Lilac
The king has vanished. No one know how it happened, or who was responsible for it. We didn't even know if he was still alive or not.
After Malachi and I rushed to the hall where the party had once been bubbling at a full force at, guards and officials instantly rushed towards Malachi for orders, since technically in the king's absence, Malachi is next in line. My stomach was in knots, mind still reeling over what had just transpired between Malachi and I minutes ago in my bedroom.
I still couldn't believe he knows my secret.
For how long has he known?
My mind was still reeling as Malachi ordered for everyone to remain calm while the guards searched everywhere for the king. After about half an hour, one of the guards returned with the coat the king had worn this evening. It was tattered and dripping with blood. At once, Tracy fainted and the crowd went up in a cry of noise.
Was the king really dead?
I couldn't even feel sad at that thought. Instead, I wish I could have killed him myself.
The crowd refused to calm down till Malachi mounted the stage and spoke, oozing off so much confidence.
"Someone is responsible for this and as his only son and heir to the throne, I'll make sure justice is brought to our king!" After those words, most of the people's worries were instantly soothed and they all desperately clung to those words.
Then the palace gates were opened shortly and the people were allowed to leave. I didn't end up seeing Sir Caleb again and I beyond relieved. As the hall emptied out, my sisters were able to locate me and were at my side instantly.
"I couldn't see you anywhere and was very worried about you." Kira said as soon as she was at my side, sharing the same worried expression that was across Hailey's face.
I tried to smile but it felt strained.
"I'm fine, I promise. I just left the party early to sleep." I breathed out as my sisters and I began to exist the hall together.
"Nothing else happened? No one messed with you?" Kira continued, staring straight into my eyes and undoubtedly trying to read my mind.
Kira has the gift of mind reading, but it only works on people who're caught off guard. I instantly averted my gaze and cleared my throat.
"Nothing happened. I just slept till the loud horn work me up." I responded on an exhale, and she reluctantly nodded.
Hailey took my hand and snuggled into my side as we made our way to the south wing where we stay at. Tracy and her family stays in the west wing of the palace, the wing closest to the East wing- where the king resides. The north wing is where the throne room, ballrooms, music room, guest rooms and so on are located at.
I could feel dread curl tightly within me, because I didn't know what to expect next. Malachi knows my secret and I just know that can't mean anything good.
He kissed me.
He wants to sleep with me… despite knowing my secret.
I still didn't know what to make of that. In this kingdom, only men and women gets together. Same sex coupling are seriously frowned on and are labeled a taboo.
I've never been attracted to anyone before so I wouldn't even know how it feels to feel desire for a woman or a man.
"If Father's really dead, I can't lie, I'm actually happy about that." Hailey snickered beside me and I stiffened, eyes widening as it darted around to ensure none was present.
"Hailey! You aren't supposed to say that outside!" I whispered but she scoffed.
"Why? It's the truth." She shrugged and Kira face-palmed herself.
"The walls have ears, Hails." Kira admonished and before we could say anything else, two guards were suddenly stepping before us.
I almost collapsed on the ground from how fast my heart jumped into my throat as I gaped at the guards. My first thought was that they had heard Hailey and are here to drag her off, making my grip tightened on Hailey just as they spoke.
"Prince Malachi has sent for Princess Lilac to be brought to him."
~~~
The throne room was empty save for Malachi and myself, and I was beyond nervous as I stared at his back, wondering why he had sent for me.
Kira had wanted to come with me but I refused to let her do that, assuring her there was no reason to be worried about.
When I blinked next, Malachi was standing before me, gripping my cheeks hard and making pain shoot through my face.
"Now that the king is gone, lll be crowned king in a few days. And your cursed presence is a threat to my throne. The only logical option is to have you killed to avoid stupid obstacles rising before me in the future." He suddenly said and my eyes instantly widened in shock at his words. I struggled in his grip, which only tightened around my face.
He wants to kill me??!
Oh heavens!
I shoved at his chest and kicked at his feet, desperate to save myself, but he was unmoving as a rock, appearing bored.
"However, before I do that, I'll get a taste of you first." He continued in that dark voice of his and my eyes widened even more but before I could even do anything else, he was dragging me to the side and pinning me against a wall, his hold shifting from my cheeks to my throat while I struggled to breathe, grabbing unto his write but unable to pull his hand off.
"Pleas-" I choked out but his tongue shoved into my mouth, cutting off my words. When he pulled away, I was breathing out and feeling lightheaded. There was so much fire in his eyes when our eyes locked again.
"You've instilled a disgusting want in me." He growled out, his hold tightening even more around my throat and tears sprang to my eyes at once. All my struggles to tug his hand off my throat were fruitless.
"I don't desire men. I've only been attracted to women. It's this curse in you, it's affecting me, fucking me up with this disgusting urges." He continued in that same biting voice and I sobbed, unsure of what he was saying but still apologizing regardless.
"But once I'm done fucking you, I'll kill you, then that would be the end of this madness." He continued, dropping his hand from my throat to trail down my sides, filling my throat with bile.
"Did you kill the king?" I blurted out before I could stop myself, hoping that would distract him a little at least. He didn't miss a beat, but he cocked his head.
"That's what you think?" He asked and I struggled to take in deep breaths while nodding. My eyes darted around for a means of escape.
There was none.
Shouting was pointless.
"I didn't kill the king." He responded but I didn't believe him.
Before I could say anything else, he smoothly unzipped my dress, making me suck in a deep breath and stiffening in horror.
"M- Malachi, please… this is wrong." I cried out as my shoulder got barred. I flinched when he kissed my shoulder.
"We're the same blood." I continued, choking on a sob when he slid his hand underneath my dress and caressed my thighs.
"Silly Lilac." He chuckled in my face, eyes dark as his eyes roved over me.
I squeezed my eyes tight, my skin crawling with disgust.
However, before anything could happen next, the sound of people approaching had my eyes flying open just as Malachi sharply backed away from me. I only had time to zip up my dress and wipe my cheeks before the doors got thrown open, revealing a man we haven't seen in over ten years.
"Uncle." I whispered as he waltzed into the throne room, guards in an attire I couldn't recognize pouring in after him.
My father's immediate younger brother got to the throne and sat on it, then his eyes focused on an angry looking Malachi before panning to me.
"Such a fine coincidence that you two are here now. You should both bow to me now, and pay me the respect I deserve as your new king."
"What? Get off my throne, you old guzzler." Malachi bit out, jaw clenched.
I pressed against the wall I was still standing against. Malachi had been about to have his way with me just moments ago, and as I regarded him right now, it's dawning on me that he was a psychopath.
"My brother is dead. I'm taking the throne and would be ruling the country henceforth." Our uncle announced and I blinked in surprise while Malachi snarled.
"The hell you would. The throne belongs to me!" He yelled, losing his cool for the first time.
Our uncle only laughed before waving Malachi off and calling him a child. When Malachi attempted to close the distance between them, our uncle's guards were immobilizing him at once, making my eyes widen in fear.
Malachi shouted for the palace guards and our uncle laughed maniacally before announcing that the palace guards have all been taken care of and have been replaced by his own guards.
As I stood frozen, I realized Malachi hadn't been lying about not killing the king. Our uncle here is the one actually responsible!
He ordered for Malachi to be dragged off and locked away for disrespecting him, then he focused on me, asking if I also had any objections, right before he laughed and said that I wouldn't have anyway because what could a girl like me do.
I was still frozen in shock when our uncle ordered for his guards to go drag out all the royal family members, and in no time, the throne room was filled with my sisters, step siblings, some cousins and my crying step mother who was calling our uncle every vile name in the book.
Our uncle then announced that he was taking the throne and any body who objects would instantly be locked up. When Tracy kept screaming at him to provide her son, he gripped her hair hard and said he'd bed her first after becoming king, the king's wife became his.
Despite hating Tracy, I felt pity for her.
After that, he went ahead to announce that he'd be giving all the hands of the princesses off to his influential friends in marriage tomorrow, and that anybody daring to object should expect death as punishment. Wails soon filled the throne room and fear so thick gripped my soul as I stared at my crying sisters.
No one could dare utter a word. We were all powerless right now.
"I doubt if any of my friends would pick you, freak." He pointed at me this time and I almost lost my footing from fear.
"Which is why you'll be staying behind to probably warm my bed after everyone else gets picked."
He and his guards laughed crudely after that before they all left the throne room.
I remained frozen after they left, unable to breathe and still reeling shock. The sounds of wailing echoing around me before I finally exhaled sharply.
There was no question of what I'm supposed to do next.
My sisters and I are gonna run away.