LABRUM

...***...***...

When the world seems at wits end...

When the waters murk...

An unexpected moment you fear,

shines light to an unforeseen opportunity to unfold.

***...***...***

It was another uneventful day in Kuruh. [Kah-rah]

We were enjoying another celebration.

During his ruling, I have been my father's right hand as Alpha of the Pack. A delegated duty he had given to me, as he began diluting his enforcement over the kingdom. I now proudly bear the burden and the heavy crown as King of Kuruh as well.

Don't misunderstand me. I have looked forward to this moment my entire groomed life, which was by no means full of comforts. Being in charge of the peace and contentment over the many subjects under the kingdom's rule is a heavy burden.

Always in the middle of disputes; trying to help find middle ground between the parties involved.

Finding balance between abuse of power and weakness, enforcing enough strength by regulating fair laws.

Knowing when to reap benefits and give rewards; how to spread respect and give punishment.

Like my father before me, and his father before him, I have endured long years of studies and training for my birthright.

He led a just life, only allowed himself the company of concubines during my young years after mother's death, never enjoying the close warmth of another to fill his heart...just his body.

That was until a few months before my ascension. Now, just in time for his retirement, he has found someone worthy of his heart.

Lucky for all of us, she had the personality and soul to honor her look-alike.

What I mean to say is, she could have been my mother's exact twin!

Her given name was Sarah.

Consequently sounding mighty similar to that belonging to my own mother as well.

Serahya.

You may think it strange, but in my culture we are used to these unorthodox situations. It is the purpose for out elongated life span. So we can find our mates and live extended in the happiness that comes from finding your soulmate.

Should you lose this other half of yourself, you may also lie in wait to find the soul reborn.

Reunite.

My mind had wandered, carrying my heart in swirls of thoughts surrounding it...well no, not really. It was the sappy sad longing, but swirled in the slight joy those of my kind can look forward to.

A time of such incredible love as the one they shared once...lost...and had been able to find again.

I was brought back to the present as the rambunctious bash was interrupted by the abrupt opening of the two gargantuan gothic doors that enclosed the throne room. The silence was sudden. A pin could be heard when one of my subjects, Kralik, who seemed to have run from the other side of the planet at full trot for weeks to reach me. The sea of guests opening like the waters of another realm for an earthling prophet had for him.

His haste and urgent expression prompted me to stand as he reached me, "My lord!" He said loudly, dropping on his knees before me on one of the steps leading to my Throne, panting to gain some breath.

"Kralik..." I acknowledged him, looking at one of my pack, I waved a hand in an upwards wave motion behind me, calling, "water!" to the guards that had hurried beside me for the creature fallen on his knees before me.

I stepped down quickly and crouched at Kralik's side.

He had hunched forward, his hearts were beating fast and out of sink in his emotional state, but slowing down as he was no longer running.

I helped him up, worriedly, and he gingerly followed my lead to a chair where I brought close by Jared, one of my close confidants, with a round wooden cup filled with the clear refreshing liquid I had asked for.

Sam, second admiral of the pack, hurried and stood at the other side with a larger wooden jar filled with more of the crystalline liquid we most surely would need to refill the chalice with.

"Why your sudden appearance, Krawl?" I asked him as he drank the chalice empty, using his earned nickname due to the fact that he would crawl through the smallest of cracks to do the bidding of the king's wishes, once my father's privileged position.

"I apologize for disturbing the celebration in your honor, my liege, but I come with news from the northern borders!" He exclaimed, slamming the empty goblet, breathing heavily still with a hint of fear tinting his features, "a human roams the lands!"

I didn't rein back the loud angry growl that made the walls quake and my loyal subjects tremble.

Well, all but those closer to me.

I reign my growl, which is now reduced to a rumble in my chest, making my voice grave as the word escaped my lips menacingly slow, "Where?"

...

After transporting swiftly to location, we watched as the mortal walked my lands, unknowing that he had stepped into a place prohibited to those of his kind.

I narrowed my eyes as I spotted something moving among the shadows behind him. Trailing the human was Puck, the trickster.

Concentrating, I invaded his thoughts and the thoughts of the human, who had been absolutely oblivious to the fact that he was no longer in a known realm.

That little monkey bastard opened a portal without my express permission, I realized with a sneer.

I sighed, closing my eyes in irritation at dealing with this.

"A moment of piece," I muttered to myself as I shook my head and them pleaded to the moon planets, "just one moment of peace before having to deal with his trouble-twirling tail."

I sighed again then looked to my right, where Paul was smirking, and I motioned for him to circle around the right side. Did the same to Sam on my left, who seemed just as annoyed as I felt, to round the other way. I moved to follow behind Puck without alerting him to my presence.

...

Once at the up flowing river - the human had stopped - seeming at first curious because of the unnatural up flowing currents, he just sat at the banks with hunched shoulders.

I knew he was plagued by something, given the scent trail he was leaving behind. It reeked of failure and disappointment.

From the place I stood, still camouflaged by the foliage, I spotted Paul and Sam on the outskirts of the parameter as Puck began making his move to ensnare the human in his games.

"I see you are troubled." Puck said surprising the man into standing, and stepping back cowardly.

"Wha-how-who are you?" The man stuttered, making Puck chuckle amused. The human was staring, taking note of the differences between the creature before him and himself.

That swift whipping tail must seem rather unusual, I though with slight amusement.

"Why, I am the one who can ail what fills your heart." The trickster said, laying the ground for his trap, stepping closer to the terrified being.

"My problems are more than I, myself, can handle. What could you do?" The man said sounding frustrated with the creature's futile attempt at aiding him in his misery. Still, his steps backwards gave proof of his distrust to the one before him.

Smart man.

"I can propose a deal that will be most prosperous for us both." Puck explained, throwing his hooking line, with a smirk, "You will acquire the love of the one you seek approval with and in turn I will have one more place to find...playmates..." His lewd tone was not missed by any listening ears.

So, that is what the little snake was trying to do.

He had been searching for long, begging for permission in finding a place to play his games under no prohibitions.

"The one I-?" The human began his question quickfire, "how do you...? What are you? What are you speaking of? What games?"

The monkey man tilted his head to one shoulder, stepping another long stride to meet the one the human backed away in pensive inquisition, "Esme? Is it?" - He must have been reading the human's mind - "in exchange, I won't require much. A human girl per twice a year. perhaps."

"A hu-human girl?" The human asked, his face paling.

"A young one." Puck emphasized, "untouched by any other."

Why, that little-

No way was I allowing this human strike a deal that would put - spirits know how many - innocents at the hands of this insufferable prankster, but the man's need to find a way of approval for the one he sought affections returned from intrigued me.

I stepped out of the shadows that worked as a cover for me, Paul and Sam following my lead from where they stood.

"Enough, Puck." I said Loudly and clearly stating my authority.

Puck bowed low immediately as he faced me. His shaky voice betrayed his prior sure facade, "I was only trying to lend a hand, my liege!" turning his head and raising his hands, as if he could defend himself from any blow coming down to punish him for spewing his prior and future lies, "aid him in receiving the unrequited love he find himself grieving over!"

"You insult me, Puck." I told him, keeping my heated sight on him, watching him squirm under the weight of my rising anger, " thinking you can pass one over me."

"I mean no disrespect, my lord." Puck begged, from his bowed position, "I was merely trying to-."

"I-I don't wa-ant to intrude." The stuttering nervous mortal interrupted, fear coming off him in waves, "I m-must get h-home." his eyes still watching the trickster and myself intently, his trembling legs inching him in a wide berth from us, trying to get away.

He bumped against Paul, who had silently stepped in his path. His dismayed reaction as he noticed his attempt to escape was thwarted was pitiful.

Then again, I would be just as pathetically cowardice if I was surpassed by unfriendlies around me by two heads in stature.

Choosing to ignore his anxious display, I asked bluntly, "Is what he spoke about true?" Motioning towards where Puck was now flanked by the watchful sentinel Sam.

"Wh-what is true?" The man asked, seemingly shaken by my directness, "I kn-know nothing of the...um...g-game he claims."

I looked pointedly at a angrily shaking Paul, stopping him in his tracks. He - as well as the rest of us - hadn't missed the insolence with which the human had spoken to me, but I knew the human had no idea he was speaking to royalty.

My pack brother huffed, rolling his eyes and my easy forgiving nature.

"You must not have been informed of this, and so I will forgive you for the cheeky matter in which you have spoken in my presence." I began, noticing his gaping expression, I continued, "I am the King of Kuruh. The realm where you are trespassing currently, no thanks to Puck here." I said pointedly glancing at the trickster who had the sense of looking reprimanded.

"I...I-" The human stuttered, obviously shocked and ingesting the small information I had just shared,"I-I ap-po-pologize, your - your majesty." He said after clearing his throat, "I hu-humbly beg your fo-forgiveness." He said, bowing slightly.

I was pleased to see that he didn't question me, humans were usually quick to deny what was right in front of them. This human, however, seemed to have noticed he was not in his home planet any longer, and his reaction to the new knowledge of my high ranking seemed to have appeased my guards as well.

"Now, that we have that issue cleared," I reinstated, "you owe me an answer,...um?" I trailed off, lifting an eyebrow as I questioned informally.

He closed his eyes, and his facial expression took on a painful turn. I almost told him to forget about the question when he let out a deflating sigh. When he spoke next his eyes were cast low, his voice was filled with sadness and it didn't tremble with fear anymore.

The air tinged with the hint of salt as his voice was caught as he forced out words with a husky gruff, "My name is Carlisle, your majesty," he said respectfully, "Carlisle Cullen...and the answer is yes...but no...I feel incomplete without my Esme, but its not her approval I seek. It is a way to provide for her. I am worthless if I can't give the comforts she is accustomed to. Her family's social stature is much higher than my own and it is hard for someone like me to get accepted into the right colleges to ensure the studies that will guarantee a life which she will be proud of-"

"You humans are so superficial." Paul complained rolling his eyes, saying out loud what I am sure we were all thinking.

Still, I won't allow disrespect come to someone who was having a hard time attaining happiness because of the society he was born in. It wasn't Carlisle's fault that his race had yet to evolve.

"You will mind your tongue, Paul." I said earning a dirty look he was quick to hide as he lowered his eyes, "We may be pack brothers but I am still your king, and you will respect me as such."

"My words dishonors me in your presence, My liege." Paul said bowing slightly then rising to meet my eyes. The flame of being scolded was still there, but the understanding that I couldn't let something slide was there too.

I nodded in his direction to show him I appreciated his calm demeanor and restraining his back talk.

"Let me reword your explanation to show you my understanding, and please correct me if I am wrong." I said, watching as he was nodding rapidly in consent before I had even finished speaking, "You feel lost as you have encountered difficulty entering an institution of education, which is something you need to earn stature within your society, to afford the lifestyle your beloved is accustomed to?"

"That is correct, my lord." Carlisle said, looking like he was feeling worse now that someone else knows of his troubles. It made him feel small.

"Carlisle, you have been brought into our world when its been prohibited for you kind to be here with our my personal approval." I said with a serious tone, earning a sudden fearful look from him as the other stood straighter awaiting my word, "But as it is not your fault, I will grant you a deal." this comment earned a curious look from my pack brothers as well as from the human and Puck.

I walked away into the foliage and bent to a crouch in front of an ever growing evergreen shrub, "Come. Be unrooted." I ordered it.

The roots began to move as it unearthed itself and crawled into my open hands. I walked to where everyone was still gathered and spoke to it gently but with authority, "I give you the gift of growth in another world. In exchange for love and care you will provide your caretaker with the success he seeks. As you grow so will his success. You will expand, and with you so will my realm within their world."

I turned to Carlisle and placed the wooden creature in his hands as he held it with an astonished expression.

"You will care for this creature, and it will grow. The better care you give it, the faster and larger it will grow. It is an Ever-growing Evergreen. It will create the most intricate garden maze known. Its will provide you with whatever you seek to gain success for as long as you do. Within its intricate and ever-changing labyrinth will lay a labrum to my realm."

He began to thank me with an unbelieving expression of awe. However, I couldn't let him just leave.

"Along with taking care of it, you will keep our existence secret. We will speak again once you have gained enough stature to join with your beloved, and every time another member joins your family or under your servitude. Only those with your blood are allowed inside the labyrinth, and no creature of my kingdom will ever come in contact with anyone else but you." I said as I laid the grounds and rules for our treaty, "Should you deceive me or break this treaty, I reserve the right to retribution at any cost."

He was quick to agree to the terms laid before him.

I took my bone knife from my hip holster and cut my finger, then turned it around so the handle would face the human, "you must cut your finger and we must both let a drop of each into the shrub."

He looked unsure at all of us, then leaned towards me, whispering, "I am sorry, but as I am carrying the wooden creature and I need both hands to puncture...um...would you..?" he said nervously, trying not to be disrespectful but not knowing how to follow on my instructions.

I smiled, pleased that he was asking for aid in following my command, stretching my hand for him to pass the creature on to my care while he carried on.

He then cut his finger and squeezed the digit to draw the droplet into the bush.

The bush rustled for a bit then calmed as I passed it onto his new caretaker's hands.

"You should begin seeing the benefits of our treaty in a few moons. Paul will see to it that you are returned safely to your world." I said as I nodded towards Sam to get a hold of Puck and follow me back to the castle to discuss his punishment.

After I had walked a few steps away I hear the human call for me once more, "Um..my lord?"

"Yes, Carlisle."

"When either in need of knowledge for taking care of the woodling or to comply with the policies of the treaty we just made, how should I contact you, my lord?" He asked, still looking as nervous as he did a few minutes ago.

"Paul?" I said nodding at my brother.

"I will take care of it as well, Alpha." He responded as he bowed, then motioning for the human to follow on behind him.

While on our way to the castle, Puck had to get one last word in.

"This whole occurrence may have not turned the way I set it out to be, but it will definitely end up bringing forth some interesting results."

A comment to which I bristled, stopped on my tracks and turned to face him, sneering, to speak to him in a menacing growl.

"You have done something very stupid, Puck. You have endangered our world - My Kingdom and my people - you were lucky enough that it was not a game poacher. You have also forced my hand into returning retribution for your poor judgement in seeking for a playmate. I see only one interesting result. Your punishment." I said, getting close up on his face, letting my wolf show through the yellow glow of my eyes, "You will be locked in a cell for over two centuries to pay for this mess."

TO MY READERS:

No. I have not forgotten about CURSED, I just needed to get this one chapter out there. Me and Zoe have been working so hard to get it done and finally I read it up and said to myself "self! there is a time when too much editing is too much." and so, here it is...

I hope you have enjoyed this chapter so far.

I have another 2 chapters almost done and one of them is being worked on for editing. I wont make promises in time posting but I do say this, the more encouragement I get the harder I will work to get the updates to you.

Read and review guys!

I thirst for your opinion!

can you guys tell me what movie inspired me to write this one? I will give you a clue, while I am writing twilight fanfiction, there is more inspiration behind these words.