Call Of The Dark

Naomi looked at Olya with surprise, but her surprise got replaced with irritation and resentment. She felt like getting up and shouting at Olya, but her mouth snapped shut when she saw Lazarus walking behind her.

She got up and wiped her tears. Then she bowed to Lazarus and said, "It's an honor to have you here, my lord."

Cain too was flustered as to why Lazarus was here along with Magnus. He simply avoided Emma because the way she hung on his arm was too much. To him she looked like a viper who was here to suck the away the wealth of the royal family. A gold digger.

Lazarus flitted a gaze to Cain and said, "I heard that you visited my father."

Naomi flinched. "I-- I-- did v--visit him," she stuttered. "It was about--"

Lazarus raised his hand up and narrowed his eyes. "I know what you visited him for. Did you think that he was going to go against my decision?"

Naomi gulped as she looked at Cain for help, but Cain averted his gaze leaving her alone to deal with Lazarus. "I thought it was-- I mean you are a-- You have everything and--" she said, panic drilling into her bones at Lazarus's chilly gaze.

"Quiet!" Lazarus roared. The windows and doors of the room shook as he roared. "If you think that you are smarter than me, then trust me, you are not. What you did is unpardonable. I want to throw you into the dungeons and seize every bit of land that you hold."

At his words Cain cringed. He gave a frustrated look at Naomi who instantly paled. "I am so sorry, Lord Lazarus," she cried and fell on her knees with her hands clasped in front of her as if begging him. "I don't know what went through my mind. Please forgive me." A fresh bout of tears rolled out of her eyes. At this point all she could think of was Lazarus could take away the estate of her father if he wanted to, he should leave Cain's and she certainly didn't want to go to the dungeons.

Olya rushed to her sister and said, "Get up, Naomi. What are you doing?"

She shook her head. "I won't get up until Lord Lazarus forgives me." She looked like a beggar at this point of time.

Olya jerked her head to Lazarus with a plea in her eyes and found him glaring at Naomi.

Emma touched his arm to soothe him. He calmed down a bit under her touch and said, "Since you are Olya's sister, I will give you one more chance. Within the next two days, the land should be registered in my name."

Naomi nodded vehemently. "Yes, Lord Lazarus. It will be done!"

"Fine then," he said. "If you want to talk more, you can find me in my bedchamber." He looked at Emma, kissed the top of her head and softly said, "Come love. There's something I want to show you."

As they turned to leave, Emma asked, "What do you want to show me?" She was still curled up his arm.

"There is something in my pants. And it is hard and very needy."

She swatted his arm and giggled. "Hush! You are in company."

"I need special company, love." His reply made her blush. The door closed behind them and there was a moment of relief.

Magnus gave a knowing glance to Olya and when Olya nodded, he too left.

Naomi got up from her place with Olya's help. The moment she got up, she pushed Olya away. "All my miseries are because of you, Olya!" she cried. "Ever since our parents died, I looked after you like my baby. And see what you have given me?"

Olya was aghast at her sister's sudden change of behavior. She was kneeling in front of Lord Lazarus, almost begging him not to throw her in dungeons and now she was blaming Olya for her miseries. "What have I done?" she asked, her eyes rounding at the corner.

"Oh, please don't play innocent, Olya. You have turned out to be an asp up my sleeve!" Naomi retorted. Cain grunted his displeasure and went to sit on the couch.

Olya blinked her eyes. "An asp. What are you even saying?"

Naomi turned to look at her, her face morphed into pure anger. "You ran away!" she pointed her finger at Olya. "You ran away and you have ruined us because of that."

Olya balked. "I..."

"Oh shut up, you twit! You ran away and because of that Lazarus is giving us nightmares. Do you know what he has asked us to give him as dowry to marry you? Had you not run away, we wouldn't have been in this mess!" She was shaking in fury.

"Dowry?" Olya repeated the word, totally stunned.

"Yes, dowry!" Naomi spat. "He has asked us to register our father's land in his name."

Olya stared at Naomi with disbelief in her eyes.

"He said that specifically that just because you ran away, he would only marry you if you come with a price. And that is why he wants that estate. Can you imagine what you have done? You have ruined us!" Naomi shouted.

Cain grunted again, showing his displeasure. "I knew your sister was going to cause trouble."

Olya was quiet for a few seconds as Naomi glared at her and then turned on her heels to go to sit on bed. She grabbed her head in her hands and started crying again. Olya said, "Naomi, what is the problem in giving the land to Lord Lazarus?"

"What?" Naomi shot at her, jerking her head up. "What do you mean?"

Olya looked unflustered. "I mean what I say, Naomi. What is the problem in giving the estate to him? After all, Father left the estate in my name. Once I come of age, the land would be mine and I would eventually give it to my husband. So what's the problem? I don't understand."