The Zodiac Cycle

2.14 Let's have a chat

Keith had woken up with a splitting headache in a strange place with people he didnt know. He was being led down a hall by two vampires in maroon armor. Both of them carried spears with them.

Keith hadn't seen Amber or her group since he had woken up, and wondered if they had also gotten captured. All his belongings had been confiscated, including the Tracker, and his wings had been bound.

What seemed odd though, was the fact that one of the vampire guards had wings that were also bound.

He wanted to ask about it, but it seemed out of place.

He stayed quiet as he was guided into a well-lit room with a circular table in the center, and only one entrance. The table was set out with some kind or steak and potato dinner for two people, and some wine and water. Keith was told to sit in one of the chairs, and once he did, the two guards left him in the room alone.

He sat there awkwardly for a few minutes, unsure what to do. He thought of trying to leave, since he was unrestrained other than his wings, but he figured those guards were outside the door. There wasnt much in the room he could use as a weapon, just silverware and steak knives.

As he was pondering, the door opened once again and someone else entered, sitting down across the table from him.

It was Zach.

"Hello Guardian." Zach greeted Keith before clasping his hands together on the table.

Keith didn't respond, he was confused.

"I hope the meal is to your liking. The chefs prepared it more cooked than usual since we were unsure of your preference." Zach picked up his fork and knife and sliced into his bloody steak.

Keith looked at the steak on his plate. Was it poisoned?

"I wanted to have a discussion with you, just the two of us." Zach continued, unphased by Keith's rare silence.

"Then by all means, say what you must." Keith raised an eyebrow at him.

"You act as if I'm some sort of psychotic villain." Zach chuckled, taking a sip of wine.

"Am I supposed to think otherwise?" Keith remarked sarcastically.

Zach looked at him a moment, reading him. "I assure you, I am no threat to people that are not a threat to me."

"What does that make me?"

"That depends entirely on which direction we take this discussion."

Keith fiddled with the potatoes on his plate, still debating whether or not he should eat them.

"I offer everyone who enters this kingdom a fair chance of a good life." Zach set his silverware down. "Anyone that works with me does so of their own will, and unless they threaten me in any way, I do my best not to harm them."

"And those that do threaten you?" Keith asked.

"I handle them as any king should." Zach replied.

"Then tell me why you would attack the Scorpio and Cancer unprevoked."

"I was under the false notion that you had already recruited them. I saw you as a threat to me considering my kingdoms relationship with Amoa."

"What does my country have to do with it?"

"Are you aware, that the eight countries of this word were built on the notion of the six elements?"

Keith shook his head.

"Soleil was based on fire, and is home to most of the magically gifted, flame-bound, and passionate species. Cordelia was made for the water-based species, Zephyr for the Air, and Axton for the Earth." Zach explained. "The human zone was made for those that were not bound by the elements."

"And what of Amoa and Abbadon?" Keith pushed a bit, hoping for Zach to get to the point already.

"Amoa is the land of purity and light, and Abbadon is of impurity and darkness. As such, the two have never had the best view of the other, much like how you view me." Zach took another drink of wine. "I would like to take this time and allow you to ask any questions you wish of me. I will answer honestly and as best as I can."

Keith considered his offer for a moment. "What's the catch?"

"That you take consideration of what I say." Zach shrugged, picking back up his utensils and continuing to eat.

"That's all?"

"Yes."

"Okay." Keith thought about what to ask him. "How are you planning on purifying the world."

"I have a device that will send out a shockwave. Anyone not wearing one of these" he lifted his arm up to show Keith a metallic bracelet on his wrist "will die instantly."

"Dont you think that's a bit excessive? What if you made a mistake and killed innocents?"

Zach smiled. "Innocent people die every day because of those with rotten hearts. I plan on not allowing any more bad people to stay and continue corrupting the world."

"And who decides who will die and who will stay?"

"That's not any concern of yours, though I will tell you that I'm not the judge of that."

"Did you recruit one of the Zodiacs to your side?" Keith needed to know.

"Yes." Zach nodded.

"Who?"

"I have promised confidentiality on that one. I cannot say."

Keith cursed under his breath before continuing. "What about you? Do you view yourself as someone with a pure heart?"

Zach sighed. "I have done many wrongs in my life, but always for the right reason. For that, I cannot tell you whether I am of a good soul or not, merely that i hope I am pure."

Keith tried to read Zach, but he was unable to. He couldnt tell if Zach was lying about anything. Keith did have one more question though. "What do you intend to do to the Zodiacs?"

"I have made a compromise with one, but the others will die if they intend to face me as an enemy." Zach finished the food on his plate and took a drink from his water glass.

Keith looked at his untouched plate with worry. Had he pushed the Zodiacs into a trap? "Are they already in the castle?"

"As far as I am aware, they entered the castle around the time I entered this room." Zach stood up. "Speaking of, I think we are done here." He pushed his chair in. "This is the hard part of our discussion. Are you with me or against me?" Zach locked eyes with Keith with a stare that could shatter glass.

"I am on whichever side my friends are on." Keith confirmed.

"A pity, you could be quite useful in my ranks." Zach stepped toward the door and opened it.

Keith took his moment to pick up his steak knife and throw it as Zachs head.

Zach caught it mere inches away from its mark. He looked at Keith with another stone-cold-stare.

"I sometimes forget you trained them, Keith." That was the first time Zach said his name, and Keith hadn't told him what it was. Whoever the traitor was had been able to get messages to Keith despite their best efforts.

That meant it was most likely not Iris, since she had been monitored the most.

Was it possible that Zach had recruited one of the others outside of the cooperative?

Zach scoffed and turned to walk out the door. "Restrain him." The guards had been outside the door, just as Keith had thought, and they were heading right towards him.

"You wont win this!" Keith shouted to Zach, making his stop and turn his head slightly back as the guards grabbed Keith by the arms, despite his best effort.

"Perhaps, but I never lose."

(What do you guys think of the vampire king? Do you like him? Do you not like him? Do yall still stick to your original stance on who you think the traitor is? Or have you changed your mind? Let me know! I LOVE feedback!)