The Nine Monarchs Beyond The Veil
Author:© WebNovel
Chapter 1: Our Child Celeste.
The scream of a young woman echoed in the mountain range. She dashed out of the cave and looked around; her gaze landed on a man standing at the edge of a cliff up above.
The man had sharp eyes; his azure pupils flickered with violet starlight as he looked back at her down below. Moonlight shimmered through the dark clouds and glistened upon his beige skin. Fine long silver hair and a light stubble rested upon his diamond-shaped face. Dark eyebrows, a sharp nose and a prominent chin perfectly articulated his regal countenance.
He jumped down the side of the cliff; the two-meter towering figure of the man formed fissures when he dropped upright on the rock-solid ground.
“My dear Hertha, what's wrong?" the man asked as he walked towards the woman with steady steps.
The woman had long black hair with bangs on the side. Opalescent black eyes made a sharp contrast with her pale round face. A red silk gown embroidered with golden laces was clad over her slim body. A blue necklace with an effulgent gem hung around her neck.
Hertha placed a hand on her chest and took deep breaths. She leaned close to the man and pointed at the entrance of the cave with her trembling hand, “Monst--”
“Shhh,” the man placed a finger on her lips.
“Sorry,” she said as she lowered her head.
Then the man strolled towards the cave with a faint smile.
"I am coming!" She latched onto his arm and stuck close.
A single candle illuminated the outline of a figure inside the gloomy cave. It was of a woman. Straight long golden hair appearing as veils cascaded down the sides of her oval face. A white maiden gown was draped over her firm body as she sat on the cold damp ground. Her olive complexion glimmered with the light from the small figure that she caressed within her embrace.
Hearing footsteps, she glanced at the entrance; her deep-set of emerald eyes settled on the man.
"Vincent!.... Our child!" The woman said while she cuddled the small figure within her arms.
"You did well, Selena,'' Vincent replied.
He picked up the small figure from her bosom. Its violet skin formed intricate patterns that crisscrossed through its four slender limbs. Two tiny skeletal wings were curbed upon its back. Tentacles slithered on its scalp resembling the nest of countless snakes. It blinked at Vincent with its deep-set of azure pupils, which seemed to withhold the entire galaxy within.
In stark contrast to the rest of its body, the face resembled that of an infant girl. She extended her tiny hands to touch his face.
Boom! A series of low rumbling resounded outside; the cave shook, and rocks fell off the ceiling. The infant shivered and curled herself up like a tiny kitten. Then she snuggled closer to him as if terrified something might take her away from the warmth of his chest.
"They are here," a voice swayed in near the entrance.
Vincent returned the infant to Selena and looked her in the eye, "You and Hertha shall stay here, don't come outside regardless of what happens," He added. "Nathaniel shall guard the entrance."
Selena looked on with bleak eyes as his departing figure vanished at the entrance.
Then a pale young man walked in and stood guard. A black cape with an embedded family crest was hanging behind him. A longsword with a decorated lion-shaped pommel was sheathed on his side. His long black hair was tied up in a ponytail that harmonised with his pitch-black eyes.
He shuddered after witnessing the infant in Selena’s arms and subconsciously placed a hand on the hilt of his sword.
"Humph!" Selena snorted and walked beside Hertha, clinging close to the wall while fidgeting with her two feet.
Selena said to the infant in her arms, "My little girl, look how scared she is. Can you change yourself to look like mommy and daddy?"
The infant blinked until her two skeletal wings withdrew inside of her. Her skin shifted from violet to olive, losing all the intricate patterns that adorned her skin. The tentacles receded into her scalp while starry silver hair grew out. The dreadful existence surrounding her was no longer present.
"Bea….utiful," Hertha blurted out.
"Hertha! Come here!" Selena said.
Hertha leaned her head close, but the infant curled up her lips and pulled on her black hair.
"Ouch!" she swatted her tiny hands away.
"Look! She is still angry that you ran away," Selena said. "Well, you better get used to it. You might even pop one out yourself, hehe."
Hertha's face turned red, and she glared at her. "Won't you get angry?!"
"Maybe," Selena pursed her lips with a frown.
"Have you given her a name?" Hertha asked.
"Celeste," Selena replied.
Boom! The ground shook once more, a series of explosions rumbled out as dust flew inside the cave.
"I must help him!" Hertha said.
"No," Selena held her by the shoulder.
"Don't touch me!" Hertha shouted.
"You must trust Vincent," Selena narrowed her eyes.
The thundering reverberations continued as they waited inside. The infant became restless; skeletal wings and the violet patterns grew out of her skin once again. Then, with a flap of her wings, she flew out of her mother's embrace and glided towards the entrance.
"Celeste! Trust in your father," Selena hugged her tightly from behind.
The infant did not resist and stayed within her mother's arms, but her gaze still did not move away from the entrance. Unknowingly her eyes turned misty and tiny tears began to roll down her cheeks. The outside world eventually turned silent once more. Finally, she gave a sharp screech, broke free from her mother's grasp and shot past the entrance.
The scene that reflected within her azure eyes plunged her heart deep into the cold dark abyss.
She saw the bloodied figure of her father kneeling on the ground. Sword hilts and spear shafts jutted out of his mangled body. Numerous men surrounded him with their weapons drawn while men in full plates of golden armour stood at a distance behind them, blocking off his retreat.
Eyes turning luminescent, her whole body deformed out of shape as she charged forth in a rage. She abruptly halted her advance when a burst of eerie laughter pierced into her ears.
It came from her father.
"Kehkehhahahahhahaha! Kendall, good to see you are doing well," Vincent stood up while he removed the swords and spears impaled inside of him.
A middle-aged man in golden armour walked forward and sighed, "You should not even exist! We made a terrible mistake back then."
"What could you possibly mean? You watched me grow up, haha," Vincent asked.
"You were not supposed to live this long," Kendall looked at the distant Celeste and winced. "How can there be another one!"
"Isn't she lovely?" Vincent chuckled.
"Is that your spawn!?" Kendall asked.
"Well, of course, she is an entirely new breed," Vincent replied.
"She must die! Our mistake ends right here and now!" Kendall said as he gestured the soldiers to come close.
"What? You dare to kill the granddaughter of your Emperor?" a feminine voice chimed in.
"WHAT?!" Kendal gasped.
Selena, now equipped in her full plated platinum armour, emerged from the cave, followed by Hertha and Nathaniel. She then took the dumbstruck Celeste into her arms and ruffled her hair.
"Princess! so you even gave birth to his child!" Kendall bellowed. "Nathaniel! You were sent in to rescue her! How could you possibly allow this to happen!"
"How could I have rescued her if she ran away on her own!" Nathaniel grimaced.
"Uncle Kendall, take your men and leave us!" Selena said.
"Nathaniel! Why are you still not apprehending her!" Kendall shouted.
"My duty is to protect her at all costs, regardless of what she did!" Nathaniel declared.
"Nathaniel! No matter how much you try to appease me, I will not spread my legs for you," Selena teased.
"That was not my intention!" Nathaniel said.
"My brother is not like that!" Hertha protested.
"So you two turned traitor," Kendall sighed. "Did you two even imagine the consequences?! Your whole noble house might be accused of treason!"
"Enough!" Selena glared into the night sky. "Lord Father!!! It was me who released Vincent and ran away! Not the other way around!"
Thunder boomed, and dark clouds swirled up above; a blurry outline of a giant golden eye came into existence. Lightning flickered in between its hazy pupil, which illuminated the dark night into the wake of dawn.
Vincent looked up, "You sent your men to kill me, yet you stayed in the safety of your throne."
Clouds churned and revolved, forming a vortex of thunder within the blurry golden eye. It solidified and glared down at him, seething in abhorrence.
Vincent pierced his arm deep inside his chest and tore it open. Blood sprayed out; there was no heart, but instead, a pulsating grotesque mass of flesh was embedded deep within his chest cavity. Violet tendrils crawled out of his entire figure, gathered around the spherical glop of flesh until his head full of silver hair turned white, and his azure eyes lost their usual lustre. Then his blood and flesh turned black and started to rot.
"Vincent!!!" Hertha screamed in despair.
"Shut it, stupid woman!" Selena berated.
"Luthais, so you really thought this would help you reach ascension?" Vincent took out the pulsating mass of flesh from inside his chest and raised it towards the sky.
As if enraged by his statement, there was a sudden flash of blinding light up above.
"Unfortunately for you….... you came here without your divine body," Vincent muttered under his breath while a wicked smile crept upon his face.
Boom! An earth-shattering sound rumbled, shaking the heavens itself. Then, a golden pillar of light burst out of the giant eye and descended upon him.
"Retreat!!!" Kendall gave the command. The nearby soldiers were set on fire; their armour melted while they backed away in a frenzy.
Vincent spread open his arms and closed his dull azure eyes; the golden pillar cleaved and pierced into him.
He felt warm as his skin melted. He felt cold as his body lost all blood. He felt light as his muscles turned to ash.
He felt.
He felt.
No…..
He saw.
He saw his newborn daughter bound in chains and engulfed in a river of blood.
Then, his whole body vaporised, leaving behind a charred glop of flesh lying within the newly formed crater.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone