Chapter 32

Hunter

Hunter's face was pressed against his pillow as his mind ran through any possible plan he could think of. He desperately tried to find a way to make everything fall into place, but to no avail. Because at the end of the day, his father was the one with power, which meant Hunter was left to cower as his father controlled their every move.

"Get out!"

Hunter jumped at the booming voice of his father. He sat up, pausing as his father's voice echoed throughout the house.

"Now!" his father roared. Hunter winced when the sound of fists slamming against a wall echoed out. "Both you and Haru get out!"

Hunter froze. Dread filled him and he rose up and rushed out into the hallway, where his father stood. His father was trembling as he glared into Chase's bedroom.

"What's going on?" Hunter asked.

Liana's bedroom door flew open and she stepped out, looking scarily white. Her blue eyes were blown wide as they fell upon his father.

"Chase is with a man!" his father roared.

Chase's parents appeared in the hallway now, too. They'd been downstairs sleeping on the couches and Hunter paled. This was the last thing they needed with everything else going on.

"Father..." Hunter began.

His father sent him a deathly glare and Hunter paused. Chase exited his room and Haru hid behind him. Both of them were shaking, but Chase was glaring at his father as if he feared nothing for once.

"He's my boyfriend," Chase said. "Am I not allowed to date?"

Hunter's father raised his hand then - eyes growing dark and Hunter jolted forward. Panic slammed against him, but he froze when his father dropped his hand.

"Not a man," his father spat. "Get out. Your parents don't want you either."

Chase paled then. His eyes slid to his parents who were shaking their heads, looking disappointed in him, and Chase deflated. No longer did he hold confidence in his posture - he now looked defeated.

"Are you deaf?" Hunter's father hissed. "Get out."

Chase glanced at Haru, who was shuddering behind him. His shoulders grew slack, his face growing more and more pale, and Hunter couldn't help it. He had to interfere.

"Stop father," Hunter said. "There is nothing wrong with what Chase is doing."

Hunter's father whirled on him. His cold blue eyes were blazing - darkened with the dimmed lights hovering above them.

"It is weak to love. Especially to love a man when you are man yourself," his father spat. "You are foolish to be standing up for him."

"Chase is a better man than you'll ever be."

The words had flown out of Hunter and he clamped his mouth shut. As his father trembled, eyes set alight, Hunter froze as his father took a step closer to him.

And to his surprise, Liana slid to his side. She stood right next to him, her blue eyes still wide with fear.

"I will beat you into obedience," his father hissed, slithering closer and closer to Hunter. "Don't talk back to me boy."

"Go ahead," Hunter said. "That never worked before, so go ahead and try because I'm sick of your ways. I'm sick of blindly following you."

"Then leave! Go to the streets and starve! No one told you to stay."

Hunter's jaw clenched. He desperately wished to say fine and storm off, but it would be idiocy to risk homelessness and allow his father to continue his plans freely. So instead, Hunter said nothing.

"Exactly," his father said, smirking now. "No matter what you will always fear me. I own you, boy. You know that."

Hunter's hands curled into fists. He wanted to launch them at his father, but instead, he said nothing.

"Chase, get out of here," his father said, shooting Chase a look. "And Liana and Hunter, come with me."

Chase nodded numbly and turned to go back into his room with Haru trailing behind him. His father whirled around and stalked off, and after exchanging a look with Liana, Hunter and her followed his father.

They both knew there was no point in arguing with him.

They descended the stairs and ended up in the living room and his father led them to the basement door. He opened it and descended the other set of wooden stairs and soon, they entered the basement that was merely a large room with nothing in it. The floor was made of cement and the walls were white. It was empty and Hunter and Liana stood in front of his father.

"I actually came upstairs to tell you what the plan is," his father said, crossing his arms over his chest. "But then I found Chase with that man and I had to send him off, but now it is time to plan."

Hunter's heart sank. It was horrible to be here while Chase was heading to the streets. Hunter should be helping Chase, but he didn't know how.

And that was what Hunter hated about himself. He knew what was right, but he was always too scared to do it.

"So, the king is planning on hosting a speech to warn the citizens of us," his father said. "I thought we should avoid it, but then I realized it will be the perfect time to attack. I have followers in Oflaria. Believe it or not, there are people who side with me and I am sure more will join us when they see me overtaking the king."

Hunter nor Liana reacted. But, Liana stiffened next to him.

"So during this speech we will kill both the king and princess," his father said. "I don't care anymore. We need them dead and we will take the crown and demand everyone swear loyalty to me. Understood."

Still, Hunter nor Liana reacted. His father glared at them both and only after a moment, did Hunter nod.

"However, I heard news of the princess searching for us today," his father said. "She is to search the outskirts of the town - right by the edge of the forest and I want both you and Liana to either capture her or spy on her. Either way we will attack her on the day of the speech, but for now this will be good enough."

Now finally, Hunter's heart sank. He fought back the urge to defy him - to say he would never hurt Cassia, but he said nothing.

Because for now, he would pretend to be his father's puppet.

"Okay," Hunter said. "We will capture Cassia tonight."

His father smiled - his eyes lighting up and Liana frowned. But, they both prepared to leave.

*****

Hunter and Liana hid up in a tree. They shared the same branch, where leaves shielded them from the sights of others. The sun was setting and the sky was lit with orange hues and the ground beneath them was full of soil and grass. They were at the edge of the forest - right before the town of Oflaria and they awaited Cassia, who was walking along the forest's edge with her guard.

Liana was watching Cassia carefully. They hadn't spoken since they were sent out to capture her and Hunter's heart pounded against his chest. He noticed the way Liana glared at Cassia - the way she was tensing at the sight of her. It was a sight that made him nervous, but then she spoke.

"I can't believe they kicked out Chase," Liana whispered, her hands curling into small fists. "We should have stopped it. At least Haru's family can take care of him, but it's cruel for us to throw away Chase like that."

"I know," Hunter said, his heart sinking. He never got to say goodbye and that was the worst part. "But, we'll get him back soon. I'm sure of it."

"How? You know, you give a lot of empty promises, but you never have a plan."

Hunter winced. She was right, but it hurt, nonetheless.

They fell back into silence and Cassia and her guard walked closer and closer to them. There was a dagger at her waist and she was wearing light armour. Her brown hair was tied up in a ponytail and she was deep in conversation with her guard, and there was a sadness to her that killed him. No longer did her eyes look animated. Her body was sulking and the colour of her skin was fading away. The world was taking its toll on her and he hated it. He hated what he'd done on Cassia.

But then in the blink of an eye, Sakura yanked out a dagger and launched it towards them. Hunter leapt out of the way and Liana screeched as she fell back. Her hands flailed around frantically and Hunter gasped, but not before Liana crashed to the ground.

And in a blur, Cassia was holding a dagger to her throat.

"Don't move," Cassia demanded.

Hunter froze a meter away as Sakura sneered at him. Cassia was holding the dagger so close to Liana's throat that he feared what she'd do.

"Well, go ahead - kill me," Liana hissed. "Put me out of my misery."

Cassia faltered. Her brown eyes widened so quickly, Hunter barely caught it.

"Kill her," Sakura demanded. "The less of them the better."

Cassia's hand shook and the dagger wavered at Liana's throat. There was a war within her - as if she had to fight against herself and Hunter's heart slammed against his chest. Sakura had a dagger aimed at Hunter and he didn't know what to do.

"I never liked you," Cassia said. "You were cruel. Unnecessarily cruel and I hated you so much. Sometimes I thought about doing this to you."

"Then do it," Liana demanded. "Stop stretching it out."

Cassia shook her head. Liana's eyes flew wide as Cassia pulled back slightly, but not far enough for Liana to escape.

"But, I've come to realize why you might have hated me," Cassia said. "I treated you and others horribly when I first came to the camp. I called you peasants and acted as if you were beneath me. So, I'm sorry for the way I treated you."

Everyone was stunned into silence. Even Cassia's guard seemed surprised and Hunter froze. Of all the things Cassia could have said, he didn't expect that.

"Why-why are you apologizing?" Liana stammered out. "You should still hate me. I'm trying to kill you!"

"I never said I didn't hate you." Cassia rolled her eyes. "But, I owe you an apology, so here it is."

Liana fell silent. Her blue eyes searched Cassia's face and both girls stared at each other, looking conflicted.

"I don't know if you're about to kill me or not, so I guess I might as well be honest before I die," Liana said. "I was cruel to you. More than necessary, but not because of how cruel you were. I was cruel because I envied you.

"All I ever wanted was everything you had. I grew up reading fairytales and I thought all my problems would be solved if I found my prince and became a princess, but I've realized life doesn't work like that. Even if I do get status and... Hunter, there is no promise that I get a happily ever after. So, I've realized you may not be the wicked queen."

Hunter gaped at Liana. This was the most vulnerable she'd ever been, but Cassia merely rolled her eyes and Liana's eyes darkened.

"As stupid as you sound, I get it," Cassia said. "I know it must have hurt when a princess as horrible as me waltzed in and stole your man. I had everything and I took everything from you. I get it."

Liana teared up and Hunter's heart lurched forward. Half of him thought he was imagining this, but the other part of him was clutching onto every word they spoke. Because maybe, all of them needed to be more honest with each other.

"We were sent here to spy on you," Hunter said.

Cassia's eyes darted to him, but she didn't look surprised. "Well, clearly you failed then."

Hunter blinked and Cassia smirked. Her brown eyes gleamed.

"Well anyways, you two should leave before I call my other guards on you," Cassia said. "I should probably kill you both, but my life would be dull without you two, so I'll give you once more chance. That's all."

Both Liana and Hunter's jaws dropped. They were lost for words as Cassia shifted her dagger away from Liana's throat.

"Actually," Cassia said, eyes darkening now. Her dagger flew back to Liana's throat. "Where is your headquarters? Tell me and then I'll let you go."

Liana's jaw clenched, but Hunter didn't care. Once again, this was too good to be true.

"In the middle of this forest - an abandoned town house," Hunter said. "Not far from here."

Cassia smirked and her dagger fell away from Liana's throat. She stepped back and her guard looked as if Cassia had gone insane.

"Well, go on then," Cassia said. "But, don't expect this kindness the next time we meet."

Both Liana and Hunter nodded numbly. Liana was frowning, but Hunter merely stared at her as if this would be the last time he'd see her. Because maybe, it would be.

*****

Hunter and Liana were strolling through the forest. They travelled past trees and maneuvered past bushes. Their feet sunk into the grass as the sun dipped lower and lower behind the horizon - casting shadows everywhere in the woodland.

And as they walked in silence, thoughts weighed down on Hunter.

"I'm sorry," Hunter said. Liana whipped her head to look at him - her eyes flying wide. "I thought when we were hooking up... we had a mutual agreement we were just using each other as a distraction. I never knew how much you liked me and now I understand why you were so mad at Cassia. So, I'm sorry. I was an idiot."

Liana grew quiet for a moment. They kept traversing the forest - diving deeper and deeper as the trees grew more dense.

"Well, it was partially my fault," Liana said, forcing a smile. "I was dumb enough to allow myself to be nothing, but a distraction to you. And honestly, you made me feel worthless, but now I realize my worth and I've moved on."

Hunter's heart sank. He'd always judged Cassia and Liana for their cruelty, but he'd been capable of cruelty, too.

"I'm sorry," Hunter said. "You are worthy. I was just not worthy of your love."

Liana's eyes sparked. "Good. Because you didn't deserve me."

Liana grinned now and Hunter rolled his eyes, but he smiled. She was right. He didn't deserve how much Liana loved him, but he hoped that one day she'd get her happily ever after she spoke of.

"You know, I understand why you love Cassia now," Liana said. "Despite her attitude, there is something annoyingly likeable about her."

A smile slid onto his face. "There is."

He shook his head, amused as Liana grumbled about Cassia. He could relate. Months ago he'd been in her shoes - frustrated by how much he cared for Cassia despite how irrational it was.

But now with Liana admitting Cassia was somewhat likeable, hope blossomed within him. Because for years they all hated her. Because his father forced his hate into them, but now finally they were conjuring up their own opinions on the girl who was not the enemy they thought she was.