The journey to Moonlight Grooves began as the sun began to set, casting a dusky hue over the land. King Philip and his companions decided to stop and rest, taking a moment to catch their breath. In the peaceful silence, King Philip broke the stillness with a question that weighed heavily on his mind.
"Why would Annabelle steal the ruby? Why would she possess it?" he asked, his eyes fixed on king Edward, . The room fell into a tense silence as Edward searched for the right words to reply.
"Perhaps, Your Highness, if you had been a better king, the ruby would not have been vulnerable to theft," Edward replied, his voice filled with resentment. The words struck a nerve, causing King Philip's anger to flare.
"I am going to kill you!" King Philip exclaimed, raising his sword and aiming it at Edward. But before the blow could land, Liam, stepped in between them. He deflected the sword with his own, shielding his father from harm.
"Why are you defending him? He is a cruel man!" King Philip exclaimed, his voice filled with betrayal and confusion.
"I can't let you hurt him; he is my father," Liam replied, his voice calm and resolute. The revelation stunned King Philip, causing him to question everything he had believed.
"Father? You lied to me. You played me," King Philip said, his voice filled with despair. Liam attempted to explain, to reason with him, but King Philip refused to listen.
"I don't want to hear it. After we find Astral, it's over between us. Whatever we had is no more," King Philip said, his voice laced with sadness and determination as he walked away.
The next morning, they arrived at Moonlight Grooves, a tower standing tall and silent. The town seemed deserted, as if everyone had disappeared. As they rode through the empty streets, a strange whooshing sound caught their attention. Liam turned to investigate, only to be suddenly attacked by figures moving at an incredible speed. They knocked Liam and his companions off their horses, rendering them unconscious.
When they awoke, they found themselves bound and brought before Gabriel, the powerful Vampire Lord of Moonlight Grooves.