Forsaken King

The witch's son

There was a rumor that the woman was witch who practiced black magic. She bewitched the King and led him to his demise. The King under her clutches could do nothing but obey her commands. 

He was madly in love and decided to marry her, she bore a child but not long before the child was born the kingdoms newly-appointed oracle prophesied that the child unless killed would bring the kingdom to its downfall.

"Run Rafael don't look back!"

Her mother bellowed, desperate for his survival. His vision blurred with tears but he continued to run, his small body numb from the continuous cut of the forest untamed weeds. It was a cold and silent night, all he could hear was his continuous sobbing and panting.

"He's over here!"

A man yelled making him fear more for his life. He still couldn't accept his fate. It all seems to be a distant dream, where everything was the way it was supposed to be. He would wake up from his mother's call, dress up, dine with his father, and spend the afternoon studying and reading books. Even if he was continuously bullied by his cousins and his brother, he has them he thought to himself. What's the point of running away? I've lost it all. There's nothing left for me I'm all alone.

He stopped on his track, before him a deep and dark hollow trench. All hopes of escaping started to fade. 'If only I could go back, if only I had another chance.' He closed his eyes welcoming the cold breeze across his face while inhaling slowly as if trying to reclaim his peace one last time. "He's here!" the man finally catches up to him. Behind him was the person he considered his dearest friend only to have him stab his back. Rafael looks at him dead in the eyes, mouthing the words 'I trusted you' before shooting him a killing glare digging deep into his soul. "The witch's son is here!" another man holding a torch shouted to his allies. His attention along with his fierce gaze shifted to the mobs arriving with the intent to kill. He exhaled inwardly to gain his composure "Never show weakness to your enemies." His father's voice echoed in his mind. Facing his enemies with a stern look, for a moment he felt proud of himself. This was the very first time he decided to face his fears and probably the last time. To face the opposition that has long suppress him with nothing to lose, at that moment the fear that enveloped him disappeared.

"Look at this shameless man not even a shed of tear, it was your fault your mother is dead!"

A familiar voice from the shadow spoke and from the darkness, his 'so-called' brother appeared looking at him mockingly. His anger boiled to the highest peak making his eyes illuminated by the moon turn red. 

"Don't come back Rafael..Go run away! Forget everything-- forget that you were once a prince! Live your life!..Never come back.."

I am indeed shameless I know it was all my fault, it's because I didn't have the courage. I ended up running away from everything even leaving my mother behind. I cannot forgive myself. If only I had the courage, if only I didn't run away she wouldn't have died.

"Your mother?! You speak as if you're talking for a stranger. Was it only me she considered her own!? She took pity of you and took you as her own Hyekel, you ungrateful scum! I swear to the Gods I Rafael Aryehnes will have my revenge! The next time I see you I will make you feed on your rotting flesh!" 

He replied his every word bitter it chilled Hyekel to the bones he has never seen him like this, the weak prince he was always putting under his feet now threatening his life. He couldn't accept it, the fact that he is indeed scared of him. Even at that moment he felt jealousy, you were her only son. 'You dare call me ungrateful-- but you're right all I felt was pity all this time. I was never good enough.' He thought to himself.

"Hah," He scoffs as a reply to Rafael's remarks. "There will be no next time my dear brother, the Gods have forsaken you. 'As they have forsaken me'  you're a curse that endangers the people, don't blame me! I'm only doing this for the sake of the kingdom."

His hypocrisy made Rafael's stomach churned. "Catch him!" Hyekel shouted leading the mob to attack but before they could even reach him. He leaped to his death "Ah sweet embrace of death do not deny me of justice" he whispered melodiously before falling into the eternal darkness.