BLAZE

DISCOVERED

The floating ice candles were lit in the beautiful garden of the holy palace of Verglasia. The covers and decorations were changed into more exquisite and luxurious one. The whole damn place was screaming royalty in one note. The servants were hurriedly roaming here and there in the corridors, carrying a lot of load in their hands.

The royal guards were patrolling around the main gates when a small car approached. The guards stood alert and restricted the entrance of the car. The owner jumped out and the guards recognized him as the jailor of the magic prison. They found it very unusual of  him, he had never left the place since he was appointed the guard of the jail, but how is that possible?

Confused, one of the royal guards approached him carefully and stood at a distance before asking him.

“Cedric? Are you okay?” the guard asked him politely.

“The queen. I have to see the royal majesty….” his voice was filled with urgency.

“We understand but you have to wait.. The royal majesty is occupied with a business meeting from the neighboring island’s ministers..'' The guard tried to explain but Cedric shook his head and ran inside the palace.

“Cedric!!!” the guard shouted but Cedric had a purpose to serve.

On his way to the throne room, which was utterly quiet, he didn’t think of anything before knocking the door even. Regardless of the royal guards trying their best to stop him, Cedric went inside the throne room and the whole place went silent on his arrival.

The ministers, the royal servers, and the queen rose from their seats.

“Cedric?” the royal queen whispered to herself and turned her gaze to his brother to take care of the matter.

The duke of the southern island approached the jailor of the magic jail, and dragged him out of the throne room.

Dragging him all along to the ground, he looked pissed and hissed at him, “Cedric? What was that? Have you forgotten your manners? There was an important meeting going on inside the closed door and you just went inside like this is your damn home?” Zohar was aggressive when the discipline ruptured.

“Your highness, pardon me, I didn't mean to interrupt the meeting but I came out of the jail with information. I couldn’t stop myself before meeting the queen.” he still looked worried.

Zohar read his expressions and understood that something was going on which needed immediate response.

“Okay!! You can tell me the issue, I will pass your message to the queen.” he suggested to Cedric.

Cedric was confused but having no choice, he gave the message to the duke.

“The witch’s statue, it exploded suddenly and blood was spilled everywhere.. It’s not a good sign… your highness..” he stuttered in fear.

Zohar was shocked and stunned to hear that but he concealed his emotions in front of Cedric.

“Okay!! You can wait in the garden. I will send someone to call you..” Zohar ordered him and left quickly.

As soon as he entered the throne room, the queen’s eyes landed on him, and she clearly read from his face that the issue is not an ordinary one. Zohar remained silent and nodded slightly to the queen.

Silver ended the meeting earlier and offered the treaty to the ministers. Once, everyone was occupied in the conversation, the queen and the duke left the hall to have a word with each other in a private space.

“Zohar? What’s the matter?” she asked as soon the Zohar locked the doors.

“It’s a problem…” he said right away.

“I got it from your face but what is the trouble?” She was persistent.

Zohar sighed and informed her, “Carmen's statue exploded suddenly and the place is now left with some blood and bones.. Cedric said it’s not a good sign..” 

Silver gulped down the lump from her throat and tapped her fingers on the table nearby.

“We need to seek Vikram’s advice in this. I am already making everything happen quickly before Elijah and my daughter’s arrival. All these preparations are done for him to appoint the king. I can’t let that witch ruin things for me.” Silver was triggered.

Zohar nodded in anticipation and they both rushed to see the adviser of the kingdom, the elder, lord Vikarm.

Daphne saw them rushing somewhere hastily and joined them. They all remained silent until they reached the room. Before Zohar could knock, Lord Vikram opened the door.

“I knew you were coming to see me,” he replied with a smile.

“What is going on? Why do they look so concerned and pale?” Daphne commented after looking at the queen’s and her husband’s expression.

“Carmen’s statue has exploded… I don't think this is just a coincidence?” Zohar informed everyone.

“What?” Daphne huffed and she couldn’t believe what she just heard.

“Cedric is here, waiting outside.” Silver said while fidgeting her fingers.

“Oh no!! This is not good..” Vikram commented.

“What does this mean?” Silver asked with impatience.

“I really don’t know.. I have to see that statue first before coming to any conclusion.” Vikram declared.

“I will take care of the palace and the guests, you and Daphne should go with Lord Vikram, Cedric is waiting outside.. You must hurry up.” Zohar suggested and everyone agreed.

Without wasting another moment, the queen and others left quickly before explaining anything to the ministers.

Zohar, on the other side, took care of the guests and the treaty.

“I was having nightmares frequently, I should have known something was not right. Elijah left earlier in the morning, I hope he is alright.” Silver said with concern in her voice.

“Don’t worry!! He will be fine.. He knows how to protect himself from the witch's enchantment.. But I don't understand how this happened? I mean, Carmen is not an ordinary witch, she herself transformed in that statue and now it exploded without a reason. What does this signify?” Daphne was as clueless as others.

But there is a war going on in Vikram’s head.

“I am afraid but it feels like a sign.. A sign of an upcoming storm..” he stated.

“What storm?” Silver asked.

“If we knew everything already, no one dies without a reason, my queen.” Vikram comminuted and they felt silent afterward.

They reached the jail of magic creatures and they heard a loud screaming of a man. It was no other than Lucian.

“Why is he going so loud? Acting up like he never saw blood or anything gory.” Daphne frowned when they reached the last cell.

“Died, she died… that witch died.. We are all going to die!!!!!” Lucian was screaming like a mad person.

“Oh, shut up!” Daphne rolled her eyes at him and went forward.

“Eww..” Silver scrunched and covered her nose from the pungent smell of decayed flesh.

“This is disgusting…” Daphne commented.

Vikram inspected the palace thoroughly and nodded his head after pointing out some threads.

“The witch has died.. !!” he declared.

“What?” everyone gasped.

“How? Nothing killed her, no one came here, how did she die?” Silver was shocked.

“Her own selfishness killed her.. Maybe it's the time or maybe something was triggered from the outside, it is yet to be known and explained but she is dead now.`` Vikram concluded.

“Whatever the reason is, it is a bad omen.. We need to be careful, very very careful, your majesty!!!” Vikram said while glaring into the empty space.