INTO THE ASHES

6. Breaking bones

Daniel woke with a start and immediately clutched his head with both hands. He felt his head splitting and he sat in the position for a few moments.

Once he felt better, he looked around to see that he was back at his house. Daniel touched the back of his neck and flinched. It felt sore to touch. He remembered someone injecting something into his neck when he was fighting. It was at that moment when everything returned to him, hitting him like a ton of bricks. Zelda!

Daniel rushed out of his house to see no one around. Where was everyone, he panicked. How long was he unconscious? Where was Zelda? Several thoughts passed his mind as he looked around in search of someone.

Daniel started heading to the pack house, his forehead covered in sweat. His heart was beating rapidly in fear, he was scared something bad happened to his friend. No... no!

On his way, he spotted a man walking in front of him and he rushed to stop him.

"Daniel." The man said turning to face him.

"Samuel!" Daniel exclaimed, his breathing a bit laboured. "What happened? Where is Zelda?"

Samuel who was one of the warrior's of the pack and also Daniel's good friend looked at him worriedly and replied, "Miss Zelda is okay... for now. She is held in the dungeons. Alpha James said he will deal with her later. Are you alright?"

Hearing this, Daniel frowned. "Fine. I'm fine." By the way things had escalated earlier, James was going to kill Zelda. What made him change his mind? It was not that Daniel was not relieved that she was safe but he was confused about what had happened.

Seeing the confusion on his face Samuel continued, "His highness is here. He had asked to get started with the Tournament right away. I don't think Alpha James has the time to even think about anything else right now."

"His highness?" Daniel looked surprised at this information. Earlier, it was just the Royal officials and ministers that were visiting. But now the king was here in the pack. Daniel felt excitement bubble inside his chest at the thought of meeting the King. But first the need to help his friend.

"How long was I out?" Daniel asked the man as they walked together.

"Less than an hour." The vial injected into his body was to knock him out and not to harm him. "Everyone is in the cemetery for John's funeral. We should get going before it ends." Samuel replied and both men walked where the funeral was being held.

Upon reaching the cemetery, both of them stood at the back not wanting to cause disturbance. Everyone watched silently as the priest stood near the coffin in which John rested, saying prayers and performing other customs.

Daniel was not paying attention but was thinking about how to get Zelda out of there. He was worried about her, that she might be injured badly. Not to forget that she was a human. He wanted to make sure she was alright.

Alpha James was busy now but who knows what he would do once the King leaves. Whatever he might do, he will eventually kill her. Daniel was sure of that. He had to get her out as soon as possible. He won't let her get killed, not when he was alive.

As the day progressed, the wind started turning colder and the sky turned darker. King Sebastian stood near the balcony with a glass of wine. He looked at the tournament taking place at a distance where most of the people where present, including James and his wife.

Sebastian had asked them to begin the tournament without him as the ministers were capable enough to handle it. It was them who managed the tournament for the selection of warriors. He made the final decision on whether he wanted the wolf or not.