Bride To His Darkness
Chapter 123: Prick From The Heart

Chapter 123: Prick From The Heart

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Meanwhile, back in the Palace of Agroven, Ivan had taken his seat in front of Queen Lucinda as requested, and his piercing eyes, which appeared presently dim, inquisitively fixed themselves on the chessboard in front of him. Silently contemplating on his move, Ivan carefully moved a hand-carved black Knight before proceeding to break the repressive silence that lingered within the room.

"We have been apart for many years, but in those times, I heard you were always a master of strategy, Aunt Lucinda." He subtly praised. "Do tell, this is more than just a game of chess, isn’t it?"

Listening to the vampire Lord make certain enquiries, Lucinda lifted an eyebrow without shifting gazes. Her pale fingers gracefully swept against the board as she moved a white bishop before leaning back to retract her icy, but assertive stare on Ivan.

"Indeed." She clipped, her silky voice laced with a hint of mockery as she gestured at the board. "In this game, as in life, one must understand the art of manipulation, my dear Nephew. Tell me, what brings you to my Palace? Knowing that an urge for power runs in the veins of every vampire I happen to know, has the throne of EmptyHollow finally slipped beyond your icy grip?" She queried, still maintaining her cool, yet inexplicably cold demeanor. "If that happens to be the case then why are you bothered? I assumed you were different, Ivan, or are you here to prove that my judgments concerning you are.... discouragingly false?

Ivan’s crimson eyes flashed with a mix of curiosity and vulnerability at her wary inquiries. He understood what his Aunt meant when she mentioned ’different’.

When he was younger he never wanted the throne, he never dreamed of ruling to be more precise. Growing up, he saw the inevitable stress his Father had to tolerate with each day, and he wished never to be like him. During those times, his Aunt Lucinda still visited their Palace to pay her sister, his Mother a visit, and yes, she hated the fact that her older sister was married to a vampire King... she only ever visited to make sure they hadn’t killed her sister for her, but then, the struggling bond between their Kingdom instantly crumbled after his Mother’s suicide, and when the court decided that they weren’t going to give his Mother a befitting burial, Queen Lucinda’s hatred for his kind only made her grow ten times colder towards his so-called family, and their absurd rules.

He wasn’t excluded.

Exhaling from his lips and swallowing gently, Ivan bobbed his head. "Yes, you are right." He answered gravelly, "but they are not for reasons you think of. My older brother returned from Vesunard with a scroll that grants him the favor of the council. In a few days time the scroll will be taken to the court of public opinion, where the announcement shall be made publicly. Eamon already has the support of the people, although it’s merely a hypothesis but he’s brainwashing them. My powers are waning, and rival clans are silently getting stronger."

"And you think coming to me would solve all of that problem? What makes you think I’d be willing to offer any help to the family that killed my sister?"

"Your kingdom is connected with the Orb." Asserted Ivan as he moved another chess piece, his tone remaining undeterred. "I have to admit that I sincerely acknowledge how you handle your people, ruling a kingdom all by yourself has earned you my respect. You’re doing Justice to your status as the Queen of Agroven, but that doesn’t change the fact that your Kingdom is presently undergoing what we are facing, and there’s no denying it."

Queen Lucinda, who had been quiet, frowned subtly at Ivan’s undeniable truth. Her icy blue eyes drifted to Abdiel who seemed rather content than offended for being made to stand and just watch, whilst she scowled inwardly. She wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up hearing the conversation they were having, else there was nothing more accurate that could explain why he appeared mysteriously calm even though he stepped in here with tense shoulders.

"I know there was an issue," Ivan genuinely stated, but more softly as he pushed himself forward to whisper. "You’re not the only one who believes someone had killed my Mother that night, I do too, but the suicide was perfectly staged, and at the right timing. I know you’re aching for revenge, it’s another dangerous habit of mine to predict someone’s darkness... your hostility proves enough, but we’ll both go unsuccessful if we don’t work together."

"Lord Ivan, you disappoint me." Lucinda tsked with a slight shake of her head, gracefully capturing Ivan’s black bishop with her white Knight. "Your desire for power is bound to build as long as you’re in the hands of them. Explain to me why I should trust you as a ruler." She demanded.

Ivan, who looked ready to defend himself, instantly lost his voice when he felt a slight painful prick in his chest, close to his heart region. It felt as though he had been poked with a needle where the pain only lasts for a millisecond before vanishing. It had stunned him, but it also left a disturbing feeling in his heart at the thought of his little lamb.

"I.... admit that I may not be that perfect ruler," Ivan began through a harsh breath as he tried to compose himself. "But if you let me prove otherwise, you’d understand in due time that my action is not driven solely on ambition."

The sudden prick in his chest became more severe the second time he dared to ignore it. His heart was starting to pound frantically alongside the pain, and he wondered if this pain in his heart had anything to do with the shard in his chest, or his little lamb. He couldn’t explain it, but he was starting to lose grip of this conversation.

"Is anything the matter?" Lucinda, who took notice of his discomfort, had asked out of mere curiosity, but there was a flicker of worry within her irises before it vanished like it was never there.

"Remember what I said? You can’t leave until we determine the winner of this chess game. In case you haven’t realized it just yet, the balance of both our kingdom lies here... right now, so if you leave, we’re off deal."

"Ivan..?" Abdiel, who also took notice of Ivan’s discomfort as he clutched his chest, noticed the way his eyes widened in apprehension.

"I have to go." He said, "she’s... she’s in danger. I have to leave now!!"

"What are you–?" Before Abdiel could gather the opportunity to ask what he was seriously busy getting worked up for, like a greased lightning, Ivan had vanished from sight without completing the game. Lucinda blinked in wonder and bafflement as he literally left after everything she had just laid out to him.

Was there someone who was more important than the throne in his life?