Salvage The Kingdom

Chapter 8

Alfred fell face first into the grass.

The other side was beautiful.

He never really took the time to examine it but now that he has, he didn't realize how much more elegant it looked compared to the Infinity Kingdom.

The grass was greener and rabbits of different colors hopped along side a pond that had lily pads floating on the sparkling blue water.

The Idyllic Kingdom seemed to be made of marble. It had a blue flag with a pink Lotus flower on it.

Alfred hurried to the castle.

He opened the doors and walked inside.
There were no guards or anyone else in sight.

He walked to the far end of the corridor and opened another set of double doors that lead to a throne room.

"Hello?" He called out.

No one seemed to be in sight.

This was not what he was hoping for.
All he hoped was to at least greet some crazy person that would tell him something. But nothing.

Not a soul in sight.

What a waste of my time-

"Who are you?" A loud voiced echoed off the marble walls.

Alfred jumped and turned around. He froze like a deer caught in headlights.

"Well?"

The loud voice belonged to a man who looked vaguely similar to Benjamin.

He had the same dark brown hair and gray eyes. But he looked younger than Benjamin.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to intrude, I was just curious."

"Who are you?" He asked again.

"I'm Alfred."

"Alfred," he said roughly, "do you belong to the Infinity Kingdom?"

"Sort of."

"What do you mean 'sort of'?"

"It's kind of a long story."

"Shorten it."

"I was taken here against my will?"

"I see," he said. "My name is Nicholas. I rule the Idyllic Kingdom."

"You've been sending the attacks?"

Nicholas looked taken aback.

"No, I would never. That's my brother's kingdom."

"Brother?"

"Yes, brother. Didn't Benjamin tell you?"

"No, he didn't really tell me much. Just what he thought was important."

"I guess that doesn't include me." He sounded a bit hurt.

"That's not what I meant," Alfred rushed, "I just meant that-"

"I know what you meant." Nicholas interrupted. "I'm used to it. Just come follow me."

Alfred followed him into another room.
The walls were covered in red. There sat a table in the middle of the room. A black couch sat on one side of the wall.

"Let's talk in here."

Nicholas sat on one side of the table and Alfred sat on the other side.

"Tea?" Nicholas offered him holding out a teapot.

"No thank you."

"Are you sure? It's Barley."

"No one told me Benjamin had a brother."

Nicholas sighed and put the teapot down.

"Of course they didn't. I may not be on that side of the kingdom but I know alot about it." He said. "I know that they don't allow me being mentioned either."

"Why not?"

"Because Benjamin hates me."

"I'm sure he doesn't hate you."

"What do you know?"

"I don't."

Nicholas looked at him with a sad look in his eyes. "It started when we got into a fight a couple months ago."

"Must have been a bad one." Alfred muttered.

"Oh, it was." Nicholas said. "But I don't hate him. He's my brother. I could never hate him."

"Then what's with all the attacks?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."

"You must. It's your kingdom. How do you not know what goes on in your kingdom."

"I just don't know, alright?!" He yelled.
Alfred stayed silent as Nicholas put his head down.

"I'm sorry I yelled."

"Just tell me what you do know."

Nicholas looked up at him.

Alfred could have sworn he saw a flash of white in his eye. As quick as lightning, it was there one second then gone the next.

"Somethings been wrong these past weeks. I never told Benjamin because I could handle my own problems."

"There's nothing wrong with a little help."

"He had his own stuff to worry about." He said. "Benjamin and I go way back as being more than just brothers. It's a long story. But he'll explain it to you one day."

"When will that day ever come?" Alfred mumbled.

A loud shout interrupted Nicholas from saying something.

They looked at each other then ran out the door to outside of the castle.

There stood a large cannon that was facing the Infinity Kingdom.

Two guards stood on either side of it. Both had white flashing in their eyes.

"No!" Nicholas yelled.

Too late.

The cannon went off and a cannon ball shot through the air.

Then the strangest thing happened.
Before it could cross over the Black Line, the cannon ball froze in mid air then dissipated along with the cannon.

The two guards eyes flashed that white light before it too disappeared then they collapsed to the ground.

Alfred looked back at Nicholas who's confused and scared expression matched his.

"What was that?" Alfred asked frantically.

"You see? I don't know." Nicholas said.

"Well, we need to figure this out. Meet me at the Black Line tomorrow. I'll have Benjamin with me."

"Good luck getting him to come."

"Just be there please."

"Okay."

Alfred ran to the Black Line and jumped back over it.

It was easy getting Nicholas to agree to come but getting Benjamin? That was even harder.

His plan went better than expected.

Now all he needed to do was get Benjamin to come with him to talk to his brother.

How hard could that be?