Poison Rose(Roses & Kings #1)
Chapter 4

Plane Of Dakhur, Dark Forest

Casvan

Casvan follow after his fleeing prey silently, his feet barely touching the dark grass that carpeted the dark forest. Twenty two that was how many he had killed in the last thirty six hours he'd spent hunting them, Herak was his last prey and was proving to be more wilier than the rest. But then it was no surprise, Herak had been one of his best hunters and his brother by birth,Casvan had personally trained him, had taught him everything he knew and was now the only one who could end him.

He stop abruptly between two reish tree, one of the tallest and largest trees in the forest with dark grey gnarled branches and thicker large leaves bigger and wider than a banana tree leaves—leaves that reaches the end of the last branch and seems to touch the sky. He sharpen his senses trying to detect which tree Herak was hiding on. His grip on his favorite sword tightening as a his ears twitch and he felt the leaves from the reish tree behind him flutter a second before Herak tried to descend on him, his fangs more sharper than daggers dripping with his victims blood, his dark hair matted.

Casvan was quick to sidestep his brother by a quarter of an inch, his hands raise and slicing through the wind—as he turned giving his back to Herak, before his sword makes contact with flesh and bone. Blood and gore splatter his face, part of his neck and his long golden blond hair that frame his face, until the strands drench in them, dripping on his clothes. He turned around to replace Herak on the ground holding his stomach trying to force back his guts, gurgling sounds and blood spilled from his mouth.

Casvan bend over to kiss Herak forehead a bloody single tear defying and escaping the leash he'd had over his emotions-even though he knew this husk of a male was not his brother, his brother has been gone months ago—he sigh and stand up his strong legs open wide, without a second hesitation with just a flick of his sword he decapitated him,ending his suffering.

Thick dark smokes billow into the horizon as far as the eyes could see, the smell of burning flesh pile high stung his nose. Casvan had spent three hours going back into the forest and bringing back all the bodies of his former sentinels into the big clearing and had given their body back to their ancestors as is the old way. Though this killing had been his doing, he felt rage towards those who had forced his hands into killing his own.

He felt sad, he couldn't save them and he knew without a doubt, even as he hated it, he would do it again. Because he was the only one who could,as the King it is his responsibility and his alone. It pain him that he couldn't help them, but he still hadn't given up on his plan to save his remaining people. Those who hadn't given up the fight with their conscience.

Males of his race are suffering from lack of their anchors. Females who are their soulmate, for the power his race wield is savagely violent and only the calming effect of a true mate can help them control it. Without it they are just mindless animals. Casvan swore he would never rest until he'd save his race or die trying.

Now, if only the witch would successfully scry and replace out the location of the hidden Queendom of women, then he could save his race. The witch had serve him well for years after he'd save her, but now her incompetence in replaceing the women made him question if she hasn't lost her power, maybe her old age is finally catching up to her. Otherwise what could explain why she hadn't been able to locate the women even after he'd given her all the information necessary from his foresight.

Three months ago Casvan had had a vision,a dream, as all his vision were in the form of dreams. In it he'd seen the secret Queendom of Marlenia he and his sentinels have been searching for. For years. He'd seen vivid images of a stone castle amidst mountains, with thick trees surrounding them,had seen women working on fields,training, fighting and hunting. But just like the rest of his vision he hadn't been able to detect the exact location. Though there was places he'd know that has large mountains like those in his dream.

Casvan didn't want to waste time going to the wrong place, which was why he'd ordered his witch to scry so she can replace the location. With a weary sigh he lifted his now cleaned sword, that he'd been cleaning as he watch his brethren burn to ashes,and sheathed it back inside it scabbard. The slight scuffle of feets on the grass alerts him that he was no longer alone in the forest, he raise his head and replace it was his brother Kayak. He was a large male, close to seven feets tall,even taller than Casvan and bulkier than him too. His dark yellow glowing eyes —unlike Cas green ones, were alight with something akin to happiness. Casvan felt hope swell in his heart even before he heard the words he'd been desperately waiting for.

“Cas, the old Crone had finally done it. She'd found the location of the secret Queendom.”

*

Reyna

Women and girls stream together in groups of four and six, all heading to the same location. Most of these faces are familiar to Reyna she'd known them all her life, with their grim faces and regiment lifestyle that no one wants to change. They greet each other with only a slight nod, just an acknowledgement nothing more. Their lives live nothing to admire, they eat, go to their assigned places of work, do their job, and go back home.

Maybe watch the repetitive history of Marlenia that is always on replay, or the documentary on the outbreak on the only TV in the village hall-also known as the communal room. Then go back to their home and to bed. Sleep and repeat the same tedious process the next day. It was a sad existence.

And the worst thing is though they look weary, they also look content with their lives. They follow the rules and regulations without questions,they never complain, because they believe the Queen is protecting them. Her words are the law, and it might also be because this is all they know.

It's all Reyna knows too, but why does she feel like this isn't how it is supposed to be. They aren't living, they are just existing, surviving. It wasn't always like this. Reyna remembers a time when Marlenians were fun loving people. They helped each other,celebrated festive seasons together and protested against the Queen's decisions when they didn't agree with it.

But all that began to change years ago. When the Queen banned Marlenians from going outside the perimeters because of the beasts. And they protested because there's more game to hunt in the forest beyond the mountains than there is inside, until she relent and gave the permission for the witches to lower the wards protecting Marlenia.

The women that went out to hunt, never came back. They were killed by the beasts in such a way that even their families couldn't identify them. Marlenia guards were able to bring their torn or whatever was left of their bodies home for burial. Reyna remembered seeing so much blood and gore it made her sick, she had nightmares for weeks after that.

Her Nana Maria, was the only one who knew, because she always used to come check on her during the night. She was the one who had hugged Reyna, in her warm motherly embrace. Stroking her hair and lulling Reyna to sleep with beautiful songs of a world long lost. That was ten years ago, Reyna would be turning nineteen in three days.

***

The ceremonial ground is actually the village hall, situated east of the castle closest to the gates. The gates Reyna and all the citizens are forbidden to get close to. The Roses sometimes go through the gate whenever they go on assignments. They were the only ones allowed to go out. Other times Reyna only sees them returned, without knowing when they left in the first place. She really envies them their freedom.

Reyna desperately wants to know what's outside these fortified mountain walls and would have sneaked out without Cassandra's knowledge if she only knew how. But the gates were protected with magic by the few witches who had helped protect Marlenia from detection from their enemies for decades. If you were an enemy looking for Marlenia all you would see in it stead are rolling hills, monstrous mountains and large trees everywhere.

The occasional ceremony is the only time they're allowed to venture this far, or If they wanted to watch the documentary. It's just a large tall rectangular building. It's not the biggest hall in Marlenia. It's actually the smallest compared to the ballrooms in the castle or the elder caves.

But it's in the midst of the outdoors, the fresh air and different smells of trees, help distract people especially the children from the thought of sharp pointed needles poking into their skins.

The first thing you'll see when you arrive at the village hall is the seven stone carving of women in sensual posture holding daggers,the immortalized carving of the first Roses. Inside there's a raised dais with a rounded table and chairs around it, that's the seats of the Queen and the council members. That's also where Reyna is seated. But mostly she spent the day on her feet helping the medical personnel with the children.

Down where the citizens are to be seated are rows and rows of benches, at the back of the hall. There are portraits depicting the outbreak that almost wiped out the world 70 years ago. Reyna like when the ceremony is held here. She gets to see the portraits painted on the walls, both of the outbreak's and the other one. The one only the Roses knew was there, hidden behind the secret door at the very back.

The sisterhood is a group of thirteen women who are trained to defend Marlenia. There used to be seven roses, but the numbers have been rising throughout the years. Now there are thirteen,they'd lost five roses a few months ago,nobody knows how they died. Cassandra only said that they died in the line of duty.

The roses are taught how to shoot a gun, sword fight, hand to hand combat, archery, all sorts of different martial arts like every one in Marlenia. Except there's a special training they undergo before they're inducted. Reyna had heard that they are trained in the act of seduction, to use their body as a weapon. There's a rumor that their kiss is the kiss of death. That they have poison in their blood. To kiss them is to forfeit your life.

Right now Reyna is one of twenty five girls who are also going through the same training. Five will be chosen to undergo training and become roses, to replace the five roses lost months ago. The rest of the girls will either join the infirmary and learn how to care for the sick. Or join either the farmers, the technicians, castle maids or the guardians ranks.

Joining the sisterhood is actually the only thing that Reyna is looking forward to as an adult. She admires what they are doing,putting their lives in danger protecting them. Even though she's the heir to the throne, Reyna really doesn't want to be Queen. Whenever she dreams of her life in the foreseeable future, she always picture herself as either a guardian of Marl.

Or a rose of the sisterhood,or an ordinary woman with a husband and plenty of children. Just like in the books she wasn't supposed to read, the books she'd found in the library where no one was allowed to enter. That was before Reyna understood the husband she's seeking might end up being a beast.

The men here are not allowed to marry, with so many women, allowing some of the women to marry when others could not. Will only build hate and resentment, since there are only a few men here. Jealousy can lead to envy and bitterness. So that's why it is forbidden.

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