RETURN OF THE HYBRID (Book III)

Chapter 8

"How did you get in here?" Aliya asked looking surprised.

"That's not important am here to massage your female ego" Leon said bolting the door.

"Watch your language you peasant!"

She got up from the bed with a glass of wine and walked towards him, her dress was sweeping the carpet of the room as she walked. It was big and spacious with gold and silver lying everywhere his eyes touched. Their bed was close to the size of an entire volleyball pitch, the windows were large too, the silky curtains were drawn. There was a shelf of books and a working desk opposite there was a mirror with its frame coated with gold, under it all beauty products. He figured it was her station and perfecting beauty was an ancient practice.

"Get out or I scream. Rhode will kill you" she said poking his chest with her forefinger.

He knew what she meant by "Scream" she was going to claim he attempted to have his way with her. A peasant’s son sowing in the royal gardens was not a good picture. It was punished by death or if he was cut a slack being banished for a thousand years.

"Why are you so mean to everyone?" Leon asked.

"Not everyone, am mean to liars and imposters. You are not his son are you?" She asked.

"Yes am not" Leon said.

"I don't know what you have done to him but am not buying your treachery now get out before I make your life a living hell"

"How about I do that to you" Leon said his iris glowing a faint red.

She could not see it because he was staring outside through the window. She went to poke some sense in him again when he turned around his teeth looking like snake fangs. The glass in her hands dropped on the floor as she retreated looking scared. She couldn't scream.

"I will rip you apart before you even think of screaming"

She turned around tried to run, Leon moved in super speed and stood in front of her. She froze.

"Please don't kill me" she begged shaking like a blade of grass, tears were cascading down her cheeks already washing away the make up or whatever they called it those days from her face.

"Am not going to" Leon assured getting closer to her.

He looked at her straight in the eyes.

"You will forget seeing me like this, we talked and I apologized, you will go back to the table and apologize to Hector for embarrassing him in front of everybody and from today you will treat him with respect"

She shut her eyes for a few seconds and when she opened them Leon was standing with a piece of clothing to wipe her tears.

"Wipe your face your majesty" He said.

"What? I was crying?" She asked wiping the tears.

"Yes, you got so emotional when I told you how I lost my parents" Leon said.

"Once again am sorry, let's get going your father is about to send the Hector" She said leading the way.

Leon opened the door, the guards were coming round not knowing what hit them. He was having a hard time catching up with her pace.

"Rhode dear, why didn't you tell me Adonis's parents died in a chariot accident?" Aliyah asked getting back to her seat.

"I wanted to" Rhode said staring at Leon, he winked.

"Ooh and Hector, am sorry for slapping you later on it won't happen again"

Rhode, Herman and Hector both looked at Leon surprised. They were wondering what he had done to her. If you asked them or anybody else in the palace they would have wanted him to administer it to her on a daily basis. Aliyah never apologized to anyone for anything.

"Father am going to check on our troops" Leon said.

"Good luck son may the gods protect you" Rhode said still surprised.

"Good luck your majesty I intend to see you back in one piece" Hector said.

"Good luck my prince go and concur" Herman said bowing.

He was such a poser but who are we to judge him? It was what earned him a few shekels of silver and gold, fine wheat floor for his bread and corn. It was also what protected his big fields and animals, paid his workers and gave him a luxurious life.

"Thank you all, Lord Herman a word please!" Leon said walking outside.

Herman ran after his long strides.

"My prince" He said.

"This oracle, Cassandra how much do you trust her?" Leon asked preparing his horse.

"She can be trusted your majesty no perfidy" He assured.

"Okay good day Herman" Leon said getting on top of his horse.

The people loved him, they were not just obliged to bow in respect when he passed. They enjoyed doing it. He had carried a bag full of shekels of gold and silver (stolen from the kings chambers) which he gladly offered to the people. He loved them too, despite not having much for themselves they could still afford to bring the king fruits and corn, wheat from their fields that were being destroyed by the rival army. Most of them were burning day and night, their animals were dying too.

"Buy the young lad a cloak he needs one with this mosquitoes” He said handing over a silver coin.

"Thank you your majesty" The mother of the boy said going on her knees.

"And you have this for food" He said to the other.

"Thank you my prince"

"For the rest remind me tomorrow I have to protect out borders" He said riding off.

The kind of pity he felt for them was a reminder that despite the hatred and brutality he had gone through in Zeli's realm he was still human at heart. It was a good thing for him. Staying human was among the toughest thing he had to face.

"General Osteen any updates on our enemies progress?" He asked joining the other soldiers.

"Thanks to you my prince they are regrouping we have to start from the west they are blocking the caravans of traders from other kingdoms"

"And we need food" Leon said.

"Yes your majesty, something has to be done quick, am sure the palace is also running short of supplies"

"Okay you keep pushing them from the east give me a dozen of your best men"

"Am sorry my prince only the rookies are available I used my best men to defend the other parts of the kingdom" Osteen said avoiding eye contact.

"Okay those ones will do, how many troops do you think are there?"

"A few your majesty I send a scout this morning"

"Good"

Osteen was playing according to his plan with queen Aliya. The rookies and the lovely prince were both going to die. The kingdom was going to be devastated for a few days and then move on. Even though he promised a dozen only nine soldiers showed up. The only thing he did not lie about was that they were rookies. He could tell from how they were holding their swords.

"These are the few I could find" Osteen said.

"Fine, you can go"

They were standing on a straight line as though he was about to inspect a guard of honor.

"Who's the youngest among you?" Leon asked.

A weak potbellied man moved forward. He looked like a market day con man.

"How old are you?"

"Nineteen seasons, two moons old your majesty" He said his head bowed.

The leather strap that was holding his swords around his waist fell to his feet. He rushed to bring it back up and restrained laughter from his friends. Even the prince found himself laughing. He had come to realize for them season were years and moons were months.

"And who is the oldest?" He asked smiling.

A slightly older guy came forward. He was a bit strong and confident.

"And how old are you?"

"Thirty three seasons and one moon old your highness"

"You can move back" he said, "I know you are wondering why am asking about your age. This is the thing, none of you is too old to die and neither are you too young. But I want us to promise each other that on the battle field we are going to fight as brothers, and for a chance to live for longer seasons, in peace. I want to be sure you have my back because I have yours" He said drawing his sword.

He stretched it in front of them. And one by one they drew theirs and knelt in front of him sticking their swords in the dusty earth reciting the pledge of Allegiance:

"I-the soldiers name- the son of-the fathers name_prove my allegiance to you my prince, to fight by your side until death"

"Let’s ride!" He shouted.

They rushed to pick their horses and other equipment. The west side was a forested zone closer to King Lloyd. They needed to camp there for a few days. As they prepared to leave Osteen send a word to the queen through their normal channel of communication. An eagle that usually landed on their bedroom window. The people were going to love Osteen again. He did it out and of jealousy. Why were they chanting the new prince's name instead of his? He had given the kingdom his very life and what did he get in return? Nothing but disrespect. And he just killed Pollux by luck and a feast was hosted for him. The midwives were naming children after him and Songs were written in his honor;

The mighty prince Adonis,

The son of Rhode,

The rider of the brown pony,

Reliever of our load,

Protect us all.

Osteen felt replaced and it hurt.

"Goodbye prince Adonis, at least the songs will stick and the children you were named after" Osteen said watching the cloud of dust that followed them as they rode away.

******

The girls found her lying on a large pile of books. Cassandra had fallen asleep while reading. She had vowed to herself not to rest until she understood more about the prince. Time travel and the fact that he claimed he was a hybrid were not real to her. She knew the beasts of the night moved fast, those who had mastered the art even faster than a streak of lightening but never had she heard about surviving the scorching sun and being a single form of two longtime enemies.

"Mistress, wake up someone is here to see you" Gaia shook her.

"She is sound asleep try something else" Dahlia suggested.

"Girls I can hear you" she mumbled her eyes still closed.

Gaia and Dahlia froze.

"Sorry, there is a woman here to see you"

"Let her in, which woman?" Cassandra asked yawning and stretching her hands.

"She is in the living room, I think the one with a haunted daughter. She is having another attack"

"That's impossible!" Cassandra said staring at Gaia.

She moved closer to her scaring the two girls. They were not sure if she understood what they were talking about as her eyes were glued on Gaia’s neck. She grabbed her head and bend it on her other shoulders to have a clear view. They were Leon’s bite marks.

"He bit you" she said.

"Who? Am sorry I can't understand what you are talking about" Gaia said.

"How comes you can't remember? You said you two had s*x?"

"Yes" Gaia said embarrassed.

"Dahlia tell them to wait am coming" She said and watched Dahlia leave the room, “Show me"

"Show you what mistress I don't understand"

"I mean get naked!" She ordered rummaging through the pages of her book.

Gaia froze in the middle of the room. She thought maybe Cassandra was just joking with her. Or she woke up feeling happy dizzy or with a hangover after having fun at the party.

"I said undress Gaia don't worry am not doing anything wrong to you, did you take a shower?"

"No mum I didn't"

"Good, if you really had s*x his semen must still be around in there" She said grabbing something that looked like a pair of tongs.

Scared Gaia removed her black cloak with ropes around the neck, then her dress. She had her under pants on just in case Cassandra was still toying with her. Cassandra shoved out a long sharp pointed wooden tool they usually used to mix spell ingredients, dropped her underpants and shoved it right inside her womanhood. Gaia did not like the awkwardness of the situation yet she couldn't help it but release a soft moan as the wooden stick penetrated her further.

"Done! See not harmful" she said showing her the stick.

"What are you going to do with that?"

"Watch, the liquid turns yellow there is his semen, remains colorless there is none"

She put the stick in the liquid then they waited. The liquid never turned yellow. And there were no condoms in 1823. Not even the name. It was not in the dictionary by then.