PROLOGUE:
"Don't let them into the gates," Alejandro roared at the guards who ran into the palace, but he staggered backward, terrified by what he saw.
Their scaly skins… were peeling off as they tried to clean off the hot liquid that drenched them.
Defeated with no idea of what to do, he watched them stretch forth their hands to him, reaching to their king to protect them like he had promised, the pool of tears in their eyes stabbed his chest, he wished he could help but he had been considered a terrorist in his kingdom.
Those who couldn't make it to the palace entrance died instantly, the palace gates littered with their bodies, a gruesome sight to behold.
Something was in the air, it was peeling off their skins, those that went to confront the intruders, were splashed some liquid that quickened their deaths, the gas released was suffocating them.
Alejandro stood tall and regal even though there was turmoil raging inside him, his red hair rested on his waist as it danced to the fierce wind which indicated that doom was lurking.
He tapped the heels of his shoes repeatedly, he always did this whenever he was nervous or trying to think.
Everything was changing, the atmosphere wasn't the same anymore, and the birds of the sky were falling off the trees like a hunter was on a wild hunting spree.
He drew his sword immediately, staring at it intently with determination. It had been barely 24 hours since he had been crowned king but he was ready to fight, he was ready to fight for his people and protect his kingdom.
He could hear their screams, they were coming toward the palace gates but the cries of his people shattered his heart into a million pieces.
He slumped back into his seat weakly but still held his regal sword, his father had once told him, that even when the enemy has got you, never let go of your sword, honor it.
"Your Majesty, the queen has brought forth a child!" he could hear the voice of the midwife call out to him, he sprang up from his seat to face Fey who had her head bowed but he could see her cheeks flush red in excitement.
"A child?" he tried to catch his breath, he trembled like a thief caught in the act. He turned sharply to check the fence of the palace, he could see them approaching in a big metallic bird, and he could see a big truck charging toward the gates too.
"The Queen… where is the Queen?" his heart pounded in his chest as he made his way into the palace.
"Stop!" a familiar voice which he now dreaded commanded.
Alejandro stood rooted at the spot, torn between heading into the chambers of his wife and confronting an enemy.
"Fey…" he whispered but he didn't get a reply.
Slowly, he spun around. Fey was at the mercy of his enemies, a metallic object was pointed to her head.
"Let her go, Ryan. It's me you want," he dragged his feet to where they stood, their grip on Fey tightening.
"We want the eggs and we will be on our way," Ryan who was dressed in a black suit and shiny black shoes said as he adjusted his grip on the metallic suitcase he held.
"Eggs? What eggs?" Alejandro's eyes lingered from the men to Fey.
"I'm sorry," she whimpered. In her eyes, he could see the weight of the betrayal which she had just committed.
"No!" his lips quivered, he was not going to let these humans take away his eggs, his children.
"Grab him," Ryan commanded.
Three men who wore white medical lab coats grabbed him and seized his sword. Alejandro fought back, struggling to wriggle free from their grip.
"Don't touch my wife or my children," it sounded more of a warning than a plea, the sound of his gritting teeth feared him.
"Tell me what you want, take anything, everything but not my wife and children," he trembled like a lone leaf in winter when he heard the screams of his wife.
"We are scientists and you don't expect this…" Ryan looked around the palace like it was his first time there, disgust etched across his face.
"This palace won't remain forever, science is here and humans are taking over," he continued.
"We will leave, we will go far away. Just let my wife and children be," Alejandro clenched his fists, trying not to dwell in the imagination that his reign which had only lasted barely 24 hours was about to dissolve and he didn't know the fate of his family.
"You've done enough haven't you, we let you humans into this kingdom. We lived for years, and now we are going to be enemies for what?" he felt a sudden wash of fury overwhelm him, the men who held him couldn't hold him any longer, his body was heating up.
"Sir?" one of the men raised his head.
"What?" Ryan rolled his eyes impatiently.
"He is heating up…"
"No, not now," Ryan bit his lips as he looked at Alejandro who was on the verge of transforming.
He dipped his hand into his suit and got out a syringe. Holding it up carefully, satisfied with what he saw, he signaled the men to tighten their grip on Alejandro.
"This…this will make you calm," Ryan grinned as he stabbed the syringe into his neck.
Alejandro, with the last strength in him, pushed the three men who held him down, his hand tightening on the syringe stabbed to his neck as he let out a painful groan.
The men retreated far off when they saw the sparks of fire that emerged from his mouth till they slowly disappeared.
"What…what did you do to me?" his wet dark eyes flickered open as they stared back at Ryan who was awaiting the results of what he had done.
"Easy dragon…all this wouldn't be happening if you had listened to me," Ryan took a few steps backward, hoping Alejandro wouldn't tear him apart.
Slowly, his vision blurred. His legs wobbled.
He roared softly, he had no strength in him again, he could see the liquid that was injected into him traveling through his veins. He craved to dig into his skin and let them pour out but his senses were dulling. He dropped to his knees, gasping for breath.
A gunshot rang out from deep inside the palace.
Alejandro and everyone gasped at the sound of the horrific sound.
"What was that?" Ryan's eyes widened as one of the men ran out with an egg.
"She struggled with the gun, I tried stopping her but…"
"And the eggs? Where are the fucking eggs?" He opened the suitcase for the egg to be placed inside.
"She destroyed them, I could only get this but it needs to be put in the incubator," the scientist tucked the gun back into his strap.
"My wife! My mate!" Alejandro's voice hitched.
"No…no…" his voice cracked, he tried to move but his limbs refused to obey. Indicating that the drug had spread across his body leaving him paralyzed.
"This looks good," Ryan smiled at the egg in the suitcase.
His lips curled into a smirk as he stepped over Alejandro's fallen form.
"There is a bigger world out there, more civilized than this shambles you call a kingdom. Get well soon, Your Majesty."
Alejandro barely heard him. He had been defeated by those who he had trusted, his wife and children were gone. But this time he didn't long for strength, he craved for the cold grips of death to rip him apart.
"Let's go, we have work to do," Ryan tapped the suitcase as he headed toward the helicopter.
"But that doze which you gave him…" one of the scientists turned to look at Ryan.
"Don't worry, he will be fine. It's a DID ailment syringe."
The scientist's eyes widened in terror. "You mean…"
Ryan looked over his shoulders and Alejandro no longer moved.
"Yes. Let's see how a king fares when he can't even trust his own mind."