Chapter 12: Shifting Nature

Frost wasn't a man who had life treat him with kid gloves. Fairly speaking, life hadn't treated him at all, for the most part. Ever since he had been a little boy, he had been forced to work, to be able to acquire a livelihood. Later on, upon joining Phobos's detachments, he had been given a chance to see better, even happy days.
Becoming the Prince's main hunter had provided him with golden opportunities and for over a decade, life had been good. Not that Frost had ever required much to be satisfied with his life- rich food, hunts, drinking, pubs and women. No more no less. For some time, he had had it all.

Then of course, everything had gone south. The Light of Meridian had doused the light of his satisfaction and life had become repugnant again. He had been lured into becoming one of Nerissa's Knights of Vengeance, only to be thrown in jail again once his service was no longer needed. Then his former master had come to reign once more, pulling him out of the dumps, but alas, it had been a short-lived experience. The next ten years after Phobos's final defeat, the hunter had spent in the dungeons.

Now that Raythor's redeeming program offered him a chance to have freedom again, that one thing that he had missed the most over the last decade, he was definitely not going to waste it.

But where was that old dog? Frost grumbled impatiently in his cell as he peeked through the electrical bars, eager to see a familiar figure approach his prison. It was time for one of their scheduled walks and Frost was sure that this time he had it right. Friday after lunch, the captain had said. Well, it was Friday and Frost had already eaten his lunch. (one thing that Elyon's reign did benefit him with, even as a prisoner, was the varied menu)
So then, that being said, where was his honorable supervisor?

"Why aren't you wearing your shackles, idler? I told you when to be ready! That clock in your cell ain't there for the décor."

"Horseshit, Raythor!"- the mix-breed man exclaimed. "You scared the life outta me! What are you doin' lurking at the other end of the damn prison..."

Raythor gave him a glare that was eloquent enough, even for a brute like Frost. He knew when he had to shut his mouth.

Ten minutes later, all shackled and ready to roll, Frost was taken out in the cold, but bright day. Winter was definitely coming, and he loved it. His name wasn't "Frost" for no reason. Winter had always been his best hunting season, as his body was well-adapted to the big chills, while most of the wild animals were suffering from constant accidie at this time of the year.

They had walked in silence for a few minutes when the brute couldn't resist it anymore. Raythor was strict and dedicated to what he was doing, but he never walked so silent when with another person. Even if that person was a mere prisoner. Apparently, something unpleasant had happened since their last walk, and Frost was curious to find out what exactly:

"So uhhh, say Rayhte; something interesting happened lately? Something bad?"

Raythor snorted quietly from behind, as they kept walking through the pine forest. They were getting deeper into it by now.

"How is it that bad equals interesting for you, each time, barbarian."

"Hey, you know what I meant!"- Frost replied in a gruff voice. "You're about as silent as me ass. I assumed that something has happened with her Majesty, hell if I know!-"

"Nothing of the sort has taken place, thank the ancient gods."- Raythor interrupted him icily. "And if you're so interested in the gossip, I'm going to disappoint you, Frost. I don't do gossip. Especially not in the presence of a prisoner who is still on probation. Now count your steps and quit blabbing!"

The hunter glowered and decided to keep his mouth shut for the rest of the walk. What did Raythor think, that he was dying for his attention? What a stuck-up, little bitch he had turned into ever since being under the Mage's wing! If it wasn't for the darn lonesomeness in his prison cell, Frost would never have felt the urge to talk to him at all. And this abominable exercise of counting the steps which he insisted on was as obnoxious! Not too bright by nature, Frost often didn't count and tried to give his supervisor random numbers when asked, but the captain seemed to count himself, hence he punched him after every lie. In the end, the hunter had reconciled and started to count.

After a while, Raythor apparently needed to go and do his business in the bushes, because he tied Frost's shackles to a giant tree and told him that he'd be back momentarily. Frost frowned in puzzlement as the other man disappeared in the forest. Surely, he didn't need to go so far from him to stale! Maybe he was going for number two...

Frost didn't care to know the details anyway. All this could easily be one of the captain's darn tests and he didn't plan on failing. The hunter wasn't going to attempt to escape, even if there was a slight possibility for that to be successful, not when he was so close to retrieving his desired position as royal hunter.

No, he didn't care whether he was going to hunt for Phobos or Elyon anymore. Both royals were good for nothing scum in his eyes, but he knew his best interests. He wanted his freedom, his loyal Crimson and his peace. It was shocking to see what reconciliation he had come to, he would not even mind living among nasty creatures like some specific rebel representatives any longer. Yes, Frost had recognized racism as his vice. After years of imprisonment, he had learned to compromise. Yes, surely, he was never going to think of Vathek and his kind, for example, with a great deal of love, but he was willing to share a realm with them. Peacefully.

But that giant tree didn't seem to be as strong as the captain had originally thought of it to be. Frost hadn't even intended to do this. He had just leaned against it, darn it! But no, that little seek of comfort nearly resulted in his death.

The tree bent backward with a roar, obviously impacted by his weight, and dragged him and his chains along with itself, down straight into the ravine by which it had grown! Stunned and in pain after the surprising fall, the hunter barely rose, covered in vegetation. What horse shit! He was just about to curse soundly when a sudden sound made him freeze …

"What the hell- "

"Ah, don't bother! Trees have been falling in here since morning. After the storm from last night, they're already halfway down, and since the ravine is expanding..." Frost's eyes widened. Even if he couldn't see the woman's face, which was covered by her tattered cloak, he knew her voice full well: "Anyway, Cedric. You shouldn't be here; your master won't approve of it."

That slimy little shifter who everyone thought had died, Frost realized, trying his best to stay hidden amid all the vegetation he had fallen in, despite the pain and his big sizes. Thankfully, the big tree that had ended on top of him halted his movements.

"Don't tease me, Miranda."

So the figure, whose back he could see through the little gap that had formed in his vegetation cover, was Lord Cedric himself! Frost didn't feel himself stopping to blink, too dumbfounded to even think of it.

"I'm not plotting against Phobos, I can't, even if I wanted to. I'm plotting against Leonida."- he said that last part with open contempt which seemed to amuse Miranda.

"Serves you right for taking that oath for him. And obviously he had already made his mind, he wants Leonida. Hence, you're aiming to eliminate her. Good thinking, my love."

"I had no other choice."- Cedric nearly hissed. "Be that as it may, the Prince has indeed done much for me. He deserves at least a part of my loyalty."

Miranda shrugged playfully. Even though she and the other shifter were both in human forms, Frost could feel the chills run down his back as he remembered them and what they were capable of. These two were terrifying, and his luck was terrible. If they caught him spying on them, though unwittingly, they would kill him on the spot. Frost gulped inaudibly, praying that Rayhtor will show up to save him sooner...

"I can't eliminate Leonida just yet."- Lord Cedric went on with his story. "She still has to serve Phobos's main plan, but after that..."- his voice lowered dangerously.

"After that nothing! We'll be forced to follow Phobos's every wish and desire yet again."- Miranda interrupted him gruffly. "We should've sought lil' naive Elyon's forgiveness while we still could. Nerissa did, and she's now practically Queen of the Castle. She is slowly, but determinately, starting to pull the strings of the entire kingdom!"

"You will agree, my beloved, that we cannot compete with Nerissa in any respect."- Cedric said darkly. "The least of all reasons is that we have no relationship with the guardians and Elyon like she does. At least when Phobos comes to power, we won't have to live in hiding anymore, as we do now. Because if we dare to come to light now, Nerissa will be the first one to hunt us and take us back to our cells. If not worse. She needs to go down and we can't risk trying to approach Elyon with her around, even if her way of ruling over Meridian satisfied us."

"I know, it's too late for that."- Miranda made a face. "But you didn't finish your story, Cedric. How did you manage to stab a knife in the all-powerful Leonida's back without her sweet prince's notice?"

Cedric's lips twisted in a dark, contended smile. He loved the part in which Leonida fell for his trick. And he didn't even have to overstep the word he had given to his prince...It was just priceless, and it was just the beginning of her failure:

"She's obviously deceiving my Liege. She doesn't really love him and I can see that he is starting to have feelings for her- "

"As if anyone could love him"- Miranda sneered and eyed the blond man playfully. "Oh, that's right, I forget. You do."

Cedric frowned, but he didn't reply to that, he just went on:

"The princess has no idea that one of the twelve passages is opened. I managed to open an ancient passageway between Coronia and Meridian that she most probably doesn't even suspect exists! They believed that my outings were pointless... Royal people can be too full of themselves, Miranda, too full of themselves for their own good. Of course, they couldn't have known that I've been commuting to Meridian without their knowledge for weeks! I took the body of the dead maid across the divider, purposely leaving it near one of the former entrances to the Infinite City, which of course, Nerissa has now switched up. Nevertheless, the deed was done. The rebels found the corpse and that made them suspicious of the Coronians. You wouldn't believe the drama which Nerissa created on Coronia afterward... Of course, I had to warn Leonida that the sorceress is snooping around for evidence so that she could talk to the Queen. After all, I didn't want our presence in the realm to be revealed, all I wanted was to hurt the damn princess...
In her turn, Leonida blamed her mother after the guardians' attack, believing that she has purposely left the maid's body as means to alert Elyon's people because Magana can cross the veil through the authorized portal... I will admit that a few unforeseen things happened and we were almost defeated, but in the end, things worked just as I had wanted them to, my dear Miranda. Phobos and his plans are out of harm's way, Leonida was left with a big wound on her heart and her mother's fate was, needless to say, tragic. And note that this is just the beginning of that little wretch's sufferings. After her service to Phobos is complete I will eliminate her permanently. "

Cedric finished his confession with flaming eyes and looked at the woman in front of him. Whether she was impressed or not, Miranda smiled wickedly and came closer to him, wrapping her arms around his neck:

"That's all so very great, my Lord."- she said alluringly. "You're such a clever and talented man, look at you, you fooled three powerful sorcerers and the guardians, as a door prize! You were born to be a powerful ruler! Too bad that even after the war ends, because of your dumb oath, Phobos will still stand on top of you."

Cedric's smile quenched and he almost glared at the other shifter, but they couldn't continue their discussion, because, at that moment, Raythor's voice sounded from above the ravine:

"Frost?! FROST, you darn animal, I knew that you couldn't be trusted! Where are you?!"

Frost almost moved under the leaves. No, he couldn't alert Raythor that he was down here before the shifters left. Thankfully, they were thinking of doing just that. Before the hunter could lick his lips from all the pressure, Miranda had pulled out a small idol of some sort, with the help of which she and the blond man teletrasnported away.

Frost waited a few more seconds, just to make sure, before raising his voice:

"In here, Raythor! I haven't escaped, the tree fell into the darn gully! I'm still tied to the damn thing! What took you so long, couldn't relieve the bowels or what?"

"How did you manage to push the damn tree and yourself down there, you moron!"- the captain's sullen voice came from above the ravine. "Wait, I'm coming."

Frost finally exhaled all the air he had been holding in, blowing away some leaves and pine needles from his face. What the hell had he just witnessed? But now that he had made it alive after overhearing it, he could just say that he had been at the right place at the right time. For the first time in a while, he had an idea. An idea of how to get that newfound information to serve his interests.


Heatherfield, Silver Dragon basement, 4:40 PM

Yan Lin had never thought that at the age of 72, she'd still be serving Kandrakar and its never-ending missions. Not on Earth, at least. But then again, she had also never imagined that at the same time she'd have her friend, Nerissa, who had once been just two years her junior, sit in the Silver Dragon's basement with no bra on. Well, of course, the former Air guardian was only able to note that because the other woman's magniloquent top's back was made of a transparent dark network; her actual breasts were covered by the front of the blouse - a sophisticated composition of mesh and suede in the black range. That diva top even had a transparent polo... But that wasn't the point!

Yan Lin's health was in check; the times were different. Helping the new generation of guardians, the generation of her granddaughter, alongside her friends and former guardian-colleagues brought her great contentment.

"This is not good, girls."- she summarized. "Queen Magana must have had a reason to pretend that her daughter is no more. A good reason, I'd say, to resort to such a horrible lie! And now that she's gone, not only is the realm of Coronia left vulnerable without it's Queen. The key to handling the crisis is also lost-"

"That's true. We looked everywhere for the Queen."- Taranee said, recalling the events from days ago. "She's nowhere to be seen. She has just evaporated! Obviously Phobos and Leonida have kidnapped her and taken her with them to...wherever they're off to now."

Everyone went silent for a moment. Yes, that was one of the worst things about their failed mission on Coronia. Phobos, Leonida and Cedric had fled, leaving their Lurdens behind, but now their location was once again unknown. They could be anywhere, for all the girls knew.

"Wait a sec, we know the reason why Leonida was banished and disowned by her family."- Irma interfered. "She's a crazy hoe! She was crazy nine years ago when she ran off with that Dua-freak, then she had a child with an arranged husband, which she named after Dua, who I wanna remind you, was a worm-"

"Graumer"- Taranee corrected her, but Irma went on unabashed:

"- a freakin' WORM! Literally, that blonde screwball! Then her husband disappeared under ''strange'' circumstances."- she coughed meaningfully at that. "And theeen, in a fit of rage over him confronting her about the husband's disappearance, she killed her own dad! That's what Andan said, right, it explains why Magana saw herself obliged to protect people from her crazy daughter. Therefore, she with the help of the Coronian sages, placed an ancient tribal curse on Leonida, meaning to keep her away from the Palace forever."

Irma was so sure in all her words, and she wasn't wrong to be. All that fit in the puzzle, it was just that...all the pieces to the puzzle were not yet exactly found. Yan Lin and Nerissa exchanged glances, which didn't go unnoticed by the water guardian:

"Okay, I never paid attention to body-language class, but I saw that! Enough with the mysterious glances, tell me what I was wrong about in my summarization!"

"No, you aren't wrong, Irma. That was what Andan said."- Nerissa wrapped a strand of hair around her finger.

"And? You said you were convinced he said the truth!"

"I am convinced, he did not hide a thing from us. But just because he spoke the truth- "

"- doesn't mean that he knows the entire truth."- Yan Lin finished wisely.

At this point, Irma just stared at the two former guardians with a sulk forming on her face.

"Huh, but- "

"No, they're right."- Will spoke up, stopping with her usual circles which she did during most of the meetings held in this basement. "We already underestimated the Coronians once. We should keep searching for more details before they surprise us unpleasantly another time."

Everyone present nodded at that, agreeing with the redhead's words. There was just one other big question that had to be discussed and Hay Lin took the initiative:

"OK, that we'll do, but what about the wedding? Should we still have it?"- she moved her big brown eyes from her grandmother to Will. "We can only guess what Phobos and Leonida's stance on that is, but what about Coronia? Coronia is now defenseless; if Elyon doesn't take charge, they'll be left without a Queen. The realm will wither!"

"Which was Magana's main concern because her Golden Spring water is running low as it is..."- Taranee pondered out loud. "Hey, just a thought, but now that the current Queen is down, what happens to her portion of water? If it's in the Sealed Room, which no one but her can enter- "

"No one can lay hands on it, not as long as she hasn't used the last drop of what she has taken back with her at the beginning of her reign. During the initiation hike to the spring. "- Nerissa replied firmly, but Taranee didn't look too convinced:

"Not even Leonida?"- she asked cautiously.

Everyone looked at her at that frightening thought.
Irma scoffed. If it hadn't been time for Cornelia to take Killian to his regular check-ups, the water guardian would've had company to cast aspersion on that crazy princess with. Everyone else was talking of her as if she was a damsel in dismay. Leonida this, Leonida that!

"I...I'm not certain."- Nerissa confessed, somewhat irritated. " You can only be Queen once, and Leonida has already been dethroned once - "

"Well, Magana is the living rebuttal to your words, Nerissa. "- Taranee pushed her glasses back. "She rose to the throne a second time after her daughter, I'm guessing it has to do with the Golden Water. Didn't you say that a woman's reign over Coronia is forever ended once her last drop of water is used?"

"We can't know for sure; we've never had a mission on Coronia during our years as guardians."- Yan Lin tuned in.

"No, we haven't-"- Nerissa confirmed with knitted brows. "But- "

"But all your assumptions sound quite right. I think they're right, Nerissa -"

"Besides, Leonida isn't dead."- Will added as further evidence to their theory. "She was forced to leave the throne, but does that make her terminally dethroned? I would say no. And what if Magana is no more."- she voiced the thought that had crossed everyone's mind, but no one had had the strength to express in front of prince Andan. "If her mother did it before, then what stops Leonida from repeating it now? Now that the Queen is down. She can go to the Palace and enter the Sealed Room to take the remains of her mother's water."

"But that doesn't make any sense and it can't be what she and Phobos are aiming for."- Nerissa stood up from her place. She was angry and Will knew why. She hated not being able to read people's motives and currently, Phobos and his new girlfriend were giving her a hard time. "Magana's bottle is almost empty as it is. Besides, if the little bitch had wanted to, and if it was possible, she could've entered the Sealed Room and stolen Magana's water by now. Why wait six years?"

"Helloo, the curse."- Irma reminded her sourly. "The bitch turns into a bird whenever she goes near her relatives, remember?"

"Not at the engagement ceremony, she didn't."- Nerissa raised her chin victoriously, finally having found a strong enough argument to prevail upon the others with. "Please, she has found alternatives to diminish that curse by now! She'd never settle for a nearly empty bottle too! We need to find their actual purpose so that we can lure them into a trap and defeat them! Not waste precious time on stupid guesses of what Leonida may or may not be able to do with her mother's remains."

The girls cringed at her blunt, but meaningful choice of words, and looked at each other. Will tightened her right fist and sighed before declaring:

"And that is what we'll do. But in order to uncover their plans, they need to do something, you know what I mean? Only a detected act by them: a clue of some sort, a trace to follow, can do us good. Because as for now, we have absolutely no idea what for or where to look. In the meantime, we should make sure that Elyon's wedding goes according to plan and be extra alert. Call me a bad prophet, but I have the dire feeling that the wedding is exactly the occasion Phobos and Leonida are waiting for."


Somewhere far from the restaurant...

Tossing her honey-colored locks to one side, the young princess of Coronia took her new acquisition from the window still. The black rose looked so very vulnerable and helpless in the heavy glass container... It was what her treachery deserved! A fate suitable for someone as bad of a parent, as Magana had always been to her. Leonida took the rose in her hands and turned around only to find herself face to face with Phobos:

"Where are you going with that, Leonida?"- he asked somewhat suspiciously. His cold green eyes pierced through her.

"I was just coming to you...and I'm taking this to the cellar. Where no light shall ever be able to shine over her again. She'll suffer till the last days of her withering in darkness and loneliness. Just like she wanted me to expire. I wish for her to have a taste of my misery!"

"Perfect idea."- Phobos smiled in an indurate manner. "Even if my black roses don't need the bother. The guardians never managed to discover each and every one of them to be able to help. One day even your mother shall become a part of my garden-; forgive me, our garden. Once I recoup the crown and my palace, they'll be yours too."

Leonida smiled up at the man and left the glass container aside once again. She then proceeded to gently wrap her arms around his neck. For the first time, he didn't react oddly. He didn't twitch or pull back as he usually did. No, Phobos was always willing to touch her, but only when he decided on it. His good mood today was obvious. Perfect, Leonida smiled. If you're contended already, what I'll inform you of now, will be sure to make you beatific.

"What is it, my squeeze? Is that smile on your face provoked by me alone, or is there something else on your mind? You said that you were on your way to me?"

The princess smiled even wider as she nodded:

"King Phobos, future king of the united dimensions, I am most thrilled to tell you that our plan has been put into action. Earlier today it was confirmed. Our joint treasure has been achieved."- her lips pursed over-dramatically as the man's, in front of her, formed a perfect 'O' . "All that is left now is for the very special date to come."

"Are you certain?!"- Phobos asked, nigh on breathless.

Leonida nodded happily and the man pulled her closer to himself yet again, almost unwittingly. He was in raptures.

"I told you that I know my odds best. I used to assure you that our plan is to be successful on time."

"That means that all which is left now is to patiently await my dear sister's wedding day. It will be a true rave!"

Cedric stood on the threshold of the darkened room, behind the half-closed door, listening to his master's dialogue with an impenetrable expression. What was wrong with him? He was the one who had brought them here. When the guardians attacked the Hidden Mansion, he had been awake to warn Phobos. He then led them through his secret passage back to the meta world, away from the annoying Coronia and the danger. Back to Meridian and that under every and each of their enemies' nose. In spite of the veil. In spite of the omnipotent Mage, guarding the realm with a hawk eye. The shapeshifter had every reason to celebrate that his prince's plans were developing according to his desire, yet that princess... That darn bimbo was too out of place between them and he hated her. Knowing that for the next part of the master plan she was of particular importance, made Cedric frown. His thoughts suddenly brought him back to special times, many years ago...

*FLASHBACK*

The glamorous, yet intimidating Palace, loomed over the young boy like a fortress of unknownness and danger. He was no older than 7 years old, but ever since he could remember, he had known only misfortune, fear and misery. Life was nothing but an agonizing way of coping. Existence. Did he actually need to exist under such conditions? Even at such young age, that thought had inevitably crossed his mind. If it wasn't for his mother's words of courage, the young boy would've long ago given up this existence. But after she had sacrificed her life for him to survive, in one of the many persecutions against them, two years ago, he had promised not to let her sacrifice be in vain.

Cedric knew that his folk was hated, due to the many legends and events from the past, yet he couldn't understand why did his mother have enemies. She had never done anything bad to anyone and he had cried his eyes out upon seeing her lifeless body, hunted down by the anti-shifter hordes. These organizations were illegal on Meridian, his home planet of which he knew enough, even if young. The people who hunted his kind down like animals were criminals, but they weren't treated as such. The crown had no interest in taking measures against these encroachments, simply because all shapeshifters were nothing but barbaric mongrels in their eyes.
And even though queen Weira was a seemingly diplomatic ruler, who was famous for uniting many different races in harmony under her reign, she would hardly ever stand up for mutt-shapeshifters publicly. That would undoubtedly crap her good name in the Metaworld and the neighbor kingdoms, which venerated and respected her.
But searching help from the royals was hardly the reason the young boy had come to the palace. His mother had raised him up to be intelligent enough, even at such an early age, and he knew that his chances with that were close to none. He was here with a different mission. Tired of running, hunger and his own fear, the young shifter had come to the castle to look for a person. A person who, as he knew from his mother, worked here, and even lived nearby.

Cedric turned around to look behind himself one last time just to make sure that no one was following him. Due to his lifestyle, if his days could be considered a part of a lifestyle at all, he had gotten used to the clinging paranoia.

When he quietly sneaked in the royal gardens, the child knew that he had to be especially careful. He crept in the shadows and behind the many beautiful hedges and other plants, heedful of the fact that the royal gardens were heavily guarded.

Even though he had spent his life in the forests, Cedric couldn't help being fascinated with all the beautiful flora that surrounded these gardens. The plants around were something more special- exotic and majestic species, that he had never seen before, and were hence catching his eye.

He could gawk at the palace and its surroundings with days, but in the back of his head, the young shifter knew why he had come here. He pulled the little golden locket from underneath his loosed tunic; the golden locket necklace was the only thing his mother had left him and it contained the portrait of his now goal. A small portrait of the man he had come to find. Insightful sensational blue eyes, very similar to his, blond hair and a slightly darker beard. The artist, whoever he was, had done an excellent job because Cedric immediately recognized the man once he saw him in the distance.
In the distance, coming out of one side tower, the live version of the man in his locket necklace was making his way through the gardens with arms loaded with books and papers.

For a minute Cedric hesitated, stopping by one big shrub of exotic blue flowers. Yes, he had found the man he had come to look for, quite fast, but it wasn't as easy for him to just run to him and talk to him. He had postponed this meeting ever since he could remember, strictly prohibited by his mother to ever come to the palace. Indeed, Ophelia had adjured her son to never come in contact with the Escanors and their branches. When she had been alive, she had never allowed him to even think of coming out of their safe forests, let alone come here to look for this man. God was her witness, the shapeshifter had only shared the story of the locket with her offspring, because she had wanted to be honest...Well, yes, their' safe' forests, had turned out to be less safe than she had thought, after all, and hence she was no more.

For a year, Cedric had fought with himself and his instincts to keep the word he had given to his mother. A year of tears and misery... But for God's sake, he was just a child! And the man from the locket could be his only and last chance to survive in the cruel meta world. Willing to take the risk, the little boy tightened his fists and headed towards the man, who had stopped to pick up a fallen book by the roses.

The setting sun bathed the royal gardens in a dark amber light as Cedric stood close behind the man. His heart was about to jump out of his chest any minute now. Everything had happened so fast... first he had lost his mother and now, a year later, having seen life as no child should ever see it, he was standing here. In the banned area, right next to the man who he was adjured to never come in front of. No, Ophelia had to be mistaken. Maybe, just maybe this man was going to prove her expectations wrong. Cedric gulped. He could at least, hope and pray for it:

"Good evening, sir. May I ask you something?"

The man almost jumped in his place, startled by the child's voice. He turned around and looked down at the boy, giving his tattered clothes a brief critical look before opening his mouth:

"I suppose that you may since you're already here. You do know that you mustn't come to the royal palace, don't you, village boy? Make the question fast and be on your way."

Cedric winced at that, but still looked up and met the man's eyes decisively. These eyes that his resembled, so very much...

"Are you Lord Cedric, sir? Lord Cedric, ex-lieutenant of the Escanor army? You had to give up your place on the battlefield upon suffering a serious injury on your left leg -"

"Yes, that would be me."- Lord Cedric interrupted the boy a little sharply, looking down at his numb leg and then back at the child. "And who are you, boy? Why are all these questions?"

"My name is also Cedric, sir. I am your son."

The color left the man's face, but his frown deepened. Cedric looked up at him, extremely unnerved as the Lord barked:

"I have no son, Cedric."- he said firmly. "Just because we share a name and, I agree, a few similar features of resemblance, doesn't mean we are related. I'm sorry, you should leave."

Cedric felt his heart race even faster. His father had denied him, yet he was being quite respectful and well-mannered. Maybe he could still prove the truth to him. Maybe once Lord Cedric saw his locket, he would realize the truth and accept him. Maybe he was going to envelop him in a tight hug and all his misery would end. With trembling hands, the boy pulled the chain out of his shirt:

"Who gave you this?!"- the man hissed coldly, opening the locket. His voice was suddenly devoid of all its respect and even the last tinge of warmth. His eyes burned the little boy from head to toe, and Cedric felt even shorter in front of the tall lord. "I asked you a question, peasant boy. Where do you have this from?! Who sends you here?"

"I h-have it from my mother. She gave me this locket when I was younger, but it has been hers ever since you and her- "

"I have never had anything to do with your goddamn mother!"- Lord Cedric spat and held the young boy's collar roughly. "Hear me out very carefully, this time I will spare you. You will go from here and you will never come back. If you do, I will personally execute you, do I stand clear?"

Cedric gasped as his father pushed him roughly, and he found himself on the ground. No, it wasn't the hug he had prayed for. But it still wasn't what his mother had said it'd be. Cedric got back on his feet and tried to stop the tears from running down his cheeks:

"C-can I, can I have my locket, please?"

He dreaded asking once his father turned around abruptly and took his collar once again- this time he lifted the boy in the air and brought him close to his enraged face. Cedric winced but didn't fight back as he glanced at the man's angry eyeballs that looked like they'd pop out of their sockets.

"THIS LOCKET DOESN'T BELONG TO YOU. THIS LOCKET CONTAINS MY PICTURE WHICH ISN'T MEANT TO BE WITH YOU, LITTLE BASTARD. YOU'RE NOT MY SON!"- and Lord Cedric tore the golden chain into two parts with his free hand, throwing it's remains away.

Then he aimed all his anger at his terrified son, shaking him as he spoke:

"If you don't leave here at once, I'll lose my temper, you reptile. I don't understand why Ophelia kept you or why she thought that you should have that locket, but if you or she ever dares to show your scale-covered nuzzles, here again, you will pay with your lives!"

"Ophelia is dead."- Cedric announced bitterly after his father threw him down once again and proceeded to walk away.

The boy was back on his feet in the matter of seconds, and his tears were running down. This time- freely. His mother had been right about this man, after all, the young shifter sobbed miserably as he recalled her words. Oh, if only she was still around to look out for him and be by his side...

Cedric-Senior had stopped in his tracks upon hearing the boy's last statement. For a second, he looked frozen, but then, he turned around in all his rage and spat:

"I'm delighted to hear that! Why not join her in her fate and free the kingdom of one more evil, slimy reptile, such as yourself! Worthless creature!"

Cedric was at a loss of words. He had heard similar insults already, but coming from the lord, they stung at an entirely different level.

His world had crushed down long ago, but at that moment, he felt all the pain once more. It was when he realized that he was an orphan now and that he had been an orphan ever since Ophelia had died. This man, the man from the locket, which he didn't even want to take back anymore, wasn't his father. He couldn't be. He was just another human, just like those who had killed his mother...

Cedric expected for the ex-lieutenant to throw him out of the royal gardens, but that never happened. It seemed that Lord Cedric-senior was in a hurry to just get away from him and forget about the unpleasant meeting.

His son wanted the same, but he knew that he couldn't. He would never forget this day. His father wishing him death would remain with him until that happened- until he actually dies, miserable and alone as he was, just like in the past one year...

The young boy had lost track of time as he lay down on the meadow in the royal gardens, where his father had nearly buried him. Cedric was tired, hungry, and totally exhausted- both physically and mentally. When he felt someone approach him, he expected everything- the royal guards coming to send him out of the palace's premises or maybe Lord Cedric was coming to fulfill his threats, angry that he was still here. He had expected death itself to come and pick him up.

But he hadn't expected to see a boy his age, with long fair hair and bright green eyes, once he dared look up. The boy offered him a hand, which Cedric only looked at timidly, before curling into a ball.

"It's quite fine for you to take my hand, I won't bite, I promise."- the other boy said in a distinct voice. "My name is Phobos and I'm going to help you. I saw everything."

Cedric just blinked and examined the other kid once again.

"Y-you, you're the prince."- he realized, passing his big, scared eyes over Phobos's royal sky-blue garments. "I...Apologize for coming here, your Highness. I will leave at once, please don't call the guards-"

"I told you not to be afraid."- Phobos almost snapped. "Yes, I'm the prince and your name is Cedric. Lord Cedric's son, correct? As I told you, I heard everything and I will help you."

Cedric, who was now back on his feet, didn't look too convinced but was too dumbfounded to think on his words:

"Once you learn what my nature is, you'll be the one who'll be afraid. My father doesn't love me and nothing can be done...He thinks that I'm a monster, as will you when you see me transform, Prince Phobos -"

"A monster you say."- Phobos repeated, but instead of fear, his eyes shone with curiosity. "What kind of monster? A wanderer? A vampiric creature? A mogriff? A shape-shifter?"

"Yes...I'm a shifter..."- Cedric almost whispered under his nose. "But...doesn't my nature and kind frighten you, Prince Phobos?"

"Nonsense!"- Phobos waved his own hand and then proceeded to take the other boy's hand. Cedric was almost shocked. "Come with me, I will show you my favorite maze in the gardens. Tell me, Cedric, what do you turn into? A reptile, right, that was what Lord Cedric said. What kind of reptile?"

Cedric blinked again. He had just been disowned by his father, and now he was listening to the prince himself, who spoke of creatures so freely. He was overwhelmed, but at the same time, too astounded by the fact that a boy his age wanted to talk to him and wasn't even scared to touch him.

"It is hard to explain, your Highness. Some would call me a snake when I transform. But I'm really bigger and more dangerous than any snake...if I need to defend myself, of course."- he added timidly, looking at the prince who was still pulling him by the hand.

"That sounds wondrous, Cedric!"

They had made their way to the maze of hedges and roses Phobos had spoken of, and where they could really talk in private, as astonishing as that was to the young shifter.
Phobos was his age, maybe a year older, but he was as advanced as him in his speech and intelligence, if not even more. Cedric assumed that was normal for a monarch, who most probably had dozens of lessons with the best teaches and masters which the kingdom had to offer.
But then why in God's name wasn't he frightened of him? Every child in their right mind would freak out when they would learn of the blond boy's abilities. Unless of course...

"You should relax, Cedric. I can sense your fear. Believe me when I promise that I will help you with your father."- Phobos stated importantly. He sat opposite of the other boy and looked at him with his remarkable eyes. "Don't look at me like that; believe it or not, I know what it's like to have a father who doesn't love you."

"You do?!"- Cedric was shocked to hear that, but the other kid just huffed haughtily.

"Yes, but that's not so important. What is important, is that I don't have many friends, and you I find you perfect for the position. You shouldn't refuse me, I'm royalty!"

"Wait...you want me to be your friend?"- Cedric still couldn't believe it.

Phobos nodded with a growing grin on his lips.

"But...why?"

All the trauma he had gone through just recently, was erased. Someone wanted to be his friend. Someone was willing to accept him! He had never experienced such a thing before, and it was definitely overwhelming. In a fine way.

"Because you're different. Just like me."-the prince answered sincerely. "And one day, you'll be powerful."- he added. "When I rule over Meridian, I will need someone like you on my side. I can tell!"

"END OF FLASHBACK*

"Lord Cedric!"- Phobos's voice brought him back to reality. Cedric twitched and showed himself behind the door. "What are you doing there? Do come here! I want to share the good news with you!"

"Eavesdropping, as usual."- Leonida murmured under her nose and threw an annoyed glance at the lord, as she and the prince parted.

Cedric stepped in the room with his thoughts in a storm and was almost caught by surprise when the other man pulled him in a hug. He was definitely elated.

"Cedric, my plans are arranging just like I expected them to! Leonida just shared the news with me, and I am impatient to share them with you! The guardians' downfall and my sister's end are closer than ever! I'm going to be a father, Cedric. Open up a bottle of the best wine! We ought to celebrate!"

Cedric smiled and patted the other man's back as he held him. His eyes then fell on Leonida, watching them from the ledge of the window with a smug face and arms crossed on her chest.

"Such great news, my prince. I'm so very delighted to hear that. Accept my most cordial congratulations!"- the shapeshifter said, even though, deep in his heart, he knew that he was never going to be able to share the other man's elation.


A/N: So, for the name of Cedric's mother, I do remember I read someone name her 'Ophelia' in their stories, here in the archive. I can't recall when or where, but I've seen it and I just felt that it's very suitable. If you read this, respected fellow-author/reader, I hope that you won't mind. All credit for that goes to you. :D
Soo, that being said, I hope that you all enjoyed this chapter. I'm looking forward to hearing from you and your opinions. What did you think of the newest twist? There are many more to come, so stay tuned!

Much love, stay blessed and healthy. I'll see you in chapter 13! :)