Family Drama

"Is Dante Drako?" Keliana asked as she gripped her chest.

"I didn't say so," Nanca smirked at the teenager.

"I don't understand, why would you take me here to see Dante if not to say he is my brother."

Keliana stared baffled at the woman, who shook her head and smiled.

"Can we pause for a moment, Nanca?" Let's go back to what happened when my father's parents died and then to when Drako became these people's son," Keliana said.

"As you wish my child, but remember what really matters is how you use this information to influence how you rule in the future," Nanca replied.

Keliana raised her right eyebrow and was about to ask another question when the scene suddenly changed.

The fire was coming from the palace and guards and people were running around like headless chickens.

"Where is the royal family?" An imperial guard asked a royal guard.

"I don't know. I went to check on her majesties and found no one. Their room was on fire and children are no more."

The imperial guard ran to the queen's room, which was engulfed in flames, no one could survive that heat. He ran to the children's room and it was also in flames. He made his way back to the queen's chamber and his eyes then watched as one of the queen's inner guards emerged from a hidden room. The imperial guard quickly walked into the hidden room before it closed.

Surrounded by her most trusted guards and her friend. Queen Lahti held the imperial guard's- hand as he came into her view.

"I came as soon as I could my queen," the imperial guard said.

"When my child is born, I want you to raise him as your own. When the time is right help him take back reign from my brother," Queen Lahti said.

He gently squeezed her hand and nodded his head. "As you wish my queen," he replied.

"Thank you," Peter.

"Where is the king, your majesty? " He asked as he looked at all the faces in the secret chamber.

Tears welled in her eyes, as she said, Mondola murdered him. Jinhi told me that my brother wanted to overthrow us, but I never believed he was capable of such things. I confronted my brother about my husband's suspicion and he told me they were false and baseless. He told me he loved me and would never dream of hurting me. Like a fool, I believed him and did not keep the increased guards after the banquet. Everything went so well. My brother was the perfect host and provided the most outlandish entertainment I had ever seen. He looked so happy, mixing with the guest and his family especially his niece and nephews. I never dreamed God would bless me with triplets, two boys and a girl."

"Where are the triplets now, my queen?" Peter asked as he watched more tears stream down her cheeks.

"Your majesty, you need to push now if you want to give birth," interrupted Link, one of the guards who was helping to deliver the queens baby as he was familiar with how to do it when his wife was having her children.

She heeded his words and pushed with all her might.

After a while, "It's a boy, my queen," Link said and gently wrapped the baby in a yellow blanket. Sweat rolled down her face as the guard placed the child in the Queen's arms.

"Queen Lahti, what happened to the triplets?" Peter asked again.

"They are dead! Mondola killed them as they slept in their beds."

"How do you know this?" he asked. She nodded to one of the guards then said, "Because he gave me this letter."

Taking the letter from the guard he read it to himself,

"Dear sister,

It is with great sadness that I tell you of the passing of your husband and children untimely death, they died peacefully in their sleep. Not to worry my beautiful sister, your heart won't be burdened with the loss as you too will be joining them. But before you go, I need your blood. The pure gold that runs in your veins will bring more power and enlightenment to me. So please don't try to hide, I know everything about this palace. It's only a matter of time before I find you.

See you soon.

Your loving brother,

Mondola."

Peter's rage burnt the letter. His eyes turned red then flashed silver before turning gold.

"Peter, I don't need you to take revenge, please raise my son as your own. Only you and these four guards know of my sons birth," she said smiling.

"Then allow me to take you and your son from this place," he said.

"No! My brother will hunt me down. No one knew I was pregnant again, not even the king. Please keep this between us and only reveal this when the time is right."

"Yes my queen, but a child should never live without his mother," he replied.

"That is why you will keep this secret. Don't tell your wife either who the mother is. Tell her you found him wrapped in a basket outside the palace walls. Will you obey your queen, Imperial Larkin?"

"As you command my queen," Peter replied.

"Here take my son," she said as she held on to his pinky. She kissed him on his cheeks and tears dropped into the baby's eyes." The child started to cry and rubbed his eyes.

" Take him from here quickly! Guards go with him!" she said.

"No my queen," they said in unison. Then one of the guards said, "Wherever you go my queen, we will follow."

"But what about your family, they will need you," she said.

"First our queen, then our family comes after."

"Link, you will not die tonight, I order you to go home to your family at once. I don't want your newborn to be fatherless nor your three children," Queen Lahti said.

"Peter, please take him to his family. The rest of you come with me." The queen said.

"You must name him first, so he can at least know that his mother named him," Peter said.

She thought about it for a moment, then said, "Name him Erinic after my great grandfather."

"Erinic is a strong name, your highness."

"Yes, and as my great grandfather, he was a mighty warrior. Train him well Peter, as he will be your future King someday."

He bowed and waved his hand before him and took Link and the baby with him. " Farewell my queen," they both said in sync.

The world shimmered again and Keliana and Nanca were at her parents home on Kanton. The immortal world had changed. A New Era emerged as the royal bloodline ended with Mondola who was only a half-blood. He was captured by the imperial army and sent into purgatory. They wanted a place to put Mondola and his followers and anyone that dared rise against the new powers that be. An entire domain was created almost as an island. It had black mountains and lava flowing throw it daily. This side of the world nothing good can come from. Only death and despair lived and reigned here.

"Nanca, take me to where Dante is now," Keliana ordered.

"You can take time to grieve first before you put on your detective cap," Nanca replied.

Keliana waved her hand and replied, " I am fine," as she wiped the tears from her eyes. The sooner I can find my brother, the sooner my family can heal and be made whole."

Nanca smiled and replied as you wish my child.