Blood King

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

Celina came awake to feeling something next to her in her bed, opening her eyes she saw brother sleeping next to her. She stared at his sleeping face for a moment then sighed.

It happened again. She thought as she sat up but remained looking down on her brother. This is the fifth time this week, but then if it’s getting close to that day then I cannot blame him.

He looked exhausted like he had not been able to sleep for the past few days; the man named Strikerius had left within a day from waking after fighting the creature called the Shadow Bloodhound, followed with the sudden leaving of Rayson and his two sons.

And now with the coming day of his birth preparations were being made and even though it was a celebration for the Prince he was still greatly part of it trying to organize and figure out where everything would ultimately go. Even the Ministers looked like they were about to run ragged from this event as well, though she could tell that a few looked a bit unpleased, like they did not want Xavier to turn twenty.

Though the event wasn’t the only reason for him being in her bed, the other reason was for the anniversary of the former King and Queen’s death, which would be today when Celina thought about it. But he had done it many other times too.

In the past when the former King and Queen were alive, Xavier would sneak into Celina’s room at night and sleep with her, holding her close as if hoping that being with her would bring whatever he was facing with to vanish in the darkness. He did it a lot when their step mother came; it was almost as if Xavier feared the woman, though she could not understand as to why that was. She could only assume that the Queen was beating him, for at times she would see many bruises on his flesh though he would do his best to hide it from her.

Celina wanted to confront the Queen about it, but she always had such a cold gaze and almost always looked at both Celina and Xavier with disgust. But at times would treat Celina like her own daughter, but when her brother saw, he would quickly pull Celina away from the woman and say: “Don’t you dare touch her you or your brother!” before taking her somewhere where the Queen and her brother was not nearby.

            There stepmother was originally from the lands of Labadier, however she did not come alone, a brother of her’s at least a year younger, escorted the soon to be Queen. At the age she was Celina felt as if there was another reason for it, but she was unable to get a straight answer for she was seen only as a child, even if she was still a child there were things she could tell by looking at someone, and the Queen’s brother was someone that she did not like he made her feel uncomfortable and her brother knew this and would do everything in his power to keep him away from her.

            Their father seemed unaware of this, mainly because that his one and only love, had died from illness, Celina frowned, she couldn’t recall her mother’s face, but she knew where she could go to remember. She looked back to her brother who was still fast asleep in her bed and quietly removed herself from his gentle hold, placed on a long coat over her sleeping gown and a pair of silk slippers before leaving her room only to glance back as she closed the door to watch him sleep then left him to rest.

            The sun was just about rising, casing a bright golden blue glow through the halls as she walked, many of the servants were down in the kitchen or in the main halls preparing, outside there were the knights practicing for an event that would be shown on the day of Xavier’s birth along with other events too. From one of the windows she caught a glimpse of a cart that held both men and women.

            Since the incident of the wolf had been resolved the past few days many people who were afraid to travel could now return to the lands of this kingdom, along with those hoping to work in the castle, since the rumors of men and women being killed and eaten it made much of those who worked in the castle fear for their own lives and that of their families. But now with that over new workers were coming to see about working for the Prince.