Chapter Six
1123 Words
I was met by a fleet of royal guards when I finally made it to the Darkblood territory line. I huffed in annoyance as Anton approached me in his wolf form.
"You're parents are going to kill you," he admonished me through the mind link.
"Tell me something I don't know," I replied with an eye roll.
He barked out a wolfy chuckle and turned around, not waiting to see if I would follow. I debated not doing so for a moment, just to see what would happen, but with a resigned sigh, I followed him anyway.
He wasn't kidding.
When I entered the castle and shifted, my dad was right on me, screaming about how irresponsible I had been. I growled in frustration.
"He's my brother, too!"
The room fell silent and I saw a few tears dribble down my mom's cheeks. Her eyes softened and she opened her arms to me. I couldn't resist. I ran to her, clutching her close to me, and let the sobs overcome my body.
"I know, sweetie. Shhh. I'm sorry we yelled," she soothed.
"I can't sit around and do nothing, Mom. I have to help," I wailed.
My father came up behind me and wrapped his arms around us.
"We know. I'm sorry. I was worried for your safety, is all. I shouldn't have screamed at you."
I sniffled. "Why would you be worried about my safety?" I asked as I looked up at him.
They exchanged a look and I growled again. My father put his palms up.
"We don't know who took him, or what they want. What if they want to get to you, too?"
I froze. I hadn't thought of that possibility.
"I understand," I said. "But, aren't we stronger if we work together?"
He smiled sadly at me and put his hand on my hair.
"That we are, my gem."
"So then please don't leave me out of anything. I need to know what's going on. I need to know how I can help," I begged.
He looked at my mother and she gave him a firm nod.
"Alright. But you will listen no matter what," he conceded.
I wrapped my arms around him. "I promise Daddy."
He kissed the top of my head.
"Follow me then."
I nodded and let him go. We walked through the castle and into his personal study. I loved being there. The smell of wood and rain reverberated around the room and it reminded me of all the times I would fall asleep in his lap when I was a pup.
A large, yellow map was pinned to one wall and a small scroll lay on his desk.
"What is all of this?" There were pins marking locations around our territory and beyond.
"The only information we have at this time," he growled, clearly frustrated.
I picked up the scroll. "And this?"
"It was left in your brother's room on his bed."
I squinted at the hastily scribbled words.
An eye for an eye.
The Prince is Mine.
Till the Dawn of the Red Sun,
From Ashes to Ashes,
And Dust to Dust,
We will come.
"What the hell does that mean?" I asked, truly perplexed. Clearly, the Prince was my brother, but the rest made no sense. Dawn of the Red Sun? What was that? And who were we?
"I have no idea," he sighed.
I inspected it closer, running my hands along the ink. I could feel that it was pressed deeply into the paper as if someone had used a feather to write it. Not many of our kind still do that today. I lifted it to my nose, inhaling deeply. I could detect a bitter smell that had me twisting my mouth into a knot, but nothing else.
"What smell is that?"
"I don't know. I've never encountered it before."
I put it back on the desk and went over to the map, looking between the pins.
"Why are these all pinned?"
Father came up and stood behind me.
"These are the locations of the packs that we are on less friendly terms with. We have allegiances with many, but they were long fought and a lot of animosity remains."
I hummed and pointed to two pins that lay on the mountains.
"And these?"
"Rogue camps."
I froze. "What?"
"Rogue camps," he repeated. "There are a few groups of rogues who have created small camps. They aren't really packs, per se, but they live peacefully and usually keep to themselves."
How had I never known this before? "Does anyone else know they exist?"
"Some. Your Uncle Von, for instance. And Lucian of Waning Crescent in the East."
I looked at Waning Crescent, seeing that it was also pinned, and took a mental note of that.
"What about beyond the mountains?" I asked.
I felt him shrug behind me. "There is no reason for us to do business beyond the mountains. Many humans live there, along with vampires, fae, and witches."
I turned and raised an eyebrow. "And why wouldn't it be possible for it to be one of those groups?"
"Humans may know of our existence, but there is a borderline for a reason. We don't bother them, they don't bother us. Vampires only come out every few hundred years, and we've never had problems with them. I haven't encountered a fae or witch in my entire life."
I sighed and sat down in his chair, well and truly stumped.
My dad leaned over and kissed my head. "Get some sleep, Ruby. You've had a long journey. I promise to wake you if anything changes."
I nodded, trying to suppress a yawn. My limbs were heavy from over exertion and my eyes were struggling to stay open. I would be more useful in the morning when I could think clearly.
"Alright. I love you, Daddy. Goodnight." I stood and kissed his cheek.
"Goodnight," he echoed as I left the room.
I traveled the long staircase up to my room but stopped at my brother's door. It had been closed and I couldn't fight the urge to go in. I turned the handle and stared, the hairs on my arms standing up.
It was dark. Maddox never left it dark. He said it helped keep his nightmares away.
I took a step into his room, breathing in his scent. I turned on the lamp, seeing that nothing had been disturbed. His bed even looked like he had just been sleeping in it.
I laid down on it, resting my head on his pillow and breathing him in. Tears rolled down my cheeks and the aching feeling of loneliness settled over me.
"I miss you," I whispered.
"I hope you're safe."
- Writer
