The Secrets of the Maddala Kingdom

The Hunt Begins

*Warning; there will be violence in this chapter*

A shadowy figure quickly walks to the heart of the castle, through winding corridors and soon reached a hallway where the descent from modern to old and stopping in front of the heavy black gate door with bars that twisted and twinged. To her right is an enormous window, showcasing the bright stars from above and the full moon twinkling in the night. And in the light of the full moon reveals the figure to be the Queen herself.

Queen Balaine is known to wander to the heart from time to time when she wishes to check on them. However, no one knows whats in the heart itself because only the Queen may enter. Raising her hand towards the door and it slowly opened, Queen Balaine drops her hand and enters through the door. And the gate quietly shut, disturbing not one creature at midnight. 

Dawn rose from the behind the ocean and stretched across the sky, resting while the sun rose from its slumber, blinking and shining bright as the day went on. Huni heard the a slight squeak of her floorboard. With her eyes still closed, Huni slid her hand underneath her pillow and grasped her knife. She hid her knife within the folds of the nightgown. She steadied her heart, and grasped her blanket with the other hand and counted down.

'Three'

'Two'

'One!'

She tossed her blanket aside and lunged at her supposed attacker. Huni grabbed the neck  and pressed down and squeezing her thighs around the waist. it took a second before she recognized that it is her own brother: Haru.

"I'm so sorry, Haru!" Huni apologized before getting off her brother and offering her hand. Haru took it and he's grinning like an idiot.

"It's fine Huni, you don't need to be sorry." he hugged her tight. Huni hugged him back, sniffed and shoved him off. He went crashing into her dresser, shaking it. He stared at her with wide eyes. Huni merely narrows her eyes, watching him. She watches his eyes flicker from surprise, to wonder, to suspicion with an impassive expression. 

"You're not my brother." She stated, taking one step closer to him. Snarling, he got up and taking a step. A moment pauses then he launches himself at her and attempts to pin her down. Huni lifts her leg and jabs her knee into his stomach, making him curl. She flips them in an instant, grabs his right arm and bend it back, breaking the bone. He grits his teeth and slaps a hand over his mouth. Discretely, she twists the ring on her finger, revealing a small spike. She curled her hand with the spike ring and brought it down. He dodges her fist and rolls off from under her. Huni fell and jumps right back up at the same he did. Huni, across the room and he standing next to her bed. 

"Where is my brother, you fiend." He grins savagely and her temper rose.

 Reaching within the folds of the nightgown, she extracts her knife and brought it towards the light. She struck hard and fast but he dodges. She arms herself with another knife from her drawer and sliced at him. He jumps but her knife caught the snag of his shirt, ripping it. He punches but Huni sidesteps him and swipes again. He ducks and swings at her but Huni somersaulted over his head and lands, sliding her feet on the carpet. Huni stands and he turns around and swings at her with raised fists. Huni crosses her arms to form an x, blocking but he twists her hands, freeing the knives in her hand. 

Twisting her body, she managed to grab her knives again. She drove her knives in to different directions from when she caught them at the same time. He screams when one knife lands in his thigh as the other lands on his groin. A piercing scream tore from his lips. She swiftly delivered a roundhouse kick to his face, knocking him on the ground. She jumps on him and pins him to the ground. Huni pulls a knife from underneath a loose floorboard with her right hand and stabs him right through his right hand, pinning him. He screams until his throat turns dry.

"Now, where is my brother and I might spare your pathetic life" Huni growled.

"At.. the town of Saelasa down in the south,..." he gasped out. "Please spare my life, I gave you all I know, I swear." he begged 

Huni sat back, thoughts bounced around her head. 'Now all I need to do is get rid of him.' 

"GUARDS!" She shouted and two guards bursted through the door, kneeled down on one knee.

"Take this impostor and hang him," Huni ordered once she got up; "in the courtyard behind the castle."

"Yes, m'am" the left guard stood up and pried the impostor off the ground, took hold of his head, and walked out, the prisoner, whimpering.

Huni stalked towards the window, arms folded behind her, sharp determination steeled her eyes, observing the high risen sun.

"Your Highness,.." the guard spoke up, paused when Huni raised a hand. A lazy smirk graced her lips as she placed her hand behind her back once more.

"Just wait for Mist to come back." she simply said. 

"Very well Your Highness, I shall stay." 

The other guard, Mist, came into the room and kneeled once more.

"The deed has been done, how would you like to dispose it."

Without turning around, she simply replies; "Feed the tigers, I'm sure they're very hungry for fresh meat"

"Yes m'am" Mist, once again stalked off,closely followed by Amartie and the door closes.

Seconds later, the door is open once more by a young servant with a heart shaped face and lean figure. Several small purple and blue littered his lower neck are exposed while a goofy smile light up his face.

"Can you pack my traveling clothes, Ben?"

Ben jumped, before he noticed Huni at her window, her back facing towards him. he frowned when he realizes what she asked.

"But, you just came back. How could you go out again."

She smiled albeit trajectory, her facade of the confident young woman from before faded, leaving only a sad teenage girl.

"It seems as though there's one more hunting trip  before I can truly be home"

He heaved a sigh, and began folding her clothes and set them on the bed. 

"Please be careful, I don't want the last time I see my friend again, she's in pieces."

She turned around, grateful smile beaming while relief danced in her eyes.

"Of course" she promised

Ben beamed back at her.

"Thank you, Huni"