It felt like just ten minutes lying down on that hard earth but in reality, Dakar was there for almost an hour. He was reminiscing his memories. He remembered his mother's face, his precious mother. For years he couldn't remember what she looked like. All he knew was he had a mother. Oh! How he missed his kingdom. His best friend and their adventures. The game nights where he always wrestled and won. Everything came back to him.
“Dakar?”, Avril's voice sounded. He sat up surprisingly. He waited for five minutes but didn't hear her voice anymore.
“It must have been my mind”, he said as he stood on his feet. He was sweating so he went to his room and took a shower. He wore one of his old wooly trousers he had brought along with him the day he arrived. He ran his fingers through his wet jaw-length hair and dampened it with a towel. Then he sat on his bed and rested his head on the rock wall.
He d
Avril already lost all connection with oxygen and her strength began to fail. But then she saw that she wasn't the only one struggling for life. Dakar was too. She saw the red eyes flash to green and the grip on her throat loosen but less than a second later, it was back to red and the grip tightened.“Dakar! I know... I know”, she coughed as he raised her higher.“I know you're...in...there... please h-help. Please”, she pleaded as her eyes began to close. Dakar grunted and tightened the grip again. But his eyes turned green and back to red, then back to green and flashed to red again. He was battling inwardly for control of his own body. He had to take control or else he would lose her forever. And he would not be able to live with that guilt. So with a loud yell, he ripped his soul back in and let go of her immediately. She fell with a thud and lay down there, unconscious. He was panting heavily as he held his hand, as if it will loose
It felt like just ten minutes lying down on that hard earth but in reality, Dakar was there for almost an hour. He was reminiscing his memories. He remembered his mother's face, his precious mother. For years he couldn't remember what she looked like. All he knew was he had a mother. Oh! How he missed his kingdom. His best friend and their adventures. The game nights where he always wrestled and won. Everything came back to him.“Dakar?”, Avril's voice sounded. He sat up surprisingly. He waited for five minutes but didn't hear her voice anymore.“It must have been my mind”, he said as he stood on his feet. He was sweating so he went to his room and took a shower. He wore one of his old wooly trousers he had brought along with him the day he arrived. He ran his fingers through his wet jaw-length hair and dampened it with a towel. Then he sat on his bed and rested his head on the rock wall.He d
Dakar got on his feet and took the jar. He walked into the mountain-house and scented Avril. She had gone to stay in the kitchen. “Eating up all my food”, he muttered and he turned towards that side. He entered the kitchen but was surprised she wasn't eating. She was sitting in a corner, looking into a mirror. “Avril Henderson”, he called. She didn't look up at him but instead tucked her hair behind her ear. “It's your first time calling me by my full name”, she mumbled. “Should I call it often?”, he asked as he walked closer to her. “I don't know. It's up to you”. Dakar squatted by her and looked at her face. She was checking herself out in the mirror. “Mind telling me why you're angry?” “No” “Why?” “Because I am not angry”. “Then why did you walk out on me?” She didn't answer. Dakar held the mirror and pulled it but she pulled it back. He pulled again and she did same. He
Dakar received fifty wipes and countless blows and kicks from his mother's guards. He didn't fight back, not because he was afraid of her, having his fingers. She wouldn't even do that. He just refused to fight back because he respected her. And he knew what he did was stupid. Choosing another woman over your number one woman.Finally, he was returned back to his Chambers the next morning, shirtless, bloodied and swollen up. As he was trying to patch himself up, Camper sneaked in.“Hey... Whoah! You look awful, mate,” he said. Dakar ignored him and continued to wipe the surface of his bruises.“Those must be very painful. What created them? Was the guard wearing a ring?,” Camper asked and bent down to look at Dakar's face. Red lines were all over his face, coupled with deep slim cuts.“Get away from me, Camper”, he growled and Camper moved away.“I hope you're not angry with me, man. You
“Mother, I asked what prophecy you were speaking about?” Dakar inquired again and walked into the room.“Nothing, my son. It's not something serious. It's about a mateless wolf that will turn rogue”, she stated.“Is that not a popular prophecy? Everyone knows that. Which is why we're permitted to get alternative mates. But I am sure that is not what you were referring to. It seems you didn't want me to hear you. Which is why the colour has drained from your face when I heard”.The Luna sighed and palmed her face. Dakar gazed at her and felt her worry and fear. He drew closer to her and knelt down, holding her legs. He placed his head on her thighs and she started to cry.“Don't make me tell you, please” she cried.“Mother, tell me”, she insisted without raising his head. In their tradition, when a child does that to his mother, she has to fulfil that which he is asking
“Why? Why did you keep this away from me?”, Dakar questioned.“Because it is a secret. Only I and Anthena know”, his mother answered.“That's why you never approved of her being my bethrothed”.“Yes. That is one of the reasons”.“So, there are other reasons?”“I will tell you everything as they unfold. Right now, we have to get you to Anthena”He nodded and got on his feet.“Today already started on a bad note. I am off to my Chambers for the day”, he said and turned to the door.“Dakar, please forgive me for hiding all these. I was trying to protect you. To give you a normal life first”, Luna pleaded.“It's okay, mother. I don't hold anything against you”, he replied and left the room. On his way out of the building, he didn't meet anyone and the whole of his mother's Chambers was awkwardly quiet. It was because t
Dakar was a strong man and knew how to put his emotions in check, if Dojo did not take over. And to break down in front of a young girl, and cry like a vulnerable child, then the pain was indescribable. He struggled for years to remember his parents faces, or even their names. But he couldn't. When he finally remembered, he knew how much his mother sacrificed for him and he couldn't wait to go back home to her. After Avril asked him if he succeeded, that ugly memory flooded him. How she was holding the bowl with the complete crystal ball, and his father standing beside him. His mother dropped the bowl and ordered him to strike immediately. But he hesitated and showed stupidity. Dojo possessed him and he fell with a scream, his insides burned and he got a rage that wasn't his. And with one ugly glance at a shocked woman, he pulled out his claws and stabbed her in the chest. The look she gave him was still in his mind. She looked terribly hurt.“This is not
Avril rolled off Dakar and they both stayed on the ground there.“I'm sorry”, he apologized.“Which one? For making me fall? Or for placing your hands on my bum?” she asked and he laughed.“You guys call it a bum?”, he asked.“Lots of name for it”, she answered.“Uninteresting. Anyway, I'm sorry for both. Neither was intentional”, he stated.“It's okay. Can we start with the training now?” she asked and got on her feet.“Yeah”, he answered and stood to his feet too. There were fragments of death, wood and leaves in both of their hair.“Dakar, you've got dirt in your hair”, Avril said and tried to pick a large dry leaf from his hair. But she was not too tall to reach there without tiptoeing.“You've got dirt in your hair too. And more is going to stick on you when we start training. So, stop thinking about a
“No! No! Give me those!” she screeched and flew at Camper who didn't move an inch. But before she could reach him, she was blasted off into the cage Avril's friends just vacated. Camper hurried over to Prince Dakar.“You came right on time. They've hurt Avril,” Dakar said. Camper looked at the white fog and clenched his teeth.“Verona will help. She's coming. They are coming.”Dakar nodded and took one of the clear crystal balls and lifted it up.“Camper feels emotions more than anyone else can. Which is why he's a playboy, he enjoys the pleasure a hundred times than an average person. And when someone is overexcited, or is hiding something where they've channelled all their protective information... Camper can trace where all those emotions are headed,” Prince Dakar said as Athena began to rise.“Where your treasure is stored, there will your heart be,” Camper recited. “While you were busy flirting and trying to make him take you there on your garden floor, he was looking deep into
Avril had only just slept for a half an hour when she heard a masculine scream pierce through the serenity of the room. She jerked awake, causing a terrible headache to erupt in her head. The scream continued on. Obviously, that person was in deep agony. She rubbed her weak eyes with her weak fingers and realized this agonized person was right there on the floor in front of her. Then she realized it was Dakar.“Dakar!” she screamed and ran out the bed, only to fall on the bed because of how numb her legs were. She groaned but crawled on foura to where he lay. His scream and cries were terrible. She grabbed his arm but he shoved her off as he continued to twist and contort in pain.Avril burst into tears when she noticed he was bleeding from his nostrils, mouth and ears.“Help, please!” she tried to shout but no way her voice could be heard above his.She crawled back to the bedside, grabbed the pitcher of water and tossed it over him. He stilled immediately and lay unconscious. Avril
“Gently get the girls to wake up. We're leaving. Pick up everything. Leave no personal belonging behind,” Dakar warned strictly. The two men nodded and darted into their room.“Where's Verona?” Avril asked.“I'm here,” she replied and showed up too. Verona looked agitated and vigilant.“I can't believe I was such a fool to bring you all here,” Dakar said to himself and looked her he could slap his own cheek. The candlelights were enough to show the look of regret on his face. He held Avril's good hand and led her out while Verona also darted inside the room. The others were already frantically moving and packing stuff.In less than ten minutes later, everything had been packed as affirmed by Camper. They then quietly started out without a word or sound from anyone.They got to the throne room which was empty and dark too. Instead of them to go through the main entrance, Prince Dakar turned them to a different direction. He tugged gently on what was like a door and a secret passage ope
Athena plastered a too wide smile on her face as she smoothly walked towards them like she was gliding and not actually taking steps. Her outfit was all gold, blending too much with the throne room itself. If her visible skin and hair were also gold, she would be invisible in the hall.“Pleased to meet you again, Athena,” Prince Dakar said with courtesy. Athena turned her full attention to him as she stood a few feet away.“Ah, my handsome nephew. You look amazing despite everything you've been through. I guess strength and good looks runs in the family. How is your father?” she asked and cocked her head to the side.“He is doing very well. Sends his kind regards,” Prince Dakar answered. Athena grinned and moved closer to him. A little bit too close. She looked up into his eyes and tucked loose hair behind his ear.“When this is all over, I would love to see his final look,” she said then grinned again.Avril frowned but quickly tucked her face right. What did she mean by ‘his final l
Prince Dakar got up, then jerked his jacket by the lapels to get it aligned with his body. He took a deep breath, relief flooding in that Avril was not dead. And she was right at the other side about to come over. He heard a feminine gasp like the one had made and made a quick turn to see the person who had come out. But he was disappointed to see the slim, black friend of Avril. Chidi. She wasn't crouched down like he was, but she was standing straight and breathless.“Are you all right?” he asked as she stood rooted to the spot, oblivious to him standing there. After he spoke, she raised her eyes abruptly and saw him. Then she looked back at the innocent look archway.“Congrats. You got out. Come over, let's wait for the others,” he said again and walked a few feet from where he was standing. Chidi followed silently and leaned against a tree with her eyes closed. Dakar was tempted to ask her what she saw, but he didn't want to intrude. Chidi however surprised him.“T saw Avril fall
The Porta Metus was situated in a vast region of land that was very mountainous. Solid, smooth rock was the ground and scorpions could be seen tittering around. Flying, giant bee-like creatures swarmed about and scared the living daylights out of the traveling group.The gateway itself was an archway of smooth grey rock that began on the ground but went over to cover the small bridge. There was a deep ditch dividing the rock terrain, and earthy terrain.“We have to be very careful. The Porta Metus is the archway. It doesn't come up this time of year so I'm worried about you all. The Porta Metus brings out your greatest fear. Between you and your greatest fear, only one will make it out. To reach your destination, you must defeat your greatest fear against all odds.”After Prince Dakar's information, everyone stared still at the harmless looking archway of rock.“What if you do not have a greatest fear but just little little fears?” Xiao Wéi asked.“Then I consider that person the luck
“What in the world are those thing?” Nana yelled amidst the screams. The horses that were at the far end of the cave startled up and began to neigh and thump around.“Stealth wraiths. Half-dead creatures but more dead than alive. Which means you can't see them. They're very rare!” Camper shouted out.“How do you kill what you cannot see?!” Avril shrieked as Camper sliced through the air again and black blood poured out of nothing.“They are as cold as ice. You feel their chill and strike,” Verona answered as she trotted to the entrance to assist Camper. The rest shifted back but didn't lose their guard. The horses were causing a scene on their own and Avril instinctively ran over to calm them down. It didn't work.A cold chill was taking over the entire cave, the entrance had turned into a battle ground. Camper and Verona were fighting invisible, shrieking creatures that seemed to be pushing them backwards and not the other way around. Whatever does things were, they were plenty and t
They trespassed through the Soot Forest, as Camper had called it, for five hours straight. They only rested at most ten minutes while standing because of the human girls who were not as tire-proof as the wolves. Avril and her girls even surprised Prince Dakar. They didn't tire as easily as other humans.“One more hour and we'll be out,” Camper announced to the group.“I hope there's a place we can sit our butts down?” Nana grumbled.“Well, I see sitting your butt down is very important to you. Seeing you carry a lot over there of course,” Xiao Wéi joked and the girls burst into laughter except Verona who had not smiled since the journey began. As was usual of her.“If we don't sit soon, I'm afraid I'll lose all my assets,” Nana replied. Avril slapped Nana's butt.“Nope, you're still good even if you walk the whole day,” she teased and Nana butt-kicked her. Avril wasn't expecting that move and it pushed her, making her feet unbalanced on the ground. She yelped as she felt herself desc
Avril laughed loud again and everyone rushing food at the table looked over at them. “Is there a comedy show going on there, Fiorella?” Verona asked grudgingly. “Are there any tickets left? I need a good laugh also,” Nana spoke and Chidi elbowed her. “Don't mind them. Just talk and laugh all you want. You're not bothering us,” Chidi said and glared at Nana who shrugged. She looked away and her eyes caught Camper staring at her friend in amusement. He had his fork twirling in his salad as he stared at Nana. “It's going to be too obvious that you like this girl. Put that face straight,” the new guy ordered with a frown. Everyone at the table frowned except Camper who smirked at him. The way he spoke was so authoritative and haughty. Who was he? Avril's laughter rang up again but nobody looked back at them this time. “Why are you all looking at me like I said something bad?” he questioned. “That's because you sound like a nagging mother. It doesn't suit you,”