A Fairy Tale

CHAPTER TWO - A World to Create

Lydia felt the power emanating from the castle and reacted slowly from the force of Vivian's rage. She wore her amulet that protects her from a witch's curse but she forgot her charge was susceptoble. She was thrown across the field and felled onto a tree. Lydia immediately moved to her to give aid.

Rose felt pain in her right shoulder as she struggled to sit. The impact of the hit caused her teeth to chatter. She felt her bones and skin burning and her eyes watered from the pain. She tried to open her eyes but the splinters from the felled tree barks practically blinded her.

"Aunt Lydia, help!" She pleaded.

She felt that she was being lifted by strong but thin arms. They sped away from the crowd and made their way towards where they came from. Rose felt the wind in her cheeks and felt comforted.

It felt that they were travelling for hours but their lycan speed was greater than a werewolf. Soon they were passing through the thicket of a thorny forest. They were being surrounded by woods but the air was very familiar to Rose. She knew they were home.

"What happened?" A voice asked in a worried tone. Rose knew her to be the lycan doctor, Adina. She was treated on the clinic and they both gasped when Rose opened her eyes at their coaxing. Rose didn't know that her eyes were milky white and blood dripped from it like slow tears.

"My Goddess, what happened to her?" Adina tracked her finger in front of Rose but her eyes remained facing forward.

"Vivian flaunted her powers again. I was caught off guard. Cadmus and Elaine will kill me." Lydia lamented worriedly. As Adina assessed the damage done to Rose's eyes, the door burst open and the true king and queen of Cyrae came rushing in. They worriedly looked at their young daughter.

"What the hell is this?" Cadmus demanded angrily, his face clouded as he smelled the remnants of Vivian's power in the air. Everyone flinched. Adina straightened her shoulder.

"Your majesty, Vivian has put a curse on your daughter. It seems shallow though and can be removed but it may take a while. Maybe until Vivian's rage dies down."

"What happened, Lydia?" Elaine asked in a more quiet tone.

"Vivian failed to gain the support of the leaders from the seven realms. From what I've gathered, she murdered a human in front of them and caused chaos. Each leader ran out of there like a house on fire." Lydia reported quietly. Cadmus breathed a sigh of relief. He asked Lydia to scout for him the status of the kingdom. Rose went with her just so she could learn about their kingdom. He hadn't expected this turn of events. Lydia coughed uncomfortably. They turned to her expectantly.

"Um, your majesties. We may have found your daughter's erasthai."

Cadmus and Elaine's eyes widened and looked at their daughter who was smiling beautifully.

"He was so beautiful, father, mother. I want to see him again." Rose whispered quietly. Cadmus laid a hand on his daughter's head.

"You will, little one. But not now. You need to rest." With that, he gestured towards the door and escorted his wife and his retainer out of the room while Adina tended to Rose. Once the door was closed, he looked at Lydia with a raised eyebrow.

"It was one of the visitors during the coronation. Same age as our princess. Might be the son of Alpha Christian by the looks of it. I didn't get a good read on him as he was leaving with his father and the sudden hit made by Vivian." She reported, mentioning one of Cadmus' close allies and friends. Cadmus nodded absently. He took Elaine with him and together they walked down the corridor closely followed by Lydia.

"She has spotted her erasthai rather earlier than predicted, my love. I don't think we can keep her protected for much longer. Vivian's power grows everyday and we can do nothing about it." Elaine said, musingly. Cadmus nodded.

"Yes. We will try our best to give refuge for Rose until she turns 18. Until then, she will remain under surveillance until such time as we must summon the aid of our allies. We can only do this much." Cadmus replied quietly. Lydia breathed a sigh.

Sooner might come faster than expected.

........................

Eight years later...

Kieran smirked at his friends. He was busy with drying his body from the riverbank after being dunked into it by Adam. The boys were talking animatedly but neither acknowledge the gravity of why they were together. Alpha Christian, after rejecting any alliance with the well-known "Blood Queen", remained in close contact with the leaders from the seven realms. Now, he is hosting a mating ceremony for all otherworld creatures just to foster camaraderie among the species. The human king was still miffed at what had transpired eight years ago but was magnanimous enough to send representatives on his behalf.

"Hey, Kieran why are you all dry?" Adam smirked at his friend. He shook out his hair like a dog would and got Kieran all wet again. His friend grimaced.

"You need to stop doing that, Adam, or we might have a problem."

Adam's smirk widened. "Or what?"

Before Kieran could reply, he was drenched wet once again. He blinked in indignation and glared at his twin and his accomplice, Shiela.

"Cool it, guys." Shiela laughed then sprinting away.

Kieran huffed angrily while Adam laughed out loud.

"You maybe a princess, Shiela but you act like a boy." Kieran whined while removing the water from his eyes and body. Adam laughed uncontrollably while Kiefer and Shiela tried to get away from an enraged Kieran.

Connor shook his head at their banter. It was expected of their group to joke around like this but he chose to sit on a rock and think of other things. James stood up and pulled Marcus out of the water.

"Let's start getting back. We don't want to be late." At that they started to pack up. Kieran looked up at the sky and smiled grimly. He wouldn't be surprised anymore.

.........................

Vivian pulled her carriage to a stop. She alighted by herself as none of the menservants came to her aid. Her reputation had preceeded her and she was both frustrated and annoyed. She wanted to find her husband and become the new queen of Cyrae. But no one wanted to be associated with the "Blood Queen". She grimaced as she walked forward, wearing her blood red gown.

Alpha Christian stood with his friends as they looked at the different speci