Chapter 2 : Mystical King

The wolves howled into the night as Sigrid drove back to the hotel, her thoughts consumed by the forbidden King and the exiled Kingdom.

Alistair Vane.

The name itself gave her chills as she recalled his fall.

The ruthless barbarian of Lycanor Kingdom whose existence was a bane to the universe as per mythical stories.

She shouldn’t be interested in myths because her profession and goal is to excavate the truth hidden beneath the layers of the earth and to present the glorious history to the world but her own dreams pushed her to follow the detour.

Her dreams are undeniable, she knew it and has been experiencing them for years but was called crazy for living in delusions.

She knew the pain of being ignored while the truth lies in her own head but she can’t prove her innocence.

Likewise, there are many hidden stories in the core of the earth that needs to be proven to the world and one such obscured kingdom that came across her is Lycanor Kingdom which was ruled by a cursed king.

For decades, the archaeologists went after Egypt, India, Rome and many more but never after an exiled clan and she took it as a challenge, personal challenge to be precise and she succeeded in the end.

She found the remains of the myth and the notorious mystical king of the century.

Just few more diggings and she will lay the whole map of so called non-existent truth before the eyes of the world.

Sigrid parked the car and rested her head on the steering wheel in exhaustion.

As much as the painting thrilled her and gave her hope to see the forbidden, the white blue eyed wolf beside the king in the painting disturbed her.

According to what she read from the history book of mysteries and myths, Alistair Vane had connection with a white wolf.

She could’ve discarded the information as some Mowgli trope but the stories she read are beyond logics and possibility but close to the truth.

What if it’s really true?

She wants to laugh at her own thoughts because even she knew there should be boundaries to one’s beliefs but the wolf in the painting has the same crown as Alistair Vane as if it is representing the king himself.

Is he really the beast as the book says? Or an exaggeration about his personality?

But…

Is it even possible to transform into an animal?

It’s not possible but also not impossible because nothing is proven till now just like how Egyptians believed that body can be preserved for reincarnation.

They believe in many nonsensical things but their beliefs are still a mystery. They sound stupid but never got the chance to prove themselves and it’s not anybody’s right to deny it until it’s proven false.

What if there are things beyond science as ancestors believed?

What if….

Sigrid gasped in shock when someone knocked on the window, startling her and looked outside to see the security guard who came to check on her as she stayed inside for a long time after parking the car.

She let out a shaky breath and got down the car in embarrassment.

“Do you need anything Ms. Krieger?”

The guard asked looking at her tired face but Sigrid shook her head with a smile and locked the car before going into the hotel.

Once stepping into her safe haven, she switched on the lights and straight went to the kitchen, to drink water and after quenching her thirst, she came back to her room and gave it a brief look.

For months, this has been her home but after few weeks, she would return to her real home.

Her work is almost done, so there is no point in staying here anymore.

She clicked her tounge in denial and gathered her hair into her hands before rolling it into a bun on her head and walked towards the window.

The moonlight shone on her, kissing her cheeks with it’s illuminating brightness.

It’s a full moon.

Her eyes stared at the beautiful sphere and inhaled deeply before breathing out fully, a satisfied smile tugging at her lips.

She can feel the change in the air. The smell of success, the proud looks from her parents and professor, the world’s recognition of her hard work. She can see everything from here.

She should give credit to the Lycanor Kingdom for existing and of course her team for helping her find the mythical world.

She spread her hands wide, letting the moonlight hug her body and wrapped her hands around her shoulders, returning the hug.

It’s time to sleep and the voices in her head better rest for one night so that she can have a peaceful sleep.

She laid on the bed after turning off the lights and closed her eyes, her heart overwhelmed by the flowing emotions.

Tomorrow is going to be exciting. She’ll step into a new beginning of her life.

Tomorrow is the day which defines her goal, her purpose and her destiny and she can’t wait to enter into the new phase.

Sigrid Krieger believed that the Alistair Vane’s painting would be the turning point of her career which brings light into the buried verities but she didn’t expect her life to turn upside down.

The tomorrow which she is looking forward to is something she is not ready for and can never ever be willing to step into.

……………….

The sunlight from the windows shone on Sigrid, stirring her awake and she winced in her sleep, her head pounding from tiredness, her body numb from sleeping on same side the whole night.

Oh god! She feels sick.

She tried to open her eyes but her eyelids felt heavy and she wants to sleep more.

Strange!

She knew she overworked her body for the past couple of months but she never felt this lazy to even move her body. It’s as if her muscles refused to listen to her brain and severed the connection to the nervous system.

“Is she dead?”

Sigrid heard a woman’s voice in her room and alarm bells rang in her heart as her body became rigid and her brows furrowed in tension.

“Hush! Do not speak ill of her Griselda. Your father will behead you for the treason.”

Another crisp voice cued in, making Sigrid more tensed as she moved in her sleep, her limbs trembling in restlessness.

Is she dreaming again?

But why does she hear new voices?

“Oh! She is moving mother.”

Sigrid couldn’t take any more of their voices and opened her eyes, to see two women standing near the foot of her bed.

Who the hell are these people?

What are they doing in her room?

She wanted to yell at them for trespassing but their dressing attire caught her off guard, making her eyes go wide in shock.

What are they wearing?

From the looks of the fabrics and style, she can tell they’re some medieval period designs but why did they dress like Eleanor of Aquitaine?

Before she can open her mouth, a handsome young man dressed in silk royal clothes came to her side and sat beside her on bed, concern written all over his face as he held her hand and placed his other hand on her head.

“How are you Meliora?”

The man asked, caressing her hair lovingly and looked into her eyes with unconditional love, scaring her with his actions.

Sigrid jolted awoke as she sat up abruptly and moved away from the man, her face twisted in confusion and looked at the strangers in her room.

“Who the heck are you?”

She said, dragging her exhausted body from the bed and stood up, her legs wobbled when they came in contact with the floor but she stabilized her body.

“What are you doing in my room?”

She asked, pointing her finger towards them who are staring back at her perplexed but her face turned pale when she saw the jewel rings on the fingers of her extended hand.

Her eyes then followed the silk fabric which stuck to her wrist and upwards and looked down at the dress she is wearing.

What the hell?

She staggered backwards as she saw her hands which are totally different from what she sees everyday and gasped, taking heavy steps back.

What happened to her?

Why is she wearing the similar dress as the strangers?

Her heart beat increased as she saw changes in her body and started to rip the dress which is suffocating her.

“Meliora stop.”

Remus, the young man yelled as he tried to approach her but Sigrid moved back, shaking her head violently, placing her hands in front of her in defence.

“Don’t you dare come close to me.”

She warned him with her bloodshot eyes and continued to step back in hurry and crashed into the mirror behind.

Sigrid turned around swiftly to see her reflection just in time and screamed as if she saw a ghost and jerked away from the mirror, feeling scared by her own reflection.

Her eyes widened in horror as she fondled her face with her fingers, blood drained from her flesh as she saw a different face.

Her actions worried Remus as he made his way towards her while the two women smirked seeing her confused state but they quickly hid their hideous smiles and put on worried expressions.

Sigrid couldn’t believe her eyes as her body changed overnight and tried to peel off the stranger’s skin from her and tore the dress but to no avail.

She screamed when Remus held her hands to stop her from hurting herself and pushed him away hard before stepping backwards but she stumbled upon her long dress and collapsed to the floor.

Her terrified eyes fell on her surroundings and she heard her own heartbeat when she saw the unfamiliar room and people.

Suddenly she felt shot of breath and could sense all walls closing in. She panted heavily placing her hand on the chest, feeling dizzy and the world spun before her eyes and before she can take a deep breath, she lost her consciousness.