TWO WEEKS AGO
Finally!
Kade thought as he stared up at the massive opened temple doors, the rain drumming a furious beat against the back of his brown cloak. But he didn't care, not about the rain, or his clothes, or the nerve numbing cold that came with it.
All he cared about was the fact that he was finally standing in front of the temple that housed the Prince of Wrath.
Kade could hardly believe he was really there. The Prince was rarely spoken about, and so finding his temple had been quite the challenge. In fact, seeing the state the temple was in, it was obvious the temple itself didn't want to be found.
The front porch was covered in moss, and the garden was overgrown. There were weeds everywhere.
The place wasn't very appealing.
The windows were boarded shut, the wooden panels hanging loosely from the nails. A broken window near the top was covered by a piece of fabric that flapped carelessly in the wind. The intricate designs on the doors had long faded over time.
Kade wasn't that surprised. There was no history about the being he was about to meet. He was more of a myth. Told through stories passed down from generation to generation.
They were four princes in total; Wrath, Hearts, Pride and Lust. The princes held control over certain districts of the mortal realm, and were said to offer any requests one needed, benevolent or malevolent, as long as they were offered something worthy back in return.
The Prince of Wrath was the one who ruled over this district. At least he used to centuries ago. Anaxagoras, as some liked to call him, was also known by other titles; the prince of terror and wealth.
However, when he vanished suddenly, so did his followers. Eventually, people stopped believing in him. And yet, the Prince of Wrath was the only being in the world right now that could help him.
Myth or not.
Kade swallowed his nervousness and stepped inside. The waft of stale air hit his nose, assaulting his senses, and he winced. The inside of the temple was empty and dimly lit from the small silvers of moonlight. His footsteps echoed as he walked down the red-carpeted aisle.
He passed by rows of benches covered in dust and cobwebs, and he wondered just how long it'd been since people came here. It didn't take long for him to reach the large stone slab at the end, and on top was a giant statue of the Prince of Wrath.
The statue before him possessed a ruthless kind of beauty. His marble blue eyes were cold and sharp, and he had an air of arrogance and pride to him as well. He sat on his regal throne, adorned in an outfit that spoke of wealth, legs crossed. One arm rested on the armrest while the other was outstretched, palm open, as if he was summoning something.
Or waiting for someone to hold his hand.
He looked rich, cruel and bored.
And dusty.
Kade approached, and knelt on the dirty ground, feeling the hair on his skin stand. He leaned forward, and placed his fingers on the smooth and hard open palm, somehow hoping the statue would come to life and ask him what he wanted. But nothing moved, except for the harsh wind blowing outside.
''I want to die,'' he began, his stomach rolling as the words escaped his mouth. ''Actually no, I want revenge then I want to die.
Some bastards killed my family, and I want revenge. I-I just can't stand it knowing whoever did it is still out there, walking freely. I-'' the words choked in his throat. The guilt he held onto so desperately for days finally spilled, and a wave of self-hatred swept him away. He curled his hand into a fist and struck the marble statue. His knuckles stung.
''Please, please, just—'' his voice broke. His chest heaved, but he didn't dare to cry. He'd cried enough.
He'd never hated himself as much as he did now. He'd spent days on the road, traveling on foot and avoiding towns. Every single night he dreamed of the fire. Of the blood, and the screams, and the pain.
It was all his fault. If only he had just ignored the signs, none of this would have happened. If he had just left things as they were, they wouldn't have had to suffer the consequences of his actions.
And now, they were all dead.
Because of him.
''I'm sorry,'' Kade whispered. He didn't know if he was apologizing to the statue, his family, or himself. ''I'm sorry.''
The silence in the room was deafening, and he waited for the statue to react. To do anything. But it didn't move. He blinked. Wasn't that how it was meant to be? Were his pleas not worthy enough?
''Please, I know you can hear me.''
Another silence.
His heart lurched. If the Prince of Wrath wouldn't answer him, then who would? He had been desperate enough to come here. There was nothing more he could do.
Sighing, he moved to place his head on the stairs of the podium when a movement caught his eyes. Kade squinted, trying to make out the shape.
A figure sat on one of the benches. However, when he blinked, it disappeared. He shook his head, sure it was just his imagination playing tricks on him.
It was only a couple of seconds before he heard the sound of footsteps behind him.
''Now, that was a lousy way to ask for a request,'' the footsteps stopped, followed by a lazy voice, which sounded just a few feet away.
Kade jumped at the voice, the blood on his face draining. He turned around. A man leaned casually on one of the benches with his long lean leg crossed over the other. There was a slight smirk on his lips and a gleam of interest in his pearl blue eyes. He was dressed in dark pants and a white satin shirt that had seen better days, with ruffles at the end of its sleeves. His silver-white hair was tied into a messy bun at the top of his head, with a couple of strands falling over his eyes. Silver earrings dangled gracefully from each earlobe.
Kade stared at the man curiously. Was he a worshipper or just a random passerby? He hadn't even heard him come in.
He watched as the man pulled out a blue rose from his pocket and took a sniff of one of its petals, a small smile playing on his lips, before he threw it into his mouth.
He chewed slowly, his sharp gaze trained on Kade's.
Kade blinked. "Who are you?"
Another petal went into the stranger's mouth. Kade's nose scrunched up slightly at the way he ate the petal like it was made out of bread.
The man raised a brow. ''You're the one who called me.''
Called him? Kade immediately turned to the statue, and then back to the man, eyes wide with recognition. How had he not realized? ''You...''
''Yes, me.'' The man said, rolling his eyes like he wasn't surprised Kade didn't recognize him.
Kade slowly rose to his feet, staring at the man. ''I thought....I wasn't expecting to see you....I...'' he looked at the man again, taking in his appearance. The man in front of him was nothing like the statue behind him. While the statue danced with more elegance, this man oozed with a lazy type of grace. And yet, the beauty they both held was striking.
Kade frowned. ''You're really the Prince of Wrath?''
Suddenly, the man was right beside him, in a speed so unnatural, Kade hadn't even seen him move. This close, he was undeniably attractive and taller than Kade had realized. He had to strain his neck a bit to see him, and the urge to reach out and touch him to see if he was real was almost overwhelming.
''Who else could I be?'' The man asked, and cocked his head to the side.
Kade swallowed. He tried to look away from the intensity of the other's gaze, but it was like some terrible magic had taken hold of him. Rather than looking away, he suddenly imagined what it would be like for the man to take his lips instead of the flower petals he bit into again.
The man frowned, staring up at his statue. ''What? Were you expecting horns and tails?'' He scoffed. ''Please, at least the real me does justice to this monstrosity.''
Kade shook his head, still trying to comprehend the situation. ''I just thought that you'd look more....''
''Otherwordly? Glowly? Or perhaps, sparklingly?'' The man offered for him, the corner of his lips quirking. ''This is my temple. Do you think I'm going to wear my best outfit for anyone who walks through the door?''
Kade flushed at the mental image, and quickly shook his head.
''Besides, I wasn't expecting visitors. I haven't had any since....well, who knows?'' He shrugged casually, still staring up at his statue.
Kade wondered how a man who was supposed to have followers, had none at all. He was a legend after all, one that everyone seemed to fear. And even now, Kade could feel the power radiating off him.
The prince turned to him, and Kade almost gasped from the intensity of the blue eyes that stared back at him. They were beautiful, and a part of him wondered if the other princes had the same eyes.
Then the prince stalked closer. So close, Kade could pick up the scent of sandalwood and spice. ''Well, go on. Tell me. How exactly do you want me to help and kill you?"