Chapter 11 excerpt from The Last King (a novel I've been writing and still updating)~ "...."...."...."...."...."...." “What did I tell you? It’ll work out.” Sheala smirked at Solos superiorly, dicing up a remarkably colored fruit. “The little wolf suspects nothing.” Her son, who had been sitting passively in the corner of the grotto, leaned backwards in a tense stretch. “Are you sure? Is it very often that she has a voice maundering about inside of her head?” Solos closed his eyes tiredly. “I thought you would go for the little fire boy.” Sheala sighed and rolled her eyes. “He would tell Lupe about his problems. Lupe is solo. She won’t tell him. Unless…” Solos opened his eyes and glanced up, gazing curiously at his mother like a schoolchild. “Unless what?” He leaned forwards. “It’s none of your concern. But–” Sheala stopped chopping furiously and put her head between her hands. “Silewolves are new, aren’t they?” Solos nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. “Silewolves. Or as you call them, werewolves. Conri’s mother was one of them, as is Conri’s companion. Lupe.” Sheala studied Solos. “So I’m right… he will be the rising star…” Solos tilted his head, bewildered. “You can’t even say something important without being cryptic? Seriously?” Sheala ignored the comment, turning her attention to the half-sliced fruit. “Hades was new to the throne when he granted Midnight her powers. . . It tied them together, the fool. . .” Solos look even more confused, inching away from his mother. *She’s gone mad,* he thought. *He had known it was only a matter of–* “I’m not mad!” Sheala glowered at her son. “I know what you’re thinking! But I’m not mad, young man, and I won’t be for a long, long time. I am quite sane.” “Quite,” Solos murmured, unconvinced. “Hades, Hades,” Sheala ignored Solos once again, smirking darkly. “Cursed by the black magic released from the spell.” Sheala’s grip on the knife tightened, and Solo’s blood ran cold. “Conri is Hades’s blood, then?” Solos whimpered from his corner. Sheala’s mouth slid upwards even more, and she grinned. “And if he dies, so does Hades.” Solos whimpered even more. “Whatever happened to ‘Long live the king’. . .?” … Liar. Lupe’s quick movements had swept sand over the word, but it was clear what the letters had been. Conri had watched her swipe away her carefully kept emotions, fighting for control. What was she hiding? Lupe was secretive, yes, but she wasn’t rash. It wasn’t something she was fighting. It was someone. Conri looked slowly back down on his hands. He clenched both of them tightly, the flames doused with nothing but smoke to show their brief existence. Panic then made him draw them back with one slick motion, and he chewed his lip furiously. Who was Lupe struggling against? There was no answer. Not yet. Glancing back at the word crudely etched in the ground, Conri slitted his eyes. He was asking all the wrong questions, and he knew it. *Is Lupe angry… at me?* Conri didn’t want to believe it, but the doubt still nagged at him. And if he didn’t believe, maybe he truly was that ‘liar’. Pain lanced up Conri’s wrist, and he flinched, glowering at the red lines his nails had made in the flesh of his palm. Maybe he deserved it. … Lupe was woken by the light streaming through the cracks in the makeshift hut. She rolled over, groaning; the headache she had had from last night had spread to her brow, and she was covered in sweat. Shivering in the crisp air, Lupe turned to look at the bare ground beside her, devoid of warmth. Conri must have gotten up before her. The aroma of cooked fish was in the air, along with the warmth of a fire. Stopping just before the entrance, Lupe took a deep breath. *Stupid mind-stealer. You can’t just take away my mind.* -Oh, I’m stupid now?- *Whoever you are, just leave me alone!* Lupe could almost feel the laughter coming from the other end. -I don’t plan on it anytime soon. I’m trying to help you, Lupe.- “You even know my name?” Lupe growled inwardly. Her mind flashed to her drawing in the sand. She had drawn it to fight against whatever was infiltrating her mind, but if Conri saw it, he would surely attempt to help. Lupe didn’t need him trying desperately to do so. Not that he wasn’t doing it already.
all writing is mine ^^ Please no stealing ):<
