The Search For The Reincarnated Queen

"This may cause you pain, Mackenzie," Oberon reaches a glass of green liquid from herbs with a spell to undo his curse, "But, don't worry, after that, I assure you, your curse will be lifted. Even though I am not sure what the effects will be."

Macky nodded and drunk the liquid, and it was true after finishing the whole glass, he felt intense pain all over his body. As if something was pressing his whole body with a heavy stone.

He fell on the couch while Ben held him down, avoiding to make him fall to the ground.

Velo and Oberon murmur the same spell they put on the herb to help the curse be broken.

Macky cried loud, his veins rose from his fair smooth skin, his face was turning red, as he clenches on his clothes.

Everyone was on the edge of their seats the whole time the ritual was taking place, while Taylan was walking around the Kingdom, checking the preparation for their return.

"Trace, have you fixed the fountain?" He asked while they make their way to the village of humans.

The cobblestone road was nostalgic. Taylan remembered running through the same road with the Queen when her family found out about their engagement.

Trace nodded while walking behind the King.

He also remembered that night. He was the one who stopped the Queen's family from hurting Taylan. If he didn't arrive at the right time with the others, the King might've been badly hurt by the torch, swords, and daggers held by the Queen's family.

But after that night, the Queen's family still threatened him.

The King, Taylan's father, even countered attacked her family. He sent vampires and harmed some of her relatives.

It was chaos.

Taylan and E were on the verge of breaking their engagement.

Taylan's father even held him back to the castle. He was dying of thirst, but his father ignored his plea.

After growing up in that miserable castle, where he was treated as a prisoner of his own father in his own house after his mother died, the only key he saw to freedom was E.

Without anyone to lean on, only guards to secure his safety, he was digging his own grave just before she came.

He was searching for fatal potions in the library when E trespassed. If she didn't arrive and shifted his attention, he might've been dead the next morning.

Taylan wondered why is it that it only occurred to him about that precious memory? He almost forgot about that.

Still, even if his father once again imprisoned him, E made a way to get in through the library. She let him drink her blood, and unfortunately--not really for them, the King died on his sleep.

It was already expected that he'll die anytime with his age.

But the time of his death was utterly perfect.

After a week, E and Taylan decided to get married.

"My King," Trace called, he stopped in front of a mansion in the human village, "This is the Queen's house."

Taylan turned towards the mansion, and he remembered himself and the Queen coming out of the mansion being followed by her angry family.

He chuckled and nodded, "Yes, it is."

The mansion still looks sturdy, except for the vines covering the door and windows.

"Where are they now?" Taylan asked.

"After the Queen died and you fell asleep, they decided to act like any normal human and left the kingdom. We never had any information about them ever since."

"Is that so..."

Taylan took a last glance over the place where his love grew up and continued walking.

He suddenly asked himself, does he have any knowledge about the Queen's past?

No, there's none. He doesn't even have any knowledge about her childhood. Did she use to play tea party? Did she climb trees? Pick flowers and make flower crowns?

They used to talk about him only. Their conversation circled around him and the castle.

Since Taylan was always alone, he never had anyone to talk to about his thoughts, and when E came, she was curious about him, and he let himself spill everything his mind's been keeping in.

He also became too focused on other things where he can take full control such as his job as a king. He lost track of time and ended up going home late when his wife's sleeping, and go out while it's still early in the morning.

Taylan stopped and turned to Trace, and asked with a frown, "Was I a bad husband?"

Since he already suffered the loss of his Queen, he wants to cherish every moment with her now and avoid making mistakes.

Trace flinched, he knew deep inside that the King was a good providing husband, but not as loving as how the Queen expects him to be.

He hesitated to answer, but the way his king stares at him with guilt made his head nod.

"From what I saw based on the Queen's actions, My King, I think you weren't a great husband."

Since Taylan wasn't able to see it before, everyone else turned a blind eye, even the Queen.

They pretended that there's nothing wrong with how he treats her, and spend his time at work instead of having tea with her.

Taylan nodded and looked away.

Not only was he away when she died, but he's also always been away from her ever since she was alive.

"But, the Queen never showed that you were lacking, My King. That means that she understands your position." Trace tried to consol his king, but he knew that it won't change the past.

"I don't even know her favorite color," Taylan whispered, "Why does she even love me?"

"Can you remember what the Queen said to her family when she chose to be with you?" Trace asked while glancing over the workers who are working on the fountain in the middle of the kingdom as they go back to the castle.

"It doesn't matter whether he's a human or not. He still has a heart that can warm my cold nights. It doesn't matter if he drinks blood, he can take every inch of my life and spend it with him. I love him because he gave me the meaning to live." Trace restated the Queen's word which made Taylan stop walking and stared at Trace with tearful eyes and smiled.

"Why is that every precious memory of her are all forgotten by my mind?" He asked.

"Maybe because this is the first time you realized that those memories are precious to you, My lord." Trace answered.

Both of them continued checking the kingdom, while Willow contacted Ben, who was assisting Macky to rest after the ritual was finished.

"Where are you? Where's Macky? He was supposed to report earlier."

Ben g.r.o.a.n.e.d after putting Macky in the guest room in Aunt Sussie's house. Macky's body had grown, and he's as heavy as Ben now.

E jumped for joy when she saw Macky grow into his real age. This was one of their wishes before, and now it has come true.

"Uh, I took him out to drink some hot choco, we'll come back later," Ben answered Willow then he sat down on the floor to take a breath. "By the way, how's Eli? Is she still staring at something?"

Willow glanced at Eli, she's staring outside again, "Yes, she is. By the way, do you know what Eli loves to eat? I'll prepare for dinner later."

"She loves curry. She'll finish three servings of that."

"Curry? I will cook that then."

Willow saw Eli flinched after hearing her favorite food, but her face is still stiff.

It's a question of how she got the control of her body earlier, but now that she reacted, Willow will have to experiment with things.

He ended the call and stared at Eli. Even though she cut her hair too short, it still fits her.

He sat down in front of her, then he remembered the quote she shared from his timeline.

"If they come back with coffee, it's meant to be..." he whispered.

He rested his chin on his hand and brushed some of her hair off her face.

He hated her because she's a human, a weak person that needs protection, just like how he protected the Queen before. But her character was undeniable amazing.

It's such a shame that she's stuck with her destiny like this. If she wasn't the Queen, Willow would love to be close to her. She's entertaining to be with.

It's disappointing that everything that he finds interesting ends up to be for the king.

Willow held Eli's cheeks and he found himself an inch away from her face.

He saw Eli's eyes grow with surprise.

Her pale face changed. Her skin turned rosy white, her lips came to a pink color, and her eyes are full of shock.

"I'm sorry, human," Willow said and stood up.

Eli, on the other hand, was stuck in a blank state. Just earlier, Willow was acting like a knight-in-shining-armor, but not, he's like a prince charming ready to awaken his love, but it did work for Eli.

She again got control of her body. Maybe because she was overwhelmed with the situation she was in.

And her body seems to be tired to fully process emotions.

She's been awake for a whole night and she hasn't taken a rest yet and the sun's already coming to bed.

Eli rubbed her arms with a fl.u.s.tered face.

But she can feel irritation all over her body starting from her bones to the very end of her hair.

She knows Willow knows that she's not the Queen, but since she looks like her, he must be feeling his adoration for her again.

The way he looks at her earlier. It was something Eli will want to see in the person she'll cherish, but it is for E. It has to be for E. She knows their past. Willow only treated her like an annoying kid in the library.

He did share some of his stories, but it was just out of the blue, there's nothing to it. Willow's not for her... nor Taylan.

"That's fine, I..." Eli stood up and headed to the bedroom, "I'll take a quick rest while I can control this body."

She was about to open the door when Willow stopped her.

"Wait, how can you control your body?" He asked.

Eli's eyes landed on Willow's blushing face which made her feel embarrassed more. His hands over her hand even sent her body to burn in the fire. She gulped and looked away from him, "I think when I feel strong emotions, I can control my body, and I do feel weak right now, which maybe is why I can control it."

Willow nodded and let her go, yet a strong urge of thirst came rushing through his body.

Just like before, they'll take their turn to drink some of the Queen's blood, it's as if his body is waiting for that turn.

Taylan and the other guards felt the thirst, and they knew who feels it.

Trace felt scared for Willow.

Their King hasn't even tasted Eli's blood, but Willow got the first urge to drink. Knowing Taylan, he will not let this pass.

Trace took a quick glance at his King's darkened and heavy expression, and he knew, Willow will better prepare.

"Let's go back," Taylan said under his breath.

Eli furrowed her brows as she assesses Willow's frozen state.

"Are you..." Eli murmurs.

She remembered this same expression from everyone from E's memory. Whenever they freeze like this, and they look a bit helpless, with their sweats running down their neck and red eyes, just like how Willow looks like right now, they're at THAT state.

"... thirsty?" Eli continued and went in front of Willow and tilted her head to look at his face.

He's turning pale.

"Hey! Will! If you need it to go ahead," she said and reaches her wrist to Willow, "Just don't bite too deep. It might hurt."

Willow looked at Eli, how can she just offer herself like that. She's the Queen. They can only drink her blood with the King's permission, and Taylan hasn't even bitten her yet.

"Why? You shouldn't offer yourself so freely." Willow chuckled and took a seat. He's starting to feel the dryness of his mouth and his mind is spinning.

"Because you're my friend. I know things are complicated, but I don't want you to suffer."

"Eli, can't you understand? Taylan hasn't bitten you yet, which means you're not yet his. And if I bit you now, that means..."

Eli's face turned red, "...I'll be yours..." she muttered.

Of course, that's how E became Taylan's Queen. He bit her.

And if Willow bit her, he'll be hers. Not that she hates it, but she wouldn't mind at all--- no, this is not the time to think about that. Eli shakes her head and cleared her throat.

"Then, drink some water."

Eli poured water for Willow and gave him a full glass.

"You know I can't remember things fast. It's like having to remember lessons in class, so can you please remind me of the important things?"

Willow took a deep breath after finishing the glass and he can feel his body relaxing. It has to. If it didn't, Taylan will kill him. He might be going back now, he sure felt his thirst earlier.

"No problem, Eli. But I have to go. Taylan will be back, and I'm sure we'll have to talk. So, why don't you go and rest? I'll cook a curry for dinner."

Willow stood up and didn't look back and left Eli.

Just when Eli doze off to sleep, Taylan landed a fist on Willow's cheek.

"How disrespectful! She's mine! How can you feel thirsty for your Queen--MY WIFE!" Taylan yelled.

This is a rare sight for Trace. The last time he saw Taylan enraged was when the Queen died. Willow didn't even budge and let himself get beaten.

Certainly, Willow knew that it was wrong for him to want to drink Eli's blood.

Willow was sent down to the floor with a bloody nose and cracked lips. Good thing Eli can't hear them, or else her rest will be disrupted. She did look exhausted earlier.

Even while Taylan beats him, Willow still thinks of preparing dinner for Eli. She must be starving.

Yet, Willow passed out after Taylan got tired of punishing him, and Trace was the one who ended up cooking dinner.