times over. She was the best one to lead my armies into battle.
“Percy, you can calm your shit now,” she hissed at him as she rolled her eyes and started to walk away.
“Nora, that isn’t what I’m concerned about.”
We both looked at him confused as he took a deep breath to calm himself once more until he stared at me with such
concern. “The portal, it’s been acting strange.”
My eyes widened at his words. The portal under the castle. The one Ornella almost opened. Thankfully, I managed to close
it at the command of my magic. No, surely he was mistaken, it couldn’t have opened.
“You and that bloody portal, his majesty has already told you many times to stop going down there.” Nora turned back
towards him, anger and confusion hidden in her voice.
“His’s blood line are the only ones who can open and close it. I was just checking, as my royal duty, that it is still closed.”
I wasn’t sure if I should share the information about Ornella as I was still unsure how she managed to call the beast up from
that world. Her blood was only small droplets and yet she succeeded to wake the gateway and the seal had almost broken.. But
thankfully, I closed it. I was sure of it.
“Sire, have you noticed anything strange? Felt something, perhaps?” Percy asked me as I looked down.
“Ornella,” I began to say, both their eyes now pinned on me, “Several nights ago I found her wandering the halls and she
somehow managed to get into the room where the portal is.”
“But it's charmed—spelled with protection. You are the only one who can do that.” Nora’s eyes widened as she spoke.
“I thought that, too, until I found her. Somehow she’d managed to cut herself and the portal came to life after a drop of her
blood.”
Both of them remained silent, as their minds raced with reasons and wonder. Both asking the same questions I had been
asking myself for days.
“How can that be? Only your blood—the blood of your family—can open it, and she is most certainly not related to you.”
I shrugged as I knocked back my glass of wine and stood from my desk. Both Percy and Nora stood straight and stilled at
my movement, both equally concerned as I.
“I am investigating. But for now, this information must not leave this room. After the ceremony today, Percy, I need you to
find all the records and anything detailed about the portal. Nora, just do as you always do, and protect my people.”
They both nodded and bowed at my command. Although I classified them as friends—allies—I was still their king, and an
order was an order. After today’s celebrations, we would look into Ornella’s family line and perhaps whatever powers she
may have processed.
“We will discuss this after the wedding.”
