Hidden {28}

That lock... he recognised it.

It had the shape of his initials overlapped, smaller than a fingertip.

But what he couldn't figure out, was what on earth opened it?

That stupid key.

Prince Liam could never find it. In fact, he gave up, having to regretfully leave his mothers study with still so many unanswered questions...

Frustration was an understatement to how he was feeling, and to make matters worse, the funeral for his mother would be taking place tomorrow.

He sighed, a tug was pulling at his heart.

He just felt so heavy, having no one with him, being left, abandoned by all who cared for him.

Liam was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't even realise when he reached his chambers.

His arm outstretched for the handle when his mind pulled him back.

The castle he grew up in... his home...

crumbled under the darkness swarming inside it. It changed within such a small frame of time, as if it were slowly dying and called for help. He had noticed, felt it, and it was just becoming heavier and heavier.

Ever since that king graced through the corridors, they just grew darker, dimmer, and ultimately desolate...

He let out a shaky breath, concealing the disappointment lacing every step.

The handle was frozen solid, and the oak door, covered in indentations of glass shards.

More scars.

Liam cautiously opened the door, the handle ruff against his smooth hand, only to find his once beloved room in its ruined state.

He surveyed the damage, wincing as his boot scratched glass.

He forgot this happened... Another thing he held dear torn to shreds... literally.

But to Liam's dismay, he couldn't find it in him to care.

No strength left to hate; It only brought more pain.

So he just tiptoed incredibly carefully, avoiding the sharp edges, and lied upon his torn mattress in the center. The air surrounding him vanished as he struggled to breath under the weight of his life.

Wooden splinters glinted everywhere, ripped books with paper flailing in the wind's breeze from the window.

An empty frame that used to hold pristine glass, now, a hole that left him shattered.

The tuckered silk bedding was caressing his body as he lied to one side.

As he shifted, the weight of his body caused the unstable bed to groan.

His head fell limp against the pillow, and he begged for sleep to succumb him, to just remove the feeling of being alive for a few hours.

His fists scrunched the fabric beneath it and he brought it to his scrunched face.

A tear droplet stained its sheets, and Prince Liam who would be a Prince no more, wept in his damaged bed, cold and hollow, like his swollen heart.

The emotions swimming in his tears, running through his veins was enough for him to break. He could no longer hold it.

Everything was collapsing physically and mentally.

Soon to be a king- a coronation- it was all too much.

And tomorrow, he would say goodbye, and let go, to one of the most important things in his life...

His mother.

~

"How?" Zelek asked, face drawn with dread and hope all at once.

That is when Aloysia left his embrace, the cloak slipping off her shoulder and stood tall, eyes tracing the water beneath her.

"The Queen of the Southern kingdom, before her death-" her heart clenched, "told me I could be cured"

The sound of silence was just way too loud in his ears. Zelek remained shocked, frozen like stone. How did the Queen come into this?

"A way to remove it?" he repeated, a voice of curiosity.

She shook her head, "I don't know, she never told me how" Aloysia rubbed her arm. "Just that it's possible"

Zelek furrowed his eyebrows, "I would assume she mentioned the Creation stone?"

Aloysia nodded. Her face a true beauty, to which a few wild birds perched on the bushy branches ahead and watched, silently.

"But we both know that's been lost to the ages"

She sighed, turning her head to look at him.

What she did not expect was for his face to be scrunched, eyes focused to the ground as if trying to recall a memory.

Aloysia's interest peaked immediately, rushing to him and lifting his head to meet her eyes.

She took a breath, his crimson iris' were truly stunning, just like hers, and yet the pain creeping through was not nearly as much as herself.

"Tell me what you know brother"

He gulped, shaking his head in frustration as he began to pace between trees.

Aloysia immediately grabbed her cloak off the floor, it being warmed by the suns touch, and wrapped it around herself.

Zelek halted, the twigs crunching under him as his pacing was not helping.

"I remember mother used to talk about the eternal  stone, and its power, but I was too young to remember"

Aloysia's head dropped, her voice cracked as she spoke. "Do you remember anything, anything tied to the creation stone?"

He held her gaze. A thin, fine line that would snap any second.

His heart was racing at the frustration.

If what this Queen said was true, then he could help his sister for once, in a way that mattered.

"All I know is that the creation stone is half of its former- composed of pure energy. But with the war, and the trigger of it- we do not know of its history"

"It's all happened within the last two decades, we don't have nearly enough information on it as we need"

Time was slowing down for Aloysia, the feeling of hopelessness slowly digging its way to her soul. A silent tear dropped.

Zelek, on reflex, caught the tear, bringing it to his face. He let out a shaky breath and wiped the tear down his cheek from his eye as if to suggest he were crying. It stung his skin, but necessary to calm her, to share the pain.

Aloysia realised what he was doing, and tried to protest, but he held firm.

It was something he could do, a gift bestowed to him by the gods for having royal blood- taking half the pain by splitting its source, in this case, a single, solemn tear.

Zelek placed his forehead against the cloak of Aloysia's forehead, holding her tightly.

The forest was silent, as if an audience to the very scene unfolding.

One by one, emotion after emotion transferred from her mind to his. Like a living feeling of all the agonising pain she had fought her way though.

The emotions behind each image spluttered it's way through the connection, causing him to grunt.

It caused his heart to ache. Viewing the abuse, the suffering child who was tortured to no end. Self taught skills, if only to survive.

But only half.

Only half the burden she carried could he posses, could he see, could he feel.

It cried out to him, she cried out to him through the connection. He internally sobbed as the pain was too much to carry.

Zelek separated his head from hers, severing the connection.

Only a small word peeped from under her hood.

"You didn't have to do that Zelek" she pushed out.

"You know I want to help you to get rid of all your pain"

She recoiled slightly and smiled, one so sincere.

Zelek wiped away the stinging water from his face and pulled her into a hug. "Anything for you sister, I'd do anything"

She hugged back, being forever thankful to feel some pain released from her chest.

Ever since she was a child and Zelek had uncovered his 'talent' as they call it, he used it to help soldiers, victims, and his sister. It had always brought her so much relief, at the cost that Zelek would carry the pain too.

A gift and a curse.

Aloysia's heart was burning, she gripped him harder, needing to feel his support.

"The king is still looking for me" Aloysia spoke into his cloak, feeling the warmth it brought her, she nuzzled in further.

"I know, but I will never let him lay a finger on you ever again, I promise you, I vow it to you"

The happiness leaping inside Aloysia by that word could not be described, even with peril danger just round the corner, she had never felt so safe before.

The fact that someone gave a dam about her. That was enough.

"I would assume that Zillah for some reason cannot get to us, because of one reason or another." Aloysia grumbled, feeling Zelek shake slightly at the mention of her name. "Perhaps she was seen for longer than intended and had to stay away from us to not draw the soldiers here- We will get her back".

Zelek stiffened. "Even if we have to go to hell and back, I'll bare it, so don't you go all soppy on me" Aloysia joked, trying to ease the tension; bluffing to herself that she wasn't afraid. When she was.

And to her luck, Zelek chuckled slightly, separating from the embrace.

He felt colder without her holding him, but a plan was needed. That was priority.

"We have to set our priorities- we find Zillah and get the Liam out of-" Aloysia started but soon stopped at seeing her brother raise an eyebrow suggestively at the mention of the Prince.

Zelek looked at her wide eyed, but soon smirked.

She raised an eyebrow in response and giggled, softly slapping him on the arm.

"Not for that reason, you doof, get your head out of the gutters".

It was bliss. Bliss to laugh and joke with him once again, like they used to as kids. But it fell ill-fitting.

"I'm sorry for assuming things Aloysia, it's just that-" his words trailed off into a fit of laughter at Aloysia's annoyed face towards him.

If looks could kill, he would be dead, 6 feet under.

The wind fluttered around them, and the smell of damp bark hoisted it's way up their noses. Aloysia wanted to remember this moment. For a very long time.

She smiled at her brother, who was just coming back to his senses from laughing. She grasped his shoulder, squeezing it slightly.

He gasped in shock, swatting her hand away. "Aloysia-" his hands fell to his hips, "how could you?" he shouted sarcastically, rubbing his pinched shoulder.

Aloysia huffed and rolled her eyes at her childish brother.

"Alright, I'm listening" he mouthed, calming down quickly.

True to his word, he was listening attentively, with all jokes out to the side.

Good.

"As I was saying" she eyed him "we should also rescue the Prin- dont even try it Zelek" she slapped him again.

"Ahh I'm sorry" he laughed, "but I do know why"

Aloysia took a step back, arms crossed and gestured for him to elaborate, holding back a giggle.

He cleared his throat and began explaining "The Northern King from what I've heard wanted the marriage arrangement with the Southern Queen to gain ammunition in the south, to gain power, correct?"

She nodded, brushing her hair out of her face.

"Now that the Queen is dead, the kingdom now rests upon the Princes' shoulders-"

Before he could finish, Aloysia continued, "-so what's to stop the king from killing the Prince to gain the throne?" she paused, "absolutely nothing"

"The Prince is his new target, other than me, the quicker we can get to the palace and get him out, the better"

Zelek reached for her hand as she turned away.

"Are you sure you want to go back there so soon?" he asked. Concern lacing every word. Through his connection he could feel the pain of returning there, of the Queen, and friend that she lost.

"I have you" she replied.

His heart warmed at the sincerity of her voice. It was music to his ears.

"And I want to undo every twisted plan that psycho lunatic has planned"

He released her smooth hand, draping his hood over his face, the assassin training kicking in.

"In that case" he stood by her side, "what are we waiting for?"

The forest howled. Animals, birds alike all bowed to their power.

She turned to him. "Let's gets some food first, then the ass kicking"

He smiled.

"Ready?" He growled, fuelled with adrenaline.

Aloysia's grin was half feral.

"Ready"