Twisted Fate:

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Serena asked as she studied Belor. She was concerned about her husband. Belor smiled and nodded his head, “I am fine Serena, it’s just a headache. We have a guest so I can’t retire early. But, I saw Adalar earlier, and he didn’t look too well. Can you accompany him to sleep tonight? With everything that is going on, I don’t think he’ll be happy if I order him to retire early. A mother will do a better job in these sort of things.”

Serena smiled as she glanced at her husband. “I’ll take care of Adalar, but you have to promise me that you’ll take some medicine. I don’t want to see you with a fever tomorrow, understood?” Belor smiled and nodded his head. He was an emperor, but she was also an empress. As his wife, she ordered him and as a husband, he’d to listen.

“Mother, Father, I didn’t know you were here,” Prince Hedin said in a cheerful voice as he walked into the balcony. Serena laughed while Belor maintained his smile. “We were watching the Crown Prince Calvert’s skills in courting a woman,” Serena said. “He’s a gentleman. You should learn from him Hedin,” she teased.

Prince Hedin laughed and joined his parents on the balcony which had a grand view of the gardens and of course of Prince Calvert who held Feya in his arms. Hedin whistled and said, “Holy shit! This dude is fast.” Belor coughed and said, “Watch your language, son.” Serena smiled and said, “Whatever, if the girl is happy then it’s all good. She’ll be an empress in the future. I’ll go and find Adalar. Hedin, do you happen to know where the little monkey is?”

Hedin laughed, “My little brother is currently with the ladies of the Witch lounge. He’s almost fourteen, so I let him join Uncle Felix. Mother, you should leave him alone. He’ll learn to be a man tonight.” Serena smacked Hedin on the head, “What man? Both of you are still kids. Stop speaking such vulgar language or I’ll break your legs and lock you in your rooms.” She didn’t wait any longer and walked out of the room furiously.

Hedin glanced at his father confusedly and asked, “She doesn’t know about me, does she?” Belor smiled, “No, I am also ignorant of your sex life.” he said. Hedin almost coughed up his wine as he heard his father. He was sixteen this year, and it was his father who arranged his first partner for him. He was told to experience it himself so that he won’t get all excited like a teen who’d never felt a woman.

He was a prince, and that meant he was a potential enemy of his father. Hedin respected his father, but several nobles detested him. To them, he was the best weapon against his father. If they manage to get him to their sides then controlling the throne will be much easier.

Weaknesses no matter how small had to be eliminated. Women were one of his weakness and so his father arranged a partner to teach him the arts of bed.

“What do you think of the Crown Prince?” Belor asked in a small voice. Hedin glanced at the distant figure of Calvert and narrowed his eyes. “He appears like a good man. Modest, and likable but…” Belor studied his son, “But, what?” Hedin rested his hand over the railings and said, “He looks fragile, almost spineless. A Crown Prince with two brothers and an aging father can’t be vulnerable. If he is as he appears, I’m surprised he isn’t dead yet.”

“Indeed,” Belor agreed. “Good observation there. Everything he’s done tonight is an act except for the matter regarding the young lady, may be. You can call it a farce of sorts. Learn from him Hedin. That’s how you should act. Weak, and fragile but strong inside. You should let others believe that they can manipulate you. That’s how you find a traitor.” Hedin nodded his head. He had much to learn from his father and the Crown Prince; both were warriors of great temperament on the battlefield and in the court.

Everything appeared peaceful. The son and the father duo enjoyed their drinks and Calvert enjoyed his evening in the company of Feya. But, fate was supernal. The dark clouds in the distant skies were like the horrors awaiting them. The moment of peace in their hearts disappeared like an illusion the next moment.

It all began with a scream, horrified, angry, filled with fury and an unimaginable sadness. It was a scream of a woman, of a mother, and of a person who’d lost someone dear to them. Calvert stared at the inner palace in shock, his hand grasping Feya’s as his instincts screamed of danger. He just knew at that moment that something had happened, one which would change everything.

Belor rose to his feet, and Hedin shivered as he heard the scream. Their souls shook, and their eyes quivered as they felt the sadness in her voice. It was a voice very familiar to them. It belonged to Serena. It belonged to his mother. It belonged to his wife.

They moved at the same time, but Hedin couldn’t keep up with his father who disappeared before his eyes. Hedin ran and ran and ran until he reached the inner palace. The walls were destroyed, and guards laid lifelessly on the ground in his way. No..no… he screamed. No..he cried in his heart as he saw Adalar’s nanny impaled on a spear by the corner as he reached the inner chambers.

He turned around and stopped in his tracks like a statue. He could hear the sounds of the guards running through the corridors. He could hear his uncle shouting his name, and he could listen to the sound of his heartbeat, but at that moment all he could see, think and hear was the cry of his mother as she held his brother in her arms covered in his blood and gore.

Hedin then saw his father standing before her with a sword in his hands and an armor formed on him out of mist. He was facing a soldier with a blood-red sword in his hands. With armor, and a helmet covering his face, he looked like any soldier, but the mark of the Vedan royal family on his chest revealed his identity. A personal guard of the Crown Prince Calvert.

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“Arrrrgh!” a roar of frenzied ire escaped Hedin’s throat as he grabbed his sword. The wind swirled around it as he charged towards the armored soldier. “HEDIN!” Belor’s roar woke Hedin from his furor. He stopped in his tracks and watched his father carefully for the first time. The armor on his body was a second Rune Artifact. His father was a warrior who’d defeated many knights in duels, and he’d to use a second Rune Artifact to deal with the assassin. It meant only one thing; the armored soldier had strength equalling his father.

“Serena…” Felix called out in a loud voice as he reached the inner chambers. His pupils contracted as he watched the scene. A roar escaped his throat as he charged towards the armored warrior. Hedin’s face twitched as he saw his father fall back to his mother letting his uncle attack the armored guard. He'd trusted his uncle but not him. Why? Why am I so powerless, he screamed in his heart.

“Careful Felix, he’s an Arcane user,” Belor warned as Felix’s eyes changed color to red and his body slammed against the assassin blasting him out of the room and the palace into the gardens beyond. Hedin gritted his teeth and ordered in a loud voice, “Kill every f*cking Vedan. I want every one of them dead, NOW!” His fury, his rage beyond his control.

Amplified by arcane, his voice rang like thunder in the palace. The soldiers glanced at each other in shock, their expression changing radically from shock to anger to fury to uncontrollable rage as they charged out of the palace and into the gardens. The Emperor’s personal guard alone stood by the nobles side while every other soldier surrounded the gardens from all directions.

Blasted out of the palace, Gavril landed in the backyard a little distance away from Calvert. He glanced at the Crown Prince and bowed a little. His gesture didn’t escape the notice of Felix who roared in frenzied rage and charged at the crown prince. It only took a moment for Calvert to realize what was going on. It was evident he’d been framed but he’d no time to explain.

An armor formed on him in a second, and a sword appeared in his hand while tens of his personal guards surrounded him on all sides. “Stay your hand, Felix,” Calvert said. “I swear on my honor; I have nothing to do with this,“ Calvert shouted. “Shut the f*ck up!” Felix didn’t plan on listening and attacked Calvert’s guard killing a soldier in a single attack.

“Your Majesty,” Commander Favian called in an urgent voice. Calvert glanced at the man and nodded his head weakly. It didn't matter now if he was involved or if he was framed, he’d to escape. Getting caught meant only one thing, death.

He’d heard the shouts, the screams, and the roars. “Traitor,” they called him. “Murderers,” they called them. He ordered nothing, and he knew nothing. Feya shivered in his arms, her eyes wet with fear and anxiety as she silently questioned him despite knowing deep in her heart that he wouldn’t do such a horrible thing.

It was then Calvert realized what he’d done to her. He’d courted her; he’d promised to marry her. He’d publicly showed his love to claim her. Everything he’d done for her became her curse. Her family would be viewed as traitors and her as an accomplice. No, I can’t let her stay here. I definitely can’t, Calvert gritted his teeth.

He held Feya in his arms. “I didn’t order anything,” he said. His eyes were pleading as he added, “Please believe me.” Favian glanced at Feya, his eyes hardening ever so slightly. He was charged with the duty of protecting the Crown Prince, and Feya was an uncertainty. He’d seen them all evening, and she genuinely seemed polite and caring, but appearances can be deceiving. He didn’t trust her. He had no reason to believe her.

“I’m sorry,” Calvert whispered. Feya glanced at her man, her eyes questioning his apology, but her vision darkened as she felt a sharp pain on her nape and a moment later, she lost her consciousness. “Favian, you’re now responsible for her,” Calvert ordered. “Sir, I…” he argued but shut his mouth as he saw Calvert’s murderous gaze. “I won’t repeat myself Favian. If she is harmed, I’ll kill you.” Calvert added quietly.

Come Belor, you won’t let us leave like this, will you? Calvert thought as he turned his attention towards the palace. They were in the capital of the Mogul empire. Although they were no additional forces stationed in the imperial city, escaping from the nest of an enemy won’t be so simple.

As if he’d come to answer his thoughts, Belor quietly walked out of the palace. Darkness in the depths of his eyes coming alive with each of his steps. He watched Calvert, his gaze growing murderous with each second.

“You murdered my son Calvert,” he said. His voice cold as ice, and dark as night. Calvert glanced at the man. He didn't argue any further. He'd seen his eyes. They weren't here to discuss; they weren't here to listen. They were here to kill him, and they wouldn't rest until his blood quenched his anger.

*****

AN: I'm sorry, I am a little late. Enjoy and be sure to share your opinion. 

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[url=https://kannablogs.wordpress.com/chapter-8-reagan-white/]Chapter 8 - Reagan White

Have a nice day bud,

Kanna.