What lurks in the dark

PROLOGUE

KINGDOM OF NEAVILLE.

*A panting warrior enters the palace.

"My King, we are under attack. They've already breached all gate walls, and are heading to the palace." A man said frantically.

"Ring the bells. Warriors on defense now" The king boomed, turning to his wife, he said "Get to Linaria's Chambers, pick her up and go to the bolthole, I'll see you there.

Not seeing if his wife listened or not, Lord Krah took his sword, making his way downstairs. With Pandora's frail health at the moment, and having nearly lost her once before, he will not allow her in the battlefield, even if she is one of the strongest warriors the kingdom have.

As Lord Krah exited their chambers, lady Pandora rushed towards Linaria's chambers, not bothering to wear her robe. Her husband's angry cry had her running faster.

On her way, she saw Holox, Krah's best friend and second in command. "Krah said to be with you and Linaria, where is she?"

"In her chambers, let's go."

"Linaria! Linaria, wake up darling."

"Mimou..??"

"Quickly, Linaria, we do not have time to waste, we are under attack." Pandora knew they couldn't be seen, so despite the darkness, she navigated her way by feeling the walls, Holox and Linaria right behind her.

"The lever to the bolthole had to be here somewhere here." She whispered.

Pandora sighed in relief as the wall behind the painting slid open, and they entered.

Minutes turned to hours, but there was no sign of Krah. "Holox, wait with my daughter here, I need to go find Krah...." She turned, but Holox grabbed her by the arm.

"I promised Krah that I won't let you out on the battlefield. If someone is to go, it should be me."

"You dare not tell me what to do Holox. My husband is on the battlefield, and I will not let me be alone. I am a warrior, and I am the queen, I'm sure you need no reminder of that.

"Please Pandora, you're still ailing, you're not strong enough to join a fight. Allow me to go find him."

Just then, the door to the bolthole opens and a sweaty and bloody Krah comes in.

"Oh Thank God," sighs Holox. "A minute late and Pandora would've been out looking for you."

"You dare not Pandora. It's bloody out there, and we are losing. You might be a warrior but you're frail at the moment. Besides, our daughter needs you."

"As she needs her Father! I will go back out there with you, and you will allow me. End of." She said in finality.

"What if we are defeated, and they kill me?"

"Then we die together. As there is no Krah without Pandora, likewise there is no Pandora without Krah. End of."

Krah knew it was indeed end of. Pandora will only do as she wills. No force can make her change her mind. She's a woman of strong-will and finality, that's what attracted him to her in the first place.

"When It is dawn and neither myself of Pandora comes back here, take Linaria away from here. Please, as far away as possible, take her to the kingdom of Etressos. It is the only places I know you both will be safe. Take care of my balae. Tell Ozz I said she is just like her mother, she should be trained as such.

Linaria was just looking at the exchange, between her mother, father and uncle.

Pandora knelt down and hugged her daughter of eight summers. "Mi Xysenne, if we don't come back, follow uncle Holox. He will take you to your Uncle Ozz and you will have a new family. They will love you like we do. You should also love them. Do you understand me?"

"Mimou, I don't want to leave you. I will come with you. Please Pappou tell her. I do not wish to be without you. Please! Please." She cried, looking in between her parent pleadingly.

"You will do as you're told Linaria. End of." Pandora wipes a stray tear from her eyes. She loves her daughter, but Neaville is not her place to stay, not anymore.

"Promise Mimou you will as you're told, and you will always be a good girl." She's now unable to control her sobs.

"I promise Mimou." Linaria sobs uncontrollably in her mothers chest.

Krah watches the exchange between his wife and daughter yotae and balea with a broken heart. There's nothing he can do. It's only for the best.

Pandora removes an amulet from her neck and locks it around Linaria's. "Guard this with your life Linaria. It contains the answer to everything you will ever need."

"Pappou?" She called her father. Who also knelt down and hugged her. "Be safe Linaria. Wherever, whenever, always remember that Mimou and Pappou will always Fynae mon"

She nodded and turned to hug her mother very tightly. Krah joins and hugs them both. They both kissed her and stood up.

Krah turns to his friend, there are chests of diamonds, golds, silvers, sapphires and every important thing my family would need for moments like this in the fastest carriage in the back quarters. Go with Linaria, and never leave hers side." Holox nodded and hugged his best friend.

"See you on the other side Mi Carxa." Krah pats his shoulder.

"That's if you don't return." Holox said, forcing a smile.

"Ae Fynae mon Mimou. You too Pappou." Linaria hugged her parent again and they left. She turned to Holox and cried uncontrollably in his chest, while he only hugs her.

****

KINGDOM OF ETRESSOS

"Where is Leonizodel?" A man covered in all sorts of ornaments fit for a king asked as he walks into the hall.

"He's in the garden practically his restraints with Master Foktad. Mi Akou"

The man nodded in understanding as he walked away.

•••••

"What are you doing? Stop it, it's painful." A very handsome boy of not more than thirteen summers cried in agony.

"You will keep quiet and allow me access to draw from your powers, and you will not tell anymore about it." A man said, pressing both his palms further into the temple of the young boy.

"What?" The young cries in disbelief. "My father trusted you!"

"And he will continue to do so because you will not say a word about this to him. Because if you do, I'll make sure I kill you." The man pressed his palms harder against the boys temple.

"Foktad; you traitor. How dare you! I entrust my son to you to help him and you dare do this to him."

The man named Foktad quickly let go for the boy and turns frantically. "You mistake my intentions Mi Akou I was only jesting with the prince."

"It's a lie father. He threatened to kill me if I dare mentioned this to you" the boy cried weakly. Laying on the floor, looking frail and exhausted.

"Don't worry balel, I heard him alright. Guards, seize him. and take him to the council hall. I'll be there shortly."

Two of the guards did as their Akou commanded.

"You," The king points at another guard, "Bring your Xyse to his chambers. And send for Haiko the healer.

"Yes Mi Akou." The guard instantly fetches the prince from the ground and walks away with him.

"The rest of you, follow me to the Council hall." He turned and left the garden.

•••••

"I am sorry for what Foktad did with you, Leo. My Mimou said to tell you so." A young boy of almost thirteen summers said to the pale looking prince laying on the bed. "He is a wicked man, and I will not regard him as my father no more."

"It is Okay Trox. I'm glad you are not like him." The prince said and the other boy nodded.

The King walks into the room, his arm locked with that of a sad woman. Who is also dressed in a mighty fine attire, just like the king.

"Mi Akou, Mi Akouna." Trox falls to his knees greeting his king and queen. "I am sorry for what Foktad did with Mi Xyse. An enemy to the king is an enemy to Etressos and all the people in it. I will no longer regard him as my father. And I will continue to be friends with Leo if you will let me."

"Stand up boy. It is unfortunate what your father did. But I adore you. You're like a son to us. You have no reason to apologize for what your father did." The queen spoke calmly. "Now, go and meet the rest of the boys in the hall, we want to speak with Leonizodel"

Trox nodded and left the room, after bidding his friend goodbye.

"How are you feeling mi balel?" She sat on the bed, next to her pale looking son.

"I will be okay Mimou. Do not trouble yourself to much." He smiled.

The king also sat down on the other side of the bed holding his sons hands in his. "We came to tell you something balel.

"What is it Pappou?"

"Let me tell him" the Queen offered looking at her husband, and he nodded in acceptance.

"Darling, you are not safe here. Your powers keep increasing daily and you need to learn how to control it. After what Foktad did, I am afraid there is no one to trust to help you. We have decided to send you to Oskavar."

"But Mimou, all my life is here. I can not leave with you, or Pappou or Astrina, my friends even. Please do not send me away." He cried.

"One day you will be an Akou just like me son, and we need you to be as ready as you can ever be when the time comes. Controlling your powers is just a step towards that day. You will go to Oskavar and learn how to control your powers, you will perfect your swordsmanship there and you will learn how to be a strong and independent Akou. Do you understand me?"

"Yes Pappou." Leo nodded, knowing that there is nothing that will stop him from leaving.

"Do not sulk balel, whenever you desire to see me, your Pappou or Astrina, just write to us, and we shall come visit you."

And that made him smile.

"When do I leave Pappou?"

"In four nights. We are giving you a chance to bid everyone farewell."

He nodded in understanding.

•••••

"Mirgg, you, Rudock, and Trox will come visit me in Oskavar, would you not?"

"Of course we would. Just write to your parent and we will be there," the boys answered.

Leo knelt down in front of his Akkae. "Fair Maiden Astrina. Will also come to visit your Akko in Oskavar, with Mimou and Pappou, will you not?"

"I will Akko. Take care of yourself, I will miss you."

"I will miss you too Astrina. Take care of yourself, Mimou and Pappou." She nodded and He kissed her cheeks. She did to him as well.

"He hugged his parent, sister and friends farewell again before entering the carriage and left.

As soon as he left, a guard cane running toward them. "Mi Akou, there is a man and a little girl of not more than eight summers here, they are requesting entrance through the east gate, the man said his name is Holox and he needs to see you urgently.

"Holox?"

"Yes Mi Akou"

"Allow them passage this instant," the kind commanded. The guard scurried to go and relay his Akou's command.

Few minutes later, A big black double carriage come into view and stopped right in front of the King. The door opened, and Holox came down with a frail Linaria in his arms.

"Ozz, Claoybe, " Holox greeted. "Linaria needs a healer urgently. Please get one to attend to her."

The king began barking out orders, and in a few minutes, she was taken inside the palace.

•••••

"What happened?" Ozz Asked, they were now all sitting in his private hall.

"Five nights ago, Neaville was under attack. Krah said to stay with Pandora and Linaria, but you know Pandora. She refused, and said she will fight beside him. Pandora and Krah said if they do not return by dawn, I should bring Linaria here. They did not return by dawn, but I waited one more night for them. But they never did. They have been killed" He said bitterly. "Now here I am with their daughter, who is now mine, yours and Claoybe's responsibility." He finished.

Claoybe was crying hysterically as Holox spoke. Even Ozz wiped a couple of tears. "Krah was my Bestfriend, Pandora was our only sister Holox. Of course will love and pamper Linaria as we will Astrina.

"And train,"Holox added.

"Train?"

"Yes train." Holox repeated. "She has been going through trainings since she was three summers. Krah said to continue. She is just like Pandora. A firecracker.

"Does she have magic?" Ozz asked,

"Apart from the ordinary, if there are others like Krah's and Pandora's then they are yet to manifest." He answered.

"Okay. You and I will personally train Linaria. She will be even better than her mother, I promise."

Holox nodded and Claoybe excused herself from the private halls leaving the men alone. She wanted to go and check her Linaria.