It took a ten minute drive to arrive at the Royal Castle. Oh my goddess, I have never seen anything like it. It is a literal castle! I don't know why I was expecting something else, it's called the 'Royal Castle', but this place is huge. This place looks poetic and ethereal. Driving up, the castle rose like a memory made of solid, its vast body hewn from grey brick the color of storm clouds and old stone. Towers climbed skyward with deliberate symmetry, their edges sharp and purposeful as though shaped by ancient hands and modern minds.The walls stretched wide and unbroken, not merely defensive, but commanding. In a way it suits Kieran, always displaying to be an impenetrable wall. The castle has narrow windows cut clean lines through the masonry, reflecting light like watchful eyes, blending the romance of a medieval stronghold. Though it carried the weight of centuries in its form, there was something unmistakable new in its silence, as if the past had been rebuilt to endure a future it was never meant to see. I shiver at all the memories the walls must carry. The royal colors hang in banners throughout the sides of the walls with its emblem. The same emblem I notice on the guards uniform. Forest green, royal blue, tan and silver patterns engraved into the gates as we pass through.
As we approached closer beneath the shadow of the castle, a chill settled deep in my chest. Getting out of the car and grabbing onto Kieran's hand. He smiles down on me.
"Welcome home little wolf." Shivers went up my spine as I turned to take it all in. The air itself seemed to tighten, as though the walls were drawing inwards listening. I could not have said why, this place unsettled me, I know nothing of its history, nothing of my own. But the stones watched me with familiarity that felt accusatory. I shivered with an unease as if something watching was beckoning me forward.
The entrance to the castle is nothing short of majestic. As you step through the towering, intricate carved wooden doors, that alone should cost more than my car, you're immediately swept into a grand hall that feels both timeless and alive with grandeur. I couldn't hide my shock even if I tried. The floor beneath my feet is smooth, polished marble gleaming with every reflection from the chandeliers overhead. Gosh has no one ever walked across this floor before?
At the center of the hall, a sweeping staircase spirals upwards, its polished railing glinting like silver under the warm glow of the chandeliers. The stairs themselves are wide, inviting with each step feeling like it could lead you into a new world. They split midway, creating a graceful arc, allowing you to continue up or descend towards hidden passageways beneath. I feel an odd sensation towards one of these passageways, with its arched doorway, beckoning me into an unknown secret corridor that stretches through the castle.
Without thinking, as in a trance, I let go of Kieran's hand and started walking towards the arch way. Whispers, oddly I don't hear them, but it's as if I feel them within my bones, it's an itch I have to scratch. I need to go down that passageway, I had taken a couple steps when "Hey hold on, weren't you hearing me?" Snapping out of my trance in confusion I look up to see Kieran's confused expression.
"I'm sorry what?" I try to muster out, blinking rapidly trying to figure out what just happened.
"I was asking if you are tired, but do you want to see what's down that hall?" He says as if understanding the bizarre occurrence.
I nod not knowing how else to respond. Taking my hand he leads me into a massive long hallway. The walls are decorated with works of art - massive, elegant alongside tapestries, ancient paintings and, I gasp. Portraits of wolves, no not just wolves but the most beautiful wolves I have ever seen. White wolves. I've never seen a white wolf before. There are so many portraits as if depicting a story, no, history. There are dates on the bottom. Were these wolves real? Alive? If so, how come I've never met one? Granted I never left my pack. Old pack I guess.
As I proceed to walk down the hallway admiring the grace of these beautiful, majestic white wolves I stop abruptly. The next couple of wolves in the line of succession are not white but black, mean, nothing compared to the grace and almost magic-like creatures from the portraits before. As if sensing my curiosity Kieran spoke:
"This kingdom was ruled by a rare bloodline, a noble bloodline, they embodied both the power of healing and purification." Dragging my hand across the border of one the portraits he continued. "It is known we shifters are children, created by the Moon Goddess, well this royal bloodline was said to be born of the Moon Goddess. An ancient union between the moon's spirit and the earth's. Humans form, they were regal, compassionate, leaders, their presence calming like a soft breeze. Their hearts were pure, their intentions unwavering and their rule was both just and benevolent." I turned to him, and noticed sadness in his eyes. "This kingdom," he paused. Took a deep breath as if it pained him. I don't understand why this story would hurt him. "This kingdom, it was a place of peace, where the sick were healed and the wounded restored, not just through potions and healers or even magic." I wanted to snort, there's no such thing as magic, none I've ever seen at least. I let him continue without interrupting.
"It was the genuine power that flowed through them through their very souls. There was a name to that power actually. Lumen. It was the embodiment of light, restoration and balance. It could mend, heal, but also purify and cleanse. The people revered their rulers, respected them. They were loved by all for their justice, admired for their compassion and feared by those who sought to harm the realm." He kept looking at one of the portraits,
Unable to remove my eyes from one of them, I said "They are stunning."
"That they were, a white wolf. White as freshly fallen snow so radiant it seemed to glow in the moonlight, I've read. They were meant to rule this kingdom. They were the instinctual protectors, no other shifter no matter their rank, strength or aura level could match them. Even the most powerful of shifters would bow before them." Silence fell between us for a few minutes. Then I asked: "I don't understand, if they are meant to rule, where are they? Why haven't I ever seen one? What great power do the so-called have?"
He sighed, as if not wanting to tell me.
" Their pack was not built on dominance, but on unity, each of their members in their pack, royal to succession to the throne or not was either a guardian or leader, woven together by the very essence of healing by their power, the lumen."
"Okay that's great and all but where are they? You obviously aren't a white wolf and you are the Alpha King, so how did that come to be?" I asked not really understanding where this is going. Not sure if I should believe his story about magical pure white wolves.
Turning completely to me, grinding his teeth… is that? Shame I see in his eyes?
"My great grandfather killed them all."