Diana turned around severally while she ran but she could not see anything chasing her. Oh, but she knew she was running away from something or someone.
The feeling was so strong and it led her to stumble a few times. Luckily, she never fell. And she never stopped running until she arrived at Calhoun's chamber.
Soon as she ran in, she pushed the door and locked it, resting on the door. She turned to check the giant wall clock that hung beautifully in his room. It was almost 1 am.
She sighed softly, her heart still hammered in her chest. After calming herself, she burst into tears. Why would things not just get better? Why did they always get worse and worse and always worse?
"Pretty girls should not cry."
Diana turned quickly to find Calhoun seated in his chair as if nothing had happened to him. She stared at him blankly, not knowing what to do or how to react. This was Calhoun, right? And he was sitting before her, right? She could touch him too, right?
"C... Cal... Calhoun!" She finally exclaimed. Before the man could speak, she ran over and jumped onto him. Calhoun was surprised at her reaction. Why did she seem to care so much about him?
"Get off me, little girl." He said softly. Diana scowled. She raised her head to stare at him properly. Why was he speaking to her so unemotionally?
He chuckled. "Don't get ahead of yourself because I called you pretty, there are many more pretty girls in Wisteria, even some work in the castle too."
"Calhoun? Are you okay?" She asked softly. She reached up to touch his face but he grabbed her hand firmly and moved it back.
"Don't touch me." He said. "And as much as I appreciate this position, I would not fancy you sitting on me."
"Why...?" Diana asked shakily. She could not believe that the man she had done everything for would wake up and treat her like a total stranger.
"I have a woman whom I love dearly. I don't remember much about her, but I feel the love." He answered. "I am trying to appease her, if she walks in on us-"
"Who is the woman?" Diana interrupted.
"Last I checked, I am the king and not you-"
"Oh shut it, Calhoun!" Diana snapped. She climbed down from his body and stood before him, with her hands placed on her waist. "You must be mistaken about something."
"Did you just ask me to shut it?" Calhoun asked, getting angry. The only reason he had stalled this long to listen to her was because she was pretty and he couldn't explain why he felt subject to her. Who was she?
"Yes, shut it. Calhoun, how could you even utter such nonsense to me? After all, we have been through together? Your son... Our son has never got a chance to receive a warm embrace from you as his father and you want to toss me aside, claiming you have a woman?"
Calhoun went silent. What son? What was she talking about? He was cursed and he could not bear any children.
"I cannot have a child. That son of yours is a ba-"
Diana closed her eyes tightly, waiting for him to complete the words but he stopped short. She opened them a while later to find him staring blankly at her.
"Diana..."
"What?" Diana snapped.
"No, I wasn't calling you... I ... That is the name of my beloved."
"Idiot, that is me." Diana retorted. "Are you playing games with me right now? Of course, you can not be serious."
Calhoun chuckled. "I appreciate you trying to push yourself forward to me but I won't take it."
"Calhoun, what the fuck- ugh! Can't you tell? What's wrong with you?!" Diana groaned.
The doorknob twisted severally, followed by a series of hard knocks.
"Diana... Are you okay?" came a muffled voice. "Who are you speaking with?"
Diana glared at Calhoun. She walked to the door and unlocked it. Felix and Evander hurried in, they stopped short when they noticed Calhoun seated on his seat, staring at them.
"Why did I not find the both of you when I woke up?" Calhoun demanded icily. His eyes seemed more scary than usual as if he had acquired powers from hell.
Felix glanced at Evander and then at Diana. "What happened to him?"
"I don't know. He has been speaking so disrespectfully to me ever since he woke up." Diana shrugged. Her voice was getting shaky again and her eyes were still red from all the crying. Hearing her whimper, something pricked Calhoun's heart. He didn't know why he felt so terrible that he had made her cry.
"My king, do you not recognize her?" Felix asked softly.
Calhoun stared blankly. From the look of things, if he said no, the girl could cry all the more and it would hurt him to see her cry. He had to understand why she held so much power over him first. Until then, he would play along with whatever game they were playing as well.
Calhoun smirked. "I was only messing with you, sweetheart. Don't cry anymore, it hurts to see you cry."
Diana stared hopefully at him and he offered her a genuine smile. She gasped and once again, jumped onto his lap, hugging his neck tightly. She was still whimpering softly like a baby.
"You asshole! Don't you ever mess with me like that?" She warned lightly.
"Alright, I won't. Don't cry anymore." He said, rubbing her back soothingly. Somewhere, having her in his arms made him feel content as if his world was complete.
"Where is the boy?" He asked, pulling her away from him. "The child you spoke of earlier, bring him to me."
"You mean Coco?" Diana asked. She was starting to feel sceptical. Did he not also remember his son's name? Maybe concussion, she thought, shrugging. Soon as she left, the smile and warmth on Calhoun's face disappeared.
"Felix, Evander, who is she?" He asked.
Felix nodded. "I knew it. You do not remember her, right? That is the woman who served you as a slave-"
"So she was lying to me?!" Calhoun demanded icily.
Felix shook his head. "Listen to me, my king. The woman served you until she began to love you, she satisfied you by every means possible and then by her help, you were able to break the curse."
"So the child is mine?" Calhoun asked, raising his brows. "Is she Diana?"
Felix nodded. "She fought alongside you during this battle that almost claimed your life. She even killed the man that stabbed you in the heart."
Calhoun's hand subconsciously met his chest and he felt nothing. Why did everything feel like a cock and bull story? Suddenly, the aggressive glimpses from the past started coming in.
He remembered Diana, her service, Patricia, and George's betrayal. He remembered everything while he still sat, staring blankly at the wall opposite him. As soon as he remembered everything, he got up from his seat.
"Take me to Diana." He ordered. Felix and Evander nodded. They left him in Thomas's room where the man was trying to console Diana who was weeping terribly.
"Loo-"
Felix signalled for him to keep quiet and he did. Diana raised her head to stare at him but he sighed.
"Give me a few minutes to speak to him first," Thomas said. "I'll be back immediately."
Diana nodded. She held her son and cuddled him to her chest. The boy had fallen asleep and was less concerned with whatever was going on around him.
Calhoun watched her bawl all because he could not remember her. He cursed himself within. After watching her for a while, he signalled for everyone to go and they all did. He entered the room and closed the door softly behind him.
"What did he say?" Diana asked softly. Calhoun locked the door behind him.
"He said he is so sorry for even forgetting you in the first place, and that he would want to spend the rest of his life making up for it," Calhoun answered.
Diana glared at him. "What do you want? I heard everything, you lied to me. You do not remember me."
"I did not," Calhoun affirmed. "But now I do, I remember everything, Diana. And I'm sorry for forgetting in the first place."
"Stay away from me," Diana warned, holding her son tighter.
"Ah, my boy!" Calhoun announced. "Let me just feel him once more."
"You suddenly remember huh? Fine, what's the name of my soul sister?" Diana asked.
"Julitta," Calhoun answered in a heartbeat.
"You also had a friend in sunshine town, Maggie."
Diana stared at him. "That's not enough -"
"I understand that you came from Fraco with the soldiers and our son just because you wanted to protect me. I also understand that I have been uncaring towards you for a long time and if you want to leave then I understand."
"You do?"
"Yes. I understand, but I also want you to understand that I won't let you go." He added.
Diana smiled a little. "I don't believe you."
"What can I do to prove it to you?" He asked. He was ready to do anything to please her.
Diana thought about it. She started perceiving the smell again and she looked around frantically.
"Is everything okay?" Calhoun asked, coming closer to her. Diana kept looking left and right, the sinking feeling that she was being watched returned to her.
Unknowingly, she grabbed Calhoun's clothes. "I smell death."
Calhoun's face turned into a scowl. "Death? What does death smell like?"
"Sniff it, Calhoun," Diana whispered.
Calhoun sniffed deeply and he identified the smell instantly. It had been all around him when he was in the dark. He frowned.
"Why would death be in the castle?" He asked. "Did anyone go up to my parents' chamber?"
"Why?" Diana asked, trying to sound casual.
"Because we made a deal concerning them. Now that death has awoken, it's because someone has trespassed who isn't supposed to be there." Calhoun explained. "This death will not rest until it takes someone it chooses."
Diana swallowed. "And if it chooses one you love?"
"Oh, it can never choose anyone I love,"
Calhoun answered. "Except if the love is not so strong. If it is, death knows better than to take such a person."
Diana went silent. She turned her gaze away and looked out the window. Slowly, she got up from where she knelt. She walked over to Calhoun and handed the child in her arms to him.
"Take him to your chamber, I will be with you shortly." She whispered.
"Diana, I am the king, I should not be babysitting." Calhoun refused. He wanted her with him. If death was lurking around then anyone could be the next to go. He purposely said those words to her to make her at ease.
Even he did not know how death worked. All he knew was that if it set its eyes on Diana or Coco, he was going to fight and kill it.
"Go and be with your son." Diana deadpanned. Calhoun sighed.
"What are you planning to do?" He asked softly.
Diana shook her head, pointing for him to leave. "Just go already!"
Calhoun nodded. There was no arguing with her but he knew how to get her to him. He allowed her for now, she must still be overwhelmed emotionally by the turnout of events.
Diana allowed them to go and Thomas came back into the room.
"You deceit." She accused. "You knew he was here and yet you let me cry so much as if I care about him."
"You do care about him, Diana. There's nothing to be ashamed of." Thomas said, standing beside her. "Come with me, I have something to show you."
Diana was skeptical but she went with him. Thomas showed her what he wanted to show her and she felt so angered and betrayed. How dare Calhoun do this to her?! Enraged, she grabbed a copy and stormed to his room.