Elena and Elion made their way out of their shared room. Elion knocked at Forest’s door,
and when he didn’t answer for some time, they surmised that he was sleeping. Forest slept like
the dead whenever he was tired. They decided to find something to eat and perhaps remain some
for Forest. As they made their way downstairs, they passed some people who came from the
upper floor, and we’re heading downstairs, and some who came from downstairs, and we’re
heading upstairs. The environment was gay. Everyone was happy. Especially those who were
taken out of their homeland don’t look like they would trade anything to go back.
They reached the reception hall, and Elena asked the female who sat there where they
could find some food. Elion’s eyes were taking in their surroundings. Either she was looking for
something suspicious or admiring its beauty. Elena thought it was both. Since they had come
here, they had both taken their bath and rested. Well, Elena did. She was so stressed out she
could barely open her eyes for another second. When she woke up, she saw Elion wide awake. It
was apparent that she didn’t sleep. Once she noticed that Elena was awake, she started making
plans to leave.
Elena had looked at her funny. She didn’t understand why she was so worked up. The
warrior had already promised to take them back should they wish it. Elena would love to go
back, but her adventurous spirit would not let her rest till she had scoured through every
beautiful area of the blood kingdom. She told Elion precisely that. The woman frowned, extreme
disappointment radiating from her. Not wanting then to argue or talk anymore about the topic,
Elena said to her that she was hungry. She asked Elion to follow her if she was too so that they
both could find something to eat. Surprisingly, she agreed. They found themselves in a huge
room, the scent of different kinds of food permeating the environment. As a cook herself, Elena
was surprised at the mouth-watering dishes shared in the room. She didn’t even know when she
headed to the serving table, and upon seeing the different dishes laid out there, Elena had to suck
in a gasp. It was heavenly. She could recognize some of the food, as she had cooked some
herself, while she didn’t know the rest. One of the waiters told her that all the dishes they served
were from the four kingdoms, and they were made possible thanks to the Blood king. Elena had
to admit, the more she saw all these, the more she liked the blood king. She took a bit out of
every dish and walked to the seat Elion had saved for her, a grin playing on her face. Once she
sat down, she noticed that Elion was frowning at her and that she hadn’t taken any food for
herself.
“Aren’t you going to eat?” She asked, wondering what was making her angry.
“Elena, aren’t you scared one bit? How are you comfortable in the land of our
kidnappers?”
“What are you trying to say?” Elena asked, taking a bite from her food. She moaned at
the deliciousness and then took another spoonful, savouring it slowly.
“Don’t you want to go back to your family? How can you be having fun in the blood
kingdom? Haven’t you heard tales of its people? Their king?”
“Elion,” Elena called, putting her spoon down. “We have been here for barely a day.
Your brother is tired and resting, trying to gain back his strength. Since we have come here no
one had given us reason to want to go back. Yes, I have heard tales of the Blood Kingdom, but
since we have arrived, we sure haven’t seen rivers of blood rather than water have we?”
Elion scowled.
“What I’m trying to say is, let us just rest. Trust me, I know when and how to avoid
danger, but so far, my instincts aren’t warning me against anything. Remember that you were the
one who taught me to listen to my instincts.”
“Well, mine doesn’t want to stay in this place.” Elion cut in.
“Does it? Listen to your instincts again, Elion. It doesn’t want to stay here because of its
senses danger, or because if the takes you have heard of it?” Elena questioned. When she
remained silent, Elena took sat straight and took another spoonful.
“You didn’t strike me as one who gets scared easily, Elion. This is surprising.” At that,
Elion grunted, folding her hands against her chest.
“You should be lucky you were able to make it here.”
They both turned around to see who had spoken. A woman, possibly in her kid twenties,
stood by their table, a bowl of food in her hands. Elena could immediately tell that she wasn’t a
citizen of the Blood Kingdom by her skin colour.
“Who are you?” Elion asked, already sorted straight and ready to attack. The lady barely
glanced her over before turning to look at Elena.
“Most people who were kidnapped, or had tried to get in by themselves were killed. Only
experienced warriors are capable of taking people in and out of the kingdom. If you knew what
was happening in other kingdoms, you would be lucky that you’re alive here, and safe.”
“What do you mean?” Elena said, sitting up straight immediately.
“Didn’t you hear? A battle has been going on in all three kingdoms. A group of people
wearing white garments, who also possess special powers, go to every part of a kingdom and
start to destroy it. We don’t know what they did to the bodies, but most of them weren’t even
okay to bury with. They were burnt and black, their skin no less different from ash.
Elena’s heart began to pound. “Which kingdom are you from?”
“I am from Tush. The western part. The two-third of the whole area is brunt down.
People are running anywhere. Those who went to Neba or Pres for safety came back mere dares
later, complaining of how no different it was at Tush. I was running for safety when some guys
kidnapped me. At that point, I was willing to go anywhere to save my life. Thankfully, before I
ended up in a worse place, the king’s warriors found me. I have been doing well ever since. Don’t
complain about how you want to go and all those things. At this point, you should be happy that
you are alive.”
Elion’s face became pale, and she looked at Elena, whose face mirrored her own. Having
lost her appetite, she sat there and remained quiet, mulling over what the strange woman had
said.
“She might be lying,” Elion said, trying to encourage herself. “She might just be trying to
scare us.” Elena didn’t know what expression she made, but it made Elion quiet down once she
looked at her.
Elena took the remaining food up to Forest’s room and knocked. This time, he answered
immediately. He opened the door and smiled brightly once he saw Elena. His hair was mussed
up, and his face was pink. He was the exact look of someone who had just woken up.
“You brought me food?” He said as he looked at her hands. “Thanks so much! You’re the
best. Come in.” He opened his door wider to let her in. Elena walked inside slowly and took note
of his room. She walked over to the table by the side of the room and placed the food there.
“I tried calling you before I went to get some food. You didn’t answer. I surmised that
you were asleep.” Elena said. Forest chuckled as he brought out a chair and sat before his table to
eat.
“I know so many things have happened to us since our journey, but one thing I used to
encourage myself with all the time was of how grateful I am that Wazir wasn’t with me. Imagine
me trying to sleep when he is around. I can assure you that I wouldn’t be as cute looking as I am
now.” Elena chuckled as Forest took a spoonful of the food.
“Okay, this is great. Where did you get it?” He started to gobble up his food, moaning
between each bite.
“There is a large room downstairs where one can eat. There is food from every kingdom
down there. I took a bit from everything. It’s a food lover’s paradise.” Forest’s eyes widened at
her description.
“Really?” He asked. “I would love to go there, and fast. Their cooks must be awesome
because they are the only ones capable of making me eat without comparing it to your own.” He
took another spoonful of food.
Elena chuckled at his enthusiasm. She remained quiet and watched him eat till he cleared
the bowl.
“I would visit that room for more.” He said, stretching back against his chair.
“So, where is Elion?”
“She is in our room.” Noticing how her face changed upon mention of her name, Forest
sat up straight, frowning slightly.
“Is anything wrong?” He asked. Elena sighed and then narrated everything that had
happened downstairs. The more Forest listened, the more his frown deepened.
“I always knew she was uptight,” he started after a while, once she had finished narrating
everything. “But a war? This has so many shades of wrong to it.”
“You’re telling me,” Elena said, falling flat against his bed. “I’m scared for my
Grandparents, Wazir and Mac. Mac had just started realizing his dream, a war will spoil
everything.”
“Yeah. Another war. This is bad. And no one knows who these men are?”
Elena shook her head. “They are all just identified by the unique white garment they
adorn all the time. And they also possess special powers.”
“You know, there is every possibility that the lady might have lied to you guys. I would
not know her motive to do it, but it’s possible.”
“Elion thought the same thing.” Elena countered. “So we both went around, looking for
those who were also brought in like us, and they told us the same thing.
Forest released a huge sigh. “And to think we were in Tush.” He said, his expression one
of worry.
“I hope nothing happens to Old Porv and Calhoun.”
At the mention of Calhoun’s name, Elena felt her heart lodge to her throat. She finally has
someone who likes her for real. She would be so heartbroken should anything happen to him.
She cleared her head of the thought, not willing to think about it.
“Nothing will happen to them. I can count on them to keep themselves safe. There are
warriors, even if they come across the strange people with powers, they cannot be taken down
lightly.”
“Yes, yes. I trust them too.” Forest said, nodding his head to either assure himself or
Elena.
“I have another thing to tell you, though you are the only one I have shared it with.”
Forest scrunched his eyes, curiosity lancing through his features.
“What is it?”
“As I was coming here, I had a very strange dream. It was so realistic that when I woke
up, I was very sure that it had happened. But the idea seemed so strange even to my ears, that I
thought I had imagined it all. But after hearing tales of people with magic powers destroying the
three kingdoms, I am not so sure if I truly just imagines it.”
“Tell me about it,” Forest said, and she did. She told him about the woman, her unique
features, and how the environment looked like when the strange woman appeared. She told him
about what she said Elena should do and about how the fate of the world was at her hands. She
told him everything she could remember about that dream, and when she finally finished, she
noted that Forest’s face was pale.
“I don’t think it’s a coincidence, Elena.” He started slowly, his voice hoarse. “She
mentioned that the world is at war, and today you have heard from so many others just this same
fact. But for her to say that the fate of the world lies in your hands, Elena, I don’t think this is any
normal type of battle we are going to face. And you better prepare yourself, for you have a long
road ahead of you.”
“I’m scared,” she confessed silently to Forest. He stood up and walked towards her, then
knelt at her front.
“Just remember, no matter any decision that you end up taking, I am with you all the
way.”