chapter 74:Aiden’s POV
.Memories, That was all I had left. I never knew how important they would be till I had lost my father but then I got used to the loss over time and now I know their importance again. I was shown how useful they were yet again when I had lost my mate, her daughter and now Xerxes Fear lagged in me wondering who was next, was it Willow? Was it my mother? My thoughts were all over the place as I became vulnerable due to the recent happenings. My heart ached at the loss and betrayal I had suffered. I looked to my side to see my mother still weeping with her head resting on Willow's shoulder who in turn kept consoling her while still sobbing herself. I peered at them for quite some time, something was wrong, something was wrong with Willow. Despite the gloomn and sadness permeating the atmosphere, I could still decipher that something was off about Willow. She didn't look the same to me, she looked strange, her countenance was unusual and for some reason I didn't trust her. You are over thinking, I said to myself knowing fully well that I might just be making assumptions and pretentious ideas since I was still blinded with grief and rage. I tore my gaze away from them and looked up at the heavens. The skies were dark and dismal just like the mood of everyone of us right here, the heavens represented our emotions. The cries and sobs of the pack members pierced the dreadful silence of the night. Everyone of us was gathered out here, hurdled together to pay our last respect to Xerxes with only the memories of him lingering in our hearts. I tried to convince myself that he wasn't truly gone, that it was all a prank, a jest. I told myself that he would suddenly wake up and laugh in our faces at how we fell for it but it dawned on me that none of that was happening. He was gone and he was gone. Standing right there and staring at the funeral pyre made me realise that Xerxes's death had happened for real and there was nothing that would bring him back. The good ones go first, I tried to console myself with these words. I tried telling myself that he was ascending to the moon goddess to finally have peace and be free from the shackles of this world. "We are ready your Highness." Gwen called from where she stood. She was Xerxes's assistant now successor. I nodded at her and one of Xerxes's student handed me a torch with it's flames burning brightly. Gwen levitated herself above the funeral pyre while we all advanced towards it, circling it. We were all dressed in white with forlorn looks on our ready to pay our last respects.
"We are all gathered here tonight.." She started the eulogy and I instantly zoned out with the memories of Xerxes and I flashing before my eyes, sinking in my thoughts. Tears brimmed in the corner of my eyes and I fought hard to keep them from flowing. I took in the last I will see of him. He was laid on the pyre shrouded in white just like the rest of us Wore. His hands were crossed on his chest and his face morphed serenity with his eyes closed and skin pale. He looked serene on his journey to eternal rest and I was somewhat glad not minding the sadness weighing down on me, I was glad that he looked peaceful in his state. He had lived a good life and he died a hero. Soon enough, we were done with the rites and I was called upon to light the pyre, I took few steps right before him, bent my head and kissed his forehead for the very last time, you will be avenged, I will find your murderer and kill him, I promise you! I stepped backwards, brought the torch forward and lighted up the pyre, a lone tear slipped from my eye as it was engulfed in flames. Xerxes was gone. We all sat around the pyre on the cold snow with our legs crossed and palms joined watching the flames inundate Xerxes's corpse as Gwen invoked the spirits of the moon to accept his pure soul and soon a calm wind blew giving us the signal to shift into our wolves. We shifted immediately burying our paws in the soft snow flakes, the wind blew over Xerxes's ashy pyre carrying his ashes, gathering them in it's wake and then blowing into the forest setting a trail for us. Spyro let out a howl in it's direction and immediately he led the pack following the wind that carried his remains with just the full moon light guiding us, our paws hit the ground raising snow as we trotted within the forest howling to the moon taking the last run in honor of our dead healer. The wind led us to the top of the highest hill and we ascended withit, on reaching there, we sat on our tails and howled sadly to the moon as the wind passed through us, caressing our furs before blowing in the directions of the heavens right where the moon shone down on us. The ritual was over and with heavy hearts we bade goodbye to our dear Xerxes, with me reminding myself of the pronmise I had made at the back of my mind to hunt down whomever had killed him. I ran through the forest straight to where the caves were, right where I had asked Vlad to meet me, he was the King of the dragons and I had to seek his help as I had run out of options, besides he owed me one and he was going to use this opportunity to repay my favor to him. I hadn't told my mother or anyone about my plans of seeking out help from the dragons, for some unknown reason I didn't want to. I just wanted to do this on my owm and tell them when the plan had successfully worked out. I reached the mouth of the dark cave and almost immediately the shadow of wings loomed over me and I knew it was Vlad. A fiery red dragon descended and immediately shifted into it's human form. He walked up to me with a straight face as if bothered by something.
"My friend." He reached me and extended his hand with the greetings, "I have good news and bad news,"
"Good to see you vlad." I shook his hand in return,
"Out with the news, I am running out of time."
"Good or bad first?"
"The bad." I gulped with my heart drumming fast wondering what it was he had to say.
"We couldn't find your mate nor her daughter nor the prisoners." He said quietly and my face fell.I had asked for his help knowing that dragons had far sight and could see or scan anywhere from high above.
"What is the good news?"
"The hybrid was found." His face lit up at this point, "Remember the propounded assumptions of who might have killed Xerxes and Fay said it looked like the Marks of a hybrid were littered all Over him." He said, "It might be the hybrid you seek cause he was found in the north near the vampire territory."
Anger boiled inside of me but I felt a sort of relief knowing that Andros had been found and I was going to kill him. Vlad gave me all the details I needed and later that night, I gathered the troops and we were fully armored, most of us were mounted on horses to make the journey faster in the snow. I had a feeling that Andros was working with the vampires seeing that he is a hybrid and was found in their territory and he definitely had to work with one which had enabled them to drop Xerxes's body from high above as Vampires could caw and shift into their winged forms. I bade good bye to the pack except my mother, she had left without letting anyone know of her whereabouts but I hada feeling that she yet again went to plead with the wolves council. We left and started our journey to the vampire Kingdom with Vlad flying about us giving us directions to where Andros was found. We didn't have to take long to spot him, he was riding on a horse coming before us and immediately he saw us, he drew his hand out and began to wave. Anger surged within me at the guts he possessed. After everything he had done, he had the guts to wave at us like we sent him on a mission and he riding on a horse coming before us and immediately he saw us, he drew his hand out and began to wave. Anger surged within me at the guts he possessed. After everything he had done, he had the guts to wave at us like we sent him on a mission and he was returning.
"Should I attack?" Willow growled in his direction but I motioned for her to calm down. I geared my horse and sped towards Andros and at the same time unsheathed my sword.
"Your highness, I am so g..." We reached each other and I drove my sword into the depths of his abdomen stopping his words and in that moment I didn't care if he was Gabby's friend or if she would be mad at me. He was a traitor that had put the lives of my loved ones in danger, he needed to die and I had to make sure of it.