Call Of The Dark

A collective gasp followed from the audience when they saw their king fallen on the ground with the spear plunged in his chest. Blood spurted from his heart and pooled around his body.

Lazarus rushed to his father and sat by his side. "Father!" he breathed as a shiver ran down his spine.

Viktor moved his lips to say something but he couldn't utter a word. The pain was immense and rippled across his body in sharp waves. He closed his eyes because he knew that he would be healed because of the necklace's magic. When he opened them, he saw Lazarus peering at him with wide eyes. "You…" he rasped in a very low voice. "You can never take this necklace. It is mine." He chuckled. "You don't know the magic spell."

Lazarus noticed that the necklace's luster had dimmed to the level that it had become a pale yellow. It was an indication that it was using all its magic to heal his father. This was also the time when its hold on his father would be the least. If he chanted the right spell that he had learned from his mother, it would come to him. "You are forgetting one thing father," he said in a hoarse voice. "My mother taught me the right spell before she died. But she also said that I had to wait for the right moment to get it. It's hold on you would be weakest when you would be in grave danger and hanging between life and death."

Viktor's eyes went wide in shock. Angered as hell, he said, "You will take advantage of this situation, when I can't do anything? Where is your manliness?"

Lazarus chuckled but his chuckle didn't reach his eyes. "I have had enough of this game, father. Now watch me!" He got up, towering over him. He closed his eyes and chanted, "Éla je ménia." Magical lights burst around him. They coiled around his arm and traveled to his hand. He shot them towards the necklace. It moved from its place.

"Nooo!" Viktor tried his best to get up by keeping one hand on his necklace and the other on the ground. "You can't!"

Lazarus's eyes became a deep red as he looked at the necklace and extended his hand for it to come to its rightful owner.

The necklace stopped moving for a moment. "Éla je ménia!" This time Lazarus chanted the spell louder and with all his energy. The necklace peeled off the skin of his father, leaving an imprint of stripped skin, flesh and blood. Viktor shouted as he tried to catch the necklace, but he couldn't get up. The necklace connected with Lazarus's fist and he grabbed it immediately. There was some magic that was still holding it with Viktor. Lazarus yanked the necklace from the magical field and lifted his hand high in the air.

Viktor's eyes went wide with shock and surprise when he saw his oldest son with the necklace in his hand. Gusty winds swirled around him as magic sizzled in the air. Suddenly, his whole body convulsed. And before he could fathom what was happening, his body turned into ashes which were blown by the wind and carried away from the palace's grounds.

The wind settled and the magic evanesced. Lazarus stood there with the necklace in his hand, his chest rising and falling with the fresh magic that traveled from the necklace and pulsed in his body. He turned a circle, showing the necklace to all the royals present there. They watched him with pure fear in complete silence. When he came to face Emma who was still behind the iron gate, he showed it to her.

A smile spread on his lips as tears flowed out. She knew that he dedicated his victory to her. "Open the gates," she ordered the guards. As soon as the gates opened, she walked out of there with her chin held high. Excitement swelled along with pride and love. She nodded at him to encourage him to wear the necklace.

Lazarus's throat bobbed as he waited for her to come to him. When she reached him, she stood in front of him. "Lord Lorza," she said. "What are you waiting for? Wear it."

"I was waiting for you, Emma," he replied in a hoarse voice. He lifted the necklace to his neck. It settled snugly over there as if it had returned home and he clasped it from behind. The next instant, the necklace embedded itself in his skin. Lazarus winced in pain when the metal pierced his skin, but the pain was flitting. The necklace shone brilliantly once after which its shine settled.

"Long live the king!" A voice shouted from the crowd.

"Long live King Lazarus!" Another voice came.

And the whole crowd burst into cheers. Emma laughed through her tears and embraced him tightly. He curled his hands around her shoulders and kissed the crown of her head. He didn't realize that he was crying until his cheeks became wet. Lazarus never cried in his life, but this was a special occasion. His brothers ran to him and hugged him from all sides as Bernice and Titus looked at all of them proudly. Viktor was… forgotten. Just like that.

"The ceremony to ascend you to the throne should be conducted as soon as possible!" Titus suggested.

"Yes!" Yul supported him. "I have called the High Priest already. There is a heavy number of royals present here. There wouldn't be a better time than now."

Surprised at him, Lazarus raised his eyebrow. "So soon?"

"He is right," Magnus said. "Come to the throne room." He turned to his brother. "Jasper, you should announce to the public to come to the throne hall in ten minutes."

"What is the hurry?" Lazarus asked, bewildered at his brothers.

Magnus pulled Lazarus from the arena towards the throne hall as Jasper took the conch and shouted on it to announce to the public to gather in the throne hall. Yul ordered his guards to surround the new king. Emma giggled at the way they were all hurrying up the process of his crowning. When they reached the hall, they saw that the High Priest was already there. Magnus took him and Emma to the dais.

"You should stay with me, Emma," said Bernice. "The dais belongs to the king at this time."

"Why? She's my mate!" Lazarus protested.

"She is. But she isn't your wife and queen of Wiyra," Bernice pointed out. "Once you marry her, she will share that pedestal. Otherwise, the royals are going to hate her. Let her be with me for now."

"But Emma—" Lazarus didn't like it at all.

"She is right, Lord Lorza," Emma said with a sweet smile. "I will see your ascension from here."

Lazarus sighed. "Okay…"

The High Priest came and since Yul had asked him to hurry up with the ceremony, Lazarus was declared the King of Wilyra is fifteen minutes. The crown now sat on his head. Everyone cheered him all over again. Once the cheers died down, Lazarus announced, "I want all of you to wait until tomorrow because I will wed my mate, Emmalyn."