Stepping through the portal, Te'ijal and Galahad felt as if they had been transported back in time to the days of their adventures with Rhen. They could hardly believe their eyes. Thais was once more in ruins. It's outer wall was in shambles. Whole buildings were consumed by flames, filling the air with heavy smoke.
Breaking out into a coughing fit, Mel clamped a hand over her mouth. "We need to head to the castle!"
Galahad nodded in agreement. "You're right, we must ensure that the Pendragon's are safe."
It wasn't hard for them to find their way with a couple of pairs of enhanced eyes leading the way, but it took longer than hoped as they kept getting delayed by monsters blocking their path or innocent civilians who needed saving.
Te'ijal had to suppress the urge to roll her eyes. Of course, Galahad could never resist defending the helpless. This was one of the many times in which she wished her husband was a bit more selfish. Still she came to his aid when he needed it, fighting off monsters who attempted to ambush him from behind.
As reported, these monsters were a lot stronger than normal. It took their combined strength to defeat them.
"There's something unnatural about them," Mel remarked. "I can sense dark magic coming from them. They're being controlled."
Though not a mage herself, Te'ijal had spent enough time in the company of mages to be able to sense such a thing.
"It's not Gyendal's magic, is it?"
"No, I would recognize his magic anywhere," Mel glared at the blonde knight. "This is the work of someone else."
"A new foe?" Te'ijal asked. "It's been a while since we've encountered one of those."
Eventually they made it to the castle gates, which had been blasted open with a fallen guard laying off to the side. Galahad tried to stop to help him, but Te'ijal grabbed him by the neck and pulled him along.
It was unsettling to find the castle, once heavily guarded, now completely unguarded. Fearing for the worst, they hurried inside, scouring every inch of the castle in search of their friends.
Much to their relief, they soon found the royal family safely gathered in their private chambers. Stella was huddled on the bed, hugging her children tightly to her, while Edward stood before them with sword in hand.
"Oh, thank the Goddess you made it!" Edward exclaimed, rushing forward to hug Mel.
"It's good to see you all," Galahad said. "With the current state of the city, we had begun to think we were too late."
Pulling away from the hug, which incidentally Mel was trying to wriggle out of, Edward sheathed his sword and turned to address the vampires. "Thank you for coming, despite everything that has happened. We still aren't quite sure how it all happened. We just woke up this morning and found an army of monsters swarming in on us. They've already defeated a large portion of our military."
They all nodded their heads in understanding, having already figured out as much on their own. Mel informed them of what they had discovered during their trip through the city, and how the beasts were under someone's control and that they were unable to identify the master.
Edward glanced back at his family before turning back to focus on his friends. "Tell me, do you think we can stop this invasion?"
To be honest, they really had no clue as to what the outcome might be. However, Te'ijal knew that Galahad wasn't going to just give up, and she didn't exactly want Thais to be completely destroyed either. Rhen would come out of her grave and haunt her if she let that happen. Besides, Thais held a special place in her heart. Even if the building itself was long gone, it was still the city where her and Galahad were wed.
"We've saved the world on more than one occasion. I'm sure that we can do it again," Galahad declared like the noble knight he was.
"Very well then, we shall join forces and gather any and all men still standing," Edward agreed. "However, I'm not making the same mistake my ancestors did. If I'm going out to fight, I'm not leaving my family behind unprotected."
There were no questions asked as to what he meant by that. Everyone knew the story of the unfortunate demise of Queen Alicia Pendragon.
"I can conjure a portal to take them to Aveyond and then come back," Mel offered.
Edward didn't reply at first as he pondered over the idea. "Would you be alright with this?"
Stella nodded her head. "As much as I would like to stay and help, I have to consider the children and their safety. Aveyond is the safest place for us right now. No evil can touch us there."
And so it was decided.
Getting up off of the bed, Stella quickly packed a bag full of things that they might need and gathered their cloaks for the journey.
Meanwhile, Edward readied himself for battle, donning his royal armor and legendary sword, Excalibur with determination. No longer the reluctant prince he once had been, he was more than ready to defend what was left of his city.
Once everyone was finished preparing, it was time for goodbyes. Kneeling down before his children, Edward pulled them into an embrace.
"I'm counting on you two to take care of your mother in my absence," he told them. "Can you do that for me?"
They nodded their heads in unison. You could tell that the young prince and princess were trying to be strong, but deep down they were frightened.
Edward then turned to his wife, reaching out to press a kiss to her lips. He could taste the salty tears streaming down her face.
"Come back to us, Edward."
"I'll do my best."
With everyone ready, Mel summoned a portal, ushering Stella and the children through first. She cast a brief glance back at her remaining friends. "I'll meet up with you as soon as I know they're safe."
No sooner had she followed them through then the portal disappeared and the group of three promptly made their way out of the castle and into the city.
Those living near the wall had been hit the most, with its houses and shops blasted apart. Only a few of the rentals were left standing, and even then they were hardly in stable condition. It was a sad state. Monsters were prowling the streets with blood soaked paws, the citizens of Thais running for their lives.
They helped as many as they could, fighting their way through Lamplight District, past the School of War and Magic and up into the Nobles District.
It didn't take long for them to realize that the nobles district wasn't being targeted like the rest of the city was. There was only one house that was in bad condition and that was Harpsbren Manor. Edward wasn't overly alarmed by that, knowing that the owner was never home to begin with. However, the visible lack of damage or monsters in the area did alarm him.
Something wasn't right.
An eerie silence hung in the air as they made their way further into the district. Every now and then they caught a glimpse of faces peeking out from the curtains, their eyes following the warriors as they went.
"I think it's safe to say that the perpetrator is in our midst," Te'ijal stated.
Te'ijal reached out to grab Galahad's arm and pull him back, but he was too stubborn and refused to move.
They all stopped dead in their tracks as the sound of laughter filled the air.
"Show yourself!"
In a flash of light, two figures appeared before them, both dressed in black cloaks that hid their faces from view. The amount of raw power emanating from them was overwhelming as it filled the air, creating a barrier around them.
They were trapped…
"So, these are the heroes I've heard so much about?" Said the male figure. "The ones who defeated Mordred Darkthrop?"
The female nodded her head but didn't say a word.
"And the legendary vampires who fought against Ahriman and his demons so many years ago. What an honour it is to finally meet you all."
"You clearly know us, and yet we don't know you," Te'ijal noted.
Pulling his hood back, they were taken back by what they saw. Not because they recognized him but because he shone like a god.
"Who are you and what do you want?" Edward demanded. "What have I done to you that you should attack my city?!"
"To me, nothing, but to my partner… Well, I believe you already know of the crimes you committed against her."
Edward opened his mouth to question him, but stopped as the female pulled back her hood as well, revealing a face that he knew all too well. It was a face they all knew.
"Lydia!?"
They couldn't believe their eyes. The last time they had seen the conniving mage was right before she was dragged away to the Orc Kingdom. Though, looking at her now, you would never guess that she had spent the last twelve years as a slave to the Orc King. She looked like a goddess, unnaturally beautiful like her companion.
Her brown eyes glared icily into those of her ex-husband. "How good to see you again, Edward."
"H-How?" Edward stammered, his face draining of blood.
"Unlike you, Caius had mercy on me and helped me escape… And now, you shall get a taste of your own medicine. You too will know what it's like to be treated as a slave!"
With a shaky hand, Edward raised his sword and began to charge towards them, followed soon after by Galahad and Te'ijal. Unfortunately, they didn't get far before a pack of wolves came out of nowhere, and with a wave of the hand from the man, Caius, the wolves pounced on them, pinning them down to the ground.
Though they fought to get free, the wolves were too strong, even for the two immortals.
Ignoring the king, Caius went straight over to the vampire couple. "Forgive me, for my fight is not with you, but I am afraid I cannot allow you to interfere."
Waving his hands over them, he cast a dark spell that quickly engulfed their bodies.
Edward was left to watch in horror as his friends, the two people he had thought invincible, were drained, their eyes slowly fluttering closed.
"No… C-Cer'iq…" were the last words to come from Galahad's mouth before he lost consciousness along with his wife.
As their bodies relaxed, the wolves backed away at their master's silent command, retreating the way they had come.
"What did you do to them!?"
Stepping away from the unconscious vampires, Caius turned his attention back to the king. "If I were you, I'd be worrying more about myself and less about your friends, for now it is your turn."
"Make sure he doesn't remember anything of the last thirteen years or so. He must believe that he is still married to me."
Caius smirked, "As you wish."
Hearing those words, Edward began to fight like never before as he felt his memories being sucked out of him. He clung tightly to the images of his wife and children as if his life depended on it, but it was no use. He could not fight the spell.
The last thought to enter his mind was the dreadful fate he would awaken to. If he had thought that being married to Lydia was horrible years ago, he could only imagine what it would be like for him now. It sounded like a living nightmare.
"Stella… Forgive me."
Then he was gone...
"It is done, my queen," Caius said, turning back to the green haired mage. "My end of the bargain has been fulfilled."
Lydia smirked. "Indeed you have, and now it is time for you to take back your own kingdom."
"It will take time to recover what I lost, but you may be assured that I will call upon you when I am in need of your assistance."
Breaking out into laughter, they levitated the sleeping bodies and went on their way. Lydia took Edward and headed towards the castle while Caius took Te'ijal and Galahad, vanishing into thin air with them.
Unbeknownst to any of them, Mel had been watching from the shadows all along. As soon as she was sure that they were gone, Mel crept out of her hiding place.
"This is not good…"