Duke Lewis Canton's POV
In the middle of the night
My chambers are further up in the South Tower of Versailles' place. Four guards are stationed outside. None of them greet me or make an eye contact. José stands with them. But I sense no hospitality.
"José," I call out, and he shows up grudgingly.
"How long are you going to bear the weight of a dispute?" I asked him, and he remains press lipped.
"Just because I am a bastard son, they won't even feign respect for me. It's common etiquette to invite the King to a feast as soon as he arrives," I tell José.
"Well, you are not a King, Duke Canton," he adds.
"I think you should be more worried about Joel, and the little plan that I warned you about," José seethes.
Will he ever learn to trust my judgement?
"It's not as it seems. Joel agreed to go to whatever lengths it takes. She went on and beyond, holding on to her guise. If we get her just close enough to Versailles, she might just end up leading us to Theodore," I said, the very thought lifting my spirits.
"Versailles fucks everything with legs on it," José seethes and I fought the disturbing visuals.
It was true. There were more dangers than we had known. Especially with Versailles.
She was said to have mated with a Dragon, and got cursed.
"We only need to find out where Theodore is-"
And then I can go back to my mother, and save ourselves a war.
"Why do you even have to do with him? And what if-"
"What if, what?" José sometimes had a thing for edging people unto their insanity.
"What if Theodore refuses... What if no one knows? What if Versailles has nothing to do with his disapperance?" José speaks, gravely.
"As fine as it comes! I just want to not give up before I consider the last option," my teeth gritted.
"You don't even know where Lady Vanya is! If that's your last option. Needless to say, I hope you do realise that you are a prisoner here. Not a visitor!" José warns me.
"Could we please sleep here for the night? A Raven's on the way to the palace. Reinforcements will be here in no time," I tell José.
"You do realise we are in position to go to war against Versailles!"
"For God's sake, lower your voice, José! Here, the walls hear more than thine ears," I warn him.
"You are a fool!" He cried. "You are nothing but a pompous prince, who expects the world to go fair and square on him! This life is wasted on you-"
"José!" I coil my fingers around him, my eyes gleaming with anger as he struggled against my grip.
"Go ahead! And kill me! I no longer wish to serve you in this madness! Free me!" He spitted.
Rage pounded against my ear, as I let go, and he falls unto his knees.
"I am going back to the Kingdom. If leaving you here, alone with the enemies is what it'll take for you to understand. Vanya is not going to solve your problems. Nor will Theodore," José stomped out.
When my chambers' doors open once again, I expect a word from José. Or Joel.
Instead, Versailles walks in.
"Hello, brother," she smiles, walking in.
Even for someone like Versailles, this was highly inappropriate. But then she was known for her peculiar antiques.
"My Ladyship! What brings you here?" I asked.
She circled me, as I stood a few inches from where the huge bed laid in the corner.
"Well, I did request a private audience with Your Grace, but it seems like...Your Knight was dead before he could get to you," she sneers.
Before I knew what was happening, something sharp pierced through my rib. It twisted deeper and deeper. It's coldness steep. Blood marred it. My eyes gouged.
"Turns out, I had to do it all myself," she smiles.
"How'd you get a hold of it?"
"Turns out the dragon's curse can help you sustain the Dragon's magic," she smirked, as I watched the Spear jabbed into my flesh. She has been to father's burial place.
"What have you done?"
***
Death is a cold friend. Life is the worst enemy. And between life and death, I alone am the one destined to perish.
I laid there, as my blood pooled out. The stinging Spear pierced in sharply as I struggled to get it out. The scent of betrayal filled the air. My entrails twisted, and more blood came out of my mouth.
"My my, don't you just love the sound of it? A dying dragon with no one to cry in his name," I recognised the sneer.
"How. Could. You."
The soft lul of the windchime played the death's note. I could feel the cold approaching. The twisted silhouettes of the traitors surrounded me as I held on the brink of life.
Come to me, my love.
Her spirit mortalizied in front of my eyes.
Here, you won't reject me.
Was she really here? In my life, I had rejected her advances. My mistress. Vanya.
I want you to come to me. Before I send you somewhere...
Her voice was soft. And then. The laughing cackles of traitors.
"Die, Lewis. I have waited for your death for a long time now," her laughter filled the air. I tried to catch a glimpse of Vanya.
Alas... She slipped away like a distant dream. My eyes closed shut. The air around me was cold. All sensations were lost on me. Where the Spear had cut through, there was nothing. Only a void.
I see, you have arrived. Duke Canton...
"Vanya?"
Iam afraid she will not speak to you. Your meeting time has come to a half.
"What is this place?"
Be at ease. You have crossed onto the Realm Of Spirits, O Young Prince.
Your life was spent in a course of betrayal.
But the Greater One has been watching it all.
"This couldn't be true."
O Young Prince. Is it not true that you were born of dragon blood only to die so pathetically.
"Tsk." Not this again. The voices.
If you wish so. My Prince, you are granted a second chance at life. We hope you'll make good use of it.
"A second chance? What good is a life that's destined for doom?"
Quite true, O Wise Prince. Which is why, this new life of yours would be different Frome the previous one.
You are blessed by The Greater One.
A blinding lights flooded in. The absolute darkness ceased to exist.
And that is how, my next life began.