To Bewitch a Devil

Axel didn’t even seem to hear her. He looked disturbed and confused. It must be about the news of his sister.

Kitana seeing that he wasn’t listening, moved in front of him, halting him in his steps.

“It can wait. If this is about your sister, you are the last person the King wants to see.” She said.

Axel narrowed his eyes at her. He looked beyond her to the guards at the King’s chambers.

“What did she do?” He asked Kitana. “None of the guards would tell me, you were there. Why was she made to leave?”

“That is up to your sister to answer, she knows the nitty-gritty details. You can wait to see the King after I am done.” She told him. “And if I were you, I would do that later on. Seeing you now will rile the King.”

She did not wait for his reply or for him to make a move before she whirled around and continued to the King’s chambers. She was stopped at the entrance, and a guard went ahead to inform the King of her presence.

After she was granted access, Kitana was led to the door of the King’s study. Once inside, she met the King behind his desk, looking through a paper that soon joined the others in the stack on the table.

.....

Zavian didn’t bother to look up as he asked, “And to what do I owe this visit?”

Kitana walked up to his desk and stopped directly opposite him. Her eyes swept the space from the stack of books to the papers scattered on his desk.

“Do you remember that time that I first met you?” She began. “I asked you so many questions to keep talking to you, the second time you gave me a tour of the palace yourself. That was such a lovely memory, do you remember?”

Zavian looked up at her, waiting. He didn’t bother to give her a response.

“It was just before you met Delilah.” Kitana continued. “We never talked after that.”

“What is the point of this visit, Kitana?” Zavian shot straight to the point.

“The point is...” She breathed in. “We shared a bond then, and even now, you are just too...distracted to see it.” She looked at him. “This contest, you and I know it is nothing but a waste of time.”

Zavian leaned forward, giving her his full attention. “And how so?”

“Because when it comes to leadership, mannerisms, communication, beauty, discipline, and a lot more, you know out of the three of us remaining, I excel in all that and more.”

“Hmm”, Zavian mused. “So marrying you would be a favour upon me, is that it?”

“It would do the Kingdom a lot of good. I am thinking of also the bigger cause here.” She said.

Zavian leaned back in his seat and nodded. “The contest is done to reveal who is the best all around.”

“By doing what? Painting? Cooking? Making fires? Sewing? The entire thing is ridiculous.” She scoffed. “Being a Queen is so much more than all that. It is an innate ability, and you know, even all those years ago, I have always shown that ability.”

“So you are saying, I owe it to you?”

“No, your Majesty... I am only stating what is best for all of us.”

A smile played on Zavian’s lips as he regarded her. She was ambitious, he would give her that, and she still has not changed after the centuries that passed by.

“The contest continues, Kitana,” Zavian said, and with that, he went back to the papers.

Kitana watched him and stood there in silence. She had had enough of trying to prove herself to him and outrightly being dismissed. If he did not want to come to his senses, she was going to go the long way to make sure he does.

“Do not take what I am about to say the wrong way, your Majesty”, she threaded on safe grounds. “But when you look at Lyra’s actions”, she watched as Zavian tensed up at the mention of her name,” it was detestable, but at the same time, it could have been avoided if matters regarding the affairs of this Kingdom was not starting to seem like it was in the control of that maid.”

Zavian was on his feet at once. Kitana did not cower under his gaze. If no one would tell him the truth, not his best friend or his sister, she would bear the consequences if that meant removing whatever veil had covered his reality because of his obsession with Lilah’s lookalike.

“You will not speak a word about it again”, he warned.

“I understand she looks like Delilah”, Kitana pressed on. “But when you uphold her in greater ranks than even the Princesses that came far and wide to be here, you don’t expect us to do nothing.”

Zavian walked around the table and stood directly in front of her. Kitana looked up at him, watching his eyes go from golden to red. Zavian pressed a long claw to her neck, and in a dangerous whisper, said, “Not one more word from you.”

Kitana gulped, and the sharpness of his claw grazed her a little.

“As I said”, her voice was low, “do not take what I said the wrong way, your Majesty.”

Zavian pulled his claw back, and his eyes slowly returned to their golden colour. Kitana had no intention of overstepping the line, but she would not let him throw away everything he had gone to war for.

She placed a palm on Zavian’s chest and drew closer to him. “I am sorry, your Majesty, but I only say what I know is going to be in your best interest.”

Zavian narrowed his eyes at her. “Do not claim to know me, Kitana. And let this be the last time you ever utter words like that.”

He grabbed her hand touching him and pulled it away from his chest. Kitana closed her eyes, and when she opened them, Zavian was back in his seat. She knew she had said enough for that day, but she was not going to give up, not just yet.

She exited the chambers without another word. There would be a two-way plan now; one to make Zavian see sense in his choices, and the other to eliminate the maid causing all the problems.

One day at a time.

...

Jasmine noticed Neera in the castle’s gardens.

It had been days after Lyra’s exit from the palace, and afterward, Neera was roaming the palace grounds again. She hadn’t seen her, but had heard the whispers among her maids. She watched as Neera plucked out the tiny weeds sprouting from the ground, a tail of guards behind her. She hoped she could have a talk with her.

She moved toward her, and the guards looked over at her, unsure. Neera looked up, and she stood to her feet.

“Good day, your Highness.” Neera greeted.

Jasmine waved a hand. “Don’t stop on my account. I have heard a lot about you but I haven’t had the chance to actually speak with you, Lilah”, she covered her mouth at the mistake. “I am sorry for the mixup, Neera.”