Chapter 109 The Power of Fire

Avalyn

The inside of the palace was beautiful. Tall circular beams supporting the high rise ceiling demarcated the main hallway.

Max and Nat guided us through the beautiful palace that seemed like a maze because of similar looking hallways flanked by circular pillars.

We entered a door which I realised was the Throne room. Nik and I walked down the flowered path and climbed the two steps to stand on the elevated platform where the thrones sat.

We turned around to see everyone standing in front of their own thrones, waiting for Nik's permission.

We sat down after which Nik's voice echoed in the silent room, "please take your seats."

Max, Nat and Andrei were sitting on either sides of us on the platform that was one step below ours, with Max and Andrei on Nik's side and Nat on mine.

Andrei stood up and walked to the centre of the room.

"Allow me to make the introductions. All of these fine men and women are picked by Natalia, Max and and I. "Zed, the Lord of Arms," Lord Zed stood up and bowed deeply before rising again. He was buff and had eyes like eagles, perfect for the job. "Bea, the Lady of Societal Welfare," she stood up from her seat, bowed and then stood upright.

"Next is, Yunus, the Lord of Foreign Relations," he too greeted us in the same way others did. "And last but not the least, Akira, the Lady of Treasur." She greeted us too.

"I would like to introduce you to our although new, but the most respected and dearly loved Nikolai Volkov, Alpha King of Soare- Luna, King of Mozog, King of of Poziarne, King of Fire," his grin widened at that, "and Avalyn Volkov, Luna Queen of Soare-Luna, Queen of Mozog and Queen of Poziarne." Andrei said, his voice loud and proud.

And together, everyone bowed deeply.

My heart will with pride and love and I felt Nik's did too.

"Rise." Nik commanded.

Everyone rose again, their back ramrod straight.

"I would like to thank my brothers Andrei, Maximilian and Natalia for coming here on my behalf and handling everything and running the Kingdom smoothly." Nik smiled at them.

Max grinned in return, "it was my pleasure. I got to kill many people." Chuckles erupted in the crowd and I guess everyone is very familiar with Max now.

And I had taken a detailed report from Max and I know he killed all those who were extremely loyal to Zakyra and the the Lords and Ladies who were fixed in their ways to not accept werewolf rulers. I know it was a crazy one week for him but then once things smoothened out, he started working on the betterment of the people and the kingdom and then people loved both of them dearly.

And it was evident with the way the masses greeted us and how warm the crowd was. I felt safe and surprisingly at home. It was just too hot here. Otherwise, it was a lovely country.

"...thank all of you for the warm welcome." My attention snapped back to reality.

The crowd broke into cheers and Nik smiled. Following his lead, I smiled too.

I really needed to stop going into my own little dream world.

After that, surprisingly the coronation ceremony started.

Shouldn't we have dressed up first? I was wearing denim jeans and a dressy top but it was nowhere near as elaborate as a gown.

But then I shoved the questions at the back of my mind and lived in the moment, enjoying every second of it.

It was exactly the same as what happened back in Mozog. A mantle was put on our shoulders, we were given rings, we were handed a sceptre, Nik was given a sword and I was handed a dagger and in the end, the Sacredos crowned us, making the crowd burst into joyous cheers.

After the ceremony, was done, we retired to our quarters where we would stay for our visit and whenever we came here.

I wasn't feeling very well. Maybe the heat has reached my head or something. The palace was very cool from the inside but then...I don't know. I feel very hot.

I took a cold shower before I laid on the bed. Nikolai looked at me worriedly. "Are you okay?"

"Yes. I'm just a little hot. Maybe because of the drastic weather change." It was cool where we live and now we are suddenly in a desert. "I'll be fine in a couple of hours."

"Fine." He came by my side and kissed my forehead. "I'll be out finishing some work. Mind-link me immediately if you need me. Andrei is on bodyguard duty just like before, call him if you need and take him wherever you want to go."

"Okay." I mumbled and closed my eyes. I just needed to sleep it off.

Nikolai

I met Andrei, Max and Nat in Max's office.

"Now tell me what happened." Max demanded.

I told them everything that we had discovered and what Adrik's plan was.

"Fuck." The three of them muttered together.

"Exactly. I have no knowledge about the magic he is using I'm hoping that the witches we meet today can give us some answers and solutions." I told them. "I have the recordings. She could watch it and maybe tell us something more about it."

"We have a witch that is very old and apparently has a lot of knowledge. But just know that she can be a real bitch. Let's go." Max strode out of the room without wasting a second and we followed after him. Lady Bea joined us too. I swiftly looked at Max and he gave me a sharp nod, silently telling me that she could be trusted. I didn't question him. Andrei had stayed behind to guard Avalyn.

We took the least conspicuous car from the garage and Max started driving with me in the passager seat and the woman in the back seat. Another two cars full of guards followed us.

"I'm not sure if she will give you the answers you need, King Nikolai." Lady Bea said quietly.

"I never asked for her will." I looked out of the window. I will force it out of her if I have to. This was crucial information. I was going to get it, by hook or crook.

"She can be... volatile if force is used." She sounded scared. How could anyone be scared of their own people?

"Then you better stand out of her house." I snapped irritably. I glared at Max. It was his decision to bring her. Back and forth with women who didn't understand me pissed me off. Except Ava. Well she pissed me off too, a lot, but I loved it anyways.

"Apologises." She mumbled and I grunted in return.

Max delved deeper into the old city and stopped in front of a particularly old and weathered house. It was two storey and I don't doubt that it must be have been decent a couple of centuries ago, but it's prime has passed and it is in need of some serious reconstruction.

I opened the car door and slammed it shut behind me. I knocked on the door, hoping it doesn't fall off.

I heard footsteps but after an entire minute the door opened.

The woman was old and she had an earthly smell. Her eyes were black and her face was grim. Her back was hunched and she used a stick to support her up.

She narrowed her eyes at me. "What?" She snapped in her gravely voice.

"I need some answers." I told her without beating around the bush. "I want you could help us."

She slammed the door shut but I stopped it with my palm and pushed the door open forcefully.

I gave her a smile—a lethal smile. "I'm trying to be nice, old lady. It will be in your best interest if you help me. I will make sure you will have everything you need for the rest of your life, starting with a new house."

I guess that was the wrong thing to say because I saw anger spark in her beady eyes.

"I do not practice magic anymore, boy. Go away." She hissed. It was a lie. And I wasn't a boy. In any sense.

"I'm not asking you to do magic. I just seek some answers." I pushed past her and entered in the house.

Something about this place didn't sit well with me. I stood in the living room, waiting for the old lady to come. I didn't touch a single thing. Something just wasn't quite right here.

The old lady came in, followed by Max, Nat and Lady Bea.

"Would you like some tea?" She asked me.

"No." I know the tea trick, old hag. I looked at Max and Nat. Both of them knew what she was trying to do.

"Are you sure? I know you had a long jour—" she went from shutting the door in our faces to offering refreshments. I snorted.

"We all know that you are going spike the fucking tea. We have no interest in eating or drinking anything. Let's get down to business." I looked at her pointedly.

The wicked glint in her eye deflated.

"What do you know about witch sacrifices?" I asked her.

She looked at us wearily, a flash of fear passing through her eyes before she pulled her guard back up. "I do not practice black magic." When I realised it was a lie, fury shot through me.

"I did not ask if you practiced it or not, I asked what do you know about it?" Alarm flashed through her eyes. I caught her. But I didn't say anything. I need answers first.

"I don't know anything about it! It's forbidden magic!" She replied.

"Killing people and then resurrecting them. What does it mean?" I demanded.

"I don't know. Get out of my house!" She screamed like a mad woman. "Get out! I don't know! Get out! Get out! I don't know." She started repeating like a madwoman.

"I should have told you that she's a bit cuckoo in the head." Max rotated his finger besides his temple, motioning she was crazy.

She was. She hadn't yet stopped asking us to leave.

"Shut up." I said lowly yet menacingly to the old hag.

She shut up and looked at me with fear.

I brought my wolf forward and took a deep breath. Anger streaked through me at what I realised.

"You do black magic. You have sacrificed people in this very house!" I bellowed.

She jumped, her eyes wide and shuffled a couple of steps back. Her hands came up she started mumbling something.

I was confused, what was she doing?

She was looking at me in shock again.

"Niko—ngg—" I turned around and say Max, Nat and Lady Bea choking on something.

I glared at the old hag. "Release them."

She continued mumbling something, her hands facing me but nothing happened.

I crossed the room to get to her and her chants got louder.

I saw a protective shield form around her. One I knew will take time to break.

I turned around to see all three of them had collapsed on the flood, green veins had appeared on lady Bea and Max's head and Nat's face was turning blue.

"I said release them!" I shouted, worried that she might actually kill them.

Her mumbling continued.

I brought my hand up and lit it on fire. "Release them or I will burn this fucking house down." I know the house means something to her. She wouldn't have gotten angry when I had offered a new one otherwise.

Tears rose in her eyes as she saw my hand with fear and then she stopped chanting.

She then looked at me with wide eyes. "Y-your him! The off-offspring! You...you're going to save the un—" What the fuck is she going on about? She's crazy.

"Release them or else I'll burn the fucking house down!" I growled, increasing the flames.

Her gaze snapped to my hand and she grew scared.

I heard all three of them gasping for breath. Thank Goddess!

"Keep talking or else I will burn this house down." The fire on my hand increased.

"Answer me dammit!" I screamed, tired of her bullshit.

"I-I can't." She whispered, looking terrified. "The Ancestors. They will punish me. It was a blessing to see you in person, Saviour." And then she mumbled a couple of words before a loud wail left her mouth.

Her body twisted and convulsed and racked and then started dissolving until black particles erupted from her body and I jumped back, not wanting anything to touch me.

And then she was gone. Poof. Just like that.

What a fucking waste of time.

I put out the fire on my hand and turned to look at three shocked faces.

"What the fuck was that?"

"Oh my god!"

"Send in men to thoroughly search the house for any sort of scripts or books. Tell them not to eat or drink anything and then burn the house down after they are done." I ordered Max and walked out with them following me.

"Who is next?" I asked Lady Bea.

"There is one more person who might know something but I'm not sure if she will help. Her name is Raela. She is her granddaughter." She replied. "But from what I know, she doesn't practice magic anymore."

"Again, I'm not asking if she is willing or not." I muttered and got in the car. Max got behind the wheel and took us through the city as per Lady Bea's directions.

We reached the new part of the city and Max parked the car in front of a house that had a huge garden at the back with numerous plants and herbs lining it. The house was stark white and a lot of it was made out of glass which let the sunlight come in easily, unlike the previous one where it was dark and damp inside.

I had a good feeling about this one.

We walked to the door and I rang the doorbell.

A little boy opened the door and looked up at us with his big eyes.

"Erik, how many times have I told you not to open the doo—" Raela walked down the hallway and stopped when she saw us.

Her stomach was round and protruding, hinting at pregnancy. Her hand immediately came to rest on her stomach, "is something wrong?"

"No, we just have a couple of questions that we seek answers for." I told her, my voice gentle.

She looked confused but nodded, opening the door further. "Oh— where are my manner!" She mumbled before bowing in front of us. "Greetings, King Nikolai, Prince Maximilian, Princess Natalia and Lady Bea."

"Rise." I said and she stood straight with a smile. "Please come in."

We followed her inside. "Why don't you go and play upstairs hmm?" I ruffled the kids hair who promptly nodded at me and ran upstairs.

"Please have a seat, would you like any refreshments?" She asked kindly.

"No, thank you," I replied for all and took a seat on the couch, "I will get straight to the point. I want to know more about witch sacrifices."

Her open expression became guarded. "I apologise, King Nikolai but I will not be able to help you with this."

I think she knows something.

I took out my cell phone, played the recording of the bird's eye view and showed it to her. "The three people being killed are witches. And there are many more who have been killed in a similar manner. We believe this is the reason all the witches in Jivan are disappearing. The witches are being kidnapped and then sacrificed."

Her face looked stricken. She looked lost and terrified but I knew she knew at least something.

"Remaining silent won't help. What will help is knowledge. If you know something—anything, please tell us." I told her.

"I don't know much about black magic." She whispered, her eyes lowering.

"But you do know something?" Max prompted.

Her expression grew weary and then she sighed, resigned to he fact that she'll have to tell us everything. "After my grandfather died, my grandmother did everything in her power to bring him back for the dead. When nothing worked, she turned to black magic. My mother and I tried to get her to stop but she just wouldn't listen. So my mother packed our bags, telling me what we will not stay in a house where she killed innocents and practiced black magic. It is forbidden." She blinked back the tears in her eyes.

"My grandmother caught on and she trapped my mother and I down in the cellar. We managed to find an opening but there wasn't enough time" A tear trickled down her face. "My mom sacrificed herself so I could escape."

"If it helps, she is dead." I told her.

All the breath left her body. And more tears slid down her face and she covered her face with her hands, taking in deep breaths. Nat and Lady Bea who were sitting on either sides of her started comforting her.

After she composed herself, she gave me a grateful nod and I nodded back.

"There were few things she told me that I could use to protect myself from black magic. The most important one is fire. Fire can kill black magic. If you have stones like fire opal, ruby or sunstone on you, black magic won't be able to affect you. There are animals like lion, tiger, lizard, bee, scorpion who can sense black magic and their behaviour changes immediately. They aren't affect by black magic and if given the opportunity, they will kill anyone embodying black magic. If you have contacts in other dimensions and can ask for help, Dragon shifters and phoenixes are the same." She said.

It would have been great but I had very limited knowledge about any other dimension, much less have such contacts. I know there are infinite dimensions and each dimension is inhabited by one or two species at the most. And the only reason Jivan is so famous is because we have four species—humans, werewolves, vampires and witches. That won't remain the case if Adrik succeeds.

"And as for plants—plants like thistle, cactus, juniper and sunflower can ward off black magic from your homes if they are planted around the periphery othe house." Raela said. "This is all I know." She spoke the truth.

"This was certainly very helpful. Thank you very much." I offered her a smile and stood up.

"Is there something to be really worried about, King Nikolai?" She asked in a small voice, cradling her belly.

"We will do our best to ensure everyone's safety." I said. "And Poziarne is currently out of danger, your family is safe." And with that, we took our leave.

"That went well." Lady Bea said.

"Yes but we didn't get the answers we need." I rubbed my face.

"There is a last person we can try. He is very young so I doubt he knows something but he is our last option." She replied.

"Okay." I nodded.