Chapter 3

•LOUIS•

Her feet pounded against the delicate base of the chair. Her thin- black eyebrows tensed as her ivory hands shivered. The storm in her blue eyes ordered a challenge as if waiting for a miracle to turn the tables around.

Mercilessly, I held her thin arm and watched her internal screeching as I drew a straight line with the metallic knife. Her arm convulsed, and I witnessed a tear escaping her closed eye. She didn't scream, despite the pain.

"Now listen, you remember those blood tests you conducted for one of your patients? What was his name? Let me remember. That Louis, right?"

"It won't hurt anyone if you fabricated some data regarding his blood tests, right?" I smirked.

"Are you out of your mind! This is illegal, and I will lose my job!"

"You know how to kidnap people, so why don't you try to falsify it yourself!" she commented.

"I said I am the one who speaks here. You will only say yes. You don't want to lose your fiance and best friend, do you? Now I wouldn't want to kill your parents, they are probably old, and will die soon. But your fiance and best friend, they're too young," I smirked.

She glared at me blankly, not speaking anymore, nor untying the ropes. For a second, it felt as if she knew me. She sat silently, ignoring the pain of her arm. But behind her strength, was a person who realized that he had to become a criminal. I didn't have a clean history. There were days, where I stole, shoplifted and even thought about drug trafficking. But, I never kidnapped a person or believed that I would attempt to do so.

"Whatever your issues are, they're obviously with me. So leave Ellena and Ethan alone, and don't you dare to touch them!"

"I am the one who orders here. And you still didn't answer my question. Will you give up your ethics or friends?" I boldly said.

"If I agreed, what makes you guarantee that I won't go to the police after you let go of me?"

"Even if I went to jail, do you think my power will stop? I have connections."

Her lips remained sealed, not daring to speak. She stared at the ground as if it would provide a guide. Her closed eyes contemplated the limited choices she had. Another tear escaped her eye, and at that moment, I knew she gave up. With a voice full of sorrow, she answered the question in what seemed like years.

"I'll do what you want. Untie my ropes, and let me leave," she broke the silence.

I hadn't noticed that I tied the ropes on her bare leg when I brought her here. They had, perhaps, slipped off her short boots. Thin, blue lines were looping over the wrist of her leg. During the entire time, she stared at a broken mirror beside her. But, as she stood up, it was clear that Aryn was even more damaged than that mirror.

"You can leave."

As she stepped away, the bits of damaged glass crunched under her bruised feet. She hid the pain, but her interrupted steps indicated otherwise. When she was finally close to exiting, she looked at me and frowned evil eyes. Despite her agony, she still showed the queen in her.

"This isn't over. You will pay for this, whoever you are! I assure you!" she exclaimed.

"Don't play with fire, young woman."

I took off the mask, which sought for my annoyance. Being able to breathe normally again, flashbacks of her desperation kept playing in my head. As Aryn was heading home right now, she probably thought I was a monster who promised to destroy what she lived for. It was partially true, but she didn't know that I was forced to kidnap her. I wasn't the only monster in the game.

"Aunt Giana, I did what you and the other protectors ordered," I answered, as the phone rang.

"Great. Now quickly come to the main entrance of the kingdom."

"Alright. Meet you there."

The leafless trees acquired the dry soil underneath. Dead branches extended from each tree-like bent nails on a board of wood. Green strands dangled and rotated around the streamed stunk. The pond in the centre lured the sapphire-blue colour of the veins embedded to the main door. The door behind was instead a boulder trapped in a pattern of jewels. On the door, every precious jewel was combined in a way that only existed in lavish empires.

That was the mystical door of Rizolir- the invisible kingdom.

I placed my thumb into the 'blood confirmer' machine, directly beside the door. Only carriers of blood "R" could get access to what's behind the door. "Confirmed," the machine stated in a robotic voice. Shades of the black night gradually appeared in lustre as the door glided slowly, revealing what the kingdom hid beyond.

On the ground of the Rizolir, each one, there had a story to tell. Whether we believed it or not, everyone - from protectors to guards- had unspoken diaries of what their life was like before stepping into Rizolir. And I wasn't an exception.

A man who had to deal with his father's addiction once lived in the Cordele city- which had one of the highest poverty rates in Georgia. I never acknowledged our house to be one. It was barely rotten wood surrounded by layers of red bricks. All three windows were shattered, and a thief would encounter his luckiest days if he somehow found our door-except- there wasn't anything to steal.

Every day was a new battle for my older sister and me. There came nights where we couldn't even find bread. We would just sleep on the carpet less floor, hearing the rhythm of our growling stomachs. When we thought that the situation couldn't get worse, my mother woke up with a pale face one night.

She kept getting weaker and weaker until she couldn't even hold a pen. Instead of paying for her medications, my father kept spending the little money we had for his drugs. I didn't know at the time whether to get mad at my father, or stay and cry by my mother's side- who was dying. My sister tried her best to work, but she was only thirteen, as I was five at the time. Despite all of our efforts in igniting her powers again, she took her final breath on her cold bed.

When I turned ten, we finally moved away from what people called a house. However, It wasn't due to my father's efforts, who never changed. My sister worked day and night to afford enough money to move out. But at that point, I lost the power to feel what normal humans felt.

Ten years passed, while I just strolled through streets and shops. Gerold never stopped bringing heroin home, and litres of alcohol. He ran into many debts, which I would have never been able to afford.

It wasn't long when some anonymous group of people came to the neighbourhood. At first, they kept emphasizing at the importance of blood donation and how it helped to save millions of lives. The entire area slowly started getting manipulated, as those people kept advertising and informing. Soon after, everyone-including me-started donating blood, in hopes of saving some lives.

After they had our blood, I thought the organization wouldn't come again. However, they returned. But that time, it wasn't for advertising, but to take me away. They introduced me to Rizolir's kingdom, and I discovered that the whole donation they claimed was just to find me-their missing protector.

I didn't feel afraid, but rather a stray man who finally found his purpose, and stopped running around the dirty streets. But it didn't change how I saw every human as a devil, ready to burn anything for his satisfactions. The only difference was that for the first time, I felt pride.

As the door finally opened, I passed through the dangling plants at the entrance. Arms straight, and eyes focused, Uncle Samuel stood with independence and ego. His silky-black hair occupied his beige forehead. On the other hand, there was the simple smile of Aunt Gaina that complimented her dark-brown hair and honey skin. With secrets wrapped around her malicious eyes, Devlin stood with pride and confidence.

"I got her blood. It's in this test tube. Aunt Giana, can you please send it to the laboratory of our hospital?" I announced, with a determined tone.

"Yeah sure, dear," she replied as she retired towards the hospital.

"Are you sure about your doubts?" Uncle Samuel interrogated.

"It won't hurt, making sure. After all, she said that her blood results matched mine."

"Well, I guess someone will have to teach her the rules of this place," Devlin inquired.

"Not before we make sure. The results will be out within minutes anyway," Uncle Samuel boldly responded.

"Uncle Samuel, send my gratitude to the king and queen. And inform Aunt Giana to call me when the results are out. Also, do you have an idea where she lives? I mean, Aryn," I asked.

"Yes, in Alamo street, beside that elementary school. However, you know you shouldn't meet her now, right? We're still not sure."

"But I'm sure, Uncle Samuel. The results will only take a few minutes. It will probably come out while I'm on the way."

"What makes you so sure, anyway? You and all of us are aware of the consequences that may happen if anyone knew about us."

"We all are, Uncle Samuel, but she is one of us. She's a Doctor. She wouldn't lie about something like that."

"You can go now, but don't tell her anything until the results appear," Uncle Samuel suggested.

After leaving the kingdom, I began riding towards her house. I was sure she didn't lie about her blood results. As I got closer to the destination, I felt confused and perplexed. It's been years since anyone joined the kingdom. It wasn't a place anyone would want to get involved with. The Kingdom of Rizolir had always been full of conflicts and war. It was probably the most beautiful thing on the planet. But, unfortunately, all the magnificence it had was based on hate and war.

But, she had to discover her real propose. And the fact that she is one of us.

The missing protector.

I knocked on the door, where I instantly heard footsteps approaching it. She opened the door, surprised to see me. Before I even entered, I could picture the astonishment she would give once I confess everything. I took off my boots, determined to unravel every mystery she was oblivious of.

"Louis? How did you know this location?" she laughed.

"It doesn't matter now. I need to tell you something. It's urgent."

"Ok, then, let's have a seat."

The living room she led me to was not luxurious, but warm. A red couch occupied the right side of the room. In the centre, there was a glass table with golden borders on which a white vase stood. I sat, not knowing what to say. Everything I wanted to confess suddenly vanished when I saw her. She didn't show the terror she had an hour ago. Instead, she was on the couch, anticipating what I had to say.

"What's wrong, Louis?"

"You should know something. The truth, in fact."

"What truth?" she confusedly spoke.

At the same moment, Aunt Gaina rang; to announce the blood results. I answered the call and placed the phone on loudspeaker. Her blue eyes widened as she heard Aunt Gaina. Sweat dripped from her forehead as her breathing rate increased. She couldn't speak, despite the eternity of questions, she was forming every second.

"Louis, she is the missing protector and the carrier of blood R," Aunt Giana said.

I closed the call, as confusion circled Aryn's face. She stared at me, speechless. Only a few seconds stood between her and the truth. Aunt Gaian's words only revealed a small part of what's hidden. I had to continue the loop and speak to the person I kidnapped an hour ago.

"Why are you making me listen to this! Who are you?" she panicked.

"I am Louis Craven. The carrier of your blood type," I confidently replied.

"There are a lot of things you aren't attentive of. Do you think you're only a doctor?" I questioned.

"Yes. I am only a simple Doctor, with a fairly normal life. It's already getting late, and you better leave before it gets any darker."

I took a deep breath. It was now or never.

"Listen, as a Doctor, you probably realized that our blood components aren't what we expect. There is an explanation for this. One that a few know," I stated with a serious voice.

"Aunt Giana is the woman who called. She also has blood R. That is blood containing palladium. It's a very important component we are using to battle radiation, and protect Earth's ozone layer."

"What you're saying can't be true. Palladium was announced to have run out, and I certainly don't wanna be involved with you or that woman," she responded.

"Do you think there's a way back after this? You should know that Earth selected you to become a protector," I declared.

"Louis, I clearly stated that I do not want to be part of this," she inquired with an irritated voice.

"I am not here to argue but to tell you. And there is another thing you have to know," I bitterly replied.

At that point, she lost her sarcastic tone and voice. I thought that I already finished the toughest part, but I was wrong. At that stage, she still didn't know her kidnapper. My mission was over, and I confirmed that she is a protector. But there was a truth still hidden.

"I am or, more precisely, we are the ones who-," I stopped.