The Warlock Boy

Amaya gasps when she arrives at the place the connection is the strongest. Now she understands why Lauretta said this place was out of bounds.

Hands and legs drawn apart by chains that are fastened to huge stones are the conditions of each person she sees. The scorching sun burns them, giving their skin a tanner look. Their lips are chapped with an immense thirst for water. Yet, even in that condition, they are still alive.

Her mouth drops, and even her maid's does the same. Laurette has always heard of the place where witches and wizards are kept before execution, but she had no idea it was this gruesome.

The ten of them crouch to a particular position, head down and eyes open. One of them raises her head to look at Amaya. The old Lady's dark eyes send cold shivers down her spine. It peers through her physical body, resting on her soul. It calls her and Amaya finds herself responding to it. She walks towards this old, tattered lady who is in the same condition as the other people. By Amaya's quick observation, she notices there are a total of 5 women, 4men, and a boy. Her heart breaks when she looks at this boy who is barely able to stand properly because of his weak legs.

As soon as Amaya gets to the woman's front, the strong aura from her shoots through Amaya and she staggers slightly. "Who are you?" Amaya asks as soon as she gains control of her body.

"I should ask the same" her gravelly voice came forth. It is barely above a whisper, but it still has a lot of power in it.

"You were the one who spoke to me weren't you?"

"I am"

"You are not a werewolf" Amaya is quick to point out. The truth is, the moment her eyes landed on the woman earlier, she was certain she wasn't a werewolf. Her aura has so much power that even Amaya can't stand it. It causes her to wonder how a woman as powerful as this was chained successfully.

"And you are not a witch" the woman fires at Amaya

"Witches are extinct"

"That's what they made you believe"

"Are you all witches?" Amaya asks, staring at every single person. It is surprising how they never raise their heads even though they are aware of Amaya's presence. Even the little boy who is chained in his legs played nonchalantly with two stones.

"Go close enough and you can tell from their aura. The same aura you wolves hate so much"

"How were you able to communicate with me through the mind link," Amaya asks the question she has been willing to ask.

"A witch's power is not as restricted as that of you wolves. It's diverse. I didn't communicate with you through your pack's mind link. I created a new one"

Amaya has more questions concerning the mind link, but she doesn't ask any more about it. "Who brought you here?"

"Your king, Audrie"

Amaya glares, "Audrie is not my king"

The woman chuckles."I know, I just wanted to see that look on your face"

"Audrie is dead"

Before the woman has the chance to speak again, she winces in pain, squeezing her eyes shut, and taking Amaya by surprise. When the pain stops, her lips weirdly curve into a smile. "This chain sometimes digs into my open sores," she whispers, prompting Amaya to look at the chains.

She gasps. At first, she thought it was just a regular chain, but with one proper look at it and with the way blood trickled from the wrist of the woman, she can point out that the chains had sharp edges within them that pierced the woman's wrist. Surprisingly enough, it is only the woman's chain that is built that way.

"Lucan surely doesn't know about your condition does he?" Amaya asks, praying inwardly for the woman to say no instead of yes.

"Of course he does. He is king. He is just lenient enough to let us suffer here, rather than have us beheaded like the other witches"

Amaya's heart drops. She is appalled and at the same time angry. She doesn't understand what these people had done to warrant such treatment. There is even a child amongst them. This anger overwhelms her and she resists the urge to cut down the chain of every one of them and set them free.

"I can smell your future from where I stand," the woman confesses, snapping her out of her thoughts.

"What did you say?" Amaya, even though she knows exactly what the witch said, still asks.

"You must think you have everything under control"

"I don't understand"

"Your future is not as you think it might be. You will never rule the people of Santol"

Amaya grits her teeth in anger."The fact that Lucan is king now, doesn't mean he will be king forever"

"I never mentioned Lucan, did I?" The woman says. Amaya can't help but scoff.

"What do you mean?"

"I think I have said enough," the woman smiles, further annoying Amaya, but she doesn't dwell much on it.

She turns to the boy who earlier sat on the floor and she is instantly petrified. He isn't sitting on the floor anymore. This time he is up on his feet, eyes darkened and fist clutched by his side. He clenches and unclenches his teeth as he stares at Amaya in absolute animosity. She is stunned because she hasn't even said a word to him, yet, he gazes at her like she cursed at him.

"Amaya" her name is called from behind by a familiar voice and she immediately turns to look at him.

It is a worried-looking Lucan with Lauretta and some guards behind him. Lauretta must have told him where she was. Amaya infers inwardly.

She just stares at him, unable to speak as he walks towards her. The way he is concerned about safety, not about the conditions of the people behind her, breaks Amaya's heart. She wonders what on earth did these people do to deserve such treatment.

"I'm not leaving here" she withdraws her hand when he tries to grab it.

The way his eyes dart from the people, then back to her, causes Amaya to realize he isn't comfortable being here. This further confuses Amaya. They do nothing but bow their head, yet, they are still judged for that too.

"Let's go, Amaya," he lets out authoritatively, but she proves stubborn, throwing glares at him.

He lets her be and walks away. Amaya at first thought for the first time he is going to go with her words, but when his guards jacked her from where she stood, she realizes her thoughts were wrong.

"Lucan" she screams his name. He is in front of them and the guards struggle to keep up with him while striving to transport Amaya.

"I'm sorry Milady, I had to" A soft voice is heard beside her and she turns to glare at Lauretta who has an apologetic look on her face.

By the time they have gotten halfway to the palace, Amaya stops battling. It was fruitless because the more she struggles, the tighter they hold her. With time, they let her walk freely, but they still stayed alert, in Incase she attempts to run off.

The moment they get to the palace, Lucan stops walking. He waits for them to get to where he is before he grabs Amaya by the hand. She doesn't resist, instead, she goes with him. He walks furiously with her hands in his. He opens the door to her room and Amaya thought he is going to throw her in and not let her out for a month, but he doesn't do that. He goes in with her and shuts the door behind him

"Now can you explain what you were doing in the woods unguarded?"

"Can you explain to me why those people are kept there in such conditions"

Lucan groans in frustration. "No Amaya" he shakes his head. "We will not be playing that game. I ask a question and I demand an answer"

"I asked a question too" she stands her ground.

"You are not allowed out of this palace unprotected Amaya"

"I was with my maid"

"And she is supposed to protect you?" Lucan asks in disbelief.

"I can protect myself. Now answer my questions. Don't we have dungeons? Why are those people chained outside"

"They are my father's prisoners and they can't share the same walls with us"

"And why is that?"

"If you are so concerned about them, why didn't you just break down the chain and see how they shower you with so much love and affection"

"They are innocent" she fires at him

"No they are not" he barks at her. Have you met one before? You don't know what they are capable of doing. They are deceptive, sly creatures"

"And you said you are nothing like your father," she tells him and notices how his eyes soften at those words.

"What do you suppose I do?"

"Free them"

"They will retaliate. Don't you realize that?"

"So we are going to leave them there?"

"There's not much I can do"

"You can free them"

"It's not that easy"

"You are king now, you can do anything" she watches as he sits on her bed and rummages his hands through his hair. She settles behind him, placing her hand on his shoulder. "They might be guilty of something, but don't your heart sting when you see them like that. At least for the boy"

Lucan looks up at her. "Did you not see the look in that boy's eyes? He is different from the others"

"How?"

"He is a warlock Amaya" he blurts out. "If he gets out of that chain, we are doomed"