Chapter 7 - Kornova/Plans

Third Person's POV

Meanwhile, in the Kindom of Kornova, the news of Zenalie's death spread like wildfire and it shocked the people.

Crows flocked on a dead tree's branches. A brooding man stared at them as they pecked at each other. His grey eyes stared intently on a certain crows eyes and that particular crow looked at the rest of the crows and kill them of one by one. It was a bone-chilling and a truly gruesome sight but for the man, it was normal. That is the true nature of this world. The strong will always prey on the weak. Always has been and always will be. A true ruler knows this.

The mysterious man grinned as he watch the crow devour the others. His eyes turned to look at the woman sitting in front of him.

"Good afternoon Mr. Hendry Winters. I have news for you. It's regarding your daughter. This news came directly from the capital," the woman said. She swallowed the bile that clogged her throat and prepared herself for what she is about to say.

A crease formed on the man's forehead and he leaned forward while looking the woman curiously. At his action, the woman tried her best to calm down, afraid of his reaction.

"Your daughter and the Lycan King declared war on each other. Your daughter has challenged the King. It seemed like the king has found his true mate which turned out to be a witch. The King did not kill her as he said that he would. He freed her from being imprisoned and has taken a liking to her. As a retaliation, Lady Zenalie made a move of her own upon returning to the palace. She commanded her loyal subordinates to attack wolf packs behind the King’s back in order to search for the woman’s parents and use them as hostage. The battle ended rather quickly. However, I am grieved to tell you that your daughter has perished along with some for our men,” the woman said to him and she clamped her mouth as she waited for Mr. Winters response.

Hendry Winters just sat there with a dumbfounded expression on his face. He was processing the news and is trying hard to find the right words to say but he could not. He was unable to. The news made him feel different emotions, he was angry, disappointed, and grieved. He wanted to take some time to process the news because it was too much for him to bear it.

After a while, Hendry set up straighter. He looked at the woman and told her to leave the room. He sat there and continued to gaze into the far distance. He massaged his temple, a headache slowly creeping in. He thought that everything was going according to planned but then someone disrupted his plans. He should've been more careful. Because of his recklessness, his plan might collapse. So now, his daughter is dead and she was killed by her own lover. The plans he made should come into fruition but it might all come crumbling down and be reduced to dust because of this disruption. His years of planning might become all for nought. He was furious.

He wanted to kill him for taking her daughter’s life. A life for a life and he will make sure to leave him with nothing, not even his pack. That mutt needs to learn his lesson and Hendry will make sure of it. But has to make preparations first. A lot of preparations. He called all of his subordinates and told them to meet him in his castle. The Lycan king needs to die. He'll make sure of it.

After a few minutes, his men came and they held a meeting. They were a total of fifteen in that room, including Hendry. All of them are royalty are inferior to him in terms of ranks in the vampire nobility.

“Why have you called for us? Is it that important? Because I have to do something. The news about your daughter must not get out and I am trying to suppress the people from entering the castle,” a man said. He is a high-ranking nobility.

“Count Morgan, it is okay. My daughter has perished. It is okay for the people to know because they care for my daughter. For sure they would want revenge,” Hendry replied and he turned to look at the rest of his men.

“I had just heard the news this afternoon. The Lycan King killed her. My daughter’s own lover killed her. I had always thought that he truly loved her. I thought that he truly cared about her but he clearly did not because as soon as he found his mate, he abandoned her in an instant and discarded her like she was nothing. What’s worse is that he abandoned her for a witch! Can you believe it? He chose a witch over my daughter! That pathetic King must be stripped of his pride and his crown for his arrogance. That is why I have a decided to annihilate his Kingdom and leave him with nothing, not even his pack members will be spared. I will kill all of them. I swear it in my daughter's name!,” he ranted and declared. His men looked at him with admiration and fear in their eyes.

Hendry’s eyes showed anger but his facial expression was stiff and stoic. The self control he was exerting just to be calm is admirable. His men admired him more because of this. They practically worship him at this point.

“We’ll do everything that we can to help you, Lord Winters. We will help you in your quest to exact revenge on the Lycan King. We swear our loyalty to you for eternity. We want to follow you wherever you go and we’ll face the Lycan King’s wrath even if we lose our lives,” a young man said to him as he looked at Hendry with admiration in his eyes.

Hendry whipped his head to look at the young man and grabbed a chalice full of blood. He stood up as he raised his hand that was holding the chalice and his men did the same.

“I am a vampire of humble origins and I don’t deserve that kind of praise but well said young man. I will cheers to that,” he said to the young man and they all drank from their chalice until it was empty. They set down their cups. They wiped their lips that are smeared with blood as they waited for their master’s orders.

“Now, we’ll go to the city where rogues and humans live. I have to build more manpower for my plans to succeed. We’ll have to be discreet about each step that we take. That man is not ordinary. He can do anything as long as we’re careless and crush us in an instant. That is why we must receive help from people who hold great animosity towards him. Witches, humans, and rogues. Every help we could find! This is war we’re talking about. I have to be very careful,” he said as he looked his men in the eye one by one. They all nodded their heads in agreement. It is not easy to defeat the Lycan King in a war. He is known to be undefeated in a war. He has over a hundred thousand men at his disposal. The Pack’s name really lives up to it’s name, for all of his men are trained to go to war and withstand pain. They are trained, both body and soul, to defeat all of the enemies that stand on their way. The King’s battlefield strategies are described as nothing but perfection. Hendry believed this because he saw this with his own two eyes. The gift that the King has is extraordinary.

The King is known to be nothing but monstrous when he is on the battlefield. The witches fear him and are afraid to face his wrath. However, this is what Hendry is willing to overlook. Hendry does not want to just defeat the Lycan King, he wants the power that the Lycan King Endrée holds. He wants to be feared from all over the nation just like he is. For him, fear is what makes people obey.

He wants the world on his feet. He wants everything to be his and he is willing to do whatever he needs to do just to have it. He had always planned do this for a very long time he never had a proper reason. Now, an opportunity appeared. The death of his daughter is the reason for this to happen. Hendry also has one belief; he believes that the end justifies the means. He’ll be the most powerful vampire in the face of the earth, that is what he had always desired.

Defeating the mighty and powerful Lycan King is going to be one of his greatest achievements. He’ll make it the most memorable.

Rynari’s POV

I’m currently preparing myself inside my room. My thoughts drifted to what happened yesterday and I instinctively touched my lips. I licked my lips and checked my reflection on the mirror. My heart jumped to my throat when I suddenly heard someone loudly knocking on the door.

I stood up and opened it while thinking that it might be who I thought it would be but I was disappointed to find out that it was just Derrick. I tried to show that I was not disappointed to see him cause that would make him feel uncomfortable. I smiled at him and he smiled back as he scratched the back if his head. I waited for him to talk.

“Where are you going, Rynari?” asked Derrick as he looked at me curiously. I sighed as I pointed at my clothes. I was wearing the same clothes that I wore when I escaped from the house because I am just not comfortable wearing the clothes that Endrée gave me.

I wanted to go shopping that’s why I wanted to go to Endrée and ask him but I never had the courage. The kiss replayed again and again and I cannot even get a wink of sleep. Facing him without thinking of the kiss sounds next to impossible. I could never look him in the eyes after that.

I was brought back to reality when Derrick spoke again. I tried to put the memories of my first kiss at the back of my mind as I looked at him.

“Do you want to go shopping with me?” he asked me. I am reluctant to say yes but what choice do I have? I have no idea where to buy clothes and I have no money either.

“Okay, I guess having a guide wouldn’t be that bad and I have no money. But are you sure? I am a witch and you are a werewolf. People might get the wrong idea and think ill of you,” I said to him. He shook his head and shoved his hands inside his pockets. He looked shy for a moment but then he stepped inside my room and grabbed my hand. Wow, that was quick.

“Don’t think about them. They are just jealous of you cause you're so pretty and you smell nice, like cotton candy,” he replied and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. I laughed and elbowed him playfully. He chuckled and messed my hair.

“Hey! I tried my best to make it look fashionable,” I grumbled at him. He shook his head and teased me.

We were walking down the stairs and as we turned to the exit, I bumped into a big wall. I closed my eyes and rubbed my nose. I winced and looked up at the wall. I stifled a gasp when I met my mates pure red-blood eyes. He looked down at me and then turned his head to look at Derrick who still has his arm wrapped around my shoulders. I nervously swallowed and looked at the two of them. They continued to stare at each other. After a few seconds, Endrée raised his hand and grabbed Derrick’s arm around my shoulders. He unwrapped it and wrapped his arm around mine instead.

“Where are you going, Ryna?” he whispered to me and kissed my cheek. My heart jumped to my throat and I avoided his eyes. He caressed my hair and pulled me closer to him as we started walking. I can’t help but turn to look at Derrick but I was shocked when I saw his expression. He looked like he just won the lottery.

“Eyes in front of you, Ryna. Derrick is not your mate. I am. So your eyes should be on me and not him, okay? If I ever see you staring at him then I’ll lock you up in my room and I will never let you out, understand?” he threatened me. I looked up at him and rolled my eyes. He saw it and he stopped walking. He turned me around and grabbed my chin.

“You dare to roll your eyes at me?” he whispered to me. I bit my lip and ran away while laughing. Eat that!

“Come back here! Rynari! Stop being stubborn,” he called out to me but I did not stop running. I hear him running after me and I ran faster. He was able to catch up to me and we walked the streets together. He bought me another set of clothes and forced me to wear them. He threatened me again so I had no choice but to wear them.