THE GIFTED

CHAPTER 11

THE SOLDIER

Reid

I feel extremely bad for the king and queen. The entire kingdom might think that they are cruel and unjust but in truth, they are kind and caring people who are forced into following an orthodox style of ruling.

Besides they have to deal with losing, both, their son and daughter. I wish I'd never helped Stephan escape. What was I thinking? Now it's up to me to find him and the princess. Apart from that, the royal highnesses also have to address all the other 'missing' cases pouring in. I'm in charge of leading the search party to find many of the Lords, Dukes and other important people who have gone missing.

All the guards, Ministers of the Royal Cabinet (MRC), officials, the Member of the Secret Security (MSS) and the royal family themselves are working overtime. I haven't slept in three days. I'm sending troops to all the seven cities - Corinth (the capital), Nexus, Meredith, Aston, Briston, Venice and Absinthe (The dark city).

I, myself, am leading a troop to Nexus. Our General of Navy has also been reported missing. People are using confusion and chaos to generate or restart the 'Great Rebellion'. I get chills thinking about it. I and Stephan were so young when it happened, babies. I have very cloudy memories but I have seen pictures and met survivors. Heck, the king and queen are survivors.

The kingdom was torn apart. King Augustus's father, late King Carlos, died helping thousands to flee the 'Dark Fire' that raged over Corinth. Whispers and rumours of a group called 'The Hunters' spread in the seven cities. It was said that they fed on people's souls and made them lose their humanity.

I do not believe in these myths but one trademark sign of the arrival of the Hunters is the abduction and 'turning' of people, specifically people who are held in high regard in the hierarchy of Oridian. Turning is a ritual or process they follow to change people into one of their kind or in simple terms to change them into a Hunter.

This is what worries me more than anything else. If the 'Dark Ones' (another name for The Hunters) rise a second time, the kingdom will not stand. Everything will collapse and people will be asked to choose sides. Other countries are using the chaos present in the country to make their advance. Oridian has vast reserves of natural and human resources which they will easily exploit.

On top of everything, the man who currently holds a higher rank than me in the army is and I am responsible for it. All of these thoughts haunt me as I make my way back to my quarters. The night is unnerving. There used to stars in the sky. Mass pollution has changed that. Only the faint light of the waxing gibbous moon lights my path. I know the city like the back of my hand but tonight my instinct tells me there is something out of place. My black hair is slick with sweat. The air is humid although spring is here. It is probably going to rain tomorrow.

It's ten o'clock. All the lights go out, in the streets and the houses as citizens retire to bed. Despite the humidity a cool wind blows, it urges me to walk faster like its pushing me away from something or someone. My shoes don't make a sound as I hurry to my quarters. I make a left turn into a narrow street, a short cut. But I stop suddenly, to avoid colliding with someone coming my way. I can't see the person's face, it's concealed by a hood.

"Sorry." I apologize to them. My hand travels to my sheathed-sword instinctively.

"It's alright, "the person says, their voice is sweet with a raspy touch to it. A female. Her hands are barely visible under the dim light of the moon. But a ring with a black gem on it glimmers into my view.

"I'm sorry to bother you but may I ask what you are doing this late at night and all alone?"  ask her. I take my fighting stance, prepared for anything. She removes her hood to reveal maroon-red hair, shaved on one side that barely touches her shoulder. I cannot make out her eye colour. She smiles at me, a sweet smile.

"My name is Kaige, sir. I was just on my way home." She replies and smiles again; there is something strange about her teeth. Her canines are extremely pointed, like a hyena's.

"Okay, but you should hurry. The night is no place for a young lady like you." I tell her.

"Yes. General Reid." She says and walks away.

I turn around to ask her how she knew my name. But I made a fatal mistake and let my guard down. Her cloak was gone. She was wearing a black full-bodysuit and attached to her belt a single blade – long and made of silver – hung loosely.

Before I could react, she disarmed me of my sword and used the butt of her sword to knock me out, as I fell I remember looking at the dark sky and thinking if I would ever see it again.

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