Shadow Princess

Chapter Twenty: All for Nothing

The ground is scraped from where Julius was thrown. He stands beside the General's unconscious body, surrounded by his guards. He wants to kick at the dirt, tempted to hit him, but he knew the moment this male woke up, all hell will break loose from him and his father. The Mage's house crumbles, a billow of dust settling around it. The moment she was freed, the mansion his father conjured up broke apart.

The Yelkites start to move and Julius stands beside the General's body with his arms crossed. The first one jumps up and snarls at him, kneeling beside his commander. He pulls out a vial from his robe, a bright purple liquid that is dribbled into his mouth. The General coughs, sitting up. His eyes open and narrow in on Julius standing over him.

"Once again, the girl is gone on your account. This time I saw it happen," the General snarls, standing up, "You let your feelings for the human cloud your judgements."

Julius felt the relief of her escape flow through him. The pile of memories that flicker through his mind a reminder to why his father and his allies should never be trusted. Not that he ever did, but now he knew for sure. "Yeah, sure. Blame this on me. What did you guys think would happen if you stampede towards the Mage's house?"

"We own her," the male hisses, stepping closer, "She should've stood down and allowed us to take the human."

The own part of the sentence bothers Julius, but before he could retort back, two Yelkites seize his arms. They pin them to his sides where he can't move them and the General gives a satisfied grunt. He tries to push them off, but their grip gets tighter and the other Yelkite shakes his head.

"To the palace we go." The General orders, laughing as he watches Julius struggle. "You can explain to the King why we failed to bring in his prize."

The Yelkites shove him forward and they start walking, Julius trying his hardest to push his heels into the ground beneath him. The memories push at him, the ones of his father in his younger years. The missing memories and why Callista is so important. Royal Werewolf, the last heir. Though that isn't entirely true due to Marcus still being a forced ally to the kingdom.

People line the sidewalks as the make their way back to the palace, concerned faces of the Outlaw Village fill his vision. Some are cruel and bitter as they take in the small group of them as they walk by. They enter the looming gate of Yelkite Barracks, where the other two groups are situated. Jacob and Davis look tense, their arms pinned at their backs as well.

A bigger Yelkite stood beside the group, his arms crossed with a frown. A spiraling tattoo maps the left of side of his face, disappearing underneath his collar. Julius felt his breath leave his body. He never once met the leader of the Yelkites, always assumed he never existed. His dark yellow eyes pass over the dragged prince and nods his head in respect to the General. He grinds his teeth together, hoping to ignore the pinch of hatred that floods him.

They start to walk by, but the Leader of Yelkites move to match behind them, a lazy smile playing his lips. They make it to the entrance to the palace where the doors swing open. De ja vu rolls through him as he gets pushed through the doorway. He hears Jacob cursing and Davis grumbling behind him. In the hallway, stands the king. His face is caught in a sneer as he watches them pile in. At his side is a teenage boy, dim red eyes looking over him. A smirk recedes over his face.

Julius feels his body seize at the eyes on him. This boy is dangerous and cruel, but he isn't sure on what he is. He looks like a normal teenage boy, but the red eyes that stare at him seem to go through him. He stands right beside the king, like he was born for it. A shadow drapes his shoulder like a scarf, sending a memory of the illusion he tried to play on them.

The King watches them as they come closer and his dark grey eyes rest on his son. He shakes his head, his lips tightening in a thin white line. He wanted to leave, but he feels the hands on his arms and shoves him to kneel before the king. He crosses his arms over his chest and looks down on him.