CILLIAN’S POV
That scream sent chills down my spine. I faced Killian and the look on his face mirrored the way I felt.
Rosalind.
I did not know what exactly had happened but even from where I stood, I could feel the pain in her voice. Killian and I ran as fast as our feet could take us inside. I had already lost so many of my people today, if anything happened to Rosalind, I wasn’t sure I would be able to take it.
The earthquake had come to an abrupt stop just before Killian had reappeared and by the way he had come, it was obvious he wanted to share what had happened with me but Rosalind in distress had thrown us both off balance.
Almost all the trees in the pack had fallen and more than a few people had been crushed by them.
Rosalind was on the floor in the hallway when we arrived. Her face was wet with tears,
“Everybody out!” I commanded and the people hurried away from the scene. Everybody left except for the nurse.
“What happened, Rosa?… talk to me.”
She sobbed hard and it broke my heart. I waited for her to be able to talk on her own.
“My prince…” The nurse said, “Bast was taken from the infirmary during the earthquake.” She said with regret in her voice when Rosa did not say anything.
“What the fuck does that mean?”
Rosalind cried harder at that.
“I am so sorry, your highnesses. Everything happened so fast. I made sure it was secure. I don’t know how…”
Killian pushed me aside from behind and grabbed the lady by the neck.
She yelped in surprise and fear.
“Killian!”
“Shut up brother.” He spat, eyes flashing bright red in anger.
He faced the nurse who was struggling helplessly for breath from his grasp.
“Now you are going to talk and talk fast before I do something that will not end well for you. Do you understand?”
“My prince, please.” She choked.
“Silence! Give me one reason why I should not break your bloody neck right now? Tell me!” Killian was a picture of rage.
“Killian calm the fuck down She has barely even said anything.”
I was thankful when he put her down and let go of her. She held her chest to catch her breath.
“Speak.” Killian threatened, eyes still flashing menacingly.
“I was inside when the earthquake hit. I initiated the lockdown in the infirmary to make sure that all the patients were safe. The guards went to the arena to help out where they could and I stayed here. Everywhere was totally locked down, no one could open the door except from the inside…” She took a few seconds to regain her breath and continued.
“A few minutes before everything ended, someone came up to the door and asked to be let in. I thought he was a guard, your highnesses, I swear. He even had the uniform on..”
She had started crying now but still continued.
“When I saw his face, it was too late, I had already unlocked the doors. His eyes… he had the most dastardly eyes I had ever seen in my life. I tried to stop him but he was just too powerful. He paralyzed me with a flick of his fingers, I could not do anything. He took only Bast and left. I was immobilized until he left the premises. I am so sorry, your highnesses.”
She fell to her knees, weeping.
“What did he look like?” Killian asked.
“I could only see his dark eyes, my prince, everything else was covered. But he had something with him. Like a staff.”
Killian made a face, like his suspicion had been verified.
“It was him.”
“Who?”
“That fighter, Steel, from the tournament that beat the champion. It was him. I saw him by the lake, he’s a rogue. He was behind all of this. I don’t know what exactly he was doing but it was black magic and when he stopped, so did the earthquake.” Said Killian.
“Get out.” Killian growled, facing the nurse and she stood to her feet, bowed and ran away.
I beckoned some maids to take Rosa somewhere else.
“Everything is going to be fine, I promise, Rosalind.”
“I’m his only family. He doesn’t have anybody else.” She said with tears in her eyes as they wrapped a towel over her.
I gave her a hug. I felt her pain, her devastation. I swore no harm would come to the boy. He was receiving treatment here because of me. He was my responsibility.
When Rosalind left, Killian faced me with a dark expression on his face. I knew that look too well. It wasn’t a good sign.
“Those rogues are going down today.” Killian roared so loudly the mighty building shook.
“Do not do anything rash, brother. Let us think this through.
“Rash?” His eyes flashed at me.”
“My people are dead outside because of those bastards and you are talking about being rash?” He glared at me with fire in his eyes.
“Kylian,” I said, still keeping my voice as calm as I could.
“This will require planning, you can not just walk in there, do what you have in mind and leave.”
“And who is going to stop me?”
“You are not listening to me…”
“Get out of my way, brother.” He growled.
By now everyone had evacuated, either to a different place or they did not want to witness their princes clash.
“This is rash and emotional of you, I can not let you do that. You are my brother and prince of the pack.”
Killian extracted his claws. The determination and anger in his eyes was not going away.
“You’ll have to stop me then, Cillian. You have always been soft, brother but I never thought you would sit on your ass while your own people are being hunted down by the enemy. I will not do that.”
He walked to the door and I blocked him. My wolf growled, if I had to fight him in order to stop him from this stupidity then I would. I saw my glowing eyes through his.
“For the last time, Cillian, get the fuck out of my way.”
“I will not.”
Killian roared in anger and his fangs appeared, I brought forth my claws. It was about to go down.
The sound of the council bell put us both off balance. It sort of just went off. That bell was only sounded during the utmost emergency. I had not heard it in decades.
I watched Killian who had the same surprised look on his face. I put my hands down and we both walked to the hall silently. Only one person sat at the table and it wasn’t a councilman but the High Priestess. She had called the meeting.
HIGH PRIESTESS MALIA’S POV
Few hours ago
Once I stepped foot into the arena, I could feel the energy seeping from the earth. It was abnormal. At first, I tried to convince myself that it was just the power from the full moon but it was more than that.
The energy just kept getting more and more intense and I knew something was amiss. The princess had left for a while and returned shortly after. When she came back, the amount of energy that was coming from her aura was unbelievable. It was almost as if she had been dipped into the blessed river.
I studied her and saw that she was troubled. Something must have transpired while she was outside, but what? All my years of experience had taught me never to doubt my guts especially when it was a bad feeling and right now what I was feeling was down right ominous. Something was coming.
I did my duty and announced the commencement of the moon dance which was of course my favorite part of the festival. But this time, I did not join in the celebration or dancing. I sat at a vantage point and observed closely. If anything was going to happen, it would be during this period. I prayed to the goddess that this was just an overreaction on my part.
Then it happened, something unbelievable.
While the dance was going on, someone watched me. It might just have been for a few seconds but I never forget a face. Those eyes…
Estella.
How she had bypassed all security in the pack, I had no idea, but she was here and that spelt terrible danger.
We made eye contact and she smiled and blew me a kiss, then she disappeared and the chaos followed.
Earthquake.
I kept my footing with the help of my staff and searched for her again. People were running around for cover and I knew the soldiers and the princes would take care of that, I kept looking and I saw it.
I saw Estella again but it was not really her. It was like a projection. She was flying in the air or rather, floating. She floated towards me. I grabbed my staff and threw a zap at her.
It hit her and she vanished. It confirmed my suspicion that that was an astral projection.
Present time
“Your highnesses.” I greeted.
“High priestess.” They returned in unison. They really were twins.
“There is something you need to know to understand what you just witnessed today.”
They sat down.
“We are all ears.” Prince Cillian said calmly, taking a seat.
“What happened today has been written for a long time and today, it came to pass.”
I opened the paper in my hand and read to them:
Blood on the wind, a crimson stain,
He will return, vengeance in his vein
Once kin to kings, by darkness claimed
His heart a furnace, fury untamed.
The tyrant’s fall, a hollow dream
His twisted soul on chaos gleams
He hunts the seeds, no saving grace
to drown their hopes, without a trace
No moonlight dance, no silver pride
Just primal rage where shadows hide
The seeds let starlight groom and courage bloom
To defeat the wraith and seal its tomb
“What is all this?” Prince Killian asked.
“This prophecy, my princes, is more than a hundred years old. Your father was warned by many to be mindful of this during the Great Purge, he disregarded it. And now it has come to pass.”
I shot Killian a quick look. He looked lost in thought.
“Everything that transpired tonight was the work of magic, one powerful witch fled during the Purge. She lost everything then and swore vengeance against the king and now she has returned to take revenge on the both of you, the last of your father’s bloodline.
Her name is Estella and she is very powerful and dangerous. The earthquake was a diversion. She was here tonight to absorb power from the land and from the blessed river. From the prophecy, you are the seeds that must be hunted down by the enemy for revenge.”
“I saw a rogue at the river just before it all ended. He was using his staff to absorb.” Killian said, more to himself.
“Yes, My Prince. My guess is that she is back to her full power now and she will stop at absolutely nothing till you are both dead.”