-31
TYSON’S POV
Exhaling loudly, I sat with a thump on my bed. I had foiled probably the two hundredth attempt of my enemies to kill Aurora. Though this time something seemed off. It was a very easy win almost as if the man was trying to test something rather than fighting. I had to be more careful in the future.
The screen lit up with a notification, ‘Tiara’s milk was spiked with poison in Pearl Palace.’
Hell! That attack was just a ploy to keep me distracted while they carried out their original plan. Those M*****F******! It was time for part B of the plan.
I would soon put an end to all of this. There was no way I would let them hurt Aurora or my little angel. I would keep her safe and protected no matter what I had to do.
I picked up the skin-colored mask and wore it on my face. Soon, the person staring at me had a wheatish complexion, no scar, and a huge mole top of the lips. I put on blue contacts to complete the look.
Pleased with my disguise, I prepared to leave…
AURORA’S POV
The hooting of the owls, the squeaking of bats, and the chirping of the crickets created a fearful environment. Wolves howled in a distance making my heart race.
I wasn’t scared of the creatures of the night, I was worried about the creatures who were plotting against my little angel.
I held her as close to my chest as I stood by the window watching the moon. Sleep stayed miles away from my eyes. How could I sleep when a sword was hanging on my daughter’s neck?
My heart came to my mouth as I caught a slight movement behind me. Shifting Tiara to one arm I turned around, my hands raised to perform magic if needed.
“Shhh!! Don’t make any noise.” Tyson’s familiar voice sounded. I stared at the man in front of me. He did have the height and built of Tyson but he looked completely different. But, I relaxed when I sensed his familiar aura with the help of magic.
“What are you doing here and why are you…Ummm… looking so different?” I whispered, gazing at him with a bewildered expression.
“Trust me.” He said and grasped my hand. Before I realized what was happening, I was sucked into the vortex.
When the spinning sensation stopped I found myself in a strange room. Its walls were covered with screens. There were a Big poster bed and a wardrobe, that’s it. There was no space for anything else.
“Which place is this?” I asked, looking around warily.
“This is my sanctuary. Whenever I need to hide from my enemies, I come here. No one knows about this place except me and now you…”
“What if someone accidentally enters this place?”
“Impossible. The only way to enter or leave this place is with the help of this locket.” Tyson said, pulling out a locket from under his shirt. “It works only with my DNA.”
“Come, sit. You must be tired.” Tyson said waving at the bed.
Letting out a deep sigh, I sat down on the bed, next to him. I waited for him to ask me to let him see or hold our baby. But, he never mentioned Tiara.
I even shifted Tiara in my arms so that he could see her clearly but his eyes remained glued to the screen. A strange ache developed in my heart. Did he really not care for our daughter?
In the end, I turned my attention to the screen as well. Gasping, I jumped to my feet. “What the Bloody Hell, Tyson? Who is she?”
“I have arranged for someone who will stay at The Pearl Palace as Aurora. That is the only way we can keep you safe and catch the culprit at the same time.”
“But, she looks so similar to me. If I stood in front of her, I would think I am standing in front of a mirror.”
“She doesn’t look like you Aurora. It is the magic of these masks.” Tyson said peeling away the one on his face.
I stood there stunned for a moment. The masks really could transform you.
Tiara shifted uncomfortably in my arms and opened her eyes. Catching a glimpse of Tyson, she smiled and gurgled.
I didn’t want my daughter to grow up without the love of her father. I made up my mind to keep trying till Tyson accepted Tiara as his daughter.
“It seems like Tiara wants to come to you,” I said placing her against his arms.
“No!” he shouted taking a few steps backward. Then he turned away from me and stood quietly.
“What is wrong with you Tyson? She is your daughter for God’s sake.”
“I am afraid.” He muttered in a barely audible voice. “ I am afraid of coming close to Tiara. She is so beautiful… so innocent… I don’t want to taint her life with my bad luck.”
My heart twisted at his words. How could he think like this? I snorted and said, “Do you think you are powerful enough to change her destiny? Tiara was attacked in the Pearl Palace even when you were not there.”
“What if people find out that I care for her and try to use her against me?”
“Then we will protect her, Tyson. Don’t you think she deserves a father’s love too? Plus there is no one here…”
Tyson turned around to face me. There was still confusion in his eyes.
“Here hold Teetee…” I said giving Tiara to him. He finally relented and took her from me.
His face lit up with pure joy and his lips stretched into a smile automatically.“Ah! My little angel.” He said rocking her softly.
Tiara gave him one of her lovely smiles and then kept looking at him. My eyes flew to Tyson’s face reflexively.
His forehead was creased with worry lines. His eyes had dark shadows below them. He had grown leaner. I hadn’t noticed earlier because he was wearing a mask. I couldn’t help but ask, “Have you been living here since you left the palace?”
“Hmm… I can keep a good watch on the Pearl Palace from…” He staggered slightly and stopped talking abruptly.
“What happened?” I asked supporting him.
“Just give me a moment.” He said handing Tiara back to me.
He picked up a tiny shot and injected himself with it. Color returned to his face and his steps returned to normal too.
“What was that?”
“Nothing, just a bit of stevia extract.”
“And what exactly does this do?”
“Umm… it keeps you from falling asleep.”
That explained his dizziness and dark patches around his eyes. “How long have you not sleeping, Tyson?”
He cleared his throat and replied, “A while…”
Damn! Could he be less vague? “Tyson, you want me to trust you and stay here and yet you lie to me…”
“I wasn’t lying… ahem… okay… I haven’t slept since I left the palace. You know I am such a paranoid right… I couldn’t trust my spies to keep a watch for me…” He muttered lowering his eyes.
I was too stunned to reply. My heart twisted with guilt. When Tiara was born I was upset that he didn’t come to see us. The fact was that he had been watching over us like a guardian angel all this while.
I wanted to thank him, appreciate him for what he did for us but I couldn’t say anything. It was as if a wall had got created between them over the past few months.
.