CHAPTER 133: IN DESPAIR

"Olexa," a voice called.

"Olexa. Olexa!" the voice forcefully called, startling her as she jerked from her slumber. Looking around, she saw her mother.

She fearfully gasped in fear moving backwards.

"Hey Oly," Jasmine compassionately called, looking at her daughter with a smile.

"Mother, is this really you?" Olexa asked with teary eyes.

"Yes, it's me. But we don't have much time," Jasmine said with a sense of urgency. "I'm truly sorry about all that's happening, but for it to end, you need to go back to where it all started."

"What do you mean by that? I don't understand," Olexa said.

"Go back to where it all started."

"What do you mean? Mother? Mother?!" Olexa yelled, as a force pulled her mother away, and she jerked awake.

"Hey, hey. It's alright. She's not here," Mona said, placing her hand on her shoulders, comforting her.

Olexa looked around and realized that it was a dream. She got to her feet, and groaned, squinting her eyes as she felt a slight headache.

She saw that most of the people were injured. The werewolves amongst them seemed to have healed, but they looked drained, psychologically drained.

Olexa took a walk through the camp, as they had to stop at some point as they retreated, to tend to the injured. It was a sight that broke Olexa's heart.

She saw the look in their eyes, and saw how hopeless the people seemed. She could tell the people had lost hope for a better tomorrow.

"Princess Olexa," Mr Thorne greeted, as he approached her. She saw that he also had bandages around his chest from an injury.

"Mr Thorne, are you okay?" she asked, even though she knew it may have sounded stupid.

"I am Princess. But I fear the others aren't," he replied.

Olexa sighed, feeling bad, but continued walking through the camp. She got to where the soldiers were and found Jon severely injured but was recovering, laying on the floor.

"Jon," she called, and knelt beside him, holding his hands. Commander Glenn and Lieutenant Silka stood beside him.

"I failed him, Princess. I wasn't there to help him," Jon lamented, sobbing. Olexa gulped, doing her best to hold back her tears, not knowing what to say in response, as she felt equally guilty.

She was overwhelmed with the pain, hurt, and despair in the camp. The loss they experienced was great, from all indications.

Olexa walked briskly away from the people, heading somewhere she could be alone. She got there and cried, feeling deeply pained about everything. She felt helpless.

Losing the two people she loved made the pain even more terrible. After a while, she pulled herself together and reasoned for some time. Then, she made her way back to the camp.

Commander Glenn, lieutenant Silka, Mona, Tully, and Mr Thorne approached her as she returned.

"Chief, we need to resume heading back to Moonville. We should be able to heal better there, and restrategize," Tully said.

"Yes, you all should do that. But I need to go somewhere," Olexa responded.

"Don't tell me you're trying to go rescue the Prince all by yourself, because that will be the most stupid idea you-"

"I am going to the Mountain of Emergence," she interrupted Mona. They all looked at her in surprise.

"Although going to rescue the Prince wouldn't be out of place," she added.

"What are you going there for Princess?" lieutenant Silka enquired.

"I had a vision. It was very strange. My mother came to me, seemingly urgent, telling me to go to where it all began, if I wanted all this to end, I'd have to go back to where it all began."

"Where it all began?" Mona asked. "How does the Mountain of Emergence have to do with the beginning of all this?"

"Moreover, she didn't say it was the Mountain of Emergence in the vision, right chief?" Tully asked.

"It wasn't said, but I know it is," Olexa replied.

"That place has been cursed and left barren after the Lycan wars. All you'll find there are ghosts of the past war. Nothing else," Commander Glenn added.

"I know it doesn't make sense, but that's a chance I am willing to take. I just have to," Olexa insisted.

"Okay then, I'm coming with you," Mona said.

"No way. It's a journey I need to make alone," Olexa refused.

"I know you're strong and all, but you'll need someone with you, Olexa," Mona pressed.

"I don't want to put you in harm's way over a vision I had."

"It doesn't matter. You're my friend, and I won't let you go there all by yourself," Mona insisted.

Olexa sighed, giving up. "Okay then."

"We should also come with you," Mr Thorne suggested.

"Mm mm. No happening," Olexa vehemently refused. "The priority now is to get the people back to safety."

"Alright chief. As you wish," Tully agreed.

Olexa and Mona got horses, and began their journey to the Mountain of Emergence, while the rest of the company resumed their journey back to Moonville.

***

A splash of water awakened the Prince. He gasped, shaking his head as he tried to gain cognition. He had slept into a coma having been beaten by the soldiers in The Legion, with his hands chained above his head.

His face was bloodied, from the punches, but the wounds and cuts had healed.

"Well well, the great and mighty Prince of the Five Kingdoms, is helpless in the presence of his subjects. Isn't that just ironical?" General Klaus mocked.

Prince Tristan glared at him saying nothing.

"You remind me so much of your father. He was such a righteous man that it irritated me. But that couldn't save him, could it?" he said with disdain.

"Don't you dare talk about my father with that filthy mouth of yours!" Prince Tristan fumed, pulling the chains.

"Stop struggling. It's pointless. Only a True Blood can break that," the General said.

"You cannot stop us from our victory. Very soon, every lord who had dared to be defiant in one way or the other, will either get in line, or they'll die. Nobody will be able to stand against the monarchy," the General added.

Prince Tristan began laughing. He laughed the General to scorn, making him angry and confused.

"What's so funny?" the General inquired.

"You think you'll win?" the Prince scoffed. "You may kill me, but I assure you, Olexa is going to win, no matter what. I see the way you fear her."

"Oh. We'll see about that," General Klaus chuckled. "How about a little more beating, hmm?"

The soldiers came again and continued with the torture, while he walked away, fuming at the Prince, knowing there was truth to what the Prince said.

Jasmine stood quietly, watching the Prince being tortured.

***

Two days later, Olexa and Mona finally made it to the Mountain of Emergence. It was up ahead. They turned and looked at each.

"Are you ready?" Mona asked.

Olexa nodded, and they approached the Mountain.