Rider King part 34

DRAMON

She disappeared from my arms like a sweet dream I didn’t deserve. I’ve always seen Venus as an angel, but I never thought that seeing her become one would send me to the Underworld.

The scene replays in my mind every day. I had her one second, and the next she’s gone. I scream her name so loud my chest burns, and I search the ground, thinking that she fell. I saw the other lights in the distance, though. I know what happened to her.

“King Dramon.”

I jerk, and lift my axe a little too high. I’m too jumpy these days from little sleep and too much brawling. I’ve chased down dozens of men who claim to know where the women are, and beat the truth out of the charlatans.

I lower my weapon when I realize it’s only a Clan member. He’s one of the few that didn’t lose their minds after all mothers, sisters, daughters, nieces and friends Vanished. Sometimes I wonder if I lost my head, too, and my Clan is too terrified to say anything.

My Clan is down to thirty men. The others aren’t fending well, either. Zoro’s and Rexon’s clan are also down to double digits, and Venus’ Clan was disbanded. It didn’t survive without her. I don’t think I’ll survive, either.

The planet Xelor has dwindled down to despair. There is no law anymore. The palace was looted, the human colonies invaded, and religious scrolls hunted. The people are angry. They changed the culture to worship women, and the world still took them away.

It has never been this bad. In previous Vanishings, a few women were left behind. It has been months, and not a single woman has been found.

I don’t give a fuck anymore. Not about the Gods, about the Rider Kings, about the Wrenches. I want my wife back, and I’ll look for her until I’m too old to ride. Based on the anger and adrenaline pumping through me, that won’t happen anytime soon.

I miss her. That smile, that challenge, that kindness. I miss her so much it feels like she took my sanity with her.

Is she safe? Is she thinking of me? I’m a failure of a man and a King if I can’t even find her. All the wealth and power has been for nothing. The arm ring that’s right around my bicep becomes worthless.

“What?” I ask man— one of the few loyal and sane men that follow me as I search for our queen.

“Another letter from The Capital has arrived.”

Or what remains of it.

The nobles were blamed for the Vanishing. Their luxurious party was on full blast right as the women were ripped from the planet. I didn’t arrive in time to stop the bloodshed. I had been deep in the east, following a lead at a Gladiator fight. The alleged prize was a map of the women’s location. I was so desperate and low on sleep that I dove into the competition. I beat dozens, all for nothing. There was no map, but there was hell to pay when I found out.

By the time I flew back to The Capital, the Nobles were nearly extinct, just like the women. I crossed Rexon, and the bastard looked like a reflection of me— Dead inside.

I hate him even more for it, because he’s missing what’s mine.

I unroll the letter Centres sent. As usual, it’s cryptic.

I must speak with you about urgent matters. Come see me.

After ripping the letter, I toss it to the wind. Centres will just have to find another errand boy. I have more important things to do. I need to find Venus.

“Go!” I urge my beast, and we surge into the air. I circle the area I lost her in, and we ride so high that I suffocate from a lack of air.

As usual, there’s no sign of her. I’ve been chasing a ghost for six exhausting months. I’m starting to feel hopeless— an emotion I have little familiarity with.

I’m almost done scraping the entire planet, and there is still no sign of Venus. It’s like she’s not on the planet anymore.

I frown and glide down to the ground. I swing off my beast, and my long hair whips behind me. I have had little interest in tidying up lately. All I do is sleep, eat, search, and beat my cock when my temper is pumping dangerously high.

As I stand on the ground, wearing hide pants and a shirt with one too many holes, I stare at the sky. The sun is bright and demands that I look away, but I keep staring. I’ll burn my soul itself if that’s what I need to find her.

Could it be? Is Venus somewhere out there, in a foreign world?

I remember her briefly mentioning a letter the Seer asked her to translate. It had been written in Engrish, one of the old human languages. Venus only identified a few words, but it could contain precious information.

The Seer is gone, so The Capital would be the only place to look. I ride back to the Clan to prepare for departure.

Centres will finally get that meeting with me.

Once I land, I pet Treysa and feed her. The poor animal is sad. We both miss our female, but I promise her every time that I’ll bring her back.

Treysa slumps in a depressed state. My presence doesn’t do much to lift her spirits.

With a last pat, I assign a man to lead her to The Capital. We are so deep into the wilds that it takes two days to fly in.

I land by the back entrance of the unrecognizable castle. Evidence of a struggle is all over. There are still hints of blood, broken carriages, shattered art, paper, and muddied clothes.

“A noble!”

I raise my axe and swing when a rock is thrown at me. It flies back and hits the stupid adolescent male that threw it on the forehead.

“I’m no fucking noble,” I grumble and walk into the backdoor.

“Centres!” I roar.

When I pass by a shattered mirror, I scowl. I look like an ugly, insufferable son of a bitch with my beard, hair, and all the new scars that adorn me.

I swing my axe and balance it on my shoulder. The remaining palace guards stand at attention. They know better than to cross me.

I twist and turn through the palace, headed for Centre’s meeting room. It has been months, and the place is still trashed.

I barge in without knocking, as if I own the place. Centres is on his feet and pacing. His long robe flickers between his legs. Behind him are stacks of unorganized scrolls.

“Dramon,” he says, and swings his crimson eyes toward mine. “I have been trying to get a hold of you for months.”

I sit on a chair and stab my axe at the wooden desk.

“I need the scroll Venus came across. The one that came from the stars and written in the human language.”

He shakes his head. That’s not a response I’m interested in.

“There are bigger things to discuss now.”

“Not bigger than Venus.” I pick up my axe and stand. I’ve wasted enough time.

“I know how you can look for her,” Centres blurts.

I’ve heard that line a thousand times.

“Be careful what you follow up with, King Centres. Your age and status will not spare you from getting your remaining teeth punched out your jaw.”

Centres takes a step forward. “You can get yourself more men to search for Venus faster. My daughter…” he stops.

“The Crown Princess is gone, just like all the women,” I tell him.

“I have no heir without her and her sisters.”

I shrug. That’s not my problem.

“What are you asking? For me to find her along with Venus? Is that the cost of getting more resources for my search?”

“Dramon, there is something you must know.”

I sigh. “Get on with it.”

“You are… you are my illegitimate son. Now that the princesses are gone, you are my heir. I need you to take over. I have no strength to fix what has become of Xelor.”

The axe clanks when it hits the ground.

next chapter is in a few hours!