women looked like dolls waiting to be packaged and sent away. Case in point, their wavy brown hair did not move an inch out of place.

Stopping before the second youngest, the Dark King offered his hand to the second Crown Princess. She lifted her hand and placed it in his. Taking the ring that sat in its jewelry box, he lifted it to her finger.

Dropping by several degrees the room froze over, a thin layer of frost lined the walls, and covered the windows causing an eerie blue glow within the room. The burst of magic shocked many in the room. The King glared at his son.

This is not the time to be having a fit!

Arms crossed over his chest, Waide ground his teeth. His eyes covered by a light green mist glared at the Dark King.

"How dare you!" said Waide.

The air in the room rushed towards him. Thousands of ice shards the size of needles hovered behind him. Raising one hand in the air, he adjusted the direction and angle of the shards to that of the Dark King. The hum of his magic grew louder. The King flew off his throne and called upon the power within himself to stop the disaster about to happen.

Blinded by anger, Waide closed his open hand, as his fist tightened the shards shot forward at unbelievable speeds. Out of the darkness one indiscernable form stood before the Dark King. The dark arts used by the shadow soldier were able to deflect the killer blades.

His Eminency smile mocked the futile efforts of the Crown Prince. Salty tears fell from green eyes. The intensity of the shards grew. Having had a good show, His Eminency walked out from behind his personal shadow guard. The shards shattered before they reached within one meter of him as though hitting an invisible obstacle.

Standing before the sobbing man, His Eminency grabbed him by the collar. Waide struck against the Dark King's chest his fist pound feebly against the man. Giving into grief, his hand rested on the chest of the man before him unmoving. His Eminence flicked the ring to the ring bearer behind him. A shadow leaped forward catching the ring mid air and placed it inside of the box.

Though His Eminence's eyes exuded killer intent, his heart softened towards the Crown Prince. Years of experience behind those dark blue eyes knew that the Crown Prince could not help but act as he did. However it did not excuse him from attacking royalty.

"Your son has offended me," said His Eminency, holding the green glare of his little lover he continued, "King Thetoris, how will you appease me?"

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