Chapter 1: War Against Truth

  "Where is she!" The yell came bellowing like a freight train down the track screaming louder than the storm that tore around it in the dead of the night.

  A storm was indeed going on, two separate entities clashing in a terror that was felt through the core of the land.

  Shouting and screaming echoed off the stone walls both inside and outside the castle estate. Blood of many warriors and innocent people painted the walls and floors like a weird ‘Pollock’ painting.

  "Sir please calm yourself…yee would not wish to lose your temper " pleaded a mousy voice as its owner trembled, lowering himself to seem smaller.

  "Calm myself? Have you lost what little brain cells are left in that excuse of a skull!! You know damn well who I mean. Now…before I end you... where…is… my…wife!"

  "Sire..ahh no need to get hasty. The king…uh gave her a new assignment…."

  "Assignment? What! Speak clearly!!!" The one who was full of rage was very on the edge of well ending the mouse to whom he spoke to.

  "The swamps sire. The marsh of… "

  "Spit it out already!"

  The mouse-like man bows his head ready for the strike as he begins to tell the name of the place. "Tace.." Before he could finish the word, he felt a strong pure hatred slash across his neck, and with a glamour of darker magic his head was gone.

  A few moments passed and the attacker was pacing like a caged beast. Fully ready to attack anyone at any moment.

  Then the mouse's head starts to reform, first, the bones are followed by the nerves and skin then hair, and the mouse's head is back to normal.

  "Really do not like it when you do that sire"

  "Well, you knew it was going to happen." He snarls as his teeth get longer and his normal soft peaceful warm chocolate eyes take on a more ice-blue hue. The skin on his face twisted to something more akin to nightmares. Even his nails all prim proper became elongated and sharp at the end like talons and his soft tan sorta tone skin grew darker like shadows snaked up his arms.

  He was legit to say very pissed.

  Blazing through the deep winding halls of the estate castle place, the lord bellows in rage. Searching and seeking the one who could answer his gut-wrenching questions.

  Situated on a large throne with elegant and elaborate woodwork designs that had a more Gothic nature flare, was a man. He was strong of frame and judgmental as all get. His locks were a deep only black which was a stark contrast to his near alabaster skin; white like fresh cream ready to be lapped up by a sweet little kitten.

  His long bony fingers grip the armrest with tension as his pointed ears catch the umbrage of his offspring. A low groan slips from his dry lips followed by a rolling of his ice-blue eyes.

  The large 7 or so-foot double doors burst open with such power and force they nearly came off their hinges.

  "Old man!!!" The lord was vociferous toward the source of his displeasure.

  "Oh hello, son. How nice of you to stop by. What do I owe to be blessed with your company" he sneers coyly toward his son, each word dripping with poison.

  "You know damn as hell why I am here!! Do not act coy, you old fart!"

  The crown prince lord glares at the old man on the throne. His eyes threatened to go more white as the shadows on his arms flared out into physical wisps of aggression.

  Galen the lord fat-him King of the realm merely snorts with a sly sneer on his lips. A small wave of his fingers and a figure moves from the shadows beside the throne and holds out a tray with a goblet resting on its center all proper.

  He picks it up all gentle and swirls the dark crimson wine lightly. Slowly brings it to his lips to take a deep sip.

  All while his son stood fuming with pure white rage.

  "Where is she?!" He bellows again, not about to wait while his father quenches his thirst.

  "Who was it you are enquiring again? I am so old…my mind is not where it was"

  "Minotaur dung! You know who I speak of!..now for the bloody damn time…where…is my wife!"

  The expression on the king's face takes an enlightened form but only for a moment to bare the mask to the truth deep inside.

  "Oh that…. Female figure person thing. So I was very kind to the poor thing and bestowed on her a promotion. How very generous of me right" his hand drapes onto his chest to add to the point and how he was such a good king. Really his son will thank him.

  Levi as he was affectionately called by his wife and friends felt his eye twitch with the wave of pure anger he was feeling. Generous? What in the shadows was he spewing about?!

  A few moments later the door bangs open as another man strides inside the throne room. He moves quickly to stand by his prince's side. The prince turns to see the other man and nods his head as he starts to calm down a bit. The new man stood with messy semi fluffy dark hair with warm brown eyes.

  "What is going on!? You look like you're gonna do murder man" the man asks his prince.

  "Just about.. he has the gall to say he promoted my wife..what is he talking about?"

  "Promotion for her? Odd time to do that…when a bloody war is going on" he grumbles and ponders now where his heart was. He looks to the king with skeptical eyes.

  "Oh that one? Promotions all around " sneers the king as he takes another gulp of his wine. He was starting to get tired of all this talking. Could they just accept his word and move on. Didn’t they have some fighting to do? Like outside away from him.

  "Talone you were always perceptive" Galon smirks.

  Levi blinks as his eyes slowly fade back to their soft brown, he glances between the two men. Wait, was his heart also in trouble perhaps? What was the old ass up to?

  "Oh wouldn't you two like to know…"

  "YES!" The two men shout in union.

  The mousey man who was helping the prince before slips into the room, timid as always. He inches to the others as he keeps to the edges of the room.

  "Ah Qanit there you are. Did you tell our prince the good news?" The king grins seeing his pet. At times he thought of replacing the mouse thing but good help was so hard to find these days and he was loyal. Well out of fear, but beggars could not be chosen.

  Levi spins his gaze to the mouse who sneaked in and growls. He felt his fangs go slightly ever so longer and sharper in his irritation. Even his hair took on a wisp of white at the edges, a clue he was about to lose it.

  “Ah yes m’lord. I did eh… inform his lordship of the uh… development with her ladyship’s uh ..pro..motion” The man keeps his head bowed with his back, trying to seem always smaller then he was already. His yellow eyes held the fear that was running through his veins like shadows or tainted blood ran though the two that he dreaded to make livid.

  The guardian to the lord prince looks to the smaller demon nearby and grunts in disdain. He never did care for the mousy one. He rubs his brow some with his long fingers as a touch of a migraine was forming. Outside this lovely discussion of the two men’s lovers, battle was still very much going on. Why was all this going on now?! Lives were being lost as they argued and the king appeared to be very indifferent to it all. What was going on?

  Qanit ducks his head down hearing the grunt as he tries to keep his head on his neck for the time being.

  “As I am sure the prince has asked… both of you… but I will put my two cents in as it were. Where are the ladies we hold dear? I can not find either of em”

  Galen leaned back in his throne as his long fingers curled around the goblet like a cat with a mouse. Enjoying the toying of the pray and play of death to be with the two lads.

  “Oh she also got a promotion. I am very kind and generous. Really should get a metal for all my good work”

  Taking a moment to relish in this glory, the king takes a few more sips of his drink. After what felt like a long time, he leans a touch forward to drive home his next words.

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  “The two ladies…” He nearly chokes on what he said, “ Have been sent to lands far from here where they will find their fate sealed and I do not have to deal with them and how close the two of you gents were getting with those… female… persons” coughs as he feels sick. Really how could his son and his eh guard choose those … things as their persons.. Just wrong.

  “Where did you send my wife!”

  “Where is my beloved!”

  The prince and the guard were ready to draw blades and knock that stupid smug off the king's face. Daggers of anger and stress raked their faces and bodies. Their souls were in danger thanks to this so-called king. They would not have it.

  “My dear son… your uh… crush shall we say..cause really it should have been that and nothing more. Wait cross that, there should have been nothing to begin with! She is not worthy of your notice!” He growls at his son, his own eyes talking that white ice hue when their kin gets very royally peeved.

  “That shadow spawn is off beyond our beautiful lands, off near .. Dreich deep…” He starts with just pure horrible joy in his wild eyes. Bit of wine from his mouth sprittal out of his twisted lips in glee.

  As the prince’s eyes grow smaller in fear. No not by the deep.. Only thing that way was..

  “You sent her to Higgy Isle!”

  “The same”

  “But that is where..”

  “Correct”

  “Why would you do that!”

  “Because she was wrong for you son. You need to forget her and move on. We will find you a new lover. A better one. One of your own kind would be best”

  “You made a foolish grave error Galen” Spat Levi as he trembles to keep himself from legit flying off the handle. A hand rests on his shoulder from Talone as he tries to help his friend.

  “An what of my beloved?”

  “Oh that bright bug? Hmm where was she going…oh yeah Gloaming gully…”

  Now it was Talone’s turn to look in fear and anger.

  “You sent her to Doldrum! You fiend!” He growls ready to go to war a second time that day.

  The fighting outside was getting louder and closer as the two men learned the fate of the ones who held their hearts.

  A side door breaks open as a few demons and werewolves pile in with dented, bloody armor and eyes a glow of power and anger.

  One beasty man strides to the prince and guard, with his battle ax in his clawed paw like fist. He bows his head to the two men then a quick curt one to the king. No one really cared for the king.

  Levi lifts hurt eyes to the large beast man and sighs, “Oscar.. How goes the …battle?” He asks with a strain on his words. His strength was fading fast. His love was lost.

  “I am sad to say not so good. They are getting closer and we have lost many this day” He shakes his head with a growl. Darting over from above a shadow sweeps down and bows to the prince as the dark fades, a woman kneels before him in dark leathers and twin blades at her hips. “Lacy, good to see are still here..” The beast man remarks as he looks around some.

  Lacy nods her head as she stands and flexes her fingers as she was still itching to spill some blood.

  “Oh how nice your friends are here.. Good they can learn too” Galen taunts the beast folk with his son and the personal guard.

  “The shadow bitch and her not so bright friend have been cast out of the kingdom and will die. Alone and forgotten and the realm will be so much better for their passing”

  The beast folk spin on the king in shock.

  “Bastard! You killed our queen to be!”

  “I will gut yah like the cold fish you are!” Shouts the female warrior with pure rage in her eyes and fangs bared.

  “Temper, temper my dear. I could see those words as treason, tut tut” galen threatens the woman as he sips his drink again.

  Levi turned and felt his head fall against his friend’s shoulder as a wave of weakness washed over him.

  “My Prince!”

  “Oh stop being such an overly dramatic brat! That is my job” the king whines with a pout.

  “You.. really are a fool” Grins Levi as he was finding a card he could use.

  “Oh how so?” He scoffs as he tilts his frame to dangle a leg over the arm rest as he was growing quite bored. He shakes his wine glass at the mouse to get a refill.

  “You sent my love to Tacenda Marsh, to kill her, make her be forgotten to time and life. So she may never return” Starts the prince as he starts to gain strength and slowly stands up.

  “So you do pay attention to your studies, shocker”

  “But you forgot something very important”

  “Can you enlighten me brat?” The King asks annoyed and thinks he really should just cast a spell to silence the boy.

  “If she dies, so do I” The prince replices with a grin.

  “Again with the dramatics! Gah you think you were going to try and be an actor” The king rolls his eyes loudly.

  “No.. not dramatics, the truth. We have bonded” That smirk was deeper and a hint of naughty glitter in his eyes. Oh yeah..

  The air in the chamber grew ever colder and still. It was like a spell was cast on the group and even the loud clash of the battle beyond the walls was silent.

  “YOU DID WHAT!”

  Levi snickers as he stands up defiant to his father. “ We bonded.. Quite a few times in fact.” He waggled his brow as he laughed to his old man’s pure displeasure.

  “Ahh the thought!... just nasty” Galon shudders and inches deeper into his throne. To get away from the tainted one.

  “Can it old fart! Your plan failed. I will die with my love and you will lose!”

  “I can not lose! It is not in the plans It is in the divine script” He yelps.

  “Plans shamains” spats a voice as it enters the room from another side door.

  The owner of this voice was a woman and also a beast folk, she wore her hair shaved on the side with her armor also bruised from fighting.

  “We all know da yee wanted to kill her ladyship and yee will not win. Unless ya wish to lose your son as well” She grins wide with her big canines showing a touch of blood. She was a messy fighter. Her armor of black and red leather made it hard to know if something was red because of blood or of the dye. Smart.

  “Gah I am still unsure why we even hired your kin to guard us. So messy and wild” Galen makes a yuck face.

  “We least do not mind getting our paws dirty, unlike some who rather sit and point” She remarts crudely. The other female fighter nods her head in agreement to her battlemate.

  “I wear the crown fleabag, so yes I wont get my proper fingers dirty” he hissed. The lord stood up tall and glared down at the peons below him. “I will not lose! I will show you”

  The group looks up to the king wondering what he was plotting next.

  Holding his arms wide the shadows and swirls of magic gather and twirl around his form as he gathers his magic.

  The guards all pull out their blades ready to defend their prince. Even Talone pushes Levi behind him as the others circle around the lord to protect him from all, including his father.

  The asshole king tilted his head back as his eyes rolled back into that hollow skull as even his form grew more grotesque to befit his soul. As the wells of power grow around him, they take even the shadows beyond to him, making his form lift into the air. The air itself shuddered as the power grew more and more.

  “You…. for..ced my… hand… boy” Bellows the king as the sound came from a place far beyond where they were.

  “What are you…” The prince trembles in worry as his father was becoming more than what he was.

  The king’s black hair long like silk parts roughly on top of his brow, the crown that weighed heavy dug into his pale skin as it grew bigger and twisted into a pair of horns that screamed to the heavens. Claws of death black rake the air on either side of the lord to the Chordrel.

  The sky outside roared in protest as the magics beyond the walls streak like hellions across the above and swirl into a vortex at the highest tower. Forest green and black shifted and snaked thick poisoned barbed vines and thorns weaved into a wall circling the castle ground. The damned tendrils blasted through friend and foe alike, not noticing who or what was in its way. The king called them and they came.

  Warriors from both sides were impaled and ripped through by the dark plants as they grew more angry and larger. Nature will always find a way. The vines thunder upward and out as they stretch across the stonework of the castle. Growing larger and larger, a wall then a shield forms like a bubble of thorns around the estate and keeps everyone inside and all out.

  “Aegiskeryn Rysar” Galon roars out the spell as the shadows slam past the group in the throne room and weave with the thorns outside and the air vibrates as the spell takes effect.

  “What have you done?” The crown prince glances up at his father in bewilderment.

  “Cut us off from the beyond. The castle will remain safe as will all inside. But those beyond will not know of us. We will be words of fancy in time. A mere story to tell the youth. I have retreated to the safety of behind the veil. Those fools will not get you and you .,.. Won't die thanks to that stupid bond you did. But she will. As will the not bright one. You both will thank me. Trust me. You're both young and well stupid. This is the way”

  He slips down to the seat again and picks up his wine in his clawed demonic hand. “ I am king. My way is LAW”