Previously...

Zuber sat on the bed clutching his head. He gritted his teeth as the pain became unbearable. After some time Kyrah entered his room. She found him asleep and sighed audibly. She wanted to know why he was ignoring her. She left feeling dejected. She didn't even suspect that Zuber had fallen unconscious...

King Marsel and his Queen Lilah begin their path towards the palace. Though they look clearly fatigued, their faces showed a clear determination and newfound hope to reach their home quickly.

Lilah smiled at her husband and broke the silence first.

"I can't wait to meet my baby!" she gushed her voice an obvious mixture of both happiness and sadness. A stray tear made its way out from her hazel eye. Her tenderness and sensitive nature were evident from her emotional state.

The king stopped in his tracks and hugged her tightly, pressing a kiss lightly on her forehead. She cried in his chest as her heart was filled with worry for her daughter.

"Me too! I am so relieved that you are alright," he said, kissing her cheeks repeatedly, smiling at her sweetly. Lilah blushed and hugged him once again.

"Never leave me and go like that Lilah..." he murmured against her neck. "Whoever did this will pay dearly."

"Do you know how worried I was?" he added further, stroking her cheek with his long finger.

"With our feeble energies, we cannot transform yet. I mean you... I cannot shift anymore," he sighed. "We have to continue our path on foot."

"Where is your crown?" Lilah gasped.

"I gave it in exchange for the tonic. I couldn't lose you. Never!"

Lilah smiled sadly and looked into his light-brown eyes. They were filled with love and genuine care. She wished Kyrah would also live happily with Prince Judewin like them.

"You will get your crown back, Marsel. The Goddess won't be so unfair to you," she said optimistically.

"Three more days and we will reach our home," Marsel sighed happily.

With that they marked their ways once again, to return to their home, to their only daughter, Lilah's baby and Marsel's dearest princess, Kyrah.

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"Three more days," Hiram grinned for a brief second, which changed into a crooked smile.

"I will get my NaagMani which will give me my full powers. 22 long years... and finally I will gain victory. It feels so good when things fall into place."

"Jeanette darling, I am waiting for your arrival," he whispered, his eyes darkening with lust and obsession. Once I become a full serpent, you're all mine!"

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Three more days and I have to take both Kyrah and Zuber with me to the palace. How am I even going to do this? Jeanette thought. Her shoulders sagged as if a great burden was placed on them.

She felt dejected and helpless. All they had done was to be nice to her. For once, she felt genuinely cared for and had a real friendship. And what had she done? Moreover what all she would have to do next?

"Goddess why is all this happening to me? What did I do to deserve all this?" She cried her heart out. Beneath her eyes formed dark circles. She looked worn out and guilt had rendered her sleepless.

Zuber's headache had gone from bad to worse and it was all due to Jeanette. She reminisced how she had poured a little liquid into his roll. She despised herself. Zuber had been nothing but so kind to her. Even without knowing who she was, he had let her stay in his house.

And Kyrah? She was such a sweet girl. Jeanette felt she could become her best friend. Though she was a princess, she had no airs about it.

The sad thing is that she doesn't even know what her "beloved uncle" has plotted behind her back. And what am I doing? Assisting him in his evil plans." Jeanette balled her fists. 

"What's the use of my pathetic life? What will I do with a long span of almost forever? Neither do I have a family nor anyone who loves me. I just have a living nightmare, my so-called 'foster parent' who is hell-bent on getting his powers and making my life miserable," she said through gritted teeth.

"Goddess guide me please," she wailed. "I don't want to lose my friends." She sniffled and blew her nose. Her eyes turned puffy and red.

"Jean, are you alright?" a voice startled her from behind. She quickly wiped her tear-stained face and turned to find Kyrah standing there. She gave Kyrah a small smile and shook her head.

"Jean, don't lie to me. What happened? You can share it with me," Kyrah took her hand in hers.

"Just a bad dream Kyrah," she said out loud. I have so much to share that a whole book can be written on the tortures that I have faced.

"I understand. It's okay, it's just a dream, right? Forget it." Kyrah consoled, hugging her by the side.

"Thanks," Jeanette said curtly. She didn't return the hug and left from there hurriedly.

Kyrah was taken aback and hurt by her reaction.

She opened her eyes to find Zuber approaching. He sat down on the sofa and buried his head in his hands. He looked terribly ill. His cheeks had sunken, his eyes lost their sparkle and she felt so bad about it.

She sat down next to him, giving him a small smile. Zuber didn't even look at her as he heard footsteps from behind. Sure enough, Jeanette walked in again and looked at them stoically.

Kyrah lifted her hands to massage Zuber's head. He stopped her hand midway and glared at her as much furiously as he could. It broke his heart to do this, but he had to. Everything was for her safety. He didn't want any harm to come to her. He couldn't take any chances. What if Jean wanted to harm Kyrah?

"Don't touch me!" he snapped at her, pushing her hand away from him. Kyrah looked at him with wide eyes and was shocked as she never expected this.

"Get out of my sight!" his voice boomed.

"What did you do, Kyrah?" Jeanette sneered at her. "You can see that he is in pain. Don't trouble him."

I'm sorry Kyrah. Once, I start being rude to you, you won't be much affected by my betrayal, Jeanette thought. Her heart weighed a ton with all the sadness. She wanted to cry her heart out once again, but she couldn't.

Her eyes fell on Zuber who was moaning in pain. She pressed her bony fingers on his head and started massaging it. Zuber didn't protest nor he uttered a word.

Seeing this, Kyrah ran away from there and bolted herself in Zuber's room. Tears were threatening to spill out from her ocean blue eyes. She clutched her chest, her heartbeat had increased erratically. She sat down with her back to the door.

"They hate me! Why? Oh God, why?" She sobbed loudly. Her voice choked, her throat went dry and she felt awful. "I thought we were friends, Zuber. Why did you do this to me? You don't mind Jean helping and you push my hand away?" She screamed, anger and jealousy consuming her mind.

Her eyes started stinging, the burning felt as if a flame had been lit in them. Her face was drenched in her own tears. She threw a punch on the floor, her knuckles throbbed in pain and stung. She was surprised at herself, as she had never been this angry at anything before.

She got up quickly, wiping her tears and breathed deeply, to calm herself. She unbolted the door and came face-to-face with Zuber, who didn't look any better. They glanced at each other briefly; Zuber's expression was sorrowful, while Kyrah's showing her resentment.

They stood there, each waiting for the other to break the silence. Kyrah frowned and left hurriedly without a word, leaving Zuber dejected.

She sat down and untied her hair. The curly golden locks looked messy and wild just like her present state. She brushed them furiously without any pity, uncaring that many of her beautiful strands were breaking and that her head hurt from her actions.

"You don't want to go bald, do you?" Jeanette's voice sneered, cutting her concentration.

"Why do you care?" Kyrah spat back.

"Just a kind gesture, darling. You can't win over Zuber if you go bald." She laughed emotionlessly.

Kyrah balled her fists. She felt a surge of anger and sadness when Zuber's name was mentioned. She didn't even know why Jeanette was acting this way. She badly wanted to punch her in the face but refrained from doing so.

"I don't need your advice. I'm better off on my own without you, fake friend..." Kyrah spoke venomously. Her eyes blazed with anger and something else too, which was unknown to her. She walked away leaving Jeanette rooted to her spot, in utmost shock.

The ocean blue of her eyes was disrupted and filled with a red color, sparkling her orbs like ruby. It looked as if her eyes were on fire.

"Holy Goddess! What was that?" Jeanette said fearfully and clutched her chest.

Hi, everyone! How are you all? I am back with a new update. A long chapter this time. Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle! Too much drama, eh? 🤔🤔🤔

Seriously, I was like this the whole time I wrote this chapter- 😡😡😡. My sister was like, "What happened to you?" LOL. 😉

On a serious note, how was this update? Kyrah is being treated rudely by both Zuber and Jeanette. I feel sad for her. What do you think of the change in her eye color? 😦😱 What is going to happen next? Any guesses? Comment in and let me know!

I guess my book is pretty much at its half. The next chapters are going to be more dramatic. Stay tuned buddies! Thank you, everyone, for reading so far. Your support means a lot. 💓💓💓

Like this chapter? Please make me happy by clicking the 🌟 below. Thanks! 😉 Have a nice day/night everyone!

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