Alex’s POVMy vehicle led the convoy of 14 Sherpa lights, its headlights piercing the darkness as we approached the Prince Nicholas Outer Gate. The crisp air was filled with a tense silence, broken only by the distant murmur of the royal guard's surveillance.As we halted, the driver rolled down his window, a cautious movement under the watchful eyes of the guards. Beside me, Jean mirrored the action, leaning towards the guard with an urgency in his voice. "Matthew, it's me, Jean. We've recovered the stolen sherpa lights. I've brought the leader of the thieves to meet the Prince," he announced, his voice a blend of fatigue and triumph.Matthew's laugh cut through the air, a harsh, jarring sound. He glanced at me, sandwiched between Jean and Pierre, and without warning, struck me across the face with the butt of his machine gun. "How dare you steal from us," he spat, his eyes flashing with anger.I reeled from the impact, tasting blood in my mouth. Jean, his face a mask of panic, hasti
3rd POVInside the grand halls of a castle, reminiscent of Germany's Neuschwanstein Castle, King Richard sat in his study, immersed in ancient texts. The serene silence was shattered by the ringing of his smartphone, a jarring intrusion in the medieval setting. With a sigh of resignation, he answered, expecting yet another trivial matter."What do you want, Son?" he asked, his voice echoing slightly in the room. The video call revealed a startling scene: his son, Prince Nicholas, bound to a chair with iron chains, a menacing figure standing beside him."Greetings, King Richard," the stranger greeted with a sardonic smile, waving casually. "I'm Alex. Don't bother remembering my face; this is just a disposable human mask."King Richard's eyes narrowed, a mix of anger and concern flickering across his face. "What are you doing with my son?""Nothing," Alex replied with a playful tilt of his head. "The real question is what your son has done to me. He kidnapped my destined Luna. Even afte
"Remember, in a time of overwhelming complexity, there comes a point when invoking Xander's name thrice is all it takes for him to appear and unravel the tangled knots of any problem." Xander, with a dramatic flourish, spreads his arms wide, like a saint cast out from the heavens, his expression a mix of defiance and grace."What do you intend to do?" I inquired, my voice tinged with curiosity, occasionally unable to contain my amusement at his comical foolishness."Stop your overthinking, big-headed girl. I'll whisk them away for a bachelor party. We'll have a night with strippers, leaving you behind," Xander declared, his laughter ringing with a hint of mischief. "You should revel in the company of these girls. Right from the start, I never quite fit in here. I'll rush to them, embrace them passionately, and then... I'll make a grand, self-destructive gesture, all for the sake of ensuring you have a blissful travel experience in Paris.""Please, don't do that, Xander," I pleaded, my
"Bang!" Selena attacked a man with the nearest chair she could get, her laughter ringing through the air. The man fell with the broken bone and broken chair. Bianca, with equal fervor, snatched a handful of steak knives from the table, flinging them at the startled attackers. The knife stabbed into the attacker's muscle, ripping it.Although all of us were still inside Le Jules Verne, I, Aurora, along with Xanders, were immersed in a different world. We sat ensconced in the romantic ambiance of our candlelit dinner, the stunning backdrop of Paris's night skyline unfolding behind us.The orchestra, an ensemble of eight, played on undeterred, their rendition of Johann Pachelbel's "Canon in D" weaving through the air, filling the room with harmony amidst the action. Bottles and glasses were flying through the air. Even the table, along with its tablecloth, napkins, flowers, vase, and all its contents, was propelled in the direction near our side, but it did not reach us. This just added
"Adjutant! What happened here?" exclaimed a man, arriving with a contingent of ten. His voice echoed with authority and urgency."Vice General, they refuse to yield their space. They've finished dining yet linger without cause. They're deliberately looking for trouble with us. Please, assist me in expelling them," pleaded the adjutant, his face marred by blood and desperation. "They may be enemies in disguise."The Vice General, stern and resolute, commanded, "Everyone, advance and remove them."Yet, Bianca interjected firmly, "Not so fast." She seized the arm of a man attempting to enter, her grip firm and unyielding as she threw the man to the back. With more individuals attempting to breach the entrance, the conflict inevitably spilled into the interior of Le Jules Verne.Amidst the chaos, Selena, her eyes alight with wild, frantic glee, shrieked, "If you dare to eject us, I'll wreak havoc!" She began to hurl tables and miscellaneous objects with reckless abandon, her laughter pier
Yesterday night at 11:45 PM,Bianca's POV.Seated at the forefront of Le Jules Verne, the aftermath of chaos surrounded me. Blood, shattered glass, and broken chairs and tables were strewn about. Selena emerged from inside the restaurant, carrying bottles of red wine.“Wine?” She happily offered them to Nadine and me, our appearances marred by the recent scuffle; my torn attire revealed bruises beneath. Men lay scattered on the ground, wounded, their blood a stark contrast against the pavement."What should we do now?" I inquired, my voice laced with uncertainty, as I observed our disheveled reflections in the wine bottle.Nadine took a deep swig from the bottle and declared, "It's time you learned about our ways in the Shadow Troops." Her eyes shimmered with determination and a hint of recklessness. Pointing to the black crown symbol at Le Jules Verne, she explained, "This symbol, it represents Alex, our dark king. Those who are with us recognize it and keep their distance. But for t
AuroraFollowing breakfast, Nadine's plan was to visit a castle near Paris, and she had enticed me with the promise of an exciting adventure. We embarked on our journey with a convoy of four Sherpa lights. Nadine was driving, and I occupied the front passenger seat, while Selena and Bianca chatted in the back. Nathan, Ethan, and Lucas followed behind in another vehicle."Don't you think it's too early to have red wine in the morning?" I noticed Selena indulging in it."It's amazing; our hotel's red wine never runs out no matter how much we drink," Selena said as she took a sip from the bottle."Just like Xander's secret stash," I laughed. "It never runs out of chocolate.""I've never heard that he's into chocolate," Nadine added. "He may keep it just for you.""Really?" As we approached the imposing gates, a surge of unwanted memories flooded my mind.“Prince Nicholas' Castle?” I asked Nadine, my voice quivering with a mix of fear and disbelief. “Why have you brought us here?”“Don’t
Aurora“Nadine, I think we have a problem,” I murmured, my voice trembling slightly as I recounted the disturbing details of Jack's abrupt end to the video call.Bianca's fingers danced anxiously over her phone, dialing her father's number. Her face fell as the call went unanswered, the silence on the other end echoing our growing unease. Meanwhile, Nathan and Ethan were equally unsuccessful, their attempts to reach their families meeting the same void.“What should we do now?”Nadine, her brows knitted in deep concentration, finally spoke, “So, the Royal king broke his promise.” She reached for her phone with a determined grip. “I'll text Alex for more information. Let's try to stay calm. We'll find a way out of this once Alex is informed.”Clutching my phone like a lifeline, I dialed my grandmother, praying she would answer. &ldqu