ROYAL BLOOD

THE DOOR OPENS

He was full of surprise because Gary had not mentioned about Grivald being one of Dravite's descendent. He could not believe his ears. He wanted answers, now. He was extremely surprised and intrigued at the same time. It had to be one of the two things. Either Gary didn't know or else he's trying to trick Grivald but it had to be the first option because he trusted Gary, yet he was still gripped with shock.

Rufus nodded and turned towards Lore, "It's time you know the truth. Lore and Leo come up."

Leo and Lore exchanged glances and moved towards Rufus, slowly. Lore gulped and stood near the edge of the clip. Rufus held out his hand and nodded at Lore assuring that it is okay. Lore hesitated. He gulped and caught Rufus's hand; closing his eyes. Rufus pulled him up and he stood in an invisible platform. He was surprised. Leo did the same and stood beside Lore.

Leo told Lore, "We're a part of the r-royal blood."

Lore couldn't help but smile at him. The wind was getting strong and it blew his hair. Leo was smiling like crazy too. Rufus looked at Wisteria and Jackson who were now standing there helplessly.

Rufus told them, "I'm sorry but you'll have to stay here until we come back."

They nodded. Grivald looked at Jackson. Jackson couldn't make an eye contact with him so, he looked away.

Grivald had been standing quiet for quite some time. He finally spoke, "Me too?"

Lore looked at him and couldn't say a thing. It was as if time had stopped. If they were related then they could be a family. Lore found it awkward but there was nothing he could do.

"Let's go." Rufus said.

"How do we walk?" Leo asked.

"This is an invisible staircase. Keep climbing up." Rufus replied and he went ahead of Grivald and led the way. The more they climbed up, the more the wind grew stronger. Grivald didn't run this time because now, he wanted answers. Lore kept it quiet between him and Grivald because he was too shocked to say anything. Leo looked around him, the wind grew strong blowing his hair back. They had now reached above the clouds. Grivald opened his mouth and exclaimed, "Whoa!"

Lore looked around the beautiful scenario. The clouds were looking pretty and soft. Everything seemed like a dream. They were now walking straight ahead. What stood before their eyes, shocked them. It was a stately, stone mansion which was standing on top of a cloud.

Lore looked at the majestic mansion and exclaimed, "This is beautiful!"

Grivald could not believe his eyes. What stood there in front of him was so surreal and captivating that he could not take his eyes off of it.

Rufus had heard tales about it and had always wanted to see it and now, the beautiful mansion was standing right in front of his eyes. Leo was filled with mixed emotions. The feeling of being a royal blood and wondering if he had certain rights over the mansion made him feel elated. They just stood there admiring the mansion and Rufus said, "Shall we enter?"

Lore nodded and they walked towards the mansion. Lore had totally forgotten about walking on the clouds. As he looked down at the fleecy clouds, they were hanging low which made it impossible to see the ground, and he moved forward following Rufus and the others. They found themselves facing a large iron gate. Rufus pushed it and the gate opened to a square yard which was covered with the same clouds. When they stepped on the yard, they soon realized that it was made of glass. Lore looked down and saw the clouds slowly moving away revealing a bit of the clear sky. Grivald was very excited so, he quickly ran up to the mansion's porch and tried pushing the front door but it was as if a charm protected the doors of the mansion; Grivald was pushed back.

"What did you do?" Leo asked him.

Grivald replied, getting up, "I tried to open the door but an invisible force pushed me back."

Rufus touched the door and felt the carvings touch his skin; he said, "The Queen obviously tried to keep the doors of the mansion away from traitors."

"If the stairs could only be discovered by the royal blood, then why would she need to protect the doors?" Lore asked.

"She must've tried protecting it from someone in the family." Rufus replied.

"Dravite." Grivald said looking down at the clouds.

Leo asked, "Who?"

"The King." Rufus replied being shocked.

Grivald nodded and Rufus said, "I don't think so."

"That makes no sense. Why would she try to protect it from the King?" Leo asked.

"You don't know the story about the royal family." Grivald replied.

"Tell us then." Lore said.

Grivald looked away and said, "Let's get in first."

Rufus searched the door to find a clue but there was nothing. Lore helped him search and he looked everywhere but there wasn't any clue. Suddenly, the clouds around them shook making everyone turn towards that direction. The clouds spoke; a powerful and enchanting female voice came out of the clouds which said,

"Force no more, whisper to it the name of the Queen and her son. Whisper to it the name of the Queen's companion and her son, too. Be careful for, you will only get one try. If you succeed in the first try, then the doors will open, else you will be thrown out. Remember, the mansion will never forget those who set foot here."

Lore was aghast at the sudden speech of the clouds. It was like a dream. Rufus looked at the clouds and said, "The Queen and her son. But her companion?"

Lore looked at Rufus and replied, "Her companion must be her friend or someone she was close to."

Grivald pondered at his words and his sixth sense made him take a guess, "Or maybe the witch." He said.

Lore was surprised at how Grivald kept saying unexpected things. He looked at Rufus who gulped and said, "But I don't know her name."

Leo looked at Grivald and asked, "How do you know it is the witch?"

Grivald sighed and replied, "My sixth sense."

"Cool." Leo said, "And now we do whatever a liar's sixth sense says. We only have one chance and we can’t risk it."

Grivald cried, "I am not a liar. I know the story of the Queen and the witch. Besides, think of it; the Queen created this Mansion with the help of a witch and I know which one it might be."

Lore asked Grivald, "why should we trust you?'

Grivald replied annoyingly, "Do you have any other option than to take risk at the moment?"

Lore looked at him for a second and said, "If you're sure then let's do it. But be fully sure because we will never get a chance again if we fail."

Grivald nodded and stood in front of the door. It was a one way ticket. He exhaled his breath heavily and brought his face close to the door. The others were watching him with hope and anticipation.

Grivald whispered," Jacinth the Son of Violane and Wyot the son of Adelaide."

The door creaked making Grivald look up. Lore walked behind Grivald and exclaimed, "You did it."

The door opened and revealed a large room. Grivald stepped in and looked around. There were paintings and portraits of men and women. The interior was simple but dark. There was no light and whatever they could see was with the help of light coming from outside. There were three painted portraits of a man, a woman and a boy each; hanging on either sides of the wall.

"It's the King and the Queen." Lore said as he faced the portraits on his left.

Grivald, Leo and Rufus went up to him. Grivald looked at the first portrait; a tall and ferocious looking man, below his portrait was his name which made Grivald grunt; Dravite Augustin.

"A-Augustin." Lore stammered.

"He is your great great great grandfather." Rufus said.