THE KING’S VESTIGE

The war ended after seventeen minutes.

Kade stared down the countdown while it burned away on the holographic battlefield, more of the enemy pulled out of their hidings, but he simply smiled.

“Phase Three has been locked.” An officer next to him announced. “The satellite alignment has been confirmed.”

He did not look up. “Engage”

A large light fell from the orbit into the ground creating an absolute chaos in the enemy’s northern command which vanished.

Seventeen minutes, it was a decade of long war that had ended under his control.

The people around him and the command center erupted in joy, hugging one another as the enemy fell.

“The King has done it again!” 

“The entire command has surrendered they are urging for a cease fire.”

“Everyone thinks it is the best battle that has ever bveen fought in modern history!”

Kade rose from the screen, his tall frame making his presence intimidating in the eyes of the soldiers around him.

At twenty six years old, he was already a legend. He should have been proud of himself, of the things he has achieved.

Instead, there was something else that disturbed his mind.

“Sir”

He waved off his aide without looking the screen. “Not now” 

Sir, it is…”

“I said not now!” He snapped, turning around to facing the soldier.

“The phone” The aide said, swallowing hard with his voice shaking. “He says it is your sister..”

Kade froze and gazed down at the phone. He grabbed the phone and rushed out of the room and into the nearest restroom, shutting the door behind him.

“Lyric?”

“Kade!” The woman’s voice was broken, not the type of voice Kade had been expecting to hear. “Why did you not answer? I—I called you. I called you so many times.”

His heart raced. “Lyric, I want you to breath. Tell me what is wrong”

“She found us.” She sobbed. “She found us Kade.”

His blood ran cold. “Who”

“Celessa.” She continued. “She knows where Aunt Mira has been hiding us. They came by tonight. Aunt Mira tried to make me run but Kade….”

She paused, weeping uncontrollably while Kade’s heart was pounding heavily through his chest as he anticipated the worst.

“..they broke her legs. I heard it, I heard the snap of the bones.”

The world around him stopped for a moment.

“They put something in her,” Lyric continued, stumbling over her words as she speaks. “I think it is a tracker. They put it in her so she cannot escape again.”

Kade’s hand folded into a fist, “Where are you?”

“At the safehouse, but I don’t think it matters anymore.” Her voice dropped “I think it is already too late. I believe she owns this city and she always has.”

“Lyric,” he said calm but dangerously “Listen to me. I am coming for you” 

“You cannot fight her. I know what you have been doing all these years. I know you have become strong for us.” She said, quivering through the phone. “But she is too powerful now. I..just wanted to tell you before…..”

There was a loud crash in the background, followed by yelling and heavy feet on the floor. 

“Kade,” Lyric whispered, her breathing slow and calm. “I love you. I am sorry I could no longer wait.”

“Lyric…”

Again she screamed through the phone and the call stopped.

Kade raised his head slowly and stared into the mirror, his phone slipping away from his hand and shattering on the floor. He closed his eyes trying not to allow the tears drop out of his eyes. 

He knew something was wrong. Celebration did not move him even after he broke a long record on the battle field. His instinct had never deceived him.

And now the call proved his worries were right.

There is only one thing to do.

He turned around and opened the door and stepped out of the rest room and back into the command center.

The celebration was loud and chaotic. More soldiers had come to join in, pouring drinks and enjoy what was left of a meal they never had time to touch.

“We did it!”

“We did it!”

“The war is over!”

“All hail the king of the North!”

Some of the soldiers tapped his shoulder as he walked past them, frozen and dejected.

“Sir?” his assistant approached him carefully. “Are you hurt?”

“Prepare the jet,” Kade ordered.

The noise around the centre died immediately.

“Sir?”

“To City B.” He said with a low voice. “Do it now!”

“But sir, negotiation for peace begins in a few moment”

“I said now!” His voice was heard across the centre.

No one argued with him, they had all seen that look before and it was not good.

**

The jet flew across the night sky at a very fast speed. Kade sat alone staring into emptiness as the memories flashed through his mind.

He was just twelve years old when their father brought Celessa Thorne into their lives.

She was beautiful and seemed untouchable. She was twenty years younger than his father and even more dangerous.

The Throne name was going to carry all the weight. They had all the money and had done some of the most notorious crimes that they hide away from the media.

After three months, their mother discovered the affairs between them.

She vowed to expose Celessa’s laundering activities and everything about the Throne Network.

After four days, she was dead.

It was suicide and the police said it very clear about it.

He still remembered the promise he made to Lyra. To always be there for her and to never leave her side.

And now, he failed her. He failed to keep that promise and the guilt might end up hurting him forever.

“Faster!” He yelled at the pilot.

He peeped through the window and he could finally see City B, rising from the horizon. It was still the same old town that has never experienced war.

“Hold on Lyric, I am coming.”

Somewhere under the city, Celessa Thorne was having a sip of her wine, when her phone rang. She picked it up.

“The King has finally come home.” The caller said.

“Excellent. He took the bait.” She replied and hung up the phone.