The Lost Heirs Vendetta

Chapter 44: Preparing for the Mission

"I never said you couldn't fight." Brock says, denying his previous thoughts from earlier this morning. It was now nightfall and the sky was stained black with tiny specks of white. The moon did little to illuminate the sky which was only better for us. The less light there was, the easier we would be able to sneak around without being caught.

"Yes, you did," I snipped back, finally tying off the last couple of straps to complete the outfit.

Brock insisted on wearing this all black outfit. I thought it looked absolutely ridiculous. It was just black pants with sheaths for our knives on the sides. I had a black long sleeve and a hood over it that would slip onto my shoulders like a jacket but go no lower than the upper part of my chest.

When I looked in the mirror to examine the hideous cloth I allowed onto my body, Brock spoke again.

"When did I ever say you couldn't fight?"

"Just the way you speak about me in front of all of them is utterly disgusting."

"Since when did you care?" He is glaring at me now. His face looked very punchable. Of course, I refrained from letting my inner thought become a reality and further examined my outfit in the mirror.

"I don't," I say.

"Mhm," he says, crossing his arms rather exaggeratingly. "You know if I didn't know better, I just think you want to impress your little girlfriend."

I could feel my cheeks redden which bothered me. A lot. Since when did I become weak over a woman?

"Absolutely not," I say, avoiding Brock's gaze. The last thing I needed was him to see my face and prove him right.

"Yeah, sure," he says, adjusting his own outfit now, "just don't let her be a distraction to you tonight. I need my partner to have their head on straight."

I considered saying some sort of witty response but the words wouldn't form in my head. I regrettably let it go and let Brock win at this conversation for now.

"Are you ready to go or what?" I say, sheathing my final dagger. Brock slipped his hood on, a shadow covering his face.

"Let's go," he says nodding towards the door.

Brock's room was close to Amoras. In fact, all of the royal rooms were close to each other. I hadn't realized until now that an entire corner of the castle was meant just for their living quarters. Everything from their rooms to personal libraries and kitchens for maids. I realized how much Aleah's siblings had that she didn't. While everyone else had their own reading areas, kitchens, and large bathrooms, she had none of it. Her bathroom was smaller and the only thing close to a library in her room was the few shelves I saw located at each corner. I don't think I saw a kitchen anywhere near her room either. I'm sure I would have noticed.

"You're sure she's not there?" I whisper.

"Shut up," Brock yells but in whisper form. I was a little offended at his choice of words. "And yes, I'm sure she's not there."

I didn't question him. He seemed to know more than me in the matter at hand.

The halls were dark and seemed almost forgotten. It was actually unusually dark. I was about to ask Brock why when I realized that all of the torches that were usually lit aflame on the side of the halls were now suddenly out. I forgot that during the time following the attack on the church, Aleah's Father gave the order to all of the royal guards.

Every soldier got their own mandatory schedule. There were no soldiers inside the palace. Every single one of them was outside protecting all of the entrances and exits. The castle was now on complete lockdown. Not one of the royal family members were permitted to leave except for the king and queen who were the only exceptions.

In my opinion, I think it may have been the dumbests decision the king has ever made. If I were king, I would have had soldiers lining every hall from the very first attack on Brock. There were still soldiers posted at the entrances and exits when that happened and they clearly didn't see anything out of the ordinary which means the attacker must have gotten in another way other than the obvious main entrances. Adding more guards outside and taking away from the inside only made the attackers life easier.

I thought about how easily someone could get to Aleah. How easily someone could hurt her. But then, I also remembered that she has powers. But, not any normal powers. She had the power of Shadowfire which both gave me comfort and terror. After she told me, I had gone to do my own research and found out a couple things that were rather a shock.

Apparently, she is destined to destroy her kingdom which is not something I believe she would ever do. That entire prophecy was just absurd. Aleah is quite possibly the kindest and most innocent person I've ever met. She doesn't seem like the type of person who would want to hurt anyone. However, there is something to be said about her hatred for her sister, Amora, and how that could be used as a gateway for her to turn into something evil.

It is possible that she could be consumed by so much anger and hatred that she couldn't control what she feels, she wouldn't control what she does. And I wouldn't blame her. All her life, she's been looked down upon. Her mother, her father, her siblings, even her own people forgot who she was until she was the one to save them all.

How selfish of them. To only care about her now because she's the only one that can save them. If I were her, I would use my powers to level this castle and build my own empire. I would rule and people would fear my name. I try my best to not let that side of me show to Aleah or any of my new acquaintances who I only trust because we have a common enemy.

Sometimes I wonder if this prophecy is something that Aleah fears. I wonder if it hangs over her head like a knife, just waiting to be dropped. Part of me feels bad that she has to live with such a burden like that. I wondered if Brock knew about the prophecy but I held my tongue, deciding that it would be best to focus on the mission rather than satisfy my own curiosity.

But, I have a plan. A plan that will get me and Aleah out of here forever. I've been scheming for it ever since that night we kissed. Ever since my true feelings for her were confirmed. Powers or not, I would burn the entire world for her.

Soon, we'll be gone and she will rule beside me as queen of Trithia and hopefully, my brother will be reunited with my family and standing by my side. I just hope I can find him before the wedding and that she doesn't hate me enough afterwards to come with me.

I wondered if her hatred for her parents and sister, Amora, would be enough to flee from her kingdom. Maybe she would even find enough hatred in her to start a war with me at her side.