Blood Tainted Rose

Chapter Twenty-eight: War Bound

  Mio walked down the long hallway leading to the King’s Quarters. It wasn’t that her father called for an audience, but that in her room there was something that wasn’t normally there. A dress that looked like it had been made for the upcoming ball was inside her room. Mio was never allowed to attend this event because she is kept a secret, yet there was a dress there in her room. Opening up the door the place looked to be a huge room with books and many desks. In reality this was only the king’s study. His room was else where in the castle. Inside this room was Than laying on the couch and Kern. Noticing Mio was in the room, the demon sat up straight. She walked directly to her father.

     The king normally doesn’t see his daughter look this angry before. Generally the girl brought a nice light atmosphere. “Mio, what is it?” asked Kern staring at his daughter.

     “What is that dress doing in my room?” asked Mio. “I’m not allowed go to the ball because I’m kept a secret.”

     “Tonight you are going,” said Than breaking his silence. He still had the sword that belonged to Lotus. “Your father has decided that tonight you should be announced as the next queen.”

     “I don’t understand,” said Mio backing away from her father. “Why now?”

     Kern came closer to his daughter, taking one of her tiny hands. “I’m not going to die,” assured Kern. “You are being known to the world. You will no longer be a secret.”

     Mio backed away from her father, still confused. “What changed? What’s going to happen?”

     “Young princess,” said Than standing up. “In time you will find out. For now enjoy being able to go to the ball.”

    “I promise everything will be fine,” assured Kern.

    Mio shook her head and left the two behind. She knew better than anyone something was happening. Four days until the ball. In that time frame a lot could happen. But in those four days Mio will learn what happened to Yasha. All she had to do for now is behave and stop asking questions. But that still didn’t mean she would still think them. There was something wrong in the castle and this girl would find out what her father has planned.

Early that same morning, everyone was packed and ready to leave for Ryoku. Team 76 was ready to face the great city for the final battle. William Hares was watching them pack from the window of his jail cell. He didn’t know what would happen this team, but he did know that if they were successful this war would be over. Lotus was taking one last look at herself in the armor for battle one last time before she left. Ryker entered her room so they could leave. As the car started up, Tanya Walls gave a salute to the secret force. Nerves crept up on Lotus as she left Terra again. It was more different than the last time. There were more factors that could go wrong. There was a greater risk of failure.

      Before they left Lotus looked back at everything that had become familiar with her. Match didn’t come to say good-bye. Why would he? She was virtually throwing her life away. On top of that he was with his family. So him not being here didn’t matter. Ryker motioned to her to come inside. Taking one last look she went into. Thus began the three-day journey to Ryoku. Once they were there they had only one day before the ball. Tomorrow the human army from Ryoku and several other smaller ones would be heading there. Once the bombs went off the humans would invade the city while Team 76 would assassinate the king.

      It was a late night after the three-day journey to Ryoku. Both Viper and Jiro were waiting for them. Jiro was wearing armor of his own design. The armor was blank, nothing on it. But it did fit him well. Walking through the secret entrance they went into Viper’s house. They went over the plan one last time. When the human armies arrived Viper would go out to them and give them a map of the city. After the bombs went off, during the confusion Team 76 would invade the castle and kill the king. They had picked Emerald’s dress and had everything lain out. The following morning they were preparing everything for tomorrow night. Getting bombs ready, preparing the suit, and many other things.