The Elusive Prince

Acceptance

The evening bells tolled in the distance. The dusk had fallen quickly. The three friends sat sipping whiskey companionably. The soft snow had coated everything outside. The fire roared, casting dancing highlights on the mantle studded with memorabilia. Bri had curled into Sylvio’s side. Sylvio had his long legs crossed and stroked Bri’s hair. Oliver came in to check if his guests needed anything. They both demurred. Oliver retreated to sit with his wife. The conversation sporadically rose and fell. The thought that had been niggling in Adrians mind finally came to the forefront. “Bri, how did you find me? None of you were privy to my past and I changed my last name. How come you found me here?”

Bri straightened, carefully placed her glass on the table. She placed her hand on Sylvio’s thigh, seeking comfort. Sylvio ran a bolstering hand on her arm. She cleared her throat and took a bracing breath. “Don't freak out okay?” at adrians raised eyebrows she launched into her spiel. “I don't know how much you know about your legacy. I was scared to come clean at the start and after that it just got more and more awkward. I was charged with your protection, your safety. Me and Sylio. Just don't. Wait till I am done.” she warned as she could see Adrian was about to interrupt. “When we learnt that you had rejected your destiny and ran away. We had to find you. I met you at the cafe. We became friends and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't break the barrier. So Sylvio had to come in. we arrived at the conclusion that you didn't know anything.”

“Who are you?” Adrian asked quietly. “They are Bareeks” came Ria’s voice from behind. Oliver wheeled her in. Both Sylvio and Bri got up and took the right knee. “Teharia” they said in unison. “Teharia?” Adrian asked, “ It's our word for princess or any female from a royal family except Ma’aari who is the queen.” replied Bri.”she is our princess. Your father was our Ma’aouk. King.” “you aren't referring to my birth mother as Ma’aa or whatever.'' Adrian's voice dripped acid now. The younger pair hung their heads. “Your people killed my mother. Hunt her down. You ripped me from her arms. Your people almost killed me too if it weren't for Mom. Your kind killed my mother for what, being human? That was her crime? Now your world is upset so you need a mongrel like me to set it right.” The word mongrel brought different reactions from all of them. Ria looked on with pain, Bri was full of sympathy, Sylvio was cautious and Oliver looked angry. Adrian was vibrating with fury. The years of repressing his anger had made it only more powerful. With each second that passed, his anger rose and the golden light around him deepened. 

“You deprived me of any chance of knowing my parents. I wasn't given the choice, your people stole everything from me. You all have the audacity, the freaking audacity of now coming up to me and expecting me to get on with all the betrayal and pain. Forget like that all ever happened and help you. You lied to me, pretended we were friends” Adrian's body had gotten hotter with each sentence. The four of them looked on with awe, the light now unbearable bright. “I trusted you. All of you, lied, betrayed, withheld information from me. All the trust I had, all of you took it and lit it on fire.” “You have to listen to me Adrian,” Bri started speaking. Furious and crackling with electricity. “ You listen to me. OBEY ME came a deep guttural growl. The younger pair immediately dropped into a deep bow. Oliver's eyes were huge with disbelief and Ria had started crying. Her hand on her heart. Before them stood a majestic golden wolf. Adrian completed his shift. Whether he wanted or not, he had become what he meant to be. The prince had taken the first step towards reclaiming his birthright.