Entwined branches scraped across the larger of the windows like shriveled hands clawing their way into something precious while gusts of wind howled angrily through the corridors. Solomon Charnel lay in his bed so still, that one would think him to be lifeless. A cold, sleeping statue he was when it came to resting. But sleep hadn’t visited in nearly three days due to recent stress influences that arose in his life. So the only thing to do was pass the time by counting the tiny, floating dust specks that drifted by his tranquil body. By the time number three hundred and twenty six hovered above his head, sunlight leaked through the carefully fastened velvet red curtains and spread across the chivalrous bedroom. The low chime of the clock tower rumbled through the stone walls announcing that it was time for the world of Latromm to rise out of bed. Shortly after the clock’s song, soft footsteps and hushed voices occasionally traveled past the chamber’s entrance.
“Still awake, I presume?”
A quiet rustle of the bed sheets brought the cold statue to life. Solomon slowly turned his body to face his weary wife.
“Sleep just hasn’t been a reliable acquaintance these past few days.”
“I am sure that everything will fix itself if you give it time. But you should rest. Making choices of great importance on little sleep is not very professional.” A light sigh escaped from Elsbeth as she wrapped her left arm around her husband’s torso. A feeling of detachment washed over her as Solomon made no notion to acknowledge her.
“Have we received any word from you brother?” She asked as an attempt to burry the feeling deep in her subconscious.
“Draven is…” Solomon paused. “Let’s not talk about him.”
Elsbeth inched closer, hoping she would receive some sort of feeling.
A soft knock on the door distracted the couple, followed by a slow turn of the silver doorknob. Entered an older man carrying a tray of tea and freshly picked fruit.
“Good morning Sir.” The man bowed as he gently rested the morning meal on a small table not three steps from the doorway.
“Madame,” Another bow followed.
“Good morning, Senis. Have you been informed of my schedule?” Solomon asked as he scanned the tray for something to eat.
“The counsels of Citadel and Terces would like to have a word with you sometime before high noon. I presume they would like to speak about the recent…events… that have taken place in Latromm,” Senis turned to Elsbeth. “And how are you this morning? Feeling sick?”
“I’ll be just fine, Senis. Sometimes I think that you are more worried about this pregnancy than I am.”
Elsbeth let go of her husband and proceeded to sit back down on the bed. “Solomon, wear your white button-down shirt and black trousers. This meeting will not take long so there is no point in getting all dressed up.”
Solomon did as he was told and motioned for Senis to leave.
“Shall I let the council know you will be attending?” he asked.
“Please. Tell them to start without me if I am not there in fifteen minutes.”
Senis bowed to the King and Queen of Latromm before exiting the chamber.
* * * *
Solomon sat down at the head of the table.
“I know that this issue is the least popular to discuss but we cannot dismiss it.”
“Solomon, what do you plan on doing? He is your twin.”
“It also means that he is family so this is just as hard for me as it is for you.”
Everyone important had attended this meeting even though the problem hadn’t leaked into the other worlds. Normally, having all the worlds gather like this rarely happened, but when Earth attempted to destroy the two other worlds, security measures had to be raised.
“We all know what he wants.” Emperor of Citadel piped up.
“We also know what he isn’t going to get.” Solomon sternly said.
“I always get what I want.” Draven sneered.
A new presence stood in the entranceway, startling those who were in conversation. Everybody started whispering and worrying when Draven slowly walked to his twin brother.
“May I have a word with you alone?” Draven smoothly said.
“I am sure that whatever you have to say can be said right in this room, Draven.” Solomon’s voice hardened as he motioned towards an empty seat.
“Brother,” Draven grinned. “I would like to speak with you. Alone.” The harshness in his voice made each ruler quiver with disgust and it was evil enough to convince the King of Latromm to excuse himself from the meeting.
Closing the doors behind him, Solomon eyed his brother. The two weren’t very good twins. Growing up, they had never gotten along and even their appearance was so drastically different that Solomon was sure that nobody would have known if it weren’t for the fact that they were born into royalty.
Draven stood beside Solomon and started walking down the marble-floored hallway.
“What is this about Draven?” Solomon asked.
“A brother cannot come visit his family without question anymore?”
“A brother has every right to visit family, but not a stranger who waltzes around destroying my kingdom.”
Draven stopped and turned towards his brother. His cold eyes traced Solomon’s body.
“I don’t know how we managed to be brothers, Solomon,” he said. “You seemed to have let yourself go.”
Solomon knew this was a distraction. But he couldn’t help but think that he was right. While Draven possessed the looks in the family, Solomon was glad that he received the features that did not make him look like a serial killer. He didn’t have the dark eyes or the sharp cheekbones like Draven. His face was much more round and even his hair was a completely different color. A honey blonde to Draven’s raven black.
They continued down the hallway until they came to the two enormous doors that guarded the main ballroom. Draven grabbed a hold of the large iron ring and pulled. The door revealed a white and black-checkered floor and numerous pillars that held up the balcony that wrapped around the entire room. Two thrones sat at the far wall, raised by a small set of stairs. Each was the color of gold and towered over anyone who stood beside them.
Draven marched forward and threw himself on the throne so his legs dangled off of the throne’s arm. “I want the throne.” Draven’s bluntness came as a surprise to the King.
“We can all have our dreams, Draven,” Solomon chuckled. “But you are never going to get the throne.”
“Oh, I know I would have to fight for it,” Draven said. “Oh, Shadow! Would you be so kind as to come out and show our beloved king what you possess?”
A tall woman entered the room. Her hair had been tied into a tight bun, revealing the pointed tips of her ears. Hung around her waist were several hunting knives, each carefully tucked inside of its carrying case. Brown, baggy pants accessorized with numerous pockets hung loosely on her tiny frame while a backless black shirt allowed her black wings to move freely.
“Solomon, this is my new friend from Tearsee. Her name is Shadow and she will not hesitate to perform extreme measures to gain power over Latromm. This is your last chance. Give me the throne or pay the consequences.” Draven lost all sense of sarcasm in his voice.
“I will never let you have the throne,” Solomon said coldly. “Now get out.”
Just as Solomon opened his mouth to call for his guards, Shadow raised her hand toward the open door and closed her fingers one by one. The gigantic doors slammed shut with such a force, any man would cower.
Solomon grabbed the handles and pulled, only to realize that they would not budge.
“My dear brother, we can do this one of two ways. Either you give up the throne so nobody will be injured or — ,” Draven paused and grinned. “We’ll look at that second option if the situation needs to come to that.”
“I will not throw this world into the pits of despair.” Solomon stood firm.
“Very well then.”
The air stood still. The world around the two brothers seemed to stop in all of its place. Within seconds, the doors swung back open and Elsbeth stumbled through, her face tinted crimson red.
Panic jolted Solomon out of his solid state and he ran over to his wife.
“The baby,” Elsbeth moaned. She raised her hand to touch her husbands face one last time. Solomon noticed that the roundness of her belly was gone and her clothes were drenched with blood. Anger boiled in his throat and his face turned bright red.
“What did you do with my child?”
“What child? She was like this when I found her.” Draven appeared to be as confused as his brother.
Solomon looked at his wife. Her eyes were closed and her breathing was unsteady. He knew she didn’t have long.
“Elsbeth. Where is the child?” The tone of desperation in his voice caused Elsbeth to open her eyes. She looked at him for a moment and began to speak.
“Sea Reese,” She gasped for air.
“Elsbeth. Hold on, darling,” Solomon started sobbing.
“Senis!” She whispered, this time, clearly. Her head fell back and her breathing stopped. Solomon knew she was gone.
Hatred clouded his mind. Solomon’s breathing deepened as he rose. Without any words said, he charged at his brother, hoping to bring him down.
Shadow stepped in Solomon’s path and drove one of her hunting knives into his stomach. Solomon fell back and took his last breath.
Draven let out a laugh and stood up from the throne.
“I told you I would get the throne.”
Draven stepped over the body and walked out the door, leaving the old King and Queen of Latromm lifeless on the cold, hard floor.