The Pure-Hearted Princess and the Kiss of Darkness
Chapter 55

-

ENRIQUE ~

I frown, so our ancestor was a demi-goddess... one who came from the goddess of witchcraft...

"The first El Rey Carmesí, Alpha Neron Escarra, was their son and powerful he was. Not only did he possess a powerful wolf, but within his veins ran the magic of Hecate's blood. Roja warned her son not to play with such powers. After all, where there is power, there is great risk and consequence."

A moment's silence falls amongst us as I ponder over what he's said.

Why was such history buried? The problem is everyone hides their secrets, hides the truth from others, but in the end what if those very key facts are lost?

"So, he disobeyed his mother..." I say.

"Indeed, because what man would not be tempted to use such power that they are blessed with? So he began experimenting and the power he played with attracted enemies. It was at one of these instances that he made a dangerous decision."

I listen quietly, more intrigued than I want to admit. "To protect Alpha Neron, his beta gave his life and was killed. But Neron refused to accept the death of his dearest comrade and he decided to use magic to capture his soul and essence, fusing it with his own powers." 7

Magic that shouldn't have happened. "The power of the Crimson King comes from Roja herself, but it was Neron who created the title and gave birth to the line of future kings. He named himself the Crimson King and began using his abilities to create an army. An army created from fallen wolves, he reaped their souls, fused them with magic- to be born anew, and that is how the Wolves of Fire came to be."

"So those wolves that Padre used were dead souls?"

"Yes, most of them, but Neron did one more thing."

I'm not liking where this is going...

"To lead those wolves, he wanted something more loyal, powerful, and deadly. So he dug deeper into his powers and with a sacred relic - A relic we assume was an Ash Stone, he was able to create his three guardsmen. Three wolves who were far superior to the rest. These are not spirits created from magic, but beings created from a fusion between magic and blood. Not just any blood, but the blood of Roja herself."

I frown deeply, something inside of me stirring. This makes sense...

Ronaldo, Rodrigues and Raol... They were Padre's betas, but they were different. Were they his 'guardsmen'?

"And he bound it with the help of a powerful witch, that every Rey Carmesi will have his guardsmen." Hugo continues and I'm now paying attention to every word, not wanting to miss any of it. "And with every king that takes his place, he will unbind and unchain his awaiting guardsmen from their shackles. A place where they await from the day of your birth, they too were born. Waiting."

Yeah, I don't f*****g like this shit.

"But he MUST have the Ash Stone or the price will be great... powerful magic comes at a powerful cost, and that is a risk Neron took willingly." Hugo sighs as he sits forward. "Are you certain you spoke those words?"

"I did and I don't have the fucking Ash Stone, if only you told me this shit sooner," I growl. Although yeah, I know it's not his fucking fault.

"I am beginning to think I should have," he murmurs.

"So it seems I somehow unleashed the three guardsmen, right?" I frown.

"Yes, the first part is your oath as you step in as The Crimson King... but the latter was to unbind your guardsmen who could be the strongest of allies or the deadliest. Your father made his, his betas and they died willingly for your father. However, your father had the Ash Stone in his possession. You do not, and they are coming. You managed to awaken them without the Ash Stone, and you will be indebted to them until you replace it," Hugh says gravely, concern etched onto his face.

"Indebted..."

"Alpha Enrique, may I ask where you learned that incantation from? Your mother never wanted you to take that oath, so how did you know it? Did your father tell you it?" he asks quietly.

I frown. "I'm not sure... I just knew it."

He frowns. "Well, the Ash Stone must be found then, before they arrive." "What does it look like?"

"I do not know I'm afraid, but I know that your mother did not want you to accept this power because this land of ours is tainted... by accepting your powers you have awakened an even greater force within you, one that will fuel our poisoned lands-" "Wait." My heart thuds as something flips inside of me and snips of words fleetingly cross my mind.

'Never utter those words, Enrique! Who told you them?!... Madre, I'm sorry! I was just playing!... Listen to me, Enrique, our lands are poisoned, they cannot handle such power... The crack in the barrier is growing, because of the great power that has lingered on our lands. The darkness is bleeding through. You must never use such power. Promise me, mijo! ... I promise, madre, I promise...

"Madre was the one who told me about the barrier. How did she know about it?" I ask suddenly, looking up at Hugo who looks confused.

"I do not understand..."

"Madre, she said that immense power will upset the balance, that the greater the power on this island, the more the crack will grow and the darkness shall bleed through," I explain, my voice strained with urgency.

He looks down, shaking his head. "I'm afraid I do not know, but indeed your power has increased and the Wolves of Fire will also bring with them great power."

Time has just gotten tighter...

"Leave me," I order, the urge to devour these books completely filling me.

"Alpha," he says as he stands up.

"What is it?" I ask sharply.

He hesitates before he lowers his head. "Do you hold anything dear?"

"No. Why do you ask?"

"The wolves... no, you have nothing to fear, for you have nothing to lose, My King." He bows his head, but I remain silent, my stomach twisting.

Kataleya...

Whether willing or unwilling, she means something to me and his words have left me feeling extremely uncomfortable...

I will not let anything happen to her.

Hours have passed and I'm still looking through page after page of these books, my mind swirling with titbits of information that are beginning to form a bigger picture.

The Crimson King's powers are from the magic that ran through the bloodline, and since it was from an enchantress and directly from a goddess, it carried through the generations. And every first child inherited this power. Witch power is usually carried by the first female of each line, but in our case, it was alpha male to alpha male.

Blood Enchanters. That was the term that was used in the books often enough... and it was this power that made them a strong host... The Crimson Alpha Kings. Blood Enchanters.

The sun is rising, casting a stunning hue throughout the room, and I was just reading the biography written by Cortez Santiago Escarra's great-grandson, Estephan.

It's hard to read at times. The words faded at times, but it was a compilation of his great-grandfather's life. And as it progressed, it became manic and incoherent. He spoke of his own experience, how he was being driven mad.

But the first half was clear. It records how the Djinn was summoned, and made the events that led up to what would happen in England fourteen years ago make more sense.

I now sit back, trying to arrange my thoughts.

Cortez Escarra was the one who summoned the Djinn when his daughter was mated to the Alpha of the Luna Morte Pack abroad.

It was that Alpha's sister who was taken by DeAngelo Rossi and this caused conflict between the two packs. In this conflict, Cortez's daughter, who was also pregnant at the time, was killed.

When Cortez found out about the fate of his daughter, he sought revenge.

That is when he made the deal with the Djinn and went to Italy with the intention of destroying DeAngelo Rossi and every Rossi in existence.

He went on a rampage, killing every single Rossi, from man and woman to child, sparing none.

The Djinn kept up his side, granting him unlimited power. However, according to Estephan the Djinn tricked him, not giving him the full revenge he sought. He would not allow him to kill one of the Rossi's, saying the time was not right.

The price the Djinn asked for was to be hosted by every Rey Carmesí until the time was right. His eyes remained on the Rossis, for they would bring from their line the one the Djinn was waiting for.

The host, who he will take as his own and at that time the Escarra line would be freed...

I look out of the window.

Dante Alejandro Rossi.

He wanted him; The Demi-God that walked the earth... Something we promised to never mention and we have not, keeping ourselves to ourselves. Some sentences are incomplete if you are not reading this novel on Narugi.com. Visit Narugi.com to read the complete chapters for free. I wanted revenge, but unlike The Lycan, I kept my fucking word.

I remember the obstinate child, back when I tried to kill him, I remember what he had said to me back then.

"I will not let fate happen... you shifted things tonight..."

The future? By hesitating in ending him, what did I change?

I remember after that, the Queen Luna had taken me to the kitchen and, like her daughter, showed concern and kindness.

Now that I think about it, Kataleya looks a lot like her mother, who was indeed an extremely beautiful woman, but she pales in comparison to the beauty of her diosa daughter.

I shake the thought away and lean forward.

Now looking back to the time in that kitchen, I remember him- the Lycan, saying he would kill Padre... he had said to me that padre had abused me... that he would end him.

I massage my temples, trying to claw up the hazy memories I have blocked out.

But that is a memory that is getting clearer, and with it I feel a wave of cold wash over me.

I knew back then - Suddenly I look up, my heart thundering. I had helped him. I had helped him replace padre... I think. Was I responsible for it all?

My head throbs, but I'm certain I had given him locations of padre's homes in England, in return to be allowed to go home.

I had assisted him in replaceing padre, and if so, can I really blame him when I too had a hand in it, knowing that he warned me in advance that he would kill him?

I think I was angry. I think I wanted him dead... padre was lost.

My head pounds incessantly with the hatred, uselessness, rage and self-loathing that consumes me. I now feel a storm of guilt too, knowing I may have had a hand in padre's death.

According to the biography written by Cortez's great-grandson, that is why Alejandro Rossi had no option but to kill him. Because according to this, every single person was driven mad and lost themselves to the Djinn's hold after a certain amount of time. I close my eyes, placing my head in my hand.

Our entire line is fucked up... and I might not have a Djinn possessing me, but I have enough crap in my mind which I won't burden anyone with.

Looking at the books on the table, I realise I still don't know how exactly madre knew of the barrier.

There is nothing in these books.

The sun is fully up now. Sighing heavily, I decide to shower and go retrieve Kataleya from the lake. She does not have long left on this island. Perhaps I could show her the beauty of our island? She likes food. I know a few places that I can take her.

I will make it clear it is just out of courtesy...

No, Enrique. You can't do that, you pendejo. I just pushed her away. How can I take her out? Not that it would be a date, just-

Shut up.

And with the summit looming ever closer, the time to replace the answers regarding the crawlers is running out.

Fuck, I need a cigarette.