CHAPTER ELEVEN
"And by now, she must've been dragged out of that house."
Elisse's forehead wrinkled in confusion and lips parted. "What—"
Just then she heard screams not far away from where they are. She looked at the Duke again and his lips curved into a smirk, crossing his arms. She quickly dashed out of the alley, not minding what just happened there. Her mind was elsewhere.
Just as she thought, there, a scene appeared in front of her, where Ha Na was dragged out of the house with a lot of vampires.
Ha Na was screaming, struggling and yelling out in pain. But they still held her tightly as she tried to escape.
"Ha Na?" Elisse gasped covering her mouth with her hands.
"What are you going to do about it, Elisse?" The Duke's voice suddenly echoes through her ears from behind.
Tears started to form on Elisse's eyes.
"Is this your plan?" She cried out, clenching her fist and glaring at him before her eyes fixed back to Ha Na who was yelling for help.
"No." He said nonchalantly, before approaching beside Elisse. He huffed. "It was the King."
"The King?" He nodded.
She deeply exhaled, facing him. "Just what does—"
"ELISSE! HELP ME!" Ha Na's voice boomed as she continued to cry, scream and yell making Elisse startle.
Fuck this. Elisse cursed, about to run but the Duke grabbed her hands, making her turn around and abruptly lean his lips near her earlobe.
"If they drag her out, might as well go with her." The Duke whispered on her ears.
Elisse hissed at him, pushing him away before her legs made its way to where they are. Before Elisse could even touch Ha Na, she was kicked on her gut making her fly meters away from her best friend.
"Elisse!" Ha Na yelled out, trying to get out of the grasp of those people. "Just what are you doing?! Release me!"
"Release her." A man's voice commanded, who seemed to be the leader.
They bowed down to him before releasing Ha Na as she ran towards Ella, bending down.
"Ha Na..." Elisse whimpered.
"Are you okay?!" Ha Na asked in worry and touching Ellisse's body to check for injuries.
"Just what happened?"
"I don't know too. They just dragged me out of the house." Ha Na sniffed and wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Did they find out about—"
"I don't think they found out." Ha Na shook her head. "They were talking about something else like—"
"Grab her." A man's voice sternly said but Elisse pulled Ha Na away, blocking them from dragging her.
"Just what are you trying to do with her?!" Elisse hissed at the man who looked like a leader. But something inside her felt the excitement inside. Though she just tossed it off.
"It's the order by the King."
Ella froze thinking of the Duke's words. So that Duke was right, after all?
"Let's now go, Madam." One of his underlings told Ha Na.
"You might as well call her Queen, already. I bet she won't just be any regular concubine." That leader man chuckled and smirked. Then he walked towards the two fragile girls, eyes deeply staring at Ellisse's as she shot him a death glare
"I am Kim Namjoon."
Ella's eyes widened as she remembered Ha Na mentioning a Duke named Kim Namjoon.
"You—"
"Yes, I am a Duke." He answered, cutting off. "Now enough with the dramas."
Namjoon turned around and nodded at his underlings to grab Ha Na.
His underlings pushed Elisse away from the other as they grabbed her making Elisse stumble on the ground. But was unknowingly and fastly catched by Namjoon.
Elisse was too focused on Ha Na being dragged away. And then she suddenly remembered what that Duke said.
"If they drag her out, might as well go with her."
"Wait!" Elisse yelled, standing up.
"What?" Namjoon walked towards her, and faced her, raising an eyebrow.
"Can I at least go with her?"
"Just what are you—" His underlings tried to talk but Namjoon interrupted him as he looked at Elisse with a dimpled smile.
"Alright. If you want that."
Elisse and Ha Na went inside the car while the others made its way to the other cars.
"Elisse." Ha Na whimpered as she grabbed Elisse's arms.
"It will be okay..." Elisse comforted her but the young one kept on trembling under her body. "I will be here, okay?"
Ha Na nodded and tried to calm herself down.
After a few hours, they finally arrive at a big mansion.
The Palace.
A place where the Four Dukes stayed and where the King ruled.
The car door opened and they went out. There were several human maids and butlers waiting outside the mansion.
"What is this?" Ha Na asked as she slightly shakes, still holding her best friend's arms.
"It's where the King rules. It's the palace." Elisse bitterly said.
"Good Morning, Madams." The human maids and butlers greeted. "Good Morning, Mr. Kim."
Elisse and Ha Na looked at Namjoon who approached them with a slight bow.
"This way, your majesty." Namjoon said in a mocking while pointing at the direction inside the palace.
Ha Na's eyebrows furrowed and they eventually entered the mansion, following Namjoon from behind.
Someone approached Namjoon and whispered on his ears.
"Alright." He replied to the maid before looking at the two. Elisse looked at him.
"Taehyung said you should wait in the room." He told us.
"T-Taehyung?" The King.
He nodded and passed by them as they followed him.
"Elisse..." Ha Na's voice cracked. "I have a lot of questions right now."
She wasn't the only one who has questions too but also Elisse.
"Why is this happening to me? Just what did I do? I didn't even meet these people."
"I thought the King brought you here. He must've wanted to meet you."
Ha Na shook her head while they continue to walk. But really, Elisse might know about the situation now. Thinking about what the Duke just mentioned hours ago. But she still doesn't get the idea why would the King do this.
"I haven't even met the king. How would he know me?" Ha Na sighed.
"Here we are." Namjoon interrupted, opening the door slightly for them. "You should rest here, Miss Min."
In front of them was a wide golden door with beautiful patterns on it including angels and suchs. Even its door knob is golden.
Elisse was about to enter with Ha Na but Namjoon interrupted
"I think you should be in a separate room." Elisse eyebrows raised in confusion before closing the door in front of them.
"Why?"
Namjoon gave her a warm smile. "Taehyung said so."
Elisse looked at Ha Na who bit her lips. She seemed to quite handle the matter well, but was doubtful whether to leave Ha Na or not. However, in this situation and what the mixed emotions Ha Na’s feeling right now, all she can do was assure Elisse that she will be fine.
"Don't worry, I'll be alright." Ha Na reassured her and Elisse nodded, letting go of her.
With that, she made her way to the room prepared for her.
RISEN
Written by Hannah (daddiehoseok)