Disappearances on Unity Road.

"And how did it go this time?" Mother asked my sister while arranging the books on her study desk.

"Horrible! How could I lose? To him? Again?! It's beyond unfair!"

"But not surprising..."

"What was that?" Freya faced me now.

"I said soooo surprising!" I answered with fake enthusiasm.

It's no surprise that she lost another race against Alex. Ever since she heard him bragging about his horseracing skills, they've been at it to determine the better racer. And in all two years past, Alex has reigned as the champion.

We had returned from Asïgos a month ago, but because mother wasn't around when we got back, she only asked how it went now. This leading to Freya giving her an earful.

For me, it's been really nice. May is really nice. The thought of seeing her again spread a nice warm feeling through me. I was...fond of her.

"Fernando? Is something the matter?" Mother turned her face towards me with worry.

"I'm fine mother. We should be getting ready to welcome the Bultez family."

"Right." Freya hopped off the desk.

"I'll be right down." Mother said as we walked out the door.

"You were thinking about May weren't you."

"Yeah. I was. I'm... excited to see her again." I said.

"You are too honest." She chuckled to herself as we went down the stairs.

"Well what about you and Alex?"

"Alexander?" She paused, then laughed. "He is my rival. And one day, I will be victorious, thereby crushing him, and never giving him reason to look down on me again." She finished her monologue with clenched fists, and eyes burning with determination.

But Alex is naturally taller than her though...

"Whatever. Let's just get downstairs. The Bultezs should be arriving shortly." I dismissed as we walked into the entrance hall.

Father was at a table looking through a stack of letters. We greeted him, but he hardly noticed us, as his face continued to contort into an expression of worry.

"Father?" Freya called a little louder this time. He looked up and realised we were actually in the room.

"Oh, forgive me children. Did you sleep well?"

"Yes."

"Well that's good to hear then." He let out a strained laugh before skimming through the letters again.

"Is something wrong? Where are those from?" I asked, pulling out a seat beside him.

"I honestly can't say. These are from the city, several reports, complaints..." He stopped on a certain one and his eyebrows knit together again as he studied it.

"What kind of complaints?" Freya was now seated on the other side of father.

"That is what I'm trying to piece together. It's all quite confusing... But all of them are linked. Each having something to do with disappearances in-"

The sound of the gates opening interrupted him. His eyes grew wide as he suddenly dropped all of the letters and ordered a servant to take them to his study. He pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed away at the gathering sweat on his forehead.

"The Bultezs are here. Come on, let's go receive them."

I looked at the huge grandfather clock that stood against the wall.

Eleven thirty-five... They're early.

Once outside, and my mother joined us, we saw their carriage pull into the courtyard.

As our parents exchanged greetings, I wondered what was in those letters to upset father so much.

Alex stepped out of the carriage and I gave a little wave. Freya had her arms crossed in front of her, while she narrowed her gaze at him. He scoffed at her.

At least they had something in common.

As soon as May stepped out, I grinned like an idiot, and familiar excitement coursed throughout my body. I missed her.

Just when I thought I couldn't be anymore idiotic, she smiled back, and my legs automatically began moving, pulling the rest of me with them.

"Hey..." I said when I stood in front of her.

"Hi..."

Awkward silence filled the air around us, and I struggled to find something to say.

"Uh... you look great." I finally managed to get out.

"Thank you. And you look really good too."

I let out a nervous laugh, while scratching the back of my head.

"Oh wait. Shouldn't do that anymore."

"I never said you shouldn't." She chuckled. "I just don't want to catch anything in case you have something." She gestured to her own head, pretending to scratch it.

Father ushered everyone inside. While he and King Richard engaged in a heated conversation at the far end of the hall, Queen Halete and mother talked at the table.

"But my hair is clean. Honest!" I argued, as I walked beside May.

"And I believe you. Honest! But the moment I feel an irregularity in my hair, I will put the blame on you." She warned playfully. Well actually, I took it a bit seriously, because I know no one wants hair problems.

I spied my sister and Alex, having an quiet argument about something.

"...is not so appealing to me anymore. I do like to ride into the city every once in a while, but racing? Not for now." He shrugged. My sister looked terribly confused.

"Then what do you suggest?"

I saw his eyes flash with excitement, then a cunning grin formed on his face. "How about chess?"

"Chess? Why?"

"Because it's fun! It's exciting! And it requires our individual, intellectual strengths. Plus it is the ultimate winner-takes-all match you've been looking for!" He raised his eyebrows in anticipation of her answer.

"No. Pick something else." She said in a flat tone.

"Why?"

"Just pick another." She folded her arms and turned away from him.

He looked genuinely at loss for words for a moment, then he smiled. "Wait a minute..." He stepped in front of her.

"You," He pointed in her face "Don't know how to play chess, do you?"

"I may or may not have full knowledge of it. Yet."

"Ha!" Alex wheezed out while clutching his stomach. Freya's face became slightly more red.

"They are very interesting to watch." May suddenly stated beside me.

"Very." I nodded.

"Fine. You can just play by yourself." She started walking away, but once again, Alex stood in front of her.

"Okay okay. I'll teach you. Then we play."

"Are you saying that I can't acquire the knowledge of this game by myself?"

I turned my focus away from them. Their squabbles were all things opposite of reasonable. But interesting at the same time. How do they do that?

"Our parents are quite immersed in what they're discussing."

"Yeah, my father got a lot of complaints this morning."

"About what?" She asked smiling at the duo leaving the room.

"Um, something about disappearances... He didn't finish."

May's eyes doubled in size, her mouth open, as she turned to me.

Shima: Ha! Eyes? Size? Gotta love that. Please don't forget to rate and vote! Love ya!

"What?" I asked.

"Did he say anything about where they happened?"

"Well that's exactly where he stopped." I shrugged.

She looked past me to where, our fathers stood. Now Father had a few letters in his hand, gesturing wildly between them and himself. King Richard, was in deep thought as he listened to my father.

"We... We have also gotten reports of missing people..."

"Huh?"

"Along Unity Road. After Alex's birthday last year. When you left, a family of merchants requested audience with my father. They told him they had been attacked..."

"By who?" My attention on this matter grew bigger.

"I'm sorry. Father didn't want to raise too much alarm... He's gone with several search parties, but the people still haven't been found. We tried to get him to call a meeting with the other rulers and discuss what they were going to do but..."

She released a shaky breath, as her eyes darted left to right, panic evident in them. She clutched her left arm with her right hand. All of a sudden, she was a nervous wreck.

"Come on."

I led her to the lecture room, where Alex and Freya had their eyes on the checkered board between them. They refused to look up when we entered, but each gave a small nod.

"Guys you have to stop that for a bit." I left May's side, and stood in front of their board.

"Not now Fern. I'm acquiring knowledge."

"Yeah, and I'm giving out knowledge." He took a white piece and replaced it with a black one.

"Alex." May called from the doorway, to which he immediately raised his head and looked at her. "It's happening here too. The missing people."

He became alert and stood up. "What? The attacks too?"

"He didn't say. My father that is." I answered for her. "And I'm not sure if these 'attacks' happened along Unity Road but I know a lot of people have sent in complaints."

"Then it won't be long before they request to complain in person." He said and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm sorry. We're sorry."

"Think that's what they're talking about downstairs?" Freya turned in her seat.

"Probably. Why didn't you try to contact us?" I asked Alex.

"The attacks seemed to be more focused on citizens of Cyria and Asïgos. People that claimed to-"

"Hold up. These attacks. By who exactly?"

"That's one of the things we don't know." He ran a hand through his hair and leaned on the table. "What we do know is that the attacks are more focused on citizens of Cyria and Asïgos. Those that claimed to be travelling with citizens from any other kingdom said they were spared. All descriptions of the attacks are abstract and lead to nowhere. It's not a who. It's an it."

"They weren't robbed. Just taken. Soon the attacks stopped, but we were still searching for the people who were kidnapped." May moved further into the room.

"Which made it more of an 'us' problem than an 'all the kingdoms' problem."

"Well you could have mentioned something at least!" Freya frowned and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

He pressed his lips together. May kept her head low.

"What do you think they're going to do about all this? There are actual people who don't know where their loved ones are!" Freya spoke up again. Before I could make a suggestion, a knock from the door stopped me.

Everyone tensed up. I decided to open the door, where a servant stood. He cleared his throat, and said, "Your highnesses. King Richard and Queen Halete are leaving, and they request that you come down to bid them goodbye."

I looked to Alex and May.

"We'll be right down. Thank you." He said. The servant bowed and left.

"Let's go then." Freya stood up and straightened her gown.

We filed into the entrance hall where our parents stood with grim faces. The Bultezs talked between themselves while, our parents called us closer.

"I assume you are wondering about those letters I received today, yes?"

"We... might know a bit more now." Freya glanced over at the Bultez children. Father sighed and rubbed his forehead.

"Then I appreciate you telling me the truth. As a father and a king I believe you aren't too young to know what is happening in your kingdom." He paused looking to King Richard and his wife, then back to us. "I need to get to the square now. This matter is too urgent to be left till tomorrow."

With that, the Bultezs shared their goodbyes and left. Father readied a horse and an escort of guards, heading into the city.

"You all may continue your activities. I have to be ready to receive a messenger from Asïgos." Mother broke the silence they left behind. "It's just twelve o'clock, so you've got a whole afternoon ahead of you."

"Won't they have to take Unity Road?" There's no way that road is safe now."

"That's the same thing I asked." She smiled at me. "However, king Richard said the messenger wouldn't be walking? I suppose it's a messenger bird or something." She shrugged before heading to her study.

"Messenger bird?" I turned to Alex.

"Well it's not really a bird per se... And it's hard to explain. You guys will understand once you see him."

I hummed.

"I believe we were playing a round of chess." Freya said while absentmindedly dusting her gown. Alex rolled his eyes.

"Let's go." They left. Now it was just me and May.

"You know, I've never gotten the chance to show you the workshop. May?"

She looked at me, still distressed.

"Hey..." I called gently as I placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Fern, if I ever realised that Alex, Freya or you were missing, I... I don't know what I would do. What I wouldn't do. I would-"

"Hey!" She stopped talking. "I... can't tell you everything's going to be fine. Because I don't know if everything's going to be fine. But, I do know that right now, overworrying won't help anyone. Except you're looking to get a headache?"

She shook her head.

"Then try to cheer up. Okay? Come on, I'll take you to the workshop."

She took a deep breath, then smiled just a bit. "Okay."

As we walked May suddenly perked up. "Didn't you say you met that friend of yours at the workshop?"

"Yes I did. Devin is a mental case. But you'll get use to him. I hope."

°°°°°•••••°°°°°•••••°°°°°

Somewhere along the road that connected the three empires, another caravan had been ravaged, it's goods scattered across the gravelly road. Inside the forest that stood on one side of the road, several screams could be heard.

In a clearing, a group of five cowered in fear against eachother. Two men, two women and young girl.

"Please! Spare us! You can take all the goods but please spare us!" The older of the women cried while tending the dislocated arm from the ambush.

Hidden between the trees, rugged, unshapely shadows surrounded them. Watching them. Waiting for their next order.

From amongst the shadows, a scraggly, but well built man walked over to the frightened group. One arm was fastened to his chest, holding a leather-back book. His black hair that had grey streaks in it was cascading down his back. A few more locks dangled in front of his face. His beard that resembled his unkept hair amplified his hard and emotionless expression. Despite his back being hunched over, he still appeared so big. This left much to be feared if he decided to straighten up.

His body jerked like a puppet on strings, as he walked and stood before his captives. He stared at them with eyes that had glossed over with cataract. His heavy breathing the only thing being heard throughout the forest. The girl held unto the older woman tighter.

Suddenly, the book began to vibrate and dark smoke seeped out from it's closed page into the man's nose. No sooner had he breathed the smoke in did he turn his head towards the girl.

"Whaattt... empiiiiire...... aarrrrrre.... youuu.... frooomm?" His deep, hoarse voice, spoke slow words, as if being controlled and given the gift of speech for the very first time in his life.

When no one answered, the book produced more black smoke, which the man inhaled once again. In a split second he had brought down his leg on the girls ankle, twisting it in an unnatural angle.

"An...swer meeee...."

Shima: Is anyone gonna applaud my ankle angle rhyme or what?

Forgive me for being on fire tonight!!!

No? Not the time? Alright you can applaud later.

The girl screamed and held her ankle in pain. Hot tears immediately ran down her face.

"The Silver Empire! We're from the Silver Empire!" One of the men yelled frantically.

"....Whaaat... king...dooom...?"

"Turiehn! I-it's Turiehn!"

He nodded slowly, letting out a sound that was a cross between a sigh and a growl. Once again, the man had moved so fast that no-one knew what had transpired, until they saw the girl being dragged away by her hair. Her mother acted on first instinct to go after her daughter, but the man who had spoken earlier held her back. She could only watch her daughter writhe in pain.

"Let me go! Please! Please!"

All at once the shadows moved, to surround the group of four, completely covering them from the girl's sight. "STOP!" The girl sobbed. And at once the man stopped mid-motion, but his grip on her hair was still firm.

The girl looked up and wondered if he had actually decided to listen to her. But the sound of his heavy inhalation sent fear into her heart.

"Ussssse....theeem. All... of... theeem."

That single order ensured that that would be the last time the girl saw her family as they were consumed by the shadows.

"No! Mother! Father!" She cried. "What did you do to them! Let them go!"

The man raised her up off the ground, she held a bit of her hair to stop the searing pain in her scalp. Without a word, he dropped her to the ground, brought forth a knife whilst she struggled to her one good foot, and slashed at her inner forearm. Not so deep but enough to draw blood.

She hissed as the red fluid dripped to the floor, into the earth and......

Nothing happened.

The man growled more audibly, it could have been mistaken for a wild animal passing by. He turned away from the girl, leaving her confused for just five seconds before she took off limping.

Not far enough, she fell to the ground, where the shadows continued to devour her family. Somehow, she caught a glimpse of a face. Her mother's now deformed face.

"Mother..." She whispered. But only received the silence a dead body could give.

Something ice cold latched onto her leg and pulled her back to the man. When she turned her head to look, she saw a shadow looming over her. It was waiting for a command. She desperately tried to crawl away, but remained in the same spot.

While trying to escape, she didn't see the nod. The wordless affirmation given by the man.

The shadow immediately settled onto her body with a gentleness that rivalled the indescribable pain she felt once it did.

She opened her mouth in a silent scream, before being fully consumed.