Xavier was out in the field with his dragon, Azar when his sister Ember ran up to him with a large smile plastered on her face.
"Xavier! Xavier! Father had returned and sent me to fetch you. He said it's important!" Ember skidded to a stop beside him, cheeks flushed. Her hair started falling out of a bun and sticking to her forehead in sweaty clumps. "Hi, Azar!"
The dragon stooped his head toward them and nudged her slightly. Ember giggled and scratched him between his eyes.
Xavier furrowed his brows. "Did Father say why?"
"No. I tried asking but he said that it was grown-up business." Ember pursed her lips. "Is it about the ended engagement with you and Princess Kaya?"
"Wait..what?" Xavier blinked. "How-"
Ember smirked. "Father sent us a letter and I heard Mother grumbling to anyone who'd listen. What did happen between you two?"
"Nothing," Xavier grumbled. "it just didn't work out. I'd better go."
Before Ember could pester him anymore; he sped away from her and towards the palace. His heart was pounding and he could feel the heat rise in his cheeks and spread across his face like wildfire.
He wasn't sure if he should be hurt or disappointed that he failed. He's only a couple of months away from his eighteenth birthday and is still without a wife. Xavier could only imagine the things his mom could be saying when he wasn't in earshot.
When he arrived in the father's study he almost ran smack into a tall stack of papers. Xavier stumbled back in surprise and took in the room, his father was a neat freak, and normally this room would be spotless.
But there were papers everywhere, books were open on the ground and some had pages torn from them. Multiple untouched meals were stacked in the corner, the smell of rotting food filling the air.
King Davis was hunched over his desk, eyes squinted trying to read the page before him. His hair was an unruly mess on his head and there were dark circles under his eyes.
"Dad?"
He jumped at his voice and turned slightly. "Xavier. Come. Sit."
Xavier glanced from the chair to his dad's weary face. Sighing, he swallowed the smart comment on his tongue and sat on the edge of the chair careful not to knock the stack of papers over.
"Ember said you asked for me."
"I did." his father sat back in his chair. "I believe I figured out who was responsible for the attack on King Kojo, who injured that girl and kidnapped her brother."
Xavier wasn't sure if he was going to like this news. He swallowed nervously and nodded for him to continue.
"The Scavengers."
"Wh-what?!"
King Davis nodded. "I'm quite positive. Based on how the bodies were gutted and left and how brutally injured Emily was...that's who I think are responsible."
The last time anyone had heard from the Scavengers, King Kojo had banished them and forced them to find their own home. Xavier's father had been forced to do the same, and they didn't leave quietly.
Some protested, others killed guards and children and some started fires to homes and buildings.
Xavier shuddered at the memory. Does the Revolution know? Does Princess Kaya?
"What should we do?" King Davis muttered. "It won't be long before our streets are overrun with those creatures again. I need to get word to Kojo somehow."
Xavier stood. "I'll go. I need to go check up on a few friends anyway."
Before his father could say anything, Xavier made a beeline for the door. He grabbed the handle and opened it. "I'll leave tonight."
He closed the door behind him and Ember materialized in front of him with her arms folded and brows furrowed.
"Where are you going tonight?"
Xavier groaned. "Em, you know how pops is about eavesdroppers. And it's none of your concern I'll be back before you know it." he turned and began to make his way down the hall
"But you just got back!" Ember whined, trailing after him. "Can I come?"
"No. It'll be too dangerous." Xavier said, shaking his head. "But you could do something for me."
Emer's eye's lit up. "What?"
"Could you fetch Emily for me?"
"Yeah." Ember nods. "Sure."
She took off in the opposite direction and Xavier sighed, grateful for a moment's silence. He pushed open the doors to the library and made his way to the restricted section.
He placed a hand on the glass and muttered something under his breath. The glass popped open and the smell of aging paper greeted him.
Xavier wasn't at all sure what exactly he was looking for. But as he shuffled though the books, one caught his eye and he pulled it out. It was thick with a purple cover and a large lock that kept it sealed.
He startled when he heard footsteps approaching. Xavier closed the glass and dove beneath a bookshelf, the footsteps got closer and they stopped where he was hiding.
The person wore dusty boots that were currently an inch from Xavier nose. He tried to scoot away but there was hardly any space in the cramped cubbie.
A hoarse whisper said, "I swear this is where King Davis keeps all of his most prized possessions."
"How do I access what's inside?" a gruff voice asked.
The other person swallowed loudly. "It's a incantation that only Davis and his son know."
The second person let out a frustrated grunt and slammed a fist on the glass. Then they turn to the second pair of boots, the person gasps as their feet are lifted from the air.
They begin to ,make gurgling sounds.
"You've been a great help, but I can't risk anyone else knowing about me. I'm sure you understand."
"Vl-Vad-"
With a snap the other person fell to the ground and Xavier swallowed back the bile that threatened to come spilling out. The man's was on his side and his eyes were open wide staring at nothing.
His skin had turned a disturbing shade of grey and began to melt off his body revealing everything breath his flesh. Vlad clicked his tongue.
"Oh well." he turned back to face the case and grumbled something. He hissed and jerked back, holding his hand.
It was a defense measure his father had him put in place so no one else could have access to these books. Xavier's mind raced as he tried desperately to figure out who'd let Vlad in..
He didn't recognize the man decomposing on the ground, which meat there had to be a spy.
Vlad began to pace back and forth. "I sense it's nearby.. Master will be disappointed if I were to return without it." he gritted his teeth. "I shall look elsewhere."
He walked off and Xavier swallowed and slowly climbed from his hiding spot. He clutched the book to his chest and moved towards the door only to be tackled to the ground.
He cried out and the book flew from his grasp. Xavier rolled onto his back and saw Vlad's lip curled up into a sadistic sneer.
With a grunt, he kicked him in his private, it wasn't enough to move him off but it startled him enough that Xavier was able to squeeze out from under him.
Xavier snatched up the book and took off for the door again but a sharp pain erupted from his leg and he stumbled, dropping the book again. He reached down for his leg and pulled his hand back it was sticky with blood.
He looked up just in time to see Vlad come at him, moving to kick his head, Xavier rolled out of the way bumping into a bookshelf, causing many thick novel to fall down on him.
Vlad chuckled and took off snatching the book as he went.
Xavier pushed himself to his feet and took off after him but Vlad had too much of a head start. He reached into his boot pulling out a poison tipped blade, he squinted his eyes in the dim room and tossed the blade.
It landed in Vlad's calf and he roared in surprise.
The door to the library opened and guard poked their head in to see what the commotion was about. Xavier pointed at Vlad and screamed "He has my father's book. Don't let him leave!!"
The guards stormed in forming a circled around Vlad's hunched form. The book was still in his grasp and Xavier was close enough to see that beads of sweat dotted Vlad's forehead.
In his other hand he clutched the blade in his hand, but Xavier could tell that the poison was already doing it's job. It wasn't enough to kill him-more like stun him.
The guards grabbed Vlad by the arm and forced him to his feet, but not before he threw the book into what looked like a vortex.
Xavier screamed, "NO!" he lunged for the book but it'd vanished along with the black hole.
Vlad chuckled and swayed on his feet. "Nice try pretty boy."
A guard gripping Vlad by the back of his shirt grunted, "What should we do with him, sir?"
Xavier's chest heaved as he pushed himself to his feet. His hair was a sweaty mess and his clothes were bloody. He clenched and unclenched his hands.
"Aw. Is pretty boy about to throw a tantrum?" Vlad taunted.
He chewed the inside of his cheek and pulled out a vial. "Pull his head back and open his mouth."
Vlad tried to struggle against the guards holding him but the poison had weakened him greatly. Xavier approached and poured the vial's contents into his mouth.
"You'll be a little uncomfortable and may feel the urge to blurt out the first thing that comes-"
"I hate you." Vlad growled. "I want to kill you!"
He lunged forward but passed out. Xavier tucked the vial away. "Take him down to the dungeons. Go fetch a body over in the restricted section then alert my father of this."
Xavier stepped past them and ducked out the room. Who ever this Vlad worked for his master wanted that so badly it seems Vlad would've done anything to obtain it.
A thought stopped him in his tracks. Could he perhaps work with the Scavengers?