Chapter thirty six

Eric

"What happened?" I asked a guard I could find.

"The chimera attacked travelers Sire."

But it was dead. I examined the bloody scene. The rider was decapitated, Blood covering his entire half and the horses were brutally maimed. I continued to watch the spectacle with dread. I still didn't understand how this could happen. I could vividly remember the killing of the abomination and we buried it. Even that shouldn't cheat death.

"Sire, We found Sir Anthony." A guard yelled a few meters away from me.

The words couldn't even make it out of me. I ran to the limp body and I swear to God, My blood ran cold when I confirmed it was Anthony. This wasn't a random attack on another villager like I thought. It was Anthony's carriage.

"Anthony! Wake up!" I called out, shaking him and praying he was alright.

He had to be. Unlike every being here that had come in contact with the monster, Anthony was untouched...at least physically.

A physician attended to him while the guard from before came to inform me they had found a body. The body was brought to me blanketed in white. I unfolded the fabric. My eyes widened seeing Emilia's eye stare coldly into mine. Her head was detached similar to the rider. I suddenly felt sick to the stomach. The rider and Emilia were dead but where was Sara?

"Have you found Lady Sara?" I asked.

The guards shook their heads in response. I scanned the area praying Lord Declan hadn't lost both his daughters in one day. It would be catastrophic even if the man was dead.

"She's dead. She's dead. Her head goes snap. She's dead." a chilling whisper sang out of nowhere.

The guards swiftly reached for their swords and enclosed me in a protected circle.

"Who's there!" They roared in unison, Their eyes on every corner yet, The voice continued to sing. As the maniacal singing got louder, A crooked figure became visible in front of us.

"Who's there?" I demanded.

The figure paused, giggled and continued to sing.

"...The monster got them all. The monster got them all."

The singing, It was beginning to sound like a child's take on what happened here. It made me wonder...

"Sara, Is that you?"

The singing stopped and I heard the figure sobbing. I pushed away from the circle and approached the figure. It was Sara and she looked traumatized.

I grabbed a blanket from a guard and draped them over her shoulders. She had to be traumatized. She had barely escaped death and worse, She had seen life being snatched away right in front of her. A life she knew and grew up with. I didn't have to be close to Sara to know she loved her sister and I could only imagine what she must be going through right now. Sara hugged me as she sobbed on my shoulder.

"She wanted revenge." She mumbled.

I nodded. The only thing I could do right now was agree with whatever she said no matter how absurd it sounded. She was emotionally unstable.

The royal physician did a quick check-up on Sara examining her eyes and mouth. The look on his face after the examination said it all,  Sara had gone insane.

With all of this madness taking place, I knew I had to give a speech to enlighten people on what was going on and possibly try to calm them down as soon as possible even if there was nothing to be calm about anymore. To be truthful, I was afraid. I wasn't sure if I was ready for the responsibility of King yet.    There was so much on my neck; from paying a huge debt to stopping the never-ending killings of a reanimated zombie.  It was just choking.

"You?" I called a common servant, " Send word to the messenger that I want every villager in the royal court by dawn."

He nodded and sprinted into a carriage on its way to the castle. I got into my carriage with a still disoriented Sara.

"Take us to the Quinn Manor."

Thing is, even if I was to keep the villagers updated on what was going on. I couldn't tell them the magnitude of what was going on; That even the Royals of Nodith weren't safe. It would be catastrophic. So for now, No one would know of Sara's condition.

***

The carriage stopped in front of the manor and I made sure Sara's face could not be seen before I exited the vehicle. The morning skies were a tired blue blanketing us in a perfect cover. A servant got ahead of us to inform the Quinns of our presence. 

"What's wrong?" Osei inquired letting me into the house.

I wasn't aware she was in the kingdom and most importantly why she was visiting. Did this have to do with the order?

"I need to speak with Mr. Quinn."

Osei gave me a menacing glare before disappearing to call who I requested. She returned a few seconds after with Mr Quinn and Lucy.

"Here they are."

"Thank you but I'll like to speak with him in private."

Osei didn't appreciate my saucy nature and clearly stated she wasn't going anywhere.

"This is what I warned you about Quinn, Something terrible has clearly happened and he doesn't want the order to know about it." She grumbled.

Now she was going to go to tell the story of how privileged supernaturals were in Nodith. Sincerely, I was sick of hearing it. The order left my family to deal with most of the problems they created themselves and the moment things went wrong, We were blamed.

"Excuse me, I have no idea how something I did resurrects on its own. If you ask me, I suspect foul play."

"Wait, You mean the Chimera?" Mr. Quinn asked, a bit concerned.

"Yes and this time it attacked my family! Emilia is dead and sincerely I don't know what to do anymore."

Osei sneered, "If it was even dead, to begin with."

God! This woman could be annoying. I ignored her and got to the reason why I was here.

"I'm hoping I can hide Sara here. With everything going on, I still have to keep the people believing they are safe even when they are not. I can't have double damages in one day."

"Seems to me like a ruse to cover up bad leadership."Osei cut in.

"Osei, Calm down. The boy is doing his best." Mr Quinn retorted.

My wolf was so close to hitting that wise mouth of hers.

"So Eric, What do you plan to do now?"

"If Sara can stay here. I'm certain I can drop the bad news to the villagers and I have to fasten my coronation. It's the only way to solve Nodith problems."

"No. You can't fasten the coronation. The order has principles you have to follow." Osei argued.

"Well fuck those principles! There isn't much time left before the king of Elyria decides to wage a war against Nodith and with the growing conflict, I have to be Alpha if we are ever going to have a chance to kill that monster!"

"I think Reece is doing a fine job as Alpha. You Clarkes are reckless." Osei shot back.

What a bitch.

"Stop it both of you! Acting like children." Mr. Quinn scolded, " You can leave Sara here. I don't know about fastening the coronation but it's entirely your choice."

"I really appreciate your assistance."

Lucy assisted Sara inside and I turned to leave.

"Wait!" Osei's voice boomed.

I turned to face her expecting another bitchy confrontation.

"...if you are sure you killed the Chimera, Do you remember where exactly you left for dead?"

"Yes. Why?"

"If it didn't occur to you before, Resurrection is unnatural. Especially with a zombie. I suspect foul play."

She did have a point. Someone somewhere did this.

"I remember."

"Take me there." She ordered.

***

Conrad

  News had gotten to me on the Chimera recent attack. Which was exactly why I needed to leave the kingdom. I didn't even make it last time.  I quickened my steps while trying to collect my thoughts.

"Emilia is dead."

The throne wasn't even worth it anymore. I didn't need the approval of anyone, Not anymore. I had enough money to live a respectable life outside Nodith. It took her death to make me see this Kingdom was fucking cursed.

I stopped in my tracks when I sniffed something odd.

"Who's there?" I growled, not taking any chances.

"Calm down, it's me." Father Nicholas spoke, coming into the open.

"Father? What are you doing here?" I demanded.

"I should say the same. Are you running away?"

"Sorry to break it to you but I'm not the stupid brave kind. The monster is back and I'm not waiting for it to come for me before I know I should run."

"Smart but I can't let you."

"You're not my father and he didn't leave you to take of me. I'm the bastard son remember."

Father Nicholas approached me, His hands behind him and with a knowing smile.

"You're not a mistake. You're simply a... compromise."

"What¿" Before I could register what exactly his words meant, I felt something driven into me.

It burned. I looked down to see a dagger most probably silver impaled to my abdomen. I couldn't fight and even breathing was a herculean task. I looked up, into his eyes and wondered why he would do this. I needed answers.

"No hard feelings Conrad. Valentine just told me the gypsy girl can't leave if you're still alive and I can't have her figuring out my plans. Say hi to your father for me."

That said, I slumped to his body as the poison spread deeper. My sight blurred and slowly I accepted the darkness.