RETURN OF THE HYBRID (Book III)

Chapter7

***Zeli's Realm***

"I can't believe she couldn't do it!" He said pacing up and down angrily.

Ariella was lying on a coach enjoying berries as her big brother kept complaining of his misfortunes. Ones he had gotten them into in the first place.

"I don't understand how you enjoying eating when everything is not going good for me" He said.

"Let’s not forget you did this to us because of your greed sometimes I even doubt if you are my brother" she said.

"Ooh now it's my fault?"

"Can you hear yourself talk right now? Of course it's your fault. You are the reason am stuck in this boring fantasy world of yours with no magic"

"You are stuck here because you were the weak one, he was stronger than you. He has always been"

"Please" Ariella said with disdain.

"It's hard to accept the truth"

"Then what is he doing in 1823? Why is he not in 2021 or 2030?"

That was the question on his mind too. He couldn't figure out why Leon went back in time. As usual he was scared it had something to do with killing him. Everyone wanted him dead including his very own sister Ariella, she had not done it because just like Leon she was stuck in his realm where she didn't possess any magic. Like she called it, Zeli's realm was a fantasy world that survived on his imagination. It could be a living room if he wanted it to be, a volcano, everything he would think of.

"You tell me" Zeli said taking a seat.

Their surroundings changed to outside, under a shed of a big tree. The sun was in the middle of the sky, it was hot and butterflies, birds were flying all over. It was also beautiful. Wind brushing past their faces whispering inaudible words.

"You changed into this to sweet talk me? Well brother you are just wasting your time I know nothing about that. He will always be a nature's loophole the boy has ruled adversity ever since he was born, nothing goes his way everything goes nature's way and nothing you throw at him will stop him"

"So you are taking his side now? Ooh I forgot, you created him!" He shouted taking them on top of a volcano.

Too bad he couldn't just throw his irritating little sister in the vertical shaft and watch her burn into ashes that he would never see. She was annoying but his insurance policy. At the end of the day he was sure she was going o have to kill Leon.

"The correct word is improved him"

"It doesn't matter, he is what he is because of you and I think you have a soft spot for him, only a creator can destroy their creation" Zeli said.

"If that's true why don't you destroy this little world of yours and set us free, I mean me and the girls-Lydia, shamla and Debbie can restore the balance. Only witches can"

"Am not that stupid"

"You will be if you continue keeping us here"

"If I release them they will plot against me again and again and prevent my return" he said.

Ariella could now see the anger and sadness in his eyes.

"What about me? I can go find a way to get you out if this jail"

"For years I tried to get to you but I couldn't the moment I set you free you are gone forever"

"Ooh so am here to give you some sort of company because no one else you have here can talk to you willingly?"

"You can say that" Zeli said smiling at her.

"Don't forget it's not only us you need to worry about, Grace is still a threat, Don too and Leon"

"I will kill him in 1823"

"Good luck, speaking of which why haven't you kidn*pped your link yet?"

"She is not a witch, at least not a normal one"

"So you are screwed?"

"I have it under control" he said walking away.

Ariella just smiled. She couldn't believe her brother was holding her for company in his world made of only five people.

"You can't just leave me here!" She shouted.

Zeli snapped his fingers. She was in her room.

"You read my mind" she said collapsing on the bed.

***Clivestone kingdom 1823***

The king was woken up as usual, the bell rang the curtains were drawn he got out of the bed naked a robe was dressed to him and he was taken for his shower together with the queen. They came back dried and dressed. It was a routine.

"So when will we talk about the prince?" The queen asked.

"Aliyah I don't see anything to talk about” Rhode said not looking at her.

"Does that mean you believe he is your son?"

"Of course he is my son, where do you think he gets the bravery from?" Rhode asked surprised.

She burst into laughter. He was so far away from being brave. According to her real kings went to war, kings like Alfred of bravestone kingdom while Rhode was like a cat, purring in his palace while other big cats did the heavy lifting then he'd reap the benefits. The evil queen Aliyah really wanted him to go and fight not to show his bravery and solidarity with his people but so he could die and have the kingdom for herself. If you asked him that was Rhodes explanation. It might have been true but who would want a falling kingdom?

"Not funny Aliyah please treat him as you would treat your own sons"

"I will try my best but you must tell him to show me some respect!"

"He is new at this royalty thing, it will take time for him to properly catch up with his new lifestyle"

"Too bad he will be already dead, I still don't believe he killed Pollux the brute" She said leading the way out of the king’s chambers.

The servants were waiting for them outside. They bowed in respect and sandwiched the royal family on their way to the breakfast table.

"Not this one, he is a lion"

"They were all lions, am sure that's what you said how many times?"

"Your majesty breakfast is served" Hector said.

Queen Aliya slapped him so hard that even Rhode felt it, Herman who was standing by gasped and looked the other side not to risk a slap for looking at the queen with evil eyes. She was good at making people uncomfortable, perhaps Hector had forgotten.

"Don't ever interrupt me when am talking again" She shouted in his face.

"Am sorry your majesty" Hector said looking at Rhode for some consolation.

He was just afraid of her like the rest of them. They wondered if his royal balls were not working or they were not there at all. Rhode never stood up to his wife despite being the king of Clivestone. She was untouchable just like him, second to non-just like him. They were being ruled by two queens.

"Go get Prince Adonis" Is all the king said.

Back in his room Leon was lying on the bed, already dressed staring at the beautiful artwork of the wooden ceiling. Hector knocked at the door once and he opened it.

"Morning Hector you don't look great” He said.

"Good morning your majesty, time for your bath" Hector said ignoring his show of concern.

"I already washed myself tell me what happened?"

He couldn't say it. If Leon, out of sympathy confronted the queen it would have made it worse for him. It would have put his job in serious jeopardy yet he loved it. The few silver coins kept his family above the water. The gifts he got once in a while from the king kept his wife happy and willing to take care of the children in his absence. A slap was nothing to Hector he had been through worse and all of it he found a way to get up and move on as though nothing happened.

"Nothing you should worry about prince Adonis, please join the family at the breakfast table" He said showing the way.

Unlucky for him Leon was good at getting people to talk without them actually willing to. He dragged him inside and locked the door. His iris glowed reddish brown. It was compulsion time, he enjoyed it.

"You are going to tell me what happened to you in the last three minutes then forget you did"

Hector was staring blankly in his eyes he blinked and when he opened his eyes again he started talking uncontrollably.

"I interrupted queen Aliyah while she was speaking, she slapped me and the king sent me to fetch prince Adonis" He said and blinked again.

He was back to his senses.

"Please my prince, let's go before your father starts panicking" Hector begged.

"Right away Hector" Leon said leading the way.

Hector had no idea that Leon had the information he wanted. Sometimes they say be careful what you wish for because you might just get it. He was hoping the butlers foul mood had something to do with the queen now the problem was, what was he going to do about it?

"Good morning my queen, good morning father" Prince Adonis said bowing for the queen.

She cracked a smile. The son of a peasant sacrificing himself to give people hope as their savior was starting to learn his place. She did not care much about him in fact she had sent word to the general of the kings armies to lead him to the strongest of all the enemy camps so that he died there. The general agreed. They hated him. Killing Pollux all on his own when they couldn't in large numbers was trying to prove they were weak hence disposable.

"Good morning prince Adonis" She said with sarcasm.

"Good morning my son, please join us" The king showed him a seat on his right.

The maids served him, took away his robe and one stood behind him holding it in case he needed anything. Leon grabbed a pancake smeared with honey and a cup of tea. He took the first bite and marveled.

"Some good pancakes" He said.

"Am glad you are enjoying them son" Rhode said.

"We understand you were not used to them anything must feel good for you, they are pathetic get me bread or something worth eating!" Queen Aliyah screamed pushing away a golden plateful of pancakes.

"My queen be nice to him and everyone, it is morning" Rhode said.

It was his way of looking out for Hector without sounding like he was actually doing it.

"She is right father, I was not used to good things but am catching up"

"No, don't say that it makes me feel guilty for abandoning you"

"I have lost my appetite now can't you get somewhere else to do this father-son bonding time?" She said getting up.

The maid behind her pulled the chair and she walked away. Father and son just looked at her. That was what Leon wanted. Alone time with her. He hated bullies. It reminded him of the times when he was week.

"Aliyah!" Rhode called out.

"I will be in our chambers!" She shouted back angrily.

"Am sorry son, she is just having trouble with accepting some changes, we lost all our children seeing you reminds her of them and it's..."

"Sad I understand, I also lost my parents. Both of them at ago I know how it feels let me talk to her" He suggested.

It was the first time he thought about his parents since landing in 1823. And when he talked about them his mother's face always lighted up his mind.

"You think it's a good idea?"

"I did this let me fix it"

The king looked at Hector and Herman. Being the chief advisor Herman stepped forward and bowed.

"Her problem is with him, maybe if he apologizes to her she might..."

"Forgive him for doing absolutely nothing to her, you are a genius Herman!"

"That one I am your majesty" Herman said proudly bowing repeatedly.

"Women are complicated, she hates you for nothing so go apologize for doing nothing...just say am sorry for ruining your day. Feed her female ego"

"Okay father" Leon said.

He got up, the maid pulled back his chair and he walked towards the kings chambers. They thought he was going to do exactly what they had told him to do but they were mistaken. Leon did what Leon wanted to do nothing less nothing more. The guards at the huge and heavy metallic gold coated door stopped him with their spears.

"You have no idea who I am don't you?" He asked.

They shook their heads.

"The queen doesn't want to be disturbed by anybody" One of them said through his iron helmet.

"Tell her it's me, prince Adonis"

"It doesn't matter" the other one said.

"Okay when she feels like talking you guys find me" he said walking away.

Except he was not. He turned around and snapped their helmet protected necks even before they could lift their spears.