Royalty and the Beast CH51

Royalty and the Beast CH 51

It had taken over an hour to ride to the castle. Evan was now nauseous with fear, but he didn’t show it. If there was one thing he had learned from his father, it was how to hide emotions. He sat tall on the horse, awkwardly having to hang on with his legs because his hands were still tied. When the horses started to slow, the capped man rode up next to him. “and there is the destination,” he pointed in the distance. Evan squinted, able to just see the grey walls of the kingdom. He felt his mouth go dry.
It really was far too late to turn back.
The horses were eagerly trotting down the cobblestone path. They must have been just as sick of the cold as Evan was. as they approached the city, the massive gates were lowered and several other men came out to meet them. They roughly ripped Evan off of his horse, cutting his binds and instead putting heavy shackles on  his wrists and ankles. Evan kept his eyes forward as they stated the march through the city.
It was clear that the city had come onto hard times. Winter was not kind to anyone, and it appeared that Howard did not prepare his town very well for it. There seemed to be only women and children wandering around, watching Evan as he passed.
It was strange that he felt out of place here. He caught himself looking for tails and fangs. He had grown accustom to living with nagas. He decided that he enjoyed them much more then humans. “Keep moving!” a man roughly shoved Evan, causing his chains to rattle as he fought to stay standing. He adjusted himself and continued to the castle, feeling more and more ill each step he took.
Just like his own castle, Howards building was huge. It had banners of the eagle flying above it as well as around it. Just above the large doors was a painting of the eagle, wings spread and beak open. In one of its clawed feet was a snake.
Evan felt his anger rise. He looked forward as the doors were open for them.
The castle was hot compared to outside. It was a relief to finally be away from the cold. Evans chains rattled loudly, echoing through the main hall. All around were guards, lined along the walls with great spears in their hands. They had no fault in their form. They stood as straight as a toy soldier, guarding.
At the end of the room was a throne, sat fat above everything else. At the bottom of the stairs, just below the throne was a body laying in a pool of blood. A few feet away was the dismembered head. A man stood above the body, wiping his sword on the persons clothes. He sheathed the sword, looking up with a smile on his face.
“please forgive the mess,” he called. “I did not think I would be entertaining guests. I will have this cleaned up in just a moment.”
Evan was pushed forward. He could now smell the blood. It was sickeningly sweet, making his stomach churn. The man walked up to him, a cape blowing behind him. His stride was confident and flawless. His black boots clicked on the stone floor. He wore a deep red shirt with gold buttons, gleaming in the light of the fires. He had a light beard covering his face, and his hair was short and neat. His teeth were perfect and white, almost glowing as he smiled. He stopped in front of Evan, crossing his arms.
“and to whom do I have the pleasure of speaking to? Hmm?” he put a hand on his chin. “it is rare that I get guests.”
“You are speaking to the prince of Goldstean,” the other man in the cape bowed. “he stumbled upon us while we were mapping our roads.”
The mans eyes brightened. He smiled wider. “prince Evan? Is that you? My I haven’t seen you since you were just a boy! Look at how you have grown!”
Evan only continued to glare, unwilling to let his guard down.
“I suppose it has been far too long for your memory. I am king Howard.”
“I know who you are,” Evan said lowly.
“Oh? Good. That makes introductions so much quicker. Though I must say, I am still rather surprised that you are out here. Your home is across the country. Surly you didn’t just take a wrong turn and accidently end up all the way over here?” when Evan didn’t answer, Howard began circling him. his eyes were deep with amusement. “I am sure you know that your father and I have a little dispute going on? He mentioned you several times.”
“did he?” Evan muttered, keeping his face straight.
“he did indeed. He told me what you had done, how you had betrayed them and ran away with a gift that was meant for my hands. I didn’t believe him. it sounded far too silly. The son of Edward stealing from him right out from under his nose?”
“I didn’t steal anything,” Evan said quietly.
“oh, but you did. You stole what belonged to me. For you see, I was promised that prize. It was meant for me. So not only did you steal from him, you stole from me.” He got closer to Evan, his hot breath on Evans face. “no one steals from me, Evan.”
Evan backed away, keeping his chin high. Could Howard hear his heartbeat? Could he smell Evans fear? Could he see it in Evans eyes? Evan was scared. Down to the center of his bones, he was terrified.
“It is because of you that my men now have to face a war,” Howard declared loudly, walking away. “it is because of you that in a short amount of time, this land will be covered by blood. There will be many deaths, and they all can look to you for blame.”
“you cant condemn me for this,” Evan stepped to him. “this was not my fault. You are the one starting the war, not me. This is not my fault. You are the bastard-“ Evan was stopped as a pain shot up his leg, causing him to fall to his knees. He looked up and Howard had a smug smile on his face. “language, prince Evan. Have some respect. You are a guest in my home after all.”
Evan fought to stand again, but was held to the ground. He turned back to howard, his chains rattling. “what do you want from me?”
“I want my naga.”
Evans heart rose to his throat. He did his best to swallow it back down, taking a moment to insure his voice was under control. “I don’t have him.”
“well that is quite obvious, isn’t it?” he nodded to the guard behind him, then started walking away. “come, there is something I want to show you.”
Evan was forced to his feet and shoved after Howard. He looked back, seeing no one else was coming. He managed to gather enough courage to start walking, following the king as he was lead though the halls. “I know of your achievement Evan,” Howard said quietly. “You gained the courage to speak to a beast that none others would approach. I understand what you had gone though, because I myself had done it.”
“He was not the beast,” Evan said quietly.
“But,” he continued, ignoring Evans comment. “The only difference between you and I is you allowed the monster to change your thoughts, you let it take control of you. And now we are in this sticky mess that could have been avoided. A war is about to occur, people die and I have the son of an enemy in my castle. Things are just not looking good for you Evan.”
“What do you want from me?” Evan asked quietly.
“You escaped with the Naga. That Naga is very important though your father was too ignorant to see it. I want to know where it is hiding.”
Evan glared at the back of the kings head. he drew a very long breath. “I don’t know. I didn’t go with him.”
Howard looked back at him, his eyes were like fire. “I see.” He said quietly. “And yet you are so close to my castle. I find that strange seeing that the nagas are also surprisingly close.”
“What?” Evan blinked.
“Is it surprising that I know that?” Howard guessed. “How far away could they be? We had captured several before, but I foolishly released them before interrogating them. The fact that we found those nagas means that the city has to be somewhere near. Somewhere they can hide. They must live so close and yet I still cannot find them,”
Evan looked away. “Maybe it should stay that way,” Evan said quietly, under his breath.
“You have seen it haven’t you?” He whispered, vicious, turning and facing Evan. “You have seen the caves they live in!”
“What is your obsession with these creatures Howard?” Evan asked quietly. “how could giving you one naga satisfy your want for war?”
The king smiled menacingly. “Follow me and I will show you.” He started to walk faster. Evan had no choice but to follow, the chains on his legs rattling loudly. He took his chance to look around the castle, trying to map the directions they had gone. the castle was made of fine stone, torches and lamps burning bright and making it extremely warm. He had not seen a single window yet. It made him feel trapped. He felt like a rat in a cage. A sick feeling came as he thought of his castle. This is what Xeon must have felt like.
Evan straightened, clamping his jaw shut. He couldn’t think that name. Not again. Howard could see it. He could hear it. Evan was sure. He had to forget it, forget everything.
Howard finally came to a stop in a large hall. The walls were decorated with trinkets and objects. To Evans dismay there were even several human skulls on pedestals. Howard looked around, a pleased grin on his face. He brought Evan though the hall and finally stopped at a large black stone table. Evan came forward slowly then froze.
On the table was a skeleton, just white bones now. Its skull looked at the ceiling with hallow eyes, its jaw was opened wide as though it was screaming in pain. Its teeth were all pointed, inhuman looking. Two large fangs stood out from the other daggers. The rest of its body was normal up to its waist. Where there should have been hips, the ribcage continues, going all the way down its body as a tail was made with hundreds of thin rib bones.
Evan did not have to make a guess. He knew he was looking at the body of King Kadeem, Xeons father.
Evan stepped back, hardly able to breathe. His ears started ringing as he looked at the bleach white bones. When he blinked, he could see Kadeem lying on the table, mouth open, eyes wide as he looked at the ceiling.  
Evan blinked again, trying to keep his head straight.
“You know what this is,” Howard smiled back. “But I bet you do not know my side of the story. My city was struggling, no one would help us. No one would take my word seriously. We were being attacked by bandits every week or so. Nothing I did stopped them, until this naga had come.” He stroked the bones lovingly, as though he were touching the face of a child. “once I had him killed, I hung his body outside the walls. And for the first time in a year, we had no attacks. After that, I heard my new name being whispered. I was the demon slayer, I was the protector. I had killed a beast, and I could do the same to any who opposed me.”
“you slaughtered him,” Evan shook lowly, looking at the bones. “you didn’t defeat a monster, you murdered an innocent man who had given himself to you. There is no honor in that.”
“I enjoy putting the bones on display all the same,” he taunted, touching the fangs. “it reminds the people who they are serving. The kids enjoy it very much, I will say. It is a big attraction with a very lovely celebration to pair with it.”
“You are sick,” Evan whispered.
Suddenly Howard grabbed him, yanking him close and holding the back of his neck as he pressed Evan to the Naga’s bones. Evan tried to struggle but it was no use. He was inches from the skull, looking into the hallow eyes. “I didn’t just kill him,” he whispered. “I did everything I could to try to get information from him. he refused to give it. See right here?” Howard tapped a deep mark on one of the ribs. “This is where I had stabbed him. But they are snakes. Their hearts do not beat. He didn’t die from the stab, so I cut off his head.” he pointed a deep mark on a vertebra in the neck. Howard smiled, picking up the skull, bringing it to Evans face. “Do you see the monster you are hiding?” He whispered in Evans ear. “Take a good look. Their voices might sound like honey, but just peel back the skin and you see the creature for what it really is. it is a beast from the pits of hell, it is a pet for devils.”
Evan closed his eyes, trying not to look at the skull. “You’re the monster Howard, not them.”
“You have spoken to them!” Howard threw Evan into the table, causing Evan to get a bloody nose. He fell back, unable to stop the bleeding because his hands were locked behind him. Howard put the skull back on the skeleton, then walked to Evan, picking him up by the shirt. “Have you seen the city?” He whispered.
There was something in Howards eyes that Evan had not seen yet. Rage, anger, but most of all jealously. He was jealous of Evan. Even though Evan knew it was stupid, he smiled.
Howard threw Evan to the ground, kicking him in the side until Evan lost all of his breath. He struggled on the ground, gasping like a fish. Howard stood over him, his eyes like fire. “You’re going to tell me where they are boy. I swear that right now.” He yanked Evan to his feet, dragging him harshly. Evan glanced back one last time at the skeleton and tensed up.
He was again looking at king Kadeem, not bones but flesh and blood. The king turned his head to him, opening his mouth. “Help me,” he begged.
Evans eyes widened. He blinked and the body again changed to just a pile of bones. He turned and started walking forward, now shaking all over. Help him? but who was going to help Evan?