"Ugh, this is how humans live?" Drake says eye and nose squinted like he smelt something bad. The skies were barren, no birds in the air that flew or sang. Great leafless trunks of grey man-rock sprouted from barren soil, sheltered under a churning mass of dull grey clouds. The air was thick and noxious, rank with the smell of fire and sombre woe. An era had risen. This was the era of men. 'Rightful Beings of the earth', or so they claimed, even though they desecrated the ground below them. They had no respect for the elements, and we were made from the elements meaning they had no respect for us. We don't come here. We dont want to come here.
"Follow the road." Adam said "we'll be there in no time." His smile was too genuine. I looked to Lily for confirmation and she nodded her head.
"Yeah I can smell them, there's lots. Probably gathering for his party. It's safe your majesty."
"Hmm." Drake doesn't sound too convinced. "Alright Lily.. LETS MOVE-" drake says and the troops start to move on his command. Lily and the rest of the pack shift into their wolf forms and walk beside me as we get closer to the castle. We are no friend here. But, I could feel him. Weirdly, magnetically, I could feel something pulling me towards him. We are bound by the earth and universes most superior forces. He is here. I can feel it.
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The town was dirty. As we passed people stared at us, as if we were weeds in a garden. We were so different to them, but I felt sorry for them. Most of these people looked malnourished, dying of famine or a new disease that had not made its way over the water. And I realised the whip marks upon some of the young women's faces, old men creating swords over black coal some struggling for warmth over it. Children running about in the black mud barefoot chasing a dog squealing with delight as they played together. As we rode in, they stopped to gawk at us. Laugh at us. But a child smiled up at me, it was so welcoming my heart melted. He looked skinny, too skinny for a young boy his age. I tossed the child one of my rings on my finger made of gold. He caught it and his face lit up, a smile had creaked through his caked face of dirt and his body reeked of famine. Hopefully they would eat for a long time with that. But soon later we couldn't ignore the overwhelming stench of hatred, I mean the public wasn't exactly fond of us.
"Nightslayer scum-"
"Kings finally lost it-"
"Get out fucking bastards-"
Everyone was getting agitated, especially the wolves. (No one is to do anything, keep moving.) I said to them. They all understood and walked beside me.
"There it is Karina." Adam said. I looked up to see the castle gates. There were two guards outside holding their spears.
"And yous are?" He said.
"Queen Karina Darvos of Valtor."
"Valtor?! HA! Yous a funny one ain't ya! No nightslayer scum allowed ere! Now shove off!" Egh what a vile creature.
"Accompanying me is Prince Adam Zovin. We received an invitation from your king-"
"My king, would NEVER allow nightslayers to step on this land, now I said SHOVE. OFF!" I locked eyes with him, and the 'sweet' queen had melted away. My face hardened and I lowered my voice.
"You do not want to test me sir.. we have had a very, very long journey and If I have to ask you again to open, the fucking gates, I'll fill your lungs with mud until you choke on your own prayers now have I made myself clear..." He couldn't take the intensity, he had become utterly still and lost the wind of his words. His eyes were too big but latched onto mine he couldn't take it anymore so he lowered his gaze before looking back up to see Adam and addressed him.
"My Lord, I did not see you there." He released a large sigh of relief. He thinks Adam can save him? FROM ME?! Ha! "She is with you my Lord?"
"No." I cut him off "Did you not hear me the first time? HE, is with ME.. now open the fucking gate." He looked to me again, and then back to Adam.
"Yes-yes ma'am -I mean My Lady- majesty.."
He fumbled around with his helmet and swallowed his pride. "OPEN THE GATES!" And mechanically, the gates opened. How Simple.
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The Palace was buzzing with Life. People dressed in their finest wear and fakest smiles. Princes, princesses, Lords, Ladies, Kings and Queens all packed together experiencing the flow of expensive wine, food and company. The music blasted so loud I was quite overwhelmed. The pack and the troops went to the camp but Drake, Lily and Adam came with me.
"This is definitely a human party." Drake said eyeing everyone. All of the floors were marble imported from Haydren. What else would they be? All stair rails were ornate mahogany, carved and polished so that it shined. Family portraits were painted in oils and hung in gold frames. Furniture was all handmade by master craftsmen. But it was the gold that outshone everything. The walls the tables the chandelier were all made from gold. The air was scented with alcohol, every flavour you could imagined had pooled togther in the air creating a revolting stench. I looked over to a vase on the the small table and saw the flowers wilting, dying in a quiet corner. Food was flowing on trays held by female servers who were hardly dressed at all in tight underwear displaying their areas of privacy. A fake smile to accompany each of them. Adam pointed up, "He'll be upstairs. This is half the party. The rest will be in the viewing section." He took the lead and wrestled through the crowd trying to maneuver us through them. Getting stared at as we passed them.
We reached the top of the stairs passing all the bedrooms. Some doors were open, others closed but all exhibiting sounds of animalistic pleasure. Each room was as filthy as the next.
"Eyes forward Salvadore." I joked as I saw Drakes eyes looming.
"Aww like you didn't look." He smirked. We reached the end of the corridor to find a door guarded by a very tall man with a body the width of the door I practically missed it. He took one look at Adam and stepped aside opening the door for us. Behind it was a flight of steps, these even grander than the ones downstairs. Laced in white gold, the carpet crisp and the air clearer, more private. We followed Adam to the top. We opened the door at the Top. Music blasted, people's bodies writhing together completely entranced by the beat of the music. There were no reputable people here, no lords or ladies, or Kings or Queens. This was THE part away from 'the party.' The music was as loud as thunder; it made the cutlery on the tabletops rattle. Neon lights flashed everywhere, but much more colourful. People were half naked including the men. Lily looked as confused as I was. Sensory overload I'd imagine. Over the roar of music, a distant, hazy chatter could be heard. I couldn't make out any words, but maniacal laughter rang in my ears and wouldn't seem to stop. The song that was playing got louder, but the laughter did too. It was a sick one. From the gut. It made me uncomfortable.
"My brother's over there, he is expecting us! Let's go!" Adam grabbed me and started pulling me.
"Karina-" Drake tried to grab me back before the crowd got between us and cut him away from me. Adam pulled me though a sea of sweaty body parts all bouncing around, entrances in the beat of the overbearing music. I couldn't see Drake anymore, I couldn't hear him or Lily. I was being pulled away from them. When we finally emerged I was on the other side of the room. It was a quiet corner. Two women were resting with their legs crossed on the arms of a grand chair. The chair was faced away from us and towards the massive window leading out to a grand balcony.
I stepped around the chair to see through the window. Below was the arena, the arena that Adam told me about. Tens of Weapons were littered over the dirt floor, the walls stained with blood streaks. A torture cage. There was a crowd gathering, the public had gathered for his birthday celebration fight. Thousands of people in the stands shouting banging against the railing getting hyped up to see some poor man die. I looked toward Adam, his eyes lit up at the sight of it.
"Brother. We are home." Adam said. The two women suddenly jumped at the sound of his voice and scrambled away.
"We?" A voice said. It came from the chair. "Who is we?" The man got up, still not facing us, but his height towered over me even from a distance. Adam suddenly stepped back, like he had retreated into his shell. The man turned around. And smiled, his eyes rolled down me and back up. "Karina Darvos I assume?" He asked in his raspy voice.
"Queen." I replied.
"My apologies." When he spoke, it sounded like he was tempting me, that he was threatening me. His apology was more like, a wager of war. His movements were calculated, careful. He moved closer to me, just enough to be invading of my space, but far enough so to an onlooker would seem normal. "I must say, you're far more beautiful than I anticipated. Your reputation does you no justice your majesty." Is this bastard trying to flirt with me? He had lowered his voice so that only I could hear what he said. Adam was still in his shell. His face crouched down to me making me shuffle back, but he matched my steps with larger ones of his own. "I hope there was no trouble getting here?" He asked.
"Not more than I anticipated. Your brother was a big help." I say, trying to get his eyes off of me and shift his attention. Since he laid eyes on me he has not blinked once or moved them.
"You're here alone." He smirked. It sounded like it should've been a question, but he made it a statement. And not to me, but himself.
"No." I replied looking around for anyone. He is too close now, my body starts to shake. I've never been afraid of a man quite like I am now. And I wasn't sure why. I could kill this man in an instant. But I have morals. And I'm looking into his eyes, and I can't see any in his. The blue is so intense, that it's like he is dead. And it's genuinely frightening me. I see how his reputation proceeds him. To be a monster, you have to kill off whatever is human in you. And when you lose that, how do you find it again?
"Hmm." He grunts. He grabs my wrist and pulls it up to his lower lip, Tempting a kiss. I against my will step forward in response. His lip was soft, and his breath was hot on my skin. I started breathing heavily as his grip became too tight. "My name is King Azran Zovin...pleased time meet you." He finally planted a kiss on my hand but he didn't let me go.
"Karina." I hear from the side. Drake was standing there, watching the king's hand on me. The king let go and I took multiple steps toward Drake. As I got closer I could smell the spilled alcohol on Drake and see the red from the wine on his clothing. There was food in his hair and funk on his hands as he was trying to get through the crowd.
"King Zovin, this is Lord Drake Salvadore head of Valtorian and my security." Drake went out to shake his hand but the king dismissed it with his eyes.
"I see you are enjoying my party." He said his eyes gesturing to all of Drake.
"I see you aren't my lord. Sitting here alone isn't much of celebrating is it?" I gave Drake a slight nudge, but he knew what he was doing. He wanted to piss him off.
"I like to observe chaos, it's comforting to me. Control, dominance, it's the greatest feeling of pleasure. Any man will agree." His eyes float to me. "Every man will agree." He smiled rolling his tongue on his teeth. "Do you want to know why I hold these games?" He asks and moves towards the large window. "To give the man his feeling of Dominace, and me..a chance to let chaos give me control. And of course the betting profit I make." He laughed.
"Drake!" Lily finally emerges from the crowd interrupting the King. "Ughhhhh Drake it was horrible, it was like I couldn't breathe-too many of them way WAYY too many!" Drake took Lily in his arms and embraced her taking her off to the side to rest. She looked like she was about to collapse trying to use too many senses at once. Adam finally snapped out of whatever trance he was in and gave her some water. Everyone was occupied and the king again came too close to me.
"Would you like to experience my kind of chaos my lady?" His finger brushed my cheek using his other hand to rest on my waist. He took my silence to his advantage and pulled me out through the window onto the balcony, giving a clear bird eye view of the Arena. The crowd erupted at the sight of him and cheered for him. It didn't phase him at all, instead he pulled out my chair next to his insinuating that I take a seat to watch. He stared me down until my legs gave way and I sat on the chair next to his. He gave a signal meaning for the crowd to take their seats. And then gave another signal to the guard telling him to start the match. Down on the floor of the arena was a relatively tiny man with a microphone.
"Welcome everyone to the kings birthday celebration!!!" The crowd cheered for their king. "Our left opponent today is from the Kingdom of Galof, King Oijin's Champiionn fighterrrrr! Please WELCOME..RIPPER!!!!!" Down on the floor of the arena, the left hand side door opened revealing a man, who resembled more of a troll banging his hardened chest hyping up the crown even more. He was the size of 3 men all in one, a giant of a man. But a man nonetheless. He took his place and picked up the closest Axe to him.
"Aaannddd on the right hand side we have a new fighter, The King's MOST lethal champion! Please ladies and gentleman, fighting for our very own King Zovin, we have the Angel of death himself! Make some noise for LUCIFERRRRR!!!!" The right door opened and a man was thrown out on his hands and knees. He was badly beaten with scars on him...but I know those scars. As soon as I realised I got up from my chair and my heart was in my mouth. He was scrambling to his feet, his legs unable to support his weight from the injuries. But he got up and walked with his head held high to his mark. Picking up a sword as he went. His hair was cut short and his body had built up more muscle. There was a fire in his eye and I could see the forces running through his pulsing veins. His shoulders went up and down in deep heavy breaths as he shook off the the pain. He was alive, that's all that mattered. My hands gripped the balcony edge, I felt like I was going to burn it off. (Please see me, please see me.) I thought in my head. I wanted him to know I came for him. But it was like he heard me, he turned to the balcony and stopped in his track. His eyes entrapped mine and his arms went limp. His lips slightly parted in relief. And his heavy breaths shortened and his eyes softened. But he had looked too long, and he knew it. He turned away from me, and went to his mark. Facing his opponent head on. Sword dancing through his fingers.
"This match is in Honor of our King, and on this special occasion, the king has announced that the winner of this match will join him in his celebration feast!" The crowd clapped and wooed him.
"It's a fight to the death-MAY THE STRONGEST MAN WIN!" The small man ran to safety behind the barriers and the contestants waited for the signal from the king. Azran came up behind me, leaning on the balcony next to me, our shoulders touching. He looked out into the crowd and took a deep breath.
"Now you see your majesty. That when everything is in chaos. I'm ALWAYS, in control." He gave the signal. And the fighting began.