Chapter nine

Not human!!

Tyrane, Reed

Auberon and Alexis stood alongside Arnold, a few feet from the royal family—the king, queen, and their two young daughters, one just a year older than the other. The air was strangely stiff as they awaited the missionaries from Ailantika.

Auberon's calculating gaze swept over the crowd, an uneasy feeling creeping in as his eyes landed on them. He made a mental note to avoid them at all costs.

Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Sibyl in the crowd below, her glare sharp and unfocused, filled with a hate that unsettled him.

Who could she possibly hate this much when she didn't even know them? Or did she? The thought crossed his mind, but he dismissed it as impossible.

As the welcoming ceremony commenced, Auberon, having nothing to do, quietly slipped away, trailing Sibyl into a dark alley.

To his surprise, the path led to an underground tunnel. But what truly caught his attention was the faint glow emanating from her body, making it easier for him to follow.

She paused, sensing something. Auberon quickly ducked behind a boulder, holding his breath until she continued walking.

He followed cautiously, deeper into the tunnel, until she finally stopped. After making sure no one was around, she stripped off her clothes—then, impossibly, transformed into a serpent.

Auberon staggered back, shock paralyzing him.

She turned into a snake?

His mind reeled. Panic urged him to run. Forcing himself to move, he hurried back to the gathering, slipping in unnoticed. Finding an isolated corner, he tried to steady his thoughts.

But another disturbance pulled his focus—Alexis, chatting freely with a boy around their age. Something about him set Auberon on edge. Deep in thought, he barely noticed the presence beside him until the figure stopped.

A chill ran down his spine. Whoever it was… was not human.

Slowly, he turned, his right hand grazing the knife strapped to his waist.

"Hi there, nice to meet you."

The girl beside him was pale-skinned, her meek smile almost unnatural. She extended a hand in greeting, but Auberon merely stared before turning away.

There's no need to be polite to an enemy.

She withdrew her hand, still smiling.

"You're not very friendly, are you?"

Auberon remained silent, still watching the boy with Alexis.

"Oh! I see you've been watching my twin brother. His name is Arthur, and I'm Sia."

Still, he said nothing.

"I must say, this place is quite nice. I'm impressed," she continued.

Auberon suddenly turned to her, his gaze sharp. "You're not human, are you?"

She inhaled sharply, stepping back. Her eyes flickered toward Arthur.

Across the ballroom, Arthur tensed as if sensing her distress. He turned, locking eyes with Auberon. Alexis, following his gaze, smiled at her brother—then frowned at the sight of Sia beside him.

Arthur strode toward Auberon, their eyes locked in silent challenge. As they passed each other, he grabbed Sia's hand and walked away without a word.

"What was that about?" Alexis asked, now beside Auberon.

"I don't know," he muttered. "But you should stay away from those two."

"Why? There's nothing—"

Her protest died when she caught the stern look on his face.

"Alright, alright, I heard you!" she sighed, raising her hands in surrender.

"Come with me," he said, pulling her away from the ballroom.

"What's wrong? You still miss Mama?"

Auberon exhaled, his voice lowering. "Look, I wanted to tell you earlier, but I didn't get the chance. Mama's in danger."

Alexis froze, her smile vanishing.

"What do you mean? But Grandpa said—"

"He only said that so we wouldn't worry. But we should. We need to leave Tyrane before it's too late."

"Alright, I'm listening. But shouldn't we tell Grandpa?"

"That's not necessary. What matters now is finding Mama."

Alexis nodded. "Okay. What do you need me to do?"

"Go home and pack the essentials for the journey. But don't let anyone notice."

"Got it."

Alexis hurried off to their carriage while Auberon returned inside, searching for Arthur and Sia. He found them seated beside a man—King Clement's guest.

He froze, mind racing.

Could it be? Are they the children of King Marcus, ruler of Ailantika?

As if sensing his thoughts, Arthur smirked, his gaze locking onto Auberon's. Beside him, Sia smiled faintly.

Auberon took a step back, unease settling in. He scanned the room for Arnold but didn't see him. Urgency gripping him, he ran toward the back halls leading to the king's quarters—only to collide with a massive figure.

"Ouch!"

"Watch where you're going, kid. This ain't a playground!" the man growled, his face obscured in the dim light.

Muttering an apology, Auberon moved past him, but a strange feeling nagged at him. Had he just missed something important? Glancing back once, he shook it off and walked away.

Later that day, the news spread across Tyrane.

Something terrible had happened.

Something evil.

Someone had been murdered.

In broad daylight.

And from the whispers in the city, it was someone close to the king himself.

Though the king had tried to cover up the crime, a killing this gruesome could not be silenced.

The victim had been stabbed twelve times with a small knife—each strike precise, penetrating the skull.

It was the work of a professional.

But no criminal in Reed had that kind of skill.

Or that kind of strength.

Which meant only one thing.

The killer wasn't from Reed.

Or worse…

They weren't from Tyrane at all.