Chapter 5: Power?

Kalon felt enveloped by heat as he was forced into the embrace of a woman. But he didn’t try to resist as he knew that there was no way he could escape from the vice-like grip around his neck. A few seconds went by before she finally let go and he looked up to see a girl who looked to be around seventeen with long brown hair and blue eyes that shined like diamonds.

“My sweet little Kal I missed you so much.” The girl smiled and then forced him into a hug once again. Her strength was incredible despite her appearance but that was because she also wasn’t a human despite her normal appearance.

“Luna! Let go already! I get it!” Kalon’s muffled shouts were almost inaudible from his face being forced into her shoulder but her ears twitched slightly upon hearing her name and she let go immediately.

“Sorry Kal,” Luna said while looking down at the ground like she was being punished by someone of higher authority.

“It’s fine… But you have to remember that I’m just a human. You could have killed me if you were any rougher with me.” Kalon sighed as he warned her about the consequences of her actions.

“But I made sure that I was extra gentle this time. I’m sorry.” She flinched upon hearing his words and then apologised once again.

Kalon laughed nervously in response. He wasn’t sure how to react since Luna’s presence always threw him off a little bit. Although he was at the very bottom of the food chain. Luna still respected him for some inexplicable reason.

“Are you here for your swordsmanship training?” Luna asked with her head tilted a little to the side.

“Yeah, Master Ranwald told me to go ahead and wait for him here. But what are you doing here? You never come here?” Kalon explained and then asked Luna.

“Our dear old Father said that I have to babysit today,” Luna said with a hint of frustration in her voice. It sounded like she hated her father just as much as Kalon did but it was for a different reason altogether.

“Father sent you here? To babysit who?” Kalon asked, confused. There was no way that Dorian would send his daughter to protect a human. Then it hit him just before she explained.

“That brat over there of course. He said he wanted me to make sure he stayed out of trouble and didn’t humiliate his precious knights. You know since everything in this empire seems to be centred around his precious heir.” She said now with anger seeping into her voice.

Kalon suddenly wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her for himself.

“I missed you too! Did I ever tell you that you’re my favourite sister, Luna?” Kalon said as he held her in place and squeezed as hard as he could.

“Ouch!” He cried out as Luna’s hand came crashing down on the top of his head.

“I’m your only sister you idiot,” Luna said before ruffling his hair a little bit.

“I know, Hehe.” Kalon laughed cheekily as she patted his head until another voice called out from behind.

“Well, what do we have here? The dog has a pet now?” Octavian's voice called out, unwelcoming like nails on a chalkboard toward Luna and Kalon.

“Oh shut up brat. Go and show off to your little friends again. I’m sure they care about what you have to say.” Luna shouted back and then put her hand on Kalon’s shoulder as he let go of her and turned around to see Octavian standing with a group of young-looking Knights, No older than twenty.

“Shut up!? Who taught you to bark back at your betters?” Octavian shouted. Outraged by Luna’s lack of respect toward him.

Kalon giggled a little bit but then covered his mouth as he saw Octavian’s glowing red eyes fall upon him after hearing him laugh.

“Something funny huh?” Octavian asked with a threatening voice, making Kalon shut up instantly and shake his head in disagreement.

“That’s what I thought,” Octavian said as a few of the knights behind him laughed. Kalon recognised one of the boys as the caped boy who had beaten him the day before. But how was he here? Didn’t he have broken legs? Kalon questioned it before he realised what had really happened.

‘So it was all part of his plan to have me beaten like that, so he could come along and save me while acting like he is a good older brother in front of everyone and also showing off his skills during the process?’ He thought before gritting his teeth in anger.

If he could do something about it he would definitely try but he knew that there wasn’t a chance in hell that he could stand up to his older brother. He never even dreamed of fighting back against his brother since his strength was unimaginable but he was furious beyond belief since he knew what had happened.

Luna looked down at Kalon and then back up at Octavian who was smiling with the rest of his lackeys.

“I see now. I wasn’t going to question why Kal was bruised all over his face because I didn’t want to embarrass him. But when you said you had something to do yesterday and then vanished from the palace you actually went to do something like that? Just wait until I tell father.” Luna said she also realised that Octavian was the one behind Kalon’s beating the day before.

“So what if you tell him? Do you think he cares what happens to this disappointment? He wouldn’t have kicked him and his whore of a mother out of the palace if he still cared even the slightest bit.” Octavian said in reply, not even making half an attempt to hide that she was right.

“Just drop dead. If mom knew the kind of person her son was growing into she would turn in her grave.” Luna said. She was at a loss for words. How could someone be so cruel to their own family for no good reason? She couldn’t care less if Kalon had a different mother from herself. She still loved him as a little brother even if it brought shame to her father.

“What did you just say?” Octavian began to produce a black mist in the air around his body as the words Luna had just spoken cut deep into his heart.

“You heard me!” Luna shouted back, Not bothered by the fact he was angry. It was against their father's rules for them to fight so he couldn’t do anything even if he wanted to.

“Say that again! I will kill you!” Octavian shouted as Luna refused to step back. Hearing her mention their mother made something snap within him and he no longer cared about the consequences from his father. But nor did Luna.

“Mom would be disappointed in you!” Luna shouted louder this time so everyone nearby could hear. The tension in the air began to rise before Luna pushed Kalon behind her so he wouldn’t get involved in anything but it was too late for that.

“Don’t let that bastard escape. I will deal with him after I’m done with her.” Octavian ordered the group of Knights who were surrounding him to not let Kalon get away.

They all looked at each other confused for a few moments before turning back to look at Octavian who’s eyes were now glowing a deep inferno colour like the inside of a volcano and by the looks of things he was going to erupt any second. And then decided to surround Kalon to save themselves from his wrath.

Two of the boys grabbed Kalon by his arms at either side and stretched them out to hold him in place.

“What are you doing! Get off me!” Kalon shouted as they held him still to watch the fight between his siblings.

Luna’s eyes shifted from their natural blue colour to a deep yellow as her jaw hinged open farther than humanly possible to reveal large pointed teeth similar to that of a dog's before letting out a vicious roar that seemed to rumble throughout the sky.

“Filthy mutt. I will rip out your heart!” Octavian shouted at Luna who then closed her mouth and turned to smile at Kalon with her eyes still glowing yellow as Octavian ran towards her as fast as he could.

It looked like she had given up before the fight had even started.

“No!, Luna, you can’t let him hurt you!” Kalon yelled as Octavian got close to Luna. When suddenly a blue light flickered from the palm of his hand. He tried as hard as he could to free his arms from the knights that were holding him but it was no use. They were just that much stronger than him.

Kalon looked at his right hand, seeing the small wisp of blue light that no one had seemed to notice yet and became bewitched by it.

‘What is that?’ He thought upon seeing it. Time felt like it had slowed around him as he looked at the little blue light and the grip of the two boys that were holding him felt a little looser than it did before.

He tugged as hard as he could while watching the blue light in his palm of his right hand. One second it was there and the next it had disappeared. It had completely vanished just like the resistance around his wrists and it felt like something was burning within his stomach.

He tugged again at the grip of the two boys this time breaking free and then rushing out in front of Luna with his hands stretched out so he could form a shield in front of her.

She was one of the only people that didn’t hate him and he loved her almost as much as he loved his own mother. There was no way that he would let Octavian pass through him and get to her.

“Kal! No!” Luna was the one to Yell as she saw the silhouette of her younger brother run out from behind her and jump in front of the incoming attack.

Kalon closed his eyes, knowing that there was nothing more for him to do. His body would have no chance of holding up to the full strength of a vampire.

Memories, both good and bad began to flash through his mind as came to terms that this would be the end for him. When suddenly he felt a large gust of wind blow his clothes up into the air as a loud crashing sound boomed through the air.