Another warning

Fiona was awoken by the hand which stroked her hair and the slight peck on her forehead.

She opened her eyes, to see Emperor Tyran staring down at her.Now able to see, though her eyesight was still blurry she could still make out his features.

She felt her head throbbing,her whole body numb and felt pain all over.

She was still alive,but how?

Fiona tried to recall how as she strained to see Tyran clearly.

The poison had caused most of her organs to rupture and although the healers had revived her,she was told she wouldn't last the night.

But she was most grateful the healers had bought her some time to see her son and her beloved husband.Her beloved husband who had not been there for her through the whole ordeal.

Having waited hours for him,she had fallen asleep and here he was.

He had always been busy with anything other than that which was family related.

She knew of his indubitable love for her and the fact he was Emperor was more than enough for his busy schedule but she didn't know why she always felt enraged anytime he showed up.

If only he knew the hell she had just gone through one whose flames would have been more easier to pass through with him by her side.

The Emperor's eyes remained fixed on her,still stroking her hair.The only woman he had ever loved and perhaps would ever.

He was exactly six feet tall with broad shoulders and heavily built with a body befitting for a supreme ruler.

His short black hair swept across his neck almost covered his long protruding ears and some swept across his face.

He had grey eyes which carried an intense sage look in them,it always did.He was still dressed in royal robes and his crown titled to one side of his head looked as though it would fall off any moment.

His huge black wings which relapsed a bit though still projecting from his back now touched the marble floor.

Fiona averted her gaze and stared at the wall straight ahead not saying a word.

Her face was pale and in her eyes now red was a look of both grief and anger.

The unhappy expression on her face was one Tyran couldn't ignore.He hated seeing her this way,hated getting her upset but sometimes it was beyond his power.

He was an Emperor who ruled over six kingdoms of the realm who almost every moment was busy with official duties.

The reality of him not giving her the much attention she needed was one he couldn't change.

Her sadness was no doubt contagious to him and seeing her this way aroused a similar feeling in him.It hurt him.

"My love,am sorry I was_"

"You are always sorry your majesty.Always are...where have you been today of all...."

She paused and broke into tears.

Tyran's huge wings sunk slowly into his back before he sat next to her.Then he wiped the liquid off her face with his hands.

Seeing her this way broke him.

He slowly pulled her into a hug.

"My love don't be upset.I promise I'll make it up to you.I really could have been here bu..but_"

"It's too late for that"Fiona cut in again.

He released her from the hug and looking into her eyes he asked,

"What do you mean?"

Fiona didn't respond,instead she averted her gaze and glanced over at her son who slept in a tiny bed next to hers,a child she would give the world for.

Just as she had thought before he was born,he was unusual.

Fiona had never seen a baby born with grey hair and he even smelled different.

It wasn't a human smell it was something eerie.She couldn't help but at the aura coming from him.An aura rather pure than demonic.

He wasn't like them but she didn't know what he was either.

Emperor Tyran followed her gaze and his eyes settled on the child but he did not approach him

"His name is Ramses"Fiona said turning her face back to Tyran and expecting him to say something about the child but he didn't.

He just stared,his face expressionless that Fiona couldn't tell what he was thinking.

Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the sorceress who flew in through the large window she had left open for the Emperor, because he always loved using the window to see her.

Fiona and Tyran stared at Sheba,a royal sorceror and one of the most popular sorceror of the realm.

Her rainment was black all over, concealing her skin from view,except her face and hands through which very long black nails protruded.Her wings trailed behind her as she walked towards them, scanning the entire room.

She was in her forties,about the same age as Tyran but her appearance showed nothing of it due to the endless spells she used to maintain a vernal appearance.

Her gaze shifted from the Emperor to Fiona then settled on the child beside her.She stopped and pointed at it.

"We must kill that child".she said

Her voice though hoarse was feminine and carried an unwavering measure of authority.

Tyran leapt to his feet so quickly his crown almost fell of his head.

Her words had cut through him like a butcher's knife cutting beaf.

"Sheba how dare you get in here unannounced to say such despicable thing!"he barked.

Sheba ignored him, glaring at the child.

In Delvin sorcerers where highly respected and feared by everyone in the realm except Emperor.

They choose rulers,predicted the future and even crowned the Emperor.

Sheba's presence had always irritated Tyran.Ever since he knew her she never brought good news and her barging into Fiona's ward had made him want to Slash off her throat with his sword.

He had always wanted to do that, always imagined doing that but was unable to.

Killing sorcerers was more or less a sacrilege except with unshaken evidence then would they be judged and tried in their own court in sorceror City.

"We must kill it"she repeated, pointing a finger at the child then she turned to Tyran.

"Will you choose a million life over just one?"

"A fool you are indeed Sheba,I won't let you harm my son"Tyran said.

He was getting impatient right now,his hand itchy to let his sword taste flesh.

"I warned you,you didn't listen now you see for yourself and yet still don't correct your error.Now I didn't know how much of a dolt u are until now Emperor now I_"

"Watch your mouth!"Tyran retorted,his brows furrowed in rage.

He pulled out his sword and stormed towards her.

"I care nothing of who you are or what you are but your disrespect toward me will not be tolerated.You will leave and say no more".

He pointed his sword at her,it's sharp pointed tip almost touching her neck.

Sheba took few steps backwards and shook her head.

"Destruction inevitable commeth and in such path will we all walk being led blindly by one who choose this path for us.And when he chooses fate itself will bow to his existence for his existence is destruction to our kind.Blindfolded will we all walk this path in which hailstones of destruction and darkness".She paused.

When Tyran didn't move towards her she continued.

"Only time can rescue us and prevent him from befriending fate.But time itself is a friend of no one and can only prevent this for the period it chooses that is but a decade from now".

Sheba's gave Fiona a quick menacing look one more time.

Then her huge wings engulfed her along with a thick dark cloud and as she vanished,her final words echoed in the room.

"Your majesty,there will be no need to seek a cure if an ailment had been prevented but when the time comes we will seek one and find none".

As Sheba left,the room fell silent once again each pondering on what she had said.

A candle stood next to Fiona's bed.It flickered in the now darkened room, casting shadows of its contents on surrounding surfaces.

The candle lightened up only the portion of the room where Fiona's bed lay, leaving other parts submerged in the darkness.

Some one stood behind the door listening as the knights outside,now in a deep sleep both lay at his feet.

He had cast a spell on them and had heard all what was said.

Having heard enough, he vanished and the knights were awoken immediately,both befuddled at how they found themselves on the ground.

Fiona stared the Emperor, letting Sheba's words sink in.

The sorceress's voice rephrased in her head as she thought through every word she had said.

Sheba had mentioned her son being an agent of destruction,how could something so pure bring destruction she could not have possibly borne a murder and what destruction?

Tyran still stood facing the same spot the sorceress had stood, probably taking in her words as well.

Fiona knew too well Tyran could perceive his son's aura and smell but had said nothing earlier,nor had he shown any look of stupefaction.

He definitely knew something and wasn't telling her.

"Is there something you're not telling me?"

Emperor Tyran turned to face her.

"What do you mean?"

"The sorceress...she spoke of a warning what warning did she give you?"

Tyran kept a straight face, expressionless as usual.

Fiona had never been able to read him.She waited for him to speak but instead a smile spread across his lips.

"My love you can't possibly believe Sheba you know she always spits claptrap_"

"Nevermind!"Fiona cut in and looked away.she decided to let it go.What was she thinking.The husband before her was not going to tell her anything.His secretive and reticent nature wouldn't let him do so.

He would argue the whole conversation with some concocted fabricated story and might as well end up convincing her, letting her discard her doubts.

What was he hiding and why?

Whatever it is wasn't important to her now anyway.

She was to weak to argue.With her blurry eyesight she struggled to act normal to keep Tyran from noticing.

He would go insane if he knew she was dying, making fruitless efforts to save her.

His efforts she knew towards saving her would only turn out futile.

She eyed him grizzidly as he slowly took his seat beside her on the bed.

He stroked her face gently while looking into her eyes.

"Whatever our son is, nothing will happen to him and no one will take him away from us.I swear this on my blood my love"

He had this deep look in his eyes,in it a mixture of care and certainty.

The eyes of the Tyran she always knew,the Tyran she always loved and cherished.

This would be the last time she would feel his skin against hers.

He had always kept his word ever since she knew him with that she was most certain he would Keep her son safe.

She felt relieved leaving him in the hands of Tyran, her Tyran,she smiled at the thought.

The Emperor leaned towards her and kissed her softly.

His lips against hers made tears leak out from her eyes.

This,what she wished for finally coming true.

One last moment with the people she loved.

Tyran drew away and eyed her quizzedly.

"Why those tears my love?"he asked wiping them with his hands.

He always did that whenever he made her cry.

Fiona managed a smile and held the hand on her face.

"It's nothing,am just glad to see you again"

"I love you" she said,her voice now Shakey.

Tyran could feel her cold hands but couldn't understand why the where that way.

With his little experience with women,he couldn't tell he was loosing his wife and attributed it to probably be due to labour.

He had observed her struggling to move every part of her body including the hand she had just raised.They were stiff as she tried to raised them.

Also,the dizziness in her eyes,he watched as she fought to keep them open still wearing a weak smile.

She wasn't acting it but he was sure something was wrong with her.

Fiona quickly followed his eyes,she noticed he was watching her closely and said,

"My love am just stressed out and sleepy,been through a lot in your absence,you should give me sometime to rest soon".

Her words quenched his suspicions immediately.

He was right,she was weak from giving birth.

She had probably been through a hard time and he wasn't so proud of himself for not being there for her.

"I can heal you,would help reduce the pain"

"No it's not about pains now,I just need some rest".Tyran nodded and for a brief moment,he watched his son who still slept soundly in his tiny craddle.

He would be back in a few hours to check on both of them probably by then Fiona would return to her usual energetic self.

He arose and kissed her then turned to leave.

Tyran walked towards the door, something unusual for him to do.

He could have easily used the window he came in through but for some reason he wanted to use the door this time.

Tyran reached for the door knob but instead it turned on its own and the door swug open immediately.

Carolene came in dressed in her usual wine colored palace gown with an apron over it.

She carried a bronze tray with a white change of clothes and a towel on it.

Tyran recognized her,the Empress personal maid.

Carolene curtsied,walked towards Fiona's bed and dropped it on a table next to her.

As she turned to Fiona her face turned pale as if she would burst into tears but she held it back.

She nodded to the Emperess who smiled in return and closed her eyes then she walked towards the Emperor, curtsied again, bowing her head and at the same time avoiding eye contact with him.

She took another quick bow,then left the room.

Emperor Tyran watched her go.

He Wondered how much she knew.

No one had entered the room in his presence except her and for her coming this close to his son she must have known he was unusual.

He would have to get rid of her before words gets out.

Tyran streched out his index finger towards Fiona and chanted a spell for a barrier around her then he opened the door,took one last glance at Fiona, before shutting it.

Before he left,he thought he saw tears trickle down her face, though he could hardly make out what he saw in the darkness.

He instructed the knights outside not to let anyone into the room then he would wait in his carriage till she got better then take her with him.She wasn't safe here and neither was his child.

Tyran walked down the hallway,one hand under his jaw and the other wrapped around his abdomen as his mind recollected Sheba's words.

Nothing seemed right, nothing was ok.

Sheba and other sorcerers had warned against his marrying Fiona for she was cursed and Sheba's prophecy had foretold his seed through her ending their race.

There were so many questions unanswered and maybe destined to be forever unanswered questions he had.

He had asked Sheba severally why he couldn't marry Fiona but she had only responded.

"It all begins with you and may end with your seed.Your decisions would influence and determine the future of the entire realm".

Those sorcerers and their parables,he hated the fact they barely ever spoke a plain prophecy.

What had she meant by that?the coming destruction she spoke of.

He knew his son wasn't a full Demon but was something else that he didn't know about nor had he seen before.

Except for his son's grey hair,he child had a similar similitude to theirs but the aura around him was beyond eerie and his energy was rather pure than demonic,not like a human's but something mixed.

Whatever his son was,he would protect him at all cost and destroy anything or anyone that gets in his way including Sheba.

His son wasn't evil,that was enough reason to protect him and getting to choose between him and their race wasn't a thought he would let spring up in him.

If purity would cause their doom,then it was their destiny but Tyran neither believed in prophesies.

How could a creature full of light draw doom's attention.

He had always thought Sheba to be crazy and would never let her words get to his most especially one such as his son being a harbinger of destruction.

Tyran discarded the thought,waving his hand in the darkness.

Tyran tripped over something and lit a flame in his hand to check what it was.

Only then had he realized he had been walking in darkness.

It was an old waiting seat.It was placed out of order,almost at the center of the hallway.

The Emperor sighed and pulled it to a corner.

Raising his head from the seat,Tyran thought he saw a masculine figure up ahead.

Immediately,the person him he drew back behind the walls up ahead.

Tyran stared in the direction for a while,wondering why he didn't smell a demon around him earlier unless this person had masked his scent with fripju lily.

But why would a worker here consider using fripju lily.

"You there!"he called out but there came no response.

"I know you are there,so come out!"

When the person made no move to reveal himself and Tyran heard no footsteps,he walking towards him.

Then he heard footsteps,the person took off.

Tyran could hear the person's heavy footsteps as he flew down a flight of spiral stirs fleeing from the treat he had just saw.

Now Tyran was most certain it was no health worker.

He vanished and appeared Infront of the intruder.

In this floor of the building there were few lampstands plastered to the wall which did little help of illuminating the place but Tyran could see the shocked look in his eyes.

He was dressed in black clothes throughout and his face was covered with a mask that exposed his eyes. He looked at the Emperor as though he had seen a ghost.

Tyran could already hear him trembling,he felt his fear.

"I ask again and for the last time,who_are_you?"he queried,his brows now raised in rage.

The person immediately threw a small container in the air, releasing a gas which Tyran thought was poisonous and took off again.The Emperor took few steps backwards and covered his nose with the long sleeve of his robe.

Does he think this gas can kill me? pathetic!

he thought.

He could still hear the intruder running down the hallway,then down the stairs.

The Emperor summoned a large amount of air around him which dispersed the poisonous gas.

Tyran listened,the footsteps had stopped.

"You think you an run from me!"he yelled out.

He followed the direction he had heard it and went down the stairs.When he reached the floor below he checked all corners and even some open wards but found no one.

The entire hallway reeked of the smell of corpses.

The intruder had hidden himself well and among the dead making it difficult to trace his smell.

Now he could only rely on his sense of hearing and of course soul sight.Placing his palm on the ground and summoned a magic spell as his eyes glowed with a golden light.

Tyran could now see eyery part of the floor and every room.

They were all filled with the dead,there was not a single living soul but still he decided on following his instinct unable to shake off a lingering feeling in him that the person had come this way and was hiding somewhere on this floor.

The masked person meanwhile stayed hidden among a collection of corpses each lying on a bronze bed ,listening as the Emperor's footsteps approached him,

He had taken out a bed from the nearby storage room and lain on it, pulling the sheets over just as it was placed on the corpses around him.

He tried as much as he could to control his breathing at the same time skipping it once in a while and tried to control his heartbeat to prevent it racing from fear.

Tyran stepped into the room but couldn't hear a heartbeat.

The darkness around him had kept him hidden well as he tried his best in stay still and also prevent every possible inch of his body from moving,even when Tyran approached him he had stopped breathing till the Emperor left his side.

He knew demons had a heightened sense of smell and breathing and the Emperor's was beyond the usual.

Luckily for him the gas he released has messed with the Emperor's senses temporarily for he was sure the Emperor could hear even a person's heartbeat.

Fear encompassed him as his bulging eyes now stared through the piece of clothing into the darkness.

When Tyran couldn't find him he began opening the sheets over the corpses one after the other,the masked man peered through the white clothing covering him as the flicker of light approached him.

He prayed earnestly within him for a miracle a prayer which might as well be his last.

Just then Tyran heard a swift footstep of someone running in the hallway.

He pulled the sheet over the body he had just exposed and walked towards the door.

In Delvin,as respect for the dead it was forbidden to appear and disappear where they were kept.

One could only come in and leave through the door and the masked man knew the Emperor respected traditions.

When he heard Tyran's footsteps departing,he shut his eyes for the first time.

Then he waited until he could barely hear any more footstep before he decided to make a run for it by flying out through the only window in the ward he hid.

He swung himself off the bed and swiftly but carefully approached the window,at the same time trying not to make any sound.

He wasn't a high level demon so he couldn't teleport neither an elementarist,not lit a flame,he could only rely on the moonlight ray reaching the room from the window

As he took another step forward,his leg forcefully hit a bed close to it in which laid a corpse.The sound from the impact resonated in the room.

His heart skipped a beat.

The man was sure Tyran had heard that.Reaching for the window,he pulled on it but it didn't give way,pulled harder,no luck.

Then he heard quick footsteps approaching.