One True King
Avalyn
My eyes fluttered open when a soft sound hit my ears. I was about to wake up Nik when a hand came over my mouth. My eyes widened before I realized it was Nik's hand.
I looked at him.
He placed his finger on his lips, motioning me to remain quiet.
'I think we have some unwelcome visitors in the quarter.' His mind linked me, Vladimir, and Sofiya together.
'I will go first. Vladimir comes in thirty seconds. Girls will not come out of the room.' He said.
'Yes, boss.' Vladimir right.
'Umm no. We can help!' Sofiya said.
'Yes!' I pleaded Nik with my eyes.
'Fine. But only if we are not done in two minutes.' He looked at me. I nodded, scared of what was to come.
He took off the blanket quietly and took the sword that was given to him during the coronation. 'Use the dagger if you have to come out. It will kill any vampire with a single strike anywhere on his body.' He looked at me intently before opening the door and slipping out quietly. I got out of bed and took the dagger in my hand. I looked at the watch, seeing if it was two minutes already.
I heard a couple of grunts and swords clashing from outside that worried me. I heard a few bodies fall on the floor too.
I can use my powers. I can help Nik. I was about to walk to the door when it opened and I saw Sofiya standing there. "What are you waiting for?" She asked, rushing out, a sword in her hand too.
I ran behind her. When I reached the living room, I saw Vladimir and Nik fighting off eight people together— four each.
Sofiya immediately went to help Vladimir.
I'm not sure if I could use my magic so I decided to just not use it. I didn't want them to mind linking someone or something.
I quietly went there and stabbed one vampire from the back, making him fall. Nik's eyes darkened when he saw me but he remained silent. He fought two while one came at me.
Scared by his speed, I threw the dagger at him with all the force I could muster. He tried to duck but it flew over his shoulder as he threw himself on the ground to save himself.
His hand was reaching for the dagger and was an inch away but I extended my hand, making the dagger fly back to my hand.
He looked at me with shock.
I walked to him and loomed over him before digging it in his chest, killing him instantly.
I pulled the dagger out and looked at Nik who had killed the other two and was smiling at me proudly.
I smiled back.
"See those marks?" Vladimir pulled up the sleeve of a dead vampire and showed us a sort of symbol. "They work for the Sacredos. At the Sol Temple."
"And they want to kill us because we punished him for raping someone?" Nik asked.
"Yes." Vladimir nodded. "The older vampires are very religious. You should have imprisoned him, not killed him." He shook his head.
I looked down and bit my lip. I felt bad. I know I did the right thing but this wasn't truly our Kingdom. It belonged to Vladimir.
"The Queen has spoken," Nik said calmly. "I stand by her decision."
"Which I will have to face once you leave." Vladimir narrowed his eyes at Nik, making me feel even guiltier. I caused a fight between brothers.
Sofiya placed her hand on his arm. "He is only worried because I'm pregnant, Nikolai." She said softly.
And just like that, I knew what to say. How to make him see what was right.
"If I were pregnant, I wouldn't want my daughter to be born in the place where the god's messenger himself is a rapist," I told him softly. "I'm sorry this put you both in a dangerous situation. But in the long run, it will be worth it."
He clenched and unclenched his fist. "You are right. I'm sorry." He released a harsh breath. "I will get someone to clean this up." He said before leaving the apartment.
"Don't feel guilty," I told Sofiya. "He was right from a father's point of view."
"But not from a King's." She said, her hand over her belly. Which is right. "I will go talk to him." She was about to walk out behind him but Nik caught her arm before she could leave.
"You are not leaving the apartment. It's not safe outside and Vladimir needs time to himself." He told her.
Nodding, she walked back to her room.
"I'm going to go have a word with him. There is a slight change in plans." Nikolai told me and I nodded.
He went out and I followed Sofiya to her room. She needed me right now.
She lied on the bed, curling into a ball with her hand over her belly.
"It will all be okay," I said softly as I climbed into the bed with her.
She turned to look at me. "Will it? I'm going to be all alone here." She whispered.
"You have Vladimir. And I'm sure you will make friends." I smiled. "And your daughter will grow up in a safe and happy place." I placed my hand on her belly, feeling the little bump.
She covered my hand with her own. "Thanks, Avalyn."
At four in the morning, everyone had gathered in the outer courtyard of the palace. We were standing on a stage and looked over the crowd that had gathered.
Nik said that only the high ranking or the elites have the genes where they could walk in the sun. The rest of them only came out during the night time so we had to do it before the sun rose.
We had passed about fifteen judgments yesterday and announced death sentences for six, including Louis.
"Bring them in," Nik announced.
The prisoners were cuffed with silver and a single chain attached the six of them. The guards brought them in front of the stage, making them face the people.
Vladimir stepped forward. "Ten years ago, Sacredos Louis IV had raped a girl. Today, justice will be served. From now on, no crime will go unpunished, irrespective of your influential background. Tonight, an attack had been planned to our quarters. We do not know how they managed to pass the security but we will catch the person responsible. And that is a promise. Five other people have been sentenced to death." He announced. Don't we know who was responsible for all of this—The followers of the Sacredos?
The people remained silent but in shock. They didn't believe that their Sacredos could do such a thing.
"Kneel," Nik commanded.
All six of them fell on their knees from the strength of his command.
He nodded at the guards. Five guards stepped forward and ripped their hearts out. Hearts of all except Louis.
"Zora, step forward," Nik spoke, looking around the crowd, trying to locate her.
Then the girl slowly stepped forward and the crowd parted to make way for her. Slowly she made her way out of the crowd and the guards let her through to leave the border.
She avoided looking at Louis and looked at us, waiting.
Nik slid out a dagger from the sheath of the guard standing beside him and threw it at her feet.
"Do the honors." He told the girl.
Tears leaked out of her eye which she wiped quickly. She picked up the dagger and looked at him. She bowed deeply before rising and stalking towards Louis.
She stared at the man with the strength I wish I have when I will face the man from my past.
She impaled the dagger in his groin, making him scream and fall at her feet on his hands and knees. She kicked him hard enough to make him fly a couple of feet away on his back, very near to the stage. Stalking to him, she loomed over him.
"I want you to remember my face as you stare at death in its eyes. Zora Rachwild, adopted, outcast, and cursed." She whispered low enough that no one would hear her. But we heard her. She dove her hand into his chest and pulled his heart out and tossed it on the ground.
She looked at us and nodded gratefully before she walked back into the crowd.
"We are in search of a Sacredos. Anyone who feels a change in them and thinks that they have been bestowed with the blessing can approach us." Vladimir addressed everyone before he stepped back.
Nik stepped forward. "I am the King of Mozog but I will be handing over the rule to Prince Vladimir."
Nik extended his hand for me. I walked to his side and held his hand.
"In return," he said, making everyone focus on him intently, "I demand an oath of fealty."
I glanced at Vladimir who stepped forward with Sofiya and looked at the impenetrable face of Nikolai. I guess he knew about it. And Sofiya, just me, was shocked.
"Do you, Prince Vladimir Vas Volkov, Crowned Prince of Mozog and Princess Sofiya Volkov, Princess of Mozog, agree to be my vassal?" Nik asked loud enough for everyone to hear and extended our joined hands to them, Nik's hand on top of mine.
Sof's and Vladimir's eyes clouded for a brief minute as they talked through their mind-link.
Both of them knelt in front of us and placed their joined hands below ours, Sof's hand below mine and Vladimir's below her's.
"I do." Both of them said together.
"Do you swear to serve us with your hand, heart, and voice?" He asked.
"I do." They replied together.
"Do you swear to protect your King and Queen at all costs? Family above all?" Nik asked.
"I do. Zashchitit' corolla. Zashchitit' korolevu. Sem'ya prezhde vsego." They said together.
What does that mean?
"Rise, as the vassals of Nikolai Volkov, King of Mozog, Alpha of The Rogue Pack and Avalyn Volkov, Queen of Mozog, Luna of The Rogue Pack."
Both of them stood up.
I could feel the palpable tension roll off everyone. It was now that they realized what was happening. Vladimir might be the one to rule Mozog shortly. But there is only one true King—
Nikolai Volkov.