Light poured through the palace like spilled wine, dazzling, merciless,showing every crack in the kingdoms calm. It had never felt so heavy. The crystal windows bled gold across marble floors and gilded pillars, but beneath the brilliance, chaos stirred. Servants rushed through the radiant halls with their heads bowed, their hurried steps muffled against the sunlit stones. It was a full day since the incident happened and although it was hidden with great care and flawless etiquette, the ominous aura still clung to the air like smoke after a sacred fire --- impossible to disguise.
At the heart of it all stood Velira. Her fury draped in ivory silk gowns and her wrath disguised as composure. She sat regally in the large room, her arms rested on the throne like it was the only thing keeping the world in place. Seraphyne sat by her right offering strategies and plans on how to move forward.
"Velira there have been reports of a traveler matching Mirelha's description crossing the borders, no doubt she was headed towards the river of tears ther-"
"Seraphyne!!" Velira's voice thundered, successfully cutting the latter mid sentence, the room froze, Even the air seemed to bend under the sharpness of her tone. "You still fail to comprehend the severity of this situation. Mirelha is the chosen Solaris guardian--- keeper of the castles light. With her gone, the balance weakens. it's only a matter of time before the wards falter and my command fades with them. I need her found and I need it now!"
" But your highness," seraphyne paused for two heartbeats making sure the latter was fully focused on her words before continuing, " this might be the chance we've been waiting for". Velira's composure returned briefly as she listened impatiently.
"The Solaris siting is drawing near and you know what will happen if the Solaris should emerge and the true guardian isn't there to offer the offering" Seraphyne couldn't help but stress the last word, but now she was sure Velira' saw the full picture.
" Yesss, the creature will be forced to eliminate the previous guardian and choose a new one!" The newfound excitement in Velira's tone did not go unnoticed by her friend. "And with me as the current ruler it'll have no choice but to choose me! And then I'll receive it's divine magic".
Glad that she finally understood her point Seraphyne got up to excuse herself but Verlira wasn't done yet. "i need you to summon Emyrs"
"What?"
"You heard me. Tell him that his presence is needed in the palace".
"Your highness, why would you need his presence, and of all places in the palace!" Seraphyne was beside herself with worry, what was her friend thinking!
"Sera! Just do as I say"
"Sure thing.... Your highness. I'll go find him, but you of all people should know Emyrs by now, he'll only come if he has a message to pass and if he doesn't? Nothing I say could make him come with me".
"Emyrs is an anomaly here in Solaris just like my wretched niece, but everyone has a weakness and what kind of queen would I be if I didn't know how to make my subjects submit", a faint smile graced Velira's lips, the kind that made toes curl not in delight but fear, "Whisper the word Deimos and tell him if he wants answers he knows where to find me. Now go". Seraphyne breathed a heavy sigh before finally excusing herself leaving Velira still rooted in her chair, her hands found the necklace around her neck and she began fiddling with it.
"No matter where you are, Mirelha you can't hide from me, have you forgotten so soon?" Something dangerous flashed in her eyes as she chuckled softly, "your bound to me, and I won't let anyone steal what's mine. No matter, what she won't escape me".
----- ------
"Ajax heel!" A voice rang out from the entrance just as the creature began diving again. Those two simple words instantly put the creature at ease and Mirelha watched in horrified shock as those glowing orbs came to rest on the floor facing the source of the command. She followed the direction and saw a figure standing at the entrance, no doubt it was her captor.
Calix walked calmly towards the creature on the floor, crouched to it's size and began soothing it.
"What did you do to him?" He spat out glaring at her with his hand still on the creatures head. Mirelha couldn't believe her ears, what did she do to him? What did she do to him!! That creature nearly snapped her neck in half and she's the one at fault?!!
"Nothing" she managed to say through suppressed rage. She hardly got mad even with her aunt she was always distant, hurt or nonchalant but never furious. Yet within a span of less than two days this stranger has managed to infuriate her multiple times. Calix finally got up after murmuring inaudible words to the creature still laying peacefully on the floor and began walking towards her.
"Nothing? Liar."
Mirelha subconsciously recoiled deeper into the bed as he made his way towards her.His aura alone returned the air to what it was right before the beast had attacked her and her body responded by retreating even more.
"Wh-- what are you doing?" She asked trying to sound like she wasn't affected by his strange aura.
"Did you lay your hands on him?" Calix asked ignoring her previous question.
"I don't understand what your talking about"
"Did you touch him, or attempt to pet him", by now he was already towering over her and all she could do was grit her teeth in frustration. She was scared half to death and nearly met her maker but all he was concerned about was weather she touched his pet?!
"Yes I did." She replied her tone taking on the feel of steel. She wasn't going to let her new life of freedom be dictated by him, she was already trapped in his castle and even though she was powerless against him right now at least she could still give him a piece of her mind. "I was faced with a possibly dangerous beast staring at me, in the face of death I should at least know who my killer was, and I'm sorry if that upset your little pet, or I didn't stroke his head the way you do! You can go ahead and punish me! I don't care!" That outburst shocked Mirelha and seemingly Calix too.
He wasn't expecting her to react that way, he knew she was still scared to death by his aura and her trembling hands but she still managed to give him a tounge lashing like as if she was unfazed. The thought of that had him unconsciously forming a smile but he caught himself before it could fully manifest, causing a slight smirk instead.
"Ajax doesn't take well to strangers, especially human ones. So next time make sure you keep your hands to yourself". he finally replied brushing past her to pull open the window drapes slightly, allowing a soft drizzle of moon light to trickle into the room. Mirelha chose to ignore the part about there being a next time and say something else instead.
"Then why did you leave him here with me", that question seemed to have amused him, as he chuckled slightly before turning to face her.
"Isn't it obvious sunshine? I knew you wouldn't keep your hands to yourself so I wanted to show you how curiosity killed the cat".
"So you were willing to kill me just to teach me a lesson?" Mirelha asked her voice tight.
"No", the reply was fast, certain and precise. "Ajax never kills unless it's a command or to save my life. This punishment was just to open your eyes to the horrible things that happen here in this part of the world, but don't get used to it, your next one won't be so lenient". Mirelha scanned the room for Ajax but couldn't find him, it's like he just vanished and she couldn't help the shiver that went up her spine. This man was dangerous, to command such beast to appear and disappear at will was just....
Calix stared at Mirelha with a mix of different thoughts. Ajax wasn't upset by her, no, he was scared. He was on the defensive, he's never seen him so alert like that in a while no wonder someone was after her but she was his prize now, he could only mutter under his breath, "No matter what she will not escape me".