CHAPTER 77: CHAPTER SEVENTY-SEVEN: DAMIEN’S STORY XVII: LET ME PAY THE PRICE.

Alex stood rooted to the ground as his eyes swept over his wife’s face. The world seemed to have come to an abrupt stop. It was impossible. Unbelievable.

"Mi...Mira?" he stammered out, too shocked to even believe what his eyes were seeing. The guard gripping her hair immediately let go and apologized before stepping back quickly.

"What...why...when? What are you doing?" he asked slowly, careful not to raise his voice. Seeing her beaten up and messy was the last thing he never thought he’d see. And with Damien? Why was she ’running away’ with their own son?

Knowing the severity of the matter, he composed himself in front of the people. Luckily, they hadn’t heard him.

"She must be hanged on the gallows!"

"Her head must be placed on the guillotine!"

Alexandria knew what would happen if he gives in to jungle justice and let the people handle it. With the grace of a king, he raised up one hand and everyone immediately fell silent.

"Take her inside this minute." Alex ordered in a hard voice. The guard looked confused. He didn’t know whether to manhandle the queen to avoid suspicion or not. Either way, he grabbed her hand, exerted fake force and pulled her to her feet.

Mira was half pushed into the palace and across the courtyard in her long, black cloak. All the maids, servants everybody saw her being led to the back of the palace where the underground tunnel was.

"Your majesty. That lady attempted treason against the royal family! She should be beheaded this minute!" one of the angry protesters cried.

"Why is she being taken to the palace? Her death must me done to serve as deterrent."

Beheaded? His queen?

Even if she is brought out and everyone sees she’s the queen, she won’t be the only one affected. His name and rule would be mocked for generations saying that he was such a wicked ruler, his family had to flee from him.

Alex couldn’t let that happen. He loved his people so much and but his wife more. This was difficult.

"I understand your anger towards this matter." Alex started in a commanding voice. "However, we must not give in to jungle justice. We shall investigate truly and rip out the evil from among us!"

"I truly thank you for bringing this to my notice and saving my family. I shall have the ones who were lax with their jobs pay for this act of indolece!"

The people nodded in agreement.

"As his majesty wishes, we shall do!" the people exclaimed.

"He’s such a benevolent ruler."

"A man with a magnanimous heart! I so much envy the queen!"

"His majesty is such a handsome man who is still so kind to wicked people. I want to be with him!"

The crowd dispersed clapping at the king because of his wise judgement. The moment they were gone, he turned to the guard who had seen the face of the queen. "You shan’t share this with a soul." Alex ordered him with death in his eyes. "If this ever lands on the lips of another soul be it man or animal, your head will come off first."

The guard shook at his words. "I dare not, your majesty." he said before bowing low to the ground.

Alex walked past him and headed straight to the dungeon where his wife had been taken. His mind conjured up a million and one reason why she would have possibly done that but none was making sense to him. Had she gone for Cassian? Then why did she take Damien with her? I told her everything will be fine. Did she doubt me?

Alex shook his head. Whatever may be the reason for her actions, it just be feasible. Surely the queen wouldn’t act so mindlessly right?

"Mirenelle!" his voice came out, bouncing off the walls of the secluded dungeon but there was no answer. He walked past the room where he had kept Xeranthis with the guard following right behind him.

"She’s here your highness." he called out to him and Alex barged into the room, looking more angry than pissed.

"What were you thinking Mira?! Running away with the prince? In the daylight?! What if they had seen your face or even killed you before it got to my ears?! Just what exactly were you thinking?"

Alex was very angry at her. The thought of her running away because she thought he was incapable bore itself into his very soul. He needed to hear her answer, a reason, an excuse, just anything at all.

"Mirenelle! Aren’t I talking to you?!" Alex yelled at her again.

He left the door and slammed it shut behind him. He then dropped to his knees in front of her where she still cradled their young son. He ripped out Damien from her arms before placing him on the table behind them. The young boy remained unconscious even with the force used on him but Alex was too angry to even notice that. He just wanted to hear her reason.

He grabbed her hands and shook her hard. "Darling I don’t want to misunderstand you so please..." Alex begged desperately. He was annoyed at her but still tried to maintain his cool to some degree. As he shook her, her hood fell off.

"Mire—"

Alex’s voice hung in his throat as her face came into view. She was... crying?

His face softened up immediately as his hands released their grip on her.

"Darling..."

"Darling stop... wh-why are you crying?" Alex gently took her face in his hands and wiped away her tears with his thumbs. He began to feel like an awful monster.

"I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled at you. I was just so annoyed that you—"

"It’s ok my love." Mira finally said, shaking her head to remove the strands of hair on her face. She placed both hands on his arm, pulling it down softly. "I can’t blame you for acting that way."

"Then why..."

Fresh tears flowed down her cheeks at his question making his heart ache even more. Just what could it be?!

"Sweetheart I need to know why you did this. You have to say something—"

"Aghhhnn!" a shrilled cry came out from behind them. Alex’s head whipped to where the sound was coming from.

Damien was rolling on the table with his hands gripping his small head. Mira, upon seeing it, took off her cloak and rushed to his side.

Alex stood up in surprise.

"What...what is wrong with him?"

"This is what I’ve been trying the keep from you!" Mira exclaimed as she quickly undressed him to let air touch his body.

"It burns... it’s hurting me... please stop burning me..." Damien cried out weakly, still gripping his head. Mira was carefully trying not to hurt him as she took off his clothes but it was just so hard when he kept rolling back and forth.

Alex sensed what Mira was trying to do and took a big step towards her. He grabbed the shirt from her hand, instantly ripping it off his son’s back. His eyes widened in horror as the mighty, green dragon glared dangerously at him.

"Wha..." Alex staggered backwards in shock. Of all the heart wrenching things he had experienced so far, this had to be the killer.

He couldn’t think or say anything. He just stood there completely blown away. What...what was the meaning of this?

Mira covered her mouth tightly weeping excessively from the confused look on her husband’s face. She knew he would be heartbroken that’s why she had tried to hide it from him. But why did things always have to be so difficult for them? It truly broke her heart to see him like that. Damien didn’t deserve it. Her husband didn’t deserve it either. And now her first son was possessed with a mad spirit that makes him do senseless things.

All because of her...

Mira couldn’t take it anymore. She closed her eyes tightly and ripped out a handful of Damien’s hair. "Mira!"

Mira grabbed her husband’s hand without looking at him.

"Come with me." she said horsely.

Alex, too stunned to even process what was going on in his once happy family, allowed himself to be dragged out of the room.

If this was the only way, then so be it. She wasn’t only going to save Cassian, she’d save her younger one from this behemoth in his body as well. She didn’t know how to but she would do everything in her power to save her children.

"Mira where are we going?" Alex asked her but Mira still said nothing. With her hand still gripping his, she vanished from the entrance of the dungeon and into the throne room. By the time they arrived there, the sun was already setting. Gosh just how long had they been there?!

"For heaven’s sake Mira just freaking say something!" Alex snatched his hand from hers as he glared down at her. That glare washed away the moment he saw her tears streaked face. What could he do? He was a sucker in love.

"I’m going to save our children." Mira’s voice cracked out.

"And— and finally stop causing you pain..."

"What—what do you mean?"

"Open the door to the relic."

Shock slapped him across the face. "What?"

"Open the door Alex!" she shrieked out, shaking vigorously. That was the very first time she had ever called him by his name.

"...please...just trust me." she whispered. "All of this...all of this is happening because of me."

Alex pulled her into his arms. His eyes stung just by looking at her so much so that he couldn’t take it anymore. He needed to be strong at this time. She shouldn’t see him crying.

Mira shook her head and pulled away. "No...no I don’t deserve your love anymore." she said in one breath. Alex just stares at her, completely taken aback.

"I’ll take care of this. I’ve caused you too much pain already."

Mira took her husband’s hand and disappeared. She appeared in the little room behind the throne and slapped his hand onto the wall in the same second. Then and there, the relic chamber creaked open under a few seconds and a thin passage stretched out before them.

"You can’t be serious..." Alex said before grabbing her shoulders hard.

"You want to give up your life for him?!"

"He’s my son! I can’t just let him rot away!"

Alex gripped her shoulders harder, fuming at his stubborn wife. He dropped his head low as his hands rested on her shoulders. By the time her brought it back up, his eyes were burning.

"You could die Mira! Don’t you get it?!"