CHAPTER 2: TAKEN, THE PAYMENT FOR DEATH, LEANDRA

• Upon their arrival, Alliah was expecting a group of missionaries waiting for them in seek of help, ready to engulf those who are severely injured, wounded, and dying; but what she saw told her otherwise. She failed to foresaw the bloodbath that her orbs would witness. The cold corpse that lie scattered.
• A whimper slipped past across her lips at that sight.
• The old men, torn limbs and the same worst state similar to those whom she saw perish on the Castle.
• “W—why.” Her knees wobbled, until she felt herself fell onto the ground, entirely hopeless.
• Where can she go now? All her life, she had always been in the Kingdom of Salem. The capital became her home. She never go beyond in fear that she may have been lost if careless and so the route to go back would be soon forgotten. That terrifying thought she carries until then.
• “O—oh my god.” She covered her lips.
• Thoughts swarmed inside her head. They are making her feel anxious. Every fibre of her body felt like it was being rake, every nerves nauseous that she was tempted to vomit, curled up and cries. But she hold herself. How can she fulfil the promise she made for the Queen if she became weak? She wouldn’t be able to protect Leandra, and if that happens, the guilt she would be conformed would be carried on to her grave. She wouldn’t be able to forgive herself, Alliah knew she wouldn’t.
• “I don’t know what to do...” She uttered out of the blue.
• She felt every strength that was left on her were slowly slipping away. But when it does, Alliah felt a soft touch on her chin. Her eyes followed the small hand, which belongs to Leandra. Her eyes this time are fully opened. She have one of the most beautiful pair she had ever seen. It was Lilac combined with vermillion, and something more. It was like those hues are swirling, and swimming across as they lie behind her orbs.
• “Are you worried about me?” She asked, although she knew she wouldn’t be able to understand her.
• Leandra only stared back, before a small smile stretched her lips, as if something had cause her to erupt into a sudden enthusiasm
• Alliah chuckled.
• The child she hold looks innocent. The Royal blood is evidently shown on her features, the trait she had inherited from the Queen had not failed the dominion of the blood her ancestors carry. She was born to rule, but to lead now would have been taken. The Kingdom she is supposed to stand ahead were no longer there. The throne, which rightfully belongs to her in any moment now would be...stolen. Gone, deprived from who really rule Salem.
• “If only the king is alive—” She softly lowered her head to plant a soft kiss on her forehead.
• Nevertheless, the peace they have had been disrupted when the trees right in front of Alliah flew, rooted and destroyed leaving mounds of dirt and rock that sprawled everywhere. She gasp. Desolate fear came back. The moment that the pile of emerald green trees swerved from the side, slanting, leaving the one who had cause it left expose.
• It reveals the beast whom Valerian are fighting against with earlier.
• Realization hit her hard that moment her gaze landed on its familiar form.
• “N—no.” In denial, she couldn’t bring herself to admit that what her assumptions are telling her guts too are true.
• The gust of wind swooshes past between them. It was cold. However, Alliah could smell the familiar scent of blood, of burning flesh and the deep seething agony of the whole Kingdom...as well as her own mourn. The anguish for Valerian, whom she promised to wait. But he isn’t dead, right? In an attempt to console herself and coax the upcoming pain, Alliah manage to compose the pang wounding and scarring her chest.
• But she totally lost it, when the bushes gave way, and a few more wolves came on her sight. They were eyeing her with the same expression as if in synch to whoever was in front—hate, anger and distraught.....distraught for what?
• Alliah step back, when they raised their snout. She prepared herself to fight or flight, but nobody charges—the wolves instead howled. The sound so melancholy dejected blues as if a forlorn goodbyes for whoever it might have been for. Their howls saddened her for no apparent reason, although she shouldn’t be. Their grief took leverage. It envelopes Alliah. It touches her soul.
• Absentmindedly, she being her palms across her chest, and felt the soft beat it has. The howls prolong until it last and soon fade.
• She gulps, when she felt the same gaze digging holes to where she was.
• It was the same wolf.
• Their eyes meet. That’s when she notice its state. It was bleeding, the wounds on its side look severe. One of its eyes are shut closed as if there is something painful that had taken the sight it have earlier. Alliah could pointed out, who might it be.
• ‘Val.’ She thought.
• It’s eyes mirrored the blood that lingered everywhere in Salem. There is no guilt for what it has committed, but it deems as if, it wasn’t even satisfied towards the bloodshed that cost the life of those whom it had reap.
• “W—What do you want?” She boldly said, in spite of being mortified towards those beast.
• The one ahead may have been the Alpha, the leader of the pack who lead and guide, took over dominion and punish those who is among his rule. Same with Salem, if the Kingdom has its royal blood, the bestial creatures borne from the dark abhorred by many had their own monarch. It came down from An ALPHA, A BETA, the second and command, the GAMMA, who trained those pups of the pack as a warrior they should be and lastly, the OMEGA, the lowest of the rank that has been taught to Alliah, when she was young.
• The rank comes with power.
• If she was a wolf, absolutely her rank would be an omega, but she is grateful, she had not been. As she knew what fate befalls on those wolves. Misfortune, and doom.
• The enormous beast stepped ahead. Unconsciously, Alliah bring the bundle closer to her chest as if it was enough to protect Leandra for whatever danger was coming.
• It might have notice her fear. As it does, a voice recede, lulls and boomed to where they are.
• “You humans are fool!” It thunders.
• It sounded deep, madness filling each words, dangerous tone, which drips venom.
• The authority it has had almost shook Alliah on her spot.
• “W—who are you?” She never tore her gaze off from the wolves.
• They may not have been human, when it comes to their physical attributes, but she knew where did that voice may have been coming from.
• The wolf sneered, it was the ALPHA.
• “You dare cause havoc on our territory? How dare you destroy our land, when we let you thrive and had not even lay a finger on your flesh?” It roared.
• “I—I didn’t...” She gulps. “I didn’t know what you are saying.”
• “Perhaps, I’ll remind you how foolish you humans had become, how boastful and prideful you are to let us even bow the path your feet lies.” What he said echoed.
• The wolf walked closer.
• Alliah step back.
• It growls, and so she was forcefully stop on her tracks.
• She shut down her orbs tightly when it raised it claws. A futile hope for a miracle to happen just so she could be save on this doom, but the pain she was looking forward, and the doorway that could have drag her towards Chaeron’s door never happen. It was just a mere touch.
• She slowly opened her eyes.
• “What—”
• But she was cut off, when she felt that sudden sensation that pulled her, it was strong, leaving her breathless until she was brought back towards the disaster that happened earlier.
• It was before the bloodbath took place in the Palace.
• [BEFORE THE ATTACK TO THE KINGDOM OF SALEM]
• In Salem, it was not only the humans who inhabit the land. It wasn’t only those who have a pair of legs and arms, who were bless to live as it flourish. To where the light daren’t slipped, where woods stretch endlessly, the creatures who lies in the dark uprooted from the ancestors who had been cursed by the Goddess the moment they broke the law breathe in. The breathen that were despise, hated and feared. The WOLVES.
• They are the creatures who are commonly known to be enormous than a regular wolf. They have hind legs that nobody could outrun of, large canines for their prey as they get devour, and their snout that allowed them to smell the air for any sign of danger. They were savages. Animalistic carnivores of the West of Salem, where nobody dare to venture. They hid in an ethereal darkness. Dangerous and bold, but never had they ever harm nor set foot upon to hunt the humans. They drink with the darkness they had been plunged for the sins cause by the past.
• However, that doesn’t mean....they are as merciless as anybody on the land would perceived them to.
• It was just a normal day for them, when the disaster took place.
• Nobody knows where did the arrows came from, nor where did those gallops of the horses resounded from. Come so forth, the blackness flooded with the bloods they had not seen yet before.
• Children as young as those pups were annihilated.
• “Kill them!” It was a voice of a man in commando, who is sitting at the back of one of the most glorious stallion.
• His words delivered swords and spears. The authority he had show no mercy at all.
• They cowered in fear, the other fought, but they stand no chance as the curse let them obeyed not to inflict harm. But they were....dying.
• “It was the order of the King!” He barks.
• King. The monarch, whom they had never wronged. But he came visit, an uninvited guest, who reap their children.
• The Alpha saw the bloodshed. Heed cries, heedless agony he mourn. He raised his snout and growled. His dominion for his breathen as he stand against them. He stood with glory. Those who retreat, the wolves who hid in the abysmal darkness—the flame embedded and buried within them flared, set ablaze as it spread like a wildfire the same way it has long before eons of how their clans were feared.
• The ground shook.
• The horses felt the terrifying aura coming from whoever it might be. The Alpha.
• “Sir!” Panic seized.
• He growls. The loudest and ferocious among those that echoed at that woods. Their eyes darkened. The war were soon let out. The animalistic endeavours bygone were soon awoken.
• One step at a time, the wolves daren’t run.
• The Alpha howled. He mourned for the life they lose until it has been replaced by growls in synch with the others. It show their madness angst fuelled by loathsome that lay dormant before. Enrage roiled, the vengeance affront and so the war took place.
• It was against the curse beast and the Kingdom of Salem.
• “Fall back—!”
• But they had been given the time to escape, they were rip, shredded flesh as they turned their back.
• The whole place screamed of death. The smell so intense as if it was like the war that took place long ago. Right before the curse. Right before they had been imprisoned towards that place.
• They had always been merciful, but to what humans had cause them be, the punishment would be much unforgivable.
• The Alpha throw the head he had taken on the side. It rolled, revealing that it belongs solely towards the one, who is riding the stallion. It was bloody, his eyes are opened—they were wide and big, scared and appalled. The bewildered and shock that applaud entirely to him.
• The Alpha roared.
• The wolves joined him, but this time, no peace could pardon the anger they felt. Ire affront, their eyes heed to where the Kingdom of Salem was.
• The promise to seize the debt for the life of those who perish were unimaginable.
• [END OF FLASHBACK]
• Alliah didn’t know what she should of felt.
• It was beyond her imagination that the current king would go to the extent of disturbing the peace that lays between the human realm and towards those creatures.
• “N—no.” She was in denial.
• Had his greed took the best out of him? But why...why are the whole kingdom were the one paying for the torment he should of been?
• She clenched her fist.
• “We are just taking the debt you humans should pay with the same life you have stolen from us.” The anger morphed into a melancholy tone. “How can you just killed our children, when we never wronged you?”
• It was so sorrowful that it saddens Alliah.
• “I’m sorry.” She lifted her head. “But I didn’t know...”
• “It’s too late to apologize now!” The Alpha stomped his feet, leaving the ground an imprint of his paw.
• “I know.” How can she deny something so heartless that their king had committed?
• “You all should die!” It declared.
• What it said next made her shudder. Alliah bit her bottom lips.
• “I could understand your pain.” She knew that there would be no escape from their wrath. “But can you spare my child?”
• My child. To claim that Leandra were hers would save her. The ruins cause by the monarch, if she’s found out as a royal blood would only cause her doom.
• With that said, and the determine expression, she revealed the small infant wrapped in a bundle she’s been holding to earlier.
• “She had just been born. She is innocent for the crimes her blood carries.“ She continue. “My daughter should not inherit the sins that his ancestors committed.”
• “Nonsense!”
• But she never lose her hope.
• “Please, spare her and I would be glad to pay for what has been done with the life that has been sow.” She hangs her head low.
• Leandra’s eyes meet hers.
• ‘I’m sorry.’ She thought. She may have been risking her life, but Alliah would gladly offer her breathe just so she could save the future ruler of Salem. She may not have known what fate awaits for her, but she knew that her life would not be put in vain.
• “Do you mean to offer your life for that child?” The Alpha asked her.
• Alliah did not tore her eyes off from Leandra before she slowly nodded her head.
• “I do offer my life for her.” She smiled. “My child, her name, please name her Leandra.”
• The same name that the Queen had told her to.
• “I’ll be the judge of that, human.”
• With that said, Alliah closed her eyes. Right after she lowered Leandra on the ground. Her cries resounded with the absence of the warmth that keep her small figure safe. Alliah widely opened her arms.
• The upcoming end she knew come. The white hot pain that slices on her bone were quick, it wasn’t painful the way one describe it would. It was silent. It was so fast that she haven’t had the time to worries, no be bottled by thoughts and clamour.
• The death she asked for delivered the peace she had never found before.
• The Alpha watch her fall. Her lifeless eyes fell, but a smile on her lips never vanished.
• His eyes move towards the bundle she had asked him for. The child meet his gaze before he turned his back.
• “Alpha, the child—” One of the wolves mustered.
• He narrowed his eyes.
• “I spared her life just like what her mother ask. If she live, she lives and survive, but I won’t take the sinful blood back on our pack.”
• Nobody questioned his decision. As he leave, the entire pack followed behind.
• Meanwhile, Leandra cries. Her small voice ringing onto the forest right next to Alliah’s corpse. Her eyes are red, she was bawling her orbs until a soft and delicate hand gently take her.
• “What a poor child.” It was a woman.
• She looks gentle, a light so bright, vibrant in colour has enveloped her entirely. She was clad in a robe, it was a silk as if every linen and each thread were sewn with gold. Her hair is long. It was white that falls behind her back. She was pale, a full plump lips, and a delicate feature made her appeared as if she isn’t capable of even hurting a fly.
• She touch Leandra’s cheeks and tye infant stop crying.
• “Shh, child—” She smiled. “You may not have understand what was happening, but I’ll grant you the courage that your name speak of.”
• A birthmark appeared on Leandra’s nape.
• “Bring back the peace that those realm once lost, Leandra.” She whispered softly before she lowered her back to the ground and disappeared.
• Lulled on her sleep, Leandra smiled, tear-stricken, but she looks peaceful, dreaming of something beautiful that made her smile.
• The innocent child, who were chosen by fate. A new reign to seek for the peace that lies between the world whereas blood were reap.
• @cycy