THE CATALYST

Chapter 11

Braxton's P.O.V

The next morning Wesley and I leave for Riverta with a few guards.I leave Sam my brother in charge and I know Nivana remains in good hands even though I'm not around plus no one would really think of attacking the kingdom because they all know how savage and brutal my armies can be.Well except for a few old vampires in the council,,a few duchy household there is really nothing to worry about.They would not think of overthrowing the crown even in my absence.I know they hatee because of the changes I bring most of the times about old traditions especially the strictly no feeding on humans.I introduced artificial blood as away of stopping human traficking and slavery that was growing too wild in the market so yes the artficial brought a lot of profits enhancing the kingdom's economy.

I know that those few households still feed on humans but not as openly and brutally like they did before.Nivana consists of both humans and vampire so I try balance out between the two races but I know vampires detest humans for their weak nature but then what can I do about that.Some humans have been turned occassionally but that is no crime. We head out of the palace gates and head out to the streets leading towards the main entrance of the kingdom.Nivana is built like a fottress .There are walls built around the kingdom and not only that but it is also well placed geographically as we are sorrounded by rough terrain consisting of mountains,lakes and vast forests.

We gaetto the gates and I'm greeted by the soldiers guarding the borders.We proceed further to the forest leading the roads to Riverta.The guards with us make a formation around me protecting me but I know too well they can't really do that.I noticed someone had been following us for a while now just suprising they noticed it right now I was even wondering just how long it would take them to come out of the shadows."We are being followed your highness" Wesley says and I smile."I know" I tell him. I take out a dagger and throw it to the direction of whoever is following us and it hits a tree,yes I missed that intentionally because I wanted to draw them out."aaaaah" I hear the scream and Wesley curses under his breath because we know exactly who it is ." Did I not tell you not to come along Stacey are you too dumb not to follow a simple instruction!don't you that this is not some adventure escapade!don't you know that we are on official business concerning the kingdom!" I shout at her not because I am mad at her but because I care about because I care about her well being.

"I just wanted to come along I did not think you would be this mad at me I"she says with teary eyes and now I hate myself for shouting at her she has always been my weakness and she knows just how I hate seeing her sad. "It is okay I did not intend to shout at you I'm sorry okay" I say as I come down my horse and tuck a few hairs behind her ears."A princess should not be seen crying look ..even the guards are laughing at you already" I joke as the guards laugh at that looking away.She is just lovable.She is loved by everyone because of her nature.I look up at Wesley and I see his silent plea and I know just what to do." Wesley help the princess up she will be riding with you all through the journey because she is not a very steady at horse riding" Wesley curses me and I laugh because we know just how good Stacy is at riding horses.We three have raced together severally and I just love how uncomfortable Wesley gets around Stacy sometimes I even get a feeling that he also has a crush on her."My brother is the best" she says jumping happily and kisses me on the cheeks."Now hope on we still have a long way to go princess"

Wesley helps her up and I see how happy she is .I just wish she be happy forever.We continue with journey and I constantly look back at Wesley and Stacy and I find them whispering to each other smiling and laughing.We are almost to the borders when I catch a wierd scent in the air and I signal everyone to stop.I draw out my sword and everyone follows in motion.Suddenly everything is quite even the birds fly away.I listen carefully and follow the direction in which the scent is coming from.I hear leaves rustle from my right side and I catch a movement.Arrows come flying to our direction fast and we fall back as I order everyone to protect the princess.I move fast towards our attackers' direction and before they figure out how I got to them,their heads gets disconnected from their bodies. Looking at the five bodies I notice something odd about them like they had been dead for a while .I head back to where I left the group to make sure they are okay and we continue with the journey.The rest of it remains quite no one talking or asking about what happened as I am certain they know it was an umbush the question is by who?