Eerie wind haloed.
Deep whispers echoed, finding comfort in the dark he has dwelt in for the past twelve years of his existence. Indistinct words echoed through his unfathomable abyssal mind.
Whispers and whispers and whispers; the zone in Abyss.
Conjuring waves of profound uncertainty hovered over. Leg on leg, he sat, his piercing blood eye scrutinized the large metal door awaiting the horror next to come. The wailing from the people penetrated his ear through the ancient palace wall.
He batted his lashes once as the metal door creaked open.
TENEBROUS EMPIRE
THE TRAIL OF CABAS SANTOU WILL NOW BEGIN.
The crowded hall of the ancient palace went silent, all staring at the man in a bronze cuff held by two members of VOID.
TENEBROUS's deadliest weapons
Cries from his family members filled the air, giving their pleading look to the king, sitting up with a stoic expression.
KING THRAIN DARKDORM
The houses' pillar of tenebrous sat around the king, all in their different house dress robes.
The man was held, kneeling before the tall upright frame of the guillotine, awaiting his execution.
"For the sins of blasphemy against the royal families!! For the sin of betrayal against the kingdom!! And for the killing of a Royal Guard, CABAS SANTOU will now be executed!!''
The execution lord of the VOID read to the crowd.
''His family will be exiled to the abyssal trail and will no longer be a Tenebria resident!!''
"Your Majesty!! Have mercy!!''
The cries from the peasants only resounded to them as the sealed-fate man was positioned to be beheaded.
** ** ** **
A light shone in, drawing a detest hiss from his lip. He cowered down by one of the hundreds of bookshelves in his spacious room, adorned with ancient paintings that seemed to bear the aura of death, the atmosphere reeking of loneliness and boredom.
A lantern illuminated the room, taking turns to check the bookshelves thoroughly. He covers his face, burying it in his knee. There were two in number; they gazed around till their eyes settled on him. One female stepped forward, taking a cautious step toward him.
"Prince Kaelin? The trial has already started. Your father calls for you.''
An immeasurable amount of shivers pierced his body as his maiden word sank into his gut.
He staggered up, and she reacted to hold him to his feet.
He looked up to gaze at her face, but the latter avoided it. He saw it: the glint of tears in her brown orbs, the hatred for the royals, and her pain, hatred, regret, and helplessness. Her father was to be executed today in an attempt to cover the shameful sins of the royals.
She carried him off his feet and took the western direction to his lying place, laying him down to sit. She took a step back, stretching her hand to the latter, who handed her his robe. Dark grey tunic with gold accents and a high collar.
Stepping back to him, she gently brings him to his feet. She slipped the robe around his shoulder, wrapped it over his hand, and bent down to fasten the robe around his waist.
He gazed sternly at her as she wore his royal slipper on his feet before standing up to bind up his long dark hair.
The air was perversely silent.
The maiden, on her best behavior, trying not to get on his bad side, couldn't deny the urge to gaze at his eye.
Blood red.
Not normal and alarming.
"Prince Kaelin," the maiden on duty called his attention as he bound up his rough hair.
"This will be the last time I'll serve you."
His eyes widened, and his color twitched, flickering vulnerable green.
He steps back, coming to hit the giant fur bed.
She stretched her hand to touch him, but he stopped her with a finger raised.
''Miana!''
"My prince," she bowed immediately, her head touching the fur ground. 'My name is not worthy for you to call.''
"You are going to leave me." He tears up, his orbs flicking again.
"My family is on trial today, and after it, I'll be an outcast. I'll have to cut my hair and leave the palace, my Prince.''
He blinked simultaneously and then gazed behind him.
''This will be your new...''
"I don't want a new maiden." He cut her off, his voice wavering and his fist clenched.
She straightened up slowly till she could see his face.
He growled and gazed sharply at the unfamiliar face, sending a rush of fear up her skin.
His eyes maintained the blood red, the omen of death.
She shifted back.
"Get out!" he ordered.
She scurried out and shut the door behind her.
Turning back to Miami, his gaze softened, flickering back to his born-natural-born, "I don't want a new maiden..."
"My prince, I'm sorry." She moved closer to caress his dark hair.
He held her hand, pulling it to his cheek.
His eyes explained his unspoken intentions.
She smiled weakly, wiping his tears as they escaped his eyes.
"Besides, you have her. She will be with you.'' She softly whispered.
He didn't like the sound of that.
"She is always with me." He retorted, his eye glowing with blood again.
She is always here. SHE IS ME! I don't want you to leave.''
"My prince," Miana muttered, trying to soothe him; however, his tears only seemed to increase. He shut his eyes painfully.
She moved closer, holding both his hands.
"Prince Kaelin, please stop." She said, her tone laced with urgency. "Stop crying. There are many people outside. Please...''
The darkened color of the room drew her attention to the window where the ray of sunshine once shone through, the ancient painting now taking on odd, macabre looks, like a sinister smirk pointed at her misery. She gasped, seeing the darkest cloud covering the daylight.
** ** ** **
The guillotine blade was lowered to the man's head, and as his helpless family watched, the blade came running, giving a perfect cut, spilling his blood to the hungry mother earth. Many tear up at the harsh, severed sight, his head thudding feet away from the guillotine.
It didn't faze the elders, nor did the young royals react. Rebels push forward to the higher-ups, voicing their anguish, only to be blocked by the VOID.
As the chaos drew near, the sky darkened in response, drawing all attention. Children shiver in the sudden chilly environment; balls of thunder illuminate the sky.
King Gemma gazed up at the cloud, getting a nature call to dispatch from the execution ground; he stood up and turned to leave the ground; his guards and warriors followed behind. Eunuchs and maidens hurry to secure the royal offspring, but the king's eye could not trace his heir.
"Where is Kaelin?" The question was directed to his trusted guard.
"The prince refuses to come out, your majesty." He stepped forward to reply.
King Gemma didn't try to hide his dissatisfaction and disappointment, even as he watched the second queen, who led her two children down the hall to their chamber. He turned around and took his steps, elegant and foreboding, to his heir's room, having the guards trailing quietly behind.
...
Prince Kaelin's room was located in the east wing, beneath the stone ground, like an underground tavern. He had insisted on an enclosed space, where light could never invade.
"The light is my opposite."
He would always say.
A different pattern of building, more rows of perplexing painting decorations, drew the heir himself, littering the hallway underground.
The door was unchained and pulled open by two guards, letting light illuminate the underground passage.
King Gemma gave a halt command and walked in by himself.
He walks through the hallway, having just touched fire that seems to dance like wailing maidens at every short distance.
He approached the large metallic door that was wide open and walked through it into the dark room.
The room was still. Too still. Uniquely Kaelin.
"Kaelin!!" He called into the dark.
"Go away, Father!!" He yelled back.
"You were supposed to be present at the trial!!" He bellowed, awaiting the disappointing reply from his son, whose direction he can't seem to fathom.
''I want Kae...my maiden back.''
"That's against the rule, Kaelin!!" The king, utterly disappointed, barked. "You're going to be the king of this kingdom someday. The rules must be followed starting from you!''
He got no reply, only a silent sob.
"Get out of here. The people of ELDRIDA will be here soon. You'll meet your betrothed today.''
...
The king squinted, clearly not used to silence after a betrothal topic.
Instead, the door creaks behind him, vividly drawing his attention. He spun around in a quick attempt to stop his fleeing son, but it was like reaching for the dark.
All the lights lighting the hallway suddenly burst out.
He gasped, staring at the metal door that creaked loudly, pulling to shut.
He rushed back just in time to squeeze through the exit before the door clanked shut, locking him in the hallway.
"KAELIN!" He raged.
Swiftly taking a turn, he dashed out of the dark hallway, exiting into the stormy day.
"Your Majesty!!" The guards chorused in sudden alert.
He left the palace again!! King Gemma roared.
Find him before they arrive!!''
TBC...