Blessed Moon: The King's Seer
Page 22
Kang-Dae shook his head. “Please. Just wait a bit longer. I will find a way for you to get back safely. I swear it. Give me some time. I will search the whole world if I have to.”
“Kang-Dae you have to let me go. This is my decision.” He came forward once more, but Arezoo stepped up blocking his path.
“Please, please Serenity, do not do this. I know, I know I should have told you the truth sooner, maybe then we could have come up with a way together, but I was so afraid of this moment. I do not want to lose you. I cannot lose you not this way. Please, please, just stay,” he begged. Serenity fought back tears as she slowly shook her head.
“I can't.”
“You can, yes you can. We can find a way, the both of us. Until then, you can be happy. We can be happy, I promise.” Serenity’s lip trembled and her shoulders shook.
“Maybe, maybe this is where you were meant to be,” he tried to offer desperately doing anything to get her to stay. Serenity swallowed hard and took one more step back. Kang-Dae fell to his knees, tears falling down his cheeks. “Do not leave. Please! I will do anything. You are my wife, my Queen. I need you; this country needs you. I can't lose you. Serenghe, Serenghe!” He shouted out. Serenity froze her heart pounded so hard it hurt. His words are penetrating her soul.
“I- I love you too,” she said with a sob. Hearing her for confession Kang-Dae stood. He reached for her. “Stay. Stay with me. Serenghe,” He said once more. Serenity looked back toward the ridge and then to Kang-Dae, her husband, her love, something she tried to repress but had been unable to. She'd loved him for a while now regardless of how she tried to harden her heart to him. She may not have said it the way he did, but the feelings were there. She wanted to laugh out bitterly. This was the exact thing she wanted to avoid. Was she really about to choose between her love and her family? Is it a choice? Like Kang-Dae said, there was no certainty in that water, with him there could be. Staring into his equally watery and loving eyes she unconsciously took a step forward. She watched as a flash of hope came upon his face.
“Do it!” Yoon’s voice shouted it out.
Serenity stumbled back. It felt like she’d been pushed. As she looked down at the protruding dagger in her chest her head tilted in confusion. She looked at Kang-Dae whose face was white. The pain wasn't immediate, it was her legs that went out first. Before she could fall completely, she grabbed onto the guard pulling her with him as she fell back off the ridge. Kang-Dae’s anguished screams were all she heard as she hit the water. Just as darkness took her, her last thoughts were of him. ‘I could have been happy here. I could have been happy with you.’
Chapter Sixty-Two
“Serenity! Serenity!” Kang-Dae cried out racing to the ledge. Jung-Soo had to tackle him to keep him from going over.
“Let go of me! Let go! We have to get to her!” Jung-Soo struggled but with Kang-Dae’s wild movements he was slowly losing his grip. “Arezoo!” Jung-Soo called out. Arezoo was staring at the lake, frozen. “AREZOO!!!” Jolting her from her shock she turned to him. “Help me!” She raced over. Using her fingers, she quickly hit the right pressure points on the King’s neck. He was unconscious in seconds. Jung-Soo panted as he slowly released Kang-Dae. He stood up and wiped at his nose. When his hands felt wetness, he realized he was crying.
“Have some men get some nets together and a boat. We need to pull her out. No one can go in themselves,” he ordered wiping at his eyes.
“She’s not there,” Arezoo spoke up.
Jung-Soo looked at her. “I saw her fall, but I saw something else, something bright beneath the surface. It was quick but I saw it. She’s not there.”
Jung-Soo let out a harsh wavering breath. His grief wrapped around him.
“It had to be done,” Yoon spoke drawing both his and Arezoo’s attention. “She was abandoning the king and the country. She had denounced her throne. That is treason of the highest order. Death is the only suitable punishment.”
Arezoo moved to draw her sword, but Jung-Soo stopped her. “The law will be on my side. Now that she is gone the King must adhere to council law.” Jung-Soo walked over to him.
“You can arrest me, but the nobles will agree. No man can find me guilty. This was justi-.” Yoon’s words were lost under the choking sounds coming from his throat. Jung-Soo twisted his sword in the man’s gut making him gurgle.
“Guilty,” was all Jung-Soo said looking him in the eyes before yanking his blade out. Yoon held his gaping wound as his blood overflowed in his hands. His paling face filled with pain and fear as struggled to breathe in his last moments.
“Get the King. We’re going home.” Jung-Soo announced voice heavy with emotion.
***
The voices were far away. She could hear them, but she couldn’t make out what they were saying. Drifting in and out of darkness, Serenity struggled to open her eyes, but she couldn’t. Kang-Dae. She wanted Kang-Dae.
“Wake up baby. That’s it. We’re right here.” Her mother’s voice sounded so clear and close. “Go get your father, tell him she’s waking up! Open your eyes baby.”
The light was too bright, it made her want to keep them closed. She tried to turn away from it, but her head felt so heavy. She eventually managed to open her eyes. Her mother’s tear-stained face was the first thing she saw. “Hey baby,” she greeted.
“Mama,” she croaked out.
“Shh, it’s alright you don’t have to talk now. I’m just glad you’re awake.”
“Wh-where-,” she struggled to speak.
“You’re at the hospital. The police finally found you and brought you here. You were hurt pretty bad, but the doctors got to you in time.”
Serenity squeezed her mom’s hand. “It’s okay baby. I‘m right here. Your home now.” Tears welled up in Serenity’s eyes. She was home. She had made it back but the happiness she felt was followed by intense grief. She began to sob. “Oh, it’s okay, honey. I’ve got you. Everything’s gonna be alright now.”
‘No,’ she thought. It wasn’t going to be alright. Even though she’d finally made it home, she’d left her heart behind.
End Book 2
Book 3
The King’s Seer: Intertwining Destiny
Serenity’s made it home, all should be well, but that is far from true. Despite being back with the family she so desperately fought to get back to all she can think about is the life she left behind. Her aching heart grows worse day by day but she doesn’t have anyone to confide in about her impossible adventure, so she keeps it all to herself, letting her grief slowly consume her.
With no seer, no queen, and no love of his life, Kang-Dae is in a bad place. Though those around him try to convince him Serenity is gone for good, he refuses to accept it. There’s something inside him that desperately clings to the hope that she is alive. Though his kingdom needs him, he can’t help feeling Serenity needs him more. The only thing he can think of is getting her back, and he’s willing to cross worlds to do so.