Zander's nephew, Alexius stood shoulder to shoulder with the other miners who were waiting for King Kojo's arrival. The people around him wore tattered and dirty clothes, and their faces were covered in so much soot it was sometimes hard to determine what their age and gender were.
The crowd gathered was a mixture of Elves who were all seen as a threat to King Kojo and his people, and humans who were sent here as punishment. And even they looked frightened at the thought of the King coming to visit again.
His mom stood in front of him shaking and muttering under her breath.
Alexius glanced at his mom's sister-his aunt-who stood stock still beside him staring up at the empty stage with a blank expression. Her husband- his uncle- stood with his buff arms folded and lips pulled up into a sneer.
An elf Alexius knew all too well pushed his way toward him wearing a large grin that split his face in half. The dim lighting made him look creepier than normal.
The other miners call him Tiny Timothy. He was well-known for speaking his mind at the wrong time and his ability to gain outside information.
"Did you hear?" he asked. "His Royal Highness is paying us another visit."
Alexius pursed his lips and tried to detect the sarcasm in that statement.
"Your uncle's name- Zander, yeah?"
"What's it to you?" Alexius snarled, bristling. He'd never liked Zander since they were kids.
Alexius always remembered how his parents would treat Zander whenever his aunt and uncle came over. His dad made the mistake of saying he wished Zander was his son.
For as long as Alexius could remember he'd been trying to gain his parent's attention and praise but all his attempts have been in vain. He'd always be compared to Zander's height, his looks, his potential everything about him seemed to draw his parent's attention in a way that made Alexius's blood boil.
"Someone's upset!" Tiny Tim taunts. "I didn't hit a nerve did I?"
Alexius gritted his teeth. "What about him?"
"He and a few other elves went missing and their kidnappers took King Kojo's daughter and the Prince from the Dragon Riders Kingdom." he rubbed his hands together. "Though the royal children came back in one piece…I guess King Kojo is here for answers. I figured King Davis was going to show..but I guess not."
Zander Missing?
His mother whirled toward Tiny Tim, eyes wide. "Zander is…missing?"
"Seems so. I'm sorry for your loss."
Alexius flinched the reminder of their loss was like a dagger to the stomach. The death of his father was a fresh wound in his heart. It was the reason he'd been dreading King Kojo's visit. That monster had cut his father open because he had spoken out against him.
His mother hid her face in her hands to muffle her cries.
Alexius ground his teeth and felt the need to snap at her to keep her feelings to herself. He thought morbidly, "Why can't she keep it together?" It was a struggle for him to keep his emotions in check. Especially after being taught by his father that emotions and tears were a weakness, it was better to keep those feelings beneath the surface.
His aunt Jenna moved to pull her sister toward her. She whispered soothing words in her ear and rubbed her back.
"Here he comes." Tiny Tim announces.
Then King Kojo and a handful of guards entered and stepped on the stage.
The King stared down at them taking in their greasy hair, dirty clothes, and soot-covered faces. His lips pulled back in a snarl revealing two rows of perfect white teeth.
"Miners. It's good to see you've been working hard." King Kojo's gaze slid over them. "Like before, I'm going to ask you questions and i'm sure you're well aware of the consequences."
A person in a tattered cloak pushed their way next to Tiny Tim, the hood was pulled up just slightly and a mask covered the lower half of their face. Alexius couldn't tell what gender they were until they turned slightly. His gaze did an organized sweep of the miners before him before he turned a dark glare on King Kojo.
Alexius was sure that this boy wasn't an elf because no ears were sticking out from his head. He thought about calling out to the boy but thought better of it.
King Kojo snapped his fingers and a guard pulled out a stack of paper and pinned each sheet to the wall behind him, then moved aside.
Alexius took in the pictures before him.
Donnie-12
Russell-9
Asa-14
Emmani-7
Zander-18
Ronnie-16
So Tiny Tim had been telling the truth for once. Alexius's gaze slid back to King Kojo who was staring at him smirking. He stood straighter and maintained eye contact until he averted his gaze.
"I believe that the person who kidnapped these elves contributed to the death of Queen Ariana." King Kojo's tone dropped. "If any of you know something speak up."
Queen Ariana dead?
Alexius chanced a glance at Tiny Tim who appeared just as shocked as everyone else. So much for outside information.
The silence that stretched was deafening.
Suddenly King Kojo reached down and grabbed a young elf by the scruff of his neck.
His hair was a matted greasy mess on his head and his still-round cheeks covered in soot had tear streaks. He trembled in King Kojo's grip, struggling to keep his face passive, but his wide eyes continued to dart around the room in fear.
"Speak up and I won't harm a hair on this thing's head."
Thing.
Alexius balled his hands into fists. Not boy or even elf.
Thing. As if they weren't more than ugly objects on a shelf collecting dust.
"Who recognizes the name on these posters?" he boomed, shaking the boy so hard his teeth rattled.
"I do."
His mother's voice rang out loud and clear. Alexius, Jenna, and Tiny Tim gap at her. Jenna's husband began to shake his head but Alexius's mom ignored him, moving toward the stage.
Everyone stepped out of the way creating a path for her.
Alexius moved to stop her but Jenna grabbed his wrist holding him in place.
"I knew Zander since he was a little boy. He and his sister both, though his sister died when…" she hesitated, releasing a shaky breath. "When our home was raided. Zander was a bright boy, handsome, full of love and potential. He'd do anything to protect his family and friends."
"He was like a son to me."
Alexius felt all the blood drain from his face as though it had been called elsewhere. He could feel his heart erratically beating against his rib cage. After everything, those words were like a punch to the stomach. He closed his eyes trying to calm his racing heart.
"Is that so?" King Kojo drawled.
His mom nods. "I'm sorry about the loss of your wife. I can only imagine how hard that must be for the royal family."
King Kojo cocked his head. "Do you know a woman by the name Sabella?"
Silence.
Alexius opened his eyes and blinked at the back of his mom's head.
"Queen Ariana won't be missed." his mom snarled. She lifted her head to glower at the King. "You can lock me in those dungeons of yours. Or you can kill me. I don't care. I've done my job or ridding the world of one tyrant. The Revolution will take care of you and then the Scavengers will be in control, no more death, no more bloodshed under their rule."
Before the guards could move toward her, she yanked out a vial and poured its contents into her mouth.
"May you and all your followers rot in the Darklands where death will welcome you with open arms."
Alexius lunged forward but now Tiny Tim grabbed for him. "Ma!"
She turned and everyone screamed and scrambled to get away. Her skin was deathly pale and her eyes were bloodshot, her pupils dilated. She collapsed to her hands and knees and started hacking so much, blood dribbled from her mouth onto the dusty ground.
Veins were jutting from her skin like they wanted to escape from whatever vile substance she just consumed.
"My…Job…is done."
Then she fell face-first into the crimson puddle.
Alexius screamed and struggled.
Then all hell broke loose.