The Order of Lucard

Chapter 2

House Ignitus

Igni sighed to himself while carrying a tray of food to the small room. " I guess he will be more trusting if I am the only one with him. " He sighed again. "But trying to become his friend? I don't know. My father and his grand schemes." He took out the key and unlocked the door. It was kind of quiet. He pushed the door open slowly, it creaked. He peered around the door. Zexal's back was to the door. Igni pushed the door further. "He's still sleeping? The journey must have been tiresome."

He placed the tray of food on the bedside table. Took one last look at Zexals sleeping form, he gazed at his features. "If anything this boy could make a great spy. I mean he really looks like a girl." He turned and left the room. Ayame opened her eyes, she turned where Igni has left the food. She looked skeptical. "I guess the food can't be poisoned." Her stomach was rumbling. She took the bread and flipped it over. It was crisp and dry to the touch, she scanned the tray. "Well at least there's some very watery soup." She dug in her meekly meal. She scanned the room over again. Pretending to be asleep was a great plan to scout her room untended. The windows were large, the curtains blowing lightly against the wind. There was a small connecting corner which was probably the wash room, then just the bed and the door."

She stood up and walked to the window. They were open but thick bars was covering it. She sighed. "The door will be locked obviously, I'm a prisoner in this castle." She touched the bars lightly. It was not forged with very thick steel more like a softer steel. She would be able to escape with small effort. She smiled. "Thank the gods that Haden taught me the difference between steel." Her spirits lifted. "Well Ayame. You'll just have to keep pretending so you can be safe till you escape."

Igni was in the courtyard looking up at the stone dragon that was their symbol of protection. He throws out his fist then places it across his heart. "I vow that one day when you return, that I, Igni Ignitus will slay you. For what you have done to my mother. All she did was pray to you for safety." The stone statue remained still. "I know you can hear me Draconius. You the most vicious of them all." He turned to leave and yanked his head back to the statue, he could swear that he heard the statue laughing. He scurried back to the training barracks.

Igni looked up to the small window where Zexal is being kept. He saw a shadow pass. "Well well. Seems the boy is up." He put away his sword. "I should get some dinner and make an appearance." He got a tray of food enough for two. He knew his father expects progress. He sighed and unlocked the door. "I brought you dinner." He felt something hit his head, he dropped the tray. He grabbed on Zexal's arm before he could run. " I told you escape is inevitable." Zexal stopped struggling. " I had to try you know." Igni found himself smiling. "I give you points for that. You really are a stubborn little thing." Zexal scoffed. "I'm not little!" Igni laughed. "Oh did I hit a nerve?" Zexal wiggled out of his grip. "Fine! I'll play along. What do you want?" Igni picked up the tray. "Well I thought we could have dinner and get to know one another." Zexal's face lit up with shock. " I'm your prisoner and you want to be friends?" He started laughing. Igni looked at him with a sour face. " You can't see the position your in?"

Zexal's laughter died down. Igni moved to the door. "I'll be here tomorrow morning. We will bond over some battle training. That's how men get to know each other. See you then small fry." Zexal's body tensed and took a goblet from the table and threw it as the door closed. Anger and frustration showing on her face. "Fine prince, I'll play your game." She smiled. "You'll find out just how well I can handle myself."

House Alucard

King Alucard entered the archives. He approached the keeper. The old man looked up, he swallowed his surprise. "King.. King Alucard" He stammered. "What can I do for you?" The king looked annoyed. "I am here to get the letters that arrived after my son was born." He nodded slowly at the king. He walked to a row which had very old and dusty scrolls which have not been opened in many years. He returned holding the letters from the other four kingdoms. The King grabbed it from his hands and walked away. He returned to his private study. He opened the first letter.

Your Majesty,

I write this letter with great haste. Yesterday on our dragon solstice we brought offerings to our great Draconius. As my wife Maryanne approached with her great offering the statue came alive. In a blink of an eye he roared with a great intensity. I watched Draconius turn my wife to nothing but ashes.

My people ran in fear. Needless to say there are great concern amongst my subjects. There's a great fear that Draconius will rise. The kingdom was filled with panic and let to the looting of several districts.

In short this can not continue. What does the order plan on doing?

I await with baited breath and pray that your answer comes with haste.

We are at the orders mercy.

King Ignitus

King Alucard frowned. He placed the letter down. He couldn't remember that he received this letter. He did remember hearing a rumour about what happened to King Ignitus's wife on how she got killed. Without thinking he reached for he second one.

Your Majesty King Alucard Lord of Lucard Order,

It's with a heavy heart that I write to you now. Strange occurrences has plagued our fair kingdom, with a series of unexplained avalanches that has leveled most of the lower districts.

Witness reports states that a thunderous roar echoed through the mountains right before each avalanche. After further investigation I've decided to send out a party of scouts. After which only one of the thirteen men returned, with a shocking eyewitness account.

Lapis awoke.

I hope this letter reaches you with the same speed as with which the dire wolf cuts through ice and snow.

I'm sure that you will agree that the order must intervene.

Yours faithfully,

King Glacius

King Alucard almost crumbled the letter in his hand. His hands were trembling. He looked at the last two letters. He has to be sure. It could merely be a coincidence that Draconius and Lapis awoke. He opened the third.

Lord of Lucard son of Zulius,

My kingdom is in chaos, fire rained from the sky. As Gaius woke burning crops and farmers alike. The earth quaked under his mighty claws as he made his way from the woods.

Leaving it blackened and scorched. Countless dead, many injured due to flaming boulders he spat from his mouth. Thankfully he fell back into deep slumber, before destroying us all.

We plead for aid, in fear of his reawakening. My people are now in danger of starvation due to the destruction of farms and crops. The order must intercede lest we all perish.

I request that you act with haste.

Your most loyal,

King Techalus

King Alucard's mind went into a spin. They do say three is a charm. Why didn't he receive these letters immediately. Was he so self obsessed in his own grieve or did someone deliberately kept the letters from him, to weaken his image and the order. With these it might become in parent that he is not fit to lead the order.

In a fit of rage he slammed his hands on the table. He bowed his head thoughts streaming through his mind. The question only raises more questions. He drew his hands over the table, papers flying in all directions. He flipped the table, he huffs slowly trying to calm his thoughts.

When he got hold of his emotions he placed the table back. He bowed to pick up the papers he noticed the last letter. He hesitated to read the content of the last letter, it will surely contain the same information. He opened it and started reading.

Corvus,

At our offering ceremony Anu burst forth from his slumber. If not for the quick reaction and preparation of my soldiers we would have suffered severe casualties. Due to the quick thinking of my soldiers and our superior technology we were able to suppress the beast.

Anu went back into slumber and I appointed guards to watch over Anu in his dormant state.

What is the order's solution? Assuming you can muster one.

King Ventus.

He placed all four letters next to each other. All of this happened on Dragon Solstice, when his children were born. It was also the day he had lost everything. His thoughts dwelled back to three months before the birth.

"Roslyn my love you must rest." Corvus looked at his wife lovingly. She was tending to her rose garden. "Corvus I'm pregnant not sick." he chuckled. She is so stubborn and he couldn't  ask for a better queen. He kissed her brow softly. "You feel hot, are you sure you don't have a fever?" he took a closer look. In the sun her skin is paling.

"I'm fine. Your son is kicking up a storm" she rubbed her belly lovingly. "Maybe I should take a rest. " he held her hand leading her back. She never stood up from their bed again. The day of the birth dawned upon them. He got the best midwives to assist. They wanted him out of the room but he wouldn't leave her side.

Her will is weakening, she doesn't have any colour in her cheeks. She almost looked like a corpse. In five hours his son was born. He was so over joyed but Roslyn let out a scream as another babe came and the light left his wife's eyes. The midwife walked over to him. She held up his baby girl. "This babe has consumed her mother, at least your son came before she could drain his life force as well." He looked at the girl with hatred. "Get this demon away from me!" The boy started to cry in his arms.

The midwife nodded. "Should we dispose of her my lord?" He looked at the babe once again. She has her eyes. "No I'll let her live. I should take care of my son." He turned away. "I should name them. My son's Zexal and that thing will be Ayame. Now leave me." His shoulders started to shake as he walked towards his wife. This was the last time he shed any tears.

With his mind back in the present, he closed the letters. "I have a traitor in my order."