Moonbloods Season 1
Epilogue

The throne room was packed with Lords and Ladies of the Court. Lady Cienna walked beside me as I headed for the front of the room. Emris sat his throne, his eyes on me as I walked up the podium. I had pulled myself together before he had come looking for me.

Clearly Niko had gone against his wishes in telling me about the death of the King. But why would Emris hide that from me? I would have found out eventually.

My anxiety and circling thoughts must have been blaring because the force of calm and relaxation that washed over me made the nausea from before bubble dully in my belly.

Knox sat in the chair beside his brother to his left, leaving my throne open beside Emris. Knox smirked at me, the look on his face giving me chills. I shuddered.

I sat down beside Emris, feeling his fingers brush gently at my sleeves as his fingers wrapped around my wrist. What is it?

I swallowed. It's nothing.

Emris frowned. "What news have you brought, Graven?" he asked as he wound his fingers through mine. I instantly felt relaxed and I leaned back into my seat as Lord Graven and Lady Yesmina- to my surprised horror- was dressed in a dark, floor length gown, her long silver hair was half pinned up and spilled down her back. The dress was stunning, beaded and silk.

"With all due respect my Prince, this is not a matter to be discussed in open Court," Graven said.

Emris stiffened a little and his eyes darted around the room as a small wave of a whisper echoed through the room. "Very well," Emris said as he stood back to his feet. Knox was the first to leave the room, having skipped down the podium and vanished through the door to our left.

I wanted to tell Emris his father had passed but we were surrounded by people and I figured he would be angry that the news had broken before he had been told.

The inside of the chamber was small and it filled quickly with myself, Emris, Lord Graven, Yesmina. Prince Knox sat down quickly, swinging his feet up onto the tabletop. "Get on with it you old fuck, the tide is coming soon!" he bellowed.

Before anyone could say anything, Graven spoke. "You Lord Father, King Alistor Halcro the second of his name, has passed," he said in a loud and clear voice. "You are the next King of Azga."

The room remained eerily quiet as the words of Graven's announcement sank in. I risked a glance up at Emris but his face reminded impassive. I wasn't at all sure what he was feeling or thinking right now. His mind was a dark void of blackness. Emris?

His mind was filled to the brim with anger and anxiety. My father was murdered, he told me.

How?

Emris grit his teeth. If I knew that I would know my next move but since no one here is willing to admit that no plans of my ascension were ever discussed with or by the King...

It was a strange feeling, to feel the anxiety of a demon. It flared through me, fast and hot, the feeling intense and tearing oddly at my shoulder blades. I shifted uncomfortably as Emris grip tightend on my wrist.

They want to know what I plan to do with you now that I am King.

I felt my face go blank and I leaned back in my seat.

"Congratulations, brother," Knox said as he slowly clapped his hands. "Better not make a mess of it!"

Emris raised his hand and I watched as a wave of black smoke appeared and rushed forward, striking Knox in the chest, causing him to fall backwards out of his chair. Flailing arms and legs was all I could see for a moment as Knox flew backwards. Knox hit the floor with an audible smack and grunt as he hit the floor. A small gasp left my lips in the sudden flourish of movement. A small murmur went through the room as Knox straightened himself into a sitting position. "What the hell?" he spit, rubbing some blood from his chin.

"Don't tempt me brother!" Emris warned him.

Before I could think of what to say Emris stood to his feet, dropping my hand gently and headed for the door.

"Emris?" I called after him but he kept walking. I glanced around the room as the few around us began to stare and whisper. I cleared my throat and stood back to my feet. The whole room stood, everyone but Knox and Yesmina, stood to their feet as I walked slowly from the room.

I reached out for his mind. It was a cold wall of blackness. He was blocking me out.

"Emris!" I called after him. My voice echoing down the halls. He didn't stop and he didn't turn to look at me. Some servants stopped and watched Prince Emris stalked away from me. I stopped half way down the hall, not having it in me to continue. If he needed space, I should give it to him. I glanced back at the full Chamber and saw that the people within were already leaving. Knox and Yesmina were standing by the door, watching me. Melbourne was with them. I stalked toward them.

"Why did you do that?" I demanded. Knox laughed at me and I narrowed my eyes at him. "You could have told the Prince in private!"

Knox laughed at me now. "He is a King now, Nalia," Yesmina reminded me. "Your days with him are numbered, bitch!"

I watched her stalk away, Knox giving me one last smirk and followed Yesmina. Graven heaved a heavy sigh.

"Unfortunately my Lady daughter may be right, My Lady," he said and I glanced back at him, annoyed he was calling me Lady. "The King now needs an immortal wife for heirs. He may even kill you himself."

I spent the rest of the day in the library with Niko trying to replace information on Moonbloods and their Magic. It was close to impossible. I needed to learn how to use my powers now more then ever. I wasn't going to wait around for someone to try and convince Emris that he should kill me. I would be long gone before that ever happened.

It pained me to think that way. I knew it would be flames and pitchforks by the Lords and Ladies of Azga. They would feel betrayed and offended that they and their families were not considered for Courtship

"The histories were scrubbed clean of the mention of you, Princess," Niko said as he flipped through a book. I sighed.

"I wish I could remember everything," I said. "I know it would fix a lot of things."

"Well, we know that you come from the Bloodline of the Ellingboe Witches-"

"My mother was a regular woman, Niko," I reminded him. "If anything it was my father who would had passed on the immortal gene. He was a Warlock."

Niko nodded. "And a powerful one at that," he mused. "Makes me wonder how he fell so easily."

I raised an eyebrow. "How do you mean?" I asked him.

Niko pursed his lips. "King Ambrose was King for a reason. He was powerful and persuasive. And he was very, very smart."

I shook my head. "I don't get your meaning," I told him. Niko shrugged.

"I am no scholar or historian, your Majesty, I know only of what others have spoken. Mostly drunken stories."

"I suppose there is always some sort of truth hidden in stories," I allowed. "I remember little of my father. I was very young when he passed. I remember little of my former Court life because most of it was spent with a nanny."

I jumped when the library door pushed open, the lock release echoing through the vast room, and Hali entered the room. She held her head down, her hair covering one side of her face. I watched Niko as his eyes followers her around the room. She wasn't alone. A red-cheeked pale skinned man followed her inside. He was not someone I knew and Niko didn't seem to recognize him because he was instantly on his feet as soon as he saw the blade in the man's hand.

"King Emris requests your presents-"

I shook my head. "Where?" I demanded as I stood to my feet.

"The stables," the man said.

"Let's go Niko-"

The man snorted. "I can take you-"

Niko pulled his cloak on. "I am her Majesty's sworn sword. I am not to leav her side but in the presents of his Grace the King, Emris Halcro."

I felt my heart skip a beat at the sound of that.

Nalia.

Chills slowly rolled on the surface of my skin. His voice was faint. Like he was far away, inside a tunnel or underwater.

"Emris is busy and wishes to see his wife as soon as possible-"

Niko placed a hand losely on the hilt of his sword. "The Princess is not to leave my side." His words echoed across the hallway as the two brawny men stared each other down. Then, the intruder suddenly screamed as he pulled his sword and swung it at Niko's head.

With a grunted Niko throw his metal gloved hand out and shoved me out of the way. A surprised gasped left my lips and I stumbled backwards, falling into my hip, the corse ground scratching my hands.

Pain and anger- anger that was not mine- seared through me. Emris was close. I watched as Niko dodged the invaders sword and swung up his own, his blade swinging around twice above his head before passing over the man's shoulders and decapitating the intruder before me. Blood splattered across my face and a surprised gasp left my lips once more, the whole thing having happened in just a few moves. I watched the lifeless head of the unknown assailant roll toward me and come to a stop against the wall. The man's body dropped to the floor with a heavy thump.

"Your Majesty, are you hurt?" Niko demanded as he sheathed his sword. "Can you walk?"

I nodded because I wasn't able to speak yet. I was staring at the head of the dead man before me. "Do you know this man?"

I shook my head. "No," I assured him. I glanced up to see Yesmina and Knox coming toward me.

"Who is he?" I demanded. "How did he get inside the Manor?"

Niko shook his head and reached for my hand, tugging me down the hallway. "We should depart from here-"

"Arrest him!" Graven shouted, pointing at Niko. A startled gasp left my lips.

"For what!?" I demanded as I watched guards step forward to arrest Niko. Graven sneered at me.

"For the attempted murder of yourself, Princess." We stared at each other for a moment and then Graven chuckled. "Take her as well. We will call it a simple mix up. My guards don't know any better. You are a Mortal whore, Your Majesty. Best we be rid of you sooner rather then later," Graven said as if to remind me. "Better you die now before you spread your legs-"

My hand had grown a kind of its own. I watched my hand raise and slap Graven across the face. I was to surprised at my own actions that I didn't fully understand what was happening until Graven's hand struck me back. The foce if it was so hard and so sudden that it knocked me back, into the wall. I turned and held my cheek, my skin burninh.

"Father, you shouldn't have done that- Cienna can take the blame-"

Graven rounded on her. "Shut your mouth, stupid girl!" he spit. "Do you wish to be Queen or not?"

I felt a surprised look settle on my face. "Emris and I are already married-"

Graven scowled at me. "No one wants the Moonbloods to return- we dont need you spreading your legs to let the King fill you up- It was because of them the war broke out in the first place!" Graven slid his finger through his gloves.

"I could do so much worse to you, Nalia." Graven raised a hand again and touched my face, his fingers brushing a hair from my cheek. “I can see what Emris sees in you. You are… tempting, after all.” His fingers slid down my neck and I shuddered in disgust.

"You dare touch her-"

Graven shot him a glare and turned and punched him, knocking him out. "Please, stop!" I begged as I watched Niko slump to the ground.

"Graven, if you think you can get away with my imprisonment-"

"You had this planned anyway, right, My Lady?" Graven asked me as he walked over slowly to the decapitated man who was oozing blood all over the polished stone floors of the hallway.

"Leaving his Majesty had always been your plan. And since you have yet to fall pregnant, I can help you!"

I scoffed. "I don't want your help!" I assured him. "Now release Niko to me-"

Graven waved his hand, seemingly bored with the conversation now.

"Take them away," he said and nodded for Yesmina to follow me. I watched a smirk fill her face as she turned away from me.

"Nice knowing you, Nalia," she sneered as the guards dragged me away. I didn't struggle. I didn't resist. What was the point?

I had gotten to families and to comfortable with the dangers and enemies around me.

"You are making a grave mistake," I told Graven as he marched me down the hall. I herd the rattling of chains as we rounded the corner. Hali was in shackles, standing by the door of the Dungeon.

I shoved the guard off of me and hurried toward her.

Her face was bleeding and her lip was cut open. Sweat clung to her forehead and hair. I raised a hand and touched her face.

"My goddess, you are buring up, Hali-"

Graven sighed and shoved us forward into the holding bay. "She will get medical when she reached Star Hill," he said as he slammed the door closed. "If she survives that long."

I shook my head. "Where are we?" I asked as the room around us moaned and creaked loudly. Almost like-"

"A slave ship, your Grace," Niko said as he sat up at straight. I walked over to him. We were not alone. There were other woman and children here on this ship. Man too. Guards.

"Where is it headed?" I asked and glanced around. Niko followed my gaze. The Savii stared back at me.

"How will Emris replace us?"

Emris! EMRIS!

I screamed as loudly as I could in my mind, reaching out for his and searching for his warm touch.

Nalia.

Oh I could nearly feel him. Emris Graven stuck me in a Slave ship!

My heart was pounding in my chest. Niko was peering through a small crack in the wall of the ship.

"We are still in Port!"

Emris, we are still in Port! We haven't set out yet!

I waited for his answer but nothing came. My heart continued to slam against my chest as I waited for him answer. But I herd nothing. His voice didn't echo in my mind. The shiver of warmth didn't caress my skin. Emris?

Blood pumped in my ears but he didn't answer. We were already to age away. Our connection was best when we were touching. I could hear and feel him anywhere on the Manor grounds. Now I was too far away. I looked back at Niko and Hali. "What do we do now?"

Niko looked down at his weapons. "I will protect you with my life, your Majesty." We stared at each other as it dawned on me. Heaven had just kidnapped me. "I will do all I can to return you to King Emris, my Queen."