Shadow Princess

Chapter Six: Dead Ends

The heavy leaved tree sways in the breeze, as the sky darkens with a promising storm. The grey clouds swirl together and the wind picks up speed. The king stands under a tall tree, watching the surrounding ones get whipped around. A cruel smile found its way to his lips as his grey eyes stares at the unpenetrated wall of storm. Lightning blisters the sky, searing his eyes. Mumbling, the king brings his eyes down to the ground, watching the purple flash pass over him. A black silhouette appears, an outline of a male's body. The dim light of the stormy day illuminates his face.

Blood red eyes burns under the light, a ghost of a sarcastic smile lingers on his face as he stares at the king. He wears tattered clothing, hanging in strips. Both black due to color deuteriation. "My lord." The male purrs, bowing at his waist.

The king lets out a snort of displeasure, his lips twisting into a sneer. "Drakae," the older male murmurs, his voice deep, "remember your place."

The other male tilts his head and crosses his arms over his chest. A black tattoo wraps around his arm, circling under his shirt sleeve. "I do. I am curious on why you summoned me here after all these years."

"I am sending one of my best hunters and trackers to find her. He is ready." The king replies.

A dark smile forms upon the other male's lips. "Oh, this is good." The clouds open and pours rain upon them. The purple flashes again and Drakae disappears.

∞†∞†∞

Julius Flynn stands by a roaring river, the storm churning above. Thunder rumbles and lightning flashes, making him back away from the river. Mortal lands are too unpredictable. He crosses his arms over his chest and watches the horizon. It's been three hours since Jacob and Davis have been sent into the town, to search for clues for Callista Shawcross. In his left pocket, sits a photo of the girl and she is about eight-years-old in the picture. Short black hair and light blue eyes, a gaunt face filled with trauma. She looks vaguely familiar, but a black spot forms and little sparks of pain fill his head.

The fourth lead led them here, a town called Morton. The town is surrounded by a grove of trees, like a wall. Variety of trees going from oaks to pine trees. Julius doesn't understand what they could be protecting themselves from. It's the mortal realm, no supernatural are to trespass into the lands. The law by the Elders makes them abide to it. His father made the Eight Elders go into hiding after killing three of them. The other five have been out of action for over ten years.

The Eight Elders are a group of males who lived since the first vampire, Fae, werewolf, and other creatures were created. The Elders' formed a pack, creating the Council of Elders. All the supernatural at the time were at war, each against the other, no allies. When their people kept dying, the stakes were getting higher. They formed the Council and enforced the laws they made. Each Elder is the elder of their kind. Meres, the Elder of Vampires, was the first one his father killed. Julius remembers that night, just before he became a fully-fledged male.

Meres was in the kingdom to discuss prisoners with the king, when he was poisoned. When his king announced it was, he who killed the Elder, the people started riots. Peace and honesty were hard in the Vampi Kingdom, so no one knew what to do when his father started to tell them of his plan to get complete control of the Supernatural Realm, in the end, the Mortal Realm as well. That was the night he had left, to disappear into the Outlaw Village.

"Julius?" Jacob's voice echoes the trees, scattering the birds. The male turns and watches as the person who spoke and a man named Davis walk to him. Their faces are haggard with defeat and inwardly, Julius curses.

"Anything?" he asks, noting the way they glance at each other, looking troubled. The males come to a stop in front of him, their clothes dirty for the scoping of clues. Something had cut down Davis's cheek, dry blood crusted his jaw line.