The Silver Eyed Prince (Highest Royal Coven of Europe) (44 page)

“You worry too much.” He chuckled. “I'll be back before you know it.”

Catherine watched him go. Well, she certainly wouldn't be sitting here without finding out exactly what he had been plotting. She waited until his vehicle disappeared through the gates before she dashed towards her own car to tail after them.

A half hour later, John Drake and Colonel Reynolds parked not too far from the yellow cottage and sat in their vehicle, observing their su
rroundings.

“I see no army guards anywhere.” Colonel Rey
nolds swept his gaze up and down the street one more time.

“Good.” John glanced up at the only lighted wi
ndow on the second floor. “Let's pay our long lost Queen a surprise visit, shall we?”

Farther down the street, Catherine wondered who lived in the small house important enough to warrant a visit from the Duke and the Colonel. She didn't have to wait long to find out, before three figures emerged from the door. She ducked behind the dashboard, peeking ca
utiously at them.

She immediately recognized John and Colonel Reynolds, but couldn't get a good view of the restrained woman between them. As they passed beneath a street lamp, however, the light ill
uminated the woman's face.

She pressed her palm on her mouth to stifle her shock.

The woman was none other than
Queen Elizabeth Gwendolyn XV
, former Queen of the Highest Royal Coven of Europe—, believed to have been long dead.  

All this time, everyone assumed that John had killed her. Apparently, she'd been in hiding over the years.
How did John find her? And why was he still pursuing her after all this time? Why would he risk their safety from the European Royal Army?

Catherine crouched lower in her seat, as the men's vehicle drove by her car. Then, she put the car in gear and made a U-turn, following them at a safe distance.

Outside the gym at Mansfield High, several st
udents in colorful costumes from the recently concluded Mardi Gras chatted and bade goodnight to their friends.

Elizabeth made her way with Bryan through the crowd and congratulated Vanessa, who had won the cake contest, Sue, who got an award for community service, and Anne and Charlie for a job well done.

“Are you ready?” Bryan asked, eyeing the line of cars piling towards the exit gate.

“Yes.” She waved one last time at their friends b
efore boarding Bryan's BMW and glanced at her wristwatch. “I didn't even notice how late it is.” The time was half past midnight.

“Did you have fun?” Bryan steered the car towards the queue of vehicles.

“Yeah—, did you see the dagger looks Jessica Myers was throwing my way? Man, she's mad!” She laughed.

“Thanks for rescuing me from her clutches.” Bryan chuckled. “I thought she would never stop stalking me.”

“But you're so nice to dance three songs in a row with her.”

Bryan shrugged. “I didn't want to be mean, but I a
lso didn't want to lead her on. She's cute, but not my type. What about you? Brandon Bailey was positively drooling over you during that slow dance.”

“Now that was something I have to thank you for.” She giggled. “I thought he was going to pass out in fright when you practically hauled him off me after he licked my ear. Yuck!”

“Eww! Sorry, but that's just gross, Lizzie-bee.” Bryan cringed.

They both laughed and chatted more about the dance, as they sped down the dark road.

“But seriously—,” Bryan glanced at her. “I noticed you were spacing out a few times. What's up? Anything you want to talk about?”

“I have to tell you something.” Elizabeth dropped her gaze to her hands. “I really didn't go on
a vacation at my Aunt Karen's.”

“Oh yeah? Where'd you go?”

“To another school.”

“What?” Bryan exclaimed. What do you mean, a
nother school? Where?”

“Darian Hall. I don't know the exact address, but I know how to get there. It's kind of in the middle of n
owhere.”

“You're kidding.”

“No.” She shook her head.

“Are you transferring there? Is that what's bothering you?”

“Not really.” She sighed. “Bry—, I met someone there.”

Bryan pursed his lips and stared at the road ahead. “You like the guy?”

“Yes.” Her heart lurched a little.
I love him.

“Tell me about him.”

Elizabeth drew a deep breath. “Well, he's tall, cute, and kinda quirky like you.”

Bryan raised a blond eyebrow. “Uh, thanks for the compliment. I think.”  

“He has the most amazing silver eyes.” She smiled wistfully.

“Uh-oh. What's this?” Bryan leaned closer and peered at her. “Is my Li
zzie-bee blushing?”

She glared at him and punched him on the arm.

“Ah. It's that serious, hey? So—, when am I going to meet this dude?”

She shrugged. “We broke up,” her voice quivered and her chest co
nstricted with a dull ache.

“Lizzie-bee.” Bryan sobered and reached for her hand. “Did he hurt you?”

“Yes.” Tears swamped her eyes and she hastily looked away. “I hurt him, too.”

“God, don't cry. You know I can't stand it.” He pulled her close to his side. “You want me to talk to him?”

“I-It's too late. He went back to England today.” She sniffled.

“England? What is he doing leaving in the middle of the school year? And why—, hey, what's that over there?” Bryan released her hand and switched on the bright head beams.

Elizabeth tensed as she caught sight of the shadowed figures barricading the deserted dark road ahead. A sudden sense of foreboding stemmed in her gut. Instinctively, she reached for her cell phone in her bag and called Chad’s number.

He answered at the first ring.

“Chad! Oh God—, there are so many of them!” she cried, her eyes glued to the multitude of glowing crimson eyes now clearly visible up the road. “Bryan! Stop! Turn the car around now!”

Bryan braked. The car swerved as he frantically turned the steering wheel. “What the hell—?” he narro
wly missed the black SUV following them without its headlights on.

“Bryan! Look out!” Elizabeth screamed, dropping her cellphone as the car careened into a deep ditch along the side of the road.

Bryan pressed on the accelerator, but the tires merely kicked up mud.

“Oh, my God.” Elizabeth‘s eyes widened at the sight before them.

More men with luminous eyes, clad in black and red, blocked the other end of the street. Several others emerged from the trees lining the stretch of lonely highway, effectively boxing them in.

The Heart of a Prince

       Prince William stood by his bedroom window and propped an elbow against the frame, grazing a knuckle repeatedly along his lips. His mind was blank, save for the image of Elizabeth that seemed to have perpetually adhered in his memory.

Another image crossed his mind; that of two lovers entwined in a pa
ssionate kiss. A scene he had tried to forget, but like a persistent itch, it kept pricking at his skin until it became so intolerable, he wanted to claw on it till it bled.

Was this her way of retaliating? Had he so wronged her by waiting to shield her from the truth that he d
eserved to be betrayed? Did she ever even love him?

Obviously not. He must have misread her feelings. If she had chosen Alexus Gunter over him, then, she never did at all.

The picture of Elizabeth in the Colonel's arms taunted him yet again and his temper exploded. He cursed viciously and drove a fist through the glass window—, and then another, and another, but nothing could diminish the fury that bedeviled him deep inside.

He supplicated with his father, the Great Omni, to aid him in his grief, but no answer came save for the wisdom that had always been etched in his heart.

That for him to have compassion and achieve immortal perfection, he must first experience the depth of mortal suffering and emotion.

For him to experience joy, he must first experience sadness.

For him to know the power of faith, he must first learn to believe.

For him to love unconditionally, his heart must first be broken.

So many things were required of him. So much was expected of him. He was tired of it all.

Why must the Omni constantly test him? Why must he always prove himself worthy? Haven’t he done enough to gain His favor?

He had followed all His instructions. He had been obedient to a fault. He had foregone the use of his powers and pursued his destiny in as humanly manner as possible. And yet—, the great Omni was relentless in showering him with obstacles, keeping him from his goals.

What else could he do to please Him?

Prince William looked to the heavens, heavy with dark clouds, warning of a brewing storm. “What do you want from me?” he shouted angrily, tears streaming down his cheeks, as he slammed his fist through another glass windowpane.

Sophia knew it was time for her and her cousins to barge in, when they heard the shattering glass on the other side of Prince William's door. All of them had been worried about him. He had sequestered himself in his room since his tempestuous arrival a few hours ago.

Sophia gasped as she saw the destruction the Prince in his rage had done. She glanced at David and Philippe, and exchanged a speaking look with her twin, Silvia. They all knew how dangerous he could be when angered.

“Leave me alone!” He turned to pick up a chair and hurled it across the room.

Sophia's heart thudded in her chest. Even with all four of them, he could easily do serious injury, but they must pacify him at once. He had successfully destroyed most of the furnishings and would undoubtedly wreck the entire wing if they didn't do something to appease him.

She gathered her courage and cautiously approached, stopping at an arm's length before him. “William?” she said softly, peering at his wild, colorless eyes. “Please—, please, don't be angry. We are only concerned about you. We love you.”

A muscle twitched on his cheek and a moment of silence followed.

“William?”

He took a rough indrawn breath and pressed the heels of his palms against his eyes. Then, without a word, he dropped on his knees and wept.

Sophia stepped towards the disheveled figure of her beloved cousin. His powerful shoulders slumped, his knuckles bleeding from the broken glass. She stroked his hair, coaxing him with words of reassurance though she knew it would be of little help.

David had told them of what might have occurred based on what little he'd read from William’s tumultuous thoughts. If he was right, then no amount of comforting could console him. However—, it never hurt to try.

“William?” She gently pried his hands from his eyes. “Please ... talk to us.”

He riveted bloodshot eyes at her, shook his head with his jaw clenched and looked away.

Sophia kneeled before him and hugged him tight. William had always been a solid presence in their lives. The older brother who took care of everyone, listening patiently to their troubles, lending a shoulder to cry on and offering sound advice.

But in spite of all his good qualities, he was never one who would ask for anything, much less talk about his feelings. No wonder his emotions ran deep.
And in these rare episodes when his tolerance grew thin, his temper spewed out like molten magma.

Only recently, after he'd met Elizabeth, did he start to open up a little. But even then, it took all of them to corner him into expressing himself.

“Come, let's sit on the bed.” Sophia eyed the only piece of furniture left intact. “If you can't talk about it, then show us what happened.”

He kept his gaze averted and di
dn't move nor reply.

“William, please allow yourself to vent what's tro
ubling you.” She rubbed his back to soothe him. “Don't bottle it all up. Let it go. We're here for you.”

He rubbed a hand on his brow and flicked his eyes to everyone in the room. Then, to Sophia's relief, he qu
ietly headed towards the bed and sat in the middle, as all four of them positioned themselves in a half circle in front of him.

He extended his arms with palms facing upwards. Sophia touched two fingertips to one of his hands and watched Silvia, David, and Philippe do the same.

Sophia closed her eyes and felt the instant jolt of electricity as torrents of information flooded her brain. She was like an observer standing in the middle of a movie—, only none of it was fiction and she could feel every single emotion.

His pain became hers. Then, as suddenly as the e
xperience had invaded her mind, it abruptly ended at the climax, leaving her exhausted and distraught. When she opened her eyes again, Silvia was clinging to William's arm with her head on his shoulder. David exchanged a disconcerted glance with Philippe.