CHAPTER ELEVEN: DEATH AWAITS US ALL
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Snippet Eleven (1): Lady Death's Court
Lord Aiden stares at the entirety of Death's Court on his throne. Lady Death is to his right and Princess Alexia is right next to her. After 30 minutes of waiting for everyone to arrive, he starts the Court meeting. "I hope everyone has taken me seriously about this Court meeting changing the future of everyone here. The long-awaited return of Death's favorite Dragel clan has happened. The last Rivière de l'Ombre heiress has returned to our ranks here on Nevarah." He gets off the chair and walks next to Alexia. "Princess Alexia, please introduce yourself to the Court."
Alexia walks three steps forward and then does a low curtsey. "My name is Princess Alexia of both the Water Courts and the Shadow Courts. While I officially do not have a Princess title for the Death Courts, one will be given to me the moment there is a crown. I have been on the planet Earth learning from Lady Death herself and I hope to not disappoint her." She curtseys again before walking back in line to Lady Death's side.
Lord Aiden bows to Alexia before returning to his throne. "Do not talk about the Princess to anyone outside of the Death Courts. She is to be kept a secret for this Hunt as she is somewhat hunting to complete her circle." He frowns as he sees people lowly muttering in the back of the room. "This is the newest Princess of the Water Courts and is under King Alcandor's personal protection. She is also under mine and Lady Death's personal protection." He looks at more people chattering and suddenly jumps out of the chair. "SILENCE!" He yells angrily.
After everyone suddenly goes quiet, he begins to talk again. "You will keep an eye on her if you spot her in the streets as if she is your own child. Lady Death has decreed that Princess Alexia and Derek Perevell are to not be touched in any way, shape, or form...; and if they are touched, death shall occur to anyone stupid enough to try anything. If I hear whispers of anything happening to either one of them, you shall wish that death had come quickly for you." Alexia's eyes suddenly go purely black and Aiden looks down at Alexia's form and lowly chuckles.
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After looking at Alexia, he turns back to the crowd. "Hadrian, Kosmas, Thorne, and Briar. Stay behind after the meeting. Everyone else is dismissed."
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Once everyone is out of the room, Aiden stands up from the throne and looks down at the four in the room (plus Jaysca and Mariana Cunningham.) "Hadrian, I want you and your shadows to scour Nevarah from now on to keep an eye on rumors about Princess Alexia."
"But I-" Hadrian says before Lord Aiden puts his hand up to interrupt him.
Lord Aiden nods at Hadrian. "I know you have a busy circle with multiple bonded and children, Hadrian. But this is an order passed down from King Alcandor himself. He is worried that a double Princess will have the stupidest of Nevarah plotting a kidnapping; he is afraid of what someone like Roderick Vaughn and his equally terrible children will do..."
Hadrian looks at Briar and Thorne before sighing. "I will keep my shadows out for any plots that I hear in the future. I will have one of my bonded keep his shadows open as well."
Lord Aiden looks at the door that Alexia had just walked out of. "There is a Gheyo strike team that you should contact if you hear whispers. Do you have contacts in the Tenebris Military Clan A? Kosmas here is their Alpha; they are normally available for contracts, but King Alcandor was persuasive enough to them to accept one for Princess Alexia. Kosmas, also have all of your Shadow bonded keeping their ears out for whispers. Any hints that she has been kidnapped and you strike to kill. But do not make it common knowledge, King Alcandor doesn't want it public to know that your entire circle is for her safety. Think of a way to explain your presence near her side that would not alert any future kidnappers." Lord Aiden steps down from the throne. "Do you have any words for them, Lady Death?" He looks at her form.
"No, Aiden. I think you made it plenty clear already." Lady Death says before looking at Thorne and Briar. "You two should ask your grandson, Atticus to come out of his exile with his Prevell grandparents for this hunt. I know a certain someone that he would love to meet..." She chuckles as she glides out of the room.
"Yes, My Lady." Both Briar and Thorne say before they look at each other, very confused and wary.