Chapter 24
His land was burning, there was fire everywhere, he did everything to put it out but the fire couldn't be quenched, all his men had been slain and he had no idea where his Betas were, they just left him to die.
He has no strength left to fight so he begins to hide and cower away, that was until he was found by his worst enemy,
"Are you running away from me now?!" She makes fun of him as she pulled him out of his hiding place, she settles herself comfortably in his upper torso, she instilled fear in his heart as her fangs were dripping blood, "don't you want me as a mate anymore?" She cocks her head playfully before laughing like the bloodthirsty demon she was.
"Stay away from me!!" He more of begs than commands, he was scared of her,
"Awwwn, is the big bad alpha afraid of me? I'm just a woman after all." She inches closer to him so he could suffer the stench of stale blood, he pushes her off him and runs as fast as he could only for him to bump into her once more, "Don't go!!!" She cackles maniacally and it makes him turn another direction, he needed to escape her.
Anything to escape her but she was everywhere. He was running, looking back almost every two seconds to make sure she wasn't chasing him, until he faced his gaze forward to see a blade aimed at his head. He wasn't even given an opportunity to scream but he jolts from his sleep, sweat dripping from his features.
He was panting heavily as he did is best to understand the meaning of the dream,
"Arcadia....." It was the only name that was on his mind, he couldn't get her out of his head, she became a record on repeat, "the sage, she must know the meaning of these nightmares I have been having....." He remembers he didn't really appreciate her coming the last time and she might decide not to answer him this time.
He might have to pay her a private visit then. He looks at the moon, she shines in her glory and although she had a calming effect, Mace still needed answers. Answers to the nightmares he had been having.
He slaps on a cloak and hides his sword in it, he pulls the hood over his head to prevent anyone from seeing his face. He opens the window to let the cool window of the night rush to his face, that was right before he jumped out of it.
He knew he had to cover quite a walking distance before he reached the sage but it would be worth it if he got the answers he was looking for. He passes by the market and there are still people buying and selling, most of them were talking about him and how he rules them.
Others approve of him while some don't, he had his pros and cons but after the war his image in society had fallen greatly. And it was his duty to gain the respect of all his followers once again.
He leaves the borders and goes to the outskirts, going through the forest of roses, a sacred forest where the legendary rose clan use to inhabit. Until king Magnus came to invade their peace and he was offered their most powerful warrior.
Legends had it that they had supernatural powers that correlate with flowers and music, and most of them had the ability to perform Reiki; a sacred art of healing through energies, it was rumoured that they are of slight Japanese origin but it didn't quite matter to him.
It didn't matter what clan she was from, he would take her down if it were the last thing he did. He moves deeper into the forest, the moon served him enough light to see where he was going. But then he sights a body moving slowly from the trees,
"Who is that?!" He brings out his weapon, ready to defend himself,
"I didn't expect to see you here." A familiar voice rings through, Sativa exhumed herself from behind a tree, she was holding a bunch of roses close to her chest and this makes Mace relax after just realizing it was her,
"I thought you were.....why are you out here so late at night? It's dangerous to be out by this time." His concern makes her blush like a highschool girl,
"Maybe if I were younger then you would've married me."she laughs lightly, "I can handle myself, I'm not a weak and defenseless old lady you know." She advances towards him, "and what brings the king of the whole land to a memorial forest?"
"I was looking for you actually," it was new for him to admit he needed help, but he had to cough it up, "I need your help, I keep having a particular nightmare and it's about—"
"Arcadia?" She guessed and she is correct but he wasn't ready to say so yet, but his expression gave him out,
"Yes......her Spirit haunts me, I believe she is a witch." She laughs at his naivety and he blushes from embarrassment,
"Follow me child." She ushers and he follows obediently, "do you see all these roses?" Her hands graze over numerous bushes, "if you decide to set them ablaze they would just grow back again."
"How would they do that?" He didn't understand what she was saying,
"Because that is the way they are, destruction only makes them grow faster, and they become bigger Every time you try to eliminate them." She plucks a rose, "they're just like the princess of the north, come back in three days to see if the flower has bloomed, you would be surprised." She gifts him the rose,
"So there is no way to defeat her?" That was the only thing on his mind, to bring her to her knees,
"If you want to defeat her then you must make her weak from the inside and not the outside. And to do that you need to make her like you." She grins.
"There is no way I'm doing that!!! I hate her! She rude and proud and—"
"You're also a lot of that too your majesty." She smiles a little, "you have been dreaming of her haven't you? It would manifest very soon, it's only a matter of time. Don't try to fight her, you would only lose, she's your destiny and you can't fight your destiny."
"I would rather have my nuts plucked out than have her as a mate!" He scowls before leaving her in the forest, he just wasted his time, he should've never come to see her in the first place, she was always talking rubbish.
Sativa watches him leave and shakes her head, her ears catch the rustling of leaves and she spins to see who it was,
"Who is there?"