The King's Conquest (All The King's Men)

EDINBURGH AIRPORT    
Edinburgh, Scotland  
    
Sephora lifted her two suitcases from off the circular baggage claim. She positioned both upright. She balanced her overnight traveling bag over her shoulder blade, and walked out the airport terminal. She walked over to the curve and extended her neck; she looked both ways    
   
A taxicab driver pulled up alongside her presence. He flipped the trunk door up.    
   
Sephora walked to the rear of the taxicab, lifted her luggage, and positioned them inside the trunk. She pushed the trunk door down and journeyed to the back seat. She opened the door, and placed her overnight traveling bag inside. She got in and pulled the door close. She should feel dishonest for not advising Javen she will be out of the country. However, she craved the peace from students, and two men who she was confused about submerging her time with.    
   
“Where to ma’am?”    
   
“The Cromwell Castle Inn and Suites.”    
   
“That destination must be an acquired tasted. You are the tenth passenger, who I have transported. Is there a festival in town?”    
   
“It is the anniversary of the Coronation of Queen Sephora and King Javiah’s anniversary, and this week is about recreating that particular era.    
   
The taxicab driver looked through his rearview mirror.    
   
“I hope you enjoy yourself, young lady, and please be careful in these parts, you know you traveling alone and everything.”    
   
“I will look over my back at all cause.”    
   
Sephora smiled at the taxicab driver.    
   
The taxicab driver lifted the fare level, and pulled away from the curve.    
   
SOUTH QUEENSFERRY    
Edinburgh, Scotland    
   
Palos entered his residence. He placed his rented car and house keys down on the table. He closed the door and looked around.    
   
White sheets draped the vintage furniture of his great-great-great-grandfather's residence; willed to each male predecessor. He fanned the dust particles floating within the stale air. He has not visited his first home since he left for college.     
   
Palos placed his suitcase down on the cherry wood floor. He entered through the foyer, and descended three steps to a sunken lavish living area. He took off his suit jacket, unloosed his tie, and pulled it from around his neck. He tossed the items on the chaise and took a seat. He placed both forearms on his knees and leaned forward.    
   
“Now what?”    
   
He chased a woman who he wanted with every fiber of his being to the other side of the moon, only to discover he may never have her in the end.    
   
His cell phone vibrated.    
   
Palos lifted his suit jacket from off the chaise, fished inside his pocket, and removed his cell phone. He flipped it open and placed it up to his ear.    
   
“Yeah.”    
   
“Mr. Knight, I am calling to ask are you settled in.”    
   
“Come again.”    
   
“This is Mr. Chalk from Sunshine Travels.”    
   
“I’m on Scotland soil.”    
   
“Great. The nature of my call is to advise you there is a formal black tie meet and greet scheduled for this evening, and everyone will be treated to a five course meal.”    
   
“Yes, I’ve read that in the brochure you emailed me.”    
   
“Is there anything else I could assist you with? We want you to enjoy the festivities Sunshine Travels has planned for your Cromwell stay.”    
   
“I’m fine, oh, when will the two winners be announced for the king and queen wanderlust weekend.”    
   
“That will be announced tomorrow after the jostling contest has commenced.”      
   
“I’ll be there.”    
   
“Well, I will allow you the peace until this evening. Have a good day Mr. Knight.”    
   
“Yeah.”    
   
Palos flipped his cell phone down and placed it on the couch. He rose and walked to the spiral wooden staircase.    
   
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND    
Cromwell Castle Inn and Suites    
   
Queen’s Suite    
   
Sephora glanced around her queen suite. She walked over to the wall and looked up at the portrait of Cromwell castle in its glories days. She felt complacent. She walked into an adjoined room used for bedding. She walked over to the queen size bed. She ran her palm over the bedded velvet covering. She walked through her Moroccan door into a boudoir and sat down at the vanity. She lifted the brush and brushed her hair.    
   
A whiff of cologne sailed pass her nostrils.    
   
Sephora felt a lock of her curl lift from off her shoulder. Hot heat wafted to the back of her ear    
   
“This is the pleasure only my future queen could give me. You will bring me great princes one day in time, this I know to be true.”    
   
She sat up instantly the vanity stool rocked over.    
   
“Is anyon….”    
   
Sephora stopped speaking, realizing she was alone. She lifted the vanity stool and uprooted it.    
   
A sad sense of déjà vu hit her. She should have asked Javen to join her.    
   
“No, I need the break from the interference of a man.”    
   
She placed the brush back down on the vanity stand. She walked over to the window and pulled the velvet red drapes back. She overlooked the vast landscaped grounds of Cromwell Castle. She noticed the dovecotes and the icehouse stood in great ruin. The Gatehouse still remained proud; as it once did to keep the monarch’s enemies at bay.    
   
There was a knock at her door.    
   
Sephora crossed the adjoined bedroom and walked over to the door. She opened it.    
   
“Miss…”    
   
The housekeeper looked at Sephora and screamed. She dropped her towels, turned, and ran away.    
   
Sephora stepped out onto the red carpeted corridor.    
   
Several pair of eyes followed the quicken movement of the housekeeper’s retreating back.    
   
Everyone turned to face Sephora.    
   
The curiosity in their eyes sent chills down her spine.    
   
One woman stepped over her hotel room threshold. She walked over to the door of Sephora’s suite.    
   
“You.”    
   
She gave Sephora’s appearance an overall assessment.    
   
The guest looked back at the other guests, and then turned back to look at Sephora.    
   
“You look like Queen Sephora. Are you an actress to portray her for the week?”    
   
“No, I am a guest as you.”    
   
“Could I show you something?”    
   
The guest did not give Sephora time to respond. She grabbed her hand and whizzed her down the corridor and around the corner.    
   
The woman stopped Sephora in front of a huge mounted portrait.    
   
“Be the judge for yourself.”    
   
Sephora looked up at the portrait of, herself? She stepped forward and read the history of Queen Sephora.    
   
“My name is Sephora, and we share the same birthday.”    
   
“Are you sure you are not a relative by blood.”    
   
“No.”    
   
“The resemblance is uncanny.”    
   
Several guests crowded the two women and looked up at the portrait. Everyone looked from Sephora back up to the portrait.    
   
Someone snapped a picture of her with their cell phone.    
   
Sephora continued to hear the whispers and disbelief in the guests’ voices.    
   
“A beautiful ghost from the past.”    
   
Sephora turned to the voice.    
   
Wow, what a handsome man Sephora thought.    
   
“Everyone let’s give our beautiful guest a little privacy.”    
   
Several of the guests turned and walked away.    
   
“My name is Samantha, if you need anything.”    
   
“My name is...”    
   
“Sephora, yes I know.”    
   
The woman turned and walked away.    
   
“Well it appears we have our very own beautiful queen among us.”    
   
Lance turned and looked up at the portrait. He looked back down at Sephora.    
   
“Right down to the beautiful set of light-brown eyes.”    
   
Sephora blushed.    
   
“Thank you.”    
   
“Hi my name is Lance.” He extended his hand.    
   
“Nice to meet you Lance. My name is Sephora.”    
   
Sephora extended her hand.    
   
Lance lifted Sephora’s hand and kissed it. He dropped it slowly.    
   
“Are you one of the scheduled guests, Lance?”    
   
“No, I am the Event Planner and Facility Coordinator for this festival.”    
   
“Well I’m sure I would see you around.”    
   
“I will make absolutely sure, I am not too hard to find.”    
   
Sephora looked down at the bulge in his jeans.    
   
“Which part?” No that didn’t just tumble from my lips. “I’m…sorry.”    
   
“I’m not, and only the hard part that matters to you the most.”    
   
Lance winked at her.    
   
“Have a nice day, Lance.”    
   
“I’m starting too. Sephora, could I walk you back to your suite?”    
   
“Yes, I would like that.”    
   
Lance palmed Sephora by the small in her back and escorted her back to her suite.    
   
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND    
Cromwell Castle Inn and Suites    
   
The King’s Suite    
   
Palos positioned his suitcase on the carpeted floor. He entered his suite and tossed his hotel keycard on the white wingback chair. He placed his briefcase down on the table.    
   
Someone knocked on his door.    
   
Palos stood and walked over to the door. He opened it.    
   
“Hi, I am your personal housekeeper. If there is anything you need, please do not hesitate to press the housekeeper call button.” The housekeeper cocked her head to one side. “Have we met before, your face seems awfully familiar.”    
   
“I was born and raised in Scotland.”    
   
“A villager.”    
   
“You could say that.”    
   
“What clan are you from, lad?”    
   
“The Knight clan.”    
   
Palos could not keep from staring at the disfigurement to the side of the woman’s face.    
   
The woman held the side of her cheek.    
   
“I’m sorry if my face offends you; my accident was a result of some boys playing a prank.”    
   
“It does not lessen the beauty of the beholder.”    
   
The housekeeper blushed    
   
“You have a great day, Mr. Knight.”    
   
“Please call me Palos.”    
   
“Palos…Palos.  The name boggles in me head. You have to forgive the rambling of an old maid.”    
   
Palos smiled.    
   
The housekeeper turned and walked away. She turned back around.    
   
“Oh…there is this striking woman here that looks the spitting image of a queen who once pilgrimaged though these halls.”    
   
“You don’t say.”    
   
“I’m sure you will come to see this woman.”    
   
The housekeeper turned and walked away.    
   
Palos closed his door. He looked down at his Harry Winston timepiece. He lifted his suitcase and walked into the adjoined bedroom suite.    
   
LATER THAT DAY    
   
Sephora looked at her reflection in the mirror.    
   
The Hotel’s Day and Beauty Spa rejuvenation package did her body wonders. She adjusted the spaghetti straps to her white mini dress over her blue strapless bra. She looked down at her smooth toned bronze legs. Maybe she should have settled on the white stilettoes sandals instead.    
   
She looked at her gold jewelry accessories.    
   
“No this is a perfect match.”    
   
Sephora lifted her matching gold chain purse, positioned it over her shoulder blade, and walked out her bedroom suite. She walked over to the door, opened it, and walked out her suite. She pulled the door close and walked down the dimly lit corridor. She heard someone whistle from behind. Sephora stopped and turned around.    
   
Lance walked up to Sephora.    
   
“You look…wow.”    
   
Sephora blushed.    
   
“Thank you.”    
   
“Were you on your way to the courtyard? There is a ceremonial welcoming bash.”    
   
Sephora looked down at her Cartier watch.    
   
“Actually, I’m going a little sightseeing. I have several places on my agenda I would like to visit, and that’s not omitting the dining, I’ve heard about.”    
   
“Are you going alone?”    
   
“I planned on it.”    
   
“Would you like some company? I could introduce to you some of those places of interest, and the candlelight dinner this evening will be on me.”    
   
“Could I ask you something?”    
   
“I’m all yours.”    
   
Lance wickedly smiled.    
   
“Wouldn’t it be against company policy to fraternize with the guests, and I’m only asking because you are the Event Planner.”    
   
“Yes and the Facility Coordinator as well, however, I have to eat, and as man, who truly appreciates the beauty of a very sexy woman, who is the splitting image of the castle’s queen, I will definitely break any rule.”    
   
Sephora masked her blush behind her smile.    
   
“If it does not go against any rules. I would like to see anything you have to show me.”    
   
Lance palmed his half-beard.    
   
“I will remember that over dinner tonight.”    
   
Lance’s walkie-talkie vibrated.    
   
“Dammit, just when I was relaxing with my evening company.”    
   
“I’ll still be here.”    
   
“Excuse me, Sephora.”    
   
Lance lifted the walkie-talkie from off his belt clip and pressed in a button.    
   
“Lance here.”    
   
“Mr. England, there is a problem with the catered affair. You are needed on site.”    
   
Lance took a deep breath, and released the walkie-talkie button. He looked at Sephora’s heaving breasts, and then down at her bare legs, up to her exotic facial features. He cleared his throat, while looking at her lips.    
   
“I will be there in ten minutes.”    
   
“Yes sir.”    
   
He released the walkie-talkie button.    
   
“Well duty calls on your behalf.”    
   
“We are still on for dinner this evening, correct.”    
   
“Yes.”    
   
“I will be at your door at seven o’clock sharp.”    
   
“I will be waiting.”    
   
“With your permission, could we get the formalities out the way?”    
   
“Excuse me.”    
   
Lance wrapped his arms around Sephora’s waist, and drew her to his chest. He tilted her chin up and swooped his lips over hers.    
   
Sephora’s lips hesitated, and then relaxed once the tip of Lance’s tongue broke the barrier of her lips; the tip of his tongue snaked farther inside her mouth.    
   
Sephora palmed Lance’s chest and scooted closer. She coiled her arms around his neck.    
   
Lance palmed Sephora’s lower back, and inched her presence closer. His tongue dominated the space within her mouth. He slowly inched back. He kissed her on the tip of her nose.    
   
“I will see you this evening, and watch yourself among these villagers, especially the male spices.”    
   
“I will.”    
   
Lance stepped back, turned around, and returned the way he came.    
   
Sephora walked down the corridor. She turned back around just as Lance turned.    
   
Both eyes locked.    
   
Lance winked at her.    
   
Sephora smiled.    
   
Both turned and walked in the direction of their progress.    
   
The King’s Suite    
   
Palos lifted his wallet from off the dresser and slipped it inside the back pocket of his black denim jeans. He lifted his Versace wire-rimmed sunglasses and slid them up the bridge of his nose.    
   
Palos walked out his bedroom. He walked through his spacious living area, through the foyer, and over to the door. He opened his door, walked out his suite, and pulled the door close. He walked down the corridor. He looked at several mounted portraits on the wall. He stopped at one particular portrait. He stepped forward and read the inscription.    
   
“Queen Sephora, Scotland and England’s must beloved queen.”    
   
Palos read over the historical time line.    
   
“This woman looks so much like Sephora.” Palos looked at the facial features, the eyes, the hair color, and the skin coloring.  “Damn, too much like her.”    
   
Palos stepped back. He walked away, he stopped and looked back. He swore someone was watching him. Palos removed his sunglasses and placed them in the back pocket of his denim jeans. He glanced back around again. He slightly shook his head to dispel the feeling. He continued to walk down the corridor and rounded the corner.    
   
Palos’ presence bumped into Sephora.    
   
“I’m sor…”    
   
 “Sephora, what the hell are you doing here!”    
   
“I…I was going to ask you the same thing.”    
   
“I’m on vacation, and this trip was planned last year.”    
   
“Sure it was.”    
   
“Are you fucking following me!”    
   
“Pardon me.”    
   
“It’s strange, and I know it is no coincidence you happen to be on vacation and at this particular hotel castle, in Scotland.”    
   
Sephora crossed her arms over her chest.    
   
“You are the one following me.”    
   
“I already have a woman.”    
   
Sephora arched her eyebrows at the declaration.    
   
“I mean you are not worth my time to contemplate a relationship with you.”    
   
Sephora uncrossed her arms. She stepped forward and palmed the back of Palos’ neck. She pulled his face down toward her face and tenderly kissed him.    
   
Palos pulled Sephora’s into his arms and greedily strengthened the kiss. He lifted Sephora from off her feet and banded her body against his. He lifted his lips off hers. He rested his forehead against her chin.    
   
Sephora wrapped her legs around Palos’ waist.    
   
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “Really I am. I want you so bad, I can’t seem to think straight at times anymore.”    
   
“If your words ring true, then why do you keep running? It’s me Sephora, just surrender your heart. I will treasure it as if it’s my own, please. Palos.”    
   
“I’m committed, only if I am the only man.”    
   
Palos inched his head back.    
   
Sephora quickly kissed Palos; she gave him no chance to recant his words.    
   
Palos backed Sephora up against the wall. He held her hands up against the wall. He kissed her hardened nipple through her dress.    
   
“Oh.”    
   
He attacked the other breast nipple and suckled it. He kissed under her neck.    
   
Sephora leaned her head down, meeting Palos’ lips.    
   
“Ummmm,” Sephora moaned in ecstasy.    
   
Palos dropped Sephora’s hands; he palmed her thighs. His palms drifted up and down her thigh. His tongue pirouetted across her neck.    
   
“You are so beautiful, and I like the way you smell, taste.”    
   
Palos cupped Sephora’s derrière and gently squeezed it, his lips did not lift from licking over her neck, and suckled on it, turning it a deep crimson red    
   
“What…are you…what?”    
   
“Branding what’s mine,” Palos whispered against her skin. “And only mine.”    
   
Sephora’s body melted against the quiet seduction of Palos’ lips and the craft his tongue was doing to her skin.    
   
Palos inched his head back and looked up into Sephora’s eyes.    
   
“Admit it. You followed me here, and I want to know how did you find out about my traveling itinerary and this castle?”    
   
“I did no such thing, and for you to accuse me of such is…is…is bewitching.”    
   
Palos stroked Sephora’s cheek.    
   
“I have never had a stalker, and a very sexy one at that. A woman who I cannot find any other excuse not to want to be around her.” He kissed her earlobe. “A woman I’m trying to make some lead way, by getting closer to her; to give her, and only her, my virginity.”    
   
Palos kissed Sephora’s lips once again. He lessened the space of his face.    
   
“I really want to be only yours Sephora,” he whispered in her ear, only yours, in this lifetime.”    
   
“I…”    
   
“Shh, I know this isn’t the time to discuss it.”    
   
Palos allowed Sephora to slide down his body. Her pelvis bumped into a hard erection.    
   
Sephora palmed the budge in Palos’ jeans.    
   
“I will love to become yours and only yours in this lifetime.”    
   
She leaned in and kissed Palos on the lips.    
   
Palos palmed the wall and leaned his body into hers.    
   
Sephora palmed the back of Palos’ neck, pulled his face down to hers, and took control of the kiss.    
   
Palos cupped Sephora’s buttocks and pulled her body into his. His tongue escaped inside her mouth.    
   
Sephora’s arms encircled Palos’ neck. She grind against his stiff member.    
   
Palos felt his manhood violently throbbing. He immediately stopped and stepped back.    
   
“Why did you follow me here? And please be honest.”    
   
“I did not follow you here, and the last time we spoke.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. She pulled his body to hers. “We agreed to stay out of each other’s way.”    
   
Sephora smiled behind her words.    
   
Palos looked down into Sephora’s eyes; at her lips. He cleared his throat.    
   
“You were the crazy woman who followed me here. I could care less if you are beautiful. I mean if you are a guest here or not. Please stay the hell out my way.”    
   
Sephora dropped her arms from around Palos’ neck. She pushed him back.    
   
He felt like a fool after reading the hurt in her eyes.    
   
“I cannot do this with you anymore. I just can’t. I will do as you ask.”    
   
Palos’ heart began to beat fast.    
   
“Maybe we can…”    
   
“Goodbye Palos.”    
   
“No wait.”    
   
He pulled her hand back.    
   
Sephora pushed Palos’ hand away.    
   
“No need to reiterate, I heard you loud in clear.”    
   
“Let me explain, please Sephora. Dammit I’m in lo.”    
   
“Do enjoy your stay here, just remember you were the one who broke our tides that were once bind by destiny.”    
   
Sephora rushed down the corridor.    
   
Palos palmed his head.    
   
Oh God give him strength to love a woman who he would fight to the death for, or give his last breath to he thought.    
   
Palos watched Sephora walk in the direction of the winding stairwell.    
   
“Fuck!” He hit the wall.    
   
Sephora held the brick cobblestone wall. Each step she made. She felt light-headed. Sweat pockets accumulated on her forehead. She held her stomach as a bout of nausea gripped her. She bent over to retch. Her vision became dim. She palmed the wall for support. Her vision went totally black. She fell down the remaining steps.    
   
LATER THAT AFTERNOON    
Cromwell Castle Inn and Suites    
   
Sephora felt something cool on her forehead. Her eyes slowly fluttered open. She looked around the dimly lit room. She heard a voice in the distance.    
   
“I tell you she is here. This is what we have been waiting for.”    
   
Sephora sat up.    
   
A towel fell from off her forehead. She swung her legs over the feather lined mattress and sat up.    
   
“Hello.”    
   
Sephora felt woozy. She tried to stand. She slumped back on the bed. Why was the room still spinning?    
   
Mazak walked back into the space used for her sleeping quarters.    
   
“Well my dear, I see you’ve finally awaken.”    
   
Sephora peered closer.    
   
“Who are you?” She looked around. “And where am I?”    
   
“Silence!”    
   
The woman swung the chained thurible censor burner and walked around the bed Sephora rested on.    
   
Sephora choked on the heavy incense smoke.    
   
“I demand you to put a stop to this.”    
   
Sephora attempted to stand.    
   
Her legs buckled under her. She slumped to the floor.    
   
“What have you done to me?”    
   
The woman placed the thurible on a wooden antique dresser. She walked around the bed, stooped on bended knees, and lifted Sephora’s hand. Her calloused finger roved over Sephora’s flexor crease to her inner palm.    
   
“You have walked the land of the living and the dead.” She lifted her head and found Sephora’s eyes. “Your spirit has roamed through the Great Halls of Cromwell Castle on many occasions. The only way to give you peace is for you to be reborn.”    
   
Sephora snatched her hand back.    
   
“I...I do not understand your gibberish. And how do you know I am this person.”    
   
“Who are your parents?”    
   
“I was adopted as an infant.”    
   
“By whom, and where were you adopted child.”    
   
“My parents never relayed that information to me. I am not this person who you speak of. My name is Sephora.”    
   
“Yes as in Queen Sephora. You were once Scotland and England’s beloved queen. You met your unfortunate fate by falling down a flight of stairs. The same flight of stairs I found you at centuries ago and bleeding from the same wound to your head that gave you your wings.”    
   
Sephora felt to the back of her head. Her head met a small formed lump.    
   
“Ouch. Wait you said centuries ago?”    
   
“A timeless spirit is never at rest.”    
   
“That is impossible.”    
   
“Then I guess you can humor me as to how your soul traveled from the seventeenth century, to this present day and time.”    
   
“Yes…no…but.” Sephora’s felt was throbbing. “What do you plan to do with me?”    
   
“I am waiting on instructions from a higher power.”    
   
“A higher what?”    
   
“A higher power. Before night fall. You will speak of a time long forgotten. Festive times, when this great castle rang out with jubilee. Important dignitaries from faraway lands sauntered through the doors of the Cromwell Castle. A handsome king who loved his beautiful queen more than life itself.”    
   
“I would like to leave, and now!”    
   
“After the ceremony tonight.”    
   
Sephora attempted to lean forward to lift the black lace veil from off the woman’s concealed face.    
   
Her arms were restrained in a vice grip.    
   
“Please let me go. Someone is expecting me.”    
   
Mazak released Sephora’s arms.    
   
“Lance may be fooled by your presence, and why you are here, but we’re not.”    
   
“There are more of you who believes in this nonsense.”    
   
“More than you will ever know.”    
   
“Listen ma’am. I am a teacher from South Dakota, and I am on Spring Break. This vacation came as a present from my parents, since I have a fascination about this era in time.”    
   
“Nothing happens by fate. This is your destiny, Queen Sephora.”    
   
“Please my name is not Sephora. I mean it is, just not Queen Sephora.”    
   
“Do you have a birthmark under your right buttock?”    
   
“You would know that, you were the one who undressed me.”    
   
“I did not look, I wanted that information to come from your lips.”    
   
Sephora had to think of something.    
   
“If I am the queen, then I demand you to allow me to leave.”    
   
“Yes, after the ceremony. Tonight the life you have been accustomed too, will no longer exist.”    
   
“Wait, what does that mean?”    
   
“Enough talk. Come my dear, you must rest before night fall.    
   
The woman lifted Sephora’s body and placed her back on the bed.    
   
The woman lifted a root and rubbed it over Sephora’s forehead.    
   
Sephora’s eyes blinked and then rested.    
   
The woman stroked Sephora’s cheek.    
   
“Sleep my dear.”    
   
The woman lifted a thin velvet duvet and covered Sephora with it. She walked over to the antique table that held the thurible censor burner. She lifted the top and snuffed out the incense. She replaced the top and positioned it back on the table.    
   
The woman looked over at Sephora. She remembered the conversation she had with one of her oldest and dearest friend.    
   
SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA    
Camelot Estates    
   
One Week Ago    
   
“Mazak, you will never believe this, but my grandson is dating this woman who looks like Queen Sephora from the seventieth century.”    
   
“Haldline, you must never speak ill of anyone rather dead or alive.”    
   
“I saw her and my great-great-great-grandfather in a portrait dated centuries ago, and after the ladies from the Historical Society did a little investigating, including using my grandson as a vessel to the past. We are one hundred percent this woman is the reincarnation of Queen Sephora without a doubt.”    
   
“I would like to see this woman.”    
   
“We have someone following her twenty-four hours.”    
   
“Any habits a queen would indulge in.”    
   
“Yes, she has a fascination with castles, knights, and kings. And she is also toying with the bloodline of my future generation.”    
   
“Haldine, everyone should not be suspect because they are from England or Scotland, or in this case, interested in your grandson.”    
   
“I will send you some photos of this woman, and you be the judge.”    
   
“If it is indeed this woman. The what?”    
   
“You know what needs to be done.”    
   
“I do not think I could get that accomplished I am in Scotland.”    
   
“Leave everything to me. Now after I mail you these photographs. I will like you to contact me for the next step that needs to be taken.”    
   
“Does it say in your report, what happen to this woman?”    
   
“It was stated the Queen of Scotland and England may have been murdered by the king’s arch enemy; one of King Raphael’s men.”    
   
Mazak heard voices in the distant. She walked over to the door, opened it, and walked out. She pulled the door close. She removed the veil from over her face and lifted a small skeleton key from out the front pocket of her apron. She inserted it inside the small lock and twisted it. She slipped the key and veil inside her apron pocket; she walked the dimly lit corridor of a hidden dungeon.    
   
KING’S SUITE    
   
Later That Evening    
   
Palos slammed the door after entering his suite. He paced back and forth. He was still pissed showing up at the door to Sephora’s suite, only to find someone’s presence was accounted for.    
   
“Who the fuck are you.”    
   
Lance turned around and shifted the bouquet of flowers to his other hand.    
   
“I’m the Event Planner and Facility Coordinator.”    
   
“And you have business here for?”    
   
“That is none of your fucking business, why the fuck I’m here.”    
   
Palos unbuttoned the buttons to his suit jacket. He stepped closer to Lance.    
   
Lance took a step backwards.    
   
“I will state the woman is mine, and if I was you, Mr. Event Coordinator, I will find some other woman to entertain, because this pussy here, has my name all over it. You feel me, partner.”    
   
“We will see about that, partner.”    
   
“Not tonight you want.”    
   
Lance turned and walked down the corridor.    
   
“She didn’t waste any time planning to fuck someone one else once she got here, fucking bitch.”    
   
Palos massaged the back of his neck. He stopped and looked down at his watch. He looked around his suite and then over at the intimate table set for two. He wanted to make amends for his behavior early. He wanted some pussy; he was horney, and he was tired of pushing Sephora way.    
   
“After I fuck her, Javen can have her.”    
   
With his purpose in mine; he walked to the door, opened it, and exited his suite. He pulled the door close and walked down the quiet corridor. He walked past the portrait of Queen Sephora. He stopped and looked up. He could not believe the resemblance.    
   
“Help me Sir Pious.”    
   
Palos turned around. He looked in all directions.    
   
“Who the fuck is it? Don’t be a coward, show your face motherfucker.”    
   
Palos tuned his ears to listen. He swore he heard several people voices. He slowly walked the dimly lit corridor of the castle, and then stopped.    
   
He looked at all the closed doors of the guests’ rooms. He took two steps forward.    
   
The voices were low pitched, but loud enough to be heard.    
   
“Where the fuck is that noise coming from.”    
   
Palos walked to the winding stairwell. He took the steps with caution. He stopped on the last two steps and listened. He walked down the last step. His foot crushed something.    
   
Palos looked down. He bent over and lifted a cell phone. He peered down closer at the concrete. There was a drop of blood, and then another drop. His heart began to beat fast. He remembered Sephora walked down this very same stairwell much earlier.    
   
Palos placed the damaged cell phone in the back pocket of his pants. He followed the drops of blood.    
   
The trail discontinued in front of a cobblestone brick wall.    
   
“There has to be a hidden door leading to a dungeon or a hidden room used to retain prisoners until they met a gruesome fate.”    
   
Palos felt each brick, and then pressed on it. He moved along the wall. He pressed in several more bricks. He pressed in another one.    
   
The wall lifted.    
   
Palos coughed on the cool draft coming from the depth of somewhere. He lifted his pocketknife from out his back pants pocket and flipped it open. Palos entered the darken chamber. He felt the wall while moving through. He consistently felt the wall for a source of lightening.    
   
“Shit.”    
   
He could not make out anything.    
   
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