Cast Aside Without a Mate

Chapter 11: The Vanishing Beast

Chapter 11: Dante's POV

Once again, I am hit with another wave of a sinking feeling to the point that if I sink any more than I have today, I may start to feel like I am drowning in the ocean. Fear tried to grip my heart, but I shook it off. I had to remind myself that Kumu said it was kill or be killed. I must be the rightful Prince of Xudford and fulfill my duties as Prince and future King alongside my brother. My brother would understand if I had to protect myself against our mate. If I were lucky, we would not share the same mate, so I would not have to hurt my brother's mate. It would be easier that way.

It is a shame Kumu never told me why my fate was so particular or why just being in his presence overwhelms my senses. Now that everyone was enjoying their respective meals, I could at least start working on the next part of the plan for the lunch portion for today while everyone focused their attention on Desmond. Desmond had just walked away from me, heading towards our family and friends, waiting for us at the buffet, serving food to each other. It would be wholesome for me to join them to go back to the way things were before last year when I pulled my stunt. Even though I know I could change that at any time if I wanted to, would they accept me the way Des accepts me? Des does not fear me or treat me differently since I told him my secret. I am thankful to Des. Without him, I do not know how I would have kept to myself this whole time without anyone discovering me.

I sighed outward as my eyes roamed the dining hall until they landed on my parents, who were looking at me expectantly. I would have to come up with something to bide my time, at least until their suspicions dimmed about what happened during the breakfast ceremony. Knowing I was safe until midnight from all the questions I would face later, I put my locket around my neck, knowing one task had been completed. I grabbed the dagger and pocketed it after putting it in its casing. I held the chalice and the petite ville of sacred blood I brought for the spell I placed around the castle. Again, I prayed that my spell worked and that my brother and I would get our prayers answered.

I lazily slicked back my hair roughly with one hand. I looked over at Desmond, who had friends and family surrounding him. Looking at Desmond, he has grown into a refined young Menyaka Alpha. He is 6 foot 2 inches, with blue-black hair that comes just to the tip of his nose and cheekbones. Desmond's solid masculine features of a chiseled chin, defined cheekbones, and intense nose, and as I looked at his eyes. His eyes are pale green, like a vibrant pastel painted delicately over each eye; his inner iris held a golden light within its inner ring. As if the gods knew my brother was nurturing like nature yet wielded the morning as a shield that protected his spirit and vessel. My brother did not hide that he was more built than a gym trainer. His swollen muscles were in his suit and ceremonial robes.

Compared to the spell I put on myself to hide my menyaka at 10, that may have been a tad overboard, as I still look like I did at 13 years old. I am 5 foot 6 inches at best with a slender waist and six-pack abs, nowhere nearly as sculpted as my brother is in his proper form. I wondered what I would look like once I lifted the spell from my body. I laughed at the thought of being brawner than my twin brother since he has always been the bigger alpha since we were young. Holding the ritual items in my hands, I walked out of the dining hall without anyone noticing. Who would see a human among the gods? Even if others respect me more now, they will return to being bullies once the day ends. As my brother would say, they wouldn't even bat an eyelash if I suddenly disappeared overnight, and that is precisely what I needed to do right now.

I glanced at my brother as sadness loomed in my eyes, knowing our future is complex and no one will know what the gods have in store for us. I headed for Sanctuary. As I walked from the dining hall, the voices inside began to fade. I knew no one was around, not even a single guard, because everyone would be busy praising my brother for being so strong and how he would soon take over the kingdom. They would not even bother to bring me up because they knew Des would just beat them to a pulp if they did. After all, I was just the deadbeat brother since my plan last year worked out exactly as I expected. I would have to take care of this task as it would determine my brother's and my future. We could change our home and co-exist with other species as they do outside our home. I arrived at the Sanctuary doors, and to my surprise, no one was guarding the doors today. I will remember that no one is around during times like these.

As I approached Sanctuary, I passed the dimmed birthstones that lined the borders of our fallen ancestors. The names of those who ruled as King and Queen lay outside the Sanctuary doors as a reminder of those who built the foundation of our homeland. I glanced at the two headstones outside the doors to our most honored room in Xudford. The two headstones read, "Here lies Alric and Lyra Deathridge, Founders of Sanctuary." A place that demands respect but also wields the power of our people and the power of the gods at our fingertips. They say that Sanctuary is locked up every day and is only ever open when we have coming-of-age and birthright ceremonies. I reached out and slowly stroked the tombstones with my great-grandparents' names. "I miss you both so much," I whispered. I stepped towards the large double doors, took a meditative breath, and pushed the shimmering doors open.

As I stepped into Sanctuary, I almost lost all the air in my lungs. It was a breathtaking view, no matter how often I have snuck inside or taken a peek at what lies behind these magical double doors. It looked like a giant ancient church with its rose windows in the skylight. The stained glass windows depict the gods giving our people our power. The next stained window was an angel and a demonic god co-existing. They almost look like Menyaka and Nubetu co-existing, just like the book I read last year. Finally, there stood a larger stained glass window in the middle. It was a god shrouded by darkness, but a piercing golden light emanated from within him, pushing back the darkness. He stood tall, half of him shrouded in darkness while the other half shone brighter than the sun itself. He was known as the bearer of light and the tamer of darkness. The prophets used to say that one day, he would return and reunite our worlds as one. I should close the doors so it would be less noticeable that someone had snuck inside. My stomach felt like it was turning in knots as I took another step inside. A heavy burden lay on my heart as I closed the doors behind me, and silence was the only companion I had as I looked forward to the next part of our ritual.