Vampire City was becoming a shadow of itself. Although he has not been outside the palace walls for two years now, Zeidan could perceive that things were not going on smoothly. He had a feeling that Luana was only trying to cover up so that he will have no cause to be worried whatsoever. The attack of the were-cats on the city has been frequent and brutal and he knows that the people were tired and searching for answers. The crowd he heard outside the palace, sounded like an angry mob and Luana refused to tell him why they were at the palace. What else could have brought them if not for seeing their king for them to be hopeful again? 

Zeidan had however not stopped thinking about his City and how to protect the people in it. The sadness and sorrow that filled his heart, body, and soul ever since he fell sick could not be compared to anything in the world. Perhaps it was also another reason he was not getting better coupled with the fact that he had failed to protect the woman he loved dearly. He had failed both parties he was meant to protect. 

    The fact that he now knows that he does not have all the time in the world anymore is making him think of what to do. One thing Zeidan knows is the fact that Shelbrooke was only being cautious and had not won the war because of his presence. Once Vampire City loses its king, they will become vulnerable. He could not allow that to happen to his people. Zeidan has thought of what to do a lot and he was still battling with whether or not to write a letter to Shelbrooke suggesting both of them come to an agreement. If he should write something like that, Shelbrooke might conclude that Vampire City is now weak and on the verge of surrender. 

    The thought of an heir to the throne also lingered in his mind. He had Gabe but somehow, he was not satisfied. There was something amiss about him being his son. Perhaps it was because he was still very young and he wished Gabe was older than he was at the moment, but he was sure that was not the case. He did not have that satisfaction that one with an heir to the throne has.

    He held onto his pen regardless and he stared at the blank sheet of paper placed on a table that he had ordered the guards to bring to where he was on the throne. Gabe rested between his legs with a little ball in his hand that he was playing with and admiring so much. There were some books and a table scattered on the table too with some other papers. He turned to look at Chloe who was staring at him with much interest. He could see that she was a little in the dark about what he was thinking about or why he wanted to write something or what he even intended to write and the confusion was written all over her face. 

    “Are you alright? You have been staring at that paper for a while now. You don’t seem to know what to write. What do you intend to write anyway?” Chloe asked now as she could not hold back her curiosity. Zeidan smiled, Chloe had finally asked just as he had thought.

    “Yeah. I am fine Chloe. I could see the worry on your face and I knew what was coming next. Don’t be worried about me. It’s just some little stuff I have to take care of.” Zeidan said reassuringly.

    Zeidan bent over the paper with his pen ready to commit to paper the thing he had on his mind but he could not. It was too dangerous and he would not want to give Shelbrooke the feeling that they were tired of fighting. With this, he took the paper, squeezed it, and threw it on the ground. 

Then he picked another paper. This contained the bills he had not paid off. The money that was spent purchasing the syrup he always takes for his illness. How he had hated the syrup so much. It was the worst thing he had ever tasted. If it wasn’t for the fact that he was ill and he really needed to take it, he would not have. He remembered the first time he had to take the drug. He spat it out and threw it up afterward. But he got used to it later on. He got used to taking that terrible drug. And even at that, the drug did not work. Or perhaps it was the only thing keeping him alive. His very early morning walk to The Onyx room had been the eye opener for him. The state of the crystal was disheartening. Very soon, he will be no more and he wants to put everything in place before then. The only thing he prays for is enough time to do that.

He finished signing the bills and opened a book that contained the life story of some past kings that ruled Vampire City before his family ascended the throne. Perhaps he could find the misery behind the crystal stone or how to make it glow radiantly again, thereby making him well in the process. 

All of a sudden, he began to hear the sound of unrest outside the palace. Two of his guards at the entrance shouted as if terrified by something. Chloe stood up immediately in an attempt to grab her sword from where she had placed it but Zeidan gestured weakly for her to sit down. The palace guards opened the palace door shouting in fright, pointing their spears at what was coming toward them as they retreated into the palace slowly.

A white wolf with blazing blue eyes stepped into the palace. Behind the wolf was a little girl with light brown hair and blue eyes walking slowly behind the wolf.

 At first, Zeidan thought he was dreaming but he wasn’t. Gabe was still between his legs and Chloe was right there too with her mouth wide open as she stood up at the sight of what they had both seen. He was convinced he was not dreaming. He stood up shakily and began to walk towards the entrance also with his mouth wide open. He would have run but he could not find the strength to do so. 

Zeidan walked on towards the wolf and the little girl as fast as his weak legs could carry him. Gabe followed him closely trotting behind him. Everyone had said she was dead, he had never imagined he would even see her again, and yet here she stands, Lyne was back. Getting close to them he crouched next to the little girl. She was as beautiful as her mother. He grabbed her by the shoulder and brought her close for a long warm embrace. Chloe stood where she was petrified staring at the whole scenario. Gabe tapped his father with his tiny hands and asked.

“Who are they, daddy?”

“They are my long-lost treasure,” Zeidan replied still locked in an embrace with Aurora.