Alaric was standing in front of the mirror looking at the person being reflected back to him. Dressed to nines in Formal Royal attire of a Red-Gold Coat and Black fitted trousers with Golden Serpent and Dragon embroidered on either side of his shoulders, the person in the mirror was the one Alaric hated the most. The last time he had worn Formal attire was when he had forfeited his right to the throne.
He never thought he would have the carry the burden of this ugly uniform once again but here he was, dressed as a Royal Clown ready to entertain the Snobs of the Supernatural Community.
Earlier this week, his grandfather had formally declared His Elder brother Aemon as his successor. He could see his father smiling proudly at Aemon but it was his mother’s face that struck him odd. She was looking at him when Aemon was declared as Crown Prince and her eyes held an unrecognizable emotion. He tried to talk to her later but couldn’t get a chance.
His relationship with his family was extraneous at most especially with his parents, only Aemon was an exception. His brother was the only one on his side in this whole ordeal and Alaric would readily serve as his general for he knew Aemon will be a great King someday.
In the council meeting, The High King addressed the problem of Rouges in the council. They always had faced rouge attacks here and there, especially after the Reveal but recently the frequency has increased. After investigating a few recent attacks He found that the attacking party now included many different species of Oni’es as well as humans which was worrying.
The Human Elders were summoned and questioned but their replies were less than satisfactory. The last attack had killed a young princeling of Griffins and they were mad, demanding retribution. Complaints from nearly all kingdoms have come and the High King was forced to address it hence a Royal gathering was called inviting every king and their generals to come for discussing the issue.
While The news of the Successor was not an unexpected one and Alaric was happy for his brother, the announcement made by the High King after that as what irritated him to no end because it was a time-wasting and nuisance exercise according to him.
The King announced a Royal Gala where Aemon’s coronation will be announced which will be followed by the Military meeting. While he understood the need for it, he was not at all pleased. He hated those Royals, especially the Fae Prince, and did not want to waste his time in kowtowing them. For them, he was an enigma, a freak and many had wasted no opportunity to remind him of that fact.
Oh how he would like to shut them up forever, he had the power too and he was sure that everyone knew but he had no intention of disrupting the order so he generally kept out of the way but this time The King had specifically requested his presence throughout the ceremony and meeting and even he could not disobey a ROYAL order.
The schedule of Royal arrivals was arranged and four rulers were to arrive today. High Priestess Ahilda was already here on a royal invite, serenading anyone who even dared to look at her odd with that poisonous tongue of hers and the Fae Prince was arriving through Portal.
Alaric never understood the Fae Prince’s obsession with the Portal City. He had forced the council all those years ago to release the Portal city of Ireland into his personal care. He had just lost his fiancé and it was said that she died there in Castle Kylemore hence The Council had given in to Prince Dae’s demand.
Thinking of Dae’s fiancé brought unwanted memories out front which Alaric tried to suppress. She was one of the main reasons for the rift between him and the prince and he would rather go to war than deal with the feelings which arose whenever he thought of her.
A knock sounded on the door and Aemon appeared at his door dressed in Casuals. He grinned seeing Alaric and whooped which Alaric pointedly ignored.
“What are you doing here and why are you not dressed.” he enquired in a bored voice.
While Aemon was an elder child, he and Alaric were poles apart. Where Alaric was introverted and serious in nature, Aemon was the exact opposite. If you see both brothers side by side no one would say that Alaric was younger and Aemon was the elder brother.
“You are looking dope, my dear little brother. Ahilda is going to swoon and declare her love to you I am sure” He laughed sarcastically taking pure joy in Alaric’s disposition.
Everyone in the Royal city knew that High Priestess hated the guts of vampires, especially Alaric and she had a frosty attitude towards The Fae Prince. Aemon was excited to see all three of them in one room after a long long time because he was sure the meeting will be very dramatic and overall fun. He had few encounters with the small, petite witch and had seen her reduce many vampires, much more powerful than her, to mere mumbling boys.
“Come on brother, let’s go. I want to meet Dae and the other Onie’s coming today. Also, I heard a witchling of D’lune Coven is included in the incoming party so your topmost admirer will be there in the portal room to receive them. I am feeling giddy just at the thought of it. Come on, come on let’s make haste.”
Aemon laughed and skipped ahead of his brother totally ignoring Alaric’s worsening mood and the thunderous look on his face.
Alaric sighed and cursed the unknown god who had blessed him with such a perfect day but nonetheless he had a duty to perform and he will do it.
Both brothers crossed the pathway and continued to castle some ways ahead. Everyone saw both princes walking together and bowed down in reverence. While Ameon was well-liked and loved, Alaric was feared and respected.
On the way, suddenly, Alaric felt a weird tug. He ignored it at first but felt it again with more intensity. He stopped, his hands reaching to his chest. Ameon turned to see what had stopped him and was alarmed to see Alaric suddenly kneeling down on one knee gripping his chest.
“Alaric, what happened!!” He ran to his brother inspecting to see if he was hurt or anything.
“Don’t know. There is this feeling, this vicious tugging like I am being summoned or being called. I have never felt this before.” His voice was tight and his forehead was full of sweat due to the energy he was exerting to stop the tug. A wave came, so powerful, that he was caught unaware and succumbed to it. Aemon, who was holding Alaric and calling for guards, suddenly felt Alaric’s body rising and speeding toward the back of his Condo. He raced after him using his wolf’s speed.
They crosse Alaric’s Condo and rounded the Royal mansion heading towards the wolfwoods. Alaric’s speed was frightening and Aemon was having a hard time just keeping up. It made him realize just how fast his brother was in reality and how he always held back, for they have had run before and never he had problem in simply keeping up.
They stopped somewhere in dense woods and came across a barrier. Alaric passes without any trouble but Aemon bounced against it falling to the ground.
“Ugh, what the hell. Alaric...ALARIC” No sound nothing. Alaric simply vanished.
Alaric was not in control of his body. When he gave in to the feeling, his body was pulled automatically acting on its own but he recognized the path they were traveling. He could feel Aemon running behind him shouting his name but he could not stop himself. As soon as he passed the barrier, he saw him.
Garuda
Garuda was agitated. His large lion body was pacing here and there, whining. When it saw Alaric approaching it gave a deafening roar and ran towards him. Alaric caught hold of Garuda’s large eagle-like head and tried to calm him.
"Garuda, easy my friend. What is it. Easy easy” but the beast refused to calm down. It was growing in size which meant it was agitated but he didn’t know how to calm it down. Garuda shook his head and leaned down connecting his enormous head to Alaric’s hands and whining. Alaric understood and calmed himself, concentrating on initiating a connection with it. As soon as he found the connection in his mind he tugged at it and felt Garuda’s emotions. The beast wanted to go somewhere and he wanted Alaric to come. Something dangerous had happened or was about to happen and they both needed to be there instantly.
Alaric accepted Garuda’s request but asked for a moment to explain it to Aemon. The beast nodded and shrank in size ready to be mounted and fly at any moment. Alaric raced outside and found Aemon standing outside the barrier pounding on it.
“Aemon” he called making the elder prince whirl and lunge at his brother “Are you okay, are you hurt? Where did you go.”
Alaric calmed him down.
“Yes I am okay I will explain later. Listen something has happened. Prepare the guards and tell Silas to be ready. I will send you a message and location if required.”
“But Alaric what’s happening, where are you going?”
“I don’t have time to explain, I will once I come back for now please relay my message to Silas.” He was about to go when Aemon grabbed his arm.
“You are not going anywhere until you tell me. That is an Order.” His voice rang with the authority of Alpha and Royal prince. Alaric gritted his teeth, while the authority was wasted on him as he didn’t feel the pull of Alpha’s command, he still had to obey his prince.
“ok, I will show you but promise me you will keep it to yourself till I Come back.”
Both brothers stared at each other for a moment after which Aemon nodded. Alaric turned and waved his hands to remove the barrier. Aemon’s skin turned white on seeing the enormous beast in front of him.
It was emerald in color with the head of an eagle and the body of a lion. It had fierce-looking talons with sharp points and a huge set of wings folded on its back looking like scales. Aemon was scared at first but then the beast’s silver eyes connected with his and he felt a calm sizzle over his body. He felt a slew of emotions going through him making him understand the emergency situation they were in. He turned to Alaric and said “Do what you gotta do brother. I will be ready here waiting for your message. And Alaric, we will talk once you get back. “
Alaric recognized the look on Aemon’s face which held a warning and he sighed. Well, he will deal with it later for now he ran and jumped in the air mounting Garuda in a swift go and both of them flew away with Aemon watching them go.
“Just when you think you have seen everything, you learn something new.” Aemon thought and shook his head, turning and running back to the castle.200Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6QUJZ7TOs
