Chapter 140 The false scent

Chapter 140 The false scent
King Caelen's quarters pulsed with ancient, quiet magic. The room was bathed in a warm, golden light that radiated from bioluminescent moss creeping along the seamlessly curved walls.

The floor was formed from massive Silverwood roots, woven tightly together in a flat glossy surface as hard as steel. Out of this living ground, two high-backed chairs grew naturally from the wood, their seats cushioned with thick, velvet-like moss.

King Caelen stood near a glowing crystal basin. He poured a glass of aged Fae wine for himself, then picked up a crystal cup filled with rich, dark blood. He turned around and handed the cup to his old friend.

“Liam," Caelen said warmly. “It has been far too long."

William stepped forward and took the crystal cup. “It has. Caelen," he replied.

They sat down in the living room chairs. For the first few hours, their conversation flowed easily. They drank and talked about the politics of their realms, the trouble near the borders, and everything they had missed over the years. King Caelen also mentioned an upcoming war his kingdom would soon face and asked William to help or send reinforcements.

“I'll be glad if your brother will be of help. Prince Gideoniel.” King Caelen said, staring at him.

William stared at him. “Why?” he asked. "You're a man of war. Asking must take a lot from you.”

"You know me. But what choice do I have? Allowing Aeliana to come to you was my only option. My brother seems to be getting worse than yours. He has been poisoning my children's minds for a long time. I'm scared. He wanted to ruin me for good. He had been gathering kingdoms against me, yours included.”

William's gaze changed immediately. "Umbralord is no longer mine."

Caelen smiled bitterly. “Even after a thousand years, its people still want you on the throne."

Yet, as the golden moss pulsed and the hours passed, William's mind drifted away.

He stared at the glowing walls, but all he thought of was Anastasia's pale face. He listened to Caelen tell a story, but his highly tuned ears were straining to hear Anastasia's heartbeat across the massive palace. But he couldn't find any.

His fingers tapped a nervous, rapid rhythm against the smooth bark of his armrest. Sensing his dark, anxious vampire energy, the living floor beneath his boots subtly shifted. The ancient roots tightened around his heels, reacting to the presence of a dangerous predator in the room. William ignored it. A heavy, dark dread settled deep in his stomach. Something felt very wrong.

Caelen stopped talking. He studied William's distracted face. The king set his wine glass down on a small table woven from twisted vines.

“You are a thousand miles away, Liam," Caelen noted softly. “Or, rather, you are entirely focused on the western wing. It was the mortal girl, wasn't it? Lady Anastasia."
William pulled his gaze away from the wall meeting his old friend's eyes. There was no point in hiding it from Caelen.

“She is not just a mortal girl, Caelen," William said. His voice was low and serious. Caelen fell silent at the way William's tone changed. "She is the prophecy girl. “

Carmen leaned back in his living chair. He let out a breath, completely shocked. "The prophecy? By the gods, Liam. The one meant to break the curse your brother put on you?”

"Yes,” William said firmly. "For over a thousand years, Lazarus has hunted the prophecy child down. She is the third child. She is very sick and already receiving treatment, but I was still worried.”

Caelen was quiet for a long moment, thinking about this huge secret. He looked at William and saw a deep fear in the vampire's dark eyes.

"You brought the key for a new beginning right into my home,” Caelen finally said. He sounded serious. "You should know she will be safe, Liam.”

“Thank you, my old friend," William said. He finally relaxed a little.

They talked a bit longer about old times. Soon, the glowing light of the wall started to get brighter. It was getting late.

William looked at the window. The two moons were going down, painting the sky dark purple. Morning was only a few hours away.

“I should let you sleep, Caelen," William said. He stood up and put down his empty crystal cup.

“You should sleep too," Caelen replied with a small smile.

William stepped out of the king's room into the quiet hallway. He looked toward the path that led to Anastasia's room. He really wanted to go check on her. But it was already late, and she seemed so tired early. It would be better if he let her rest. He did not want to wake her just because he was worried.

With a heavy heart, William walked away. He did not know her bed was empty in the dark room. He had no idea she was fighting for her life deep below the palace gardens.

\~~~

Soft morning light shone through the thick curtains, casting long beams across the smooth, living floor. William stood still in the middle of his room. Four Fae servants moved around him in complete silence. They worked quickly and carefully, like trained soldiers.

One of them adjusted the collar of William's coat. The garment was made of midnight-black velvet, tailored specifically to fit his broad shoulders. Silver threads traced the cuffs, and a heavy cape was secured to his chest with a polished crest. William stared at his own reflection in the tall mirror, but he did not really see himself. His mind was entirely focused on Anastasia, but he had expected to see her in the Grand Hall for the wedding. He imagined her rested, her pale cheeks flushed with a bit of returning color. The thought settled the lingering anxiety in his chest.

William stepped away from the mirror and walked out of the room. He walked the winding corridors of the palace with long purposeful strides.

He arrived at the heavy door of the Grand Hall. Two armored guards pulled the large vine handles, opening the doors wide. William stepped inside.

The Grand Hall was a massive space. The walls were made of giant, ancient Silverwood trees. Their thick trunks wove together to form a high, arched ceiling. Thousands of glowing white fireflies floated through the air, giving off a soft, magical light.

In the exact center of the room, a wide ring of pure white moon lilies was embedded in the smooth floor. Only after the groom was in place would the doors open for the bride to walk down a path made of light.

The hall was full. Hundreds of Fae nobles crowded the edges of the room. They wore bright silks and shiny jewels. Soft music played for hidden harps.

William looked toward the center of the room. The circle of white lilies was totally empty.

Prince Eryndor was missing.

The guests began to shift nervously. Their quiet talking turned into loud, worried whispers. William ignored the court's panic. His eyes scanned the crowd. He looked at the unoccupied seats near the front. He checked the balconies above.

Anastasia was not there.

William narrowed his eyes, searching the faces of the nobles. He finally spotted Princess Aeliana. She stood near the front, wearing a beautiful dark green dress. Everyone else looked confused and worried, but Aeliana did not.

She stared at the empty flowers with a cold, happy smirk. Aeliana wore a cold, satisfied smirk. She did not seemed to care her brother was missing.

King Caelen suddenly marched through the crowd. His heavy boots made soft sounds until he was behind his daughter. Aeliana jumped in surprise. The proud smirk instantly vanished from her face. She spun around to face him, looking nervous.

Aeliana leaned up and covered her mouth. She whispered something into her father's ear.

King Caelen stepped back. His face changed immediately. He spun around to face his guard captain, his hands closed into tight fists.

“Search the entire place," King Caelen roared. "Search every corner, every tower, every chamber. Do not return without the prince.”

The guards drew their weapons and ran out of the room. The thick doors slammed shut behind them. The guests gasped in shock and started talking loudly.

William was too distracted to listen to what Aeliana said to her father. He ignored the thick crowd, forcing the Fae nobles to step aside. He stopped right in front of Aeliana, blocking her path. He stood tall and tense.

“Where is Anastasia?" William demanded. His voice had lost all patience.

Aeliana looked up at him. She smoothed her green dress and put on a perfectly polite, worried face. “She is still being dressed by the servants, Lord Liam.”

William stared down at her. He used his strong vampire senses to listen to Aeliana's chest.
But her heartbeat was perfectly steady. It was slow and calm. There was no sudden spike of fear or quickening of her heartbeat to suggest she was lying.

But something else was strange – the way she remained perfectly calm. Even after her brother was not found at his wedding. She did not panic. No fear. No reaction.

William nodded once. However, he knew she was hiding something.

Aeliana stepped close and gently touched his arm. “I will help you watch for her. Let us walk around the edge of the hall. We can watch the grand doors to see when she arrives."

William agreed. He walked slowly around the edge of the large room. Aeliana stayed right beside him. Time dragged on forever. The musicians had stopped playing. The groom was nowhere to be found. The room felt heavy and every breath seemed loud. King Caelen paced back and forth near the empty flowers, glaring at the living roots.

An hour passed. Then, a loud noise erupted at the back of the hall.

The door was pushed open. The guard captain marched inside. Two guards followed closely behind him. They were dragging Prince Eryndor by his arms.

The handsome prince looked completely disgraced. His expensive silk shirt was torn. His hair was a messy tangle. His feet dragged across the floor, and his face was entirely pale. He looked shocked when his eyes met his sister's and the lingering smirk on her face.

Behind the prince, two guards walked in. They were holding up a terrified woman. She was being dragged in her nightwear. She hid her face in her hands, crying loudly as she stumbled forward.

It was Lady Elaria. The king's youngest and newest wife.

The entire court fell silent.

“We found them together in Lady Elaria's bedchambers, your majesty,” the guard captain announced for everyone to hear.

Immediately, the crowd gasped in pure horror. King Caelen stopped pacing. He stared at his son, breathing heavily with uncontrollable anger. The king pointed a shaking, furious finger at Eryndor.

“Take the prince to the prison and this slut!" King Caelen roared.

The guards yanked Prince Eryndor up and dragged him out of the hall. The guests' whispers grew louder. They pushed against each other to watch the ruined prince and the king's wife being dragged away.

William turned his back on the screaming crowd. He had a more pressing matter than a family drama. He had no choice but to find Anastasia by her scent. He took a deep breath, focusing his vampire senses. He caught it – cape jasmine, Anastasia's signature scent. It was coming strongly from the eastern side of the palace. He immediately started walking toward the eastern arches.

Aeliana panicked. “Lord Liam," she called out, hurrying behind him. "That leads toward the gardens. I do not think she would be on that side.”

William did not listen to her. He kept walking.

Aeliana quickly ran to get in front of him, blocking his path. "I think we are looking in the wrong place.”

William stopped dead in his tracks. His boot dragged slightly on the living floor before coming to a halt. His eyes darkened until there was absolutely no emotion left in them.

“When you visit my castle, you are my guest,” William said slowly, but enough to make her shiver. “But now, I am your guest, and even in your home, I hold the upper hand. It is a rule your father and I have kept since the beginning of our friendship. Now, move out of my way. Or else, I cannot say what will become of you."

Aeliana's body instantly went cold. She had never seen William like this before. He looked and sounded like the ancient devil she had only heard about in dark stories. Slowly, shaking with fear, she stepped aside.

William walked past her toward the garden while Aeliana stood rooted to the spot. She was terrified, knowing her plan was about to be ruined.

William stepped out into the eastern garden. Instantly, the thick scent of Cape jasmine filled his nose. He looked around and stopped. The garden was full of blooming Cape jasmine flowers. The heavy smell of the real plants was masking everything else. He had been following the scent to the garden, not her.

He let out a long breath he didn't know he was holding. “She is not here," he muttered to himself, rubbing his temples. “What was I thinking?"

He turned around and walked straight out of the garden. He walked right past Aeliana without even looking her way, heading back into the palace to search somewhere else.

Aeliana stood still, confused by his sudden retreat.