As evening came closer, Bran fly Sienna back to Gaius's palace. Sarcos saw the eagle approaching in the air and made the atrium clear of servants for him to land. Sarcos was aware, that the whole city was against the brave eagle. Gaius instead of calming his people, let the rumours spread, yet he claimed to be on their side!
"Sarcos," Sienna hugged him as she slid off Bran's back. Sarcos held her tight. Then he looked at her face and stared at Mathyas's black cape a bit confused. He wanted to take it down, but Sienna shook her head. She pulled his hands inside of it and slid his hands on her almost naked body.
"I need this cape."She chuckled cheekily at him."Sarcos tightened his hands around her waist possessively. "Mathyas just helped me," Sienna whispered. "But it is Bran who kept saving me."She smiled sweetly.
"Let's go up, "Sarcos sighted. He picked Sienna into his arms and held her tight, even though he could not stand the familiar smell of Midnight Lilies, leather and fresh blood on her! Bran followed closely behind them.
They all came back to Sienna's room. Sienna was all sticky and dusty from the rocky mountain, so she went for the bath straight away!
Meanwhile, Bran told Sarcos what had happened. Sarcos listen to him patiently. "Bran, thank you, for saving my queen. I have an important mission for you now. "he looked at him seriously." I want to bring my father here. Tell king Marco everything. . I know his week with the queen is coming, but I have important work to do here. Tell him not to attack king Mathyas under any circumstances. He will need to be patient. Go now and fly safely."
Sienna overheard that Bran is about to go, so she run out of the bathroom quickly covered in the towel. Sarcos's eyes glistened."Sienna?"
" I just come out to say goodbye to Bran," she smiled innocently." Have a good flight and say hello to Marco from me. Tell him I love him so much."She smiled and kissed Bran's cheek.
Bran nodded and left. It was really inappropriate what Sienna just did, but it warmed his heart. Bran left and Sarcos hugged Sienna."We were supposed to go for dinner to Mathyas's fortress, but is too late now."Sarcos noted.
"Will he be upset?" Sienna asked.
"Maybe a bit."Sarcos nodded."But I guess he knows already."Sarcos smirked at her.
Sienna leaned to Sarcos chest tighter. He was so warm! "You should write to him."
"No need. He know for sure." Sarcos noted.
"You know him better. If you say so, I take it."Sienna smiled."I think he was using White Lizard King as a puppet and kept his warriors at bay. I have to return him his cape too."Sienna noted.
"So you do like him better now?"Sarcos asked a bit painfully.
"How should I know? He is your frienemy. He said what happened between you was an accident and hoped to be your friend again?"Sienna lifted her eyebrows.
"Accident?"Sarcos said in disbelief and went to look from the window, to calm down his rage. He blinked his eyes and dark memory passed in his mind in a second;
A young boy, around seven years old, with dark sparkly eyes was hiding in underground tunnels, sneaking on his older friend, when he heard his father's voice."Almost ready Marath! Our weapon is finally done!"
"Cosimo, you are a genius, but are you sure you want to do this?"Marath cold voice was a bit unsure.
"Yes, it will melt any armour, including scorpions ones, every enemy will just disappear, including my son. I can't have him humiliate me ever again, little bastard."Cosimo said between his teeth.
The little boy, who was actually Sarcos, peeked inside. Mathyas, who was ten years old, just came to Marath."How do you know it works, father?" he asked curiously.
"You need someone strong to test it on."Marath bend to his son and chuckled."Do you want Sarcos to become your little brother?" he whispered.
"Yes, father."Mathyas nodded excitedly.
"Ok then," Marath whispered," Go inside and take the power crystal, which is on the table behind Cosimo, "It will be an accident." he smiled gently.
"How so father?"Mathyas asked a bit surprised.
"Do it and then we can adopt Sarcos as a good friend should! You will be ruling Sand City for him too. You like to be a powerful king one day, no?"
"I just want him to be my little brother." Mathyas nodded and did as his father said.
The door of the crystal dome clasped.
Little Sarcos watched as Marath put the crystal at the top of the dome and it lit up in blue light. His father inside looked around a bit startled and he started to fight against an invisible enemy. The wounds appeared on his body from the thin air!
Sarcos stared at the lit-up dome with his dying father inside and panicked. He run into the room and banged the crystal glass."Father"
Cosimo did not saw his son. He was dying in the fight.
Sarcos saw the energy crystal high at the top of the crystal dome. He leapt high up and picked the boiling crystals with his bare hands. He did not even notice! The dome darkened and Sarcos heard his father's body hit the floor. He jumped off and went to open the clasped door.
"No," Marath shouted."Don't open the door, it is dangerous for all of us. Your father is dead already. He wanted to kill you."He ran to stop the young boy.
"I don't care, it's my father!" screamed seven-year-old Sarcos and smashed Marath thru the whole room away from him. The fire scorpion flamed wildly in his eyes.
"Father!" called Mathyas, who was taller and attacked Sarcos to protect his father. Mathyas went for a kill straight away.
He pounced on younger Sarcos circling his neck, but Sarcos threw a fireball at his face. Mathyas run in panic and smashed his body on the wall.
Sarcos finally opened the dome door and lifted his big father's body on his small shoulders, "Let's go, dad."Sarcos half dragged his father's legs on the floor behind him, as he was still short.
"Sarcos, he wanted to kill you." Marath tried to put down fire from his son's face, but nothing was working. Mathyas lay unconscious on the floor. His face was submerged in blue fire, cracking his skin to black ashes.
"You will kill my son! Please, I beg you to stop your fire. It was my fault. I wanted to protect you and I wanted to kill your father. Kill me and keep my son."Marath kneeled on the floor over his son's body.
Sarcos bit his lips and clapped his hands. The fire stopped! Mathyas skin was charred to black ashes!
"Take good care of my big brother and never cross my path, "said Sarcos."I decide my father's fate."
"Call soldiers, father, "Mathyas whispered.
"No, you are more important. One day you will take from Sarcos what is dearest to him and kill him!" Marath nodded piercing his red eyes into Sarcos's dark ones.
"I dare you."Sarcos bit his lips and run out dragging his father's body with him out of the dark corridors.
Outside Sarcos gathered his father's men."Quick, back to Sand City, father is injured."Sarcos climbed on the back of the biggest scorpion dragging his father with him and rushed them back. He ripped his clothes to bandage his father's wounds as the group of huge scorpions run thru the underground river shortcut back to the Sand City.
When Sarcos with the soldiers came to Sand City everyone was upset about what happened. Sarcos cured his father and forgave him but Cosimo just left him the crown and decided he would banish himself from Sand City. He could not stand his people anymore!
Meanwhile, Marath took care of his son. Mathyas's face was scarred but as he shed skins, his face improved gradually, also because Sarcos was sending him potions for his burned face in secret!
Sienna looked at Sarcos. He stood at the window thinking.
"Sarcos, are you ok?" she hugged him from behind.
Sarcos turned around and looked at Sienna as he could not see her. He was still in a daze.
"It was not an accident!"Sarcos hissed.
"But, can you forgive him?"Sienna asked.
"Yes, I did already, it was not his fault."
"So, can he be your friend again?"
"No, his father needs his revenge."Sarcos said darkly."I need to give him that chance."
"That sounds silly. Why he would need revenge for?"Sienna asked curiously.
"Because it was my fault. I burned his son's face and beat him. He just tried to save me."Sarcos said darkly."
"But you were very young, you did the best you could at that moment, don't be so hard on yourself." Sienna held him tight.
Sarcos grabbed her arms strongly."Sienna, I'm a king, I will take responsibility for all my actions, even as a kid."
Sienna looked into his eyes."Will you let him kill you?"
Sarcos nodded."I need to give him the chance. In case I don't make it you stay with Mathyas."
"What?"Sienna sank down in his arms.