Kingdom Secrets

The kingdom is currently on lockdown. I announced my father's illness this morning. Tears and shouts were spilled, and I turned away from the balcony after giving the message. I let my father's people weep in peace.

Until my father is well enough or he... he dies, the kingdom is on lockdown. I would rather not deal with other issues like runaway criminals, illegal immigrants, and other nuisances. My father is top priority. I will not leave the kingdom without a worthy king as I am not what they need.

I need to find a witch specializing in medicine to find a cure. Since the kingdom is on lockdown, I should find the witches residing in the kingdom first. And there are not many of them. Hopefully, one of witches will be able to help. If not... I don't know what I will do.

Coralie walks through the rose garden, and she stops when she spots me. I am smoking a cigar, and she wrinkles her nose at me.

Cigars do not affect vampires in the same way it does to weaker bodies such as the human race. The warm smoke fills my lungs, and I blow it out.

"Did you console the masses?"

Coralie runs her hands through the pink silk skirt of her dress. "I tried my best."

I sigh. "Thank you. I will be in my study if you need me."

She nods, her extremely fair hair falling to frame her face. Coralie bends down to pluck a red rose amidst her pink ones. Picking off the thorns, she places the flower in my hand.

"Just adding a little color to your day."

Tucking the rose into my breast pocket of my vest, I head off into the castle.

It is a rare sight. The halls are empty. Usually there are maids chattering and laughter. My father loves a full castle. The workers in the castle are always bustling around, carrying around the joyous atmosphere. But today, the desolate rooms are quite eerie.

Opening the door to my study, I walk over to the stack of parchment stacked on my ebony desk. I quickly flick through the letters, finding one from my butler and right hand man. I scan through the words, and I grip the letters, creasing the letter as I read the aggravating message.

The butler has reported that more than half of the witches in the kingdom have left despite putting up a decree. There were so few to start with. Crumbling up the letter, I toss it into the waste bin.

"Nikolai!" I shout.

A minute later, the family butler walks into the study. He is a large man, carrying an air of royalty and authority despite his position. It is an admirable trait.

Nikolai bows. "Crown prince Fallon."

"Find me a witch."

"Of course."

Throwing the closest lamp to the wall, it shatters echoing into hall. What am I going to do? Rage builds up inside me, and I clench my jaw. The urge to spill blood is strong, but I restrain myself.

"Now."

Nikolai bows again, closing the doors behind him. Breathing hard, I settle down into my chair. Spinning around, I look out the large windows behind my desk. How could the witches be so ungrateful? Despite witches being shamed, they are allowed to reside here. My father wanted to have a safe haven for the creatures that are shunned.

Vampires and other creatures have finally got the permission from the Council of Delphi, the council that keeps the South and North lands united, to live up in the North. Vampires previously could only reside in Southern empires. Some kingdoms far up north in the Northern lands rebuked it. Still to this day, the kingdoms there preach lies about vampires and other creatures.

Vampires primarily live here in Arcana, but other unique creatures also settle here. Odd kinds of shifters, imps, ghouls, valkyries, fauns, and more. Looking down, I can barely make out the civilians below me. Cracking my fingers, I lean back into my chair. Something's got to give.

Down in the dungeons, the musky smell of decay beats against the bricks. The brick walls are now a green-grey color that reeks. Stepping into a cell, I look in pity over at the witch chained to the wall.

Her shiny auburn hair is rumpled and there are bruises all over her face. This witch has failed. Just like the other five before her. And now she will receive the same punishment.

The witch struggles, trying to break free from the chains, confusion marring her face. I have had my father's close witch doctor, Leonidas, create special chains that cut off magic. Leonidas refused to create them at first, but I convinced him.

Justice. This is all for justice. Leonidas does not know what his creations are for, but there has to be a penalty for failure. Death.

Smiling over at her, she glances at me disoriented. I light up the fire stake from the church, and I see the blood drain from her face. Walking over to her, she starts to struggle against the bindings, trying to break free.

"NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. Please. I beg you for mercy."

Tears fall down her cheeks, looking like diamonds, and I whisper, "You should have not failed such an easy task then."

I touch the burning stake to her skin, and the flesh blisters. Screams fill the dungeon, and I do not glance up to see her face contorted in agony. The smell of burnt flesh is enough for me.

"STOP. PLEASE!"

Dragging the holy fire up her arm, the whole limb withers off. Tears of blood now fall from her face, and she grits her teeth. Finishing her off, her head falls off her body, turning to ash before it hits the wine-colored stained floors. Dunking the fire in the blood, the fire dwindles out, and I toss the stake to the side.

I walk out the metal door, and Nikolai goes in to clean up the mess. Looking up my bloodied hands, I clench my fists, and I run out of the death filled chambers. For justice. This is for justice.

A knock rings through my study, and wearily rub my eyes. Coralie barges in, and stomps in front of me. Her grey eyes are on fire and her mouth is set in a straight line. I place down my atlas, and she takes it from my hands, holding it defensively between us.

"I refuse to believe what the people are saying about you."

Running my hands through my hair, I sigh finally making eye contact with her.

"And what are they saying about me?"

Coralie stomps again, her eyes leveling me a cold glare. "Nothing. But witches are disappearing in the castle, Fallon. Stop killing the witches."

I do not deny her, and her whole demeanor changes. Coralie is a sharp girl. She would have figured out sooner or later. She worryingly looks me over, and I wave her off.

"Do not believe all of what they townspeople are saying. They are full of a ton of gossipers."

"Brother Fallon," Coralie says, and my fingers halt my unnecessary fidgeting. She rarely calls me that, and when she does it is full of disappointment. "Do not lie to me."

Spinning my chair around, I look out the wide windows. "Has it ever occurred to you, that maybe a witch poisoned Father, Coralie?"

She sighs and wrings her hands. "It has. I have thought of many scenarios. Over and over again. But that does not mean you have the right to go kill a species that may or may not have something to do with our father's illness."

I whip back around to scowl at her. When she coolly looks at me, I pause. Her shoulders are rigid, and she crosses her arms. I place my head in my hands, rubbing my face.

Most clues point at a magical ability. To have such a large dose of a rare, mutated vegetation is not seen every day. Witches have that knowledge. Someone possessing magic has poisoned my father.

Frowning at me, Coralie sets the atlas down on the desk. "I hope you figure something to atone your actions, Fallon."

As she is about to walk out, I call her name.

"What?"

My mouth closes and I grind my teeth to stop myself from saying something that would upset her. Coralie sadly smiles at me before leaving the room.