73_Watch Your Back, Raven!

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The crew was riding through the vast and empty road, beside the forest when Xavier's horse suddenly halted.

"Something's wrong," Xavier said.

"What do you mean?" Evie asked.

"Zavian says something is not right, we need to move fast," Xavier said and sped up, kicking his horse.

"Who the fuck is Zavian?" Alex asked, but he was now the only one left behind since the others followed Xavier closely.

They rode until they were tired, even Xavier's horse couldn't move any longer despite the kicks and whips.

Zeke slumped from his horse to the floor, feeling weak and energy drained.

"We can't keep going, no matter what we do, we can't reach the Cranes Kingdom in a night, we're miles away," Zeke said.

"We need to rest," Alex said, panting hard

Xavier groaned, he had a feeling something bad had happened but Zeke was right, they couldn't reach the Crane's Kingdom in just a few hours since they were miles away. But he could, he would let Zavian out when they were asleep and Zavian would get him to the Kingdom before daybreak.

"We can set up a tent here," Xavier said climbing down from his horse, which slumped to the floor in tiredness.

.

.

.

The next day as soon as the cock crows. The King, accompanied by his Soldiers and sons, marched to the market square.

The subjects knew something bad had happened even before the King announced it because of the tense atmosphere.

A crowd gathered, surrounding the King to listen to his statement. With soldiers guarding him and not letting anyone get closer to the wooden stage.

"Greetings my subject, I have come to announce a very important issue and I want you to pay keen attention, cause I would not say this twice," King Aaron said.

"There is an Assassin among us, it is a female clothed in a black cloak and armed with weapons. This Assassin brought down the Kingdom with the strongest defense, the Stones kingdom, and eliminated King Epirius," He uttered again and the crowd gasped, murmurs and gossip filled the air causing the King to hit the wooden podium with his fist.

"Silence!" He yelled, his voice thundering in the air and the people instantly kept shut.

"As I was saying, this threat is no ordinary threat, so do not underestimate her. She snuck into the palace last night and slew the crown prince, Nathan," The King struggled to say, he was still grieving the loss of his first son and was in no position to announce a matter like this.

But he needed to be strong, for his subjects, his people, and his Kingdom.

The crowd gasped in shock," Is Prince Nathan Dead?"

"Do you have an idea who this assassin is?"

"What does this Assassin want?!"

"Oh, my Prince Nathan,"

"What are we going to do?"

"Silence," General K said, and there was speechlessness once more.

"If any of you spot the Assassin, report to the palace immediately," King Aaron said and stepped down, the people parted, making a way for their King to pass, and bowed as he walked past them back to his castle.

Upon Arriving at the palace, they were shocked to see Xavier already at the palace and without a horse.

'How did he get here so fast?' They wondered.

"Xavier?" The King called.

"Your Majesty," Xavier said walking to the king and embracing his Father.

"What--how did you get here so fast?" King Aaron asked.

"That's not important now, what is this about?" Xavier asked, unaware of the fact that his eldest brother whom he respected and feared was now deceased.

The King glanced at Elvis and Joseph and then at Xavier.

"Let's go in," The King said, holding Xavier's soldiers as they walked inside the palace.

"Are you hungry?" King Aaron asked and Xavier nodded, he couldn't deny the fact that he was famished, he hadn't eaten since he started his journey here, and he had to run all the way here since his horse hadn't recovered.

The King ordered the maids to serve them as they sat at the Royal diner.

Xavier immediately ate the food that was served without waiting, why did the king think of a way to break the news to him about the crown prince's death?

The fact that his second son, Adam, was not here at this crucial time fueled his anger even more.

"How can you be eating at this kind of time," Joseph said, looking at Xavier in disgust, Xavier paid no attention to them, he knew how they were, they always bullied him when he was younger so it was not going to be any different.

"Joseph," King Aaron called.

"No, you think you're above everyone, you are so full of yourself brother," Joseph said standing up abruptly causing the Chair to fall with a clanging noise.

Xavier lost his appetite instantly, dropping the spoon, he laid back with folded arms, staring at his brother, wondering where all this was coming from.

"Joseph," The King called again, slowly reaching his limit as he fought for control.

"Where are all these hate words coming from brother?" Xavier asked.

"Our brother, Nathan is dead!!"

"Enough, Both of you!!" King Aaron said hitting the table, causing Joseph to sit down back.

"What?" Xavier asked, he couldn't believe his ears.

"Joseph is right, Nathan was murdered by the assassin," King Aaron said and Xavier felt his heart stop.

This freaking Assasin again, He was already frustrated as it was that he couldn't find his love and now she just turned his frustration into anger by killing the only brother who he felt a connection with.

His pupils turned red and he clenched his fist, his knuckles turning white. But the others present at the table couldn't see what was brewing within him.

"Where is he?" Xavier asked referring to his brother.

"His body is being prepared for burial. It's at the morgue," General K said.

Xavier stood up and turned to leave when Joseph provoked him again. "(Scoff) Acting as if you care now, huh? You should have died Inste..."

Xavier got fed up, he turned back, slamming his hand on the table, his face, inches away from Joseph's own as he maintained eye contact.

"...I have had enough of your bullshit attitude towards me, brother. That fucking little kid you were so used to bullying is no more, I promise I will cut off your tongue if you utter another word that upsets me," He said, his voice, sounding like a distorted monster. His eyes changed colors between red and blue and his canines elongated.

Joseph got a clear glimpse of Zavian's fangs and blood-red eyes, which made him immobile, he couldn't believe his eyes and the shock sent him into a trance.

Xavier pulled away and walked out of the royal diner, Joseph's heart raced in his chest, he just saw his life flash before his eyes. The Xavier he knew was no more, this was a monster in possession of Xavier's body.

King Aaron chuckled seeing Joseph in that state, this was the first thing he found amusing since the death of the crown prince.

Xavier walked out to the courtyard, He was so filled with Rage, that he punched the pillar and a huge crack appeared, causing the maids and guards present to drop their jaws.

"I will kill you with my own hand Raven, whoever you are, watch your back, you won't know what hit you when I'm done with you, you have caused enough trouble, but now you just entered the Lion's den," He whispered to himself his aura bursting out again, clouding the atmosphere.