CHAPTER 2509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lv5BSAJjA
The voices of the birds showed the peaceful nature of a fresh morn. Zoe was still deep into her sleep when her new servant knocked on the door. She had cried herself to sleep. She quickly disrobed into her nightgown and opened the door for her servant. She came in with a tray of the meal ready for Zoe.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdOIkEfXee
''Did you sleep well princess?''509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBURSpiw381
''Yes, I did." she lied509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzodmnsmLQ8
''I will go and make your bathing water.'' the servant said as she moved to the bathtub. She filled the tub with water after emptying lavender into it.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfHDf8AZdf
''Let me take off your gown.'' The servant said and quickly took off Zoe's nightgown. She requested Zoe to sit still in the bathtub and Zoe did.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpuv0WbtCT
''It's a privilege to be giving you a shower princess.'' The servant advertised.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPEZyslLTg
''Rita'' Zoe muttered out 509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnu0zUYA6m
''I'm not Rita, I'm..."509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaYSSHA94Q
''From now onwards, you are Rita.'' She asserted 509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs88AMfBQca
''Yes, princess.'' the servant acknowledged as she delicately washed Zoe's s hair. After she was done, she dressed Zoe in a new blue gown and smoothed her hair to fall on her back.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCmkYxiYgG
''This will do.'' she said as she relished her handiwork.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Bx4oKVSCA
''You look gorgeous princess.'' she continued 509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7ZJd7cNtp
''Do you want to see your face.''509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0rPqwaucn
Zoe nodded and she went for a bowl of water.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuJbPqPOtW
''Now look at yourself.'' she said as she handed the bowl of water to Zoe. Zoe smiled at her reflection in the water. Even sometimes, she found it hard to believe her radiant beauty. The kind of beauty which the hyenas were known to have; her almost cooper hair, straightly shaped nose, her provocative lips, and the most breathtaking of all, her amber eyes. Zoe, the princess of the hyenas, the next queen of the clan.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5OBkOXSFF
''Rita,'' she said.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmjiRN0vMF
''Yes, princess.''509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQ6JtGsfNt
''I want to go out alone. ''after Zoe concluded her statement, the servant swallowed hard and gave a startled look.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLmA954wen
''Don't give me that look, Rita will be back before you know it.'' She assured her.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgwOfBtDDg
''I don't want to be on today's menu.''509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78IAlxYia2
''Come on, don't say that.''509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOP9iyzOZJ5
''I'm afraid I can't let you go princess.'' the servant spoke the words as if her life was going to be taken after she was done.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡil0I2A3z1Z
''Okay,'' Zoe said. The servant became relieved and headed for the door when she heard Zoe speak.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFLA9FL5JY
''boom!'' Zoe said smirking at the servant and Rita knew it was too late.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzKg9OJoNE
''NO PRINCESS'' Zoe disappeared into thin air before the servant could react.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJe98kfvN9
''I know am going to be used as feast this evening.'' The servant said as she left the room.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUdBZYgoUA
''THE GURU IS HERE! THE PRIEST IS HERE!''509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6SedQhdkE
The guard shouted out as the Guru entered the queen's palace with an army of guards following suit. Queen Nepheli, dressed in total black with her deep green eyes and dark red lips, walked firmly to receive the priest, and her servants followed with their daily routine of rolling a carpet underneath her feet and holding her dress. She wore on her head a crown made up of diamonds about three feet tall, one could query how she could wear something so huge and heavy on her head. The priest stooped to Queen Nepheli and she did the same.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfiIn3OzLU
''It such an honor to have you here'' Queen Nepheli said entranced 509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNSxrlNh2W
''I don't expect you to overture this early'' She continued509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5uJoHm8ol
''You are doing a great job Nepheli'' The priest said. He looked at Nepheli for some time as if relating something to her and soon, everyone was gone.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBowMZUxOBh
''It's just the two of us now Guru.'' She said509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrwhsCyTIs
''I did not only come here because you wanted me to find a gallant for your daughter. '' Guru said509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6fJvxmLXU
''Is something wrong'' she whined out as she signaled a servant with a tray of blood wine to come over509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgbZASFSv8
''No, in fact, i's good news.''509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFq7HV2jvUP
''What is it then. you of all people know how much I love good news'' she smirked as she took a golden chalice of blood wine and brought it to her lips509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmxVJJEtgO
''The chosen one is close to us Nepheli.'' After the priest spoke, Nepheli became numb trying to make meaning of what the priest had just revealed.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXoVm2uPXk
* * *509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2ENBRRMm7
''Why did you have to blindfold me Dami?''Zoe asked as Damianos led her to an unknown scene.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKdCwjwkOr
''It's a surprise remember'' Damianos susurrated into her ear as he guided her from behind.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJLfh11QSF
''Easy my light'' he said.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQUc9ZCdIn
''Okay, are we there''509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmmqrYPL7M
''Don't be so impatient''509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwhAbxA7Ua
''Come on my light, we are almost here.''509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdPolfo6Be
''My love I'm curious.''509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2iXAJuziu
''I know, now stand here.'' he commanded Zoe.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0h53r6aRe
He untied the blindfold and Zoe became stunned by what she saw. Blue Morpho butterflies arranged so beautifully to right ''I love you'' in the air''509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrJaMHvUva
''I love you too Dami said'' She said as she hugged him.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TlU5FPgOE
''Wait, my light, there is more''509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzzGEEKuyv
''More'' Zoe said surprised.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9XuOJskfr
''Let's move to our love tree'' He takes her hand and led her to the tree.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSGkVPaQN8
''What are we coming to do here'' Zoe asked curiously.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjpLzIPwvG
''Zoe, princess of the hyena clan, the light of my eyes, I want to create paradise, but without you, it's impossible'' bowing to Zoe he continued 509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpm08bzasXm
''Let's create paradise together and live in it. Will you be my better half, my life partner, my beloved wife. Tears filled Zoe's eyes after Damianos was done.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WohCPM472
''How can you even ask me Dami, It not suppose to be a question, YES, YES, YES'' She threw her hand in the air and turned herself around as she insisted on her answer, yes. They both laughed ceaselessly as Damianos took Zoe and spun her around. * * *509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCa4V9glFo
''We don't joke with such things Guru.'' Nepheli said angrily 509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnf9LNjjuw
''Do I look like I am joking'' Guru replied509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgb3Exp6CE
''Our ancestors have been waiting for this news for years, it never came and now...''509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1yFejMBWv
''The chosen one is from your league Nepheli. she will rule the whole of Zukard.'' He said after he caught Nepheli short.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRx063TpaDu
''A ' She' '' She spoke with excitement in her voice.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5OCkZG5ux
''Yes, your granddaughter.''509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjpDNAfMab
''My granddaughter, then let's get Zoe married as soon as possible. we need to act so fast that the lions won't see us coming when we ensnare them.''509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8W7YKz51I
''Not so fast Nepheli, She can only have the chosen one with the man our ancestors have provide.''509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzevpiZv5Gd
''So that is where the suitor comes in. who is he?''509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxBGnnk493
''A striped hyena, Achilleas, the son of Iasonas.''509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTChcKX4Bwx
''Achilleas... I least expected him.''509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBjVjsyEvB
''Yes, Nepheli, your daughter must get married before the full moon.''509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4E8yesNJbk
''Before the full moon, that is so soon.''509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwzAxXUvU3
''If you want to defeat the lions, soon is not enough.''509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOrSlfexlf
''How will I get Achilleas to come here?''509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWtPUQYhO5
''No one can refuse to marry a maiden like Zoe. You and I know she is breathtaking.''509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVxs8iHksn
''Yes, that is because she is my daughter. Don't forget in my youth, I was the fairest.''509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQ63xjrDAL
''You still are my queen. Achilleas will be here this evening. You can introduce your daughter to him. She is lucky she will have the chosen child.''509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzh3LRwErje
''Thank you, Guru, for making my day with this news.'' Nepheli sat her blood wine down on the tray again to properly acknowledge the priest. The Guru turned to leave when Nepheli called out to him.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqgz7pqsVU
''What is it, queen?''509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwu4OPDHOKe
''After my daughter gets married, we will range another war. I have to avenge the king's death."509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokHvstXJzT
''It's up to you, queen, it's all up to you.''509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQrjG3q7Rs
''Give me your right leg Zoe'' Damianos demanded 509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkAZdnXT8x
''What for?'' Zoe asked 509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHDGfTapgo
''Just give me your right leg''509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwwcaBACV9
Zoe stretched out her leg to him without another word and he tied an anklet to it.'' this, my light, is a symbol of my love for you.'' he said as he tried it.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2guEnzmqiJ
''I will always love you Dami, but our marriage is almost impossible, It is like treason.'' Zoe divulged 509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDwcmeMJBJ
''love can never be treason Zoe'' Damianos shrieked509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaELtwgDN4
''I know but if we want to be together we will have to elope my love''509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10CWHIwbt7
''Zoe we won't elope'' Damianos said as she cubed Zoe's face in his hand509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStXK8tJC0X
''We will get to marry in front of everyone'' he affirmed 509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ104Ontqvfp
''I have a bad feeling about this dami''509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3PVncuwVH
''Don't be scared, now come'' Damianos led Zoe to the tree and suddenly came to a halt. He began to speak without turning to face Zoe '' let's write our names on the tree, this tree is immortal therefore, our love will be immortal.''. Zoe nodded and took Damiano's hand.'' Yes, let's do it'' she murmured. They both wrote their names on the love tree later, Damianos stood back to read it out loud'. ''ZOE AND DAMIANOS FOREVER'' he hollered. They drew a love at the end of their written declaration. For some time, Zoe got lost in thoughts thinking of what to give Damianos. She remembered the necklace around her neck with her name and took it off. Stretching her hands to Damianos she said ''Take this Damianos, this is a titanium necklace, it will never break'' Damianos took it and hugged Zoe tight. ''We will eventually be together Zoe.'' he muttered out. ''I know.'' she responded and kissed him.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Xq69sE1op
Everything felt awkward for Damianos as he moved into the pride lands. Half of the lion league had transformed into lions and half paved way for him without taking their eyes off him. For some time, he thought he had messed up something but he realized his father would have come looking for him already. When he entered the lion's castle, he was bewildered to see every royal seated but what caught his eyes was a new set of lioness in the castle.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ooKGQLaTY
''Dad was is going on here'' he asked509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPjMTKxlIl
''Son'' Vasilis answered 509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0tWHF0IBU
''Everyone, my son is here!'' he continued. As he spoke, there was some pride in his eyes. Everyone in the kingdom gathered outside the palace, both lions and their colonies. ''come son'' Vasilis said as he led his son to the top balcony of the castle. That place was only used when there was either good or bad news. ''Everyone! listen up!'' Vasilis hollered. "The moment we have all been waiting for is here'' as he spoke a park of lions came from behind, the leader of the park transformed to become human. She looked perfect-deep blue eyes with blond almost white-like hair in a full gown-and she came to stand beside Vasilis'' Father.'' she said. Damianos was completely taken by surprise. The only sister he had was married and out of the castle. However, his doubt was cleared when Vasilis spoke once again. ''The forefathers of the kingdom have spoken. The chosen one is about to be born...'' before Vasilis could finish, everyone begun to jubilate ''That is not all, the chosen one will be born to my son, Damianos'' he continued lifting Damiano's hand ''and lady Halsey'' he once again recapitulated taking the blond blued eyed girl's hand. Damianos became shocked upon his father's last statement, he was broken down the more when Vasilis continued ''They will get married in four days.'' Damianos repeated.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LcyKtVZjO
''You are finally back.'' Rita scolded Zoe 509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Wrisd2P9a
''You are lucky I came early.'' Zoe replied509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBgCpY7Owv
''Change and go have your seat beside your mother.''509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoeD1GB4roq
''Is something wrong, Rita.''509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnlrziw2w1
''No, just let me help you dress.''509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16Sv9O7tDb
''Okay.''509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbmY5VvDsP
Queen Nepheli was addressing a clan of hyenas who sat comfortably in a Cushing pillow when Zoe entered. Zoe stooped to her mom and went to sit beside her. ''You look stunning as always Zoe'' Nepheli whispered ''Thank you mom'' Zoe whispered back. Just then, Achilleas the son of the head worrier of the hyenas entered moving graciously to Queen Nepheli. He bowed to her and Queen Nepheli ordered him to sit at her left-hand side since Zoe occupied the throne on the right. ''Queen Nepheli, what is Achilleas doing here?'' Zoe whispered to her mother. Queen Nepheli ignored her and began to address the clan. ''As the queen of the hyenas and its colonies, I have gathered you all here today because there is both bad and good news.''509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNePfMi64nC
As Nepheli spoke, Zoe became nervous. She felt something was watching her closely and turned to see Achilleas admiring her. ''Can't he just listen to my mother'' she said to herself and became surprised when Achilleas answered ''Why should I listen to her when you are here'' Zoe turned to him and realized he was listening to her mom. How would he have heard something she said to herself. She heard her name being mentioned and looked intensely at Achilleas. He was calling out to her without even speaking. She turned to look at her mom again ignoring her name.509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Glj1jWO7Q
''The bad news is, the Lions are yet to bring forth a chosen one'' Queen Nepheli continued. Everyone began to freak out when Queen Nepheli silenced them.
509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRCt0wZYhH
''However, we will also have our chosen one. The chosen two chosen ones will battle against each other, the one who wins....wins the entire Zuk'' Nepheli recommenced. Nepheli turned to look at her daughter for some time and simpered. ''The chosen ones, the ancestors have said, will come from my daughter princesses Zoe and the great worrier son Achilleas'' After queen Nepheli spoke, everyone began to jubilate once again yet, Zoe found herself up and going to Queen Nepheli on impulse. However, she came back to her senses and sat down to look at Achilleas who was only smirking. Then, the realization began to hit her hard, she raised her gown a little to see the anklet Damianos gave her and remembered the proposal. Her greatest fear had set in and now she was ready than ever to abscond with Damianos. 509Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rc0b9OZUQ
