Prelude

The storm was relentless. The wind howled with rage sending fat droplets of water inside the small cave. The moonless sky crackled with thunder and the lightning illuminated the dark outline of trees.

A small boy snuggled close to his uncle out of fright. He covered his ears with both his hands as a loud rolling clap of thunder followed the lightning.

His uncle held the boy so close trying to warm his shaking frame. They were both hungry and tired, the raging storm made it impossible for them to go out and they tried to take cover in the small cave they found.

They were wet from head to toe–the boy's uncle prayed silently that they stayed safe for the rest of the night. The man kept his eyes trained on the shallow cave entrance for any threat. He didn't believe for an instance that a storm this powerful was enough to keep them away.

He held the boy close with one hand as the other hand tightened on the hilt of his sword he kept secured in his hip. His ears perked up at the distant snarls, he cursed as he picked the small boy and ran out the cave.

He tuned his senses to listen to any noise as he ran from the ghouls, scavenger creatures which fed on flesh and blood. Running through the dark forest in a raging storm was never a good idea. Even with his supernatural senses, it was hard to see through the night while the wind slapped his face without mercy.

He could hear the snarls getting closer and he tripped over a root sending the boy tumbling on the forest floor as they were surrounded by the vile creatures.

"Uncle Dimitri." He heard the frightened voice of the boy calling from his right-hand side.

He could feel the Ghouls surrounding them for all directions. He wondered, how in the hell did the Ghoul King Gograk have joined hands with the enemies of the Royals to destroy the only hope for the Lycan Kingdom.

He stood motionless as the ghouls advanced. Luckily for him, one ghoul crashed into the others and a fight ensued between them allowing Dimitri enough time to slip out of that place.

Dimitri thanked his lucky stars as he quickly dashed towards the boy in darkness following his sound. He found him holding a tree trunk in fear while he frantically called for his Uncle.

“Shhh… quiet Lucian.” He urged the boy to calm down–wanting no more attention than they already had.

Picking up the boy and loading him behind his back, he climbed the tree efficiently. The boy clutched his uncle so close as if his life depended on it. Climbing to the maximum height, he secured the boy to the branch. It was only a matter of time before the ghouls follow them here and he needed to escape them.

The wind has picked up speed, and the trees swayed at the force. Travelling through the ground was impossible at this moment.

“Lucian, listen, we are in danger. I will kill them all before they get to us. You must stay hidden until I come back, do you understand?” He warned the little boy, who nodded vigorously as he hugged the tree branch tighter.

He climbed down a few feet and found a tree branch comfortable to stand he waited for the ghouls to come at him. He pledged the Royals he would keep their son safe, and he was planning to keep it until his last breath.

Dimitri held his sword tighter as the snarls got closer–he cleaved the head of the first ghoul and slashed the second one's limb as it tried to get hold of his legs. The creature fell with an unpleasant ear piercing shrill, which echoed through the storm.

The wind howled like a madman as it mercilessly commenced its own attack on Dimitri, forcing him to stagger a few steps back. The tree branches shook with its animosity forcing Lucian off the branch.

Lucian, who was falling off the tree, got hold of another thin branch on his way down and held on to it with all his might. Somehow climbing between two branches, he hid his face behind the trunk to avoid the onslaught of the wind.

Dimitri could hear the boy’s whimper. Lucian was only five-years-old and small when compared to other Lycan children.

More screams followed as Dimitri continued to slash at his enemies without remorse. The ghouls kept coming, being on top of a tree they had no blind spot to attack him and Dimitri was like a ghost unleashed.

One creature climbed behind him as he fought two vicious ghouls. They seemed stronger than others and evaded his sword skilfully. Somehow Dimitri separated the head of one ghoul when the one behind him slashed him with its claws drawing blood.

Dimitri howled as pain filled his entire being, the other ghoul at the front pounced at this opportunity and Dimitri screamed when they bit down and chewed down his flesh. His sword slipped from his hands and they stumbled down to the ground hitting every branch below on their way.

Falling from a tree at least fifty-feet taller was not a pleasant experience.

The creatures were separated from Dimitri at the impact and he lay on the wet ground unable to move his limbs. His spine was broken and his wounds were bleeding profusely making it impossible to heal at the usual rate.

He couldn’t hear the snarls of the ghouls anymore–he wished they had died or knocked out at the impact.

Bodies littered the ground around him and the rich putrid smell of their blood filled his nose, making him gag. The downpour or the wind did nothing to take the scent away. There were at least fifty and more should be following soon. They always traveled in groups.

“Lucian,” he coughed and pain shot out from his spine at the movement.

“Uncle Dimitri.” He heard the faint voice of the boy. “Come down,” he whispered taking shallow breaths trying to be gentler with his injuries.

The boy had strong senses, and he was sure he would hear him. The downpour made it hard for him to breath and it took a few minutes before Lucian reached him.

“Lucian, come here,” he beckoned him closer.

Lucian’s body shook badly with fear and cold as he reached for his uncle.

“Prince Lucian Armand Orszak, listen carefully. Before I continue, I need you to trust me and promise me first.” Dimitri raised his hand weakly, and the boy promised without hesitation.

Dimitri smiled–the boy never broke his promise once he made them. It was how he was brought up–to always stand by his word.

“Lucian, as you can see I am injured and cannot accompany you anymore. They will come for you and I cannot let that happen. You must run and never stop or never look back. You must run until you are safe. Never forget your name and know this, no matter how long it takes, I will come for you, Lucian.” Dimitri finished taking short breaths.

“Uncle Dimitri, I don’t want to leave you,” the boy cried making his heartache.

“You promised me, Lucian.” Dimitri reminded him and the boy gasped looking at him.

Dimitri sighed, “Come close.” He kissed his forehead and cast a protection spell on him.

“Now, run my dear Lucian. Stay alive and don’t forget who you are. I will come for you,” he said releasing the boy.

“Do you promise?” he asked as Dimitri chuckled.

“I promise I will come for you if I survive this.” Dimitri couldn’t lie to the boy. He was dying, the injury was fatal and he would die if the bleeding doesn’t stop.

The spell he put on the boy would temporarily hide Lucian’s scent and he should be far away from all this chaos–when the spell wears out. He watched the boy as he got up and ran, his eyes closed and was claimed by the darkness shortly.

***

Lucian ran as fast as his small legs could carry him.

Staying true to his promise, he did not look back as he ran through the dark forest.

His eyesight has adjusted to the darkness, and he effortlessly jumped over the fallen logs. The wind made it difficult for him to move forward, pushing him with all its might. If he tried to change his direction, so would the wind.

Lucian ground his teeth as he fought the invisible hands of the wind. He weaved in and out of the tree line making the wind’s attempt to go futile. His uncle’s warning played repeatedly in his mind as he tuned his senses to look out for any impending danger.

He did not take heed of the pain that shot through his small legs when it scrapped against small stones or did not bother to wipe the blood off as he continued to run. He knew the rain would wash off his scent.

Lucian might be smaller when compared to other Lycan children, but he was more than he looks. His father was worried about his future,

Looks could be deceiving. Lucian smirked as he thought about his little secret. He was scared–yes, but he was never helpless. The little boy could fight just fine. Though he did not have proper training, unlike the other Lycan children who started at an early age.

He used to watch them train and practice the moves inside the secret sanctuary of his room. He could shift partially which his mother witnessed once.

Lucian loved his mother dearly but for some reason, she came to visit him only once in a day. It was his Nanny Maria, who used to spend most of the day with him. Several times, he caught her lingering scent near his room but never her.

His ears perked up at a distant noise similar to that of the ugly creatures, which attacked him and his Uncle. His pushed himself faster as he ran towards the unknown ahead. Lucian dodged a creature in time, which jumped on him from top of a tree. He did not stay back to fight it and continued to run dodging any creature that came on his way.

He could feel the creatures gaining speed and he screamed internally when a severe pain shot through his legs. A creature had nipped his right thigh with one of its deadly talons and Lucian crashed face first into the ground tasting the wet mud.

The creature pounced again, this time aiming for his torso–its mouth open wide showing sharp fangs that waited to tore through his body.

Lucian rolled over, which resulted in the ghoul to bite the ground near his torso and it ended up with a mouth full of mud. He didn’t wait for it to regain its posture as it shook its head trying to get the mud out of its mouth.

Lucian’s nails extended into claws as fur covered his upper body–his mouth extended into the muzzle with his teeth turning into sharp fangs. He jumped on a nearby log twirled in mid-air and swiped his claws across the creatures neck ripping its throat.

The creature’s gurgled scream filled the forest with the stench around them turning rancid. He did not wait to fight the other creatures and continued towards his path dodging the ghouls. Sometimes jumping over them or gliding smoothly between the spaces of their legs.

Lucian being so small helped a lot–the ghouls either crashed into each other or missed him when they tried to scoop him up. He felt something in the air–a faint hum of power which could be heard over the wind. It sounded like a buzzing bee and he felt a faint pull towards it.

His eyes frantically scanned the area which looked the same as others, the ghouls were closing in on him and his legs ached with the adrenaline rush wearing out.

I cannot give up now.

I did not run this far to get captured or eaten alive by those vile creatures. I will fight till my last breath. Lucian searched for the source of the humming.

One ghoul swiped across his back and Lucian hissed in pain–the metallic scent of his blood filled the air.

No, I won’t scream and I won’t give up, he turned and attacked the creature viciously. His temper getting the best out of him, the creature dare attack him and draw blood.

Lucian’s claws tore through the creature’s body as it feebly tried to fight back. Other ghouls halted in their tracks as they witnessed Lucian tearing up their buddy. They snarled and Lucian knew when he was surrounded by them, waiting to make a move–to feast on his flesh.

He let out a ferocious snarl of his own as he ran towards one ghoul and before others could close in. He bent his knees slipping through the mud and swiped his claws across the belly of the creature that stood on all fours anticipating the taste of his flesh and blood on its mouth.

Lucian was out of the circle in a minute as other ghouls foolishly crashed into the ghoul hurt. The buzz got louder as Lucian ran and he ducked just in time as a ghoul flew past him and crashed into an invisible wall which burned its skin.

The ghoul jerked its body and screeched in pain, hurting Lucian’s sensitive ears. He stopped in his track not knowing or understanding what just happened.

Was that some magic? He frowned. The hum echoed throughout the place and his squinted eyes landed a thin layer which surrounded that area.

The purple barrier moved like water waves and radiated with some unknown power. Looking around, he could see the barrier stretched as far as he could see and there was no option but to return to where he started his journey.

He did not know the way towards his Kingdom or where exactly he was in. At least twenty creatures closed in slowly as they watched every move he made.

They forced Lucian to retract as they growled and clicked their jaws in anticipation. Thick brown saliva dripped from their mouths as they swiped their tongues across their dirty teeth.

The wind stopped howling and has since calmed down as it watched the scene unfold.

Lucian would die today, the unseen force which created the wind thought wickedly as it waited for the ghouls to devour the little boy.

The more he got closer the more he could feel the barrier which vibrated with power and Lucian could feel its invisible touch.

“Cross the barrier.” An unknown sound of a woman echoed through the night. Lucian’s eyes widened as he searched for the source.

“It won’t hurt you, Lucian. Walk past the barrier and never look back,” the voice said again. The ghouls were only a few feet apart and one tried to swipe at him.

Lucian staggered behind and found himself inside the barrier. It surrounded him like a bubble and carried him backward, taking him farther from the ghouls.

He watched the ghouls unsuccessfully trying to cross the barrier and get burned when their skin came in contact with it.

The magic which surrounded him warmed his cold body, and he watched in amazement as it shimmered with bright colors. Soon his body was dropped gently amid another forest. Lucian stood by a small cliff overlooking a small town covered by trees. There was no mistaking the outline of small buildings.

He had never seen such a small building back in his Kingdom. The dawn just broke into the tree line giving it a peaceful yellowish glow. The warm breeze that caressed him was nothing like what he felt before.

“Go, Lucian. You are safe here. But beware of the humans,” the calm voice said again.

“Who are you?” Lucian asked staring at the space before him.

“A friend,” it whispered and Lucian felt an invisible presence leaving him to his own devices.

With a sigh, Lucian watched the human town now unveiled by the morning sun.