The Cataclysmic Triplets Chapter Two

Chapter Two: The Kind Traveler

We finally enter the capital, Cela, after almost a week of walking through the carnage. After having passed the fourth town, we caved and changed out of our tattered clothing into warm, thick clothing from the stores. I shift towards my siblings when the tell tale pitter-pattering of the cursed rain begins to fall again. Shelter is very limited as I glance around. The only building still standing is the castle where we lived before our parents made the decision to throw us into the Isanne Prison. With a weary sigh, I motion for the other two to follow behind me as I make my way through the blood soaked ground.

Osmonde's feet dig into the ground when she realizes where we are heading. "I don't want to go." She begs, silver eyes filming over with tears.

"We have to." Betzalel murmurs, taking her hand, "Someone is waiting for us."

My eyes search her own for a minute before I ask, "Did you see it while we were sleeping?"

She tugs us by our arms in the direction of castle, nodding. The wind blows her tangled, fiery hair behind us and when I look closer I can see a light in her eyes for the first time since our sentence. Hopefully, this someone she speaks of must be important to our future.

As we come closer towards the castle, I feel the sense of memories attempting to tug at my mind. Shivering as the chilly rain seeps through my thick, fur lined coat, I rest just inside the castle's closed doors. With my eyes closed, I welcome the flood of memories while the other two watch with concern, their own eyes dim with their own feelings of the past.

"My prince, the King and Queen have ordered for you and your sisters to be brought to the throne room." One of the many guards in the palace states as he interrupts my explanation about healing magic to Osmonde and Betzalel.

I frown. They promised to let me be with them today. But I stand and take each of their left hands and begin the trek to the throne room on the other side of the castle. Osmonde tugs at my sleeve, looking at me with her wide eyes.

"Kieran, why do mom and dad want us?"

I shake my head. Mother and Father never want us within their presence since we had been born. I spent most of my younger years learning everything so I can teach Betzalel and Osmonde when they begin to read. So, why now?

As we enter the throne room, I feel my throat go dry. The only ones inside are mother and father as well as several of the palace guards. What is going on? I tighten my hold on my sisters before asking quietly, "You wished to speak to us, Father, Mother?"

Father, dressed in his golden robes to signal his place among the royal family, stands and glares down at all three of us. His dark blue eyes freeze my next question in its tracks as he speaks up with a cold toine.

"Born as triplets with incredible magic, you three will bring chaos and destruction to our world. In order to advoid the Cataclysmic Event shown in the future, your mother and I have decided to lock the three of you into the Isanne Prison."

"Who are you?" A soft, masculine voice calls from in front of us, pulling me sharply out of my memories.

I turn to see a young man watching the three of us. Black eyes warm with concern and curiosity. He wears clothing unfamiliar to our homeland and I know then that he is a traveler. Betzalel gives him a warm smile, black-rimmed eyes bright with excitement.

"We are Betzalel, Osmonde and our brother Kieran. Heirs to the throne of Celestia." She explains, resting her head on my shoulder.

"Celestia hasn't had a living soul inside the castle for almost a thousand years before I came upon it a few days ago." The man speaks up in confusion.

I tighten my hold on Osmonde's hand, "We were placed in the prison, Isanne, and have just recently managed to escape."

His black eyes grow cold. A look of indignant fury passes through his body, tensing his stance as he walks towards us. "No child should be imprisoned, especially those with magic." The indignate rage on our behalf startles me. Our magic is important? But Father always said our magic made us cursed.

As if hearing my thoughts, the man continues on, "My name is King Kamui of Raidath. I came here in search of heirs since I recently learned I am barren and cannot have my own. My country would never do such heinous crimes against children."

He is looking for orphans? I glance to the dead bodies of our parents. Doing what they had is wrong? I struggle to keep my questions silent and ask softly, "Why are you telling us?"

He smiles warmly as he runs his smooth, pale hand through my fiery red hair, "Because I would like to take you in as my heirs as there is no one alive in this country who can care for you."

We glance at each other. Betzalel has already moved to his side, eyes pleading with us. Soon I move to his side as well. If what he says is true then there isn't a reason to stay. Maybe now, we can finally live instead of simply existing as we had done in the prison. Knowing that there is a life outside that we would never be able to reach. But from the actions of a kind traveler, we will finally be able to have a life.