8 Chapter 7: Mate Trouble

- 3RD PERSON'S POV -

"Aldous? You're alive?!" Franco exclaimed and was about to walk forward to him when Aldous raised his palm to them.

"Don't come any closer! Or you'll face the consequences." He strictly said and readied his fists in case someone didn't follow his rules.

Everyone was alarmed. They know what Aldous can do to them. One punch and they're already knocked out and maybe even dead.

"You're alive here all along? We thought you died since the war because you never came back to the Empire. What happened? Zhask is always asking if there is any news about you and wanted to come with us. I think now I know why he wanted to join us in our journey. What are you two up to?" Alucard pointed his sword to Aldous but Franco blocked him and shook his head.

"Violence won't get us to anything, Alu..."

Alucard took a step backward and put the sword at his back then looked daggers at Aldous.

Ruby cleared her throat and took a step forward, "Why are you here Aldous? We've been looking for you everywhere then years passed we assumed you were dead. What happened?"

Aldous scoffed, "Yeah, right. Go back to your Empire, you're wasting your precious time here. You guys want the Twilight Orb? Then you have to pass through me first."

"We need to retrieve that Orb to Queen Vexana! Or she'll cut off all of our heads! The Orb belongs to her anyway." Lesley shouted and was about to jump in the hole when Aldous blocked her.

"Retrieve? She does not own the Twilight Orb. I guess Zhask hasn't told you yet."

All of them frowned, "Tell us what?"

Zhask suddenly appeared behind them, "My mate's life is linked with the Twilight Orb. So you can't have the Orb and give it to the Queen. I'm sorry." He bowed down to them and tapped Aldous' shoulder. "Thank you for guarding the Orb and my mate, Aldous. Go back, I'll take care of this." He said coldly.

He faced the five. Shock is evident through their faces. He played with his staff and started to explain. "You didn't want me to come so I decided to follow you. I knew this would happen. I think you understand now why I don't want the Twilight Orb to be taken away. Especially you Alucard, you found your mate right? Then you know how it feels when your mate is in danger."

Alucard avoided Zhask's gaze. He hasn't seen Miya since the party last week. He wondered if his mate is okay.

Harley gaped. "Your mate is connected with the Twilight Orb?? Does that mean you're mated with the Twilight Goddess? So she is real then? I thought she was just a made-up story!"

Zhask frowned at Harley's statement, "I'm sorry, is that an insult?"

Lesley was alarmed and covered Harley's mouth using her right hand, "Ha-ha, no it was not an insult." Lesley faked a laugh and glared at Harley then whispered. "Will you shut up?"

Zhask cleared his throat, "To answer your question, yes. I am mated with the Twilight Goddess, Lunox and she actually exists and not just any 'made-up story' you speak of."

Harley smiled as if nothing happened, "I'm going to check on the horses. I think Zhask hates my presence." Harley whispered to his sister and ran to the horses. Lesley sighed and has no choice but to follow her brother.

He gazed at the sun, his eyes not hurting because he's wearing a helmet that's covering his whole face except the part of his eyes that's covered with the lens in his helmet. "She's currently asleep because of what Vexana did."

"What did she do?" Ruby asked.

Zhask bitterly smiled, recalling the awful memory.

"The first-ever war between the Light and the Dark Empire. While everyone was busy fighting and clashing, Queen Vexana secretly went underground where the Twilight Orb was located. My mate, Lunox felt uneasy and later on, she found out the Twilight Orb is in trouble. We went underground and we were too late. She absorbed three-fourth of the Twilight Orb's energy that is only meant for Lunox. Queen Vexana didn't succeed in absorbing all of the Orb's energy because she passed out, taking all of that energy. Soon, Lunox lost consciousness because of the Twilight Orb and is still sleeping underneath us."

Alucard frowned, "Then why are you keeping her underground? It's not the safest place."

Zhask shook his head, "She will wake up faster if she's near the Orb and the Twilight Orb cannot be moved to another place. Besides, I already casted a spell onto the ground so no one can open the entrance. I don't know how did that kid open the hole." Zhask said while looking at Harley who's currently fighting with someone.

"Looks like you have company." Zhask said then disappeared.

Alucard, Ruby, and Franco faced Harley's direction. He tried throwing his sharp cards to the mysterious man that just appeared out of nowhere while Lesley is trying to stop her brother.

"Why the hell are you blocking me, Les?! He's clearly from the other Empire and is standing on the border. He might be a spy!" Harley explained and attempted to attack again.

"What's going on here??" Alucard asked and looked at the man holding a dagger.

Everyone was shocked when Lesley kneeled in front of them, "Please don't hurt him. He did not do anything wrong. Don't hurt him... don't hurt him... please." Lesley begged.

Harley's mouth is open and stared at his sister who's holding both of his hands and continued pleading not to hurt the man in front of them.

"Harley, don't do it... please. He's my mate."

They heard another voice coming closer to them.

"Gusion! Where the hell are you??" Then another set of people appeared, and one of them is familiar to Alucard.

"Miya..." He whispered.