Guardian of the Lost Ones

Chapter 4

Earlier, Maddison was terrified at the events which unfolded before her eyes. She remembered screaming for Sebastian to stop hurting the maid because it was her fault. Devita was innocent but Sebastian was livid with anger!

“Are you alright?” He asked after sending Devita away.

“Was that even necessary? I want to go home,” she said.

“Do you think I want you here? You’re not one of us, woman!” Sebastian yelled at the woman for being selfish. He put his life on the line when she called for help and she’s being ungrateful!

“I have a name!” She shouted when Sebastian kept referring to her as a woman.

“Oh, you have? Then say it,” he challenged the stranger he had the misfortune to meet.

“It’s Maddison Ryan,” she replied. “Can I ask you a question, Sebastian?”

Sebastian was furious but every time she called him with his first name, his anger would vanish into thin air, and he hated himself for being affected by her presence. Maddison has something mysterious about her. Perhaps, it was the fact that she’s the only person who summoned him outside the cursed Kingdom of Bexwell. Or was it her glittering blue eyes and the freckles that spread delightfully across her cheeks?

“Maddison,” he tried saying her name and like the sound of it coming from his mouth. “You can’t call me Sebastian when there are other people around us,” he informed her.

“Why the hell I can’t? Did you lie about your name?” She inquired with a clenched jaw and she couldn’t pinpoint the reason why being lied to was a big deal to her.

“Let’s talk again later. Go to sleep now,” he ordered and cast a spell for the woman to be drowsy.

A minute ago, she was worked up to find out everything about Sebastian Clarke, and then she had a hard time opening her eyes. When he assisted her in the massive bed, she didn’t object. “Sebastian…,” she whispered his name before losing herself into the oblivion of sleep.

 Another Era.

Another Galaxy.

Same feeling…of betrayal and loss!

Elyon ruled the twelve kingdoms of the Great Republic with an iron fist. His empire of power and strength was greater than the distance of time. Under his rule, the world was in order despite the occasional chaos in the Kingdom of Tyre.

 Lucifer was the ruler of the Kingdom of Tyre and he earned Elyon’s trust over time. However, their friendship was tested when Micah inherited the Kingdom of Khirian. The chit was engaged to him since her birth but Lucifer was smitten by Micah’s enchanting beauty. The brown-eyed gal captured the men’s heart with her ability to lead a kingdom despite her gender.

 All of a sudden, wealth and power became an issue to Luke or Lucifer, and Elyon was worried. He was fully aware of what Lucifer was capable of, and he was terrified each day. Aside from being the most powerful among clan leaders, Lucifer could rule the Great Republic with ease. 

 The Great Republic could be likened to the strongest tree in the world and could withstand any kind of external attack. Unfortunately, the real danger lies within its walls and Elyon was aware of it. He felt sick to his stomach every time he’d recall the happy memories he shared with Luke.  

 From a distance, Elyon admired the throne hall where he and Luke used to loiter around in their younger days and smiled bitterly that the day when he would last see him has finally come. He clenched his jaw as he walked towards his seat and expressed a deep sigh of regret that two of his friends would be gone soon. 

 It’s just a shame that the magnificent throne hall of The Great Republic would be filled with blood. Another sigh escaped from Elyon’s lips as he took in the sight of his surroundings. 

 Twelve limestone columns that were half-enclosed with lustrous braziers light up the entire throne hall. Each column represented the kingdom that Elyon ruled for many centuries. The paintings of angels and cherubs on the domed ceiling danced in the flickering light. 

 A golden rug ran down from the throne up to the main entrance. Rectangular banners with embellished fringes decorated the walls and between each banner, small lusters have been lit to highlight the wall paintings of leaders and legends.

 Drapes with a similar color to the rug bordered the extensive and stained glass windows of heavenly mosaics. The curtains were adorned with impressive needlework and intricate embroidery, a large window welcomed the sun’s light which radiated onto a majestic throne of gold, and three equally lavish seats for the Royal Highness’ trustees adjoined it. 

 When did it begin? Sadness clouded his expression as he recalled one of his conversations with Luke, and Elyon gritted his teeth.

*****

Elyon raised his right hand and crossed his fingers towards Luke. “Say it again!” His voice roared like thunder after hearing their sentiments. 

“I want to marry her,” he announced.

 Elyon stared daggers at Luke while considering his response. “She belongs to me!” He shouted. Out of the twelve kingdoms, Micah was the only woman qualified to rule their clan, but Lucifer had always been her close friend and ally.

 “You don’t love her, Elyon!” He pointed out the truth. 

 “I only need to protect her,” Elyon countered.

 “She can protect herself,” Luke reasoned out.

“There are other women in the galaxy, Luke.” Elyon tried to persuade the other man that he couldn’t have Micah no matter what. 

  “She’s carrying my child,” Luke replied, and Elyon’s dead gray eyes glared at him. Before he knew it, his menacing face was just an inch away from his nose. 

*****

 After his heated conversation with Elyon, Luke empowered Tyre even more as a preparation for his big plan. Between him and Elyon, one has to die! If having a greater power was the only way to marry the woman he loved, then he would do anything in his power to achieve it. 

 Certain individuals who were dissatisfied with the way Elyon ruled joined his cause not because of being filial to him, but due to their selfishness. Nevertheless, Luke took them in to strengthen his force because he needed every help he could get to win against Elyon. 

 “Do you have to do this, Luke?” Micah asked the man who promised to do anything for her. She got a bad feeling about the impending war because she’s aware of how powerful Elyon was. 

 “I have to,” Luke answered. 

 Micah fought back the tears that threatened to come out of her eyes as she embraced Luke. “I’m worried,” she said.

 Luke held her shoulders before he kissed her forehead and said, “I’m stronger than him.” 

 “Luke, that’s preposterous! Is there anyone mightier than Elyon?” To be honest, she doubted Luke’s winning chance against Elyon. The ruler of the Great Republic may be calm, but she heard stories from her ancestors, and they always made her shiver in fear. 

 “I’ll try my chance,” he said.

 “Try? What if you’ll get killed? What will happen to me and the baby? Just talk to him and beg,” she pleaded from Luke.

 “Is that what you want?” Luke asked Micah.  

 “Yes,” she answered sincerely. Although she didn’t love Elyon as much as she loved Luke he’s also a friend, and it would be painful to her if one of them dies. “Shall we go to him now?” She suggested.

 Luke agreed with Micah and nodded his head. He would try it one more time to talk with Elyon. “I’ll inform Elijah first,” Luke responded. Elijah was one of Elyon’s trusted ally, but the man was secretly rallying with him. 

 “Okay, please do that. I’ll be in our son’s chamber when you’ll come back,” Micah said before kissing him goodbye. Luke nodded, and Micah watched him until he reached the main entrance of their keep. 

 A few minutes later, Micah stirred from her nap and tucked her child before she went out to check the commotion happening outside the chamber, and her eyes widen upon seeing Elijah and his men brutally slaughtered Luke’s men. She creased her forehead while trying to absorb what’s going on, and then, Elijah saw her! 

 Micah ran as fast as she could before Elijah could catch her!

Her heart pounded as she bolted the door and dashed to get the child from his crib. Raphael woke up because of the sudden movement and smiled. There’s so much innocence in the child’s eyes, and Micah was tearful with regret that the child may suffer in the future because of her poor choices. 

 “I’m sorry,” she apologized before she cast the spell of libeendio arachniesco. A mellow and amber glowing spark began to show as a sign that the spell worked and it was ready. She was ready. Her heart was prepared when she let go of the child, her precious child. 

Elijah tried to get hold of Raphael before the child vanished into thin air, and she smiled triumphantly that she was able to save him from Elijah’s blade.

 “Where did you hide him?” Elijah bellowed and his loud voice echoed in every corner of the chamber.

Micah chuckled while watching Elijah’s desperate move to bring back Raphael. It would never happen because that child would never show up in The Great Republic for a long, long time. “Traitor!” She accused him before she pulled her storm breaker, a weapon that could eliminate her enemies in one strike. Micah gripped the sword with her dominant hand and prepared to attack when Elijah sat down in one of the chairs.

“What are you doing?” She asked but her eyes were vigilant in case Elijah would do something funny.

“You ruined the plan, Micah! You ruined everything!” Elijah yelled at the woman who tried to turn Luke into a sissy. The plan was perfect and he was supposed to rule The Great Republic along with Luke but the stupid man had cold feet after Micah convinced him to beg Elyon to spare them.

Micah chuckled at Elijah’s naivety and for underestimating Elyon’s power. He didn’t know any better! “I don’t want anyone to die! Do you think you can defeat Elyon? Think again, Elijah!”

“Luke can defeat him,” he announced. Elyon maybe the Supreme Being amongst them, but Luke possessed the ability and power to subdue Elyon, and alter the history of The Great Republic.

Micah’s eyes blazed with anger when the realization hit her that Elijah used her and Luke for his selfishness. “You want the throne,” she concluded.

Elijah used the opportunity when Micah wavered to attack her, and in a blink of an eye, his dagger pierced Micah’s heart. “Yes,” he answered shamelessly and watched her dying eyes.

She felt the dull pain within her chest but it spread across her entire body. She couldn’t move and her hands trembled in fear that she wouldn’t be able to say her goodbyes to Luke. Tears rolled from her eyes as she took her final breath and wished for her child to be safe.

“Maddison! Maddison, wake up!”

When she opened her eyes, she was disoriented for a while and stared at the magnificent man before her. “Sebastian?” She asked to confirm his identity and when he nodded, she threw herself to him. “She cried before dying,” she said.

Her actions startled him and tried to disentangle himself from her tight embrace but she wouldn’t let go. Then, she began to mumble about someone’s dying and wondered if it was her story. “Who cried, Maddison?” He inquired.

“Micah. She sent her child away and wished that Luke was there to comfort her when someone stabbed her,” she recalled the last part of her dream.

“Micah and Luke?” He asked and narrowed his eyes when those names were familiar to him.

“Who is Elyon?” She asked and all of a sudden, Sebastian pushed her away.