Elf Prince - Protected by the Elf Prince Part 3

Chapter 9

Gaelin Garden Maze...

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A dark shadow was being cast across the Gaelin castle grounds, even at night. Everyone from the castle had been evacuated and were being escorted out the emergency exits used for escaping sieges and fires. All the animals of the night went silent. The crickets stopped chirping, the fireflies stopped their lights, the owls stopped hooting. Only the eerie sound of the wind could be heard across the night sky.

Its presence caused all the animals, asleep and awake, to quickly flee their garden homes. The birds flew up to the safety of the tall castle walls. The squirrels, rabbits, and weasels took shelter in the drain gutters within the walls. The little vixen and her mate, whose den was closest to the maze, quickly ushered their kits out and took them to safety with the other animals.

A brown-skinned vampire stalked through the Gaelin maze, searching for something. His charcoal black jacket and pants reflected the starlight as he trumped through the corners and dead ends. His brown, swept back hair barely swayed in the wind. A dark, loathsome aura radiated from him, full of malivance, contempt, apathy, and madness. His silver-white, undead eyes were incapable of emotion, mercy, or sympathy. The grass beneath his feet withered and turned black as it died. He had an aura of death wherever he stepped.

The Dark one didn't seem to mind that he was getting lost. He seemed like he was having some sort of sick amusement. He let out a taunting, cruel laugh. His face held a sneer so evil and alluring, it made even the stoutest of any race or magical being shutter in fright.

"Come out, come out." he called out in a nauseating, sing-song voice, "Silly little Raaos."

Raaos didn't appear. Instead, his voice echoed in different places across the maze, trying to confuse and lure the vampire away from the Shrine.

"Dark One.... Why do you seek me out?"

"It was inevitable." said the vampire, "Us Dark Children calling out for the lives of the Light."

"What's inevitable is your defeat. This realm is protected by the Four Guardians and we will not let the Dark win."

"I'm inclined to agree to disagree." said the dark one, unfazed, "Darkness will fall here and we shall consume the Light. It's best to join the Darkness now..."

The vampire dragged his clawed finger along the leaves of the hedge maze. They instantly withered and died as he drained the life out of them.

"...or be left to be consumed."

"Neither is an option for Oira Londe." said Raaos firmly, "We will not fall to the Darkness."

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Elluin

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My heart was racing as I ran after Father. We ran past several castle servants and residents who were being taken to hidden emergency exits within the castle walls. Some remained calm while others were frightened, but they followed protocol and allowed the soldiers and guards to lead them out. People quickly stepped aside to let me and my father pass.

Once we were in an empty corridor, my father continued to give me instructions on how to get to the Ilphas shrine.

"Listen to Cydall when she calls out." Father concluded, "She will guide you to the shrine's location."

"I will Father." I replied.

Soon, we got to the Gaelin War room. It was guarded on all sides by ten Elite Royal Guards, including the lieutenant from our mission at the Akasha Ruins. Despite their stone-expressionless faces, their eyes showed that even they were frightened of whatever dark monster was out there.