Rebirth

9. Rage

Dear Journal,
               The veil has finally fallen to reveal the verity of this kingdom. It is the wrong time to be impotent.

           - 𝓔. 𝓢𝓽𝓮𝓮𝓵𝓮
           (1605)

"Elias!" Emma shouted at him. "Run!"

Elias was frozen in stupor from seeing Odelina. It was only when the beast was in close proximity that he finally snapped out of his shock and reacted, but it was too late as the monster used its paws to toss them both backwards.

As they were flung into the air, Elias grabbed Emma, placing her infront of him so he could cushion the impact of them colliding in to the wall. It cracked as his body made contact with the stone surface.

Elias groaned as he stood up, Emma still in his arms.
He use his hand to touch the back of his head as he felt warm liquid running down his back. He was bleeding but it was already healing. Had Emma hit her head like this, she would have died.

"Are you alright?" He asked her.

"Not really" she answered honestly, her breath ragged from the attack.

The great hall floor was now decorated by a carpet of thick blood from the beast's previous victims. The rest of the attendees tried to run away as they screamed in terror at the barbaric viciousness they had just witnessed.

This grand room which was once filled with the life of the sophisticated and privileged was now a slaughter house for the impotent.

The beast roared once more sending shivers up Emma's spine. It resembled an an oversized wolf but something was different. Standing on its hind legs, its body was filled with the muscles of a burly man. It howled loudly at the scurrying patrons before snarling like an estranged animal. As its mouth parted, sticky saliva could be seen stretching across its razor sharp teeth.

Its odor was even more repulsive up close, Elias thought.

King Evans and King Koren were closest to creature, their bodies quaking with fear at the sight of the monster.

"What are you doing men? You are the Kings guard! Protect your king!" King Evans shouted at the seven knights surrounding him.

They shook in horror as they glanced at each other. Reluctantly, they charged at the beast with their swords, screaming cowardly battle cries.

"NO!" Emma shouted at them but it was too late.

The creature swung its paws at the first three knights, tossing them into the wall across the room then it bit they heads off the rest, spitting them across the great hall as it shook its head like a dog.

Elias sped over to block the creature from the king. He could not have this monster kill him before he did. After all, everyone here was his prey.

The creature swung its paw at Elias but he caught it.

"Emma!" He shouted.

He wanted to tell her to get everyone out of the great hall but his lack of concentration on the enemy caused the beast to use its other paw to swat him to the side, sending him flying into the lower table of food, destroying it.

Elias recovered quickly but it was too late. The kings turned to run but the beast caught the slowest one. It growled in satisfaction as it tore King Evans apart, limb from limb.

"Father no!" Alice bellowed as she let out a heart wrenching scream.

Only Baltazaar, King Koren, Alice and Emma were still present in the great hall. Everyone else had successfully evacuated but Elias could still hear their shrieks from outside.