Chapter Nine – The Guardians of the First Blood
The night sky turned red.
Kwaku stood frozen near the palace entrance, staring at the strange crimson glow spreading across the heavens.
Thousands of footsteps thundered in the distance.
The sound was getting closer.
Kwesi slowly picked up his sword.
"Who are they?"
Their father remained silent.
His eyes were fixed on the darkness beyond the palace walls.
Ama Serwaa stepped forward.
"You knew this day would come."
Their father looked at her.
"I prayed it never would."
Kwaku turned toward them.
"Stop talking like we're not here."
His father looked at him.
"You have every right to be angry."
"Angry?"
Kwaku stepped forward.
"You disappeared before we could even know you. Mother told us you were dead. Now you appear in the middle of a battle and tell us something is coming for our blood."
His father's expression hardened.
"I didn't disappear."
"Then where were you?"
Before he could answer, a massive explosion shook the palace.
BOOM!
Dust fell from the ceiling.
Adwoa turned toward the entrance.
"They're here."
The palace doors suddenly shattered.
Hundreds of Black Sun warriors rushed into the hall.
But behind them came another group.
They wore white armor covered with ancient golden symbols.
Each carried a long spear.
At the center of them stood an old woman with long silver hair.
She walked slowly into the palace.
The warriors behind her immediately knelt.
"First Guardian," they said together.
The old woman looked at the twins.
Her eyes widened.
"The Two Suns."
Kwaku raised his sword.
"Who are you?"
The woman ignored him.
Instead, she looked directly at their father.
"You failed."
Their father stepped forward.
"I protected them."
"You hid them."
"I gave them a chance to live."
The old woman shook her head.
"You gave them a chance to awaken without understanding what they carry."
Kwesi moved between them.
"You keep talking about us as if we're weapons."
The First Guardian looked at him.
"You are not weapons."
She paused.
"You are keys."
Silence filled the hall.
Kwaku remembered the hooded man's words.
They were created to open the way.
"The final gate," he whispered.
The First Guardian nodded.
"Yes."
Adwoa stepped forward.
"What happens if the gate opens?"
The old woman looked at her.
"Everything that was buried beneath Bonoman will return."
The Queen closed her eyes.
"No."
Kwaku looked at his mother.
"What is beneath Bonoman?"
She said nothing.
Their father finally answered.
"An army."
Kwesi's face changed.
"An army?"
"An army older than the kingdom itself."
The First Guardian raised her spear.
"And your father once commanded it."
Everyone became silent.
Kwaku slowly turned toward his father.
"Is that true?"
Their father said nothing.
"Father?"
He finally spoke.
"I was its guardian."
The old woman corrected him.
"You were its king."
Kwaku stared at him.
"You were a king?"
Their father looked away.
"I was young."
"And you hid this from us?"
"I was trying to protect you from my mistakes."
The First Guardian suddenly struck her spear against the floor.
BOOM!
A golden wave spread through the palace.
Kwaku fell to one knee.
His crimson mark began to burn.
Kwesi cried out.
His golden mark was glowing.
Adwoa stared at them.
"They're reacting to her."
The First Guardian raised her hand.
"Bring them."
The armored warriors moved forward.
Kwesi raised his sword.
"No."
His father stepped beside him.
"You cannot defeat them."
Kwesi looked at him.
"Then help us."
His father slowly drew a black sword from beneath his cloak.
"For the first time…"
He tightened his grip.
"…we fight together."
The warriors charged.
Kwesi moved first.
His sword collided with a golden spear.
CLANG!
Kwaku released a wave of crimson energy.
Three guardians were thrown backward.
Adwoa raised both hands.
Dark energy spread across the floor.
The palace shook violently.
The First Guardian watched her carefully.
"You."
Adwoa froze.
"What?"
The old woman narrowed her eyes.
"Where did you get that power?"
Adwoa's expression changed.
"I don't know."
The First Guardian stared at the three circles glowing on Adwoa's forehead.
"Yes, you do."
Before Adwoa could respond, the ground beneath the palace cracked.
A deep roar came from below.
Everyone stopped fighting.
Kwaku looked down.
"What was that?"
Their father suddenly became pale.
"The gate."
The First Guardian looked toward the palace floor.
"It has awakened."
Another roar followed.
This time, the entire palace shook.
A massive crack opened beneath the throne.
Golden light poured from the darkness.
Then a huge hand emerged.
It was covered in black markings.
Kwaku stepped backward.
"What is that?"
Their father tightened his grip on his sword.
"The first prisoner."
Kwesi stared at him.
"You said there was an army."
"There is."
His father looked toward the crack.
"And that…"
The enormous hand gripped the stone floor.
"…is their commander."
The palace floor exploded.
A monstrous figure rose from beneath the earth.
Its eyes burned red.
The First Guardian whispered:
"After all these centuries…"
The creature opened its mouth.
A deep voice shook the entire hall.
"THE BLOODLINE HAS RETURNED."
Kwaku's crimson energy suddenly erupted from his body.
Kwesi's golden power followed.
The two brothers looked at each other.
Their father shouted:
"Run!"
But it was already too late.
The creature raised its hand.
A wave of darkness exploded through the palace.
The walls disappeared.
The floor vanished beneath their feet.
Kwaku reached for Kwesi.
"Brother!"
Kwesi grabbed his arm.
Adwoa screamed.
Their father tried to reach them.
But the darkness swallowed them all.
For one final moment, Kwaku saw the red sky above Bonoman.
Then everything went black.
To be continued…