I Scored Myself A Mate

Mark, willingly let Mikael and Luke play hide and seek with those two idiots until they found out where they had taken Alex. They kept trying to run away in the castle like two rats being chased by a cat and Mark could not believe that these immature people had lived for centuries. Especially that blonde annoying girl who acted like she was sixteen-year-old and even less. 

While they did their own thing and let him alone he decided that he was going to pressure Theseus more. If he could get a few more answers he would welcome them anytime but he wouldn't comment on how he perceived him yet. It was obvious that judging people too fast here, especially in a positive way could get you killed.

"So tell me. How did Alex die? Who was he?" he asked him. 

Theseus eyed him carefully while he was thinking and signaled him to follow him. The circled the enormous throne to reach the end of the room where a very small tear like door, hidden by everyone's eyes existed. Theseus pushed it carefully and walked inside another room. 

Mark looked around in awe once more. There was a crystal fireplace, that magically didn't seem to melt. The flames danced gleefully in there playing with the reflections on the glass. There were huge white bookcases all around, filled with many thick and dusty books. All neatly placed in order, just forgotten. This was probably a study room, Mark concluded from the two icy armchairs that were dressed in very soft white fur. He realized that the whole palace probably was icy and white like that in every room, a very specific winter trademark. 

There was something special on this room, very different. On top of the small crystal table that stood between the furry armchairs, was a book. A book with a golden cover. Theseus approached it carefully and his long fingertips caressed it, like it was some kind of prized possession. He handed it to Mark and the boy grasped it opening it at the first page.

"Read the first page. Only that. The rest does not concern you. And be grateful I am allowing you this."

Mark opened the book carefully to phase something unexpected. It was a poem, or more like a song because underneath every sentence you could see notes floating on the paper, written carefully with dark ink. 

The page on the side had pretty designs, of the sun and fiery flowers and for a second he got lost admiring the calligraphy and art until his eyes began studying the old text. 

I present you the story, of the child of dawn 

Who died a tragic death, from the beasts of this world.

The all bloody Tribe War, the one without an end

Brought misfortune to our people, oh we all cried in dread.

They took our jewel, we buried our sun, 

as the lover's tears bloomed, 

we knew, the end of our people had begun. 

Allias was his name, the prince of Dawn,

 he lived and ruled,

beloved by all.

Goodbye our sun, the light of our tribe,

Cried the shadow caster in fright, 

Your people will follow in much delight

Beware lowly beasts of the one and final fight

The golden king will return with all his might

To rule once more 

To kill once more 

The ones who massacred,

The ones we loved.

Mark instinctively tried to turn the next page to read more of the story. To learn more about what had happened but the book was shut closed immediately in front of him. He flinched and decided to return it to where it was.

"This is the basics I guess." Mark said and Theseus nodded. 

"All you need to know."

"So Alex was the Prince of that Avgee tribe. The tribe of Dawn. He was meant to rule all the Elves, both tribes but he died at the Tribe War." 

"Yes, we can't have the wolves or anyone else knowing he has returned. They are afraid of his power, afraid that he will try to avenge our people so they would try to kill him while he is weak. Do you understand why you have to keep it a secret now?" Theseus asked him and Mark nodded. "Good because if you reveal anything I will kill you, and you won't even manage to blink" he threatened him and the red haired gulped. 

"And you…who are you?"

"I was just a general. The royal Disee family died too so based on the protocol I was the next in line to rule."

"You don't seem so happy about that." 

"There is a lot you don't know. Come on now, I think it's time for the children to stop playing hide and seek. I mean, you bought your time to interrogate me didn't you?" Theseus asked him. 

"So you knew about that" Mark said and scratched the back of his head, feeling uncomfortable. 

"I am not stupid, like them" he said with a grin and he couldn't help but chuckle. "Let's go. We have a king to save…my king" he said whispering the last two words. 

Theseus sighed as he left the study and locked eyes with Luke. He was approaching his knuckles dripping of blood, leaving scarlet stains on the polished floors. This was the person Alex had chosen. A blood thirsty wolf who got lost in his desires. Immature and possessive. Unable to see further than his own nose. Allias would never chose someone like that but at the end of the day Theseus reminded himself, that Alex was not Allias. 

"So where is Alex?" Mark asked but the moon eyed boy didn't answer. He just exhaled loudly raising his closed, bloody fist and punched him, knocking him to the ground. "What the..."

"How could you leave him there? They set the building on fire!" Luke shouted. 

"What did you just say?" Theseus asked him.

"Why the hell do you care? You've been very willing to help what are you …."

"How immature can you be?" Theseus asked him. His eyes had turned cold, filled with hatred as he approached him. "Your mate is in danger and you waste time punching his friend and interrogating me for offering my help? Do you really care about him at all?" 

"Shut up! You don't understand…"

"I know where he is. Just manage to get us there." Mikael interrupted them wanting to end the feud. He walked towards Mark and tended his hand to help him get up but he rejected the help. Mikael smiled bitterly, yeah you wouldn't want to touch the hands of a killer, he thought.

"I will teleport you with Ea" he said and the young man at the sound of his name immediately appeared. He grabbed Luke from his shoulder and the edge of Mikael sleeve while Theseus tended arm for mark to grab. "Shall we?" he asked with a playful grin and Ea disappeared first with Theseus following his track. 

They teleported at where Alex was supposedly kept. In front of them there was a burned down building, Alex's burning hot prison and Luke stormed in there in a hurry with Mikael following close behind. 

Mark too began running wanting to go check for himself where his friend was, if he was actually okay but Theseus stopped him. 

"What?"

"There is no point, he is no longer there"

"What do you mean?" Mark asked confused. 

"Master, I think only you can see it. Since it's the king." Ea said and Mark looked between him and Theseus trying to understand. 

"Please elaborate" Mark said impatiently. 

"Alex used his power to escape. I can see his magial trail." He said and looked in front of him with longing eyes. Mark could not see anything but Theseus definitely could, his purple eyes focusing on a certain spot. 

If someone could hear his heart he would truly know how he felt as he had made sure to mask any reaction. He could see a gold stream flowing; it was Allias' trace shinning so brightly. He wished he could follow it, get to him as fast as he could but it wasn't possible. The trail stopped just a few meters outside the building, meaning he was left unconscious. Someone else had found him and taken him away.

"He is not inside" Luke screamed frustrated. 

"Oh my, where could he be?" Theseus provoked him with a grin. To him it was okay as long as he knew that he was alive. He could search for him and find him, everything would be fine. The true terror comes only when you know that the one you love is dead.

"Did you come here to mock us?" Luke asked him and Theseus shrugged his shoulders.

"Who knows? You are as short tempered as you father. It's a good thing he went him off into some mission. Wouldn't want more trash in my palace" he said and Mikael had to stop Luke from attacking him. "It's not so nice when you are being insulted is it?" Theseus asked him, his grin disappearing. "Ea take them back. We will talk further there." He commanded the man and he obeyed taking them away against their will. "Listen now little friend. Do not tell them anything. I will search for Alex, let them try and find him but don't tell them about him using his power okay?" 

"Yes, believe me I don't really like Luke that much." Mark said with disgust.

"Oh I wonder why he is such a pleasant fellow" he said and brought Mark back to the palace. He didn't stay though. He just left him there at the grand hall while he teleported back to the study room where Ea was already waiting.

"Master."

"Ea"

"Master" the servant called out to him until they both began laughing. 

He hadn't felt like this in such a long time, such bliss just by a trail of his power. He wondered how he would react when he saw him. That's why he had felt like this. He didn't really look like Allias. Maybe it was because his features were more humane now but his eyes, those eyes were still the same. Those eyes that he had seen overflowing with joy and pleasure were looking at him once more. He was alive.

"He is back Ea. He is back can you believe it?" he said with excitement. 

"Congratulations master. You can be together once again"

"We…we can't" Theseus said, the excitement disappearing from his eyes. 

"But why?"

"Didn't you see? He loves someone else now"

"But master he…"

"It doesn't matter. He is alive and that's enough. I…I had waited for so long to see his smile once more. I just want to see him smile once again. One more time and then I could die. As long as he is happy. So hurry up now, we need to investigate. Get my people to look." He ordered Ea and he nodded not talking about the matter anymore. He was left alone in the gold room, the fire dead as he sat on the floor. 

"It's fine. As long as you are alive and happy" Theseus mumbled.

He would ignore the ache in his heart, burry deep down his love and step to the side just to witness his happiness. He just wanted to see him. That's all.

He wanted to see him happy, unaware…

Of how unhappy Alex actually was.

...

Thank you for reading! I also want to thank you for the support and the gifts you have been sending. It feels like slowly I might one day be able to make my dream come true. I wish I could give you guys something back. At least I hope the book is a bit worth it.