Chapter Six – The Third Bloodline
The temple shook violently.
Dust fell from the ceiling as the crack beneath the altar widened.
Kwesi grabbed Kwaku and pulled him away.
"What is happening?" Kwaku shouted.
The old man stared at the darkness below.
His face had lost all color.
"We have to leave."
Kwesi looked at him.
"You said there were only two bloodlines."
"There were."
"Then what is down there?"
The old man didn't answer.
A deep growl rose from beneath the temple.
The creature stepped backward.
For the first time, it looked afraid.
Kwaku noticed.
"You know what that is."
The creature remained silent.
"Knew you would eventually learn," it finally said.
"What?"
"That your bloodline was never the beginning."
Another tremor shook the chamber.
BOOM!
The altar cracked.
Something pushed against it from below.
Kwesi tightened his grip on his sword.
"Kwaku, stay behind me."
Kwaku shook his head.
"No."
Kwesi looked at him.
"I can fight."
"I know."
"Then let me."
The golden mark on Kwesi's chest began glowing.
At the same time, the crimson mark on Kwaku's arm pulsed.
The two lights moved toward each other.
The old man suddenly stepped between them.
"Don't let your powers touch."
"Why?" Kwesi asked.
"Because if the Two Suns combine before the time is right…"
He stopped.
Kwaku stared at him.
"What happens?"
The old man whispered:
"They will open the final gate."
Silence filled the temple.
Then the voice beneath them returned.
"Too late."
The floor exploded.
A wave of darkness rushed through the chamber.
Kwesi raised his arm.
A golden shield appeared around the brothers.
The darkness struck it.
The shield cracked.
Kwesi grunted.
"I can't hold it!"
Kwaku placed his hand against the shield.
Crimson light flowed from his palm.
The golden shield became stronger.
Kwesi looked at him in surprise.
"You're helping me."
Kwaku nodded.
"I don't know why."
The creature watched them carefully.
"The blood remembers."
Suddenly, the darkness disappeared.
Everything became silent.
The crack in the floor closed.
The brothers slowly lowered their hands.
Kwesi looked around.
"Is it over?"
The old man shook his head.
"No."
"Then what happened?"
The old man pointed toward the altar.
A small stone had appeared where the crack had been.
It was completely black.
But a thin golden line ran across its center.
Kwaku approached it.
"Don't touch it," the creature warned.
Kwaku stopped.
"You're afraid of it."
The creature said nothing.
Kwaku smiled faintly.
"Then maybe I should."
He reached toward the stone.
The creature suddenly moved.
"STOP!"
A powerful blast sent the creature crashing into the temple wall.
Kwesi stared at it.
"You attacked your own creature?"
The old man looked at him.
"That thing isn't our ally."
The creature slowly stood.
Its eyes burned red.
"You know nothing, old man."
"Neither do you."
The creature's expression hardened.
Then it looked toward Kwaku.
"The stone belongs to the third."
Kwaku's hand stopped.
"Third what?"
"Third bloodline."
Kwesi stepped forward.
"Who carries it?"
The creature smiled.
"You've already met them."
Kwaku's expression changed.
"Who?"
The creature didn't answer.
Instead, a loud horn echoed from above.
Kwesi turned toward the entrance.
"Bonoman."
Another horn followed.
Then a scream.
Kwaku's face became tense.
"My mother."
"We have to go," Kwesi said.
The old man shook his head.
"You cannot return yet."
Kwesi grabbed him by the robe.
"My family is in danger."
"So is the entire kingdom."
Kwesi stared at him.
"What do you mean?"
The old man pointed toward the black stone.
"If the enemy has reached Bonoman, they aren't there for the kingdom."
He looked at the brothers.
"They are there for you."
Kwaku's expression darkened.
"Then we go back."
The creature suddenly laughed.
"You still don't understand."
Kwesi turned toward it.
"Understand what?"
"The attack on Bonoman…"
The creature's eyes narrowed.
"…was never meant to kill anyone."
Kwaku froze.
"Then why attack?"
"To force you out of the temple."
The brothers exchanged a look.
The old man's face changed.
"They know about the gate."
The creature nodded.
"And they know the twins have awakened."
A distant explosion shook the earth.
This time, it came from Bonoman.
Kwesi immediately ran toward the entrance.
Kwaku followed.
The old man shouted after them.
"If you leave now, you may never return!"
Kwesi stopped for a moment.
He looked back.
"Then we'll make sure we return."
The brothers disappeared into the darkness.
The old man remained behind.
The creature approached him.
"You know who the third one is."
The old man looked at it.
"Yes."
"Then tell them."
"I can't."
"Why?"
The old man looked toward the entrance.
"Because the third bloodline is already inside Bonoman."
The creature's eyes widened.
"Impossible."
The old man whispered:
"They have been living among us all this time."
⸻
Bonoman
Fire covered the outer walls.
Warriors rushed through the streets as arrows fell from the darkness.
Kwesi entered the kingdom with Kwaku beside him.
"What happened?" Kwesi shouted.
A wounded warrior stumbled toward them.
"Prince…"
He struggled to breathe.
"They came through the northern gate."
"Who?"
The warrior looked behind him.
"Men wearing the mark of the black sun."
Kwaku's expression changed.
"Black Sun?"
The warrior nodded.
"They asked for one thing."
Kwesi stepped closer.
"What?"
The warrior looked directly at the twins.
"They asked for the children of the Two Suns."
Kwaku and Kwesi looked at each other.
Then a woman's scream came from the palace.
Kwaku's heart stopped.
"Mother!"
He ran.
Kwesi followed.
But before they reached the palace doors, someone stepped out of the smoke.
A young woman.
She was dressed in white.
Her eyes were completely black.
And on her forehead was a symbol neither brother had ever seen before.
Three connected circles.
She smiled.
"You finally came back."
Kwaku stopped.
"Who are you?"
The woman looked at him.
Then at Kwesi.
"I am the blood you were taught to forget."
The golden mark on Kwesi's chest suddenly burned.
Kwaku's crimson mark answered.
The woman smiled.
"The third bloodline has awakened."
To be continued…