10. Return my king

Lucius would be angry and furious should he meet the sight before them now, the palace guards thought looking at Victor with angry eyes, but feeling helpless as regards the matter.

Lucius for the benefit of his kingdom had gone to meet the strongest alpha in ocean city, Alpha Noah, in his pack house. A merger between them could ensure that the witches had no success in the extinction of either races.

It was something that the king had never done. Lucius liked to remain at the hem of affairs in his kingdom, he rarely left. Important matters outside the kingdom were handled by the elders or the council but then he thought it time that he handled such matters as this himself seeing that the witches were becoming more and more powerful.

The warlords were coming for them and they were not going to show Mercy. The werewolves were in between, whichever kingdom gets to them first had an upper hand.

Everyone was restless as they gathered in the palace waiting for his return but with each passing moment it seemed more and more probable that he was already dead. If he wasn't why was Victor now in their presence acting like he had finally won, with his lips curved in a stupid smirk.

In the absence of the king his right hand man, Victor, indiscreetly sat on the throne representing him. His smile was deceitful, his laughter evil. A bit of an exaggeration there but anyway let's get back to the story. Everyone including Lucius knew that he wanted the throne and he did nothing to persuade them otherwise.

Lucius chose to keep him closer in the hopes that he could not only watch his every move but also over time curtail his evil ambitions. He never once thought that Victor could betray him in a way so evil as attempting to take his life.

"Lucius has been killed with the dagger of the sun. He is not coming back." Victor started with fake sadness. "The wolves, Alpha Noah and his pack warriors surrounded him in the night and plunged the dagger into his heart. Then they left him for dead on the cold floor." He paused, dramatically wiping his eyes. "But we shall have our revenge. They will not get away with this. Next week we will launch an attack." He raised his voice. "And we will make then pay! Every last one of them will answer to us!"

Silence followed his pronouncement. The vampires knew that their life source and strength were tied to Lucius their king. If he died they died too. They were not as lucky as the werewolves to be separate from their alpha. He had been their king for all these years for three millennia up until now that is if Victor was indeed speaking the truth, which he rarely did!

Victor wasn't perturbed by the silence he didn't expect a cry for war. They could moan the king all they wanted but that still wouldn't bring him back. He was dead and gone and he would find a way to keep them alive even if it meant a truce with the warlords.

"I suggest that there be a coronation as soon as possible. As his right hand man It is in my place to sit on the throne. War is upon us and we will not survive if we do not have a ruler. I do this for the kingdom and for my brother Lucius, his death shall not go unavenged."

The elders looked at him in amazement and anger. They wondered how he could dare suggest to be coronated when they had not confirmed the death of their king. They could still feel his life force in them which was a proof that he was alive.

Elder Lawrence stood up first, his fist clenched tight. "Before I speak I ask that you get down from that throne, now! You have not been coronated, you will not be coronated. That throne belongs to Lucius and until he is buried, you." He paused. He pushed his chair backward and came out of the table. He wanted Victor to see him and hear him loud and clear and for that he needed to be before him.

"No one else has a place on that throne except Lucius. The only ruler we know is Lucius. And his life force remains in us. I don't know what game you are playing but I suggest you play smarter." He calmly stated, not without a bit of threat and sarcasm though. Lawrence was known for that.

It was a well known fact that no one dared to speak against an elder or to challenge any. The only one with such powers remained Lucius and even Lucius exerted those powers with caution and wisdom. Their were six elders for each point of star. They all had equal powers serving as the anchor of the kingdom and cabinet for the king.

Elder Lawrence was rumored to be the strongest. No one knew how true that was but they all knew that he was the most daring and the most outspoken.

"Lawrence you shall sit when I speak. You will listen and pay attention to me as you would do the king or_"

Before Victor could utter his threat his throat began to constrict, elder Lawrence through his mind power was sucking the air out of him. His mind power was the second strongest in the land rivalled only by that of Lucius. This was because of decades and decades of training.

Victor fell down from the throne In pain. He cupped his neck with both hands as he choked. Lawrence walked to him still enraged by his audacity, his hands now outstretched supporting his mind. "No you will listen and obey while I speak to you and never ever again threaten me little boy!" He growled.

The palace was as quiet as a graveyard everyone watched in anticipation of what would happen next. It was not for long though as Victor had a trick up his sleeve.

When Lawrence was menacingly walking closer to Victor, Victor grew angrier and his eyes turned black. Soon he started getting back his strength and then gradually he stood to the shock of everyone.

"The power that I have I did not wish to trigger but let me give you a taste." Victor laughed as he broke the mind control of Lawrence.