"How will we do it?" Gloria wondered, feeling excited, her anxiousness building.
"I was thinking of using a spell from one of these spell books." He indicated the books on the shelves. Maybe I can curse them, Julian thought. Gloria nodded.
"We'll figure something out. But I have to get back to work now. Matilda's gonna start suspecting something if I don't come back," Gloria said. Gloria left without saying another word to Julian.
Gloria spent the next few days thinking up ways to kill Nar and Simina. She rummaged through Nar's library and his study for spell books and read them. She read about curses and spells, but didn't have the suitable materials to do any of them. She talked with Uncle Julian about it daily, in secret.
Later, Gloria managed to find something in a Deadly Potion Book. It was a potion mix, something called The Choking Death Poison. It collapses the lungs and causes them to fail within two hours. The ingredients for this specific potion are:
● Zormonian Death Root
That's a prime ingredient for all poisonous drinks.
● Lung Poison Dust
● Dead Icy Flower Petals, three
Gloria had seen those ingredients on the shelves in Nar's study. Upon finding out this information, Gloria left the house to meet with Julian. It was Saturday, and she had told him to meet her in a far-off alley behind the jewelry shop. This alley led to the darkest, slummiest area of Winterville. No one went there, so it was the perfect spot.
She found Julian in one of the castle's corridors. Gloria told him she'd found something, but she couldn't tell him right then cause it would have been too risky. So she told him to meet her in the alley in the slums, behind the jewelry shop.
Simina was coming home from Etiquette School when she saw Gloria leaving the house. Simina wondered why Gloria was leaving. She noticed Gloria looked suspicious. She wore a dark cloak with the hood pulled up, covering her face. She looked suspicious, jumpy, and kept looking behind her. Simina watched her walk behind the jewelry shop. This confused Simina. Why was she going down there?
Luckily, Gloria didn't see her. Getting a bad feeling, she decided to follow Gloria. She kept a reasonable distance from Gloria, so she wouldn't see her. Simina pulled the hood up on her cloak. She followed Gloria behind the jewelry shop and down a long, dank alleyway.
As Simina walked farther down the alley, things started to look dirty and slummy. The walls were coated in graffiti, trash strewn all over the ground. Gloria turned a few corners, twisting and turning. Simina followed close behind her, but not too close.
After Gloria turned a corner, she suddenly stopped. Simina stopped and peeked around the corner. Gloria was talking quietly with Nar's uncle, whom Simina recognized. Why was Gloria meeting up with Nar's uncle? Simina strained her ears so she could listen.
"What did you find?" Nar's uncle asked. Simina didn't know his uncle's name.
"I found the directions to make a certain potion. Poison," Gloria whispered.
"So you want to poison him?" the uncle responded. Simina wondered who they were talking about.
"Yes. It's called the Choking Death. The instructions are in the Deadly Potion Book. The ingredients are in the Prince's study. I saw them. We can make it!" Gloria said enthusiastically.
"That's a perfect plan, Gloria. Let's do it," Nar's uncle agreed. Gloria giggled.
"We just need to figure out how to get him to drink it," the uncle whispered, thinking. Simina's mind spun. Who were they talking about? Who were they plotting to poison and kill? Simina reeled.
"How about we just give it to him and tell him to drink it?" Gloria inquired. The uncle shook his head.
"No, Nar's smarter than that. I know he already doesn't trust me," he surmised. Simina held back a gasp. She clamped a hand over her mouth. Nar! They were plotting to kill Nar! Simina couldn't believe her ears. But why? Why? Huge worry bloomed inside of her. This is bad. Simina wanted to cry at the thought of Nar dying from drinking poison. It hurt her. No, not Nar, please, not my Nar. Simina panicked.
Simina managed to gather herself and keep listening. Gloria gasped and held up a finger.
"Ooh! I know! Since the ball is in a few days, we can do it then! We can just slip it in his drink and give it to him. He'll drink it, and then, bye, bye Prince," Gloria sneered evilly. "And then, we can do the same to my annoying, stupid cousin."
Her heart stuttered in her chest. Her knees buckled. What? They were conspiring to kill her, too? Simina couldn't believe it. She knew Gloria hated her, but she didn't think Gloria hated her so much that she wanted to poison her. Simina wanted to cry but knew she couldn't because her crying would make noise and draw them to her. It upset Simina that someone would hate her enough to want to kill her. Simina had never done anything to Gloria; Gloria was just jealous. Gloria hated her the moment she walked through that door.
"And then the throne will be as good as ours," the uncle said. They laughed deviously.
Simina knew one thing. She wasn't going to let them get away with it. She wouldn't let them. Simina had to tell Nar. Panic set in upon her. Thinking she'd heard enough, she quietly ran away, back the way she came in a hurry. Simina ran back home to the stables. She mounted her horse, Wind Rider, and took off at a gallop for Nar's castle.
"Hiya!" Simina shouted and kicked her horse into high gear. She bounded at full speed, speeding toward the castle. She arrived in a few minutes. The castle came into her view. Simina caught sight of Nar walking through the Snowy Woods. Nar heard a horse galloping toward him at a great speed. He turned to see Simina riding toward him on her horse.
"Nar!" she called out urgently. "Nar!" He noticed her voice sounded panicked.
She skidded to a halt on her horse. She swung off Wind Rider and jumped off, landing on her feet in the snow. Nar liked watching her body move as she jumped off that horse. Her face was flushed and pink and her brown hair wisped about her face in swirly waves, bouncing gaily in the wind.
"Nar," she breathed out once more, out of breath. She ran toward him, air puffing out in short breaths.
"What is it?" Nar asked her, his mellow voice calming her. Simina grabbed his arms.
"Nar, Gloria and your uncle are conspiring to kill you," she warned, voice cracking with panic. Nar somehow wasn't surprised.
"I figured as much. It's my uncle; he isn't to be trusted," Nar told her. Simina put her arms around him.
"They want to kill me too," she whined. Tears started to pool in her eyes.
"How do you know this information?"
"I heard them talking about it privately in a deserted alleyway. Oh please, Nar, you have to believe me," Simina pleaded. A tear leaked from her eye. Nar ignored her tears.
"What did they say?" Nar's voice sounded serious, curt, and tight. Simina gulped, swallowing the throb in her throat.
"They plan to put poison in your drink at the ball, and the same to me. You have to stop them, Nar! Please!" Simina's beautiful face was marred with worry. Nar didn't like her looking like that. She was too pretty to cry and be worried.
"I can't do anything," Nar said plainly. Simina did a little "hmph."
"Why not?" she complained.
"There is no evidence. So far, you are the only witness to this. It's only your word against theirs," Nar explained. Simina squirmed.
"Then at least cancel the ball, Nar; you can't go through with it!" Simina begged. Nar smiled, amused at her concern.
"I can't do that. That would look too suspicious. And it seems unlikely that they'd try to poison me in front of everyone. I'm sure the last thing they want is a spectacle," Nar said.
Simina shook her head. "No! I don't think they care about that! They just want you dead."
He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It's going to be okay. I promise."
She fell silent and let her tears come. She did not feel reassured at all. Simina hugged him and buried her face in the crook of his neck. She cried into his neck, pouring out her sorrows and worry onto him. Simina sobbed and her chest heaved. She cried so hard that her chest hurt. Nar held her and let her cry. He touched her head and stroked her hair, saying nothing. Simina breathed out and sniffed.
"I don't want them to kill you," she whimpered and let out a strangled sob, and then a shaky sigh.
"They will not kill me. I will not let them. Thank you for warning me. Now I know," Nar assured. He pulled away from her and looked closely at her face, which he took in his hands. He offered a small, sweet smile and wiped away her tears with his thumb.
"Oh, Simina," Nar sighed, stroking her cheek. Simina leaned into his hand.
"Walk with me?" He thought a walk through the Snowy Woods might calm her. Smiling slightly, Simina nodded. Nar took her hand, clasping it tightly, and they started walking side by side through the woods. Simina squeezed Nar's hand.
"I'm sorry for crying," she apologized, ashamed of herself for making such a fuss.
"It's okay," he said. Snowy white trees closed in around them as they walked further into the dense forest. Though the snow was a light, frosty blue, sometimes the snow looked white by how the sun shined. Enjoying the forest's beauty, Simina reached up a hand to stroke a tree branch covered in snow. She watched a white bird fly from tree to tree. She watched the Boolu creatures—like Zormonia's version of squirrels, but a lot cuter—run around, chasing each other and playing. Simina smiled. She liked the peaceful tranquility of the Snowy Woods.
"It's very pretty here." She looked at Nar. "Why is there always snow here?" Simina noticed that all year around, it was always cold here, always covered in snow.
"I've enchanted the land, so it'll always be winter here. Winter's my favorite season, mainly because I enjoy the snow," Nar answered. Simina didn't mind winter.
"I like autumn," Simina told him. "I like all the colors." Nar changed the subject.
"I'd like it if you'd come to the ball. I'll send you a personal carriage," Nar whispered softly. Simina took her hand from Nar's and turned to look at him. She looked worried again.
"I don't know now. After I found out they're trying to kill me, I don't think I should go," Simina cried. Nar shook his head.
"They are trying to kill us both, Simina. And you don't have to worry, nothing is going to happen," Nar reassured. Simina leaned back against a tree.
He sighed and brought a hand up to her cheek. He cupped her face with his hand.
"Now I know that you must love me. You warned me of this threat because you care about me. If you didn't love me, why would you care?" Nar surmised, murmuring to Simina. Simina began to blush, and Nar knew that he was right. Even though she didn't say yes, she didn't deny it either.
Nar observed Simina, taking in her beauty. Her cheeks were red from blushing. Snowflakes dotted her hair, landing on her eyelashes. Her eyes were a dark, sugary honey and her lips were plump and bright pink. Nar traced a finger across her bottom lip. He yearned to kiss them.
"Close your eyes, Simina," Nar whispered. A nervous lump rose in her throat, an unwelcome sensation.
"What are you going to do?" Her voice shook.
"Nothing," Nar whispered. Simina obeyed and closed her eyes. She waited. A moment passed. Then, Nar's soft lips pressed gently upon hers as he kissed her.
An alarm started to sound off inside of Simina's head. She wasn't expecting this. She didn't know what to do. Nar moved his lips against hers, and her shoulders relaxed as she grew accustomed to it. Simina kissed him back, feeling a strange but pleasant electrical sensation run through her. Nar cupped her face, pulling her closer, and tilted her head back slightly, deepening his kiss. Simina liked the feeling. Their bodies fit together like two puzzle pieces, perfectly conjoined and matching. She liked Nar being against her.
The heat from his body pulsed into her hand beneath the fabric of his shirt.
She liked the feeling of his lips on hers. Simina's breathing turned rapidly, and warmth rose in her cheeks. Nar heard a soft, little squeak of a sigh escape from Simina just as he pulled away. Immediately, guilt rushed into her. She knew her father's opinions about the Dark Prince. Was she betraying him by kissing Nar? He'd lose his head and go nuts if he knew what she was doing right now. But her father wasn't there, was he? Still feeling guilty, Simina slapped Nar. Not hard enough to hurt, just a small, scolding slap.
"You brute," Simina snapped, though there was no heart in it. Nar laughed.
"Stop pretending. I know you kissed me back," Nar mused. Simina saw a twinkle of desire gleaming in his eyes. Simina was shy when it came to expressing her feelings. Instead, she said,
"Kiss me again." Nar smirked and granted her request. He kissed her again, but this time more passionately. Simina put her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. Her fingers threaded through his hair, wisping through each strand. Nar took her by the waist, pulling her close to him so their bodies touched. Simina had never been so physically close to him before. The kissing soon progressed and got hungrier and wilder. Simina never thought it would be possible to want someone until this moment. Their breathing became heavy, and every time their lips broke apart for a short moment, Simina would sigh.
"Nar..." Simina sighed, breathing out his name, caught up in him: his smell, his feel, and his lips. Nar held his lips on hers for a long time before finally breaking away. Nar breathed out, letting out a huge breath, panting. Simina breathed heavily too, feeling winded and very out of breath, face flushed a deep, rosy pink. Their breath puffed out into the air in white vaporized clouds.
"We have to stop," Nar breathed. He licked his lips, the look of arousal in his eyes.
"If we keep going, I...I don't know what will happen." Nar's voice dropped to a low, deep husk. Full of butterflies, her stomach fluttered with a thrill. Simina was also quite aroused and had very intimate thoughts about Nar.
"I should probably get home. My aunt will wonder where I am if I don't hurry along."
Nar pushed away from her. "Okay."
Simina pushed away from the tree. She stood on her tiptoes and gave Nar a goodbye kiss. He sharply inhaled as she did so. Simina gave him a long, sweet kiss. She did not want to pull away from his tempting, juicy lips. It took quite an effort for her to pull away, but she finally did.
"Bye," she breathed against his lips. Simina walked away, toward her horse. Nar watched her. Simina, as she mounted her horse, realized that was her very first kiss. She smiled and blushed. Simina gave Nar one more glance until finally riding away. Nar didn't take his eyes off her until she rode away out of sight.
Once she was gone, Nar straightened, composed himself, and walked briskly back to the castle.