The Uprising

9

Maximus stood as each of the respected left their seats.

"Thank you for gracing us at the castle with your presence. We have taken  your complaints into consideration and I will conduct another meeting as soon as we figure something out. Until then."

He finished speaking and nodded in respect, watching as they all left the room with a look of utter confusion. Nobody knew what to do and everyone had left it on the shoulders of the King.

Maximus stole one last glance of the previous King and closed his eyes. How did he do it? How did he pull them out of so much despair?

Somebody tapped his shoulder and his eyes snapped open, staring at the person who touched him.

"Rafael."

The man led them both to some seats, the ones furthest away from the door. "I wanted to discuss with you about who could've done it. You seemed extremely stressed but nobody else noticed except for Giovanni."

The both of them sat down and Max leaned back, rubbing his hand against his head. He gently took off his crown and placed it on the extravagant table before sighing deeply.

"Sometimes, I wish I was just a normal villager and not a King."

Rafael frowned at his friend. He hated whenever Max would finally show the pressure poured on him by each council member and him and his cousin always tried to help their King.

"Do you remember the times when we played outside, no worries at all. Now we are burdened with a Kingdom constantly in some sort of trouble."

Rafael leaned back and reminisced the easy moments in life.

"I agree. But we were born to be Kings, and now? Now we have to help our Kingdoms thrive. We need to find out where these monsters are coming from. We need to find the lead."

The King sat straighter and thought deeply.

"Well, we know one of your cousins despises me. We can put him on the list. I do not trust him. Apart from him, I do not know who we could accuse."

Rafael shook his head in annoyance.

A knock stole the attention of both the royals and the decorated face of Lana appeared around the door.

"Are you guys busy?"

Her sweet voice filled the room and Rafael raised an eyebrow at the King, the side of his lip tilted upwards.

"Oh we are not. If anything, you should be included in this conversation."

Rafael stood and Lana opened the door fully, walking in.

Max was shocked and speechless. Her black curls cascaded down to her shoulder blades, where her curvaceous figure was adorned with a beautiful gray dress.

He looked back up to see her face covered in a scarlet colour and a small scowl evident.

Max cleared his throat and watched as Rafael kissed the back of her hand. He couldn't help but feel possessive but Rafael was basically his brother so he pushed the emotion to the side and joined them both.

"You look absolutely stunning Lana. My Mother?"

He did not need to elaborate because Lana then nodded, giving him his answer.

"Come and sit with us. We are just discussing issues with the Kingdom. As future Queen, you should join us."

•••

The man infront of Lana stopped speaking and she couldn't help but check out the Royal.

He had a hint of exotic descendant evident in his looks and he was tall. He was good looking, but not as good looking as her King.

"Are you of a different descendant, my Queen?"

Lana looked between both Kings as she sat in a comfortable looking chair and nodded shyly.

"Yes, my grandmother was from Thailand."

She felt a hand on hers and the sparks instantly gave away who it was. "Who are we discussing?"

"We are talking about the undead, Lana. We are trying to figure out who could've made them."

Lana's eyebrows furrowed and she glanced between the two men, a thousand questions burning in the pit of her stomach.

"Why would they be made by someone? Are they not natural?"

Rafael spoke this time. "No, my Queen. They are deteriorating the barriers placed by the witches, meaning they are not natural."

Lana felt the back of the chair against her skin and sat for a while.

"Maximus? Is there anyone in your life that has hated you, or your Kingdom? Or even your Mother?"

The King thought hard. Apart from Elder Zarcon, he could think of none.

"None that I can think o-"

Lana awaited the rest of the sentence but the King had gone quiet, all of the colour on his face drained.

"What is it Max?"

Lana remained silent whilst Rafael contiued to ask the King questions. He did not respond once.

"Rafael, I need you to get me my Mother. Can you?"

Rafael was out of the room in a matter of a second.

Lana squeezed the King's hand and kissed his cheek. She did not know what to do but whatever it was, it had shaken him to the core.

The Queen ran into the room, her eyes desperately finding her sons. "What is wrong Maximus? Why did you send Rafi to get me?"

Rafael groaned at the nickname from behind the Queen but took his spot beside the King.

"Mother, when you said you killed Father, did you actually kill Father?"

The Queen shivered at the memory. "Why are you asking me these questions Max?"

"Just answer the question Mother."

The Queen fell into a seat beside Lana and tightened her hand around the arm of the chair.

"I'm sure I did. I felt the bond die Max, there is no other explanation for losing the bond. I assure you, I killed him."

The King locked eyes with his Mother and shook his head.

"Oh Mother, I don't think you did. I don't know anyone else who would harbour so much hatred for us."

The Queen cried in anguish.

"He's back."