Vakra

Chapter 16: Vakra.

[Mythiopia | Royal Palace]

Lawrence sat alone in his chamber looking dazedly at the coin glowing in his hand. It had been idle for too long that he almost gave up on the hope of reaching his daughter with via this coin.

But today, it suddenly shone. An indication that Isabella still had this coin with her, and that someone was around her to harm her.

"Dexter" The king called and soon a man in black came out of the shadows and bowed to Lawrence.

"Your Majesty"

"I will be out for a while. Make sure the palace is safe." Lawrence ordered and left the room. He knew Dexter wouldn't fail in his tasks.

Lawrence walked into one of the wide open fields in the palace and found Loren running in the landscape. Noticing his Master's presence, Loren rushed to Lawrence's side.

"To Vakra." Lawrence jumped onto Loren and the griffin soared into air. Loren knew every corner of Mythiopia and didn't need any directions from the king.

The landscapes below changed and by the time the sun was down, both the master and the pet reached black mountains covered with chilling mist. The entire mountain was a huge rock with no life in the vicinity.

Loren stayed for some time in the sky as Lawrence inspected the surroundings before landing on the mountain.

"Stay here. I will come back soon." Lawrence left after making sure that Loren was comfortable in the place. Soon Lawrence stood in front of a huge cave. Clutching the coin in his hand, he walked into the dark and hushed cavern hoping to get back his daughter this time at least.

"Vakra" Lawrence called calmly when he reached the dead end of the cave. The cave had nothing but webs, insects and dust which had been the only things there for centuries now.

Hearing no response, Lawrence called again and this time he heard a low grumble from behind of the cave wall.

"What are you here for again?" a croaked voice echoed through the entire cave but none knew who the belonged to except for Lawrence. Lawrence still faced to the dead end and spoke.

"Again for my daughter. This coin you made is glowing. Why? Is my Isabella in any danger? I want to know how my princess is doing?" Lawrence spoke, his voice a little tired and resigned. A pleading of a desperate father to know the well being of his youngest child.

The person who Lawrence addressed as Vakra was silent for some time before he spoke again.

"Your little princess was in danger from the second she was born. Don't come here to report me these facts again. I know how the coin works. Now go back." the voice answered lazily when Lawrence fell on his knees and bowed his down in front of the stone wall.

"Please. I am here as a desperate father. My daughter might be crying for my help. Please. I will promise you anything you want. Just tell me about my daughter. Please." Lawrence begged, shedding away his pride as the king of Mythiopia.

"Hahaha... Why are you even bothering your majesty? You know hell and heaven can't exist together. You can only chose one of your daughters. Just forget .."

"SHUT UP.." that thundering growl from Lawrence made lighting strike the mountain and the craven trembled. Vakra too went quite at Lawrence's outburst.

"Isabella and Stella, both are my daughters. None is less important that the other. I want to know how my Isabella is doing. Please. I can promise you anything in return." Lawrence pleaded again.

Again the silence befell on them but this time Vakra seemed to be contemplating something seriously.

"Alright then. I can't see everything in your daughter's life but I can show you if she is safe or not. But remember the promise your Majesty. I will make my demand when the time comes." Vakra said and Lawrence breathed a sigh of relief. He gratefully nodded listening Vakra's demand.

The stone wall ahead of the king shook and cracked before a faint green light danced on the surface of the wall and few figures started to appear on it.

They were unclear at first, but soon got clear.

Lawrence widened his eyes when he saw a honey brown haired girl with bright green eyes focused on a book in front of her.

Then the image changed and now he saw the girl having a pillow fight with a boy about her age. He couldn't see the boys face clearly but he can tell that the the girl, undoubtedly his daughter, was happy having this silly fight. Her laugh and screams sounded in the cave along with the boy's playful threats, complaints, and grunts.

His eyes widened and filled with tears as he watched his daughter away from him. Just when he wanted to see his daughter for some more time, the joyful scenery playing quieted down and he saw a dark figure approach his sleeping daughter.

The malice around the person was so palpable that Lawrence had no doubt in guessing who it was even though the person's face was covered.

The king panicked when the figure approached his sleeping daughter. Before he could see any further, the light dancing on the wall ceased and the cave became dark again.

"There. You saw how your daughter is doing. Now go away. I will be punished for showing you the glimpses of other world." the voice grumbled and the cave became serene, as if there wasn't any chit-chat there at all.

Lawrence kept looking at the wall for some more time. He just saw his daughter who he yearned to hold in his arms for almost twelve years now. His daughter was 18 now. She looked just like Stella, but a little different in her hairstyle and smile.

Composing himself, he stood up and thanked Vakra even though he knew no would be replying now.

-----------

[Academy]

"How are aunty and uncle?" Stella eagerly asked Calhoun who was walking through the halls of the academy.

With tall white pillars on lining on both sides of the wide corridor and the mesmerizing lights of sunset casting shadows on the walk way, the lazy figure walking leisurely caught everyone's attention.

All the nobles there knew prince Calhoun, but given his reserved personality, none wanted to disturb his peaceful time. Well,.. that is excluding princess Stella.

"Good. Did you eat?" Calhoun's reply was short but his answer had a lot of indulgence for Stella.

"No. I am waiting for you." Calhoun stopped in his tracks to reprimand her but Stella simply smiled and dragged him to the common dining hall.

"Don't wait for me from next time." Calhoun said and started digging into his food.

"Calhoun. We will be out of academy in two more years. What do you think about it?" Stella asked looking at Calhoun. Ah.. She missed him a lot.

"What is there to think in that? Academy is done. Go back to your kingdom and fulfil your duties. That's it." Calhoun shrugged. He didn't dare to look into Stella's bright eyes that shone everytime she looked at him.

Stella was slightly discouraged hearing this but still probed further.

"I know that. I am asking if you have any plans like loving someone, pursuing them, marrying them, etc etc?"

Calhoun paused for a brief second hearing this but resumed his eating again. Why were everyone talking about marriage? There was still time for that.

"I don't know. I think I will just marry whoever my parents gets me. Or whoever brings profit to Vandrad. It's not like love is a compulsion in marriage." Calhoun once again said nonchalantly rendering Stella speechless.

She opened her mouth to speak something when Calhoun spoke again.

"Now don't even get started with love and stuff. I have heard a lot." Stella shut her mouth as she fixed her eyes on Calhoun.

If Calhoun had raised his head from his meal and looked into Stella's eyes, then he would have known. He would have known that Stella had tears filled in her eyes.

"I would prefer marrying a stranger. It would be easy to just keep things to yourself than thinking about entertaining the other party every now and then." Calhoun spoke as his eyes roamed across the huge dining hall but always skipped looking at Stella.

"W-Why? Wouldn't it be good to find someone who l-loves you?" Stella's voice shook a little even though she tried hard to sound normal.

Calhoun clenched his fists under the table hearing her sad and expectant tone.

"I don't know. I don't want to settle with one woman. It's no fun." Calhoun shrugged as he got up from his seat.

"You should finish and go to sleep. I have things to do. Bye." Calhoun didn't turn back to look a Stella and left the hall with long strides.

Reaching his dorm, he shut the door behind him and leaned against the door. He replayed whatever rubbish he spoke just now and shut his eyes.

"I am sorry Stella." Calhoun whispered. He didn't want to hurt her. And that was the reason why he spoke all that to her.

He was almost 19 now, but he still hadn't found his beast within him. He was just a prince. Nothing more than that. He knew all the dangers that would be awaiting him once he steps out of academy.

Some one had to be declared the heir to the throne of Vandrad and the first thing to do was to eliminate him. Given that he had no beast power to use, he was an easy target to many. Getting entangled with Stella will only put her in danger. He didn't want that for her.

And knowing how much King Lawrence loved his daughter, he doubted if the king would even consider him for Stella.