章 3: 2. Cave

Nefeli Island.

Beautiful was the words she could use to describe it. Palm trees almost every where although this was just the front view of the island.

Nefeli town was gorgeous and she would have loved to have spent her day walking around exploring every part of the town but she couldn't since sleep had been bothering her since morning.

She was one to suffer from sea sickness so her journey to the island was spent quite uncomfortably.

The scholars she had accompanied were nowhere close to exciting. They kept to their books and Everytime she caught one of them staring at her, they quickly looked away as if they were guilty.

But she'd later found out that they were to meet with other officials from other kingdoms here at the island so she rested before they embarked on another journey.

She rested for the rest of the evening and waited for the following days journey.

✪✪✪✪

Early in the morning the following day they embarked on the second half of the journey.

The journey to Nefeli south wasn't a short one but they arrived in no time. At some point they left the carriage and everything so they had to walk on foot with their bags and all.

As a princess all her luggage was carried by her guards, all she had was a small bag for her essentials. She'd dressed in leather pants for easier movement and warmth.

The lead scholar guided them through the forest that would lead them to the so called treasure.

They had increased in number and there was a prince she had been trying to avoid since they had an unfinished history.

"For how long do you intend on avoiding me, Princess Neera?"

"For as long we are together"

"Aren't you ever sorry for what you do, sleeping around with any man you meet with?"

"Don't you dare insult me Luc, just because you slept with me once doesn't mean I sleep with just anyone. It was one time Luc, get over it I like someone now"

"And who is this someone, a prince I might know?"

"It's none of your business" she snapped walking faster and away from him.

Her family had visited his kingdom when she was younger and spent some days there, her father was seeking an alliance contract with his father's kingdom which at this time had been broken due reasons that they didn't clear about.

During the night of the party to celebrate her father's success, he lured her, drunk, to his room and slept with her. The following day when she awoke somber and found herself in his room.

She left immediately after but after offering him a hot slap when he tried to pull her into the bed again.

So she really didn't understand why she was to blame for anything, he was the one who lured her. Not the other way around.

The reason he actually joined them on this tour, she didn't understand.

"I think it should be, your father is really desperate for an alliance again and there might be a marriage proposal for we two" he said rather too confidently making her falter in her steps.

They were a distance behind the scholars.

"I do not believe you and I know you're lying" her father would never sell her off due to alliances with another kingdom but it wasn't rare for such a thing to happen.

"Why would he send for me to join you, he wanted us to spend some time together" Luc said quickening his steps to go ahead of her.

That made alot of sense but she would think about that later since the lead scholar announced that they had reached the entry point.

As usual for treasure, it was only in caves underground. She was a scholar too, she studied alot back at home but she was in her nasty girl era.

And she had reveled in it until her father had sent her out.

"From our studies, the temple is in the cave ahead we shall all go ahead together no one should try to split from us.

"For the security of each of us and some information we hadn't told our royals" the scholars voice turned wary as he turned to look at both her and Luc.

My breathing escalated when her eyes met that of the scholar. What had they not told her or in short the King?

"The door's to the temple can only be opened by a Royal"

She heaved out a sigh of relief, that wasn't so scary.

"Why?" came from behind her. Obviously, Luc was going to ask but low key she had to know why only a royal could open the temple.

"Because someone from a royal family was the one to seal it close with their blood" he answered vaguely as if it was some kind of general knowledge.

She frowned not really understanding something, if the temple was sealed that meant that either;

The Royal had sealed the place shut to protect his wealth from other royals or other people- so then what was the point of the name, Demon's Hidden Treasures.

Or;

The royal had been sealing the temple shut to lock something in there. Something dangerous and harmful, something that shouldn't be let out hence the sealing with blood- a demon maybe-hence the name.

She didn't believe in the supernaturals but anything was possible.

Was coming to this temple a good idea?

Luc walked ahead of her as they walked in the cave that led to the temple. A chill crept up her spine, terrified tingles snaking up her arms.

She slipped on her coat to cover the chill.

The air grew thick and the flickering torches cast eerie shadows on the walls.

Why was it so creepy?

The more they delved deeper into the cave the more she felt as though her sense of hearing was muffled.

The silence felt too loud yet not since it was broken by the chatter of the scholars, Luc's conversation with his entourage and their footsteps that echoed to the end of the cave.