Soul Behind The Mask

4. Drown

Duke Tirich smiled from his cell as he saw from his magical crystal's mirror the black lion return from one of his frequent trips outside towards the castle. As soon as he would arrive, a little surprise was waiting for him. Everything was going according to plan.

Lewis stopped some meters before reaching the magestic, yet old building and transformed back to his human self. Two guards from the Empire met him, not allowing him to pass.

"Excuse us, sir, direct orders from the King, you're not allowed to own this property anymore".

He sighed, feeling both his exhaustion and rage slowly increasing. Despite this, he made an effort to appear calm and collected to their eyes.

"May I know the reason of such?"

"Your Queen and mother, has recently passed away due to poisoning. The letter sent to your parents confirms it was your actions done."

Nothing was making any sense. Letter? Poisoning? His mother too now? He felt fire burning up in his veins, yet he made another effort to not lose control.

"Where is this letter?"

"We cannot fulfill your request, sir"

"Why not?"

"Direct orders, sir"

He couldn't hold this any longer. The black lion ran as fast as he could to his parents castle. He stormed in, throwing the guards to the sides with his strong feline body and quickly morphed back to run to his mother.

He saw his parents in the main hall.

"WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON??"

His parents, busy talking to a merchant, instantly turned to him. The prince didn't let them speak as he grabbed his mother by the shoulders, shaking her.

"What does this mean? You're alive?!"

The king came back to his senses after the initial shock and tried to let him get away from her, with the help of some royal guards he called. The enraged prince pushed her to a wall. Blood was starting to pour from her head as her eyes began to feel heavier and heavier.

"Why? What is the meaning of this? Mother please!!"

"Why are you here?! Who let you enter?? Let go of your mother immediately!!"

A physician who was near the hysteria came to check on her. His face grew pale as he muttered the words showing she was dead.

Lewis couldn't grasp the order of events. Everything was happening very fast. He didn't even notice tears flowing from his eyes. His mind, both silent and full of voices, tried in vain to make sense of what just occurred. It was impossible she was dead. She was alright a few minutes ago! She was a Sacred Feline just as his father! Nothing could kill her. He looked in horror at his hands and then back at her, surrounded by two medics now trying to bring her back to life.

He didn't even hear the king, shouting to him, banishing him eternally from the Empire. His mind started spinning and he growled in agony trying to set free from two guards hold. When he broke away from their arms, Lewis transformed to the black lion and ran back to the forest, collapsing to the ground from exhaustion. He finally lost it as he loudly yelled, crying and sobbing afterwards as much as he could, until he gave in to sleep.

*******

Back to reality, the banished prince woke up from his sleep. It was one of these nights where nightmares from the past came back to him, haunting him forever. He grunted. His head was in pain again.

He sighed. If he was considered a cold distant person after his dead sister's passing, now everyone hated him to death. How could anyone, let alone him, kill his own mother. A murderer. A monster. That's what he was.

He covered his face with his hands. Ah, those hands, full of blood.

He turned around to try to fall asleep again, in vain. These dark thoughts were so annoying. So tiring. And the only time he could find peace was with her.

He stood up, putting on some clothes and left the tabern he was staying in to walk for a bit. The streets were empty, everyone was having their deserved rests after long days of labour and entertainment. Not him. He didn't deserve anything good. His feline eyes got used to the dark, noticing some stray cats wandering. Months of living outside, they knew him way too well to ignore him. And they were some of the companions he had left trusting him, now that he had the entire Empire despising him. He climb to a house's roof and began running like a shadow, the full moon his only witness. As soon as he reached the last roof, he jumped transforming back to his Sacred Feline lion form, running towards the evening date spot he and Ashlyn shared in the tall grass fields.

*******

Ashlyn tossed and turned on her bed. As much as she pretended to be okay with her family, she felt things weren't going as good as she imagined anymore. His parents had some troubles with the finished goods he had to carry to the other city, and this has been one of the main reasons causing quarrels at home. She was so tired of them.

She sighed and sat on her bed, looking at the moon showing itself from the window. It was a peaceful night, perfect for calming down her nerves outside. The dark blue sky was showing some beautiful stars, blinking, here and there. And the decision was now taken. She quietly grabbed some of his father's clothes and adjusted them to herself. Pants were the best example for running outside, and so a pair of comfortable boots. She checked once again that the three members of her family were asleep, and immediately jumped through the window outside from the cottage. And she ran.

The girl ran as fast as she could. As fast as her legs allowed her to. She slowly stopped though, wishing to rest for a while. Walking around, she suddenly noticed an animal figure on the distance. She came closer to observe it. It was a lion. A dark blonde mained lion to be precise.

She hid, laying down on the grass not to be seen, not noticing the feline felt her presence long time ago. This was so weird. Lions could be encountered occasionally in the Empire, especially in areas with more vegetation, so that could be pretty normal. Unless... It was a member of the Sacred Feline Royal Family. But that was impossible. A member of the Royal Family... here? Near her family cottage? She was not popular or important enough anyway... Was she in trouble, then? And who was that person anyway? The royal family barely showed themselves to the public, and all she knew is that the Crown Princess was brutally murdered by her own brother. Hope she didn't meet him. That man seemed to be dangerous.

Lost in thoughts, she didn't notice the huge feline approaching her quietly, until the lion prince faced her.