Chapter 9: The Keeper of Forgotten Truths
929 Words
The name hung in the air like a curse.
"Lucien."
Damien's voice was barely above a whisper, yet it carried enough fear to silence everyone around him.
Leila looked from Damien to the stranger.
The man stood calmly in the middle of the ancient street, his black coat moving gently in the cool breeze that drifted through the hidden kingdom. His sharp green eyes remained fixed on her, not with hatred, but with a strange mixture of sorrow and relief.
He still held the silver locket in his hand.
Leila could not take her eyes off it.
Something inside her recognized it.
Not her mind.
Her heart.
"Who are you?" she asked quietly.
The man smiled faintly.
"My name is Lucien Ashcroft."
His voice was calm and refined.
"I was once the Keeper of the Royal Archives."
Leila frowned.
"The Royal Archives?"
He nodded.
"I protected the history of your family."
Damien stepped forward.
"You lost that right the night the kingdom fell."
Lucien's smile disappeared.
"I lost many things that night."
His eyes shifted back to Leila.
"But I never stopped protecting what mattered most."
Leila's chest tightened.
"What are you talking about?"
Instead of answering, Lucien slowly opened the silver locket.
Inside was a tiny portrait.
Leila gasped.
It was the same woman she had seen in her visions.
Her mother.
Queen Elena.
Beside her stood a smiling man wearing royal robes.
He looked remarkably like Leila.
"My father," she whispered.
Lucien nodded.
"King Alaric."
Tears filled Leila's eyes before she realized they had begun to fall.
She had spent most of her life believing she had no family.
Now faces were appearing one after another from a past that had been stolen from her.
She reached for the locket.
Lucien gently placed it in her hand.
"It belongs to you."
The moment her fingers touched the cold silver, another vision consumed her.
She saw a grand throne room filled with music and laughter.
Her father lifted her high into the air as she giggled happily.
Queen Elena laughed beside them.
The room overflowed with warmth.
Then everything changed.
The palace doors burst open.
Soldiers flooded inside.
People screamed.
Steel clashed against steel.
Smoke filled the air.
Her father drew his sword.
Queen Elena clutched little Leila tightly against her chest.
"Run!" the king shouted.
"Take her and run!"
The vision shattered.
Leila dropped to her knees, clutching the locket against her heart.
Tears streamed freely down her face.
"I saw them."
Cassandra knelt beside her.
"What did you see?"
"My father."
Her voice trembled.
"He was trying to protect us."
Cassandra gently rested a hand on her shoulder.
"He loved you more than his own life."
Leila looked toward Lucien.
"Did they die?"
Silence answered her question before anyone spoke.
Lucien slowly lowered his head.
"Yes."
The single word broke something inside her.
She cried openly.
Not only for the parents she had lost.
But for the childhood she never had.
Damien stood quietly, allowing her grief to unfold.
He understood that no comfort he offered would be enough.
After several minutes, Leila wiped her tears.
She stood slowly.
Her voice was calmer now.
"Tell me everything."
Lucien nodded.
"I will."
He looked toward the palace.
"But not here."
Before anyone could move, a sudden scream echoed from another street.
Everyone turned.
One of the ancient statues had begun to c***k.
Then another.
Then another.
Golden light spilled from the fractures.
The ground shook violently.
The Guardian spread its massive wings.
"I know this power."
Its voice thundered across the city.
"It has returned."
Damien's eyes narrowed.
"No."
Lucien looked equally alarmed.
"It cannot be."
The statues exploded one after another.
Stone fragments scattered across the streets.
From inside each broken monument stepped a figure made entirely of shimmering golden light.
Warriors.
Hundreds of them.
Each wore ancient armor.
Each carried elegant weapons.
Each knelt before Leila.
The entire city echoed with the sound of metal striking stone.
Leila stared in disbelief.
"They're alive."
Lucien slowly smiled.
"No."
"They are memories."
The glowing warriors lowered their heads together.
One elderly soldier spoke first.
"The Blood Queen has returned."
Another followed.
"We await your command."
Leila shook her head.
"I cannot command anyone."
The old warrior looked up.
"You already have."
Leila frowned.
"I have done nothing."
"You awakened us."
The city suddenly filled with brilliant light.
One by one, every building began glowing.
The crystal rivers shimmered.
The palace doors slowly opened.
The hidden kingdom was awakening completely.
Then a cold laugh echoed through the streets.
Everyone turned toward its source.
A woman dressed in crimson robes stood upon the palace steps.
Her beauty was breathtaking.
Her smile was terrifying.
Her eyes burned with unnatural silver light.
Cassandra's face drained of color.
"It cannot be."
Damien stepped protectively in front of Leila.
"Stay back."
The woman laughed again.
"I waited so long for this reunion."
Leila looked at the stranger.
"Who are you?"
The woman curtsied gracefully.
"My name is Seraphine."
Leila's heartbeat quickened.
She recognized the name.
It was the leader of the Order of Desire.
The woman smiled warmly.
"So much of your mother lives in you."
Leila's hands clenched.
"You knew my mother?"
"I knew her very well."
Her smile slowly faded.
"After all..."
"I was the one who killed her."
The words struck Leila like lightning.
Time itself seemed to stop.
Her breathing became shallow.
Her vision blurred.
Every person in the ancient city stood frozen.
Seraphine simply smiled.
She had finally revealed the truth.
And Leila's world shattered all over again.
- Writer
