ZARAMANNI (BOOK ONE)

Zaramanni craned her neck as she walked towards the entourage in front of the manor.

Thanks to the journey the wolves of Zenrada were about to embark on, the Crown-Blood manor was less lonely.

A lot of people stood outside the mansion, chatting away as they waited for instructions.

After she joined the crowd, while hoping that no one would suddenly shift into a wolf, Zaramanni kept stretching her neck in search of a particular person.

She had overheard some ladies talking about the King’s visit to the manor’s library and they didn’t fail to praise how good-looking he managed to be in the face of difficulties.

It was then that Zara knew that his presence was an opportunity to confront him.

She was going to push her need to get to Mount Hermos in his face till he gives in.

But, she needed to reach him first.

Walking past the crowd of people that gathered in front of the manor, she saw the were-mobiles Sham mentioned the other night and she saw why they were given such a name.

While they bore resemblance to the cars back home, just like the buildings did, they wore huge crescent shapes on their bonnets.

The crescent had a two-dimensional representation of a wolf’s head attached to it.

It was a cool feature, no doubt.

It was a piece of art as well and Zaramanni wondered what else was going to blow her mind as she noted that most of the four-seater vehicles were similar to the BMW brand she was always interested in.

“Should I help you with that?” Sham’s voice came from behind.

Zara unknowingly wore a smile before she turned to face him.

Once she saw that he was staring at the bag in her hand, Zara’s head tilted in the same direction.

She had to dump her own for a bigger and more sophisticated bag that she found tucked in the depths of her temporary wardrobe.

“It’s not as heavy as it looks.” She faced Sham. “I didn’t pack much since I don’t have a lot of possessions.”

“But, all the clothes in the wardrobe are yours,” Sham claimed with a slight frown. “Are they not to your liking? I see you are putting on your old wear,” he pointed out and Zara sighed.

“Most of the clothes in there are gowns. Expensive gowns. I can’t wear those for a journey. And the few ones that look like something I would want to wear don’t fit me at all except for the nightgown. That one was the right size.”

”True.” His voice sounded throaty and Zara noticed how his eyes quickly travelled down the rest of her body. She wondered if she caught his attention just like he caught hers. Sham soon stopped himself and said, “I will have the seamstress come over when we come back from our journey. She will make you some fitting clothes.”

“That sounds good. I was told the journey to Mount Hermos won’t be easy, so I need to have the right set of clothes.”

Sham reached for her shoulders and he wore a grin.

“I know going to Mount Hermos is very important to you, but when we get to the heart of the Kingdom, please make sure you have fun.”

Zara wore a little pout on her lips as she looked ahead at the arraign of dead bushes that were still decorating the front walls of the manor.

“I thought this journey was for the people who are relocating.”

”Yes. But, the people of Zenrada never got the chance to celebrate the new lunar rising.” Sham sighed deeply, his eyes now wearing worry and sadness. He retracted his touch. “The fairies and vampires tore this place apart before we could defend ourselves. We might not be as many as we have lost so many lives, but an omen worse than a blood-red sky might befall us if we fail to celebrate the new rising.”

“But…” Zara paused to process the question she was just about to ask. She hoped it wouldn’t be grossly insensitive. And, she made sure to lower her voice. “Do you think the celebration will feel like one? Aren’t the people still mourning their losses?”

Sham held onto something on his waist and Zara noticed his uniquely inscribed scabbard that was held by his sword belt.

While she inwardly questioned his choice of weapon when he had other options, Sham replied,

“Our people were the ones who suggested having this celebration. All they asked for was their king’s return. And, now that the Alpha King is back, he has decided to reward their courage and patience by giving them a temporary home.”

Zaramanni nodded slowly as she silently admired the brave hearts of the people.

She had witnessed the ruins of the attack. Her eyes caught a glimpse of the bloodshed when she was being led to the manor and those signs were still there.

She could only imagine what the citizens would be feeling if her heart could ache so much for the lives lost.

As Zara’s eyes traveled past the waiting crowd, Zara noticed something change about the dead decorative bushes.

Their lifelessness suddenly disappeared and their thin leaves looked healthy and alive. That miraculous thing was still occurring when a bright light fell onto the plants.

Gasping softly, Zaramanni looked up and saw that a small opening had pried the bloodied sky open.

The glorious descent of light came from there and spread over the bushes.

Zara quickly looked around and wondered if she was the only one seeing it.

With eagerness, Zaramanni tapped Sham whose words she was barely listening to. When he turned, a few murmurs came from the crowd and Zara smiled.

It was great that such a sight wasn’t limited to her eyes.

The excited faces of the people gladdened Zara. It seemed their coming celebration would be a good one after all.

With a smile on his lips, Sham faced Zara and said, “That has never happened in this Kingdom.”

“Well, there is always a first for everything,” Zara replied.

“I think this is likely to be a one-time thing. But, look at how happy they all are,” his tender eyes roamed the crowd, “it gladdens me that something like this is happening. Maybe the heavens haven’t abandoned us after all.”

A man rushed towards Sham amid the excitement and he whispered something into his ear. Seconds later, the King’s guard faced Zaramanni, his smile now replaced with his sense of duty.

“The King is ready to start this journey, please come with me.”

Zaramanni’s lips widened its smile as he stretched his hand towards her. Her slender hand met his masculine ones and Sham held it dearly as though he was afraid to let her go.

“How long will this journey be?” she asked him as they walked past the crowd who were now being directed to enter the many vehicles.

“Not long,” he replied.

“I have some questions to ask.”

”You can ask them on our way.”

“I can start now,” she pushed and Sham urged her to do so. “My first question is; how many packs are there in Zenrada?”

”Four. It used to be five but things happened.

”That much?” Zara was indeed surprised.

“Do you want me to tell you about them?” Sham asked and she nodded. Still holding her firmly, he said, “Good, this journey will be more amazing than I imagined.”

~

Haunted and depressed, King Darren sank into his thoughts.

Ever since his talk with the chief librarian of the manor, he had been that way.

The Alpha King had certain issues bothering him and he decided to seek the advice of one of the oldest and wisest men in the Kingdom.

Judging by how distracted Zenrada’s king had been since then, the advice was hardly helpful.

But, the sight of his people acting joyous raised his spirits a bit.

They prepared for the ceremony ahead by placing ornaments around The Moving Fountain of Fear which marked the beginning of the Kingdom’s heart. The King admired their excitement since he could not find any at that moment.

While he was trying to fight the fuzziness in his heart, his slow steps came to a halt, and Laura’s voice rang in his ears. Facing her, Darren soon caught a glimpse of Zaramanni and Sham who were standing beside each other, deep into their conversation.

No longer regarding his wife’s statement, King Darren wondered when the two got so close.

Seconds later, he was intensifying his gaze on Zaramanni.

According to the librarian, she wasn’t someone he could get rid of and she wasn’t someone to be kept by one’s side for too long.

Darren sighed, his hands running to and fro the soft fur that made his cloak so majestic. With pressed lips, he pondered on what to do about her.

He questioned his mind, morality, and existence.

He begged for a response.

All these he did with his gaze still intently placed on the girl whose hair was now wearing another colour.

So, when an arrow flew from the thick forest, past him and toward Zaramanni and Sham, he did not miss it.

He watched as the lethal tip of the weapon hit the girl in her chest.

King Darren felt his chest tighten when his legs made to rush toward the girl whose face wore pain as she fell into Sham’s arms.

Falling to his knee, it became clear that the ache he was feeling was unusual.

And, as Darren looked at Zaramanni who was clutching her bleeding point, he remembered what the old wolf told him.

’You two are now connected in ways you can never imagine,’ the old librarian had said.

King Darren finally understood that statement.