The Lost Chosen Heirs - A Mahalima-Inspired Set of Novels

First Born Vengeance

It was a beautiful Monday morning. Joshua felt good about preventing Maya's life from going to the gutter. He even made sure that the issue wouldn't travel back to their hometown. Last night, when he came home, Lucas warned him about what Arthur would do to him. Yet, he genuinely didn't care. He helped his friend's sister, and he prevented an innocent girl who had only tried to protect her friend from suffering and going to prison.

Alexander Manor was a massive structure that housed a total of fifty rooms. It was almost impossible for people to encounter each other inside the castle regularly. While walking through the castle halls, Joshua remembered Ken's look from the previous night. Ken looked carefree, remaining calm, but his eyes betrayed him. Joshua could see how hurt Ken was, and it pained him.

"Where's my son?" Josh heard Arthur ask one of their servants.

"He had been awaken, my lord."

-Flashback-

The full moon. It was the last thing Joshua Flores saw before his vision blurred. He could feel his life draining as his lungs struggled to pump oxygen into his body. Terrified would be an understatement. What would happen once he died? Where would he go? He couldn't feel anything anymore. His body had gone numb as his blood freely flowed from the stab wound in his upper abdomen. His wheezing got worse as he lay in the gutter, dying.

"Lay still, son. You're going to be alright." A large, muscled man sat beside his body, blocking his view of the moon. "Everything is about to change for you."

He was carried off somewhere, thinking that he would be taken to the hospital. Joshua felt hopeful that he would have a second chance in life. As he lost consciousness, he silently prayed, thanking the Mother and the Father for their kindness. He didn't know that he wouldn't be given a second chance in life. He didn't know that he wouldn't even be alive after that.

-End of Flashback-

"Morning." Joshua greeted casually before taking his spot on the grand dining table.

"How was young Maya? Was she hurt?" Josh knew Arthur wasn't asking because he cared; he wanted to show Josh there was no point in keeping secrets.

"She's fine." He answered shortly.

Joshua sensed the surroundings. There was no one in that area of the castle aside from them. Arthur probably sent everyone out for some work, he thought. Arthur has been interested in his friends, specifically Ken Jaeger, for the past few days. Joshua learned that his adopted father had never done anything randomly for three years. 

"Very good. Be kind to them, especially Ken. He needs you as his friend." And just like that, Arthur left the dining hall without saying another word.

What are you up to? Josh asked in his mind.

-----------------------

Maya woke up anxious about attending the practice. She knew that Josh did everything he could to prevent the issue, but who knows how far those families could go? After bathing, she left her room while Jenny was still asleep. When she reached their living room, Maya saw her mother talking to someone over the phone. She looked unhappy yet still composed.

"I never thought money, power, and connection also work in small towns like this. No problem, I'll tell my daughter." Then, her mother ended the call.

"Mom, is everything okay?" She then asked, announcing herself.

"You're not competing in the pageant anymore. They know what happened."

"Oh."

Disappointed, she couldn't even describe how she felt at that moment. She learned to pour her heart into her participation, only for her to be removed at the last minute. Without nowhere to go, she went back to the second floor. When she remembered her brother not being in his room last night, she checked on him again. Maya was ready to confront her brother, but when she opened the door, Ken's bed was made and empty. At that point, Maya was already worried.