Chapter One

Light bleeds through the cold carcass confining me, as my servants peel back the heavy scales. The smell is so putrid, it feels like its pushing thick rods to my brain. It continues to cloud my thoughts. I feel my legs are still heavily paralysed, so, I make the effort to lift my arms up, tearing at the flesh above me. Before long, a cold hand links with mine. 

"Thank Seki you're alive!" The woman pleads, dragging me out. I open my mouth to speak, though it hurts, badly.

"Ah... I... I'm still paralysed. L- legs" I can barely get my words out. The pain is unbearable. 

"No no, please don't talk, Master" She replies. 

"J- just pull me out" I can't wait any longer, and she's starting to get on my nerves. She struggles as she lifts my human legs from my animal carcass. And, looking around, I notice that the arena hasn't changed a bit since I died. The dirt floor is still stained with blood, and our sacred monument of Seki is still in pieces. "What is the meaning of this?" The woman looks confused. 

"Your honour... you've been named dead only an hour ago" She replies. 

"An hour ago? Don't lie to the prince! I'll have your head on a stick" I threaten, but a part of me believes her. She bows her head apologetically, stepping back from me. My eyes are pained by the light as they adjust. Our star is doing no justice, its almost blinding. "Take your time, your eyes haven't adjusted yet" The woman whisper-speaks. It's strange, I don't recognise her at all.

"You m-" I swallow dry "Must be new here" The woman nods nervously, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. She starts to release her pheromones, while staring me deep in the eyes. It disgusts me. The fact that she feels this way makes me heave. Seeing that, she instantly stops. And without thinking, she hurries away across the arena. Leaving me to my solitary thoughts, like how I'll have her killed by tomorrow! And, why I'm here in the first place.  

Memories flood back into my mind. 

My father pinning me down to the floor whilst I dig my claws deep into the back of his ribcage. Him, constantly smashing my skull against the dirt. With intentions to kill. "Genesis, get up!" He commands, his voice deep and layered. But I can't. If only I was built like him in this form; a pure blooded Northerner. I'm cursed with this serpent-like body. With thick heathy scales, and fur that bursts out through its gaps. These large scales make the sound of clashing stones whenever I move. Giving me no privacy. While him, fully  furred, with a giant cat-like body, and a mane so thick it looks as though the clouds of Earth came down to lay a rest upon his neck. 

"That's the problem with crossbreeding. You... were a mistake, son, at least pay me back with a warrior fit enough to be the next king! You're my only heir; you already disappoint me enough... GET UP!" He shouts. Stripping the honour from my very name. "Rise my child, fight me" A screech fills the air around us as the anger itches inside my head, scratching my skull continuously until I finally break. 

"DIE" I shout, launching myself at him. Gripping my claws into his skin whilst standing on my hind legs. My body curves unnaturally like a serpent, and my thick scales grind into each other, creating a sound the entire village can hear. At the deafening sound, he bites me on the neck and squeezes hard. Draining the life from me though I don't let go. Not now. 

Eventually I don't feel the pain. My body is numb, everything... is spinning. Causing me to collapse. Through my blurred vision I can see the kings guard, holding something sharp. Digging it through my testes, and, something of mine falls. 

"You're done! My king, someone is seeking you at the gates" He shouts. 

"Give me 20 minutes to return to my natural form, I'll be right there" My father nods, dismissing the guard. "Genesis, I'll see you in two months"

-Present-

I rest my head against the cold stone wall behind me, looking up at the ceiling. My eyes following the golden trail of my mothers creation that leads to her old room. Those delicate features, her sweet and comforting nature... I remember her so clearly it's as if she were still here. Singing a beautiful tune whilst walking down these halls, her fingers blessing the gold as she crafts, slowly forming it into flowered vines decorated on this ceiling. A Southern Vulxi like her, could do no harm.

Finally though, I come to my senses. My body stinks of death. 

I walk through the castle halls to the showers. Wrapping my long white hair around my neck, so the death doesn't drip on the tiles. When I arrive, I switch on the shower in the washrooms. Relieved as the water washes the gore away. I don't move, I just sit. It's taking everything not to cry... everything I have.

"Jafihlik?" A voice calls out, it sounds like... 

"Nighta?" I whisper, and as I do, my beautiful half breed slowly walks through. Though my body is exposed, I need not hide, she is my mate. My father keeps a law, prohibiting cross-breeding with those of Northern blood. He made that law, right after my mother died. Of course, not only other Vulxi races were banned, but humans too. To us, human blood is cursed, and though we work together, it's prohibited to have sex with one. If a Northern Vulxi becomes pregnant with a half breed, the child would be either killed, or confiscated. Used for slavery amongst our people. Nighta, is one of them. She is our servant. She doesn't even speak our language, though I know she loves me.

Nighta hurries over to greet me, and awkwardly bows her head in my presence. Holding her palms tightly together. "Nighta, come! come!" I whisper, gesturing her to approach me closer. And as she does, I quickly grab her by the arm; I'm an impatient man. Nighta hesitantly places her warm hands on my face, her expressions are filled with worry. Slowly dragging them down to my chest as she gently runs her fingers over my wounds. I sigh and rub my head against hers, then against her ear and down to her soft neck. She doesn't seem to mind the water splashing against her delicate skin. "I missed you... so, so much" I whisper as she lays her head against my chest. My heart starts to beat faster by the second, and when she reaches down to turn the shower off, I cant take it anymore! I have to-

"Prince Genesis?" A man calls from outside the stone walls. 

My lustful thoughts disappear. "Stop! I am indecent" I shout, and the man's shadow freezes in place. 

"Sorry master, it's your cousin. I should have said that before entering" He laughs, coming closer. 

"Rekei don't-" But before I can say anything more, my cousin walks in, catching us together. I instantly hide my mate behind my back, though she is still clearly visible. There's an unnerving silence. 

"I don't want to start trouble. I won't tell anyone, you didn't kill my mate so... I owe it to ya" He whispers, hanging his head low. "Be sure to meet your father in the main hall when you're done. Since you've turned early, he says its urgent you attend this meeting" 

"Thank you Rekei" I reply bowing my head as I turn back to Nighta. I smile, reassuring her she wont die. Though she's burst into tears. She doesn't understand me anyway. I need to become king of this land, that way, I can cut all ties with mankind. To make sure no crossbreeds exist. The Northern race must be pure, so no mistakes like me or Nighta are created again.