Diana sat still in the train. She wasn't feeling alright. Her body was aching. Sitting in the same position for almost twenty-four hours wasn't all that much of a good thing. Seems like no other person was stopping by.
Not until they reached the next stop. More than half of the remaining passengers came down at that point. Diana was torn in between alighting with them. She didn't know the place nor did she know how good or bad it would be.
The driver allowed them to stay for about thirty minutes while the other passengers alighted carefully. Diana used the time to also stretch her sore limbs. She was hungry again.
"Hi, do you know where I could get something to eat?"
The man looked at her strangely and walked away, murmuring some strange words.
"They don't speak English here." Someone said from behind her. It was another lady. From the way she was dressed, Diana could tell she belonged to the army. "What might you want to get? I could quickly grab it for you."
"Oh, I just want to eat. Anything will be fine." Diana said gratefully. The lady nodded. Diana stood by the door, watching her run into the small town. About ten minutes later, she returned with a small package in her hand.
"Here. It's slurpy noodles. It has a lot of veggies and since I wasn't sure if you would like the meat, I had them package it separately."
"Of course I would like it. Thanks." Diana smiled. "Thank you so much!"
The lady smiled. "I'm Julitta."
"Diana." Diana replied. "I'm heading to Fraco. How about you?"
"Fraco? I'm also headed there! Do you live there?" Julitta asked excitedly.
"No. I'm actually trying to relocate. I have only a few things and I don't even have a place to stay yet."
Julitta nodded. "Accommodation is never an issue in Fraco. Houses are rather cheap and jobs are easy to get. The country is still trying to stand on its own so we're trying to get more citizens as quickly as possible too."
"Then that would just be brilliant wouldn't it?" Diana smiled. "Let's go."
Julitta followed Diana to her seat. They sat together and she filled her in on the happenings in and around Fraco. The government and the upgrade in the military.
Diana enjoyed every bit of Julitta's attention and she loved the gossip. She was tempted to talk to her about her own pack but she wasn't certain if the Fraco citizens were lovers of other creatures or if they found them uncanny as well.
"You know, I'm actually on the run." Diana said. "I fell pregnant and my family wants me to abort the child. But I want to keep it so I had to leave so they wouldn't harm it."
It was all a lie. She just felt the need to tell Julitta something about herself since the girl has been talking non stop.
Julitta held her hand softly. "As a warrior, we aren't always allowed to show any form of emotion but this one got to me."
Diana offered her a smile. "I think I need to sleep. The meal was quite heavy and now I'm feeling rather drowsy."
"You don't seem to have slept well in the past few days as well." Julitta had observed that Diana's eyes dropped with each story she told and she suspected that the lady hadn't had a good rest.
"Yes. Been on this train for two days now and I couldn't sleep because I'm very conscious of the unfamiliar people around me."
Julitta understood. "Well as a soldier, I can stay up, watching you for the entire night and I wouldn't sleep a wink."
"Really?" Diana gasped.
"No." Julitta giggled. "I can only promise to not sleep deeper than you."
Diana scrunched up her nose. She stifled a yawn.
"Go to sleep, Diana." Julitta urged. Diana didn't fight the sleep, she laid down on the wooden seat that had metal rims and closes her eyes to sleep, forgetting the uncomfortable situation she was in. Now that she had someone to watch her, she could comfortably sleep even in an uncomfortable chair.
In a dimly lit room, two shadows could be vaguely seen, they were as still as statues. Because that was what they were. Statues of brave knights that graced the land of Wisteria. But more than tokens of appreciation and honor, they also served as a hiding spot for all the gossip that flowed in the castle.
There were two men in particular who served as guards in the castle but we're in disguise as spies to other packs. One of them was more than just another pack's spy but was also a spy for a distant country. His secret was known by him alone and no one else dared to find out what was going on in his life.
"Brother, we have to end this mission."
"Never."
One would only hear faint whispers and not see anyone. It made it seem like it was all a figment of illusion and nothing real.
"We can't keep up! It's too risky!"
"I repeat, never."
"What do you stand to gain?!"
"Everything. To see the foolish king die is everything to me."
"But you could die? What could be worth more than your life?"
"Hahaha." He laughed. "You amuse me brother. Haven't you heard?"
"Heard what?"
"That everything is gained to a man who takes risks. Even to die is gain. Death is the greatest gain to mankind."
"We are not men."
"Even better brother. We cannot die."
"Hm. I sincerely do hope that you know what you are doing. I have taken my hands away from this. I shall no longer be a spy."
"Once a spy, always a spy."
"I quit."
"You better not blab. Don't snitch cause you will hate the outcome."
The whispering stopped. Only the faint sount of a ragged breathing. Then footsteps echoing the passage, becoming even more faint until it disappeared totally.
Calhoun awoke in his chamber, his gaze coming in contact with Pat's face. He scowled slightly.
"Who are you? Where's Diana?"
"Will you ask this everytime you awake, my king?"
"Yes." Calhoun replied. "Have you made my bath water? Taking out my clothes? How about my food? Wine?"
"Sire, I -"
"I don't have to remind you everyday, Pat. If you are not capable of doing any of these then you might as well tell me and we can bring you a replacement." Calhoun said.
"I doubt anyone could handle your temperament like I can." Patricia said. She had assumed that since Calhoun had been a little calm with her, she could do as she liked.
"Shut the fuck up, fool! Everyone is dispensable! Everyone is replaceable." He stated. "Don't think too highly about yourself. And most certainly don't ever reply to me."
Pat shivered due to the strength of his voice. She was afraid she almost cried.
"Get out!" Calhoun ordered. The lady scrambled out of the room instantly. She didn't dare to turn back to ask any question.
Calhoun went into the bathroom and relaxed in the shower. Everytime he closed his eyes, his mind was plagued by thoughts and visions of Diana. He would try to chase them away or at least, shake it off. But they were just as stubborn as the defiance which she tried to hide in her eyes.
In all his searching, he never saw a time he treated her nicely. It was always the times where he mistreated her, called her names, embarrassed her, humiliated her even.
He sighed softly. "You could have given me more time." He whispered. "I have to find you!"
With that new resolve, he washed quickly and emerged from the bath, looking like a god in all his glory. He wiped his body dry and put on his clothes. A purple shirt and black trousers. He took on his golden robe and wore it over his clothes. He hung his sash around his neck and took his crown.
"You have to return and sit on the throne with me, Diana." He whispered as he placed the crown on his head.
He took out his shiny black shoes and put them on his feet. That was one of the few times he had to dress himself.
He left his chamber and went to the throne room. It was a huge room that had seven chairs on either side of him with his throne at the centre.
He was always sitting there, receiving news and people who brought news to him. If he needed to discuss with his Beta, gamma and other subordinates, he went to the meeting chamber. Especially if he wanted it to be secret.
George came to meet him in the throne room. He bowed deeply at the king. Calhoun stared at the man.
"What do I owe this early visitation, George?" Calhoun asked firmly. He could be weak in his personal chamber. He could be soft and whisper when thinking about Diana, but when faced with his subjects, he was the firmest man ever.
"Thomas has passed out and has refused to be revived." George said.
"He died?" Calhoun asked nonchalantly.
"No sir. The nurses say he is still okay and just needs to be calm. He seems to have thought himself into shock."
"Thought into shock? I fail to understand." Calhoun said, smirking. "What exactly is he thinking about? Diana?"
"Perhaps my king. But I was wondering if you could spare him a few minutes for questioning." George suggested.
"Didn't you just say he was unconscious and refused to be revived? How could I spare a dead man my time?" Calhoun demanded. "Is there something else I should know?"
"Not at all my king. The guards say they heard him cry for a chance to speak to you before he passed out. Perhaps if we could get him to wake up, we could get him to speak to you as well."
Calhoun scoffed. "Do as you please, George."
George bowed and left. Not even up to a minute after he left, Calhoun got up from his throne. He turned toward the passage on the left side of his throne. His guard made to follow him.
"Stay back." He ordered. The guard paused in his tracks. Calhoun continued in his movements. He walked down the hallway till he got to a staircase which he proceeded to climb. He walked slowly, his movements precise and sharp, to the top of the staircase. Once again, he had arrived at the top of his tower where he could see his entire kingdom in all its glory.
His eyes roamed the streets and the citizens performed their daily activities.
His eyes caught onto a strange movement. A man was being beaten very aggressively too. He watched silently as the other people beat him up and injured him badly. Calhoun was mute. The scene unfolding before him was something gore but he didn't mind.
What actually piqued his interest was the fact that the man who was being beaten was a messenger from the castle, and the men who were beating him looked like members from the neighboring kingdom.
He smirked lightly. He could pick up the patterned footsteps that echoed silently behind him. George was approaching, no doubt. He kept a straight face, still watching the scene.
George came up behind him, trying to see what piqued his interest so intensely. He saw the scene as well.
"My king, that's one of the messengers I sent to Sunshine town. It's barely twenty four hours since they left, they should just be getting there and not returning." George narrated.
"Your point exactly?"
"The other towns must have sent them back, refusing them the permission to pass. And this one might just be the cruelest, daring to offend you by beating them up even in our kingdom." George said.
"Blood pack, George. Those are Yara's guards. They are welcome to Wisteria, don't you think?"
George was confused. Not until he turned to see the menacing look in Calhoun's eyes and the bloody smirk that played around his lips. George gulped.