The Palace Beast
Chapter 20 - Escape to Life

At the Kingdom of Wex "My Lord!" Commander Leo called out as he approached King Charles's throne hall.

On his forehead is a scar inflicted recently by hooded riders that abducted and killed the princes of Wex on their way back to the kingdom of Wex. Standing before King Charles, he bowed and then took a deep breath.

"What's the matter?" the king enquired. Mourning his sons, the king believes the Kingdom of Maxis is behind the death of his sons. For this, he's willing and open to enact the hatred he used to have for Maxis and whoever that sits on the throne.

"There has been a rumor about the new king of Maxis," said Commander Leo.

"What rumor?" the king asked with his eyes fixed on his commander. A sense of curiosity crossed his face.

Since Drew, the late king's friend visited Wex to plot on attack and possible overthrown the new king of Maxis, King Charles has not concluded his next move against Maxis and the new king, King Afa. King Charles is known to be a strategic king who doesn't venture into any fight without calculating the outcomes especially now his wolf form has been stripped away since the lost of his sons. His desperation to see Maxis burn to the ground is one of the greatest tasks he wants to accomplish before he dies and joins his sons in the world beyond.

"He has been taken by a Dybbuk and this is the right time to strike. The Kingdom of Maxis is vulnerable now my Lord King," Leo assured.

"I don't deal with rumors. Find out if this is true then we will take it from there," the king instructed.

At the Woods Near Maxis As Gerald and his men were trying to move away from the thick dark smoke, a violent wind beat against them knocking them down from their horses. Immediately the thick dark smoke disappeared. "It's gone!" said Gerald as he dragged himself up to his feet. "Is everyone alright?" he asked glancing at his men.

"I can't walk!" one of the soldiers cried out.

He had hit his leg on the rock when the violent wind was against them and as a result, his joint was twisted. "I need help to get up on my arse," he cried out leaning back on the rock.

"You, go and help him!" Gerald instructed another soldier standing beside him.

"He needs his injury to be attended to," said the soldier as he helped him up.

"Then take him back and have his injuries attended to," Gerald instructed. Turning to face the rest of his men, "The rest, come with me the king needs our help," he said as he quickly mounted on his horse.

Land of the Dead "Quick son, come with me. The night is coming and it will be unwise to stay out in the open," said King Gilbert as he led the way to a cave. Getting to the cave that was decorated with skulls but not the skulls of humans, Afa stared in awe as his father led the way.

"Which creatures have these skulls?" he asked with curiosity.

The skulls are not the same as that of a human. They were large and were well affixed to the walls of the cave.

"There are creatures of the dark preying on the souls here." King Gilbert glances at his son and gives him a look of assurance, he places his hand on King Afa's shoulder saying, "But you have nothing to worry about, I have a way of killing them and taking their head as my trophy."

"Come, sit beside me," said King Gilbert as he led his son to a rock he uses as his seat.

There was a large rock at the center of the cave. King Gilbert sat on it as King Afa sat beside him. "Why are you here son?"

The land of the dead is not a place anyone wishes to be, especially when he or she has not fulfilled his or her full lifespan. It has been another fight for survival for the late king in the land of the dead as he hunts and kills spirit creatures after him. It's a quiet place when not hunted by any spirit creature. King Gilbert did not expect to see his son so soon in the land of the dead. He was supposed to be made king to rule Maxis.

"I am not supposed to be here. The last thing I remembered was being attacked by a shadowy figure with red glowing eyes," Afa narrates.

“That must be the Dybbuk. For you to end up not dying like me, someone must wake you up from the other side with the spirits herb."

“I still don't understand how you slept and you never woke up. You were full of health. I am not ready for this role as the King of Maxis, it's all new to me and I'm not sure I can handle this."

King Gilbert slowly stood to his feet. "There are lots of things going on inside the palace that I have hidden from you and your sister. I must be very ashamed of it now."

"What are you talking about?" King Afa asked turning to face him.

Pacing around the rock where King Afa is seated, King Gilbert sighed in relief as he began to speak, "My death was not a natural cause. I was killed by..."

Just as he was about to finish the sentence, his son, King Afa disappeared from his presence.

Seeing his son disappear, he knows it will be a very long time before he can see his son again. Perhaps when King Afa grows old and dies. He was about to tell his son who killed him before he was taken away from the land of the dead and this could mean one thing.

"Farewell my son," he mutters in a sad tone with his head slightly lowered.

At the Kingdom of Maxis: Maxis' Cave Exhaling deeply, King Afa quickly rose. He is seated on the plain sandy ground of the cave. "Welcome back my king!" said a tiny female voice from behind.

The king recognized the voice, swiftly he turned around, and he saw Eva standing behind him with her head slightly lowered. "What happened?" King Afa asked dragging himself to his feet. "Where is the creature," he added without hesitation. "The creature is gone," Eva replied. "I used my late father's spirits herb to drive him away from you," Eva added.

"You saved my life," King Afa said expressing gratitude.

Approaching Eva with a smile on his face, the king apologizes to her for being dismissed by his sister, "Such will not happen again," he said grabbing her by both hands.

"I understand and I am not upset my king," Eva replied lowering her head.

"I missed a piece of..."

"My king!" Gerald echoed as he ran into the cave interrupting the king's reunion with Eva. He bent a kneel before the king, and then lowered his head in reverence, "It's good to have you back." "Arise!" King Afa replied. "Ready the horses, we are going home."

"Yes my lord," Gerald replied as he quickly rushed out to do as the king had commanded.

With his eyes fixed on Eva, he stretched his hand towards her, "Come with me," he said.

"Forgive me my lord and my king; it will be best if I stay away from the palace for now. Your beloved has threatened my life and has warned me not to be seen near the palace ever again."

"I am the king of Maxis and no one will dare to hurt you. Come with me and I will make things right."

King Afa insisted as he moved closer to Eva; he slightly raised her head and then fixed his eyes on her, "Don't you feel what I feel for you?" he asked.

"Umm... I..."

Eva's words were pushed back as Gerald rushed into the cave, "My King, we have riders approaching and they are heavily armed!"