Book 6:Dangerous Deception:

Chapter Two

Prison.

Oh, he had been in some in his time. If Lotor had to rate this one - his father's creation - he'd have to rate it a 9 on a scale from 1 to 10. It was dark, with a single fire blazing from the room 'they' used for torture. Now seeing it from a prisoner's view, it was forlorn, hopeless.

Rats, some as big as housecats, peered at him, not venturing near him for some reason. He saw their beady red eyes, and remembered a time when these self-same rats had invaded the Castle of Lions on Arus.

But that was eons ago.

Lotor looked down at his ragged tunic, soiled with blood and other stains that he dared not acknowlege.

Lotor paced the narrow cell.

"Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow.." He said under his breath.

Tomorrow, the Roebeast Games would begin, and this time, he would be on the other side, a place he could have never imagined himself to be.

Tomorrow he would die before Allura. Lotor's heart tore with the realization that his one true love would suffer his father for the rest of her days.

Lotor shook his head, his newly shorn hair ragged, already dirty from the short time he had been incarcerated.

He turned his thoughts to what Hagar had said to him. It puzzled him.

Sire the next heir? That he had agreed to, but how was another question. Maybe it was just a trap. Hagar's loyalities tended to drift from one side to another.

"Hssst!"

Lotor stopped pacing.

"Hsst! You hear me!

"Y-yes, who?" Lotor was wary.

"Never mind!" The voice said lowly. "All Doom sleeps, except we three. You've not much time, but time enough!"

"Hagar?" Lotor was surprised.

"Hush! The time is now.Let us go, young Prince."

"But -" Lotor started to say.

The malstrom suddenly surrounded him and Lotor was suddenly - gone.

One moment Allura had been in her bed, spending yet another sleepless night, the next she was here.

It was familiar, and yet not. The scent of blooming flowers greeted her and she could faintly hear an ocean's roar in the distance. Was she dead? Had her prayers been answered - the silent ones she prayed as the beast took her?

She looked down at her gown. It was a beautiful filmy ivory color, encrusted in lace and precious stones - a maiden's bridal gown.

Shame coursed through Allura.

T'was not your fault, child.

"Who, where?" Allura felt afraid. She didn't trust Hagar.

I am not her that was, but her that is. You've seen me before, Allura.

"You? But how -?" Allura was wide-eyed.

Enough questions. Cometh thine true bridegroom.

And out of the mist came Lotor.

No longer was he dirty or clad in the clothes of a slave. He wore a simple long white robe. He saw Allura and ran to her.

"How -?" Lotor placed his hands about his waist.

"I - I don't know, Lotor.

Inexplicably, she kissed Lotor.

There were no further questions...