CHAPTER 5: THE MONARCH, ALPHA MIDAS JAVIER SALVADOR

• In the Kingdom of SALEM, long before the ruler that everybody knew were the monarch. It was composed of the King and Queen, the heir next in line and the affiliates of the Kingdom, who maintain the peace and the balance. They protected the people. They ensured that all the law that has been passed if violated, there would be equal punishment. Royal bloods or not, there wouldn’t be any exemption at all. They thrive. They flourish. There are fairness that existed, but it didn’t last long, when the King died and the Kingdom was left on his brother.
• Unlike the former King, the people suffered under his reign. It was greed and corruption who become their enemy until a decree passed, followed by the destruction that imprisoned every single person, when the wolves take over.
• Within the Kingdom, they said that the ghost of the former ruler lingered, they couldn’t accept the losses, especially the King and Queen that the people of SALEM admired truly.
• On the throne room, where the curtains are all rolled down, and it was the darkness that lay scattered around the four towering walls it had, there was a dominating aura who took his seat. It was of a male. A large scar was running on his eye down to his cheek. It was engraved onto his skin, yet it only made his people, both humans and wolves to be terrified at what he is capable of. He is dangerously handsome, but he show no mercy. The Alpha of the wolves, who annihilated many.
• The double doors the lay shut closed were pushed open. Heed, his gaze landed to whoever was the footsteps carries.
• “Alpha Midas.” It was his beta, Sean.
• ALPHA MIDAS JAVIER SALVADOR. The current ruler of SALEM, the Alpha who has been feared and invading many kingdoms to inflict what the humans had scarred them before. He stood proud on his throne. It didn’t rightfully belongs to him, yet it suits perfectly Midas.
• Unlike his dark feature, the sharp jaw and the hooded orbs he had, Sean had a more lighter aura. He looks inviting, friendly among his own species, only if it wasn’t about how cold he stare was.
• “What it is?” Alpha Midas asked. His voice thundered and echoed to the walls.
• It was just him and Sean.
• “The council are still being in questioned about your rule.” He reported. “They are still suggesting that you began looking for a mate, Alpha.”
• A deep frown ceased on his forehead. Midas did not show any emotion. Same with Sean, he had a cold look, irises that could have made anybody swoon and kneeled on his feet.
• “The council.” The word that rolled on his tongue was distasteful.
• The council were the group of wolves who had long before was there. Borne to guided their leader and chose what matters should be attended to. If it wasn’t part of their system, Midas would have disregard and destroyed the council that keeps telling him what to do, when he had more power over them.
• They had been bothering him the moment he rose to the throne. They wanted a queen. A mate whom he had never found yet. On their species, the moon goddess who had created them had given them a fated mate that they could shared everything; their pain, their sadness and the torment they soothe until it fades away. A mate is whom they are fated for life, even on death. But it’s been ages, Midas haven’t found his other half yet, which made both him and his wolf restless.
• He bring his orbs back to Sean.
• “What do you think?” He leaned his back to his throne. “Is it the right time to seek for a Queen?”
• “It is, Alpha.” Sean meet his eyes.
• Unlike any other wolf, Sean isn’t afraid of him. The bond they formed is much stronger as they grew side by side when they were just a pup.
• “Then, I wanted you to hold a feast.” He looked serious. “But never told our people what would be the purpose of it.”
• “As you wish, Alpha.”
• With that said, Sean retreat from the darkness and leave.
• Midas gaze at his palms. It was callous, full of scars. He bring his other hand to feel the lines that was running on it, engrave the killing he committed as one thought lingered inside his head.
• When he meet her....would she accept the curse beast he had become?
• Leandra wipe the sweat that trickled on her forehead down to her cheeks.
• The heavy workloads was taking a toll from her. Her back is aching, and the strain she had gotten yesterday night isn’t much of a help. There are still a heap of laundry that lay in a pile in front of her. She was the one assigned to sort them out and washed them thoroughly, if not dried after this day end, she knew she will get punished.
• Leandra bent her small body, when she heard the announcement.
• “All the children are ask to be present at the halls. Now!” It was of the woman who had dragged Mia’s body earlier.
• The thought still lingered, the anger she felt that if she failed to flattened would have bite her back. It was just a relief that Lilac was there. She helps her ease whatever storm that lay wide onto the pit of her stomach. She calm the wave that ready to devour and stormed, crawling, yet they get dismissed. What relieves her more was when she came back only to tell her that Valerian and the others had rescued Mia’s corpse.
• It was Leandra’s request, whom she rely through Lilac. To how she did tell Valerian her message she haven’t had any idea about, and she did not fail her even once.
• Leandra dried her hands towards the clothe she wore.
• “Lean!” A call made her halted on her tracks.
• She turned to where the voice was coming from, and found out that it was one of the children, whose bed were eight next to her. It was the first time that they speak of to one another. She had a blonde hair that messily lie on top of her head, most of them are. A blue eyed girl, who looks much younger even to her.
• She was carrying a woven basket filled with a few fruits. Presumably, Leandra knew that she is the one responsible for the harvest.
• When she got closer, she quickly gave her a small smile, although she earned none.
• “Let’s go together to the halls.” She looks enthusiastic.
• It was as if, the life they had, and the torment that keep the mark of lashes on their skin had not bothered her even from the slightest of it.
• She looks pale, but not sick.
• Leandra only nodded her head. She is just surprised, when she hooked her arms on her own and pulled her to where it was. But her reaction has been quickly dismissed.
• The halls has been crowded when they arrived. Leandra and the girl whom she didn’t know the name of went to the line, her in front of her, while the girl choose the latter to settle behind Leandra.
• “By the way—“ She heard him whispered. “—my name is Kelsey.”
• “Leandra.” Although she knew what may have been her name was, Leandra still introduced herself.
• “I know.” Kelsey chuckles.
• It was just a relief that there are noises coming from the crowds and so she won’t be scolded. It just quite down, when the woman made her presence know and stood ahead, holding the same whip she have always keep as a company.
• “Silence!” Her voice boomed. The same glare that was always far itched on her face stared down at them. If it could have killed them of there are daggers that were coming from he orbs.
• A deafening silence fell onto the halls.
• “The way I like it.” Satisfied, she hums. “You may have been wondering why I called everybody here.”
• Nobody dare to even voice out their thoughts.
• Leandra listened carefully. Even she was curious and intrigued. It’s been awhile. They are only gathered, if there would be an auction, some high-profiled and high-ranked wolves who desired to have another slaves on their collections, other than, there’s nothing she could think of.
• The woman run her fingertips to her whip. She carried it as if it was the only thing that were too precious to her. Leandra bitterly clicked her tongue inside her head. Precious, because she knew she could inflicted pain using the lashes. She could make them kneel using the power she have, but Leandra won’t let her prolong the agony of each children the moment that what they had been plotting for so long...finally succeed.
• “Well, the King decided to hold a feast and the servants who would serve the guest would be coming from our house.” She sounded proud and as if what she told to them would cause happiness, brimming smile, when it was the opposite.
• Worried look passed between them. To make one single mistake inside the Palace, although young would lead for them to get beheaded.
• However, Leandra’s attention isn’t focus towards the news she announced. She was more bothered towards the one she called King. The Alpha of the wolves, the reason of their suffering. Her eyes may appeared unreadable. Her face blank, yet her insides are churning, reeling into the emotions, the blame she put forth towards the wolves who had taken the Kingdom from Leandra. They took away everything, even the chances of feeling the warm coming from her own parents, whom Leandra had never laid her eyes off.
• She never knew what the Alpha looks like. Nobody speak about him, no humans had ever seen her entire visage.
• Perhaps...it would be her chance to see the man, the monster whom she is fated to kill. The beast whom Leandra is going to annihilate the moment she is of age.
• “So today, we are going to pick those who will be sent in the Palace today.” The woman uttered.
• And that is what happened.
• The weak has been separated from those children who seems strong. The frail looking that were left behind. They had been assessed, check, as what the woman proudly said, they are the pride of her slave house.
• How ridiculous.
• And fate seems to settled across to Leandra as she had been chosen to be sent.
• “Now it settled.” After the process, which seems to be taking for ages, the woman finally clasped both of her hands, indicating that the slaves who are going to serve the palace are complete already. “Those who had pick up will leave today. Pack your things or whatever you have, but be quick, or you will get punish right before you set foot outside. Understood?” She added with a threat.
• The children nodded their head.
• Leandra turned her back, ready to walk towards her quarters when she felt another presence, which stood next to her.
• It was Kelsey.
• “I have been chosen too, Lean.” She shared. “I am kind of scared.”
• Leandra can see it.
• “Don’t be.” In an attempt to ease her worries, Leandra uttered those words. “Just be careful, watch your steps and it will do you good.”
• “Aren’t you afraid?” Kelsey curiously gaze down at her.
• “I am—”
• “But you don’t looks like you are.” Kelsey cut her off.
• “There are just some instances, wherein you should not let the fear shown on your face, Kelsey.” Leandra explained. “If you are more expressive, it would be easier for some person a few of to read what has been going on inside your head.”
• “Is that so?” Kelsey look surprised. “I didn’t know about that one.”
• “You will soon.” Leandra added.
• Because she learned it the hard way.
• The other children filled in from behind.
• Upon their arrival to the basement, Leandra quickly walked to her bed. She didn’t have anything to bring with her, but she have something precious she’s been keeping for so long. Her hand pulled the mattress of her bed. Underneath, it revealed a small baby towel, the only thing Leandra has been holding on in connection with the parents she didn’t know about.
• But Valerian never failed her to tell story about how bold and how fair his father and her mother was during their reign.
• The Kingdom of SALEM. It belongs to them, an not to the wolves.
• After keeping it on her arms, Leandra began taking the steps to where the doors was but she stop on her tracks.
• She glanced to Mia’s bed, which remained vacant.
• She may have not admit it, but Leandra kind of miss her presence. That weak, but friendly girl, who always wanted the freedom she longs for and soon find with the embrace of death who had engulf her.
• “Goodbye, Mia.” Leandra whispered solemnly.
• If only things has been different....
• When every child has been gathered, they were transported using the wagon that were left there in the slave House. There are a lot of them, and there awe, surprised that lace decorated their face as they set foot outside. It was the first time for majority of them to see the woods, the birds, and everything that were outside of the walls.
• They looks happy, unlike Leandra who fell into an unfathomable thoughts.
• She was thinking, and plotting. But she couldn’t also disregard the feeling of excitement that filled her chest thinking that the Palace she dreamed to see would be closer at her reach. She would be able to set foot at its grounds, and perhaps...found even some portraits of the old ruler, if they are not burnt.
• A sudden memory flashed before her eyes. It was the young her, before Valerian plotted that it be much easier and much safer for Leandra if she would be out inside the slave trade and not hunted same as them.
• “What was my parents looks like?” Her eyes are wide. They were big, and curious. Leandra had still that innocence, which hasn’t been tainted yet. Smeared by the dirt from their training, but she still appeared beautiful as for Valerian.
• She reminded him of the Queen.
• The latter bent low to her level and wipe the mud from her face.
• “You have the queen’s features, young lady” He said softly.
• “I look like mama—oh the queen!” She quickly correct the way she calls her. Her cheeks reddened.
• Valerian laugh at her reaction.
• “She is your mother and so you can call her as one, young lady.” He explained to her.
• “But I haven’t meet her yet.” Leandra gnawed her bottom lips. A sudden frown made her forehead cease. “Not even once I had gotten the chance to do so.”
• What she said saddens Valerian. It was in fact true. When he found her, she was just so little. He wouldn’t know that she the Queens child,, if it wasn’t for the silk, and Alliah, who had been carrying the bundle with her. He knew right of whose mother she belongs to. Queen Agatha, the wife of the former ruler of the Kingdom of Salem.
• His train of thoughts were soon cut off, when she speak again.
• “Do you think—” Leandra hesitated a bit. “—Do you think I would be a good Queen too?”
• Valerian was surprised. He failed to speak of.
• “Do you think I would be as good as her?” Leandra continue.
• It was as if he can see right through the warrior whom she would become. The boldness and honour, the justice for the dead and the fairness that she inherited from her late father she carries with such cadence.
• Valerian blinked his eyes.
• When he came back to his senses, he found himself noddinghis head.
• “You will.” He looks assured
• “I am?” Leandra look excited.
• A wide-splitting smile stretched her lips. To see her enthusiasm had warmed up Valerian’s chest. Her happiness—brimming and contagious.
• “But.” Valerian added.
• “But?” Leandra blinked her eyes. She was looking at him, waiting with such anticipation and curiosity.
• “You should train harder if you wanted to am e a ruler just like our King and Queen.” Valerian continue. “You should be bold. You should have courage, and lastly, justice, young lady.”.
• The justice, which allowed for the Kingdom to thrive and flourish for ages.
• “I would be, Val.” Leandra smiled. “I would be much stronger, and I will become a gold ruler for the Kingdom. I promised.”
• Leandra raised her arms, giggling.
• That sudden memoirs made her felt at ease. Valerian’s assurance and the trainings he had hone her from. And her promises.
• Leandra clenched her fist.
• She would be a good ruler. She won’t be like the King who cowardly run away from his duties. She will redeem what she should, and she would make sure to fulfilled what she ought for.
• The promises of her young heart she had been oblige.
• @cycy