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Maximus stood at their spot that overlooked the lake, took comfort in their calm waters that beautifully reflected the purple sky. He had been elated to realise that he was in Scileria and waited as he always did, waiting for Amoura to appear. What he didn't expect was to see a figure that resembled nothing that his mate was, it didn't matter that he felt like he should know who the woman was that approached her at a steady pace, he just knew she was a stranger and that had him slightly on edge.
She wore a long white dress that swept a path where she walked, as her feet peaked through with every step he realised she was barefoot, she was tall enough to reach his neck, her hair was a beautiful jet black of a waterfall, it looked tamed as it fell behind her shoulders, with no single strand out of place. As she got close enough to stand before him, she took him in just as he was her. He could see her oceanic eyes that reflected his own eye, with perfectly trimmed thick brows, he realised she almost
resembled him, and that revelation was startlingly shocking to him.
"My you've grown, handsome as your father you are" her voice was as lulling as a lullaby hymn as she spoke in wonderment, as if she herself couldn't believe that he stood before her. At the mention of his father, a part of him hoped and another found itself stuck in denial of who the woman could possibly be, yet as she palmed his unshaven cheek, he felt it then and he knew. The woman before him was his mother, as if she could read him like an open book, the woman nodded
"Yes, son, glad to know you're smart too" she jested as she patted his cheek lightly and she turned to look at the lake herself. Yet Maximus seemed stuck facing her way, mind filled with questions he somehow couldn't voice out, the woman spoke
"I know you probably have a lot of questions, but I'm afraid I can't answer them all" she said turning her face to look at her son, face looking regretful.
"I didn't even think I would get this chance, but it seems it shall be the Moon goddess' last gift to me before I depart" she said sounding resigned, only one word escaped his lips as he questioned
"Depart?" his tone sounded confused
"Yes, when you see me tomorrow, it will be under the noose, just know then, that my soul will be at peace, and there is nothing you can do about it, there's no cheating death this time." She said gazing at the birds that floated under the purple and pink hues with a sense of peace that soon her soul will be free as they are.
"I don't want you feeling like there was something you could have done Maximus, because there is none, and so you will not blame yourself, understood?" she questioned, her voice stern as she turned to look at her son, who now had a tear slithering down his cheek. Maximus found that he could do nothing, could not move, could not talk, could not breathe as he listened to his supposed mother's words, it all seemed too much to comprehend but he came to understand that the execution tomorrow shall be his mother's demise.
A mother he never got a chance to know, the one that had birthed him and fed him milk from her very own breasts, one that had made the ultimate sacrifice to give him away just so that he would be safe, a mother he had spent the past years thinking had died by the king's hand just as his father had. It was now hard to comprehend that that very mother was here, only to say goodbye. He felt his heart give a painful clench at the image before him, his mother's oceans seemed flooded and bursting at the seams as salty tears rand down her face, yet she smiled up at him and said
"I'm happy now son, seeing you just this one last time is enough, don't you worry for I'll finally be with your father. I've spent years in heartache, although I had found solace in another, only just so I can watch you grow up even from a distance, I've lived my part, my soul fulfilled, so I don't want you mourning my death. What I need from you now is to be strong, be strong for your pack, for both you and you mate, for fate has it that you shall see each other again. And when you do, all will fall into place as it should. Just be strong and have trust in the bond and love you have for one another for when you two finally collide, it shall conquer it all.
"Mom" he whispered in panic as the scene appeared to be fading, he needed more time, there had to be more time, this wasn't enough, he thought in desperateness as he tried to grasp at the dream that faded to an end.
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Maximus, although had had a warning in a form of a dream, he could never have been prepared enough to face the reality of the situation, as he saw the woman be dragged into the middle of the pit. It was circular in form, only to be surrounded by sadistic souls just yearning to see blood spill only to satiate their sadistic desires for violence and death, and the pit gave them the epitome of gore, a feast as you will.
Usually they would be in an uproar of excitement with inability to wait just to see rogues tear each other apart only ravish the dead as if having been starved for decades. The structure of the ring was like a circle dug in a whole, only to opened a stream of pathways that encompassed a series of iron barred doors meant to keep the rabid inside. Surrounding the big dug circle, were podiums stacked in step like forms like stadium bleachers except they were carved from stone, they served as seats to those that occupied the underground treacherous arena and bought tickets to the point that they were sold out.
The crowd sat in silence as the king entered from the castle tunnel Maximus and Eurich had used to get to the pit. He marched prideful toward a throne that couldn't be compared to the one perched in the throne room back in the castle, for where one exuded luxury, this one was nothing but concrete stone cold as the King's soul. He had this sick satisfied smile in all its royal smugness as he watched the woman that only glared back as if she didn't care that it was the King that she was so blatantly disrespecting.
For that reason, Maximus found himself most intrigued and proud by the woman's act of defiance, he could see then that his mother was a strong woman, one who wouldn't go down without a fight where she can help it. After all, why not take the last piss at the king responsible for you fast approaching demise, right? She was nothing but skin and bones and from where he stood, he could see bruised skin and patches that peaked through the torn floor length cotton dress that was now nothing but filth.
As he stood on the same lane and not too far from the king, it was easy for the woman's eyes to fall upon him as she retracted her stare from the King. Maximus could see her draw in a breath as her chest puffed out and her lungs drew in air as if for the first time, her oceanic eyes were slightly wide as they seemed to flood with unshed tears. The very image of the tearful woman had his heart ache as she now faced him for real, her death in this realm meant finality. The very woman that had been in his dreams not so long ago, as the dream came to his mind, so did his mother's words, and he clung to them as if they were his anchor.
The woman's reaction seemed to only last but a second before she composed herself and it was as if she had never had a moment of relapse in her stoic set face. She internally cussed herself for her obvious reaction when her eyes had landed on her son, whom she hadn't seen for months now. She knew she couldn't risk the King possibly knowing who he was to her, for then he would figure out just who Maximus really is. Maximus willed himself to keep from reacting as any son would at the notion of not only meeting and seeing their mother for the first time, but also at the notion of her being in immense danger.
At the thought of what his own reaction would mean, he seemed to realise just why her emotions were so quick to change. Unbeknownst to both mother and son, the King was already privy to Maximus' true heritage, for it had been impossible for him to miss her reaction, after all he had been anticipating it, and he couldn't deny that part of him found itself disappointed at Maximus' lack of reaction, but brushed it aside, for he believed to have won the game after all, and all was going as planned.
The king aimed to break Maximus to the point he would have nothing left to fight for, therefore making him a willing puppet, and with zero possibility of him ever being a threat. He meant to show Maximus that there was no way of winning against him, hence the outward display of the events that seemed to be on the brink of beginning. Maximus watched as a guard went to untie his biological mother's wrists that were tied with thick rope, and retreat behind the door he had come through.
The woman rubbed her wrists that now had red bracelets permanently etched on her skin as they slightly ached. Letting out a breath, she found herself resigned to her fate, for she at least got to see her son one last time before her soul became one with peace. It had been ages since Maximus had come to the pits, however, he still remembered how things worked. He knew that within seconds, a cage will open only to release a rabid rouge that would no doubt destroy anything in its path, what he hadn't expected however, was to see five doors being opened.
His heart lodged in his throat as he watched the five beasts stalk toward the figure in the middle of them, their teeth snarled and saliva dripped to the ground as if they were salivating at warm cooked Sunday roast. He hadn't even blinked before he saw all five beasts move, their speed exceeding his comprehension, his mother had her eyes closed, arms held out only for them to be brutally amputated from her body, her head joining them in a simultaneous motion. The rabids ate at her flesh as if it were to be their last meal before their death and Maximus could only withstand the headache that approached with his hard attempt to keep Aurelius at bay.
His wolf was just as blood thirsty to rip the beasts to pieces starting with the King that gleefully cheered at the image of his ravaged mother, it didn't matter that he wanted to walk out of there because he couldn't, he couldn't move from where he stood, his eyes stuck on the bits and pieces of what used to be his mother, and just then the rabids retreated like trained dogs. Not long after the beasts were caged again, did a guard walk in with a werewolf that seemed to be in a similar state his mother had been.
He knew then that that must have been his mother's choice mate after her mate, his father, had died. He still couldn't comprehend that she had been alive for all these years he had thought her dead, he wondered if his adoptive parents knew of this. Alas he found it even futile to ponder the matter, his mother was now officially dead and he had bared witness to it, he willed himself to find solace in his promise, that he would be strong just as his mother had asked of him.
Maximus knew one thing for certain as he walked out of the pit, his Amoura would not die by the hand of the king just as his parents had, he refused to have that become reality. With his resolve in mind, he made to head back to the castle, except before he could take two steps in the direction of the castle, he came to a halt when the king questioned
"Is the show not entertaining enough for you Maximus?' his tone was almost taunting and almost sounded borderline offended by the notion of Maximus not enjoying the whole spectacle. The question had Maximus clenching his jaw in annoyance as he turned his head over his shoulder toward the King
"Gory executions just aren't my thing" he stated with a shrug filled with nonchalance, and the King eyebrow just about twitched as his eyes vacantly stared at Maximus
"Hey, to each their own right?" Eurich chuckles as if in attempt to defuse the tension. At his words, Maximus unclenched his hands within the pockets of his crisply ironed black dress pants, and nodded with a fleeting tight lipped smile and muttered
"Yeah" facing away from Eurich before him, he looked back at the King
"If you'll excuse me your majesty" he deemed those six words enough and without waiting for the King's own approval he turned forward and walked toward the tunnel, barely paying mind to the wild ruckus made by the crowd as they reacted to what was going on in the pit. Not long after he had just entered the castle dungeons, with intent to head for his chambers only to make a few much needed phone calls, Eurich cam jogging to catch up with him from the tunnel doorway behind.
"Man, I don't get how people spend money to watch all that, I mean if you want all that gore and shit, you could just rent some shitty horror movies, right?" the rhetorical question came from Eurich
"Except, we're animals, literally" Maximus stated dryly as he gave a fleeting glance Eurich's way.
"Yeah, that must be it, have there been any Rabids' attacks around your territory lately?" he questioned, his tone now having taken a serious turn
"No, not for months now, why, have there been any reports of such attacks in other territories?" Maximus questioned
"They've been all over the North, father of course had a few warriors and trackers head out to assist, and obviously we know what that means" he stated, referring to the fact that the only reason the King offered his hand was so he could get more dogs to put in a dog fight for his own sick entertainment, also didn't help that the pit actually brought in insane profit. Maximus merely agreed in mind as he found his own mind occupied elsewhere, on matters he deemed more important than the King's own affairs.
"Well, see you at dinner then, or will you have disappeared by then?' Eurich questioned with a knowing grin and Maximus couldn't help a chuckle as he said
"Guess we'll see" with a shrug he took a turn that headed to his quarters and the prince walked on in his own direction. The minute Maximus entered the room, he pulled his phone from his pocket with the intent to call his Beta that had left in the hours of the night passed. Except after a few more ring without an answer, Maximus concluded that it was high time he left, without daring to waste any minute, we headed for his bags that still lay packed, only to have been opened when he needed a few clothes out of it. after all he hadn't planned to stay long, yet it seemed the castle would keep him a few days longer when a knock came to the door.
"Enter" his voice echoed around the empty room. The door opened to reveal none other than his now betrothed whose eyes seemed to fleet toward his suitcase on his bed, only to quirk up a brow in question
"You aren't really leaving already are you?, because if it wasn't clear to you, my father's announcement of our engagement was clear meaning that you will be staying here until then" she stated, she walked with poise as she surveyed the room, her voice held confidence with her words, which only seemed to annoy Maximus further
"I have a pack that needs my attention, I'll come back in time" if I do come back that is, he finished off in his mind, with clear intention of not returning for he hoped that by then, his mate would have been found.
"Yeah, I would really like to see you try to escape the King's sharp surveillance, you know, they are to alert him immediately the minute you make a move to leave" she chuckled, the sound had no humour about it as her emeralds clashed with his oceanic and silver tides.
"Last time I checked, I'm not a prisoner here" he stated, his face was void with emotion, yet she couldn't miss the anger that began to brew within his eye as he stared blankly at her
"You might as well be, there's lot of preparations to be done as well as discussions to be had, you aren't just mating with a common peasant wolf here, Maximus, I'll be your entry into the royal family and I suggest you get used to being here, for it will be your new home from then" her green thorns held a sense of malice as she watched the Alpha's jaw clench at her words, she deemed her work done and walked out without a glance behind her.
"Not if I can help it" he muttered under his breath. It didn't matter that the king had surveillance on him, he would leave and should he ever return, it would be with no one but his mate by his side. With determination she, he grabbed his bag and made for the door, however, he didn't even make it to the front of the Castle doors before he felt his strength deplete like a deflating tire with a puncher. He couldn't understand why his feet then began to feel like led as every step felt like a struggle, until he couldn't keep himself up anymore, and gravity got its price as his body plummeted to the shinning marbled floors in the large open foyer.
Maximus had failed to realise the flowers that occupied the flower pots he had walked by as he had marched on; his heightened sense of smell had failed him as it had been the leading reason for his quick slip into unconsciousness. The effects of the toxin within the purple and bluish petals had already made their way into his stream and dispersed beyond his body's own fighting defences, the longer he laid slowly breathing and none the wiser to the world around him. Only for the forest green gown lad woman to walk towards his unconscious body, with a malicious grin on her face at her accomplished feat.
Her emeralds thrummed with satisfaction as her thorns danced with excitement. All that rang in her mind was that her father would be proud with her accomplishment. Yet she couldn't help but wonder how Maximus could be affected by one thing only the King was affected by, however, she was quick to rid off her evidence of such knowledge, for she didn't want the King knowing that she knew his weakness however little it may be.
She had been young when she had stumbled upon the secret gardens of the castle, found the small bundle of flowers quite pretty, her young mid was enthralled by the intricately woven purple designs on the blue petals. Therefore, she had plucked a few of the flowers with intent to give one to her sickly mother, only she hadn't been allowed the chance when she had bumped into her father, as she held the stem to one single flower, she had looked up at her father who had crouched down to her eye level with questioning eyes.
Yet before he could say a word, she had seen him seem a bit disorientated as he clutched at his head, only to quickly dismiss her with promise that she could see her mother far later on, that next day she had returned to the garden only to find nothing but ash where there was once plants that had bloomed with life. Though she had been young at the time, she had gotten her smart brains from her father, had put one and one together and figured it out, she had made sure to keep the flowers she had kept in her dungaree pocket alive only to plant them where only she knew.
Although at the present time, she could not tell why her father was so insistent that she mate with him even as to got to the extent of having her mate killed, she swore vengeance on both the men, her father for having taken the only thing that she cherished more than her own life and Maximus for having been and still was the driving force behind the King's motives to rob her of her only chance at happiness, only to damn her into the life she didn't want and was sure to despise.
And that included finding out why it is her father found Maximus to be a threat. Most may have missed it, but she never missed the apprehension and alertness that brewed deep within her father's eyes every time Maximus was around, nor how his shoulders were always tense when they always seemed to be relaxed even in the face of his enemies.