CHAPTER 17.

"I warned you to never tell a soul!" that bitter voice filled his head causing him to yowl in pain. Gouria forced his eyes opened.

He was tied up. Both hands above his head. He was surrounded by tick dark smokes. He pulled at the chains, but it was sealed tight.

"Let me go!" he yelled to no one in particular.

"Or what?!"

"You do know I have a soulmate, and I have discovered the extent of what I can do!"

Evil laughter filled the air painfully. "I know you have a soulmate and I also know that since he isn't here, there is a limit to what you can do." Gaad laughed again. "Didn't your mother taught you that?!"

"It doesn't matter, because I can always pull him to me."

"Is that so?" Gaad asked mockingly. "Then do it!"

Gouria knew the man was with him. But he was hiding amidst dark smokes.

"Why don't you show yourself to me since you're quit certainly there is a limit to what I can do." Gouria knew he treads a dangerous part as he made that offer but he could not resist.

This angered the Dark Lord and he made himself visible before Gouria.

His breath caught deep in his throat as he stared into the man's burning eyes.

"You called for death, and when he finally appears, you tremble in fear!" Gaad's laughter was as painful as been stabbed by many swords.

Gouria cried while trying effortlessly to guard his ears against that sound.

"You have failed me," The man came closer and stared directly into Gouria's eyes. "Now, his sister is dead because of that!"

Gouria shut his eyes as he felt the fire in the other's eyes burning into his.

Gaad turned around and was gone.

Gouria's eyes remain shut as he tried connecting with his lover.

*********

The King sat in the throne room. He was having a council with his Elders.

It was obvious the man was not pleased. They had sounded the drums of war again this time and as if they had been waiting for the Queen's men stood atop the mountains.

"Sire, it isn't wise you go into battle this time, you have competent men. They can handle this. Send them instead." Elder Marcus spoke.

"What kind of a King would that leave me if I coward myself away from my enemies?" he paced the floor. "Even Atlas stood with her men!"

"But Sir.."

"Enough! This council is over!" Xrysos marched into his chambers there he met Damon already prepared and waiting. "You're not coming with me!" the King told him instantly.

"No, I will. I've been training again, I can handle myself!"

"I Know you can my love, but we have a son to protect. Stay and keep our son safe!" the king reached for his hand.

"He has men to protect him. Men that would die long before any harm could come to him." Damon felt his eyes sting.

"Please Mon." the king pressed their lips together. "I promise I will return, for you and for our son's sake." Xrysos took his sword and made to leave. "Promise me Mon."

"I promise," Damon replied with so much difficulty.

"I love you." the king was out the door before he could reply.

Damon sat slumped on the soft golden bed and cried.

"Be safe," he whispered silently.

********

Xrysos eyes met with those of Anderios who has Evander standing beside him. Dylan and Aron stood side by side. Linus and Kairos stood with Roman and Dominic. The king smiled at the men that would give their lives to protect him. He had long sent his warriors into battle and now he is going in with his faithful friends and family.

"For the Gates!" the king yelled out to them.

"For the Gates!" they roared.

*********

Days flew by fast as the battle continued and the Queen was losing her patients although her cousin had promised that this time would be different.

She sent a message to Gaad and when he received it he smiled.

"It is time." Gaad stood up and walked into the room he had locked his victim in. "There is someone I would like you to meet." Gaad laughed as he made himself seen. "Here!" he pointed towards his right-hand side and Gouria need not be told whom he saw.

She looked so much like her father. Dark long black hair and eyes like those of her father's.

"This is the only way Gouria, she kills you and she is free to be with her father!"

Gouria knew better. "Lair, you want her to kill me because you knew she is the only one that could do it been the daughter of my soulmate."

"Impressive," Gaad smirked. "You figured it out. No time to waste!" Gaad met the girl's eyes. "Kill him!"

The girl held her sword perfectly, she has been taught well and in one strike, she had the sword buried into Gouria's stomach.

Blood flowed as he choked.

Gaad vanished with the girl.

********

Anderios fell in the battlegrounds as he felt a sharp pain shot at him. At first, he thought he had been hit, but when he took a proper look at himself he saw he was unharmed yet hurting beyond words.

"You okay?" Evander asked as he guarded the other man.

"Something's wrong!" he breathed out. "I need to go find Gouria. He's reaching out for me!"

"Then go. Hurry!"

As he ran out from the group he felt men falling.

Something was definitely wrong.

Their men were dying.

The battle took another turn as the enemies gained on them.

Killing and injuring many.

The king was wroth, he paced the tent with a bleeding hand.

"I made a terrible mistake!" the king yelled.

Dylan and Aaron were nowhere to be found.

*******

"Damon!" he jumped awake when the doors came bursting open.

"Elena, are you alright?" he asked the woman.

"Come, quick!" she ran back out.

Damon ran after her.

When they reached her bedroom she pushed her door open and stumbled inside, Damon right behind her.

His eyes almost falling off their sockets when Elena pointed towards the prince.

"Look!"

On the boy's shoulder, a deep red flaming scar was starting to grow.

"H-How?!" Damon's mouth laid open in shock. "Are you hurting?" he asked the young prince.

"No!" the boy answered.

"What is happening to my son?" Elena cried. "What is that scar on my son's body?!"

"Gouria!" Damon's heart skipped. "Gouria's marks!"

"What?!" Elena asked shocked.

"I've seen the man naked with his lover!" Damon felt his eyes watered. "Something is wrong with Ria!" He made to run out of the room but Elena stopped him.

"Where do you think you're going?" she asked.

"To find Ria!" he yelled.

"He is here, in my son! Don't you see?" her voice shook as she spoke.

She does make sense.

And just as Damon was about asking the child more questions. The door burst open and Erin appeared.

"The King!" he yelled and fell, panting for air.

Damon left the boy and walked to Erin instead. His heart hammering in his chest.

"What about the King!" he asked.

"What is wrong with the prince?" Erin asked when he saw the boy's body.

"He has the marks of the wish maker," Elena told him.

"Then what are we waiting for?" Erin asked. "Quick, the enemies are gaining in on us, the King is hurt and so are many more. We are losing this war!"

The scream of the boy caught their attention and when they looked back at him, they all gasped in fear.

His eyes shone as he screamed.

"What is happening?!" Elena wanted to run to her son but Damon grabbed her just in time.

Then it all went still.

Silence filled the air.

Peaceful silence.

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Chapter up guys!

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