The sun rose lazily but the rain had stopped falling. The day struggled to break free from the gathered clouds and paved the way for the sun to dry up the wet grounds.

Luana maneuvered herself and her horse through the rocky paths that led to the big building, her heart heavy and thrown in confusion. She tried to believe Zeidan was doing this to make Lyne feel wanted at least and not because of anything else but she just couldn't keep it in her mind. She stormed her way through to Lyne's room. It's high time she knows her place and stops thinking she can have a place in Zeidan's heart.

From afar, she could see a few guards standing about five feet away from her room, all standing at attention and she knew immediately that Zeidan is inside with her. She made to enter but was shocked when two of the guards crossed their spears to stop her from going inside.

"What the heck is going on?" She asked, her gaze hardened as if the guards were beginning to forget who she is.

"You're not stopping me from entering the room, are you?"

"I must say, Luana," she heard Chloe's voice as she walked up beside her. "Your ability to think that everything has to go your way stinks. Why can't you learn how to stick to the rules?"

"Chloe. You know, your attitude disgusts me..."

"The feeling is mutual." She scoffed.

"I'm sorry if you don't know what it's like to love someone but I can't help it. Just stick to your celibate ass and I'll stick to my love."

"I thought love isn't supposed to be forceful. I thought it's supposed to come naturally." Chloe shook her head as well as clicked her tongue. "Apparently, this is an obsession and not love. No wonder, ordering you around seemed quite easy for the King."

"Hs is the King. Ordering people is what he does." Luana defended, anger welling inside of her and already wishing she was made Queen as imprisoning Chloe would be easy then. 

Chloe's gaze was fixed on her face. "I wonder why he never does that with Lyne."

"That's because..." She laughed nervously, then sobered. "Lyne is a new bride." 

"I am very well aware of that," Chloe replied mildly.

"And you're just an army who is prone to getting a death sentence from me once I become the Queen."

"Dream on." Chloe folded her arms.

"You don't think I'll be the Queen?" Luana chuckled. "He said it himself not quite long that he was waiting for the best..."

"Waiting for never!" Chloe raised her voice and tutted. "Snap out of it, Luana. Since he married Lyne, he forgot about his promise. The King is in no way going to make you the Queen when the woman he loves is here. Doesn't it sound stupid to you?"

"What sounds stupid right now is your voice." 

Chloe snorted. "Of course, I sound annoying. When you poisoned Lyne's tea..."

"I didn't poison anything. I simply told her she should have been more careful."

Luana's eyes were widened now. 

"What made you think I'll ever do that..."

"You added sunset flower powder to her tea and I saw you so don't you dare deny it."

There was silence at first, except for the morning birds chirping a melodious tune. Luana swallowed and prayed hard that the guards hadn't heard them.

"How did you know?" She had leaned in, her voice so low it was barely a whisper.

"I have always watched you, Luana. You even made it known to everyone that you don't mind destroying whoever comes in the way of whatever you want. But beware, Lyne is different and you will not touch her." 

"Oh, you watch me. Lyne will regret coming to Vampire city and I'll see to it."

"You mean when she is about to become a Vampire? I mean, look at the both of them, locked in a room." Luana followed Chloe's gaze at the door that was heavily guarded. "Getting breakfast, lunch, and dinner in bed. Having a good time and by a good time, you know what I mean." Chloe chose her words with care, waiting for Luana to process each of those words.

"It's a pity you're not invited or allowed into the party. Well, why? You don't deserve to be in the circle."

The words burned her heart, Luana's face was transforming and she pounced on Chloe who immediately brought out her sword and turned it horizontally to block her from getting bitten. She pushed her away and Luana took out two knives from each side of her pockets. 

"Time for some drama, uh?" Luana cracked her neck, getting ready but Chloe had flown out of the building to the field right next to the stable. She followed suit. 

Soon, they were fighting out on the vast field as the sun rose. The maids had a good laugh when Chloe pinned Luana to the ground but when the position was reversed, they flinched as she was punching Chloe so hard. The guards rushed towards them and pulled her away.

Chloe laughed amidst her bruised face as she pointed toward Luana.

"Behold, the Queen of Vampire City who cannot refrain or comport herself. I'm sure we'll all be erased from existence only a month after your coronation." She spat on the ground mocking her.

"You idiot!" Luana yelled, her face red from anger as she made to charge at her. 

"I'll make sure I see you rot in jail!" 

"The same way you threatened Wikh?" Chloe countered as she tried standing up, her body covered in sand. They both faced each other as if involved in a duel. 

"What do you mean?"

"You're quite good." She gave a mocking compliment and she sounded smug.

"I don't understand..."

"And you can be razz sometimes." A slight smile lifted her lips.

Luana shrugged. "Razz is what I do. It must be hard pretending to be good when you are the snake here."

"I see." She studied her for a moment. "And does being the snake mean saving those in trouble..."

"You're an expert in such matters, Chloe, in keeping your evil doings secret."

"What evil-doing? Because the last time I checked, you poisoned someone."

"You should have arrested me the moment you found out. Why didn't you do that if you were so sure of your accusation?"

Indignation swept away her stance, but only for a moment. "You are rushing, darling. I have a lot to prove how evil you are. All for what? All to become the Queen?"

"Oh, it's much better than being a fighter for someone for the rest of my life." Pain colored her tone and Chloe's face almost softened.

"Well, you think so. Being a fighter is better because your dignity is still intact." She replied dryly.

"It's more complicated than you can ever think of." 

"I am an excellent observer of life, and I've seen you many times and how you look at the King."

Luana freed herself from the guards who held her by yanking her hands. 

"What do you mean?" Her heart thumped against her chest as she wondered what Chloe meant by saying she can see the way she looks at Zeidan. 

She began to move closer to her, her short hair rumpled and her face partly swollen. "Just a stare and I can see your bare soul."

She laughed lightly. "You have no knowledge of my soul."

"Ah, but I do. The way you stare at him as if you want to devour him. Luana, you're..."

"In love? Yes. You're right."

"Selfish." Chloe blurted out much to her surprise. "All you ever cared about is getting to be the Queen and you even made it obvious when you asked me to recruit young ones into the army. What kind of a person with empathy will ask me to do that? You don't even understand what a Queen is supposed to possess is to have good leadership."

She stopped in front of her. "Is it too much to stop dreaming now?" Patting her shoulder, she left her to her thoughts. Thoughts that were filled with realization coupled with anger and pain. If indeed Zeidan is still considering making her the Queen, why has he not done that yet?

"By the time I become Queen, I'll make sure you don't see the next day, Chloe."