Chapter 2

Knowing that I would be questioned about the trouble in the entrance ceremony, I brought him to the throne room where Father was waiting. We passed through the flashy doors – opened by his serving ladies to reveal the mighty and powerful man seated in his flashy as-ever throne. He held no expression as we entered the room and bowed in respect.

The Chief was huge – towering over six feet with broad shoulders and a powerful body frame. He was as handsome as one would dare to describe and compare – flawless and fairest skin with a pair of ever-changing eyes. His power could be sensed from miles away, and I am always taken aback by his prowess.

Such a being was the Creator of the Universe.

"This monkey has breached the sacred treehouses," I said, eyeing the raging creature with disdain and trying to reign in my annoyance. "He has consumed almost all of the peaches and disrupted the ceremony. However, rest assured that the candidates will receive their peaches as proimised."

The Chief's expression did not change as he disabled the bubble, letting the monkey drop to the ground. He glanced down at the monkey. There was a hint of interest in those dark orbs as he scanned the unfortunate creature. I knew what he saw, and I feigned innocence when he looked at me. 

"Aren't the treehouses under your charge, Athena?" he asked.

His voice cut deep into my pride. "No one in the right state of mind would even breach our grounds, Father," I pointed out as calmly as I could. "You can't possibly –"

"I'm afraid I can," he interrupts slowly as he signaled to one of his right-hand men, and he came forth bearing a large black box with gold etchings on it. "He's your problem now. You will take care of him and ensure he is controlled."

"But Father, he does not belong here."

That black box contains a component that's able to force even the most stubborn individual into submission. It was a vile thing. I stared at the box, knowing of its vile contents, and glanced down at the writhing poor soul whose fate had been sealed the moment he consumed the peaches.

I hated how this was developing into.

"Father, please," I said. "There has to be another way."

He gave me little choice. I had to own up to my mistake – the lapse of security was on my shoulders. This so-called punishment had to be meted out – according to the rules. Curse, those rules! Those rules allow the three realms to function without a problem, I mused. But this involves someone else's will!

I was torn between duty and pity.

The Chief of Heaven got up from his mighty throne and took the golden item from the box, muttering a powerful spell under his breath, successfully activating it. Only He creates such a vile thing to be used. I watched as the unassuming item turned into a golden wreath – a crown of sorts and it floated over towards me.

The monkey noticed what was happening and moved nearer – his eyes were glued to the golden crown as it was passed over to me. He stopped struggling with his bonds and decided to pay attention. "Is that for me?" he asked but fell on deaf ears. It floated lightly above my hand, and I glanced over at the pitiful fellow. 

"Do it, Athena," the Chief ordered.

Setting aside my pity, I initiated the spell and activated it – branding with my own magic before watching it float idly to the monkey. The crown set itself on the head, tightening until it fits around the cranium comfortably. It won't be comfortable the next time he does something stupid, I mused.

"Does it look nice on me?" he asked.

I sighed and initiated the crown. He looked confused when I didn't reply to him and then realization dawned on his face when the crown ended up being a bane instead. A scream of pain left his lips as he thrashed around on the floor so I encased him in a bubble – blocking out the noise before sending him back to my chambers.

The golden crown had the ability to bring forth decades worth of pain, terror and guilt of one self and use them against the wearer. It was a vile object and one I detested the most. I tried my hardest to keep my face passive and not look inside the bubble where he was thrashing in pain.

"I will take my leave, Father," I said.

"Keep an eye on him, Athena."

I bowed respectfully to him before I left the throne room, taking a right turn and meeting my younger brother – Damon who had been waiting for me by the corridor. He did not look too pleased either – he would know of the interruption in the ceremony and he must've seen the monkey wrapped in a bubble floating away.

"Hey Damon," I greeted as he joined me on my walk back to my estate.

The younger brother who was a few hundred years younger than I was but taller and bigger than me in size seemed to be deep in thought. It was a rare phenomenon. He's usually a noisy talker and hyperactive. He must've rushed over from his duties to see what the commotion was. But he was not the type to be nosy when Father was involved.

"Another problem on your hands, sis."

I tried my hardest not to let out a sigh. "Do not remind me," I muttered. "The sacred thousand-year ceremony ruined by that damned monkey. My flawless record has been ruined."

"How did Father take it?"

"Pleasantly," I replied as I made a face. "I got myself a new servant."

He snickered, knowing how I detested having servants. I hated binding their freedoms to me. All of those who worked under me are not considered servants, they were deemed as staff with a wage and a room each. They were treated as one should – with dignity and respect. And this was met with scorn by the rest of the Royal Court.

Like I cared.

"You got yourself a lively one."

"Aren't you busy with your work?" I asked in disdain. I had enough trouble on my plate right now, and to have the little brother gloating at my displeasure was not how I wanted things to happen today.

"I just want to see for myself what kind of creature it is."

I sighed.

We passed by the large opened square – exiting the Palace grounds and entered the chambers of the residents working here. The guards bowed in respect as soon as they saw us walking and we took the left-most corridor where it would lead us eventually to my chambers.

Since I had a large staff headcount, my estate was situated at the farthest corner and I had ensured that the entire place was protected, assuring my staff and my Court Ladies that nothing will happen to them while they were asleep – so that they could rest easy knowing that they are protected from harm.

The doors opened just in time to witness a raging monkey tearing apart the front yard – scooping the harmless koi fishes from the pond and throwing them back, scuffing the wooden bridge as it ran past as well pulling out chunks of grass. The monkey was yelling and screaming a range of languages - rolling here and there like a madman.

It was mayhem.

Damon and I stood there by the entrance – wearing different expressions on our faces. He was mildly amused while I was speechless.

My precious garden!

The staff working at the garden were busy attempting to reign him in – using all sorts of known and unknown methods to calm him down but it was futile as he was akin to a wild animal. He continued on his rampage - now aiming for the trees and flowers in the garden that I knew my staff had painstakingly cared for.

"Nice," Damon commented.

That annoyed me even further.

I waved a hand – encasing the monkey in a bubble that made him float off the ground to stop him from damaging my front yard even further. His yells and screams were muted thanks to the bubble and I initiated another spell to restore the yard to its former glory – within a few minutes, my beautiful front yard returned.

The bubble floated close. His angry, red face was all I could see in the writhing mess. I was tempted to make the bubble even smaller to stop him from bucking around. "Don't make me use the crown," I warned. He could hear me very well. "I can make it hurt. I can make it painful. Calm down, you damned monkey."

Hearing my statement, he stopped his raging acts and went down on all fours. His eyes went wide - with fear of the incoming pain. I knew the crown had hurt him and I didn't want to use that to make him submit to me. Sighing, I released him from the encased bubble and he dropped to the ground lightly.

The monkey stood up. He was dressed shabbily - his clothes were unknown as I do not recognise the make. He looked like he had travelled for far too long and had not rested properly. The monkey was tall, muscular and a big idiot. However, he does not belong here. He needs to be ejected from this place immediately.

I don't understand why Father chose to keep him here.

I have many questions to ask. 

"What are you?" Damon asked first.

"I am Aidan Shafiq," he said.