~Emily~



'Why are you here Zayne?" I asked again, my voice more stern than before. 


'Can I come in please?" Zayne requested, his voice very calm and gentle. 


And after a brief while to think, I reluctantly allowed him. Maybe he's ready to tell md the truth. 

Or maybe he's here cook up another lie. I really hope not. 



Zayne walked into my room and stood by the corner, the looming shadows covered part of his body, he was almost engulped by the darkness. 


'So, why are you here Zayne?" Zayne seemed to be avoiding the obvious question of his reason for being here. 


'Emily, I know your angry at me, but I need your help"

I should have known she just needed my help, he isn't ready to say the truth. 


'Get out, Zayne!" I kissed my teeth in annoyance. 

'Please Emily, it's important. I really need your help"

Zayne's pitiful voice came again, seeming even more desperate. 


'For what?" 

I decided to give him an ear, I didn't really have any intention of going with it though.


Okay, don't freak out. 

I need you  to come with all the way to the sacred temple"


'What? No way. It's too dangerous" The sacred temple is one of the greatest monuments known to all Lycans, vampires and humans included.

My mother told me stories of how the temple was one of the only places where humans, Lycans and vampires would meet in peace, until the war. 

Everything changed after the war. Lycans devoured any human that stepped foot there, and vampires like wise. 

Vampires and Lycans will also confront each other. 

Fights became the order of the day at the temple. 

And with time, the temple became the most feared monuments, no one comes there and goes back unscaved. 


'It's too dangerous, I'll die" I refused instantly to Zayne. 

Does he want to kill me? Is it because I'm mad at me, so this is his punishment?


'Please, trust me. As long as I'm here no one is laying a finger on you. 

Emily, you know I won't"

Zayne spoke with a reassuring confidence. I wanted to really trust him, but a part of me still had lingering doubts. 


'But why me? Why only me? You can go with Rowan or Cedric or even Luther. There more stronger than me"

I was left to wonder why Zayne only wanted me to go with him to the sacred temple.

I wasn't for the purpose of added muscle that's for sure. 

In fact I'm a burden more than anything else to him. 

'I need to retrieve the sword of ages…. ' 


'What?" I cut in Zayne. I was shocked to my spines to hear him say sword of ages. 


'Sword of ages? The most powerful weapon in the universe?"

My mom told me many stories about how the sword was used to slay many dragons and demons with ultimately lead to them being extinct. 

Even a mere cut of blood with its blade, would leave an ordinary man to perish. 


Why would Zayne want such a weapon? 


'Yes. You haven't heard but Vadka challenged me to a pit fight. One on one to the death. He either dies or I die.

It's the only way to stop this war"


'Zayne you can't accept it. There has to be another way. You won't fight anyone"

I said my voice was trembling. 


I might not know much but I know that Vadka according to Rowan, is the most powerful being in the universe. 

The last time, Zayne barely escaped with his life that he wants to fight him to the death. 

No! I won't let him. 


'Emily, there's no other way. I'm just going to put you guys in danger. 

I can't afford to loose you, not like I did with Maya"

Zayne said,, almost helplessly. 


'Zayne he'll kill you. Please don't accept his challenge"


'He won't if I have the sword. I need you to help me get it. 

Only if the hands of two people whose destinies are paired together can pull out the sword and survive. 

Please."

Zayne pleaded. And for the first time, I could see his eyes filled with fear. 


Zayne finally made some sense. He needed me to pull out the sword.

Does that mean that Zayne and I are bonded by our destinies?


I promise my mom I won't step foot in a place as dangerous as the sacred temple. But if that's the only way Zayne can kill Vadka, then I have no other choice, I have to go. 


'Okay I will!"I reluctantly agreed. 


'Thank you Emily" Zayne said, I could see the pure relief edged on his face. 

If Zayne could be this terrified by Vadka, then I have a good reason to worry. 


'Okay we leave three days from today. In the meantime you will trainer even harder than before. 

We need to be ready for anything" 

Zayne was right, if I'm going to follow to a place like the temple I need to be able to protect myself from anything.


'Okay, I'll train harder"


'Zayne, I'm tired I need some sleep"

 I said, my mouth formed an ‘O' shape as I felt out a long yawn. 


~Luther~ 


'Steph! Gather the troops we have some good news"

I barged into Steph's room. My voice tinged with excitement as I spoke. 


'Okay!" 

Steph didn't bother asking any other question and blindly left to call the others. 


I returned back to my room, which was our usual meeting spot.


And for the occasion, I decided to pour in some chilled beer. 


Bring five cups, I gently placed each of them, one by one on my table. 


I walked to a small fridge by the corner of my room. 

Opening it, a wave of cold air blew across my face. I pulled out a fresh bottle of Red Salt Wine. 

It's temperature was as cold as ice. 

'Just as I like it!" I said with a satisfactory smile on my face. 

I took the bottle and poured it into each of the five cups set on my table. 


Soon, I heard crowded steps approaching my door. 

They were causing a mild chatter as they walked to my room. 

'Right on time"


I reached for the door and opened it even before they could knock. 


'Welcome all of you!" 

I said with a warm smile on my face. Standing in front of me were Reta, Thorn, Steph and Crystal. 

They all seemed dumfounded by my sudden happy mood. 

'Why are you so happy?"Reta asked the obvious question in their minds. 


'Come in, I'll tell you" I stepped ofd the entrance and took a seat on my warm sofa. They as well entered taking seats round the table. They were still confused as ever. 


'I want to give a brief toast" I stood up from my sofa and took a cup of beer from the table.


'To the new kingdom built with my image. To the near start of rule of this castle and to the near death of my brother. 

Cheers!!"

I put up my glass to the air and as the custom, they all stood up with their cup of beer in hand and together we gently hit the glasses against each other.


'Zayne, talk what happened?" Reta asked, her voice now stern. 


'At the conference we held, we found out that Vadka issued a challenge to Zayne"


I stopped for a brief cause, their attention was now solely fixed on me, they eagerly waited for what I had to say next. 


'He challenged him to a pit fight battle. One on one to the death. 

And guess what…..Zayne accepted"

I said my voice laced with profound excitement. 

I can't wait for two weeks. I wish it could even be tommorow. 

Once Zayne steps into the pit with Vadka, he's as good as dead.

Even the greatest beings ever known, couldn't stand a chance against Vadka.


'Yes!"

'Finally!"

They all stood up and gave a clap of hands. 


All their efforts will finally be rewarded. All of our hardwork won't go vain. 

 I'll make Thorn my right hand man and chief leader of the warriors and I'll probably kill Rowan. 

And for Reta, she'll be my queen as promised and finally Steph, when the time is right I'll probably just throw her off to the streets. She'll practically useless to me, now that Vadka is going to do all the work for us. 


'Once Zayne gets devoured into mere pieces. I'll address the crowd to mourn his death. 

Then after that I'm free to do whatever I want with my kingdom"

I said in a mischehvous tone. The edge of my lips curled up into an evil grin. 


'After that, then we'll kill everyone associated with Zayne who could be a pest in my kingdom. 

Including Rowan and Emily" I said turning my gaze to Steph. 

I watched as she shivered as Rowan and Emily's name escaped from my lips. 


'What? Is there a need to? We can just put them in the dungeon or banish them from the kingdom."

Steph protested my decision. Her words cleared my doubts, she still has a soft spot for her sister. 

'Steph, we've talked about this before. Your sister, Rowan and Zayne will all die. Why the sudden change of heart?"


'No, it's nothing just leave it" Steph was too much of a fool. She's just a pun and she doesn't know it. 

Easily mainpulated on the agenda of love for me, and now she's going to get her sister killed for a man who wants nothing more than to dump her out in the streets. 


'Okay, now that's over let's celebrate shall we?" 

I poured in another round of beers into the already empty cups. 


And we all drank and drank, all through the day till night. 

Reta and Steph were really drunk, they could barely stand. Thorn and I, are strong enough to resist any weakness. 

So for that, we hardly got drunk, our brains functioning as good as ever. 


We helped the ladies to their rooms and got back to my room. 

'Thorn before you go, I want to tell you something"

I called back Thorn, as he was set to leave for his room. 

'What is it sir?"


'I need you to spy on Zayne's every moment from now till the battle and tell me if he's doing anything strange"

I lowered my voice as I gave Thorn a very delicate task. 


'Yes sir. I can do that" 

Rowan turned again to leave, when my voice halted him yet again. 


'And Thorn, try not to get caught"


~Zayne~


I walked to her room, wondering how I would manage to tell her all these things. 

Would she even believe me? 


After several minutes standing outside Emily's door, I finally mustered the confidence to knock on her door. 


She opened the door, her face was a picture of shock. She was surprised to see me at her door. 


Initially reluctant, Emily's finally allowed me to her room.

I didn't bother making myself comfortable, that will only infuriate her the more. So I just stood at a corner of her room.


I explained everything as best as I could to Emily. 

She was initially reluctant to come with me and then later tensed hearing I was going to fight Vadka. 

And then later, she finally agreed to come with me as it was the only way I could defeat Vadka. 


I also offered her  more intense training sessions to help build up herself for the case I just might not be able to save her at that moment. 


After that, I returned to my room home, my heart now deeply relieved. 


And for that, I had a good night rest. I was a step close to getting my hands on the sword of ages and slaying Vadka. But the real journey to the sacred temple was yet to begin.