Poison Rose(Roses & Kings #1)

Cassandra ordered one of the guards controlling the computers. Immediately the video was replayed. On the screen the video showed a part of the castle that was to the south,the south gate was closed, the field was empty, there was no sign of life, everything was still,only four guardians were there, keeping watch.

Then before Reyna could blink her eyes, six large figures just appeared out of nowhere. Looking and searching for something, they were menacing and looked determined, they didn't even notice the guardians, which means Amara's magic had held. Until one of the beast throw something at the magical walls unveiling the gates to their Queendom, that's when the guardians shot at them with their guns and were lucky to get them. The figures slowed with the unexpected attack, the silver bullets piercing their body, red thick blood trickling out of the holes the bullets had made. Their movements became slow.

The guardians had foolishly stepped out of the perimeters, and had been quick to underestimate them, getting close to them. Because in a moment they'd turned the tables on them, they tore away the guns from the women's hands. And using their sharp claws they sliced their necks, the guards dropped dead instantly, the beast didn't waste time; they were inside Marlenia with one smooth jump.

"Rewind that, slowly this time." It plays again, at first there's quiet and inactivity, then the beast rushes forward,running faster than anyone or anything Reyna had ever seen. The beasts were undoubtedly searching for something, Reyna didn't know if they were looking for a way into Marlenia or if they were searching for something entirely different. Only one of them look confident and sure. One thing Reyna was sure of is the guards could have avoided them. They should have called for back up the instant they saw the beasts. Before they attacked them. Had they reported what was going on and asked for backup, maybe they could still be alive instead they'd attack the beasts now they're all dead. The fight didn't even last a minute before it was over. And they'd seen Marlenia and had jumped the wall.

Thank God for the electrical wiring that was meant to electrocute any invader which had gotten to them, added with the gunshots they'd sustained from the guards. It made them weak and slowed their movements. Otherwise they would have been under attack, or the beasts could have left and come back with more of their brethren. But the electrical wires had saved them.

Because in a different screen from another angle that shows inside the walls. The beasts were slower as they moved, limping, which gave the hundred guardians ample time to shoot them full of tranquilizers and had beheaded four of them. The next scene is when they are dragged and brought in the remaining two.

“Lydia I want you to assign some guards to go out and scout the area, I don't believe our captives are alone. Shoot and kill any beasts you encounter. If any of them survive I don't need to tell you what that means for any of us.” Cassandra gave the order,her face grim and hard with determination. Lydia nodded and stalked out of the room in haste.

“Lisa, you, Janet and Allison are to go with the guards, they might need the extra hands take one of the witches with you, and I also want additional guards in and outside the walls at all times.”

“Mark, you know what to do.”

“Yes my queen.” Then he marched out of the surveillance room, Cassandra turned to the guards in charge of the surveillance system and said.

“You two are to keep watch at all times, if you see anything amiss, you inform me immediately, understand?!”

“Yes your Majesty.” And with that they leave the surveillance room to finally meet the beasts that breach their walls,also killing innocent women that were only doing their jobs, for unidentified reasons.

The dungeon is exactly where every self respected dungeon ought to be, underground. Where it was cold and dark. Years ago the dungeon was divided into two parts,the first part was left as it was originally built. but the second part is at the right hand, where the medical facilities are, fully equipped, with rolled-in beds and everything a hospital needs.

The walk to the hospital is a good five minutes. After they got out of the elevator, which was a two minute ride, they finally arrived at the infirmary.

The beasts were kept in an entirely different parts of the infirmary. It's a place Reyna had never known existed much less been to, until now to. The security in the infirmary is the same as every important place in the castle,where Reyna was forbidden to enter, with password protected doors.

They stopped walking when they finally reached the entrance to the reception room, Cassandra put in the password, but before the door could open, she turned and stared at Reyna holding her gaze.

“Whatever you do, Reyna, do not let them know you fear them. They will try to attack you, they can't resist the smell.” Reyna nodded, trying to slow her rapidly beating heart, she was confused by what Cassandra had said.

What did she mean? Fear has a smell? How does one smell fear? Does this mean the beasts can smell fear? What else can they do? Reyna was so wrapped up in her head, that she was left standing outside the first room, where one of the beasts was kept.

Cassandra was at the front,her guards close behind, their hands on their tasers ready to use it at a moment's notice. At least it means she wants these beasts kept alive,Reyna concluded. Cassandra was glaring daggers at the prone body, the council behind her,it's the most emotional Reyna had ever seen her, while she had left the entrance of the door. She was still a distance away from the bed, the beast inside was still unconscious, they are more intimidating up close, even unconscious he gives off a dangerous vibe.

His body is tight and corded with muscles, the bed he's lying atop is way too short and small for his large frame. His feet are hanging at the end of the hospital bed. Reyna's sure he's going to feel an ache when he wakes,he looks uncomfortable. Both his hands and feet are shackles to the bed, and his upper and lower body are also chained to the bed.

He only had a long jean to cover his lower part, what intrigued Reyna most was the way his upper body lights up with translucent blue light that seems to come from within his body. She also feels queasy and compassion in her heart, for this creature.

But then she remembered these beasts had killed innocent women who had done nothing wrong to deserve it, but protect their territory. And she knows if the roles was reversed he'd probably just eat her, or rape then kill her. That thought sobered her up pretty quickly. Whatever pity Reyna was beginning to feel for him, gone. Those monsters have been killing her people for years, she shouldn't pity them she should hate them. But she really didn't.

Reyna didn't know what she expected to see but the beasts are not how they were told they were. They weren't hideous or ghastly monsters with numerous tentacles and heads. This beast doesn't look much different from them, except for his massive size and the claws on his hands and feet, he just looks human to her. The same skin, same five fingers and toes, the same hair, the only thing he truly is,in Reyna's opinion, is a male. Different, but still a male.

Now she knows the answer to her question, men are definitely different from women. While it is not clear to Reyna what the bulge hidden in the beast pants is, she knows it is not a virgina, at least that question is out of the way. Reyna wasn't the only one who's looking at the beast as though he's an alien. Cassandra and the three council members they'd come together with are also making their own opinion about the beast she was sure.

But where Reyna was looking at the beasts with fear, awe and curiosity. Her mother and the council looked at him with fear, disgust and hate. Reyna felt like a traitor for the simple reason that she didn't hate him. It's hard to hate someone who has never hurt you, just for being who or what he is.

Elizabeth is busy poking and prodding him. Checking his ears, his mouth and his eyes. Reyna didn't know what she was hoping to find in his mouth, but whatever, she's the expert here and she looks like it. With her white lab coat,medical eyeglasses and white rubber hand gloves you can see that she's in her element.

There's a man whom Reyna assumes is also a scientist, he's a tall handsome dark skin man. And her assistant Emily close to her, holding a tray with extraction tools. If there wasn't a beast right now in front of them. Reyna would have probably gawked at the doctor, he's the fourth man she'd seen today, what's going on? She didn't see men throughout her life, all of a sudden it was raining men everywhere,But like with the surveillance guards the beast takes priority.

Reyna averted her gaze when the male who doctor Elizabeth addressed as doctor Benjamin, took a sharp scalpel and sliced the beast at the back of his ears,he quickly dap a cotton on the wound trying to control the dark red blood, flowing from the fresh cut. She tried not to think of all the other things they were going to do with all the scalpels.

“As you can see your Majesty, I have this one heavily sedated, I was lucky enough to inject him while he was coming to,and still too groggy from the effect of the tranquilizers the guardians pump into him. I'm not so lucky with the other one. You can go ahead to the next room, the beast is conscious and contained,and wouldn't let me examine him. He's more dangerous that one, so I advise you to be careful. I just need to take some samples here and I will be right with you.”

“Come see me immediately when you are through Elizabeth. We need to talk.”

“Yes your majesty.” They exchange a grim look that was very suspicious to Reyna. She had always known there are secrets between doctor Elizabeth and her mother, the two are thick as thieves. But whatever this was Reyna wanted so desperately to know and she promised herself that she would find out what's going on.

Cassandra and the women send the unconscious beast a last glare and then proceed to leave the room, Reyna followed closely behind this time. Her mind still on that ominous look her mother and the doctor had shared.

The door was barely opened when they heard a loud rattling growl.