"Already did." The voice replies before a slash sound is heard as they all turn to look in horror at the beheaded body of the coachman still standing before slowly falling to the ground.
A swoosh of black air passes before Alyssa to glide among them, then dissappears.
"You do have what's mine." The voice says.
"She's not yours, never yours to begin with." Alyssa states.
Suddenly, the black gliding air appears again before them taking a form. Aidan slowly walks towards them with his huge black wings spread widely behind him. The men take a defensive stance with Alyssa not twinking an eye nor moving.
"Let me have my queen, and you all could go your way." Aidan says, slowly advancing.
Alyssa scoffs, "No." She simply says.
"Usually, I abhorr the thought of killing your kind because Zelda hates it when I do so. She's one of your kind, a higher species or so which I learnt about... a goddess in human form?" He says.
Alyssa's eyes widen a bit at his knowledge of information pertaining to Griselda.
"I have an order to bring her back. If you won't allow us to do so, we better get into action." Alyssa says, taking a defensive stance.
Aidan scoffs and crooks his head to a side. With a twisted smile, he slowly walks towards Alyssa as the men behind her start choking and coughing vehemently.
Alyssa turns in panic as a wave of anger courses through her. The men with her don't have enough magical ability to fight off Aidan's powers.
She screams in anger and starts muttering spells walking towards him, but suddenly, she's thrown against a tree with so much force. It's turns out that none of them can match up with him nor fight against him.
Walking through the bodies, Aidan ruffles his wings as he walks over to the carriage with its wheels caked in mud. He moves to open the carriage doors but pauses.
He turns swiftly, suddenly seeing a bright light which emits from a now conscious Kayden staring at him, with an unconscious Griselda in his arms. In a flash, Aidan makes his way towards them but is too late as they suddenly vanish into thin air.
In shock, Aidan stands as rage cosumes him wholly. Just then, horses arrive at the scene as Edward alights and walks over the bodies littered there over to his son.
"What happened here?" He asks.
The men with him alight too and start inspecting the bodies.
"She was so close, so close but slipped through my fingers." Aidan says, still standing still.
"Son…?" Edward begins but pauses seeing Aidans eyes.
Aidan turns and walking over to the bodies, and roams his eyes over them.
"Ensure to burn the men except the lady. Chain and keep her unconscious in the dungeons… her magic must've kept her alive." He says and walks into the darkness.
Edward sighs and runs his palm over his face as he watches the men pull the bodies.
******
CAPELL'S HOME
Alethea, Mark's elder sister (Griselda's aunt), stands beside a flower pot, gently stroking its petals.
Her brother Mark and his wife sit solemnly in the room.
"Good riddance! I hope they keep her with them and never bring her back." Alethea says.
"Alan is missing! He's been gone for weeks, and now we know he'll be in search of his sister. I… we have no news regarding him." Rina, (Mrs. Capell) says as her body racks while she sobs.
"Your weak emotions brought about this situation in the first place! You brought that creature into this family. You were never a good fit for my brother to begin with." Alethea says and walks over to pull a chair to sit.
Mark stays mute as he stares into the empty space.
"I? Unfit?" She asks as she stands to face them.
"Well, I hope you know what the current situation means for this family. Griselda, being taken by the people of Gilmorsh, would arouse suspicions on her connection to them. This connection eventually will be related to us; her family. I hope you are ready to face the punishments of being linked to them."
Mark springs up immediately to face her, "What do we do then? Flee?!"
Rina looks him over and leaves the room.
Alethea walks up to him, "You're way weaker than our father. Mother and I hoped you'll turn out better, but nay… here you are." She hisses.
Rina appears again with her shawl and a basket.
"I'm going to get some meat for dinner." She says as she eyes them both and leaves.
Mark slumps into a chair, and Alethea walks up to him, settling herself beside him.
"I don't know what to do. It seemed like letting her go was the best option, but it doesn't seem so now." He says with his head held in his hands.
"Oh trust me, it is! The people of Gilmorsh were bound to come for her either way. Your plan now should be on your escape before the Royal Family comes for you." She says, kneading his shoulders.
"What should we do about this?" He asks in a weak voice.
"You'll pack your bags and leave Balcroft with me. You can stay at my place for a while till you find your footing there." She says.
"Leave? What about my wife and son? I should leave my family here to face the brute alone and abscond? I can't do that." Mark says, standing.
"Alan, your son has been missing for weeks, supposedly in search of that witch. Your wife doesn't care, so which family are you talking about?
You have to put yourself together and think ahead. You're still young to get yourself tangled up in such a scenario. You can come to Laghi with me and start afresh; a new family." She says, stands and leaves.
*****
THE ROYAL MANSION
AIDAN'S CHAMBER
Aidan is seated before a table with a large map spread on it. Three men stand before him with the youngest among them tracing specific points on the map.
"This right here is a major entrance to the Venine Temple where we believe she might be kept.
To gain entrance to the Isle of Gilmorsh, we can't openly sail towards them with our dressing, armies, and all. Some of our skilled men can infiltrate by swimming through the surrounding water body. The rest can come in through the ships of traders in disguise, but we need a concrete rescue plan."
Aidan, with knitted brows, walks over to the window, which was usually Griselda's favourite spot in his chamber.
"Gaining an entrance there is all we need, we can strike from there." He says.
"My King." The man begins again with a bowed head stepping forward.
"Pardon me for speaking again, but the Venine Temple, which resides within the land of Gilmorsh, is known to house such intense energy and power.
My sister who found love with a Gilmorsh, and resides with her husband there now, told me how the magic over there is so strong that it can make a man act against his wish as long as it favours Gilmorsh.
It is rarely heard of an infiltration being successful into that Isle. We… we can perhaps make use of Gilmorsh in the dungeons, My King." He says with a bow stepping back.
"Summon the witch and start preparing the men." Aidan says.
The man nods as he bows with rest and leaves.
"Cedric." Aidan calls.
The man waits behind while the rest leave.
"Your sister… would it be possible for her to host some of our men for some days?" Aidan asks.
"... but my King, I thought we would attack immediately we gain an entry?" Cedric asks, confused.
Aidan tuts and walks closer towards him.
"That was my first drastic thought, but I decided against that. If we take her away from the people of Gilmorsh, they'll keep coming back for her. So we need to devise a plan to bring her home and stop any future attempts of theirs to take her."
"Are you planning a massacre? My apologies, my King." Cedric says with a bow.
Aidan laughs maliciously.
"No, I won't do such thing… unless the situation prompts me to."
A knock is heard as the door opens to reveal Marilyn.
She walks in and over to Aidan without sparing Cedric a glance.
Aidan nods to Cedric. He bows and leaves the room, shutting the door.
"My King." Marilyn gesticulates.
"Marilyn James, what brings you here?" Aidan asks walking over to his desk and starts picking some papers while arranging them.
"You're so cold and distant now. You didn't even notice my absence from your coronation?
Anyway, there was much drama that day like I heard. It's quite understandable." She says walking towards him.
Aidan casts her a look, ignores her and continues arranging the papers littered on his desk.
"Aidan, we…"
"It's King Aidan for you." Aidan cuts her off harshly.
Marilyn scoffs.
"Is this what we're to turn to? Anyway, what plans do you have us? You and I, both of us. What's our relationship leading to, King Aidan." Marilyn asks.
"Relationship? What relationship, Miss James?"
"Don't act all clueless. Everyone in this kingdom knows how close we were from our young age. You fed on me, Aidan!
We were… we were so close, so close that I always envisaged our future together. We had our passionate nights and feelings, Aidan!" Marilyn says slowly breaking to sobs.
"It's King Aidan for you, Miss James. In as much as I don't want to indulge in this talk with you, I would now.
Miss James, you're being delusional with these thoughts right now. I always made it clear to you that our relationship won't cross the bridge of friendship and you agreed to it.
I was only intimate with you once in our drunken state, which we both concluded was a mistake and not to repeat again. I fed on you? Yes, I did and who proposed that idea?
I opposed several times but you insisted, till I held my ground at last.
Now, you Marilyn lied to people about our relationship, but I was never bothered with that as I didn't put much thought into it.
But you coming here to question me about this and your previous attitude to Griselda… I won't tolerate. Leave." Aidan says picking up a coat and going over to the table again gathering some papers.
"You'll regret this, Aidan. You'll surely do." Marilyn says picking up the hem of her dress and leaves, slamming the door.
Shortly, a knock is heard and a guard comes in.
"What's your name?" Aidan asks.
"Cade, my King." The guard replies with his head bowed.
"Take these papers to the courtroom. And Cade? Henceforth, I entrust you with a task. Always inform me of Miss Marilyn James whereabouts, who she meets, where she goes to… everything down to the minute detail, clear?"
"Clear, My King." Cade replies bowing as he collects the papers and leaves.