Prince Justus and the Rogue

Gracia POV

We all wake excitedly the next day with hopes that we will find out the history behind the gold disc so we make our way towards town and to the Books, Oddities, and Curiosities Shop. Mack's dad is waiting outside and after introductions we go inside. We go inside and behind a display case towards the back of the store is a middle aged man, going slightly bald, and wearing glasses. I can smell that he's human which is weird that he has a shop here but I make no mention of it. "This is my son Mack, and his friends Gracia, Justus, Emil, Jackin, and Cecily. Guys, this is Mr Payne." After introductions we all shake hands.

"Mack, show the man what you have." Mack's dad says as he slaps his son on the shoulder.

Mack produces the gold disc from a pouch and hands it over to the man behind the display case.

The man's eyes get really big and he turns it over and over. Then he puts it down and goes over to his bookshelves and pulls out a dusty old book with it's bindings barely hanging together and slams it down on top of the display case. Both Cecily and I jump backwards. He thumbs through several pages until he finds a hand drawing of our gold disc and then he starts to read all about it.

"Yes, as I thought." After a long pause which had us raising our eyebrows he looked up again. "This is a key to the Gates of Guinee. It's the tomb of a high priestess in the graveyard of the damned. The newly dead are sent to a kind of purgatory before travelling to meet their ancestors in the deep waters known as Guinee, this twilight realm is presided over by the notorious loa who goes by the name of Baron Samedi. If you open the Gates of Guinee you can reclaim the souls of the dead; souls in this lost land are also considered to be at high risk from black witches, who have the power to reanimate them as the walking undead. To enter Guinee, it is said that one must open the seven gates in the correct order. Each successive gate is a notch on the gold disc and if placed correctly will unlock the gate and the person will be able to take control of the newly dead. However, if someone knows the right incantation they may also awaken the long dead." My Payne finally finishes his long explanation.

"And you think Achard wants this? What for?" I ask Justus, truly concerned.

"I don't know. I don't know what he's after." He answers me shaking his head.

"Do you mean Prince Achard?" The man asks with a sudden look of horror on his face.

"I'm Prince Justus and Achard is my half brother. I think he murdered the people that had this key before we found it. I think he was looking for it." Justus looks sad to even mention that he's associated with Achard.

"The people that had this key were the gatekeepers. They were meant to keep this key secret and hidden. I fear that it falls into his hands that he will only use it for evil. There was a coven of vampires, not too long ago, that were looking for it to raise to life, Jean Devaux and Walpurga Hausmannin, two notorious black witches that are now dead." Mr Payne Explained.

"So, we know possible black witchcraft is involved. Should we talk to white witches and see if they can help us?" I ask because as far as I know white witches and black witches don't get along. Achard POV

My men from the coven are back after the kill at the Takers'. I sincerely hope, for their sake, they found that particular artifact for me that I sent them searching for. It would be most unfortunate to have to kill them. I walk into the old house that we use for meetings. It's out of the way in the country so as not to attract attention.

Of course I've taken my personal assistant with me. I really need to learn his name. I enjoy watching how afraid of me he is and right now he's in the corner of the room shaking. I believe he's what the werewolves call an Omega. He's a werewolf but has never shifted and doesn't have a wolf. Right before we left I took a small feeding from his wrist but of course he had to whimper and cry. He doesn't know it but when he cries it makes his blood that much sweeter. Now, I'm different from him because I'm a hybrid. I can shift into a wolf when I want to but I just choose not to most of the time. But I do use some of my wolf attributes like claws, better hearing, eyesight, etc on occasion. My wolf's name is Axel and we get along pretty well. He's just about as evil as I am.

Three men are there waiting for me. I can tell by their faces I'm not going to like what they have to tell me. "Well, what happened at the gatekeeper's house?" I asked, getting straight to the point.

The one standing in the middle started talking first. "They were both killed per your instructions, your highness."

"Good and what of the artifact? Was it found?" I asked, feeling like I was ready to start ripping throats out for having to ask questions. They should be showing it to me by now if they had it.

"Well, no actually. We did not find it, your highness. But we have not given up looking for it." He said, trying to smile hoping to calm my anger as I elongated my claws and began to tap them on the table to my side.

"Does that mean you have a lead?" These questions were really testing my patience.

"Um, no but." That was all I could take and I ripped out his throat.

I turned to the other two. "Do not test my patience any more, find me that damn artifact."

As my assistant and I are walking back to the castle I spot a small human girl walking carelessly down the same path on the opposite side. She has blond curls tied with a red ribbon, blue eyes, and wears a pretty yellow dress. I turn and start walking alongside the girl. She smiles and looks up at me shyly. I reach out and touch her pretty hair but she jerks back surprised at my action. I look around and there is nobody for miles so I quickly grab the girl and sink my teeth deep into her neck sucking every last ounce of blood from her body.

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I hate coming to work every day, I hate my life, and I've started considering suicide. I hate the daily feedings as they make me feel so terrified. They drain me of energy, make me feel sick, and make me dizzy. Watching him kill the other vampire didn't bother me so much. One less bloodsucker is better than nothing. But that house gives me the creeps. It's so dark inside and smells of mold. Then he has to constantly attack other poor unsuspecting victims like this poor girl walking down the path opposite of us. How I wanted to cry out and warn her but I know that would only have gotten us both killed in the end. What was King Richard thinking in passing the crown down to Achard? Thankfully, it hasn't happened yet. Maybe Justus will return before it does. If Justus returns I'll do everything in my power to help him retake what rightfully belongs to him. King Richard POV

I received word today that two of my oldest friends, the Takers, had been brutally murdered and their home ransacked; their home that used to belong to my parents. I couldn't think of having to tell my dear wife the news. She was still in an awful state over Justus leaving along with the other boys. I decided to speak to Achard about it so I went into his room to visit him.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

"Achard, I don't know if you remember spending summers at your grandparents or not with their maid and landscaper the Takers." I pause to see if he responds. He does not so I proceed. "Well, when your grandparents died we kept the Takers on as permanent caretakers of the property. Anyway, someone murdered them and ransacked their home. I am deeply troubled as they were such good friends. So, I was thinking of assigning you as the lead investigator in the case. Can you handle this for me?" I ask him even though he seems disinterested.

"Of course father I'll take care of it for you." He smiles at me but for some reason I feel like it's a fake smile almost patronizing in a way. I leave his room more troubled than when I went in.

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