"I want to stare at your beautiful eyes while we do it," she blushed. The emperor was quiet for a while. He just stared at the girl in front of him with different thoughts going through his mind.
"You will receive a huge punishment if you disobey me again. Now go on all fours," he said strictly. Arizona swallowed a big gulp of saliva before doing as she was told. He went behind her and plunged into her without warning.
Her eyes widened in shock. Jade said it hurt only during the first time but she was feeling a lot of pain right now. The emperor didn't even care. He was just banging. He was frustrated and confused and it was all her fault so she had to pay for it. She cried as he continued to bang her.
He finally came into her and she fell tiredly on the bed. Surprisingly she didn't faint like the last time. She relaxed on the soft bed and wanted to sleep but the emperor's voice snapped her out.
"Out of my room now," he said coldly. She stood up weakly and dressed before leaving the room.
She would keep saying it every time: the emperor was a very heartless man. Too bad he was very handsome.
The emperor wanted to go to the bathroom but stopped when he felt a presence behind him.
"Flower," he called. Hearing a giggle, he turned to see a girl around seven years old. She was very cute.
"You look confused," the girl said.
"I don't," the emperor denied.
"You can hide your emotions with others but not with me. I know it is because of that kid," the girl chuckled.
"Who the hell is she?" the emperor asked.
"Why don't you calm down? You have to figure it out yourself," the girl smiled.
"I hope it's not what I am thinking. Tell the Goddess she shouldn't play with me," Emperor Raven said angrily.
"You are so stubborn. I don't think I can deliver your message now because I am on a mission. I just want to greet you. Bye," she said.
"Don't you dare leave me hanging, Flower," he warned but she had already disappeared.
"That girl, who is she exactly?" he thought.
Logan entered the room he would be staying in. Four beds stood in each corner of the room. He could see some men sitting on three so he believed the last one was for him. He dropped his bag beside the bed and sat down on it. He didn't greet any of them. They had stopped talking and just whispered among themselves while looking at him. He was surprised by the size and how soft the bed was but he didn't show it. Without being told he knew this place was better than their kingdom.
"Asher," someone called and stood up from one of the beds. It was Gael. He was happy to see him.
"You made it," Logan muttered.
"Yes. You are really good. I saw how you shot the target without stress. I am so happy we are in the same room," Gael smiled.
"The room is nice," Logan said.
"You have to sleep early. We will be very busy tomorrow. We will be shown our post. I hope I will be guarding the emperor," Gael said.
"Why the emperor?" Logan asked.
"He is a nice man. I want to be closer to him," Gael said and Logan scoffed. All the men looked at him because of that.
"He is really a great emperor," he muttered and lay down on his bed. Gael went to his own bed.
**MOONLIGHT KINGDOM**
Some people rushed into the palace. They were all looking terrible and sad. Just by looking at them people would know they were not eating well. To fetch ordinary water had become very difficult for them. Rain hadn't fallen for more than a year and their plants were not doing well. They were barely eating.
They were crying as two men pushed a carrier. Nobody saw what was inside because it was covered. The guards at the big gate didn't want to allow them to enter but they hit them and forced themselves in.
There were more than a hundred people, and they went near the courtroom and started shouting "Your highness!" They were even crying too.
Their noise brought some people out. Amira and Amara came out together, along with some ministers who were also present at the palace. Finally the king came out and the cries doubled.
"What is going on?" the prime minister asked as everywhere became silent.
"My king, we have been suffering. Our plants are dying because of lack of water. We don't have a little to eat but we are still surviving," an old man cried.
"But now everything is worse because some of our people are missing every day. I can't find my daughter since last night and then I found her this morning dead with twenty-five more people," a woman said and their cry tripled as they opened the clothes that they used to cover the carrier. It was full of dead bodies, both men and women, young and small. They were looking pale white.
The ministers gasped in shock after seeing the bodies.
"How did this happen?" the king asked.
"We don't know, my king. We found the bodies beside our lake," a man cried.
"I think they were murdered by someone," the prime minister said while observing the small cut on their necks.
"Their pale skin also shows that their blood was drained," he added.
"Who could have done such a hideous thing?" a minister yelled.
"You should all return home. Take your relatives and bury them. I am assuring you nothing like this will happen again. I will send my soldiers to watch over you people," the king said. Some grumbled while others cried as they walked sadly out of the palace. The king returned to his room. The prime minister was still trying to figure out what might be happening.
"Wow, who could have killed those people?" Amira asked her sister but didn't get any response. She saw that she was zoning out.
Amara was confused. Last night she could remember seeing the guards leading some people into the palace. She was watching from her window because she was unable to sleep. Though she didn't know them, she could still remember a little girl among them and now the girl was part of the dead bodies.
"Who can be killing people in the palace?" she asked herself.
"What are you thinking about?" Amira's voice snapped her out.
"It's nothing," she muttered.
"Are you still sad because of Master Logan? I told you he will be back before you know it. He just went to some cities, just for adventure," Amira said.
"Thank you," Amara muttered before entering her room. She sat down and went into another deep thought.
"Who could be killing people in the palace?" she wondered.
Arizona went under a big apple tree. She admired the juicy fruits. Everything about this place was great, even their fruits and vegetables germinated well, not like in their kingdom.
"Hi Miss, can you help me with an apple?" she heard a voice and looked down to see a cute little girl.
"Wow, I didn't know there is a kid in this palace," she said and plucked an apple for her.
"There are little ones here. The palace has an orphanage. There are a lot of children there. You can visit. It is around the East," the girl said and munched on her apple.
"Are you an orphan?" Arizona asked.
"No, I am a visitor here," the girl said.
"You are so cute. What is your name?" Arizona asked.
"It's Flower," the girl said.
"That's a cute name. Do you want more?" she asked.
"No thanks. The emperor might be cold but he is really fragile. Don't hate him because you people have big fate together," Flower said.
"What do you mean?" Arizona asked while looking at the girl in confusion. She didn't understand anything.
"You will soon understand," Flower smiled.
"I have been looking everywhere for you," Jade said finally coming to the place.
"Sorry, I just had to visit this place. Meet my friend. Her name is Flower," Arizona said and pointed in the direction but she wasn't there anymore.
"So where is your friend?" Jade asked while looking around.
"I think she has left," Arizona smiled.
"Madam Sara wants to see you. Let's go," Jade said and held her hand. They both left together. Jade suddenly looked toward a direction and saw Logan staring at them.
"What is the mask weirdo looking at?" she thought but looked away.
"Mummy, I have missed you," Alicia said dramatically and hugged Madam Sara but the woman pushed her slightly and stared at her clothes.
"What is this that you are wearing?" she asked which made Alicia groan.
"Mum, I am having a competition with Jimmy. That's why I dress like this," she said hoping the woman would leave her.
"Is that what a princess is supposed to be doing? How are you going to see your future husband while dressing this way? They will all run from you," Madam Sara said.
"Don't worry mum. No matter how I dress, I will find my husband," Alicia said and smiled when she remembered Logan.
"Have you found one already?" Madam Sara asked.
"No," she quickly said.
"You have to dress well. You know our three-day festival is coming soon and there will be kings and princes from other kingdoms. You might find your husband," Madam Sara said excitedly. Just the thought of Alicia having a husband would make her happy.
"Okay mummy," Alicia said as Jade and Arizona came in.
"How are you feeling now?" she asked.
"I am good," Arizona smiled.
"I called you here because of your lesson," she said.
"What lesson?" Arizona asked curiously.
"You might become the queen of this land soon. I have to start teaching you how to behave," Madam Sara said.
**AN HOUR LATER**
"Hold the cup well. Let there be a smile on your face. You shouldn't look down. You are the queen not a maid," Madam Sara said and watched as Arizona did as she was told. The door opened and Samara stormed in. She frowned because of what she saw.
"I was told and I met it just like that," she said.
"Samara, show some respect. This is my private place. You can't just bang in like that," Madam Sara said.
"So you are teaching her the way of the queens. What about me? I have been here for years but you didn't think of doing that?" she yelled angrily.
"I can choose to teach whoever I want. To me you are not worthy to become the first queen of this kingdom," Madam Sara said.
"What are you even saying? I am closer to the emperor. He likes me. I am his mistress but he has no affection for her. So how is she going to become the queen instead of me?" she asked.
"Just because you are closer to the emperor doesn't mean you will become a queen. In my own opinion, I think she is more capable than you are," Madam Sara said.
"Remember you are not the emperor's real mother so your opinion means nothing," Samara muttered before leaving.
"She is so rude," Arizona muttered. Madam Sara just smiled at her.
"What will you do for me if I win?" Alicia asked with a smirk. They were ready to battle and a lot of guards were cheering them on.
"What about you? What will you do for me if I win?" Jimmy also asked.
"How about the loser granting the winner three wishes?" Alicia suggested.
"That is great," Jimmy smiled.
"Good then," Alicia said and smiled when she also saw Logan among the guards. She was ready to make him notice her.
They both stood beside each other and focused on their target. They shot at once and both hit bullseye.
"Wow she is good," some of the new guards murmured. They continued to shoot and it kept hitting bullseye. It seemed like none of them would miss. Alicia saw that Logan was leaving and that got her attention so she missed and Jimmy hit the bullseye.
"Yay!" he celebrated with a smirk.
Alicia groaned frustratedly and looked around for him but he had disappeared.
Logan actually saw Arizona going toward the garden. That's why he followed her but when he saw Jade also approaching her, he turned back and started going.
"This man is acting suspicious," Jade muttered and also followed him. When he realized he was being followed he started moving very quickly and hid behind a tree. Jade got there and didn't see anyone. She shrugged and went toward the garden.
Arizona didn't know what was pushing her but she found herself going toward the emperor's garden. She walked in gently and saw him feeding his fish. She started tiptoeing to him but he suddenly turned before she could get closer. She stopped and smiled.
"How did you know I am behind you?" she asked.
"What are you doing here?" he asked and went to sit on a stone.
"I don't know. Maybe to keep your company. Only you in this huge garden—aren't you feeling bored?" she asked.
"Go now," the emperor said.
"Please I want to keep you company. I won't make any noise," she said and covered her mouth. The emperor didn't say anything so she sat beside him.
A wine table with wine and a cup suddenly appeared in front of the emperor.
"How did you do that?" she asked in shock.
"You want to keep my company right?" the emperor asked and filled the cup with wine.
"Yes, your majesty," she said.
"Then dance for me. I want to watch you dance," the emperor said and sipped from his wine.