Dark Secrets of Time

Chapter 8

(BRUGHTON KINGDOM)

On a morning, a sunny morning; bright and quiet; the markets were not as crowdy as always, the people had gathered to see off the soldiers who were heading out for war. Some were in the palace, and some outside; staying on the left and right.

Soldiers in large numbers had gathered; merchants, businessmen, and even maids were also gonna accompany them to the battlefield.

The queen watched from the window of a room she was in; she watched as the king got into a carriage. He was in his battle armor; and with him were generals and few ministers, who were all on horses, as soldiers trooped alongside them.

Baron was one of the leading merchants for this, and Alcott was one of the ministers. Blake had dressed up like a regular soldier, but he stayed close to the King’s carriage.

As they left, the people bowed and waved at the soldiers; while some were in tears; they knew this war would be bloody.

Eleanor was beside Alice now, and both of them watched as they left for battle in great numbers.

Queen Alice burst into tears, while Eleanor patted her back and shoulder, “He’ll be fine… I know he will”, Eleanor said.

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“Cheer up… I’m gonna send for those who have been assigned to protect you… my friends”, Eleanor added.

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(EMILY’S HOUSE)

“I wish I could go to that war… to prove my worth…”, Harry was speaking, “But you didn’t want me to”, he pointed at Emily. Judith wasn’t here at the moment. Just the two of them; no one else.

Emily stared at him, with a smile on her face, and was feeling uneasy already, so she spoke,

“I couldn’t just let you go out there… and… die!... you belong to me, remember?”, she said with a mischievous smile on her face. “Hudderham has wizards… you should know what that means”

“Yeah, you’re right. You know… sometimes I wish we had magicians too… I wish I had powers”, he said, and Emily gasped as she smiled, “Wow… you don’t consider magicians as… evil?”

“No I don’t… when I was young, I was saved by a guy who claims he was nameless… and even when I grew older, I crossed path with this guy again; and he still looked the same… like he was…. Immortal or something”

Emily was surprised by Harry’s words, she knew who it was already, “And you saw his face?”, she asked.

He nodded, “Yes… both times… but no one else was there to witness it with me”

“… Damn… you’ve seen the face of the most powerful magician…”, she exclaimed, “that’s crazy…”

“What do you mean… most powerful magician?”, Harry asked; e was confused.

“He’s the one people talk about; he only shows up once in a blue moon… no… I’d say… once in a green moon. Cause that’s more impossible”

“Wow”, Harry exclaims. Emily was about to continue speaking, when she realized she was already talking too much; she could end up spilling her secret if she continued; she was already just too free with Harry, and he even considers magic as something that should be accepted; unlike the people of the Kingdom.

She stood up and moved towards him then sat beside him; Harry clears his throat. He was obviously nervous, and was turning his head away when she grabbed his chin, and turned his face to hers; he was shocked.

“Tell me… what am I to you?”, she asked.

Harry could see desire in her eyes, as her eyes darkened; she was expecting an answer while the stunned Harry could only stare back at her; his mouth open, but he couldn’t utter a word.

“Answer me, Harry… what am I to you?”, she asked once again, and this time moving her face closer to his. And now, he answered,

“You’re my… friend?”

“Disgusting!”, she scoffed, and stood up abruptly, heading for the door, but turning to him once before leaving the room. Harry was totally confused.

But as Emily came out of the room, she bumped into Judith who had a stern look on her face,

“Huh… What’s the problem?”, Emily asked.

“The Queen wants to see us… we need to be around her”, Judith replied, “and if you don’t mind… can I spend time with Harry now?”

Emily smiles, “sure”, she said, while Judith walked into the room, and Emily continued on to where she was heading to.

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Jack was having a secret meeting with Olivia, Tom and Cerci, and he spoke angrily at Olivia, “How could you let the opportunity slip off your hands… now do you know it’s even gonna be harder to finish the job”

“Apologies…”, Olivia bows her head, “I had no idea why I left her suddenly… I’m sorry”

“You better be…”, Jack lashed back, while Cerci sighs and said, “I think there’s a ark secret about the Queen… think of it… she’s dying for unknown and incurable disease, and suddenly Olivia couldn’t harm her”

“Are you trying to say she’s been cursed?”, Tom asked, “If she is… perhaps a curse that she would be in pain till she dies; no one can harm her, and… if that’s it, we should mess with her”

“I don’t care if she’s been cursed or not… all I care about is that the job should be done… and you, Olivia… I’m giving you a second chance… If you fail, you’ll pay with your life”, Jack gnashed his teeth and stood up walking away thereafter.

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(QUEEN’S CHAMBERS)

Queen Alice, Eleanor, Judith, and Emily were together; having a discussion.

“If the kingdom will fall in this war… then what should we be doing now”, the queen asked, while Emily answered, “Running?... well, not yet. When it’s close to that, we’ll take you to a safe place”

“Along with the guy would save the kingdom…”, Judith added.

“Judith… you told me you wanted to find Mystery Man… right?”

“Yes”, Judith answered sharply, and continues, “If he can help us become much more powerful… then we can also help the kingdom”

“Hmm… I see”, Alice sighs deeply.

The wind howls suddenly and they all turned to the same direction only to see Lois had come; out of nowhere.

“… You came”, Emily said.

Lois walked close to them and replies, “The Mystery Man has sent me a message… Something you all need to know”

(QUEEN’S CHAMBERS)

Queen Alice, Eleanor, Judith, and Emily were together; having a discussion.

“If the kingdom will fall in this war… then what should we be doing now”, the queen asked, while Emily answered, “Running?... well, not yet. When it’s close to that, we’ll take you to a safe place”

“Along with the guy would save the kingdom…”, Judith added.

“Judith… you told me you wanted to find Mystery Man… right?”

“Yes”, Judith answered sharply, and continues, “If he can help us become much more powerful… then we can also help the kingdom”

“Hmm… I see”, Alice sighs deeply.

The wind howls suddenly and they all turned to the same direction only to see Lois had come; out of nowhere.

“… You came”, Emily said.

Lois walked close to them and replies, “The Mystery Man has sent me a message… Something you all need to know”

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They were now having a conversation already, and Lois was speaking, “The mystery man conveyed a message to me… we must leave the city as soon as we get information from the battlegrounds”

The queen sighs and replies, “This… Isn’t a good news… right?”

Emily stood up and walked towards the open window, brushing her hair backwards with her fingers and then she spoke,

“we need to start preparing for that… and how we’ll get Harry to safety too”

Judith smirks and stood up, “I’ll handle that Emily… you should be more worried about the Queen’s safety. Harry is my responsibility”

“She’s right”, Lois said while staring at Emily.

Emily gasps softly and stared at Judith for few seconds; with jealousy in her eyes. She wanted to be with Harry instead,

“While Eleanor is here, I’ll be home”

“And I can start preparing how I’ll take my man out of the city… to the mysterious man”, Judith retorted back sharply.

“You don’t have to keep repeating that,” Emily yelled; looking angry already; her eyebrows raised.

The queen sighs while Eleanor said to them, “This isn’t the tie and place for your personal issues… both of you need to snap out of it”

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(EMILY’S HOUSE)

Harry was inside Emily’s house; in her room; thinking about how Emily spoke to him; thoughts ran though his mind… could she be interested in him? Harry snapped out of the thoughts and picked up a soaked piece of clothing, then began to clean the room. He picked up a book with the title; My Magical Story

Harry opened it, and noticed it was being written by Emily, but not yet completed. He sighed deeply, and dropped the book without caring much, and the door flung open, as Judith came in walking towards Harry immediately.

She grabbed his hand as the rag fell off his hand, while he wondered what was going on, she was dragging him out, but before she could leave the room, Emily rushed in yelling,

“You can’t take him away from me!”

Harry who seemed confused quickly asked, “What’s going on here?”

“I can’t let someone else take you away from me, Harry… I’ve noticed from her body language; Emily doesn’t know how to hide her feelings. It’s very easy to know how she feels”, Judith said.

Emily grits her teeth and replied, “Yeah… I can’t hide it… that’s true, but you can’t take him away just like that. He’s my friend… and worker too… we’re protecting him together”

“She’s right”, Harry said to Judith, but she only yelled back,

“No. Right now… all I want is you come with me… or stay with her… make your decision wisely”

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Olivia was alone in a dark room; at night. The only light in there was of a candle stick. She sat with her legs crossed and her eyes closed; thinking about what happened when she had a chance to kill the queen. The thoughts flashed through her mind; every detail from everything around them; she tried to comprehend.

She began to shake her head sideways; squinting her eyes more, until she finally opened it; gasping for breath. She looked at the left and right, before getting off the ground, and now on her feet.

“She… she… has powers too… and she’s a…”

She heard a sudden knock on the door, and she was startled, “Who’s there?”, she asked.

“It’s Cerci”, a female voice replied.

She heaved a sigh of relief and quickly walked up in order to open the door for Cerci who also rushed in thereafter.

Olivia slammed the door shut, and asked, “Why are you here?”

Cerci quickly sat, and started, “I came because there might be a problem ahead of us; the secret organization will break and won’t be a secret anymore; you know what would happen after that? Destruction and chaos”

Olivia exhales sharply, “What exactly do you mean?”, she asked, and Cerci answered saying,

“We’re all gonna die! Everyone will!”

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(EMILY’S HOUSE)

That night, Emily, Judith and Harry were seated; it seemed like they settled already, but Harry was speaking to both of them.

“Both of you need to think from my point of view; You’re my friends but if you have a problem, I’d rather leave both of you than choose one for the other”

Judith exhales and replies, “I’m sorry… It was all me. But I was just trying to protect… you”

“From what?”, Harry asked immediately

“It’s nothing”, Judith replies, but Emily said to her, “She was trying to protect you from my enticements and… and… I’m sorry about how I was too. You shouldn’t work here anymore. You need to leave or I might lose my mind”

“I won’t leave just like that”, Harry said, but Emily stood up and yells, “Leave my house… this is my house and I decide who stays and who leaves. I gave you this job and I don’t need you anymore. LEAVE… before I come back in”

Emily hurried outside and ran towards a tree; sitting on the ground and resting her back on the tree