Feeling Stuck

Stefan

I feel her pulling me away from the room. My body is shaking as she pushes me through a door.

“How could you possibly make things worse, son?” My father looks at me.

“He didn’t. Harlyn accepted his rejection, and Wayne claimed her.”

Checkmate. He had everything planned from the start.

Turning, I look at Samuel.

“Why did you tell her to come back!” If he didn’t call, she wouldn’t have come back. Wayne wouldn’t have claimed her, and he wouldn’t know his plan to use the pups would work.

“Don’t blame him! If you hadn’t rejected Harlyn, she would never have been exiled!” Lucy screams at me.

“Where abouts is the guy?” I look at my father. “I’ll go collect him.” I’ll get him here quicker.

“Son, he’s coming as quick as possible. There won’t be a change in time if you get him. Right now you need to calm down, your eyes are flashing between colours.” He stares at me, and my mother grips my chin, looking at me.

“Well, that’s new.”

My eyes roll at her words. “My eyes don’t matter. We need a plan.” I don’t know what plan, but we need a plan.

“I have one, but you may not like it.” I turn to Samuel. “Make my father lie; make him get her to stay. If he apologises to Harlyn, grovels and begs her to stay, she just might. That means you stay away, Stefan.” Samuel looks at me.

“I won’t stay away from them!” Sighing, I nod. “Fine, I will stay away if it makes Harlyn stay. The Earl won’t agree to that.” I turn and look at my father. “Why does he hate Harlyn so much?”

I still don’t know. I watch my mother and father glance at each other.

“Don’t do that. If you know Your Grace, just tell me.” Samuel looks at them.

“The Countess was drugged and raped. It resulted in Harlyn. I don’t think that makes the difference, however.” My father speaks, and I laugh.

“Of course, it makes a difference; it’s the reason.” How can he make out like it makes no difference?

“Look, I am sure Samuel may remember. The Earl adored Harlyn, even after he learnt she didn’t have a wolf. The older she got, the less time he spent holding her, as she had outgrown it, and the more he began to hate her.”

Wait. “You think his hate is caused by dark magic? Why?” That just seems wrong.

“Your Grace is right.” Samuel looks at me. “I remember Harlyn and my father did adore her, but as she grew, and got out of the stage of being held, I saw hate build, and that hate only grew over time.”

I don’t want to believe that is the cause.

“And does what happened to the Countess link to everything else?” I ask.

“We can’t possibly know that.” My mother looks at me.

“I think it’s clear it does, after all it was the Earl who did it.” My father looks at my mother, like he is ready to debate it. “Wayne’s father, he had similar to a Earl, but he referred to them as an Viscount, it was that man who had done that to the Countess. So yes, it does link.”

“So the Earl hates Harlyn because she isn’t his.” That’s the bottom line.

“No, I meant it when I said he loved her, and shortly after she was born the Countess was ill, he watched Harlyn the majority of the time.”

“Not all that hate can come from black magic.” I can’t accept that is the cause.

“You’re right, black magic needs to have the underlying thing. For Harlyn and you, it’s you rejecting her, you being cruel towards her, that’s where the black magic draws it’s strength. For the Earl, it’s the fact Harlyn is wolfless.”

“Okay, I will speak to him.” Standing I walk out and go around to the Earl’s office, stepping in he looks at me.

“You Majesty, are you feeling better?”

God I want to punch him. Sighing I nod. “You need to make Harlyn stay.” I say the words and watch as he stares at me in shock.

“That isn’t a good idea, she isn’t a good omen to have here Your Majesty.” He speaks and looks at me.

“Either you ensure she stays, or I can ensure Samuel takes over you far sooner than we planned.” I won’t tip toe around this, he stares at me in shock.

“I doubt I can do anything to make her stay.” He looks at me.

“You can start by apologising for your behaviour towards her. For the names you called her. Maybe even apologise for exiling her.” That might change things. “Make her aware you’re sorry and that you want your grandbabies to stay here for a short while.”

“No, they are nothing to do with me.” He glares towards me, and I nod.

“Then you are no help to us, and I will take away your title, you have a choice, consider it.” I turn to leave and he stops me.

“There is no way that I can ensure she stays, I will do it, however I don’t see it making her stay.” He looks at me, and I can see he hates it, but it needs to be done. “Why are you so keen for her to stay?”

Is he really back to this again? “Because they are my pups, and as much as you may feel like you hate to admit it, she is your daughter! So her leaving, and taking them with her, falls on you.” Turning I walk out, he will either do it well and she will stay, or he doesn’t and she leaves.

Right now, I have little to lose in using him to try and make Harlyn stay. She is going to leave, and I’m willing to do just about anything to make her stay.