Destined Love by Marline (i can read book club txt) 📕

better if nobody knew who she was. Word would spread around town and Dardoland would be ridiculed for all time to come. He looked at her and decided that they would have to observe her very carefully to find out she was royal. He got to the shore and tied his boat to the dock. He then lifted her up and walked towards the first carriage he could see and told the driver to ride to the palace as soon as possible. He still had Cleopatra in his arms. At the palace one of the guards opened the carriage door. He looked extremely surprised when he saw the girl in Durwald’s arms.
“Could you please pay for the carriage?” Durwald asked the guard. The guard nodded and let Durwald in first before he paid the driver. Durwald practically ran up the steps to his house and one of the butlers opened the door.
“Call the doctor, quickly!” He ordered the butler. The butler nodded. Durwald’s mother came running from one of the rooms.
“Durwald, what’s this?” She asked shocked.
“It’s Cleopatra, mother. I found her on my island.” Queen Marie leaned over Cleopatra and finally recognized her. She was shocked.
“Oh, the poor dear!” She said. “How long has she been on that island?”
“I don’t know mother.” Durwald answered. The doctor came in the room and ordered Durwald to follow him into a bedroom and place Cleopatra on the bed. He took her temperature, looked at her eyes and then tried to determine if something had bitten her. He looked at her hands and her feet. On her ankle he saw a tiny little bite. The doctor observed it and frowned.
“What is it?” Queen Marie asked.
“I think she is bitten by a spider. As far as I can see it is a very poisonous one.” The doctor unbuttoned the top buttons of Cleopatra’s dress and saw the rash.
“She does not have much chance of surviving.” The doctor said softly. Queen Marie gasped and Durwald just stared at Cleopatra. The only girl that had been able to steal his heart was about to die.

I realized I was lying on something soft. I had no idea what it could be. My father and the prime minister suddenly entered the room.
“We don’t want her here, she ruins everything. Send her to the island so we will never have to see her again.” They were leaning over me, with sly glares on their faces.
“Father?” I asked unbelievable.
“Don’t call me that ever again.” He boomed.
“No! Father please!” I begged. “I’m sorry! I did not mean to…”

Durwald was sitting next to her bed. He heard what she was saying but had no idea what it was about. Cleopatra’s family had already been contacted and they were on their way here. But if he listened to what Cleopatra was saying, she didn’t want to see them or at least they didn’t want to see her.

I heard people talking around me. Wherever I was, if it was in a dream world or not, I had to let somebody know that I never wanted to see the prime minister again. But for that I had to wake up. I struggled to open my eyes. My lids felt like there was lead tied to them. So did the rest of my body. When I managed to get my eyes open I saw Durwald talking to the doctor. I had no idea where I was but by now I was fairly sure that Durwald existed. I tried to make a sound but it didn’t really work. I needed to tell them. I had to! If the prime minister saw me he would just kidnap me again. And this time he might not be so nice as to put me on an island.
“Don’t…” I croaked. The doctor and Durwald looked at me. Durwald was next to my bed instantly. He took my hand and waited for me to continue.
“Don’t let..” I took a deep breath and whispered the rest of the words. “The prime-minister come. Please. Not the prime-minister.” My eyelids were getting too heavy and I did not have enough energy to talk anymore anyways so I let my eyes close. I was still awake.

He looked at the doctor. He had no idea what she had meant but she had made the message clear. She did not want to see the prime minister. It was most likely the prime minister from Dardoland that she did not want to see but he was not taking any chances. Even if he had to take care of it himself, neither prime ministers would come near her.

Cleopatra’s parents arrived late in the afternoon. The prime minister was with them. Cleopatra’s mother walked straight to the room where Cleopatra was and when she saw her she started crying. She sat next to her and took her hand.
“Cleopatra, darling, it’s me.” Cleopatra did not respond. Then her father walked into the room. He sat next to his wife and looked at Cleopatra.
“Cleo, I’m so sorry.” He whispered. The prime minister wanted to enter the room but Durwald stopped him.
“You are not

getting in here.” He was furious. This was the man that had caused Cleopatra’s misery although Durwald did not know exactly how yet. Cleopatra’s father looked up.
“It’s fine Durwald, he can come in.” He said.
“No, I’m sorry. I promised Cleo I would not let him in.” Cleopatra’s father stood up and walked over to Durwald.
“What do you mean?” He asked.
“A couple hours ago Cleopatra begged me not to let the prime minister come in. I don’t know why and she fell asleep again before I could ask but the look in her eyes made me agree instantly.” Durwald looked at the prime minister disgustedly. Cleopatra’s father stared at the prime minster.
“What have you done to my Cleopatra?” He asked demandingly. His tone was deadly.
“Nothing Sire. I think she was just talking feverishly.” But one glance at Durwald made the King dispose of that idea. He looked at the two guards at the door.
“Arrest him.” He ordered, motioning towards the prime minister. The guards followed his orders.
“You’re going to regret this!” The prime minister shouted.
“We’ll see.” Cleopatra’s father said.

I heard a soothing voice. I thought it was my mother’s but when I heard a horribly familiar voice on the background I knew it was a nightmare again. I wanted to scream, kick and scratch, anything to get me out of this nightmare. Without knowing I was crying. I forced my mouth open, needed to scream, knew I wouldn’t survive if I didn’t. I don’t know where the energy came form but I suddenly managed to sit up, scream, cry and throw up all at the same time.
“He’s going to kill me!” I screamed. I heard my mother’s voice and was sure I was dead.
“Cleopatra, shh. It’s ok, we’re here, nothing will happen to you.” I felt arms around me and I froze. I looked around the room, saw my parents, Durwald, his parents and the doctor. My eyes went to my mother’s.
“Where am I?” I asked softly. My throat was dry and it was extremely difficult to talk.
“You are in King Luperd’s palace.” My mother said. “It’s ok, we’re here.”
“Is he gone?” I asked terrified.
“Is who gone?” My mother asked.
“Him.” I didn’t have enough strength to explain.
“Yes, he’s gone.” My mother calmed me down. I did not know if she had any idea who I was talking about but hearing my mother deny his presence helped me. She gently pushed me back on the pillows. The blanket which was covering me was taken away and a new one was brought. I did not know what happened because I dosed off into the first peaceful sleep I had had in days.

I woke up and felt much better. I still didn’t have enough strength to sit up but at least I wasn’t dozing off in the middle of my sentences. My mother was still sitting next to me.
“Mother?” I asked her pleadingly. “Please don’t let him come in here. This time he will kill me.”
“Honey, who are you talking about?”
“The prime-minister.” I managed to say.
“Don’t worry, I am not letting anybody in here.” My mother reassured me. The door opened and I looked at it frighteningly. I could breathe again when I saw it was my father. Durwald and Queen Marie were with him. My eyes met Durwald’s and I suddenly remembered what had happened before I was kidnapped. My father had been furious with me. The nightmare came back and I wondered if my father really did hate me. I decided to ask him. He sat down next to my bed.
“Cleopatra, how are you?”
“Father?” I asked him. I couldn’t look him in the eye. “Do you hate me?” I was scared of hearing his answer.
“Of course I don’t hate you darling! What gave you that idea?”
“Richard.” I said softly.
“The prime-minister?” My father asked unbelievable. I nodded.
“Tell us what happened.” My father was curious and so were the rest of the people in the room.
“Richard came into my room, tried convincing me that you and mother hated me and never wanted to see me again. He then kidnapped me and I was brought to the island. That’s where I’ve been spending the last few days.”
“You were there without any food?” My mother asked shocked.
“No, Richard had been nice enough to pack me some canned food.” I was too tired to make my voice sound sarcastic. My parents looked relieved.
“Come on, let’s go eat some breakfast. Durwald, could you stay here with Cleopatra?” Queen Marie asked her son.
“Sure.” He answered. I wasn’t sure if I liked the prospect of being alone in a room with him. When everyone had left the room he leaned against the table and observed me. I felt uncomfortable with him looking at me that way and therefore decided to talk.
“Thanks for saving me again.” I couldn’t believe that I started off by saying that but I did need to thank him sometime.
“No problem.” He grinned.
“Why did you cheat me in the peace treaty?” I suddenly asked annoyed. Durwald laughed and walked over to me.
“You really don’t like me, do you?” He asked with a teasing expression on his face.
“I don’t know, you just have a strange effect on me.” I was trying to avoid the question.
“Is that a good or bad thing?” His smile was the sweetest smile I had ever seen. I had to force myself to stop staring at him.
“It depends how you see it.” I answered nervously.
“Hmmm..” He said, amused. “Anyways, I did not cheat you on the peace treaty. We just knew some things you did not know. One of the things was that Dardoland would be attacked by Lindenburgh. Tokito would also be affected so therefore we transported our troops into your country. We were not planning to take over Dardoland.”
“Really?” I asked him, still not sure if I could trust him.
“I promise.” He said.
“Sorry I didn’t believe you.” I couldn’t believe that I had said both ‘sorry’ and ‘thank you’ to him in the last ten minutes. I think he could read my mind because he laughed.
“That’s ok. I didn’t trust you either in the beginning.”