Cedric and Aileen spent some time patrolling through the streets not minding the fact that they were both drenched in human blood. They finally strode into the castle, taking a stop at the throne room.
Javaid panicked when he saw them at first but he visibly relaxed when he saw they were unhurt, “Seems like today’s hunting was quite…gory”
“Indeed father”, Aileen answered and walked up to him, completely ignoring her mother who sat besides him. They had just finished a meeting together. “Father, I and Cedric had such a lovely time together today”, she said excitedly. “Aileen my child, of course you are his little sister”, Javaid replied with a smile, he was happy things were different between them, of course he had spearheaded the whole pCleopatra prepared for the party she had to attend later today, she had not attended any function in a long while and this meant so much to her. She was a guest of honor after all. Edwin and his wife Alena were hosting a party to celebrate the safe recovery of their child Priscilla.Cleopatra thought about how her life changed all of a sudden. A few days ago, she was only Edgar’s ward or his grand daughter as some other thought. Now she was much more than that, the people accorded her with so much respect. It was like she was a queen, a day would not pass without her receiving a gift from the people of Averna. Today it was dresses, the next day all kinds of food items. People even bought the most insignificant of items to her but she treasured them solely. She finally felt like she belonged. She knew the people had little and out of their little they were willing to give to her. 
***They arrived at the house of Edwin and Alena. They made use of the space in front of them for the party. Cleopatra scanned the area, a lot of people were gathered around and making merriment underneath the skies. A large bon fire was set up in the middle, it burned brightly illuminating the night sky“This has all happened because of you Cleopatra”, Iris said adoringly.Cleopatra for that short moment almost forgot that she had come with Iris and of course her brother who had deemed it fit to walk noiselessly behind them all the way here. Cleopatra suddenly noticed the party had gone quiet. She turned to see the faces of everyone staring at her. When she looked at their eyes, the love, admiration was glaring. Tears welled up in her eyes, her cheeks flushed and the
***Dylan never attended functions of any kind, everyone knew him in Averna because of his twin sister Iris. However he had been among the volunteers who went out in search of Priscilla. He had seen Cleopatra and he had been amazed my what she could do. He took an instant liking to her and when the party was announced and he dressed up and told Iris he was going. She had been surprised it was unlike him but he wanted to take any chances he had to see Cleopatra again.He had been speechless when he saw her at her house. Unlike the other night where she was slightly disheveled and shaken up.He had his eyes on her all night, who wouldn’t?, he thought. She was beautiful. He had seen her leave her chair to the far end of the house where she was conversing with a woman. He wa
***“We are close”, Cleopatra said quietly then she pointed towards an open land, “Their bodies are over there…” Dylan rode closer to her, “If you are not okay with going further. You do not have to worry. I and the other men will be retrieve the body…”She looked him in the eye, “I am coming with you…”When they approached the bodies, she realized there was no stench coming from the bodies and just like in her visions, the vultures hovered over them but they were not pecking on the bodies.“What the heck!”, one of the man exclaimed, “The eyes are indeed missing just like you said”“This is
The news of the search had spread round Averna, people were already gathered in front of Edgar’s house. They all had a solemn expression on their faces. Their eyes lit up with hope when they saw them approaching but the white cloth behind the men’s horses squashed the budding ray of hope they had in their hearts.The lady ran towards them with tear stained face, “They did not die, did they?”“It is okay ma’am, you have to stay calm”, Cleo said soothingly.“Tell me the visions were not true, my family is alive”, she stopped when she saw the men laying the dead bodies on the floor.“These bodies are definitely not my husband’s or child’s right?”, she wailed, “Tell me they aren’t!”, some women came close to console her.Cleopatra walke
***Ivan sat outside watching the beautiful morning sun rise, he had always been an early riser. He had found it extremely hard to sleep in the house because he had never really had a home to call his. Every night was an adventure with him, from sleeping in taverns, stables and underneath the open skies, one could never get used to a house. He itched to go back to the life he knew and loved.Unfortunately, he was stuck with a certain old man and his annoying but beautiful daughter. Beautiful, he thought to himself. It made no sense to him why he would compliment her. After all she was the reason he could barely move on his own let alone be out in the woods…He still thought she was beautiful, all could see it. He brushed it off his mind but somehow it was ha
“So what is your favorite part about being king father?”Javaid smiled, “You should know that by now Cedric. The power”, he stated, “It is the power to control and order anyone at will. It is having people bow down to you and plead for their lives because you are in control of it. The magic you and I possess is only an added bonus…”Cedric thought about it.Javaid squeezed Cedric’s shoulders, “You might not understand it now but you will soon, when it is all in your hands, you will feel it too so, just like I do now…They were walking through the woods just like they always did. They were however accompanied by guards who had horses with them.“Just like you already know Cedric my child, I was not king by chance neither was it hereditary. It wa
Ivan watched as Cleopatra gathered the woods together and then with a mere wave of her hand, she lit a fire. She picked up a large pot and placed on it. She had on a sky blue dress, with a rope belt around her waist. He looked at her hair, he had never seen anything more dark and long. She wore a frown on her face but he knew he had to approach her and do whatever it took to make her feel better. It had clawed at him throughout the whole night.He limped slowly towards her and cursed himself for even making the effort. Why did he have to make the effort he asked himself repeatedly. It was however too late to turn back because he was already before her.“Cleopatra”, he called out to her.She turned to look at him, when her eyes met his, her frown deepened if that was even possible, “What do you want?”He igno