Chapter 6

The lion warriors come together to plan the war which was due. King Vasilis carefully gave out the roles the warrior were going to play during the war.

''Now you all listen up!'' All the colonies and the lions are going to battle tomorrow.

''You all will fight in the human form, we will show the hyenas no mercy. We need to reduce their population. The Jaguars are going to hide in the forest. We need to ambush them at some point. We have taken them by surprise'' Vasilis commanded.

''Yes, your highness!'' The jaguars answered in unison.

''The block howler monkeys will give us a signal when we are losing men'' Vasilis commanded.

''Yes, your highness!'' The howler monkeys answered in union

''The Amazonian giant centipedes will do their possible best to paralyze their men. Aye-ayes will be very useful if we are still fighting after sun-down. It is good you people are nocturnal. The harpy eagle and its colonies will disarm them in the air.'' Vasilis commanded

''Yes, your highness'' the shrieked in union

''And the rest, that is the tarsiers, rat imported fire ants, rainforest scope owls and your associates, poison dart frog and your associates, capybaras, anteaters, boa constructors, caimans, coatis, goliath breather, alligators, foxes, giraffes, zebras, crocodiles, and the other colonies will assemble for the main battle'' Vasilis commanded ones again.

''Yes, your highness.'' The warriors answered

''Get your wild horses and swords ready, we are fighting in a human form and also, leave queen Nepheli to me. I want to have the pleasure of killing her. You are dismissed.'' Vasilis ordered

''I will make you a cup of blood tea.'' Nepheli said.

''No mum, that is for the servants'' Zoe struggled with her words.

''come on, my little girl is in tears and I can't make her a cup of tea? I get I'm the queen but am your mother'' Nepheli acknowledged.

''Okay, I want a cup of tea, leopard blood.'' Zoe said giving up

Queen Nepheli made her a cup of tea and handed it to her.

''Now will my most lovely daughter tell me what is wrong.''

''Nothing mum. It's just that I missed you so much. Since dad died, you have been so distant from me.''

''Look, I'm still your old caring mother, since your dad died, I have to take over his work alongside mine. But I promise I will make it up to you today.''

''Just today mum, forever. Promise me you will always be there for me. That you won't leave me here like dad did.''

''I promise you, Zoe, to always be by your side.'' Zoe moved closer to her mum and took refuge in her arms.

''I want to be here forever in your arms.'' Zoe confessed. Nepheli patted Zoe's back and hugged her tight

''I don't know if I'm going to make it out of the war but, I have to fight for you dad. I'm sorry I can't tell you but I can spend the day with you.'' Nepheli said to herself as she hugged Zoe tighter.

''Mum, you are going to crush me.'' Zoe humored as she laughed.

''I'm sorry dear. I just realized I missed what we have here. A mother and daughter love'' Nepheli said as she released Zoe from the hug.

''Is anything wrong? Zoe asked.

''No, let's just keep hugging dear. I miss it.'' Nepheli said

''Yes, I miss it too'' Zoe gave her a peck on the cheek and hugged her once again

Achilleas continued with the rules for the warriors.

King vulture and its troops will eat them alive during the fight. The leopards will fight them on trees. The vampire bat will suck the blood out of them. The tigers, tapirs, lemurs, mountain gorillas, binturongs, elephants, lynxes, hippos, rhinos, wolves, bears, and the rest will stand for the main battle. I'm I CLEAR!''

''Yes lord!'' the warriors answered in union

''We are fighting in the human form but, if the need arises and you do not feel comfortable fighting in human skin, you can turn to the animals you are. Now, you all should get prepared'' Achilleas dismissed them and later, his father Michael approached him.

''You are doing a great job son. I am proud of you. Anyone would want to have a son like you. Michael complimented

''I'm doing this for the kingdom that gave me an identity.'' Achilleas stated

''I know, maybe that is why the ancestors chose you to be the father of the one who will bring change to us.''

''Dad, queen Nepheli wants to be on the front line during this battle.''

''I know why she is doing this. The brutal murder of the king is still fresh on her mind. Even though I was helpless, I felt I had betrayed the kingdom by not offering my head to the lions.''

''We are going to make them pay this time.''

''Please protect queen Nepheli. The kingdom is nothing without her. Zoe can't rule the kingdom-She is so weak.''

''Zoe isn't weak, circumstances are making her look like a calm princess. That is how the royal queens are. Until something or someone gives them a reason to be vicious, they remain calm.''

''I hope so dad.''

''And also, she will be a good wife to my son'' Achilleas grinned at his father's last words and left. Nepheli spent the entire day making memories with her daughter whiles Achilleas got the warriors ready.

''You sent for me?'' Damianos asked his dad as he walked to his chamber.

''Yes, son, come, there are a lot of things I need to show you and tell you'' Vasilis stretched his hands to get hold of Damiano's shoulder.

''Well, since I'm here, we will talk'' Damianos broke the silence as they moved to the castle balcony

''You see all this son'' Vasilis said as he used his hands to show him the pride lands in front of him

''Yes dad.'' Damianos said

''It belongs to you and you know I am not getting any younger. You are a great prince but, you will be a great king.''

''Why are you telling me all this dad.''

''It's tradition son, my father that is your grandfather did it with me, so I have to continue.''

''Okay''

''There is something I have been hiding for a very long time son. I can't keep it anymore''

''I'm all ears dad.''

''Your mother did not die giving birth to you.''

''What do you mean by that?'' Damianos asked

''She was killed. I can never forget that day. You were just born. She loved you so much. She loved your siblings too. She went into the woods to get flowers for you. I insisted on her sending the guards but she was so stubborn. She left and never returned. I found her body in the forest. There was a scroll too. Her blood was used as ink. They mutilated her body. It was very difficult to recognize her but I did. I promise myself I was going to finish off the ruthless killer and his race and I'm determined to do just that. They took my only love from me. They also took your mother from you. Son, you have to promise me you will help me kill the killer's race'' Vasilis turned to look at Damiano's profile and realized he was in shock

''My mother was killed.'' Damianos muttered out subconscious

''Yes son, and you need to promise me you will help me destroy the killer's race.''

''I never got to see how she looked. They took that right from me. I promise you, dad, that alive or dead, I will help you clear the killer's race.''

''It's just you and your sisters who are far away in Luk. Your brothers were killed by the same man.'' Damianos made his hand in a fist as his father spoke. Every word from his father was turning him into a beast. He could feel his fangs elongate as his claws came out.

''DONT'!'' Vasilis screamed. He looked into Damiano's eyes to see the fury in them.

''I need you to be human so'' Vasilis demanded

''Who killed them'' Damianos spoke calmly as he turned away from his dad. His blue eyes began to turn a deep blue as he tried to control himself.

''Alexander'' Vasilis confessed.

''Be specific dad'' Damianos demanded.

''The late Alexander, the king of the hyenas. The husband of queen Nepheli and the father to his only child Zoe'' The last word echoed in Damianos head serval times.

''I don't want to know more. Maybe some other time'' Damianos said and left. As he walked away, his fang disappeared and his claws moved back. He went to his room to think of his dad had just confessed to him.

''Can we have the entire day to ourselves tomorrow?'' Zoe asked

''I will be very busy with the hyenas.'' Nepheli said

''Busy?''

''Yes my dear, we have a lot of things to discuss in private. You have to promise me you will be with Achilleas the entire day.''

Zoe was about to speak when she realized she had nowhere to go since Damianos betrayed her.

''Okay, mum. Anyway, it's getting late and I'm tired'' Zoe said

''Come sleep with me today Zoe. I miss putting you to sleep'' Nepheli confessed.

''I missed that too'' Zoe grinned

''Okay, mum. I will sleep with you today.'' Zoe continued.

The warrior of both kingdoms spent the entire night preparing for battle. Nepheli put Zoe to sleep by singing her a lullaby. She then took off a platinum necklace from her neck, placed it in Zoe's palm and, wrapped her fingers around it. She kisses Zoe's forehead and whispers in her ears.

''I'm sorry angel, this might be the last time I see you but, I have to do it for your father. Whatever happens, when I am away you have to be strong. Bounce back, stand on your feet and own and fight. Never let love weigh you down. Never.'' Nepheli left her room to prepare herself for the battle.

* * *

Nepheli-dressed in steel armor-rode her horse to get closer to Michael. The entire warriors were ready and set on their horses. Some were checking the sharpness of their sword and sticks and tested their ammunition-hammer, stones, choppers cleaves, spears, nets, spears, catapults, axes, and more- while others tried to calm their wild horses.

''I can see everyone is ready'' Nepheli said to Michael

''My son stayed up all night to get them ready.'' Michael spoke

''We are lucky to have Achilleas in this kingdom. He is so dedicated.''

''Yes, do you want to fight my queen?''

''Of course, I'm not a coward. If I'm going to die today, it is fine but not without cutting off Vasilis's head.''

''Speaking of the devil, Achilleas is here.'' Micheal said when he spotted his son.

''Get the warriors ready Michael, I need to speak to your son in private.''

''I will do that.'' Micheal said and dismissed himself

Michael rode away on his horse as Achilleas approached Nepheli.

''Do you want to help me with your horse queen?'' Achilleas asked

'' No Achilleas, I must say I'm impressed by what you have done here but, I need one more favor from you.'' Nepheli grunted

''Anything for the queen.''

''Take good care of my daughter in case I don't come back alive. Also, teach your daughter, the chosen one to be ruthless. Make sure she doesn't value anything with breath in it. That way she will show mercy to no one. She has to be heartless''

Nepheli took off a ring from her finger and handed it to Achilleas.

''Give this to her when she grows. It will control her temper but when she takes it off, she will see everyone as mere creatures she can crash with her feet'' she said angrily.

''I will queen. This vermilion ring will be kept safe till my daughter grows.''

''Make my daughter happy, don't give her a reason to miss me.''

''I will.''

''The trumpet will be blown. Soon I have to go.''

''You will come back home safe and sound queen Nepheli.''

''Let us not get our hopes up. We need negativity right now. That way when the worse happens, you know you were ready for it.''

''And what if the best thing happens.''

''Then you will be taken by surprise. There is a little bit of positivity in negativity.''

Nepheli rode away leaving Achilleas alone with the vermilion ring. The trumpet was blown and the hyenas held their flag up high as they marched out of the castle for battle. Damianos run to the love tree to get answers from Zoe. He wanted to believe what his father said was not true. As he waited for Zoe, he tried to convince himself Zoe knew nothing about it and that there was a better explanation for things. When he realized she was not going to come anytime soon, he checked the hole he left the scroll to see if she had left one for him. He was excited to see a scroll with his name on it. He untied it to read. As he kept reading, the smile on his face gradually disappeared. He was shocked to the bones to find what was in the content of the letter. He became numb in a spur of a moment and began panting. His breathing became uneven and unusual. He was breathing too fast and turned to look around in confusion. The letter Zoe wrote to him was killing him. He battled with himself from within and when he couldn't take it anymore, he went down on his knees and roared as he had never done.