Iᴍᴘᴇʀɪᴜᴍ (Bᴏᴏᴋ 1) (editing)

Chapter 6- The Hidden Castle

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Once they reached the wagon, they turned and watched the house burn.

All five of them felt different things as they watched the house go up in flames. Kalevi heard shouting from the house not too far from them, he knew they needed to go.

"Catherina, get Ray into the wagon," Kalevi said, he watched as Rayna climbed in, next to Jewel. "Let's move out."

They rode off as fast as they could from the house, not looking back once as their home disappeared forever taking three people they had once cared about with it.

None of them, however, saw the figure standing in the shadows, watching everything... and everyone.

Chapter 6- The Hidden Castle

They had traveled throughout the night and well into the morning before they reached their destination.

Kalevi made sure no one had followed them, and once they reached the location, he had Catherina cast a protection spell with the help of Rayna and Jewel. The spell was strong, with three witches casting it. Kalevi had taken them to the safe house King Gabriel had built in case the kingdom was ever under attack, and he needed to get Ella and Rayna to safety. Only three people knew of this place. Gabriel, Kalevi, and the man, who built it; he died not too long before King Gabriel was murdered. Kalevi had planned to keep the place a secret, but then the events that occurred a year and a half ago changed that.

Every day that he was away from the girls, he worried. Catherina still had no contact with Ella through her dreams. Kalevi didn't want to bring up the possibility again that she was gone from them forever. The fact that she had no contact for well over a year was not a good sign. And Malum was slowly destroying the kingdom. The villagers starving, the Lords and Ladies, were trying their best to help those in their lands to survive. But whenever anyone spoke of the issues to Malum, their heads would roll.

Kalevi stood in front of the window in the East Tower of the kingdom. It was the princess's favorite place to be. She once said that it held the greatest view, especially when the sun would rise during the winter, and the snow was just fresh on the ground. She said it glistened from the sun. Today is her fourteenth birthday. Four more years, and she will finally be able to come home. It won't all be over, it will only just be the beginning.

"Kalevi?" Kalevi looked out the window for a moment longer before turning around to see Theo standing before him. He has grown to be a young man. Theo was nearly taller than him, standing just below his nose. His auburn hair was pushed back from his helmet that was now in his hands. He was dressed in the Bellator uniform, an all-black knight guard. As a boy, he was always pale; being outside, he has gotten color, but mostly just freckles.

He still has so much to learn, Kalevi thought to himself. He smiled, "Good morning, my prince." He bowed his head, old habits die-hard.

Theo rolled his eyes, just as King Gabriel would do, at the title that was spoken. "It's Theo, Captain." He smirked, "You know this."

Kalevi chuckled, "Touché." He always had a good relationship with Theo, though Malum made sure to keep him away from Kalevi. But now that Malum is king, he does not care about his son's whereabouts. Theo has become closer to him, especially after Rayna's death. He looked to him for guidance on how to move forward.

Theo smiled at him, but his smile slowly disappeared as he hesitantly stepped forward to look out the window. He closed his eyes shut for a moment, trying to calm him for getting upset. "She would have been fourteen today."

Kalevi just nodded his head and waited for the prince to continue, but he only remained quiet, looking out the window. His face held nothing but sadness and anger. He patted his shoulder and spoke, "I miss her, too, Theo."