The Seventh Son

SACRIFICE

King Jerald was taken into his chambers and placed on the bed comfortably and tucked in. “Father are you dying," Lotus asked.

“Why do you always ask the most stupid

question?" Nephius countered

“Yes I'm dying Nephius, your brother is right,” king Jerald replied.

The room became quiet, the celebratory smiles were wiped off all their faces. “Come here all of you,” king Jerald urged.

“But father, you can't die not when we are winning this battle,” Nephius said with tears running down 

“Yes we should ask that thing down the Dungeon to give you life, if it can defeat Clarris it can do anything,” Lotus added.

“Nothing comes for free in this life my sons, your mother and I have lived for centuries to understand that,” he stated while looking at Rachel who was standing near the window.

“But Dad, you are cursed, how is it possible that you can die???” A very confused Barrick asked.

“Everyone take a seat?” the six brother moved forward with teary eyes and sat on the bed

King Jerald swallowed hard and made sure he was comfortable then spoke, “like I had earlier stated centuries ago I wronged a woman and centuries later my sons are still paying for it. It is time that I make amends if it means losing my life then I will willfully lose my life.”

“But father we can”

“Nephius listen, you are the eldest and should be the strongest, there is nothing that can be done. In order for the Naga to outsmart Clarris she had to travel into the future when Omen is powerful and older. He removed the curse and trapped Clarris in time.That's why we disappeared for nine months.”

“Naga's killed their mates after mating so she stabbed me with the death swore after we mated.” 

“Is she stupid!” Lotus yelled out.

“She is a black widow Lotus, the rule of nature. Even if she did not stab me I would still be dying. What the Naga and I created is an abomination when Nemos are born they draw the life out of their parents. He took his mother's energy and now it's my turn.”

“They are both stupid!” Lotus interrupted him again

“Please Lotus let me finish!” 

“Sorry Father, it's just that their stupidity is astonishing,”

“Lotus please! Where was I?”

“Their stupidity?” Lotus replied

The other brothers burst out laughing. ”Lotus please let father finish," Daniel intervened.

“ I'm only alive because Omen is sharing his energy with me somehow. And if he keeps doing that, he will be too weak for Clarris and Clarris will come for you all,” 

“His mother made sure that Clarris couldn't read our heads but now that she is no more, Clarris will read our minds and undo everything, there will be no Omen” King Jerald stated in a low voice.

The brothers were quiet and looked at their mother who only looked on the floor. Even Lotus had no comment to pass.

“If all goes to plan, you will all have a normal life, get married, grow old and have grandchildren. Your mother informed me that she allowed you to go out into Arthora. Did you guys have fun?"

“Daniel and I lost our virginity, the others were scared to go near girls. You should have seen Nephius, he is all mouth in here but….”

“Lotus! I will break your mouth!” Nephius threatened.

King Jerald laughed, “next time don't worry. You know what, the previous Lotus was very serious unlike you.” King Jerald'said while poking him

“What do you expect from a man named after a flower,” Nephius teased

“I'm sure the previous Nephius was lame,” Lotus countered. 

“Okay now you two should start going easy on each other. I do not know if I have days, months or a year but let's utilize it. Our job will be to make sure that Omen becomes stronger.”

“Angel,” Barrick said in a sobbing voice

“What?”

“If he is going to save us at least let's call him angel. Omen sounds wrong.” Barrick added.

“He is a wizard that gets energy from killing both his parents, he might be saving your a*s but he is killing your father,” Rachel finally spoke up.

“Rachel I thought we had already talked about this?” king Jerald reminded her.

“What if you die? What guarantee do we have that that thing will protect us? Rachel asked.

“Yes I'm with Mother on this,” Marcus added

“The traitor strikes again,” Daniel teased.

“Everyone just shut up, Omen is not going to abandon us. We have to make sure that he becomes stronger even if it means me dying. That is not debatable. I started this curse and I'm ending it . Are we all clear?”

“Where did you get the idea of siring a Nemo,” Miguel finally asked.

“I had no idea that a Naga even existed in the forest, it was all Elder Lee's plan. I have no idea how he even knew that it would lead to this,” king Jerald replied.

The room was quiet and king Jerald spoke, “Now here is a list of what to feed Omen, I'm dividing you boys into three groups. You will be rotating in shift. First is Nephius and Lotus."

“Honestly why pair him with me?” Lotus asked annoyed.

“So that you two can be bonding, now go I need to speak with your mother alone. We are all men, no crying, I'm I clear!”

“Yes!” they all said and left.

“What was that?” A very annoyed king Jerald asked.

“You die then Omen fails then what? It looks like you are taking an easy way out.”

“Come and sit here?” king Jerald ordered.

Rachel moved closer and sat on the bed, “you have to believe before the boys believe and you have to accept before the boys accept. Omen is just a day old and see what he did. He is family. I saw the future. He did not abandon you.”

“It's not that my king, I would prefer if he broke the curse and we died old together.”

King Jerald sighed, “that is far fetched, we were never destined for that,” king Jerald said in a faint voice and Drew a crying Rachel in his hands.

In Deadman's forest Cleselda was busy preparing for a sacrifice, she had summoned Clarris who had answered her call with mixed feelings.

“We need to sacrifice dark Knights, we need Dark knight blood. Arthora has a lot of dark Knights. Go and bring them here, I need them Alive,” Cleselda ordered

Clarris looked at her in shock, “Centuries ago I made a deal with my brother Seth, they were not to interfere in the curse and I was to spare them. I shall not go back on my words!” Clarris hissed.

Cleselda laughed out loud causing the trees nearby to shake around them. “The rules of the game have changed Clarrisss. Each second that bastard grows stronger. Imagine what it can do when full grown ”

“No no, there has to be another way? No one is touching Arthora!” Clarris insisted

“There is no other way we have to go back in time and prevent the night catcher from harvesting from the burning army, it all started from that one incidence.”