by Bree De'leon
“Hurry to the meeting, it begins within the hour.” He growled, shoving past his sister, knocking her against the wall. Amelia was quick by Rena’s side, helping her with her balance. Amelia felt the tension between the two. Standing straight, Rena patted her skirts of the dust particles turning away from her maid.
“Amelia, go and find any documents on lycan attacks and send a message to Lucille, insisting on his return at once. Then meet me at the gardens once the meeting is completed.” She whispered, low enough that only her maid could hear. Amelia said nothing, only accepting her duty.
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Rena moved quickly through the halls, arriving at the council chambers. The moon shining through the stained glass, the vampyres sitting along the table, eyes focused on Sebastian. She moved closer to her father, her breathing even until she heard a sudden whimper on the other side of her father.
Juda.
She stood still, with all her strength she stayed only by her father, her eyes not meeting her lovers. The curtains along the windows were tied together preventing them from blowing around. The warmth of the summer breeze blew through the cracks of the stones enriching the room with a musty smell. Rena stayed, her hands beside herself, her painted lips letting small breaths out she was nervous about the meeting; it was clear as the S’rest bay that she was. The nobles took note, her heart beating faster beneath her chest.
“Sweet sister, calm yourself, you look as if you’ve seen a ghost of sorts.” Dymitri towered behind her, his hands gently placed on her shoulders.
“Of course, brother.” She replied, ignoring his ice-cold touch seeping through her gown. She had to focus, the meeting began.
Edgar was the first to stand, setting his glass down, and straightening his vest. The room fell silent only the groans from Juda echoing off the walls.
“Your majesty, standing in for Lord Trinity, I am greatly honored and must give my thanks.” He bowed, waving him to continue Sebastian tapped his finger impatiently upon the wooden table, a slight twitch of his lips signaling his annoyance. “Here are the latest reports of the recent attacks from the silvers in the cities and slums around Arisite. The main attacks so far have been in Aiuelle, the furthest city from our Kingdom, and the city with the least protection. I suggest we begin training our strongest men to help defend our smaller cities.” He started, his voice strong and full of confidence, Sebastian nodded his head in agreement, not saying a word. “Furthermore, our punishments for these creatures have been far too lenient, they believe they are equal to us. We give them homes, allow them to be free in these lands, and how do they repay us?” Edgar paused, his eyes watching the mood of the room. He looked at Rena, she held his gaze, and for a moment he thought he saw a shudder.
“They repay us, em’gret kaeen, by murdering their neighbors, and mummifying the children who have not done any harm; they steal from their bakers and farmers.” The power in his voice sent the council into a spiral. “I say that we kill them all, rid their entire race of these lands. We have allowed them to run amuck for too long.” He shouted the rest of the council members cheered.
Sebastian finally stood, cracking his neck. His shoulders were squared, his calm demeanor silencing the room once more.
“Em’gret kaeen, I understand this issue and I agree with Edgar—”
“Papa,” Rena interrupted, taking his arm in her hands. shoving her off, he continued.
“I agree that we should train our guards of each city properly, so they are able to enforce the laws of our lands with ease. I have another idea for the treatment of the silvers. I do not believe in massacring an entire race for the misfortunes of a few ignorant creatures. Arisite has grown so much since the ruling of the Hollow King.” He paused, letting the information sink into his nobles. Edgar backed down, biting his lip, the blood dripping down. “Perhaps, we enslave the creatures, along with any lycan found in the cities; both will be stripped of citizenship and treated as livestock, both will be useful on our farms and caves for mining any dangerous material. Allowing our human citizens to no longer endanger themselves in the mines.” Sebastian proposed. Disgusted by the idea Rena turned her head away from her father.
“Are there any objections?” Asked Edgar, taking each vote into consideration. The council members all agreed, Rena stood her fists clenched.
“I object.” She announced, stepping between her father and the council. “It is cruel to enslave these creatures; we could amend our laws to help them better in society—”
“Overruled, Pereeneuss Morena, you must understand. We have amended the laws to help these Veuerrmeen into our society. They simply cannot adjust. And if you think that dog of yours is any different you are mistaken.” Edgar glared, insulting Lucille as he held a strand of her hair.
“How dare you speak to me in such a manner. Ygre’ou naivee,” she snapped. The insult only making him laugh.
“You will understand one day. That beast of yours is in contact with you, a blood oath am I correct?” A smirk crossing his lips, Sebastian stiffened at the thought. She lowered her eyes to the floor, her teeth bared.
“How did you know?” she asked through clenched teeth in a whisper he could only hear. She could feel Dymitri and Sebastian both inching closer to hear the denial. But she refused to allow either of them to hear.
“I know many things pereeneuss. I have eyes and ears everywhere in this palace. Do not think Drake is the only one interested in you and your tempting blood. That dog you call a friend is one of the many, who would turn his back on you if given the chance.”
“You are correct, Edgar.” She yearned to defend herself, but she could not tell a lie with her father’s ability so close. “Lucille and I did partake in the blood oath when I was a girl, that I cannot deny. But I know in my heart, that he is a good man and would never betray me or my kin.” She defended Lucille. A small smile crossed Sebastian’s lips, he placed his hand on her shoulder.
“Well, we are at an agreement then, we pass the new law in two moons. Now moving onto this man.” Sebastian pulled the chained-up Juda to the middle of the stone floor. The council all raised their eyebrows.
“Is this the man that was attacked by the lycan?” One questioned.
“Yes, he has yet to show signs of change, but tonight is the full moon and he may yet to change. We could either keep him alive and imprisoned, or we can make an example of him and execute him in the square tomorrow evening.” Sebastian’s voice was calm, no hesitation. She could feel Juda pleading with her, his eyes beginning to tear up.
“Rena...please...” He gasped, coughing up blood as the silver chains tightened all around him, his right eye swollen, his lips torn. She knew he was tortured, and who the torturer was. Dymitri. Her eyes shifting over her brother. Judas broken fingers reached out to her, as he attempted to crawl to her. Rena stood still, feeling his pain as he clutched onto her gown the blood staining the linen.
“Disgusting creature, how dare you touch the princess,” Dymitri snapped, stepping onto his hand, the pain shooting through, he screamed in agony. She could barely hold her form before she felt her father embrace her. His hollow eyes keeping her still.
“Rena, my daughter.” His words like silk, as a sudden pain shot through her head, his eyes watching every memory she had of Lucille, Amelia and Juda. Juda. Her memory of him was clear as the sky.
His smile, his sandy blond hair loose, his hazel eyes that held promises she longed for. A simple life with the man who protected her through her trials in the slums of Kindred.
My beautiful Rena. His voice was soft, his lips tasted of honeysuckles, his embrace was gentle and strong. She was his and he was hers, she gave her whole self to him and he took it with passion and greed, love and lust. They were lost in one another.
Sebastian released her from his grasp, letting her fall to the ground beside Juda screaming. Her cries echoed through the entire palace as he had torn through her mind, her memory and feelings. She was shaking, reaching toward Juda. Her f
ather with lightning speed clutched onto her hair and threw her against the pillar cracking the stone, knocking her unconscious.
“Father...” Dymitri reached out, stopping for a moment, he held his tongue. Juda began to twist and crack into a form they had not witnessed in some millennia.
“Kill it,” Sebastian ordered, the blue of his eyes glowing as the room began to smell sour and sweet, mixing together, the table beginning to rot. The members of the council frozen in place with fear, the first to move was Edgar. Taking his silver blade from its sheath, slowly approaching the lycan.
The moon shined through the windows, the clouds grey turning to red as the moon’s light turned to blood in the sky. Amelia looked out of the small window in her room, shaking Jeremiah awake.
“Jeremiah, look the moon,” Amelia said, unable to break away from the sight. Jeremiah shuffled under the sheets wrapping his arms around her naked waist.
“It’s just the moon Amelia, come back to bed.” He moaned, falling back to sleep. She felt a pain in her heart, as if the moon was crying and a soul lost. She felt a chill when the scream echoed through the palace, Jeremiah only brushed it off as another torture victim from the young prince, Dymitri. But she felt it in her heart that it was not.
Judas screams turning into a blood-curdling roar as his body began to cover in dark brown fur, his hazel eyes now yellow. His teeth sharp and dripping, his vision changed, he spotted Rena slumped over unconscious, and Edgar charging at him with his sword. His claws reached out, taking the councilman in his grasps as he tore through his jugular, the blood spilling everywhere, the vampyres eyes were shocked, he began to shudder and whimper to the ground holding his blood to the best of his ability but he soon began to lose consciousness, and soon nothing. The lycan howled at the moon, feeling the sting of Sebastian’s sword plunged through his arm. Fighting his way out, he dislocated his arm hitting the prince of vampyres and sending him flying out of the council doors.
Leaping over to Rena, he gently lifted her into his beast arms; shielding her as he jumped through the stained glass. Sebastian’s cries following him into the shadows of the night, his speed was undeniable, escaping the palace within seconds, he sniffed the air on his hind legs, no scent of the vampyres. He bent down on all fours, nudging his beloved awake, she gasped at the sight of him, frightened he moved back, whimpering from the pain. Rena softened, moving closer to him with caution.
“Juda?” she asked, touching his face. There was no trace of the man she knew; his hazel eyes now yellow. But his touch was warm, she felt herself begin to weep. “My Juda, I am so sorry.” She swung her arms around his neck, the tears falling faster down her cheeks. He lifted a blood covered hand to her cheeks, wiping away her tears.
“My sweet Rena...Goodbye.” He growled, his spine cracking. She shook her head, clutching tighter onto his fur.
“No, I won’t let you go. I will go with you. We can run away; we can start a simple life Juda. We can run to Kindred, and live as simple folk raising small ones and... and.” She sobbed, she felt him take her arms from him, he was a full lycan now. He kept his eyes on hers.
“You must stay, live another day, protect.” Turning his back to her, he stopped at the edge of the forest. The calling of creature’s unseen, a single tear escaping him. He disappeared into the blackness.
“What’s tomorrow without you?” She sobbed, watching him disappear into the cursed forest, her hands reaching out to nothing.
Amelia rushed from the servant’s quarters, the pain in her heart increasing as she ran into Sebastian. The panicked expression haunting her vision, a sickening feeling began to sink into the maid, what happened to her friend and savior. Sebastian shoved passed her, readying himself along with the King Grygori. Anjou was close behind, stopping at the sight of Amelia.
“You’re Rena’s maid are you not?”
“Aye majesty, I am.” Amelia bowed, shaking to her core. Anjou ordered a servant to ready a horse.
“Come, you may be able to calm the situation more than we can.” She ordered, taking the maid by the hand and tossing her onto the horse. “Let’s move,” she demanded, for a moment Amelia understood the respect given to Anjou. She was a warrior through and through, and she cared for her kin. Spreading their black bat like wings, the royals lifted from the ground and flew quickly through the air, their keen eyes searching for the Princess.
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Amelia had arrived on horseback to a sobbing Rena, quickly jumping from the horse she ran over to her closest friend wrapping her in her arms. The princess turned to see her friend and maid, breaking down once more.
“He’s gone, Amelia,” she cried, holding tighter afraid to let go.
“There, there princess. Tis alright, I promise you everything is alright.” Amelia promised, kissing her friend’s forehead. The fluttering of wings echoed down, as the royals rushed over to their youngest. Grygori was the first to pull his granddaughter into an embrace, kissing her tears away. No words were exchanged, as he lifted the young girl into his arms and lifted from the ground. The twilight approaching, Anjou stayed behind, focusing on the maid.
“She loved him, your majesty.” Amelia spoke, her eyes lowered to the ground, the pain easing as the sun crept upon the horizon. Anjou nodded.
“She may have loved him, but it is the sacrifice she must make to rule one day, you two are close. Watch over her Amelia, help her grow. All Darkstorm’s must sacrifice the love they once had, that is what it means to rule.” Anjou replied, the sorrow in her eyes of a past long since died.
4
Month: Trais-15th—Year: 1511
A MONTH PASSED SINCE Drake returned from Kindred, he brought back reports of the new treaty that would be signed in just a few days’ time at the arrival of the King of Kindred. Drake walked beside Sebastian informing him of the news of the cities decrease in crime and that there have no sightings as of late of lycans. Shocked at the state of the kingdom when he had returned, the death of Victoria’s father was no laughing matter, but no one felt much pity. Especially his son—Ethan Solomere, now the heir to the Solomere fortune. Drake had begun planning the Kingstrial gaining all the information from the suitors and competitors of the young vampyre nobles. The news soon spread of the peace treaty that was to come between Arisite and Kindred after years of war.
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The city of Casai started to stir as the sun began to rise above the black forest, the bakers already waiting for their morning customers and each merchant loading up the cargo for trades along the roads. The streets began to fill as each citizen in the capital prepared for the arrival of the people’s King—Alexander Lothbourk. Within the castle, Victoria rushed through the halls cursing at the servants as they hurried to clean and decorate.
The cooks of Arisite were preparing the best meals that the king would enjoy hearing rumors of his love of boar meat and ale. No word on where the head cook was at, most just assumed he left to another city. The chandeliers were replaced with newly carved crystal lights, watching the transformation, Victoria’s eyes gleamed with excitement. Clasping her hands together, she began to bark more orders of the servants to dust until they bleed and sweep until splinters broke their skins. Anjou had appeared behind her, placing a hand on her daughter-in-laws shoulder. Surprised, Victoria straightened herself quickly, brushing a stranded brown hair from her face.
“Your Highness, is the grand hall not beautiful?” she asked, turning her attention towards the queen. Anjou looked around, impressed at the beauty of the halls.
“It is indeed quite beautiful; I am impressed you were able to get these so soon.” Anjou pointed towards the newly sewn and embroidered tapestries of the royal seals uniting: Pearl white angel wings, with a moonstone diamond, embroidered inside the diamond a sword piercing down, held by the moonstone and a serpent tangled around the sword.
“Yes, I had wanted it sooner, so that when his majesty Alexander were to arrive he would be most impressed.”
“Indeed
, now onto a pressing matter, have you spoken to my son?” she asked.
“No, your highness, he is still perturbed over the incident a month ago. The blacksmith is nowhere to be found and the Druids have been on the lookout each night. Along with the disturbance of my father’s death. I believe he is concerned with the creature stealing his bastard away.” She spat, the thought of her husband a full-fledged vampyre concerned more for his half-blooded daughter’s health and wellbeing than that of his heir, their son. Anjou ignored her comment, she took her leave of the woman. There was only so much she could take from these parasites she called kin. However, she knew this was the best, she herself understood the high importance of the alliance between Arisite and Kindred, it would be best for both countries to ally themselves to defeat whatever evil was rising in the forest.
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Anjou had found herself wondering down to the Oblivion, passing the dungeons and torture chambers. Her footsteps echoed through the stone walls as she descended deeper into the Oblivion. Just as she approached, she placed her hand on the ancient door covered in vines and roots. The Darkstorm crest barely visible beneath; she took a deep breath, before she opened the door, watching the candles flicker against the wax and walls. A shadow moving along the wall, disappearing back into the other world as it touched the light.
She sighed, a grin crossing her lips, allowing herself to embrace the sudden relief of his entrapment. The floor rumbled beneath her and the candles that flickered blew out. And from the darkness, a flesh-colored hand reached out towards her.
“Anjou...” The voice was hoarse, longing for a response that was not to come. Anjou felt the creature reaching for her, her stomach quivered, and her eyes narrowed. She turned away, walking back towards the main dungeon. Hearing a metal object fall to the ground, she turned around and saw her locket.
Bending down she lifted the piece of jewelry up, tracing the finery of yellow and blue, and faded pearl. She opened it, seeing the likeness of her friend long since passed. The girl held a smile even through painting, that would break all scars and sadness, her brown eyes wide with joy, as her honey brown face was soft, unchanging and familiar. Anjou closed the locket and held it tightly to her chest. Feeling her heart race, she began to feel the anger burn inside her. The shadow crept closer, reaching out through the cracks of the prison, grasping at air as its form flickered from shadow to flesh and back to shadow.
