Bride To His Darkness
Chapter 165: Let’s Duel

Chapter 165: Let’s Duel

"Inna?"

"Inna!" Cas and Maddie exclaimed at the same time before moving closer to the luminous relic, "Inna, can you hear me?"

"Do you hear something?" Inna’s voice came as an inquiring whisper, and another familiar voice belonging to a male was heard from inside the luminescence of the medallion. "Inna what did you do this time? Did you break it? Sigh...what did I say about taking things from Osvaldo? You’re starting to hear things... and why is it glowing like that?"

"Inna!"

"Hold on! Aren’t you hearing someone call my name, I’m not making up excuses, it sounded like Cas’s voice.." The amusement in Inna’s voice was broken by silence till they heard her speak for the second time. "Cas? Maddie?"

"Can you hear us for the third time?"

"My God it’s them! Elian it’s them! Cassian! Where in heaven’s name have you two been?? The whole of Carmarthen is about to flip upside down due to your sudden disappearance, and the matter has been taken to King Alaric. Where is my baby Ali? Is he fine? How is it possible that we’re communicating through this...thing?!" As usual, all of Inna’s emotions were poured out in her manner of speaking; her anger, her worries, her confusion, and whenever she spoke like that, Cassian and Madeline knew they had to stay quiet till she was done pouring her frustration out. Cassian knew his sister too well to interrupt her when she was in the middle of throwing her tantrums.

"What happened to the both of you?" It was Elian’s voice that became more audible this time around, and his concern was evident as he asked. "Where are you??"

"It’s a long story, listen I can’t explain everything to you like this so I need you to do something for me.." Cassian answered before proceeding with his request, "What I can tell you is Maddie and I are fine, so is Ali and we won’t be back till after a month’s time. Tell this to Mother and Father, I don’t know how you guys are going to handle it but make up an excuse or something, anything that will silence our missing report till we return. Can you do that for me?"

"Did you two go for another honeymoon?" Inna’s voice held suspicious inquiries, "my wedding is happening in a month’s time and you two better be here for it. How you disappeared overnight doesn’t make any sense but you two better keep yourselves alive, wherever it is you are and keep my Ali safe too so you can bring him back to me."

"Do not pay attention to Inna, she’s on one of her mood swings but it’s good to finally hear from you. We’ll handle situations here like you’ve said, there’s nothing to worry about but please, stay safe wherever you are."

"We will." Madeline responded, and she could feel her heart ease after exchanging words with Inna and Elian. If Inna hadn’t taken the medallion Osvaldo gifted her as an advance wedding gift, Madeline couldn’t help but wonder if it would have been possible to reach them like this. Osvaldo was a gifted seer who had a charming personality, he had helped them a lot in restoring peace to Carmarthen but now that she was thinking deeply about the medallion he gave Inna, was it possible he already saw this day coming and had prepared the medallion in advance?

"See? Osvaldo’s dull gift did turn out to be a handful." Inna’s voice snapped Madeline from her train of thoughts.

"I don’t think I can keep this going." Samantha uttered as the luminescence of the light began to fade from the medallion.

"Cas, can you still hear us?"

"Yes, but we have to go now. Remember, we won’t be back until after a month."

"We’ve heard, but you have to tell us what happened as soon as you get back." And the light faded completely from the medallion, ending the conversation. Samantha could feel her head throb slightly from the aftereffect, and she weakly handed the relic back to Ivan who subconsciously received it, but he didn’t say a word to her and averted his disturbed gaze elsewhere.

"Thank you so much." Madeline showed her gratitude to Samantha, whilst holding the maiden’s delicate hands in her own. "Because of you, we were able to contact someone from our family, and if possible, we can return sooner now that they know." Madeline glanced at Cassian who nodded to her prediction with an assuring smile. She stepped back to stand beside her husband whose hand mischievously slid around her waist as he pulled her close to him, and not to talk about her husband’s shamelessness, Madeline elbowed him at the side of his abdomen till he released her.

"Thank you for your cooperation." Madeline glanced at Ivan who appeared to be deep in thoughts, but her voice had made him turn his head to look at her, whilst she lowered her gaze. "If it were anywhere else, I doubt they’d show us the amount of kindness and consideration you have given us. Ali, come say thank you to His Majesty." Madeline called her son over, and when Alain came to stand in front of his Mother, his large eyes drifted to Ivan’s expressionless face, but rather than getting scared like every other child who stood before his presence, this mischievous one had the audacity to leave his Mother’s side.

To Ivan’s surprise, little Alain hugged his long legs, and his big doe brown eyes looked up to meet the piercing eyes of Ivan. This would be the first time he’s ever gotten a hug from a child, and this one, his eyes bore no fear, rather they twinkled with mischief and adoration.

"Thank you." He said, and for some reason, it made Ivan feel awkward.

"You’re...welcome, do you mind?" Ivan gestured for Alain to release his leg from his embrace, but the little boy didn’t move away till Madeline came to carry him herself. He was reluctant to let go, shaking his head and letting out small whining sounds until...

"Alain." His Mother’s reprimanding voice made him give in as he pulled away with a sad pout. "I’m sorry, he never gets easily attached to people like this, but do not be offended, he only acts this way when he likes someone." Madeline explained to Ivan who nodded in understanding, but he certainly didn’t like the way the little boy was making him feel. He had never been around children before, and the ones who saw him tend to run away in fear due to his infamous reputation.

"We’re leaving now." Ivan finally said while making his way to his little lamb. Holding her wrist, he took her out of the room with Maurice who followed behind, and he wasn’t even aware of the reasons why his sister had taken them there in the first place. When he realized the vampire Lord was taking his sister away from him as well, he moved quickly to stand in front of Ivan, blocking his path so he wouldn’t leave.

"You didn’t show up at the court of celestial Valor this morning." Although he preferred the human who was assigned to coach him, the vampire King still made promises to him. "You were supposed to teach me how I can pinpoint someone’s weaknesses during battle, but you never showed up. May I ask why?"

"No." He clipped, but before he could take her away again, Maurice dared to say. "I want to know what it’s like to battle someone in a field, is it possible that we duel?"

"You want to spar with me?" Ivan arched an eyebrow at Maurice’s serious request. He had noticed that Maurice’s expressions were always plain whenever he spoke to him. The young man still disliked him, and that made Ivan contemplate on the spar.

Meanwhile, Samantha’s pupils dilated at her brother’s daring request. Why would anyone in their right minds challenge Ivan to a duel?? Her brother wasn’t even experienced in this kind of thing, and Ivan was certainly not a challenger for her brother... there’s absolutely no way he’d agree to it. Yes! Surely Ivan is sensible enough to refuse--

"Fine." Samantha heard him say to her brother, an indecipherable smirk curving his lips. "Let’s duel."