~Zayne~



'Arghhh" I groaned as I woke up to sores on my body causing every movement to be a challenge.

I glanced at the window, the bright sun was already out as it casted its rays into the room providing warmth.



I struggled to recall much of last night, my mind was still a bit dazed.

I could remember my dance with Emily and her precious gift of a picture of myself and Maya.


I also remembered driving down to her graveyard and burying it inside.

'Ahhh!"

A sharp pain appeared on my forehead. I placed my hand firmly on it trying to relieve the pain a bit.

'I need fresh air"

I walked up to my window taking a look down at the whole castle yard.

The fresh wind of the morning crashed against my face, calming me down a bit.

KNOCK

KNOCK

A loud knock appeared on my door. I could easily tell it wasn't Emily. Her knuckles weren't that harsh and loud.

'Yes?"

My voice loudly reached out the door.


'Good morning my lord, it's Cedric!" Cedric gently opened the door and walked in.

'Good morning Cedric, what do you want?" I asked, my back still turned towards him.


'Sir, I was wondering if you saw Rowan this morning, he's late for training"

Rowan? Late for training?

I was a bit starstrucked by Cedric's words. The Rowan I know is never late for training or practically anything else.

He's very strict and disciplined in his timing.

'NO I haven't.

Maybe he overslept or something"

That could be the only possible reason. I refuse to over think about him. Maybe he drank too much last night at my party and slept late.

Right now I can't worry about that.

'Okay sir. Have a good day" Cedric turned and left my room leaving my door behind him partially opened.

I wanted to shut it hard, but a hurried yet light footstep was approaching my room.


'Good morning Zayne"

After a few moments to catch her breath, Emily was finally able to speak.

She was panting heavily, as she held her chest tightly.

'Good morning Emily" I finally turned away from the window looking at Emily.

She gently dropped the tray on my stool, taking a few steps back and she stood firm.

Wasn't she going to leave? Or does she want to watch me eat?

But I squinted my eyes tightly, noticing the distress in her face. She was deeply troubled by something.

'What is it?" I asked in genuine concern for her.

She took a few moments before answering me. 'Rowan punched Luther in the face and got arrested"

My mind went blank for a moment, I couldn't believe my ears.

Soon my inner rage stirred up in me.

'What?!!" I yelled out in rage.

I wasn't angry at Emily, but rather for Rowan. He should know much better than punching any royalty, much less Luther.

And he as well should know the great consequences.


I picked up my black leather from the couch and stormed out of my room, Emily followed behind me with her little footsteps.

We headed down to the dungeon. By the left to the entrance sat a lean and tall security guard.

'Where is Rowan?

I'm here to pick him up, whatever happened last night was a big mistake"

I said to the security guard.

'I'm so sorry my Lord but that can't be possible"

The guard Said his words and resistance to do as I said ticked me off.

I grabbed him by the collar, pulling him closer to my face.

'Why is that?" I asked my voice raised, fear gripped his body.

'Luther has already ordered him to be hanged," he said, his voice shaking.

I let go of him immediately. My expression changed from rage to shock.

'We're too late!"


'You're gonna let them hang Rowan?" Emily's voice came from behind me.

I wouldn't blame her, he barely knows anything around her.

According to the rules of the kingdom, once anyone lays even a finger on a royalty with an unjust cause will be jailed instantly and handed whatever punishment the royalty wishes.

Rowan is fully aware of this.

'Let me see him"

I walked past the guard and down into the dungeons.

The room was dimly lit, and covered in dust. Having gone by the first three chambers, I found Rowan in the fourth to the left.

He was turned to the wall, drawing on it with a mere stone.

He was so caught up in it, he didn't even realise when I stepped in.

'Hello Rowan!"

I said to Rowan in a stern voice. My voice startled him as he scrambled trying to turn in my direction.

'Hi Zayne!"

I remained silent to him, giving him a shady look.

'I'm sorry Zayne, it wasn't supposed to happen like that, I…… '

'Forget It for now Rowan" I interrupted Rowan as he tried to plead his case.

I was mad at him for pulling off that against Luther, but right now, we need to be worried about trying to keep him alive.


I stared at Rowan, as I struggled to find a way to tell him the news.

'Luther has ordered for you to be hanged"

I said to him, his expression soon changed as he lowered his head in despair.

He took a seat, thoughts going through his head.

I couldn't help but feel for him, after all it was just a bad night, other than that he has been nothing but perfect.

He didn't deserve to die.

'We'll try our best to change Luther's mind about this.

I won't let you die brother!" I said in a reassuring tone.

He raised his head gently, as a faint appeared on his face, a sign of renewed hope.


I turned and left the dungeon. Emily remained with Rowan for a few more moments before joining me outside.

'When is it happening?" I asked the guard who remained outside.

'By 5 pm sir"


I walked out of the dungeon and soon the dungeon was at a distance.


'What are we going to do now?" Emily asked, her voice tinged with worry.

'I'm going to speak with Luther to try to change his mind. That's the only option we have right now"

Trying to convince Luther to change his mind is a task easier said than done.

Luther had a stolen heart, I feel he inherited it from our father, but right now we had no choice.


I walked up the stairs and took a left turn arriving at Luther's door.

I stood at his door for a while, trying to gather my bearings. I needed this conversation to go well.

'Phew!"

KNOCK

KNOCK


'Yes, what do you want?" a stern voice said to me.

Steph?

I was a bit surprised to see Steph in the same room with Luther.

'Steph? What are you doing here?"


'It's none of your business.

What do you want?" She was usually rude to me, which was a bit strange judging on the fact I haven't offended her.


'I need to see Luther, so I hope you don't mind"

She glanced back inside the room for a moment and turned back in my direction. 'Okay"

She excused me to enter.

I entered the room as my eyes went searching round the room.

The room had an awfully familiar look about it. A feeling of nostalgia soon creeped into me.

The memories of me and Luther playing hide and seek in this room flooded back to my mind.

I struggled to recall the last time I stepped foot in this room.

'Hello Zayne!"

Luther sat on his bed, his back rested against his pillows, Steph joined him sitting next to him.

'Hello Luther"

I grabbed a wooden chair and placed it directly across Luther's bed and took a seat.

'I was expecting you sooner or later"


'Luther, I will advise you not to hang Rowan you're making a big mistake if you do"

I went straight to the point, I saw no need in biting around the bush if he already knows why I'm here.

Luther burst into condemning laughter. 'Impossible brother, Rowan deserves to die and you know that"


'He's an important asset to the kingdom, he's been a loyal warrior"

I couldn't let Luther's reaction discourage me. But he still seemed uninterested in what I had to say.

'Rowan will hang, besides we have Thorn who is much better.

So it's decided his hanging"


Luther was adamant, there was no way I could change his mind.


'What do you want from me Luther? I can get you that"


'Really? In that case" Luther had an evil grin on his face.

I could only fear for what devilish intent he had.

'Hand over the kingdom to me and I will spare Rowan"

What? Impossible.

'No Luther you're not ready to lead this kingdom"

The kingdom in Luther's hands will fall to the ground, his intentions to the kingdom are far from pure and I fear the worst for the kingdom if I do.

'Well then, Rowan will die and that's final. Now leave my room, NOW!"

Luther was enraged by my rejection of him.

I got up from the seat and reluctantly made my way out of the room.

'He refused"

I came down to my room, breaking the harsh news to Emily.

'I'll tell Rowan"

She said as her heart sank in despair, she left my room and headed for the dungeon.

I locked myself up in my room as I buried my face to the ground and sobbed to myself.


~Emily~


'Luther refused to what Zayne said" I broke the news to Rowan.

The corner of his eyes heated up, he tried his best to hold in the tears and not to look weak in front of me.

'It's okay, after all it's my faith Emily we can't change that"

I sat across Rowan in the cell, after I insisted on entering the cell with him.

I leant closer to him and gave him a warm embrace, the tears rolled down my cheeks as well.

THUM

THUM


Loud and hard footsteps marched into the dungeon.

Three well built security guards stood in front of his cell.

'Rowan, it's time to go!" one of them said in a stern and authoritative voice.

The tow by his side opened up the cell and grabbed Rowan dragging him out of the dungeon.

'Take it easy on him!

Please!"

I screamed out from a distance.


They dragged him to the castle's courtyard, there was quite a crowd of Lycans already there.

I couldn't believe so many people would come to watch someone die.

I strod a distance away from the crowd. I spotted Zayne, he looked down onto the crowd from the balcony of his room.


The noose where Rowan's head would be placed was already well set and the chair placed under it.

Rowan was taken up to the chair.

Luther stepped out of the crowd, my heart twitched on sight of him.

'My fellow Lycans, it's time to hand justice to this Lycan," Luther said at the top of his voice.

There was a mixed reaction from the crowd, some cheered him on, others discouraged him.

'Rowan has been a menace to us in recent times.

First almost killing Steph and now brutally attacking me.

I my opinion his time has run out"


'Felix set him up" Luther ordered one of his guards.

He went up to meet Rowan and gently placed his head between the noose.

Its rope was tightened, as it pressed against his neck. He struggled for air, his face turning pale.

'Kick his chair!!"


My heart was pounding, as I squinted my eyes tightly. I couldn't bear to watch my friend die in front of my eyes.

Felix approached his chair and was set to kick it away.

'Please don't, Zayne!" A female voice said. Everyone turned back in the direction of the voice.

A huge gasp of surprise escaped from my lips.

'Steph?!"