DEREK'S POV:With a snarl that echoed around the room, Bowlser sprang out of the shadows. He looked horrific, a hideous hybrid of beast and man. His enormous frame seemed to throb with unadulterated, animalistic strength, and he was at least eight feet tall. His muscles bulged and rippled with each movement, and his skin was a mottled grey. There was a wicked thirst burning in his red-glowing eyes. Sharp fangs glinted in the low light, and clawed claws flexed as if ready to tear flesh.My entire body tensed in anticipation as I tightened my fists. My blood was getting hotter, and I could feel the adrenaline rushing through my veins. As Bowlser stepped closer, his heavy feet making the floor tremble, the room around us seemed to contract, the walls pressing in. I heard nothing but the thunderous pounding of my own heartbeat for a while, and then he suddenly charged.For something so big, his speed was astounding. In a matter of seconds, he was on me, swinging his huge arm in my directi
I woke up with a nagging discomfort that spread across my entire body and the acute sting of an IV in my arm. The sick bay smelt of antiseptic mixed with something metallic, and the chamber was cold and sterile. I tried to concentrate on the ceiling, but my vision became blurry. Eventually, the fight, the pandemonium, and the pain all returned to me. A nurse was adjusting something on the IV stand while the middle-aged, graying-haired doctor fussed over the machines.I attempted to move, but the tubing—no, the restraints—held me in place, and my arms felt like lead. I wanted to talk, but it took a minute to get any sound out of my throat, which felt like sandpaper."Where am I?"The doctor gave me a quick look before turning back to the screen of the electrocardiogram that bleeped incessantly. “Derek, you're in the sick bay at the castle. You were severely beaten.I blinked many times in an attempt to clear my mind of the haze. "What happened?"With a gentle tone, the nurse remarked,
VERA’S POV:I gazed out at the wide undulating hills beyond the castle walls through the high slots in my cell. The grey tint of the sky, which mirrored the weight in my chest, served as a continual reminder of my captivity. Days had passed since the fight, since Sylvester had lashed out at me and called me a traitor, and I had been left to ruminate.I thought of ways to get out, but suddenly there was just doubt. My musings were cut short by a crisp, authoritative knock. Before I could react, the door sprang open, and two guards entered, their expressions expressionless and nearly impersonal."King Sylvester has called for you," one of them replied in an emotionless tone.Despite my refusal to display fear, I could feel the blood draining from my face. I nodded and straightened my shoulders as I followed them through the castle's chilly stone hallways. Each stride reverberated, a hollow sound reflecting the void I experienced inside. What on earth could Sylvester want now? His intent
I observed the shadows created by the dim light flickering along the stone walls. Even though I still had scrapes and bruises from the fight, the pain got better every day, and I started to feel stronger than I had anticipated. I could feel it swelling inside of me, coiling like a snake waiting to strike, but at first it was gradual, like a trickle. It was this increasing intensity that kept me up at night. My body was recuperating more quickly than it should have, with flesh repairing and bones knitting.It was more than simply the physical recovery, though. There was another stirring, something primordial, something perilous.I listened to the distant echo of footsteps while lying on the bed and gazing up at the ceiling. There was a lot of noise in the castle, including whispering and power plays. Vera, like myself, was stranded somewhere in the middle of it all. With every thought of her, the veins in my arms throbbed, and I tightened my fists. I needed to reach her.The door opene
Derek’s POVThe air was thick and damp, a cold that clung to my bones and gnawed at my skin, reminding me every second of where I was. The dungeon. It reeked of mildew and rusted metal, a place long forgotten by most and designed to break the strongest of men. But I wasn't just any man.The guards dragged me in, their grip firm but wary. They’d seen the way my wounds were healing, faster than they expected, and it made them nervous. I could see it in their stiff movements, the way their hands clenched tighter around their weapons every time I so much as twitched. Good. They should be nervous. Because no matter how deep they tried to bury me, I’d claw my way out.One of the guards shoved me, hard enough to make me stumble. I caught myself, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing me fall."Think you're something special, don’t you?” he sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "Well, let's see how special you are down here. No light, no one to hear you scream."I met his gaze, r
VERA’S POV. When I woke up, I found myself in the palace’s sickbay. My body was really weak, and very heavy. I was weighed down by an invisible load. My eyes, still struggling to open, and my mouth, as dry as the Sahara desert. On my knee was a crisscross of gauze and bandage somehow restricting the movement of my leg.Well, I blinked trying to clear the heaviness from my eyes. The sickbay's walls now felt strange and unsettling to me. I tried to remember how I got here, then instantly the event displayed crystal clear in my memory. I remembered been attacked by werewolves in the forest. I recalled been rescued by the king. How he fought and risked his life for me. My heart melted.“Oh Vera, you're awake!” My thoughts were interrupted by a castle maid. There was a tray which contained a clean towel in her left hand and on the other was a bowl of water. I smiled feebly at her, trying to sit up. “Ouch” I cried. Seems I forgot I had an injury.“Easyy” the maid said dropping the tr
DEREK'S POV.I found my way out of the palace with the help of Sims, the castle's chief guard. Though I still feel weak, I was quite better. I sat in my abode lost in thoughts. What about Vera? I pondered. How is she doing? What is she doing now? I hope she's safe. I thought to myself. I couldn't even grasp a single reasonable thought, my brain felt like a tangled web of confusion.I need to see Vera regardless, she must know the truth, she must know I didn't do anything and that I'm not a bad person, she should know I really love her. “What should I do? No, that's wrong. Wait, maybe…. Ugh!” Outside, morning freshness veiled the valleys. The weather's gentle breeze soothed my soul. A knock was heard on my sitting room’s door. I walked up to the door to see who It was. “My guy,” James greeted, stretching his hand anticipating a handshake.James was my childhood friend, we were really close and we both were known for causing mischiefs in the pack when we were young. As we were grow
DEREK'S POV.I stood there waiting till King Sylvester went back into the castle. When he eventually did, I headed to where Vera was sitting.As I walked towards her, I began to doubt myself . My palms grew really sweaty, and my legs felt heavy and difficult to lift. But I know I must reassure Vera of my love and show her that my love is unwavering and unchanging. She still looked as beautiful as she was, if not more beautiful. As I walked to her I admired her eyes and smile. Vera was a goddess and I couldn't afford to lose such beauty.Vera looked up at me, she seemed surprised. She didn't look excited seeing me. Instantly I started having double thoughts but I went on still.“Hey love, happy to see me?” I said smiling. “What in heaven's name are you doing here Derek I thought you escaped from the castle already” Vera said with a rather serious tone. She didn't just say this to me, did she? What has come over her? I thought. I stood, confused on what to reply. She has never spo
VERA'S POVThe warm sunlight streaming through the windows of the small cottage highlighted the joyful atmosphere of our little family's lunch gathering. Kevin, Astrid, Apollo, and I sat around the wooden table, laughing and chatting as we savored the delicious meal Sophia, my boss at the bakery, had packaged for us in a box as a token of her benevolence. Kevin, ever the attentive listener, asked the twins about their morning's adventure, and they eagerly shared stories of their exploration of the nearby woods. I smiled, watching my children's faces light up with excitement, feeling grateful for this peaceful moment amidst the chaos that had been brewing in our lives.As we finished our meal, Kevin's expression turned serious, and he leaned in, his voice low. "I have some news," he said, his eyes locking onto mine. "I received a message yesterday from my guys, I mean my childhood friends back at the castle. It seems that Sylvester, Uncle Ryan, and Sigurd are at war, each vying for co
(VERA’s POV)The guards watched in awe as the two men fought on, their swords clashing in a flurry of steel and sparks. It was a duel for the ages, a battle of strength and skill that would only end with one man standing.As the duel raged on, it seemed that neither man could gain the upper hand. They were evenly matched, their swords striking each other with a force that sent shockwaves through the air.But slowly, Sigurd began to gain the advantage. His sword sliced through Briggs' defenses, striking him with precision and skill. Briggs stumbled backward, his eyes wide with fear as he realized he was beaten.And then, in a final, desperate bid to turn the tide of the duel, Briggs lunged forward, his sword flashing in the light of the throne room. Sigurd parried the blow, his own sword striking Briggs with a force that sent him crashing to the ground.As Briggs lay there, his eyes wide with shock and pain, Sigurd stood over him, his sword raised for the killing blow. And with a swift
(VERA’s POV)As the two armies clashed, the battle raged on for hours. Sigurd fought bravely, his sword slicing through the enemy ranks with deadly precision. Grimbold fought by his side, his axe swinging in great arcs as he cut down anyone who dared to get too close."Sigurd, we need to push forward!" Grimbold shouted above the din of battle. "We can't let them gain the upper hand!"Sigurd nodded, his eyes scanning the battlefield. "I see Uncle Ryan's standard," he said. "Let's make a push for it. If we can take out Uncle Ryan, we might be able to break their morale."Grimbold grinned, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Let's do it!" he shouted, charging forward into the fray.As they fought their way through the enemy ranks, Sigurd and Grimbold finally reached Uncle Ryan's standard. But to their surprise, Uncle Ryan was not alone. He was surrounded by a group of heavily armed guards, who looked like they would stop at nothing to defend their leader."Uncle Ryan, you're a hard man t
(VERA’s POV)But the woman's next words were ominous. "However, the lion will not last as the king of the jungle," she said, her eyes glinting with a knowing light. "A new power will rise, and the balance of power will shift."Sigurd's face was set with determination. "I will not let that happen," he said, his voice firm and resolute. "I will fight to the death to defend my kingdom and my people."Meanwhile, Sylvester was experiencing a terrifying dream. He saw himself choking in his own blood, his eyes bulging out of his head as he struggled to breathe.Sylvester woke up with a start, his heart racing with fear. He was drenched in sweat, and his sheets were tangled around his legs."What's wrong, my lord?" Victor asked, rushing to Sylvester's side.Sylvester's face was twisted with fear. "I had a dream," he said, his voice shaking. "I saw myself choking in my own blood."Victor's face was expressionless. "It's just a dream, my lord," he said. "It doesn't mean anything. It could be a
(VERA’s POV)They knew that the road ahead would be difficult, but they were ready. They were ready to fight for their freedom, for their rights, and for their very lives.As the three leaders - Sylvester, Sigurd, and Uncle Ryan - began to gather their forces and prepare for war, the kingdom was thrown into chaos. The people were caught in the middle, unsure of what the future held or which leader to support.The air was thick with tension, and the sense of unease was palpable. Everyone knew that war was coming, and no one knew who would emerge victorious.As the darkness gathered, the kingdom held its breath, waiting for the battle to begin. But for now, the three leaders simply watched and waited, in full guard and alert, each one waiting for the others to make the first move...******As the days passed by, the tension in the kingdom continued to build. Sylvester, Sigurd, and Uncle Ryan were all gathering their forces, preparing for the battle that was to come. One man sought to pu
(VERA’s POV)Sigurd nodded, his mind racing with thoughts and strategies. "I agree," he said. "Let's gather as much information as we can and then make our move."The room fell silent, each of Sigurd's allies lost in their own thoughts. They knew that the road ahead would be difficult, but they were ready. They were ready to follow Sigurd into battle, to fight for their freedom and their rights.As they sat there, a loud noise echoed through the castle, followed by the sound of shouting and clashing steel. Sigurd's eyes snapped towards the door, his hand on the hilt of his sword."What's going on?" he asked, his voice low and urgent.Grimbold got up and went to the door, peeking outside. "It's Goro and his men," he said. "They're attacking a group of rebels."Sigurd's face was grim. "It's starting," he said. "Sylvester's making his move."The room fell silent, each of Sigurd's allies lost in their own thoughts. They knew that the battle was coming, and they were ready. They were ready
(VERA’s POV)But little did Sylvester know, the tide of public opinion was beginning to turn against him. More and more people were beginning to see him for what he truly was: a cruel and ruthless tyrant.And as the resistance continued to spread their message of hope and freedom, the people of the kingdom began to rally behind Sigurd and his allies.***Sylvester's face was twisted with rage and desperation as he paced back and forth in his throne room. His guards and Victor stood before him, waiting for his orders."We need to crush this rebellion once and for all," Sylvester spat, his voice venomous. "I want you to round up every suspected rebel and throw them in the dungeons. I want you to make examples of them, to show the people what happens when you dare to defy me."Victor nodded, his face expressionless. "Yes, my lord," he said. "We will see to it immediately."Meanwhile, Sigurd and his followers were busy making their own plans. They knew that they had to act quickly, before
(VERA’S POV)The guards and advisors nodded in agreement, their faces set with determination. Sylvester smiled, feeling a sense of satisfaction and power."I want you all to know that I will stop at nothing to crush our enemies," Sylvester said."I will use every trick in the book, every tactic and strategy at my disposal. And I will not rest until Sigurd and his followers are defeated and destroyed."The guards and advisors cheered, their voices echoing off the stone walls of the throne room. Sylvester smiled, feeling a sense of pride and power.But as he looked out at his loyal followers, Sylvester couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was a traitor in their midst, someone who was secretly working against him.Sylvester's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with suspicion and paranoia. He knew that he had to be careful, that he had to watch his back at all times.And so, with a sense of caution and unease, Sylvester began to make his
(VERA’s POV)He knew that eliminating Sigurd wouldn't be easy. He was a strong young warrior, hefty and known for winning wars. Someone who was called Sigurd the hound by his kinsmen because of his ferocity at taking down opponents. He was well-liked and respected by the people, and he had a loyal following among the guard. But Sylvester was determined to crush him, to eliminate him as a threat to his rule.As he paced, Sylvester's eyes fell on a large map of the kingdom that hung on the wall. He studied it intently, his mind racing with strategies and tactics.He knew that Sigurd would likely gather his allies and prepare to defend himself. But Sylvester was confident that he could outmaneuver him, that he could crush him and his followers once and for all.With a cold, calculating smile, Sylvester continued to pace and plan, his mind consumed by his desire for power and revenge.Meanwhile, in a secret underground chamber deep in the heart of the kingdom, Sigurd was gathering his own