Author's POV
The awakenings
In the Carlislean kingdom, fear gripped everyone as the notorious evil ruler emerged from his deep slumber. Known for his cruelty, the mere mention of his name sent shivers down people's spines. Zakaria, the devil himself, had awakened, and his reputation preceded him.
Within the grand chamber of the royal palace, a coffin creaked open, revealing a withered hand that belonged to the man himself. With a pale face and a sinister smirk, Zakaria rose from his slumber, exuding an aura of darkness and malevolence. The room was dimly lit by flickering candles, adding to the ominous atmosphere that surrounded him.
Draped in his regal robe, Zakaria emerged from his chamber, commanding respect and fear from all who crossed his path. As the king of kings, his presence alone demanded reverence and submission. He was Zakaria, a figure of unparalleled power and dread.
"Long live the king!" Everyone in the courtroom knelt, including the king himself. All bowed to no one but him, the king of kings.
Zakaria displayed a sinister smirk as he sat on the throne. "What happened while I was sleeping, and why did you all decide to wake me up?" Zakaria asked, his eyes scanning everyone in the courtroom. The fear he saw in their eyes brought him satisfaction; he loved how people feared him.
"Please forgive me, Your Highness, but my grandson has brought a serpent to the palace. She has caused chaos and then left," the king stammered, sweat dripping from his forehead. The smirk on Zakaria's lips vanished as if it had never been there.
How could they let a serpent escape? Only a serpent held the key to his immortality. He had wealth, power, and people feared him, especially after he had killed all the serpents for refusing to give him the pearl of wishes that would grant him immortality.
"Where is the serpent?" Zakaria asked. He knew that if a serpent was still alive, she might possess the pearl at all costs. What if the Goddess had granted the serpent immortality? They were all dead, and he was determined to obtain that pearl at any cost.
"Zander has fled with her. I've sent the guards to search for them, but they are nowhere to be found. It's as if they have vanished into thin air," the king stammered, his voice filled with fear. He knew his life was in great danger, which is why he tried to save himself by waking Zakaria and revealing the truth about Zander's actions. He couldn't sacrifice his life for that ungrateful brat who only thought of himself.
"I want you to find Zander and that girl and bring them here by dawn. If you can't find them, I will take every soul in this palace," Zakaria declared, followed by a chilling laugh that made everyone tremble in fear. They all knew his power and what he was capable of; no one dared to defy him.
"My lord, we have searched everywhere for them, but we can't find them. None of us know where they are," the king said. Zakaria glared at him, his eyes turning red and his fangs appearing. The king's soul began to leave his body as Zakaria continued to stare at him, and he fell lifeless to the ground. Gasps filled the courtroom as they witnessed the king's lifeless body.
"If you wish to live, you must bring Zander and that girl to me at all costs. Otherwise, like him, you will all die. Until you bring that girl to me, I will kill everyone in this kingdom," Zakaria stated coldly. He wanted that girl no matter what; she was the key to his immortality, and he would not let this opportunity slip away.
"Yes, Your Highness," everyone in the courtroom said.
"You are all dismissed!" Zakaria growled, and without hesitation, everyone left the courtroom, leaving the king's lifeless body on the floor.
Zakaria closed his eyes, and in an instant, a dark smoke appeared and swirled around him. The smoke transformed into a group of men, resembling zombies more than vampires. They all bowed their heads before Zakaria.
"I want you to find Zander and that serpent. You can do as you please with Zander, but that girl must arrive here unharmed. Go and bring them to me!" Zakaria growled, his eyes black as if possessed by a powerful force. The group of men vanished into black smoke, and just like that, they were gone.
With a malevolent laugh, Zakaria's dominance was felt, the elements themselves responding to his dark aura. The pursuit of immortality drove him to unleash his full power, willing to do whatever it took to achieve his ultimate goal.
Shortly after, a human girl was brought into the courtroom as a sacrifice to Zakaria. However, he was full of news that intrigued him. All he desired was the serpent. If she was found soon, he would take the pearl from her and drink her blood. If she was the last serpent in their clan, she must possess great power, and her blood would enhance his abilities. With her blood, he could perform spells and become the first vampire in Carlislean to wield such magic. He would also gain the powers of witches and the ability to foresee the future.
"Take her away," Zakaria commanded. The girl wasted no time and fled the courtroom, seemingly escaping her fate for the day.
Zakaria gazed at the lifeless body of the king and decided to grant him a second chance. He saw potential in the king's usefulness to the kingdom. With a wave of his hand, Zakaria's dark powers surged, bringing the king back to life. The king's eyes opened, and he humbly expressed gratitude, bowing his head.
"Long live the king. Thank you for showing mercy on my soul," the king spoke.
"Get out!" Zakaria growled, his eyes still dark and intense. The king swiftly obeyed, fleeing from the room.
Zakaria sat on his throne, waiting for his dark guards to bring Zander and the serpent. He was confident in their dark powers and believed they would bring them before him within minutes. However, it seemed they were taking longer than expected.
The smoke reappeared, causing Zakaria's eyes to light up with a smirk playing on his lips. But his joy was short-lived when he realized his dark guards returned empty-handed.
"We didn't find them," one of the dark guards said, his lifeless eyes meeting Zakaria's gaze. They searched everywhere but found no trace of them.
"Go and destroy Zander's human family. His mother and son must be killed too," Zakaria growled, his body trembling with anger. How dare Zander defy the king of kings, the first and last king of the Carlislean kingdom, the first vampire in the Carlislean kingdom. He had made a grave mistake that he would soon regret. Along with that girl, he would be killed, and everything he loved would be destroyed.
The dark guards vanished into black smoke to carry out their king's orders.