16 Our karma is within us... "Our self".

Williams, can you tell me what you are doing, his father asked staring at him without blinking. He could feel the tension of the whole room surrounding. He felt like his father would lay a death sentence on him if he says something that will anger him.

He stood there terrified reconstructing his sentence in his head. Last night was less scary than this. Suddenly, the man in front of him did not sounds like his father not like he ever was nice. But this was a discovery...

Williams, you have not only disgraced me but at the presence of an outsider, he roared.

His words shook Williams and he wondered if it was still the same thing there were talking about the same thing.

Why was he so angry? Can't he refuse what he didn't want.

Maybe Natalie wasn't the only prisoner, maybe he was too...

A prisoner without chains.

His silence worsen things as his father grew angry at each passing second.

Are you dumb? Can't you talk.

Father, I can't believe this, he murmured, he was very careful with his words he had never seen this side of him.

What part of this, can't you believe, that you said the most disgraceful thing yesterday.

so that was the problem,because he had said he was a love with Natalie, that was the big" issue" he was angry about.

What is so wrong about that, isn't she a human. Why can't I fall in live with her.

The next reaction of his father made he regretted he said that.

His father held his neck trying to strangle him.

You bastard, the king spat, you ungrateful thing, how dare you.

Father, what are you doing, he said amidst his ceasing breaths.

What has come over him?

He removed his father's hands from his hands, his father was getting old now, and his hands was not that strong.

Father?

He said breathing hard, his head feeling like falling off, he couldn't believe it.

His father had tried to strangle him.

Ever since your mother died...

Ever since my mother died we had never smiled in this house, yes father, our happiness died with her. You have become more and more controlling and now this.

Father you just tried to kill me.

He said, eyes wide open and teardrops falling afterwards. The whole episode was a shocker and it surprised him so much.

He didn't care anymore, his father had done his worst. Now he could say anything.

If you hate her so much, why did you kill her like you did her family? Why?

His father only closed his eyes and shook his head muttering to himself.

Enough is enough, he wanted to end this madness which has grown rapidly.

Unfortunately, this madness was his only son which had vowed not remain his opposite.

You have only ruined me, ruined us, ruined this household and I won't continue to accept it, do anything you want, strike me with an arrow or do it with a sword. I don't care.

I am not going to live by your rules, Williams said as he left banging the door behind him. The king sat there not moving,

It was like that lone night, many years ago was repeating itself again, he could hear his mother screaming at him at the top of her voice "I don't care if you kill me, I am not staying, I am not staying".

What happened next was brutal, it had happened like a flash and the ghastly memory still remained till today.

Diana, why this, why this, he said to himself in deep pain. Why does he have to be like you.

..... ... .... ..... ... ... ...

Natalie stared at the boiling pot in front of her, she has moved lazily around doing her work sometimes stopping abruptly thinking about what had happened.

No matter how she dismissed it, it still came each time in full force than the former.

Am I going mad? she asks herself repeatedly each time she wakes up from such thoughts.

Her reluctance to tell anybody was doing more harm than good and she didn't know what to do.

Maybe, I should tell Sebastian, he won't say a word to anyone, she was sure of it.

But what would be his reaction. She was in the middle of "the tiger and the deep blue sea".

She went to his room, hoping he was there she didn't have the strength to look for him. Or she might change her mind and decide against it.

As he saw her, he immediately knew something was wrong. She looked like the whole world was crumbling on her and the pain was excruciating.

He felt sorry for her.

Natalie, he said after she sat down beside him, he notified her tense breathing. Like she was searching for the right words.

Just spill, talk to me.

She almost burst in torrent of tears as he said that, he must be pitying her. No one had pity her until now. How did things go so bad like this... It was hell.

I wait till you talk to me, I don't really care how long, it may take forever, so be it. He said holding her hands.

Do you know why that woman, the woman who was suppose to marry the prince left the palace in such a hurry, did so? She asked.

No, he replied not knowing what it was.

The prince told his father, he was in love with me, can you believe it, she said in disgust.

What! How is that possible, I mean, how?

Sebastian asked confused.

I was there... Em I mean I heard it, he said it in my front.

Must be a prank, Sebastian said his legs shaking like he was convulsing.

Natalie put her hands covering her face and said nothing afterwards.

Does he talk to you? He asked.

Sebastian?

What? what do you expect me to say, that is so random like out of the blue.

Sebastian, I came here to tell you because I was worried and aghast. I can't believe you are asking me this, she said raising her voice.

I don't know what to say Natalie, why would he say this?

I am as confused as you.

Sure you are.

Look Sebastian, I thought we trusted each other for you not to say this but I was wrong. You are just like everyone else. Saying and doing what they want without considering my feelings. She said in tears.

Natalie.

Never mind, you can drop the act, how can we do just a major and important thing like this when we can't even trust each other. Forget about this, forget about me, forget about everything. She said as she left his room. It had turned out bad than she expected.

He wanted to call her back but the words stuck in his throat.

Had he been unfair? He was not only angry about him being the "prince" but it had bruised his ego.

He liked her and it made him angry that someone else was after her and maybe she had been with him. He didn't know.

But he felt foolish and used after she told him.

Was he making a fool of himself by day dreaming of him and her free, together and in love, one day.

What if....

What if...

.... ..... ...... ........ ........ ........ .....

He felt frustrated. He wished he had someone to pour his frustration on. But he was alone he had always been alone as long as he remerbered.

He had no friends except lily but that was long ago and she had her own life now.

Was this his own life?

Anger, pain and frustration lingered inside him and he thought of his mother. If she was here he knew that would have made a lot difference.

His father had mentioned that he looked like her even if he didn't see the resemblance. He didn't understand this until today, maybe she was frustrated too.

Had she died of frustration?

I hate this place, he muttered to himself.

This place was filled with pain he couldn't describe and faded memories of his mother.

He felt like dying.

Then a thought crossed his mind, he hadn't seen Natalie since the incident. He had hurt her but that was the only way he had thought he could stop his father. He wanted lily out of the palace for her own good. Instead he had hurt Natalie.

That was selfish...

He needed to explain to her what he actually meant, he needed to see her.

He does didnt need to look for her as he saw her coming into the garden where he was.

She was crying.

She stopped as soon as she saw him and turned back trying to leave.

He ran towards her and stopped her.

What do you wanr from me, she spat.

Natalie, I am sorry, he said.

Sorry?, what are you talking about, I have no idea, please get out of my way.

I needed to, that was the only way I thought would stop the marriage, lily loved another person, I couldn't allow it, he said panting.

So you had to put me in the middle of your family business, how does that concern me, your family have ruined me enough, can't you all just let me be, can't you?.

What can I do to make it up to you? he asked her.

You can't give me what I want, she said cleaning her teary face with her bare hands.

I will do anything...

Freedom, yes, I want freedom, I want to get out of here, I want to get out of this sickening place, she said placing her hands, akimbo, on her chest.

I can....

Of course you can't, you can't give me my freedom. You know why?

Let me tell you why? Prince Williams she said.

It is because you are not free too, you are still imprisoned, just like I am. How can a blind person lead another blind person. That is impossible.

Save yourself first before trying to save others.

I think you need it, badly.