The Peacekeeper [Teasers]

This is just a fun novel I'm writing as I work on something more serious but I thought I'd share a few teasers from The Peacekeeper (title still under construction) for review day. These are small scenes from the first chapter, each break represents a different scene and they are in order from introduction, middle, and end. As always, any thoughts are appreciated. 

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His Majesty had privately self-proclaimed himself as one of God’s special children. Most people might not agree with him - in fact -most people would actually throw him over the edge of his royal castle while jovially shouting and hollering over his death if they ever learned the truth. As an optimist, he brought it upon himself to think of his existing curse as a blessing. He would take divine and cosmic over cursed and demonic any day.

Calius strode through the corridor in a gait that expressed pure confidence, an alpha male in the presence of his peers. He wore a deep red suit over his lean body; and a fine black cape detailed with tiny gold intricate designs billowed around his ankles.

Behind him, Zale, his personal guard, was following ahead of two other guards. He scanned the area, his eyes shifting left and right but Calius remained in his peripheral vision.

The King halted briefly at the top of a cascade of marble stairs. The sea of guests below turned their heads upon his arrival.

“Lords and Ladies,” the steward announced. “May I present now, His Majesty, King Calius Ronak of Darsais.”

Hm, quite a mouthful.

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After their dance, Calius led Liena back to Ahmon. “Your woman has excellent footwork.”

Liena giggled and snaked her hand around his arm. “Come dance with me, dear.”

His lips tightened and he looked at the ballroom floor fearfully as if it was the jungles of no man’s land.

Calius frowned. “Ahmon, this is your engagement ball. You are aware of that are you not?”

Ahmon flashed a narrow look at his older brother. Their two planet-like emerald green eyes shadowed by thick lashes were the only familial resemblance they shared. Other than that, Ahmon and Calius were like bloodsuckers and skin-eaters. 

Calius was a black stallion in comparison to the Lion. Both brothers were nearly the same height, though, Calius’ longer legs made him a couple inches taller. He had a long lean body with dark hair and a soft complexion while Ahmon’s refined beastly figure was wide, supplemented by a strong jaw and windswept blonde hair.

Calius always believed he was much fairer. He never voiced his opinion on it though.

“Please,” Liena begged, pulling Ahmon with a pout. “I promise it’s not entirely that bad. You’ll have me to distract you.” She smiled sweetly and petted his arm as he set his drink down.

Calius rolled his eyes and pushed his brother ahead. The couple stumbled to the center floor. This earned him another glower but he shrugged it off and watched, trying hard to suppress his laugh as Ahmon painstakingly attempted to waltz. He wasn’t nearly as bad as Calius projected. Though, he did step on Liena’s foot a time or two…or three. Eventually the two were so lost in each other, it didn’t matter that they were dancing in the wrong direction.

“Wow, he dances,” Raisa said next to him. She had decided on wearing a red gown today, her dark hair pulled up in gracious curls. Raisa was fourteen, a very young girl with nothing to worry about. She was not cursed like he and Ahmon and would enjoy a privileged, spoiled life. Not that he complained.

Calius smiled at his younger sister. “Not particularly well.”

“And when will you get married?” she asked, tilting her round brown eyes at him. “Are you not ashamed that your younger brother has found a bride before you? I’ve been hearing unpleasant whispers from the people on this matter.”

He scoffed. “Why, Raisa, if you find me a woman worth the throne, please do share her name.”

Her lips curved upward and she nudged her chin across the ballroom at a rather large woman who was eating a pastry next to an older grumpy woman who looked like her mother. “She looks quite fine, don’t you think?”

“She would bear many children,” he muttered, nodding.

Raisa laughed out loud, catching the attention of a few guests. She cupped a hand over her mouth and silenced herself. “Will you introduce yourself?”

“Talking to me will most likely raise her chances of finding a groom by fifty percent. Should I be charitable tonight?”

“Your acts of philanthropy are questionable. This is just to humor your boredom isn’t it,” she pointed out dryly.

“Guilty.” Calius winked.

“Your Majesty.” A guard made his way into the ballroom with a troubled look. “There is woman who’s here to see you.”

Zale seemed to solidify from nowhere and was at His Majesty’s side in an instant. Calius arched a brow. “There are many women who come to see me,” he said, eyeing the pastry woman who was now ogling at him.

“She says she’s from Clandor. A peacekeeper.” 

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“Where’s your princess?” Calius asked.

Ahmon jumped, startled by his voice. “She went to make rounds and speak with other lords and ladies,” he answered, settling back in.

“Shouldn’t you be accompanying her?”

“I should be doing a lot of things,” he muttered, looking down at the sleek castle walls that were covered in moss. Below them, there was a long bridge under a green pond. Darsais castle was known to be a majestic beauty of nature. It was lush and green with many gardens and their predecessors had crafted it as if it were made for the goddess of nature herself.

“Well at least you know,” said Calius, rolling his eyes. “Why can’t you just man it up for once? Get rid of this wayward fear and speak like you are meant to speak. Did you hit your head and forget you were a Prince?” He extended his hand towards the guests indoors. “Our words are gospel to these people.” Calius tried to instill some confidence in his younger brother.

Ahmon continued to stare into the dark, not baring a single glance back.

“Don’t forget what we are.”

This caused a shift in his posture.

“Walkers.”

Ahmon glanced behind him and back at Calius. “Keep your voice down,” he whispered.

“We are special.”

He frowned and looked at the distant sky. “We are cursed. If anyone finds out what we are, we’ll be dead - burned at the stake, gutted out, and thrown into a raging river or worse.”

“Are you worried about Liena finding out?”

He sighed deeply and leaned over, resting his elbows on the balcony with his hands clasped. “She’ll never know.”

“Hm.”

“Do you think I am pathetic?” Ahmon’s question caught him off guard.

“Why would I think that?”

“Just tell me.”

“You are not pathetic, Ahmon.” Calius took a sip of his wine, feeling it warm his body internally.  

“I will change,” Ahmon stated with a determined nod. “I’ll become more like you.”

“You say that all the time,” Calius said. “What makes this occasion any different?”

“You don’t believe me either?”

Calius groaned. “You make it very, very hard to do so.”

From behind, a chatter erupted as two guards came rushing into the ballroom.

“What the devil is going on?” Calius narrowed his eyes.

 The guards sought him out and ran to the balcony, tripping over a few maidens’ dresses. “Your Majesty!” They breathed erratically, eyes wide with fright.

“What is it?”

“The girl, she escaped!”

“Girl?” Ahmon blinked in confusion.

“The mad one?” Calius asked, exasperated. He set his drink on the ledge. “How did she get past you?” he demanded.

“She’s a peacekeeper, Your Majesty,” explained one of the guards. “She’s strong. She took out two guards and fled back into the castle. We lost her in the corridors.”

Calius cursed under his breath.

“There’s a peacekeeper here?” Ahmon was alarmed. “Why would a peacekeeper be here?”

Calius widened his eyes in realization. “Secure the ballroom,” he ordered. “Make sure all the guests are accounted for and safe. Get me Za-no, Nolin!” Zale would have to stay by Raisa.

“Calius, what is going on?” Ahmon grabbed his arm.

“Would you help me find Liena please? I believe she might be in danger.”