Wayo POV
The wizards form a circle moving everyone away, the spectators watched whispering about magic and curses. The adjourning room and large patio doors were opened ushering the guests out.
Pring screamed and crawled away. Where a moment ago was P'Pha, now there was a beast. But he was different than before. He was much bigger, his features more pronounced and when he opened his mouth he roared.
The spell isn't finished, P'Ahn had said. The real beast, P'Bee's curse had used. But it had been interrupted, that's how my rose had protected him, it didn't let the spell complete. This was the real beast.
"Stay calm Yo." P'Kong looks at me.
I was sort of but when I tried to move P'Pha pulled me back and held me close. When I looked up at him I realised he was worried, like when I met him for the first time in the forest. I hadn't been scared then, I wasn't now either.
"How the hell did this happen?" P'Pha's father asks angrily. "We were so careful."
"Why don't you ask Pring?" I snap turning to them. "She did this."
They look at me surprised before looking at Pring, who is hiding behind a pillar.
"I...didn't..." She cries pitifully.
She was giving a nice performance unfortunately, the idiot wizards looked like they believed her of course. I see P'Kong watching me, I point to the glass which is not shimmering anymore. He immediately starts checking and curses moments later calling someone new who also checks and also curses, quite colourfully.
"Another curse?" P'Forth asks.
"She made him drink something." I tell them.
"Did you use a love potion?" Gramps asks.
"The Head Wizard is checking..."
The king says looking at the man with P'Kong, but Gramps silences his son with a look before asking Pring the question again.
"I...I...didn't..."
"Don't lie to me girl." Gramps cuts her off. "I may be old, I'm not an idiot."
"This wasn't meant to ..." She says quietly.
"A love potion never works on a Kongtanin." He tells them. "Especially not on one who has found his true love."
"Why would it cause this uncle?" P'Pha's father asks.
"There is a reason the Kongtanin are called beasts." He points to P'Pha. "They reject fake love by becoming beasts, which makes them immune to the effects of love potions or love spells."
"Isn't that just legend?" The king whispers. "That we had ancestors who could do that."
"Why do I bother telling you idiots anything?" He sighs. "The proof is right in front of you."
When Pring looks ready to run, I let the magic flow; she yelps as she trips and falls. I move towards her, but P'Pha keeps trying to pull me back, I stay close but stand up.
"Don't you dare run after causing this mess." I shout.
She stands up looking at me furiously. "I should have dealt with you first."
"Oh, I'll deal with you myself ...dam it Forth let me go." P'Beam snaps.
"Why the hell did you do this?" I ask.
"I did what I had to; you're a stupid brat from a little village." She yells back. "A passing interest; I was born to be a princess."
"You're an insignificant nobody, who had to use a love potion to try and get My P'Pha." I reply.
She moves towards me screeching, perfect move you bitch. I'm going to bury you under the ballroom and let everyone dance over you. She freezes a second later looking behind me terrified, as P'Pha growls.
"That's his true love." Gramps tells her. "You touch him he will rip your arm off."
She screams as P'Pha keeps moving towards her and when he snaps his jaw like he's going to bite her, she faints. That so isn't fair! I didn't even get to slap her!
"Take her out, I will deal with her later." P'Pha's father tells a wizard.
"How the hell did she manage to get a love potion in here?" Ming asks.
"She had help." I point to the man sitting in a chair not far behind them.
Everyone turns to look; P'Kong is serious and moves closer to me and P'Pha when he sees him. The others look at me surprised.
"Wayo, he was a court wizard." The king tells me.
"He's also the one who was hiding the glass on the table." I tell them still watching him.
The man had been smiling before, but now he's looking seriously at me as though he's just seen me.
"He was using covered spells in the room, he stopped P'Pha leaving, and he tried to pull me away."
"I wouldn't say such foolish things child." He looks at me. "No one will believe you."
"I have a habit of believing my sons."
My father says walking into the room with my mother and P'Kit, who had gone out with the guests to find them, naturally. The Queen and one of the princes follow them in looking just as angry. The wizard looks worried when he sees my father.
"You really didn't do something that stupid, did you?" The Head Wizard asks, and when he gets no reply he starts casting revealing spells.
When the wizards move towards him he unleashes some spells. The court wizards counter them and P'Kong's put a shield around P'Pha, but it was a diversion and a spell hits me. Like before it coils around me holding me in place, but I can see it this time as it gets hotter and tighter.
"You always protect the prince, right?" He smirks. "Let me leave and I'll release the boy."
"You hurt my son..."
"You won't let me off after helping her Panichjayasawad ." He looks at my father. "I know what you're capable of."
"Don't make it worse..." One of the wizard's shouts.
"My magic mixes with the wizards, no one should have known." He looks at me. "How can a little boy have seen through my spells?"
I gasp when he tightens the rope, P'Pha growls leaving the shield and going for the wizard. The man casts a spell throwing P'Pha back. I lose my temper when I see P'Pha fall; I feel the forests anger as its magic surges through the bond. I focus on his spell and snap it with force, he falls back looking shocked.
Before he can stand I summon the roses in the vase near me, they rise and fly circling him. The stems move and grow rapidly, winding around him.
"How...what are you?" He glares at me struggling. "I'm going to deal with you...."
"Deal with me first!" My mother shouts throwing her heeled shoe at his head.
"You ruined my ball." The Queen shouts kicking the guy. "I'll kill you."
"I'll help you Yo." Ming punches him.
"How dare you go near my baby, you bastard." Mother says in a low voice before knocking him out with a candleholder...It might be safer to leave them to it...If I interrupt one of them might end me...
I hurry to P'Pha and sigh in relief when I see he isn't hurt. He pulls me close and hugs me, he was worried. He moves back and looks at me, gently stroking my hair.
"I'm okay P'Pha." I whisper, he rubs his cheek against mine.
"Ming you idiot, I wanted to punch that guy." P'Beam yells.
"It's not my fault you were too far away." Ming yells back.
"Calm down mother." One of the prince's shouts trying to stop the Queen, who wants to stomp on the wizard's face with her heel.
"I want retribution." The Queen snaps. "Don't mess with me, Knott."
"Stay calm dear, we sorted it." The king tries calming his wife.
"You let it happen under your nose!" The Queen yells. "My ball..."
"Uncle." P'Pha's father sighs. "How do we fix Phana?"
Everyone calms down a little while waiting for Gramps to talk. The king tries holding his wife's hand, but she slaps it away.
"He can change back himself." Gramps answers. "Okay Phana, you need to think about being a human again, and want it really badly."
P'Pha doesn't listen; he carries on stroking my hair. When I try and stop him he looks really sad...I let him carry on...while I think what to do.
"So he needs a reason?" P'Kit asks.
"A very strong one." Gramps nods.
"We take away Yo." Ming grins walking towards me. "And if he wants him back he has to change."
He yelps when P'Pha takes a swipe at him, but P'Kit manages to pull him back in time. I sit quietly as P'Pha bear hugs me from behind with his chin on my head, and he keeps growling at anyone who comes close. I think I have an idea but it's going to be embarrassing as hell with so many people around. Let's keep thinking...
"Any other way?" P'Pha's father asks.
"An antidote, I know the ingredients!" Gramps claps his hands laughing. "But it will take three months to make..."