CHAPTER 194: SERENA

Ashen stepped into his inner chambers, his expression cold as the frost that lined the palace walls. Ero stood near the table, straightening as soon as he saw his lord enter.

He knows he is in so much trouble before his master even speaks, after all he had not only gone against his lord but also brought out another set of trouble that might lead to the punishment of a lot of people.

"What have you done in the palace, Ero?" Ashen asked, forcing himself not to lose it on him.

Ero bowed slightly, lips twitching into a nervous smile. "My lord, you have heard about it already. I didn’t expect words to travel so quickly before I could tell you myself," he answered frustrated.

He really can’t explain what had happened to him when he went to the palace, he only recalled leaving his lord’s chambers to deliver the news of Ashen not being able to come, and all of a sudden he couldn’t control himself anymore until he came back to the chamber.

Ashen’s glare deepened. "You spoke out of turn. I warned you to stay quiet."

Ero chuckled nervously, "Forgive me, my lord. I might have gone against your order, but I couldn’t stand there while they insulted you. Besides..." he lifted his head, eyes gleaming faintly, "it became an opportunity to help my lady."Ero let out.

"Ero." Ashen’s tone thundered now, his name rolling out like a warning.

Ero bowed deeper still wondering what in the world was controlling him to speak to his Lord that way.

"You will see it soon enough. The King will not let the Queen die. He will break his own rules if it means saving her. That is where your advantage lies." Ero slapped his mouth again as he looked around frustrated.1

Ashen froze at his aide’s words and before he could respond, Lumina’s soft voice broke the tension. "His advantage?"

Ero turned toward her. "Yes, my lady.." Ashen then turned to his wife, frowning.

"Lumina, you can also save the queen, why not use this to your advantage.."

"I can’t," she interrupted quietly, walking closer. "If it were easy to help her then I would have done so. But... who will protect me if something goes wrong?"

Her voice trembled slightly, something Ashen had never heard from her before. She was always calm, composed, never pleading. The sight of her uncertainty struck deeper than he expected.

He took her hand worriedly "Lumina... I didn’t mean it that way you.."

She looked up at him, "When I do it there would be a lot of complications, I would be tagged as a curse and the whole realm might hate me forever... What... what would you do then?"

Ashen said nothing. His chest burned with the weight of her words.

"Fine," he muttered at last. "We will use the Ero method...but carefully. If the King breaks his own laws for the queen then fine... we will go with that.."

Lumina nodded. "Then let’s go to the King."

"There is also one more good news my lord..." Aris appeared all of a sudden, making me shift back in shock.

"You are the one who will be in search of the sorcerer... So you can get the silly eyes that were on you the other out of the way." To couldn’t help but just stare at Aria completely speechless.

"Good..." Ashen let out as he helped Lumina stand from the bed.

"We should leave for the palace then." Then the moment they walked out Wro glanced at Aria pointing at her.

"Yes.. You are right I possess you to speak with the king, after all you are just going to watch the master get in trouble." Aria explained.

"What?" he lay speechless.

"Well... I never expected it to be so easy possessing your weak body." she teased and Ero got mad.

"Ari... how dare..." his word was left hanging as she disappeared into the thin air making his knees weak as he hit the ground.

"This brat!" he pointed out biting his lip, "Why me!!!"

*******

Ashen and Lumina were on their way to the place when a sharp cry echoed through the hallway.

"Get out of my chambers!" Lumina glanced at her husband.

"What was that about? I can tell we are in front of Adam Chambers." Ashen sighed he didn’t want to bother himself, he hardly bothered himself with other things in this realm until his wife came along, and now he is pretty sure she would want to know what happened.

Ashen glanced toward their chambers to see guards at the door looking worried, and several maids were outside looking around worriedly.

"What’s going on?" Ashen demanded and one of the maids fell to her knees.

"My Lord, Lady Serena found out someone tried to poison her. She accused the Crown Princess. They have been... fighting."

Lumina’s expression changed instantly. "We need to go there."

"No," Ashen said. "We cannot involve ourselves..."

"She’s your brother’s betrothed, and also my sister." Lumina cut in. "If something happens, it could destroy everything. Please." Ashen hesitated, then finally nodded.

"Stay behind me."

They stepped through the doors and the sight before them froze Ashen in place.

The chamber looked like a storm had torn through it. Drapes were ripped, and glass shattered across the floor. Rhynera was on the ground, screaming for help as an invisible force pinned her down. Her gown was torn at the shoulder, her hair tangled, face pale with terror.

In the center of the room, Adam hung several feet in the air, his body contorted in pain, a faint glow surrounding him.

And before them all stood Serena.

But she wasn’t the same Serena we knew. Her eyes glowed faintly red, her expression twisted with fury.

"Ashen.. Why do I feel a strange aura about what is going on?" Lumina asked her husband who was too stunned by the image of Serena that he had seen recently.

"Serena... has the power of a sorcerer." Ashen spilled out.