Caesar

CHAPTER FOUR • BEAST IN THE CASTLE

EASTERN YUNCHI, MOUNTAINGROIN
    
      ...IN THE ASSIGNED MANOR OF
            EMPEROR LIN, THE SECOND.               

Into the dark manor of Emperor Lin Ninos, Guards stand by the wall, Though dressed in their thick armours, their skin are pale from the extreme cold which penetrates deep into their skins.

The room is a total mess as things are scattered round, tables, chairs broken into pieces, ornaments shattered on the ground. Monstrous munching, bones cracking, skin ripping and hurtful screams comes from the inner room. The door is shot but there are loud bangs on it. On the ground, trails of blood and bloody footprints design the wooden floor making it look out of a crime scene.

The door swings open as a messenger comes in. His eyes moving round the room, body trembling in fear.
"Your Majesty???" His shaky voice calls out. There is no response instead the Munching continues, this time more aggressive as the screams seize. His footsteps sound in a sequence as he makes his way towards the inner room. His eyes glance at the guards, they are like statures still but he could sense their fear.
"This was inhuman!"

His face full of sweat, fist clutched together, heart beating louder than the munching in the background.
His eyes trace the blood trails which leads into the inner room.

"Your Majesty... You have a letter from the Hwansu!'
He holds the letter loosely in his trembling hands.

The inner room door is kicked open and a loud bang eschews. A figure emerges from the room, thinner and more emaciated, its footsteps are moist having that sticky sound as it moves forward, staining the floor, his teeth are clenched together. As it steps into the only light which is dim, the light dimly shows its skin which is paler than that of a corpse, eyes are huge and gorged out like an Egyptian mummy, lids swollen and dark with stress, cheekbone skeletal with barely any flesh covering it.

" Your Majesty???" The Messenger questions wide eyed. His heart beats faster and feet feels wobbly.

"WHERE ARE THE DRUGS???!!!" Emperor Lin moves closer to him as he shakes in fear, stammering he utters;
"The Hwansu sent none Sire..."

"WHAT???"

"...But...but...Instead, he...sent...a let...letter!"

"A letter?? Give it to me!" The Emperor moves away from the inner room entrance and the Messenger finally gets a glimpse of the inner room. Blood stains are on the white walls and the floor, various bloody clothing of maids are on the floor but their bodies are missing. Finally his eyes move steadily tracing it's way out of the room when he comes across a....

Minute ball like organ with curled ropelike structures behind it on the ground rolling. Its pupils stare right at him...

His eyes look at the Emperor's lips, it's bloody so are his clothes and hands. The blood stains the letter as his bloody hands snatch it from him reading out the details;

".         Emperor Lin, Good luck!          "

  In my debts, under my medications, using my funds, living because of my mercy and yet you still dare to rebel against me. I see you no longer fear death.

As brief and short as the letter is, the Emperor is shaken hence the letter falls to the floor. He moves around uneasily and aggressively chewing his fingers till blood leaks right out of it. He itches his head walking in a circle and reciting one sentence;

"WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?"

Racing towards the Messenger, he gropes the already frightened man with his long brown nails digging onto his skin, his gorging eyes staring back at him;

"WHAT DOES HE MEAN???"

******************

The Crown Prince stands by his window fuddling his eyebrow hair. He is lost in the pour of the rain and stares blankly out his window. His door opens and a bunch of maids walk in.

"Your highness...Your tea is ready!"

"Place it on the table then leave!" He commands without bothering to look away from the window.

"Yes, your highness!"

As the maids leave, he approaches the table then picks up the golden jug then he pours a minute potion of the red liquid into his golden cup. As he brings the cup close to his mouth, his eyes observe the liquid.

The liquid seemed...

"Maids!..." They all rush in bending their heads to the ground.

"Ziridal Herb tea is usually dark red but why is it darker today?"

"The Head Chef adhered to your instructions and she used brown sugar instead of white, your highness!" The maid answers in a submissive low tone.

"Really?...you can leave now!"  All the maids leave the room.

He takes one more look at the tea then drowns it in. In his cup, the bottom of the tea is foamy as the black dotted red pills melts in the liquid.