As she went to grab it she felt something cold wrap itself something around her body. It covered her mouth before she could cry for help. She reached for the book but something stabbed into her arm. She couldn't breathe. Her fingers grazed her sword. She had to grab it. It's grip got stronger. It felt like her insides were being crushed. Something sharp ripped through her clothes. She reached for her sword one more time. She strained to reach it. It was just centimeters away from her hand. She just had to reach a little further.
348Please respect copyright.PENANA8hkLTFsBI4
"Cora," a voice called out to her. It was so familiar yet it had begun to leave her memory.
348Please respect copyright.PENANAGYaZOJbIXj
"Grandmother?"
348Please respect copyright.PENANAXSBvAXfMeo
The book glowed a bright shade of blue.
348Please respect copyright.PENANAcbwuJZXEQd
"No matter what happens you mustn't let the darkness control you."
348Please respect copyright.PENANA7tiokWW5X0
Cora stretched her hand desperately trying to reach the sword tucked away in her sheath. Something sharp pricked her palm but she didn't flinch. Her fingers wrapped around the sword. In one swift motion she whipped out her sword and severed the bondage that was holding her.
348Please respect copyright.PENANAyNjEv44Ywr
Her cuts stung but that didn't matter. The book had spoken to her. How?
348Please respect copyright.PENANAsBDhWxOpIJ
She flipped on the light switch. Severed vines were scattered all over the floor. They were a deep black color with sharp purple thorns, some of them were stained red with her blood. There was no doubt about it, these were the same vines from Mt. Nevado. But they didn't grow in Silvershore.
348Please respect copyright.PENANASV4lS6f2ke
The book lay on the floor opened to a page somewhere in the middle. It had stopped glowing.
348Please respect copyright.PENANAC36zBF65gz
She tiptoed around the decapitated vines, afraid of injuring herself further.
348Please respect copyright.PENANAOTbGlO2AB4
She gently picked up the book off the floor, then sat on her bed.
348Please respect copyright.PENANAC2WiCxcXtI
Surprisingly, the page she was currently looking at had detailed drawings of the vines. Below them was another letter.
348Please respect copyright.PENANAsI59acSFDB
Dear Cora, I hope you are still fighting the best you can. If you're reading this, then the darkness has already begun to spread. Soon it will overrun all of Thessionia. The King of Shadows will return on Blood King's Day. You must defeat him then. I know I'm asking a lot of you and I wish things were simpler but I have faith you will succeed.
348Please respect copyright.PENANAx9nWAYOopn
Blood King's Day was only a week away. How was she going to be ready to face him by then?
348Please respect copyright.PENANAFqQQ2R2yl4
When she arrived downstairs everyone except Ray were gone.
348Please respect copyright.PENANAk0UBDOTjXc
"Where is everyone?" She asked.
348Please respect copyright.PENANA7czUcsC1ir
"They decided it was best that they head home. It's been an eventful night."
348Please respect copyright.PENANAOoRZxJdoTo
"Oh."
348Please respect copyright.PENANAdA1x8jLKzy
"They wanted to say goodbye to you but, you took so long upstairs."
348Please respect copyright.PENANAlC3NJ6Vnug
"About that," Cora quickly glanced around the room to make sure no one was watching, then opened the book. "The King of Shadows is going to return soon."
348Please respect copyright.PENANA7QSo1NPf3l
His eyes widened with surprise. "When?"
348Please respect copyright.PENANAbGsBlPSebT
"On Blood King's day."
348Please respect copyright.PENANAKULu00KevO
Ray looked away. "What's that?"
348Please respect copyright.PENANAWPWipBfjIK
Cora was unsure of the best way to explain it to him. "Well, it's a Thessionian holiday where we celebrate the anniversary of the death of the Blood King." Knowing what she knows now, Cora felt bad she had celebrated it all these years.
348Please respect copyright.PENANAFZvp8AluX5
Ray didn't say anything.
348Please respect copyright.PENANAfhNOFNVDMd
Cora started to ramble. "It's kind of a huge deal around here. Don't take it personally."
348Please respect copyright.PENANAHvkldbX5EI
'Why would I take it personally?"
348Please respect copyright.PENANAKKe8DnUmwS
"Because...you're..." she fumbled over her words. "You aren't upset?"
348Please respect copyright.PENANAWP5qphrhTz
"Of course I'm not upset. The Blood King is dead. As far as anyone else is concerned i'm an ordinary civilian named Ray Castillo. The Blood King will remain a piece of history and nothing more."
348Please respect copyright.PENANAnxzmbCTqxA
Cora didn't know what to say so she said nothing. Ray placed his hand on top of hers which made her heart flutter.
348Please respect copyright.PENANAnsACPTR7Og
"When is it?"
348Please respect copyright.PENANAXmEo3g8y66
"When is what?" Cora was so flustered she had completely forgotten what they were talking about. Cora could no longer deny it. She had feelings for Ray, but they had more important matters to attend to right now.
348Please respect copyright.PENANAPVsqBkpykk
"Blood Kings Day," Ray clarified.
348Please respect copyright.PENANAf20IlDknOx
"Next Sunday, so we'll have about a week to prepare."
348Please respect copyright.PENANARKWUufaOJ6
"Do we have any idea what he's planning?"
348Please respect copyright.PENANAkp18zy4bXi
"No."
348Please respect copyright.PENANArwTlaGlM8I
"There's not much we can do, then."
348Please respect copyright.PENANA35FB5DeeQU
"We need to stop him!" Cora protested.
348Please respect copyright.PENANAJWniWsAlMn
"If we don't know what he's planning than we have no idea how to stop it."
348Please respect copyright.PENANAcXpUdjkikm
Cora wanted to argue, but he was right. All she knew was that darkness was spreading, bringing chaos with it. He was going to return on Blood King's day and she needed to stop him.
348Please respect copyright.PENANAUdi4iz9WtQ
Ray stood up "It's getting quite late."
348Please respect copyright.PENANA8BEj46EMrM
It was late and Cora felt guilty because of how badly she wanted to sleep right now. She should probably be plotting how to stop the King of Shadows, but Ray was right there wasn't much they could do.
348Please respect copyright.PENANAXBF6gB4Qhz
"Good night," He whispered in her ear. They're lips were barely a centimeter apart. She wanted to kiss him so badly but she resisted.
348Please respect copyright.PENANASdX2JQO59q
Instead she wrapped her hands around his neck. "Good night, Ray."
348Please respect copyright.PENANABeV5ALRmHO
The next day moved at a snail's place. For some reason most of her class didn't show up to training today. Since she had missed so much training between her trip up Mt. Nevado and recovering from her concussion she had fallen considerably behind and had a hard time keeping up with the others.
348Please respect copyright.PENANAbuAHaLzNdp
After a long day of training Cora wandered through the castle corridors. Several students holding large boxes of decorations were scattered throughout the halls. They must be preparing for the Blood King's Day celebrations. She didn't think anyone would mind if she took a sneak peek at the decorations in the ballroom. She crept around the corner and into the ballroom.
348Please respect copyright.PENANAjWTV07MI1G
She was so distracted she bumped into the someone on her way in. Cora was startled by the sound of birds squawking.
348Please respect copyright.PENANAldueDTzDn7
"Hey, it's alright. Calm down." Scarlet eased the birds until they were quiet. There were many brightly colored birds throughout the room. Cora wasn't sure what type of birds they were but, they looked exotic.
348Please respect copyright.PENANAgQoKkQ6nP2
"What are you doing here?" Cora asked.
348Please respect copyright.PENANAqd2igzs80B
"I'm on the party planning committee."
348Please respect copyright.PENANAI9MjAHFjbh
"I didn't know that."
348Please respect copyright.PENANAcJYV2MdTtL
Scarlet laughed. "Do you know anything about me?"
348Please respect copyright.PENANARnPUjao14C
"I wish I knew more," Cora confessed.
348Please respect copyright.PENANAy9CIhe8Edo
Scarlet shyly peered through her hair. The pair stood in silence for a few moments before Cora spoke. "I really like your birds."
348Please respect copyright.PENANAgTJanYK4Gx
Scarlet's eyes lit up with excitement. "They helped me with the decorations," she stepped aside revealing a fully decorated ballroom. The entire room was lit up by candlelight. Blood red colored drapes hung from the ceiling. Black shields with red lions painted on them hung on the walls. The tables were decorated with bouquets of red roses. Something about about the room felt magical. "They were the ones that hung the drapes from the ceiling," Scarlet continued.
348Please respect copyright.PENANAXnKPpouKNV
Cora stared at the ballroom in awe. Something about almost felt familiar to her though she wasn't sure why. "Everything looks so beautiful!" Cora exclaimed.
348Please respect copyright.PENANAZ2ZDIpSlnZ
Scarlet tried her hardest not to blush but she couldn't hide her satisfaction. "Ray helped me with the design. I wanted it to look as authentic as possible."
348Please respect copyright.PENANABuB8JXJOJu
Jealously struck Cora like an arrow through the heart. She hated the fact that she was jealous over something so trivial. She used to look down on people for getting upset over boys but she understood now. It was stupid and she knew it was just because Ray and Scarlet have been talking that doesn't mean anything has happened between them. So Cora set aside her feelings and continued to admire the room when something out the window caught her eye. Black clouds with purple lightning filled the horizon.
348Please respect copyright.PENANABKfQ6Ef4B4
Scarlet turned around to see what had caught Cora's attention. Scarlet gently pet one of the birds. "The animals can usually predict when a storm is coming. I noticed they were acting especially strange this morning then those clouds appeared out of nowhere. I'm starting to worry."
348Please respect copyright.PENANAw1xdnVrfT9
Cora clenched her fists. This was the Armageddon. Soon all of Thessionia will be overrun and there was nothing she could do. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of two sets of footsteps.
348Please respect copyright.PENANAn99bsAqWZN
Dimitri poked his head into the ballroom. "Hey Scar, are you ready to go?"
348Please respect copyright.PENANA4PjyoaZgzj
"I told you not to call me that," she mumbled.
348Please respect copyright.PENANA9Zsgg7JOQq
"What?" Dimitri hollered from across the room.
348Please respect copyright.PENANALQNPjCOzwx
Scarlet let out an exasperated sigh. "I'm ready."
348Please respect copyright.PENANAF7TPvSm44c
Cora was surprised by who followed. Prince Lyon limped behind on crutches. His eyes widened when he caught glimpse of the fully decorated room. "I've been to more Blood King's Day balls than I can count, but none have ever looked as authentic as this one. You've done an excellent job."
348Please respect copyright.PENANAf6UsjO64wd
Scarlet could no longer stop herself from blushing. "Thank you, Your Highness."
348Please respect copyright.PENANARbvSfh6nIP
Prince Lyon turned to Dimitri. "I hope you'll keep in touch about my offer."
348Please respect copyright.PENANAtkQLdK63v7
The pair shook hands. "Of course," Dimitri tried his hardest to mask the nervousness in his voice but it was obvious his conversation with the prince had left him starstruck.
348Please respect copyright.PENANAn6VFBTQulv
Prince Lyon inched his way towards Cora.
348Please respect copyright.PENANA0S3apeHd39
Cora was unsure of what to say to him. During their previous interactions she was always so dazed, but now she felt nothing. She tried to come up with something to say. "Fancy meeting you here," was the best she could come up with.
348Please respect copyright.PENANAYxjXhYWp5u
He gently kissed her hand. "Actually I was looking for you," he replied.
348Please respect copyright.PENANAdDRj7gqazi
"You were?" She stuttered.
348Please respect copyright.PENANAkj3bObfZw7
348Please respect copyright.PENANAFRoCO9lhOP
He squeezed her hands. "I need to speak with you alone."
348Please respect copyright.PENANA9hJb8afuDj
Before she could respond he dragged her down the hallway and into anther room leaving Scarlet and Dimitri behind.
348Please respect copyright.PENANASoiLoSnJh0
This room was so long it seemed to stretch on forever. The walls were covered with paintings of nobles all of which had the same scarlet colored hair as Lyon.
348Please respect copyright.PENANASk8CfJOobJ
They sat down on a bench in front of a painting of two small boys with long red hair. One of the boys looked familiar.
348Please respect copyright.PENANAm9IHN83ugp
The pair sat in silence for what felt like an eternity. Cora wondered why Prince Lyon would possibly to need to speak with her alone.
348Please respect copyright.PENANA6Tdt2rgCvO
He tightly squeezed her hand which made her flinch. Was Prince Lyon in love with her? "Your Highness_" She began but was cut off.
348Please respect copyright.PENANAS0q3n000zq
He placed a finger on her lips silencing her. "There's no need to be so formal."
348Please respect copyright.PENANAE8SwXOHVpR
He tried to wrap an arm around her but she pulled away. "Listen, I really don't feel comfortable with this."
348Please respect copyright.PENANAGFXIojM6ts
He let go of her. "My apologies, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable." He turned to his bodyguard. "Why don't you go get us some tea."
348Please respect copyright.PENANA312V9Lbtzd
"But, Your Highness," he protested.
348Please respect copyright.PENANAu84r86wQqL
Lyon locked eyes with the guard for a long time before the guard begrudgingly exited the room muttering something incoherent.
348Please respect copyright.PENANARnWx58BTs0
Lyon let out a long sigh. "I thought he'd never leave," He stood up. "Now I can tell you the real reason I called you here. I trust you'll keep this confidential."
348Please respect copyright.PENANA0GFgt03EDO
The blonde slowly nodded.
348Please respect copyright.PENANA2SzEwZG2Rr
He gently ran his fingers down the side of the painting. Do you remember the day my brother, Prince Liam was killed?"
348Please respect copyright.PENANAOHS4wb7Ck5
She shook her head. She was too young to remember the day it happened but her parents or the news would occasionally bring up the tragedy of the the two year old prince that was murdered in cold blood but it wasn't talked about often.
348Please respect copyright.PENANALQi4FhLWMs
"I remember it perfectly. I was out playing in the courtyard and then a group of palace servants came to tell me the news. They kept apologizing to me but no words could fix the damage that had been done, I lost my best friend that day. Father didn't eat or sleep for weeks after the incident. He hasn't been the same since."Tears welled up in his eyes. "I've come to the conclusion that the royal guard is incompetent."
348Please respect copyright.PENANAeCckJpS64L
Cora was speechless. She had learned so much new information and she had so many questions. "But, the royal guard, they caught the killer right?" She stuttered.
348Please respect copyright.PENANAKajbrFoLJo
Prince Lyon shook his head. "They executed the wrong man and then covered it up," He banged his fists against the wall. He took a deep breath and regained his composure then continued. "Which is why I'm putting together a team of the best warriors I can find to protect me from these kinds of threats." He handed her a business card. "Think about it."
348Please respect copyright.PENANATbCP6KVEMd
Cora walked down the hallways all alone. Everyone else had left awhile ago. She was tired and her throat felt dry. She never did get that tea. She turned down a corridor heading towards the exit when she saw the dead body of Prince Lyon's bodyguard with the words.
348Please respect copyright.PENANAjrzJlD8Tsq
TIME IS RUNNING OUT! Written in blood.
ns3.144.105.255da2