Chapter 2 - SISTERS

A snicker escaped The Royal Grand Master's lips, concealing his betrayal and fear...

"Soon, huh?", he questioned impatiently.

The pounding in his chest was nearly suffocating, rendered him breathless. The brilliant scarlet and charcoal robes adorning his trembling-tormented form seemed to constrict with each breath.

His quivering hands slowly rose to his throat; before he forced them onto his side.

The impulse to gasp for air clouded his mind, even though he was already receiving it; but the feeling kept increasing, and his body wouldn't allow the intolerable feeling to calm.

"Thus, I object..."

A middle-aged woman with the overuse of makeup plastered over her light-brown wrinkled facial skin, kept her composure tall and proud emitting a self-assertive and poised appearance.

She argued her biased opinions and ideas freely, which traveled smoothly from her magenta-colored lips.

Her old captivating and elegant beauty attracted most of the passing refugees, while her words allured the rest.

"Would you rather die a 'COWARD!'? Or die a hero and avenge your slaughtered loved ones?"

"We are capable of-"

"Do you think dying an unwinnable battle is wise?!"

The prince finally exclaims, striding into the armory with the seer safety placed in hand after over-hearing the injudicious preaching.

"I-"

He carefully rests the seer in a chair just in time to notice his fiancé...

"My King, what happened? Are you hurt or injured anywhere?!"

The fiancé rushes over to the prince, wrapping him into a tight but pleasant hug; exasperating the middle-aged woman who released a loud sigh and continued...

"I would preferably die fighting than to stand by waiting for a prince to 'What' save us?!"

"Then leave."

The prince suggested, breaking away from the hug with a serious expression countering how fearful and melancholy his soul felt.

"Gladly, who's with me"

The unsure glares pierce through her as her pupils wandered around the room for anyone who would be brave enough to join her; but alas, the only thing she saw was averted glares, "uh, fucking cowards!"

The loud stomps from her high red heels receded as she disappeared through the door and further down the halls into the unknown.

"Shouldn't we go after her, your majesties"

A maid asks, receiving a "no" from the prince as he takes a seat on the stage alongside his fiancé.

"The demons won't get into the castle anytime soon. In the meantime we will find ways to fight them off and kill Caine; but I need everyone, even the refugees to contribute ideas"

"And what about the seer? What happened to her?

A teenage boy inquires, slowly stepping from the crowded figures to reveal himself.

"When the seer wakes up, we will have the answers that we all are seeking; but sadly she got injured on the way back from the dungeon"

"By what? Was it a demon?!"

The refugees and royal members gasps in alarm as those words leave another teenager's mouth...

"No. No, it wasn't. She tried to escape, but a guard was able to catch her. Unfortunately, he let his emotions get the best of him. He used too much force and injured her... So, if there are no more questions, let's get started. We don't have a lot of time."

A moment of chaos ensued...

An uproar of voices filled the setting as slight light shone from the ceiling, emitting from the dimmed sun.

The ominous-dark formed clouds settled savage thunders and lighting from a distance and steadily began to impel them nigher toward the castle.

"Everyone silent!"

The prince demanded with a raise of his hand and instantly the chaos settled.

"Has anyone came up with an actual successful idea?"

"Yes, me and my sisters"

Three sisters-triplets saunter through the standing figures and stopped when they came into the view of the prince.

"And you three are?"

"Oh. Forgive me, Your Majesty. We are distant cousins to your fiancé-Prince Amir"

"This is Eleanor" The middle triplet points to her sister on the right

"Beatrice" She points to the sister on her left

"And I'm Caroline" she introduces herself, then bows along with her two sisters.

"If you are my cousins then why haven't I ever heard anything about you three?!"

A flash of lightning strikes in the distance which was pursued by the rolling of thunder, engendering the unconscious signs of suspicion to evade the mouths of all the figures glaring at the triplets.

"Our parents were outlaws. Our father-your uncle told us he came from a royal family, but we never believed him... Until they were slaughtered and left a note along with a picture behind."

"I'm so sorry"

"Don't be. It's not your fault."

"The note and picture told us about his family, and maybe it can make you believe." Caroline continues.

Amir along with the prince ambled to the three sisters, cautiously taking the picture and note that they have presented.

"That's my parents and uncle, but how?!" He mutters after carefully reading and examining the suspicious picture and note.

"As I said, we are your cousin"

The twins place their palms on his shoulder which radiates a golden orange color on the outer layer, but a dark blue on the inner layer.

"What are you doing?!"

The prince exclaims as he urgently unseated his sword, placing it dangerously on the throat of one of the sisters, "we did not mean any harm, we just simply needed to show him"

"Atlas, no. They're telling the truth... I can feel it."

"..." the sword remained dangerously still on the sister's throat.

Terror raised over her slightly trembling form as she glared into the empty-emerald-colored pupils of Atlas.

"Atlas!"

Amir exclaimed while slowly placing his hands on the soft and still face of his fiancé, "look at me"

A mischievous grin appeared on the two sister's faces as they stared at Atlas with a hidden intent...