Knowledge

Malik

Four Months Ago

Audra was gone. Taken. The realization sat like a stone in my gut, heavy and unmoving. The moment she disappeared, my world tilted on its axis, and nothing felt real anymore. And now, I had to do something I had been dreading since the second she vanished—I had to tell her parents. I had barely hung up the phone with the council when my father's voice cut through my spiraling thoughts. "You need to tell them, Malik." He stood across the room, adjusting his glasses, his sharp eyes watching me carefully. "Her mother will already know of our existence, so you don't have to explain everything, but they deserve to know what's happened." I swallowed hard, nodding. "I know, Father. I know it's up to me." He gave me a look, one that told me he understood, but it didn't make it any easier. I dragged myself out to my car, every step heavier than the last. I didn't want to do this. I didn't want to see the fear and pain in their eyes when I told them their daughter had been taken by something they could neither fight nor understand. The drive was long, but I barely noticed the passing scenery. My thoughts were tangled with images of Audra—her laughter, the way she had looked at me at the dance, the last moment I saw her before she was ripped away. I gripped the wheel tighter, my knuckles turning white. By the time I reached her house, Isla and Ajax were already waiting for me. I took a deep breath and walked up the familiar path to their front door. I knocked, the sound echoing too loudly in the quiet night. After a few moments, the door opened, and her father stood there, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Good evening, sir," I said, dipping my head slightly in respect. His eyes flicked to Isla, recognition sparking, but then he looked back at me, puzzled. "Um, hello. And you are?" I hesitated for the briefest second before answering. "I am Prince Malik. I took your daughter to the dance tonight." His expression shifted instantly. His posture stiffened, and his eyes widened as realization dawned. He took a step back before bowing slightly. I quickly waved my hand. "There's no need for formalities, sir. But I need to speak with you—urgently. May we come in?" He hesitated, then stepped aside, ushering us in. The house was warm, but the air felt thick with unspoken questions. We settled in the living room, and I glanced at him. "You should get your wife," I said carefully. "She'll understand what I have to say." His face paled slightly, but he nodded and hurried upstairs. Minutes later, he returned, holding his wife's hand as she descended the staircase. Her eyes were sharp, filled with fire as she looked at me, suspicion already brewing. "What brings you here, Your Highness?" she asked, the title laced with the slightest edge of defiance. Her husband shot her a look, silently urging her to be careful with her words, but I met her gaze head-on. Then, I let my eyes shift—gold flashing against the dim light of the room. She stiffened instantly, then stood abruptly, pointing toward the door. "Your kind is not welcome in my home." I clenched my jaw, frustration bubbling beneath my skin. I didn't have time for this. "It's about your daughter," I said, my voice edged with authority, my patience slipping. Her expression faltered. "He took her," I continued, my voice low, controlled. "And I think you know why." Her breath hitched, and she sank back onto the couch, shock overtaking her anger. "And… you were with her?" Her voice trembled now, losing its earlier fire. I nodded. She closed her eyes, exhaling shakily. "I warned her. I told her to be careful… So how did…?" "They forced it," I said, pacing now, the weight of the situation pressing down on me. "They attacked her. It triggered her awakening. I've already filed a report with the council, but they won't do anything. And as a prince, my hands are tied. He won't kill her—he needs her to fully awaken first." I stopped and turned to them. "We need a plan." Her father's face darkened. "You said she couldn't. That she'd be human. What about Kai?" He said ignoring half of what I said. "It's rare," her mother murmured, shaking her head. "Kai is human. The only way Audra would have awakened was if…" She trailed off, her lips parting slightly in realization. "After her sixteenth birthday, she almost died." She turned to her husband, something unreadable passing between them. "You haven't been keeping an eye on her?" she demanded. "If I can cut in," I interrupted, "she snuck out into the woods that night. I saw it happen. I tried to get to her, but I was thrown off. I got to her just as he went for the kill." "She snuck out?" they said in unison, voices filled with both disbelief and frustration. I nodded grimly. Her father ran a hand over his face, shaking his head. "If she weren't in imminent danger, I'd be furious right now." His wife placed a hand on his chest, trying to calm him. We sat in tense silence for a moment before we finally started piecing together a plan. When I stepped out of their house, the cold air hit me, but it did nothing to cool the fire burning inside me. "That went surprisingly well," Ajax muttered beside me.

I exhaled, nodding. "Yeah… but this is just the beginning." And I had no intention of failing her.