The Prisoner's Secret
1161 Words
Aria's POV:
My heartbeat echoed in my ears as Kael led me around the castle. Just an hour ago, the grand passageways appeared looked magnificent, now it looked like a warzone. Broken columns littered the floor and the marble floor was stained with blood.
Warriors hurried in all directions, carrying the wounded while maids scrambled to put out the fires caused by the assault.
Every Lycan we saw bowed for Kael. But they always seemed to gaze at me. Some seemed curious, while others seemed relieved. A few appeared anxious and I couldn't understand why
The doors of the throne room came into view. They were large and carved from black oak,featuring silver wolves under a full moon.
Just as Kael approached, two guards pulled them open. The room went silent, as all heads were turned towards us.
My breathing stopped. The throne room was spectacular. Long silver columns reached toward a domed ceiling covered with scenes of historic wolves and fights under the moon. Two enormous thrones stood at the far end. One was occupied, while the other was empty.
I frowned.
"There were two thrones?"
Kael led me toward the elevated platform before I could ask. The elders and generals around started whispering right away.
"She's the girl."
"She made it."
"It is really her."
I moved uncomfortably.
"I doubt they like me."
Kael turned side glance at me.
"They're trying to understand you."
"By staring at me like that?"
His lips made a faint smile.
"They have patiently awaited amswers."
His answer just made things worse for me. We stopped in front of the throne. Rather than sit, Kael stood, his golden eyes surveying the room.
"Report."
One of the generals stepped forward among the others.
"The eastern wall is now safe."
"Casualties?" Kael asked.
"Twelve wounded."
"Any Dead?"
The general nodded.
"Three."
Kael's jaw clenched.
"They will be acknowledged."
The man gave a bow.
"Sure, Your Majesty."
An elder came forward.
"There were several dead bodies the assassins left behind."
"Any markings?"
The elder nodded.
"The Black Serpent."
There was a murmured flutter all around the room.
"Though I didn't know what it meant, I could tell it wasn't good," the elder added when the murmur subsided a little.
Kael's expression darkened.
"They're becoming bold."
"Desperate," another elder gently corrected.
The doors unexpectedly reopened once more and two warriors pulled a man into the room. He was covered in blood. Silver shackles bound his hands and one of his eyes had closed swelling.
Though hurt, he smiled. It was a cold, unsettling smile, which made my stomach twist.
"That's the man," I said. It was thesame assassin who had spoken about my bloodline.
The guards pushed him down on his knees.
"Okay..." He said while laughing. Then he fixed his eyes on me. "The princess eventually shows up."
The room exploded into whispers.
"Princess?" I wondered within myself.
I looked confused as I looked around. Nobody argued it and no one laughed. Every face seemed stressed instead.
"You requested for Aria?" Kael asked while stepping forward.
The assassin nodded.
"I did."
"Now talk."
The man laughed.
"I will tell you everything."
He stared right at me.
"She deserve to hear it herself."
My hands trembled.
"What knowledge do you have about me?"
The assassin tilted his head.
"You really don't know."
"No."
He started laughing once more.
"Eighteen years they kept you in the dark."
Kael's patience broke. He clasped the prisoner's neck and effortlessly raised him into the air.
"You have ten seconds," he said in anger, but the assassin simply chuckled.
"Go ahead," he said with a strained voice. "Kill me."
Kael tightened his grip.
"I do not bluff."
"I know," the assassin said and smiled even more. "What if I die, though?"
He then coughed.
"Your precious Aria won't know who murdered her parents."
The words came at me like lightning.
"Parents? Not mother, but parents. My father, the man who had raised me was not my true father?" I wondered within me.
Kael gently let go his neck and he fell on the floor coughing severely. I moved forwrad before anyone could stop me.
"What did you mean?" I asked him.
The assassin raised his gaze.
"For eighteen years," he begun and chuckled weakly. "You thought Alpha Victor was your dad."
My heart started to beat faster.
"He is," I said
"No."
Everywhere became silent. It felt like the room was spinning around me.
"No..." I said, my voice breaking into a faint cry. "You're lying."
"I wish I am."
I desperately turned toward Kael but he would not meet my eyes. My chest felt constricted.
"You were aware."
His silence was response enough.
"You knew everything there was to know all along."
"Aria—"
"You knew!" I said with teary ears. "You allowed me believe a lie."
Regret pervaded his countenance.
"I was protecting you."
"By decieving me?"
"I made a promise to your mother."
The room vanished around me. Everything became silent.
Kael had personal acquaintance with my mother and he had promised her something. I just kept asking myself how and why.
I took a shaky step backward.
"I don't understand."
The assassin giggled once more.
"Of course you don't," he said and looked at Kael. Hatred could be seen in his eyes. "He never tells anybody the entire truth."
Kael's eyes flashed dangerously.
"Choose your next words carefully, cause they might be your last," Kael said to him.
The assassin disregarded the warning.
"Ask him," he said smiling at me. "Ask your king how he knew your mother."
I gradually turned toward Kael. He just stood still. For the first time since I first met him he seemed to look uncertain.
"Kael..." I said, my voice hardly rising above a whisper. "How did you know my mother?"
He shut his eyes briefly, and when he then, they were filled with something I couldn't identify. I didn't know if it was pain, guilt, grief, or probably all of them.
"I knew her..." He hesitated. "...because she was my closest friend."
The confession stunned everyone one in the room, except the assassin. Gasps came from all directions. Even the elders seemed surprised.
I gazed at him, unable to say anything.
"If he was my mother's closest friend, does it mean he had always been keeping an eye on me?" I wondered.
The prisoner shook his head and chuckled before I could ask another question.
"You still don't get it." His eyes shone with victory. "Tell her everything, Your Majesty."
He bent forward, his voice lowering to a whisper.
"Tell her why her mother died protecting you."
The throne room became so quiet that I could hear my own heart beat. My attention was now just on Kael. His face was now pale.
Whatever the hitman had just disclosed, Kael had spent eighteen years trying to keep it secret. And I suddenly wasn't sure I was ready to hear the rest.
- Writer
