KING

CHAPTER NINE

AARON

My jaw dropped down. Did I hear right?

As soon as the words left King Nicholas’ lips, not only me but everyone in the clearing went mute. Not to forget to mention, everything. It was dead silent despite of all the number of life there.

The silence was weighing too much on me so I decided to take some off. “Where is he?”

All eyes turned to me. I felt like a small helpless prey in front all the predatory eyes. It felt like on one hand, they were curious and grateful that I asked but on the other hand they were pissed that I asked such a sensitive question to their King. Even I was flustered that the question came from me!

“You will get to know soon son,” King Nic assured me. He turned side to side, looking into everyone’s eyes, “It’s not long before your new King will be home.”

If anyone did or didn’t but I noticed the small hitch in his voice. “And you boy,” King Nic said pointing to Tristan, “knock some sense into that brain of yours.” The royal couple then turned on their heels and headed inside.

Gavin handed me a shirt, “Are you staying here tonight mate?”

“Seems so. I need to know when that rascal future King of yours is making his grand entrance,” I pulled the shirt over my head.

“Okay then, let me show you your room,” I scurried after Gavin through the dispersed crowd into the mansion to retire for the night.

“I can’t leave them alone. They need my help Mom.”

“Help is coming August. We had sent scouts to the Hammerhead Pack and they’ve agreed to help us.”

“But we can’t just sit around waiting Noah. By the time help arrives, it’ll be too late. I’m not sitting down here anymore. I’m going Mom, with or without your permission.”

Mom sighed and finding no alternative she nodded her head in agreement. My sister ran out without a second thought.

Janet and I both stared at each other. Some seconds later August ran back inside and knelt before both of us. “I’ll be back with Dad and Granddad Sweetheart, don’t worry. Ed you’re responsible for your niece, alright?” she demanded of me. I nodded not knowing what else to say. She engulfed us both into a tight hug,” Take care of my daughter till I come back my Rock.” Kissing both of our heads and a tight hug from my Mom she left. Janet and I stared at the door as Mom and the others left staying us to stay put.

Janet got up from her seat but I caught her hand in time.

“Let me go Ed,” she struggled under my grip.

“Did you even hear what August told us? She told me to look after you.”

“I don’t care. I wanna go see my Mom and Dad,” she pulled on my fingers on her wrist. I couldn’t let her go alone so I decided to go with her.

Reluctantly I made a decision without giving much thought into it, “I’ll come with you.”

“Are you sure?”

“August will kill me if I let you go alone.”

“Then what are we waiting for?”

With everyone being in a hassle in the house no one could have heard us running down the stairs.

We sneaked past the man standing next to the stairs, to the back door and sprinted off into the woods. Hand in hand we, uncle and niece, ran at top speed with me leading in the front. After running what seemed like a while, I abruptly came to a halt. Janet ran into my back.

“What the hell Ed?”

I held my hand over her mouth and motioned her to stay quiet. She nodded understanding what I was indicating, so I released my grip on her mouth.

Holding her hand behind my back we walked some more and crept up behind a huge tree. Peeping from behind the tree we saw a midnight black wolf. I recognized him as Landon, my brother-in-law, and our pack’s Beta, on all fours, pinning down someone beneath him and tearing her head off. A wolf pounced on him when Landon was still on the dead body but he dodged the attack by rolling on his back and swung his claws at its neck from below. It let out a pain-piercing howl and landed a few meters away from Landon. But it regained its strength and swerved quickly for another attack. Our Alpha, my Dad, came sprinting with an extended paw severing the beasts head.

From what I could see Landon and my dad were heavily injured. It left me wondering how they still stood their ground. Nodding their heads to each other they sprinted off in different directions.

I saw other members of my pack heavily injured too. Some of them had shifted back leaning on the nearest trees for support and some already dead.

But between all of this I couldn’t find my sister. Panicking my eyes frantically searched for August when Janet tugged at my shirt. “Mom,” she mouthed without looking into my eyes. My eyes jumped to where she was pointing to see my sister along with some other people. Scanning the area she shouted out to shift.

August fell to her knees, her hands in front of her on the ground. I could still hear the loud cracking sound of her bones through all those growls, spell chants and wheeze of wind. Yes, the rogues had vampire and witch accomplices while we were keeping up with only our kind.

August let out a long loud howl before sprinting off for her first kill. She was the most beautiful white wolf, I had ever seen. Her white fur tore through the wind jumping high up into the air at a vampire. She landed on the far end and turned around revealing the vampires head.

As she stood there contemplating her next move, she was lifted up into the air kicking into the air. I looked around finding a man with his hands lifted in the air chanting something. “Ed! Mom-Help! ” Janet was panicking, her voice high shrilly.

I pulled her back. “Look into my eyes Peanut; take a long breath.” I was stupid enough to think she would be fine. What was I thinking? Werewolves see a lot of brutal things than a human at a much younger age but watching her parents getting tortured, no. She was not ready for this. Neither was I! We’re only twelve years old for God’s sake.

I peeped over the trunk and hopefully pulled her to look out. August and Landon were pulling that man till his body tore in half. “See! She’s fine! Your mom’s going to be okay Peanut.” Janet’s breathing started to go back to a normal pace when her eyes landed on her parents. Pulling her close I rubbed her shoulders.

“We should go. You’ve seen enough.” I grabbed her hand pulling her away from the scene.

“No! We’re staying! I need to stay here to make sure they are alright,” Janet fought back.

“Us staying here will make things ugly for them.” I held her by her shoulders in place. Looking into her eyes I said, “If we stay here they will lose their focus. It won’t be long before they catch our scent. We need to get out of here Janet. Please understand.”

She looked down contemplating whether to stay or leave. Finally she looked up at me and said, “Okay Ed. As you wish.”

“It’s for the benefit of all Peanut.” I grabbed her wrist in my hand and was going to whisk her away when a blood curdling howl made us turn our heads.

I sat straight up in my bed. I looked around me taking in the foreign surrounding. I looked at the clock at my bedside and fell back on the bed gripping my sweaty hair tightly. 5:01. Right on time. The effect of the nightmare was still not gone. The rapid fast beating of my heart confirmed that. I wiped the sweat off my forehead and face with the back of my palms. Staring at the sweat on my hands, I wondered if this would ever stop.

My mind kept replaying the events of that night over and over again. Involuntarily my mind drifted to the picture of Augusts’ lifeless body lying on the cold ground. Her lifeless eyes begging me to run away.

I snapped out of my thoughts and went to take a shower. I turned the knob and let the cold water run down my spine. My body stayed unfazed by the sensation for some moments but finally my heart rate slowed down as I felt a certain amount of uneasiness lift off my shoulders.

After getting done with my morning business I headed out of my room trudging down the steps to the dining hall. The nightmare always made me hungry than an intense workout. The staff were up and running down the hallways and corridors doing their chores. They bowed to me as I walked past them.

It was a long way to the dining hall. It had been at quiet a number of months since I last came here. I decided to stroll through the halls and look at the paintings and other priceless stuff again. It had become a habit of mine. Whenever I had something on my mind I tried to cloud it with other things. Talking of other things s*x was a huge contribution, but even thinking about that here, I knew better than that.

I pushed the thought away and looked at the priceless paintings. I was a sucker for understanding the meaning behind one. But I was always fascinated by the colors. The walls were covered with pastel colored wallpapers with silvery floral designs on it. Porcelain vases and ornamental plates lined the glass symmetrical shelves. Lamps illuminated the way on alternate side of the wall.

The corridor came to an end and I stepped out to an open space leading down to the foyer. I walked by the banister descending down the second flight of wide stairs. Pictures of The Royal family hung in big golden photo frames on the wall along the stairs. The pictures dated from several thousand years old till date. In one of the pictures was my great great grandfather with his wife and his baby son, my own grandfather. My great great grandpa died when I was six.

I walked to the east wing of the house to the dining hall through the foyer. As the Royal couple were back from their trip pansies were decorated throughout the floor. I entered the dining hall to find King Nic and Queen Athena seated along with their beta, Matthew. Gavin being the pack’s gamma was also their along with some other officials.

“Aaron! Take a seat son,” Nic gladly gestured me to one of the chairs. “I didn’t expect you to be up so soon!” I took a seat opposite to Gavin. He gave me a toothy grin.

“Being an alpha changes habits Sir,” I replied curtly.

“It sure does.” He then cleared his throat, “I think we are done with the meeting. Further discussions will be done in my office. You’re all dismissed now.” Nic waved his hand in the air gesturing for them to leave. Chair legs scrapped on the floor and the officials started leaving one by one bowing to the Royal couple.

“Gavin! Stay!” Queen Athena called out. Gavin bowed and sat back in his chair. Now it was only the King, Queen, Matthew, Gavin and me.

“I’m really sorry Nic for my son’s behavior. I don’t know what to do with him,” Matthew apologized to the King and Queen. “We understand it Matt. He’s been that way since his mother passed away,” Athena consoled Matt, “It’s neither your fault nor is his. It’s the times.”

“I’m sorry to interrupt my Queen but Jake has a hand in polluting Tristan’s mind,” Gavin stated.

Nic acknowledged that, “I agree. But we can do nothing about that. He is a council man and its going to take a lot to take him out. Not to mention he has a good strategic mind.”

“Don’t you have any questions son?” Nic asked. I was quiet all this time listening to the problems. “I don’t think we have any pawns left other than waiting for the future King to return King Nic.” Nic and Athena looked at each other. Nic sat back with a heavy sigh. Athena put her hand on his shoulder and nodded. “As you know the future King’s life has been in danger for a long time but taking the situations into consideration, its time.” He stood up from his chair, “Yet it will take a little more time for that. The future King needs to know everything about our life. Then only can the Kingdom accept, right?”

I nodded in approval. King Nic had a good point there. If the future heir to the throne will appear out of nowhere then people won’t approve of him. He has to go through several tests and stuff to prove himself.

“Thank you Aaron for being here every time we needed you,” Queen Athena thanked me. “We don’t know what we would do without you.”

“You don’t have to thank me my Queen. I’ll always be thankful to what you did for my father. I’ll always be ready to help you no matter what.” I bowed my head.

“I thought we were past that. You are only allowed to address me as Queen in front of others, not when we are alone! Some months and you forget what to call me,” Queen Athena whined. I chuckled and shook my head, “I’m sorry Athena.” King Nic questioningly raised his brow towards me, “And sorry to you too, Nic.” “That’s my boy,” King Nic said happily.

Between all these talks I was done with my breakfast. I pushed back my chair and stood up. “As things are settled, for now I’ve to take leave. I’ve a pack to handle and a baby niece to attend to.” Athena chuckled at this, “How is Janet?”

“Good. She’s soon going to turn seventeen next month.”

“How is Garcia?”

“Mom’s fine. These days she’s more into cooking and knitting.”

“My girl is full of talents.”

King Nic joined in, “You never back out of that best friend thing do you?”

“Why should I? Don’t say that you don’t reminisce about Sean the way I do about Garcia,” Athena said in a matter-of-factly tone.

King Nic let out a laugh, “Okay, okay. Talking about Sean, how is your dad doing?”

I shrugged my shoulders, “He’s been good. He was happy when I told him that I was going to the Royals’ pack. He told me to send his gratitude.”

Nic slapped his hand to his head, “How many times do I have to say, it’s not Royals’, its Realeza.”

“I know, I know,” I complained, “But it’s easy to say Royals’ than Re-a-lize. It means the same anyway.”

“Realeza not realize,” Nic gave in, “Whatever, call whatever you want.”

I bowed down to both of them and reached the door. I turned back to Athena’s call, “Give us a call when you reach home Aaron.”

“I will Athena.”