Hiraeth

Chapter 19

Prince Accius.

The similarity was clear.

Astra took a very long time to come back and the reason for the delay was quite obvious to the very few people that knew all that went on when she was alive, if there were any besides Vince and Lucinda. Maybe I wouldn't have made such decision if I were her but still, I understood she had to deal with a lot even before we moved to Earth. Being a chosen queen of Bellum wasn't as easy as it was for the other tribes, if they had the same system that is. Besides she had to live to perfection, it wasn't so easy because she was young when it all started. Plus, Royals, even though they looked like it, weren't the luckiest in the land.

Fifty two years without her wasn't just a problem to brother but also kept every one in delay and suspence. The council then began to rule in the absence of the king and queen even though it was very obvious Vince, by the council, had been chosen as the king. It wasn't official cause Astra didn't choose either one of us before she left but being the most responsible, he was given the position. It was a slow process and I knew it would happen right before it started.

After the move, Astra ruled Bellum for five years and throughout, he was always by her side to remind her how much of a queen she was. He would always be with her and it got to a point rumors spread around she would choose him as king. People thought it would but it didn't bother me one bit. I never fancied my position as Prince since birth and being a twin was even more problem. It was always a matter of competition, who's the stronger boy? Who'll rule the land? Who's more competent? Who looks like a good ruler of the people?

It was as if every single person would be out there to judge based on the slightest things like the way I walked or my arm size. Everything mattered in the game of Royalty and I couldn't keep up with the tension so I dropped it. It was a swift action and everyone noticed the change. I grew rebellious before I finally decided to leave the obvious game and with it every responsibility that could qualify me as the ruler of the land. That made Vince the favoured child and the rumored future King of Bellum.

Maybe I didn't live up to my parent's expectations, maybe I was a loser for leaving everything behind but if I didn't, I knew fully well what would happen. Everyone thought it was just a matter of fate and destiny but I knew what was happening in the walls of the castle. My parents didn't cause all the time, they were blinded by the facade he showed but if there was anyone to know Vince for who he truly was, it was me.

I thought there was automatically going to be a coronation declaring him as King after our parents died but Astra was found alive and the delay continued. Then the council was formed, without my consent of course, and it was announced Vince would be among them but not as the king. The lie was obvious and I stood there at the further end of the hall, gazing up at him in silence. Not in jealousy I wasn't amongst them, neither in hate he had been given more praise but in complete awe they went on immediately after their death.

There was no grieve in his eyes, he didn't mourn the death of mother and father and I saw what was happening clearly. He was hungry for power, he wanted to rule the land and the council was giving it to him. Astra was present when it all happened and right there, I thought she was going to declare him as King. I was waiting to see her move and stand before the crowd to announce her decision but oddly, she didn't.

That was when I finally began to see there was more to the redhead than I thought. The reason behind her silence was a mystery to me and to every person in that assembly. It was something everyone thought would happen. In fact, the news Vince would be coronation was everywhere and even after, she didn't choose either one of us.

A lot of things happened after that. Astra made the decisions and Vince supported her every order. I watched him move from a confident strong young man to a complete puppet. He did everything she wanted even before she asked and while everyone thought it was romance, what I saw was different. That was how much hunger he had to be the king and I, I didn't even speak to her.

That was till a cozy winter night. I can't remember clearly what happened or how she found me but at the end, we ran through the trees like untamed animals. That was the first night I ran without my head filled with thoughts. It felt like weight lifted off my shoulders, my taste of freedom.

The woman beside me wasn't the pampered queen I thought she was, she turned to a completely different being right beside me. She went wild, fast and strong. That was more than I thought I'd ever see from her and with no fear the only thing she knew about me was my identity, she showed me all she had.

It went on for hours and right from that night, it happened more frequently. We would meet outside the walls of Thorne every night. Sneaking out of her room wasn't the easiest thing for her but it was for me cause nobody noticed my absence. There was never a night we wouldn't make it and it turned to something we both made a necessity in both our lives.

However, no one knew about it and it was both our choice to leave it that way. I knew a lot of things that could happen if it exceeded that forest. The competition between Vince and I would once again become a thing like it was when we were younger and even worse cause we were of age and the fight for power would be more than ever.

Samara Shaw

Curiosity pushed me.

My mind went far away from my conversation with Ceris to the Accius whose eyes I saw glow. They were deep blue like the night's sky and white specks in them like the stars. My gaze on them didn't exceed a second but I couldn't miss how beautiful they were and the sparkle they held. My heart leaped in joy, something in them gave me the sudden urge to bounce on my feet and follow it.

I didn't fight, I went straight on my feet and went towards the entrance where I'd seen him. I broke a rule by stepping a foot into the male section but it didn't matter at that point. It was either because of advantage I got from Vince or because of the title I received but either ways, I could walk freely anywhere I want. It wasn't my choice to misuse the power I had but it didn't feel like I would've changed my mind even if I was the normal regular student I was before. Darkness embraced me when I walked into the passageway. The candlelight was dimly lit and I could barely see the ground but still, I didn't choose to go back.

I couldn't see him clearly but followed my instincts to a place I could only describe as a secret door. I'd walked down a lot of staircases, more than I could count to reach this little door. Through it, the moonlight lit the inside and the cold night wind came rushing in. Anyone would squeeze through it but it was wide opened and that could only mean he had gone through it.

I got outside after the few struggles and when I did, saw Accius right close to it. He stood with his hands in both pockets and a bright smile on his face. It was an evident change like a completely different person stood before me. That was the first time I saw him look so happy and different from his usual angry and distant self.

"Astra, I've missed you."

"I'm sorry but you're not talking to Astra now, you're talking to Samara"

"I'll see for myself"

"What does that mean?"

Accius, without saying another word, took a step back and turned to leave. I thought he was disappointed I didn't give the reply he wanted before his pace increased and he started running. I didn't expect such reaction, neither did I expect his legs to move so fast. He ran faster than I'd seen any human run, even faster than I'd seen Johnathan who was usually praised for his speed. That caused me to believe it was something related to what made him inhuman.

I didn't know what happened or what pushed me to do it but I started running too. The strength in me was more than my body could muster, it felt like I got every energy from the cool night breeze as it touched my skin. As I heard my fast heartbeats, the rush in me increased and the adrenaline rushing through my veins increased as each second passed. Something about it made me feel so strong and confident. I took in each breath reaching a new level of power and for that moment, everything besides the creature in front of me felt nonexistent. I didn't for once miss his dark furry figure in the dark but my eyes were on it like an animal to a prey.

It took seconds, if not minutes, before I realised what was happening. Accius was no longer in human form and I, I wasn't running on two feet. I was running on four.