~Zayne~



I sat comfortably in a firm wooden chair. My posture is upright.

A paper and pen well placed on the table in front of me.



And so, I began writing, reading the words to myself as hushed whispers.


‘Good day fellow judicial team. From the judges, to the attorneys, I would like to express my gratitude first of all.


Being king of this kingdom for all these years has been a true blessing for me.

From the highest of highs, to the very lowest of lows.

In my time, I've experienced bloodshed, peace treaty, leading my warriors into battle and more, and it has been a wonderful experience for me.

But, unfortunately I can't be king again. If you're getting this letter it probably means I'm dead already.


But, I wish I could at least do more before I leave, but it seems my time has arrived. I just faced a challenge that was too much even for me, in the form of Vadka.

But, now to the main purpose of the letter. Recently discovered in article 52, section 23. I've come to learn that the heir to the king must not be blood bound to the former king. But he rather must possess great qualities of a leader.

Qualities like wisdom, patience and much more.


So it is with a light heart, I offer to you Rowan, as the next king of the Lycan kingdom.

He fits all the criteria for a king. He possesses all the qualities needed as well.

So, I duly hope in the case I don't return you this letter, and that you heavily consider Rowan for the spot as king of this great kingdom.

Yours truly, King Zayne.'


I finished writing the letter, before folding and tucking it into a brown envelope.

And then, boldly written on the back of the envelope was ‘Judge Meadows'


Before leaving my room, I decided to take a quick peek at the courtyard.

I was left dumbfounded to see the crowd outside there waiting for my arrival.

It was as though the whole members of the castle were present, something that hasn't happened in a while.


I packed my fighting gears, in a light bag, before leaving my room.

I wasn't in any real rush to get to the courtyard. I savored the moment, who knows, it might be the last time I get to step foot here again.


The noise from the crowd turned up, once they saw me.


'King Zayne!! King Zayne!! King Zayne!!"


Hearing them chant my name with so much passion and love, really melted my heart.


I gently climbed the upliftment, in front of them. They all looked up at me, anxiously waiting for me to speak.

I was overwhelmed by the moment, so I had to buy myself a minute before I could say anything.


'Good day my fellow Lycans. It's great to see this beautiful number that turned up here today.

I'm really happy to see you guys. Thank you for this!!"

I said to a great string of applause from the crowds.


'Well, many of you know, I'm just a few hours away from going down to the fight pit, and squaring up against the vampire king, Vadka. And to be honest with you all, I don't know if I'll come back."

Some gasps of despair reached my ears. Some of them will be heartbroken to hear their king, scared for a battle, uncertain for his life.


'I can't look you in the eyes and guarantee you all I'll come back. But one thing is for sure, I'll do everything I can.

I won't stop fighting no matter how the odds are against me.

I have one of the greatest weapons a man could possibly ask for, the great love of his people.

Thank you!!"

There was an even louder round of applause from the people.

I could see the teary eyes of some of them gathered there.

It seemed to give me a greater reason to fight.

To fight for them. I'm the symbol of hope for them, I need to stay alive at least for them.


Soon, the crowd dispersed into their various rooms.

I sat on a shallow rock, peacefully watching the sun set to the west.

The time for the battle was soon here.


'Sir, how are you feeling?"Rowan approached me.

'Hopeful!" my answer was short, but weighed with great meaning.


'Here." I passed him the letter I wrote.

'If I don't come back, give this to Judge Meadows for me.


'NO, no, don't say… '


'I said if… I'll do all I can to kill him, and leave the rest to fate."

I insisted Rowan held onto the letter.


'Wait here for me, I need to meet one more person."

I left Rowan and began walking in the direction of the clinic.

And then I reached her room.

Her door was open, so I gently swept aside the curtains.

My heart melted as I saw her beautiful face, her eyes closed and her rest was peaceful.


I turned to leave when I heard her faint voice.

'Zayne? Is that you?"


'Yeah it is!" I walked back to her and sat beside her.


'Well, I'm about to go, Emily. To go and fight Vadka."

I said my voice tinged with distress. My voice is shaking a little.


Suddenly, I felt the warm touch of Emily's hand.

She gently placed her hands on mine, looking into my eyes.

It was as if she was staring into my soul.


'Zayne, I trust you. I know you'll turn out good, sword or no sword.

For me, the journey to the temple wasn't about getting the sword.

It was about the challenges we faced going there, and how we overcame it."

Emily's words sunk deep into me. I never really looked at it the way she did.


'Remember, Zayne. When you're standing across Vakda, and in the heat of the fight, remember you have me to fight for. You have your people to fight for, and remember you age us to fight for."

Emily's next words seemed to inject in me a new purpose to fight for.


'Thank you for those words." I leant over to her and gave her a gentle hug.

After a short while, I gently broke the hug, pulling away from her.

But then suddenly, I felt her warm lips crashing against mine.


I was initially thunderstruck by this, but then I felt like she shouldn't just stop.

It just felt right with her.


'When you're back Zayne, and I know you'll come back. I'll be waiting here for you."


Emily said as I turned to leave her room.


'I will come back for us, trust me." I left Emily with those words before leaving her room.



Walking out of the clinic, it was already getting dark, and it was time to head out to the fight pit.


I walked to the front of the castle, where Rowan was waiting patiently for me, with his horse strapped by his side.


'Are you ready bro?" Rowan asked as I approached him.

'Phew!

Yes."

I took in a long deep breath before giving my answer.


We got on the castle and rode in the direction to the fight pit.


It wasn't too far from either castle, being a mutual ground, so we arrived in a short time.


And to no surprise, standing in front of me was Vadka.

His large and intimidating figure was just a few steps away from me.

He cast a death glare at me, as I stepped down from my horse.


'I was thinking you bailed out.

Forgetting that, if you do, then I'll rain havoc on your castle."

Vadka spoke in a very murderous tone. He had so much stored up anger for me.


'Rowan you can head back, me and Vadka will take it from here."

I whispered to Rowan's ear.


'You can do this Zayne, fear no one!" Rowan said one more word of encouragement before turning his horse around and riding away.


And, then it was only me and Vakda. I stood across him, in this wide open ground.

It's great silence was enough to set chills down my spine.


'It's me and you now, Zayne.

No one here to save you, and nowhere to run."

Vadka was doing his best to try to sync me out before the fight.


'So, no rules from here. Only one of us is walking out of here alive!"


And then, in a blurry battlefield, cold fog covered the grounds.

Two kings stood in a vicious fuel where only one survives.


'Argh!!" and with a roar I charged viciously at Vadka, my werewolf claws scraping through his bare chest.


But, my mind went blank, my heart sank in despair when I turned back to see Vadka laughing, almost mocking me.


'Is that all you have king! You can't even fight for yourself, speakers of your little girlfriend Emily."

His trash talk ticked me off even more.

And with great speed, I reached him in a flash and went for his face with even greater strength.

The force brought him down to a knee, a huge scar also on his cheeks, as blood poured down.


He stood up and spat out blood.

'You dare bleed me, Zayne. I'll make your death even more painful!"

Vakda now went on the offence. With the lightning speed of a vampire, he was in front of me in a flash.


With his firm and strong hands, he grabbed me by my neck and raised me well above the ground.

His grip around my neck was getting tighter, and my vision began to blur. My struggle was becoming faint and weak.


'You worthless king, you think you can kill me!!"

Vadka's stern voice stirred a great rage in me.


Clenching my fists tightly, with a great swing my strong fists landed on his face.

Forcing him to free his grip around my neck.


But Vakda wasn't relenting in the slightest. He came again at me before I could even regroup myself.

With his fists well positioned he punched me so hard, that body left the ground and I flew a few steps back.

My body landed hard on the hard ground.


But, that wasn't enough to keep me down. I got back up almost immediately.

I did my best to shrug off all the pain all over my body.


'Arghhh!!"

I threw a punch at his ugly face. But my mind seemed to leave my body in disbelief.

Vakda with a single hand, neutralized my attack like it was nothing really.


He tightly held my hand, I couldn't even move it. His strength was just too much.


I couldn't believe my eyes.


And with his other hand, he gave me another punch dropping me down to the floor instantly.


My eyes gently fluttered open, my vision was a little blurry.

I could barely feel my own body. Wounds and sores appeared all over my body.


'Weak piece of shit!"

I heard Vadka's stern voice. I could hear his distant footsteps carefully approaching me.


He seemed to not want to rush this. He wasn't in any haste to tear me apart. He was rather enjoying me suffering.


I struggled to get back on my feet before Vadka reached me, but my body seemed to betray me.


And before I could finally get up to a knee, Vakda was standing just in front of me.


'Let's not waste any of our time, Zayne! I'll make this kill very quick!"

Just the Vadka's eyes turned pure red.


It was as though it was the devil in front of me.


I was still positioned to a knee on the ground when Vakda placed his right hand on my hand.

'Die Zayne!!"


'Arghhh!!"

And just then, a massive jolt seemed to penetrate my body.


My eyes turned white and I could feel him taking away my soul.

And I was gradually dying.