Mathias (#1 The Chronicles of the Demon Wolf)
Chapter 23

Arthur sits on the throne with a book on his right hand. A moment later, one of his followers bowed in front of him.

“Sire, you have a guest.” The follower tells him.

With a small nod, Arthur hands his book to the follower and stands up. He walks out of the hall heading to the courtyard where Chelsea’s army is currently stationed. The hideous looking monsters growl at each other but make no attempt of creating a fight. He doesn’t know what Chelsea planned to do. With a massive cracked on the ground, lave erupts in between.

“I’ve been thinking when you would show up,” Arthur says as he passes the monsters, heading to Mathias who is being guarded by Arthur’s followers. “We’ve met again, Mathias.”

“Is this what you’ve wanted?” Mathias gestures to the monsters. “Unleashing bloodthirsty monsters on Earth?”

“We both know who is the king of bloodthirsty monster.” Arthur chuckled. “Are you really that heartless, Mathias? Rejecting your own mate for someone else’s mate?”

Mathias falls into a deep silence. Arthur approaches him until they’re standing at arm-length from each other. Once again, they come to face each other. Mathias searches for the kindness in Arthur’s eyes and immediately disappointed when he found none. Arthur had changed completely.

“When I kissed her—”

Before Arthur could finish the sentence, Mathias’ fist connected to his jaw. Arthur falls backward while his followers held Mathias using magic. Rubbing the sore part of his jaw, Arthur chuckles as he gets up from the ground.

“Why are you angry about that?” Arthur laughs. “She’s not yours anymore. You bit her and she was ready to take the fall for your sake.”

“You should have never touched what was not yours!” Mathias growls in anger.

“Then you should have never rejected what was yours!” Arthur spits back. “When I kissed her on that night, I could feel her sadness flow out from her lips. The pain of being rejected coursed through her body—killing her from the inside. She was already broken and you broke her beyond repair.”

Every word that came out from Arthur’s mouth has left Mathias speechless. Arthur was right. He has nothing to say. All of this started because of him. Now, Arthur is making him realize all that.

“The only time she didn’t think of you was when I bedded her.” Arthur keeps on.

Mathias’ hands turn into tight fists but he has no rights to be mad about it. It was his fault. He made it crystal clear that he would never accept Chelsea as his mate. He went against his family’s belief. His father sacrificed everything just to be with his mother. And here he is, denying the sacred bond between two souls.

Arthur stands closer, leaning to whisper, “You reap what you sow.” He pulls back.

Then a lightning strike on the sky as dark clouds gather. Arthur looks up and smile. Chelsea has done what she came for in the Moon Goddess’ Kingdom. Loud boom is heard nearby. Black smoke falls from the sky and as it reaches the ground, it turns into an executioner—Goddess of Death’s elite soldiers.

Arthur turns his back to Mathias walking away but he stops after a few steps, “And they said your kind is a superior one. It’s a shame that you never know what she is.”

Mathias freezes by the sudden words from Arthur. The daemon man just smirks as if he has cracked the greatest puzzle of all. Then, Mathias remembers; lying is not Arthur’s best skill. Arthur has been known for telling the truth even if the truth would hurt everyone around him. Telling the truth is what he does best. He might be the villain but he was no liar.

“Maybe you should go ask Chelsea’s family about the truth.” Then he laughs. “Oh, I forgot her family is inside the trees.” Arthur stands to face him once more. “How did you think I know the location of the Heart? Only four people knew the location. Stefano, The Moon Goddess, the Angel Joshua and the Goddess of Death.”

Stefano wouldn’t give up the location of the Heart just like that. Joshua, the Angel, he doesn’t come to Earth freely. He’s the Moon Goddess’ right-hand Angel. He only comes down to Earth when something really concerning the Moon Goddess. And Mathias knows the Moon Goddess wouldn’t give up the location either. Why would she give up the one thing that breathes life out? That leaves the Goddess of Death.

Mathias shakes his head. Following the event, Arthur didn’t free the Goddess of Death first. He corrupted the Heart first. So, how did Arthur know the location without freeing the Goddess of Death first?

“Unless I have the Goddess of Death first,” Arthur answers him with a smug. “Oh Mathias, your mind always so loud.”

“Mathias, we have a bigger problem. Look at the sky…” Ryker’s voice rings in his mind.

Mathias looks up. The clouds turn red and swirling around. Then, hundreds of blue orbs ascend to the sky slowly. It’s already begun.

The third phase.

The death of those trapped in the corrupted trees.

A swift wind gust, Arthur stands behind Mathias. His cold breath could be felt on Mathias’ skin.

“Moon Goddess hid the Goddess of Death’s vessel somewhere in this realm after she put her soul in the Pandora box. If you ever broke into Stefano’s study room in his castle, you would have found where the vessel was hidden.”

Stefano had made it clear that nobody is allowed in his study room. Mathias knew the daemon High Lord is protecting secrets in his study room that could potentially ruin the world. That was why Stefano laid down his life for his study room as long as it's safe from falling to wrong hands.

“I’d guess you have found the vessel.”

“Everyone did. They just didn’t realize it sooner.” Arthur leans closer and whispers, “I’ll tell you a secret. Chelsea is the vessel.”