The Cursed King

One.

The towns and cities mentioned are entirely fictional creations of my own. Every character, location, and object in this book exists solely in the realm of imagination. This work draws no inspiration from reality; it is a product of my own creative thoughts.

Meraki

(v.) to do something with soul, creativity, or love; to leave a piece and essence of yourself in your work.

~•~

Let's start with the introduction, shall we?

Hello, I'm Aelia Grace.

"Detective Aelia," my co-worker/ annoyingly nosy, jealous co-worker popped his head into my office with his annoying fashion sense. He was wearing a tacky pink floral shirt and mud brownish pants.

My nose scrunched in distaste at his choice.

I'm not a fashion guru but I know that what he is wearing can be registered as the worst fashion combination.

Not only does he suck at fashion, but he is the worst detective in the whole department - the lapdog of the rich and powerful. Throw him some notes and he is willing to do anything, even if it includes setting a criminal free.

"May I help you?" I slammed my laptop shut so he couldn't sneak a peek at what I'm working on. If he is here, that means one thing - he is here to snitch on what I am working on. That means he has been "provided" with the task given by "someone special."

"You don't have to stop your work for me. Continue what you are working on," he showed me his nasty smile. He probably thinks he looks "intelligent" at the moment.

"No, I'm done with it already," I forced a smile, "nice shirt. Where did you get that uh- "unique" one?" I asked to distract his focus from my work.

He is someone who can easily be fooled with a few compliments.

His smile grew and plopped his ass on my desk.

"You remember I told you about my grandma who lives in the countryside? She visited the local beach near her town and brought it for me," he was excited to talk about the shirt he was wearing.

Should I mention that he resembles a flamingo with an alligator's leg? That might come off as too harsh, right?

"You really ought to check out the town where my grandma lives; it's a wild paradise, tucked away and close to some lovely beaches," he rambled on about the beauty of his grandmother's town.

Ding.

A light bulb flickered in my mind.

A countryside brimming with untamed nature stretching for miles. A secluded town with treacherous roads, flanked by mountains on one side and cliffs on the other.

It sounded like the ideal getaway. A perfect hideaway. And an excellent spot to dispose of a body…

"s**t!" I swore. How did I not see this sooner?

I tried calling the officers on stakeout multiple times, but they didn’t answer.

Damn it!

"Detective Aelia Grace. I need backup at the house of the suspect in the Elaine murder case. Send help immediately," I insisted over the phone.

"Blake, I have to go now. Please make sure to close the office door when you leave," I instructed Blake, who stared at me in disbelief.

"What?" I inquired.

"You're working on the Elaine murder case? The one with twenty-seven victims from the same town? Do you realize how dangerous the killer is? He’s taken out twenty-seven people without leaving a trace. Five of them were police officers, and the rest were retired cops. This shows how much he despises law enforcement. No one in the department wanted to touch this case, and you did?" he questioned.

"Yes," I answered, gesturing for him to leave so I could lock up. I had almost forgotten how good he was at picking up on others' work. I was in a rush and nearly slipped up.

"If you're really worried about me, please call your trusted aides to back me up and dial 911, just in case," I smiled and hurried out of the building.

As I hopped into my car, urgency propelled me toward the suspect's address. Upon arriving at the driveway, I caught sight of the suspect speeding away, while our stake-out officers' vehicle sat abandoned near the house. I quickly exited my car and dashed toward the other vehicle, only to discover it was empty.

A shiver coursed through me.

No! This can't be happening. There were two officers. Two! A lone man shouldn't be able to overpower two trained professionals like that.

I sprinted back to my car and called for backup.

"The suspect is on the run, and two officers are unaccounted for. I need additional support; he's heading toward his grandmother's hometown."

I hung up and focused on the road, pushing my car to its limits in pursuit of the suspect. Before long, I spotted his vehicle ahead.

He accelerated as well.

We soon left the town behind and entered the forest's edge. After about thirty minutes, we emerged from the trees and found ourselves in the mountainous terrain.

In my peripheral vision, I noticed the backup units closing in. The sight of two police cars behind me offered a sliver of comfort. If the suspect could take down two skilled officers, I knew I would be an easy target. I understood my strengths; I could unravel nearly any murder mystery, but when it came to physical confrontations or gunplay, I was at a disadvantage.

I knew how to handle a firearm, but I lacked the resolve to pull the trigger. It was my greatest weakness.

"Come, my child," a voice whispered in my ear.

My gaze drifted from the road to the luminous full moon, as if I were entranced by its glow. Its brilliance seemed to beckon me closer.

"Come to me, my dear child," a voice whispered softly. It was unlike anything I had ever encountered—both haunting and soothing, a blend that defied description.

"Come, my dear child." The more I stared at the moon, the stronger its call became. I was entranced, lost in its light, and before I realized it, I had veered off the road. My car plunged into the abyss, jolting me back to reality.

"Come to me," the voice echoed, growing louder with each heartbeat.

"Stop it!" I shouted, struggling against my seatbelt, my hands trembling with fear. At last, I freed myself and flung open the car door, leaping into the unknown, praying for a river below to cushion my fall.

I shut my eyes, bracing for impact—either a splash into water or a shattering collision with rock. Instead, I felt an unexpected force pulling me gently down until I landed softly on grass.

Grass?

I opened my eyes to a breathtaking sight: radiant flowers, large and otherworldly, glowing in hues I had never seen before.

Awestruck, I rose to my feet and surveyed my surroundings. An endless expanse of luminous blooms stretched before me, leading to the ruins of a castle in the distance.

"My child," the voice resonated once more, echoing in my mind.

That voice had nearly cost me my life.

Then it struck me—the cliff I had fallen from was notorious for its perilous drops, with jagged rocks and a river below. I had assumed my survival was impossible.

So how had I ended up here, in front of a castle surrounded by flowers that seemed to belong to another realm? And what was that strange pull I had felt? It certainly wasn’t the force of gravity.

It felt as if I had crossed from one dimension into another.

Growl.

A low growl rumbled in the distance.

I recoiled instinctively. I can't hold my own against humans, and now there's a menacing animal growling nearby? The growl was low and threatening. I had somehow survived a fall from the cliff, and now I was about to become dinner… would this creature even bother to cook me? It would devour me like a juicy steak!

I quickly retreated, sprinting away from the castle. Almost instantly, the beast let out a roar, and I heard it—the sound of heavy paws pounding the ground.

From the noise, I could tell this creature was as massive as an elephant.

Oh dear Gods, why was I still alive when death was so close at hand?

Was my life spared just so I could admire these stunning flowers before my spirit departed? Was that the reason?

The footsteps grew louder, and I made the foolish choice to glance back at my pursuer. What I saw was beyond anything I had ever imagined—a wolf with the physique of a man, sporting razor-sharp teeth and claws that looked deadlier than any weapon. And he was colossal.

I let out a terrified squeal, my legs tangled, and I tumbled onto the ground.

The wolf… or man? Whatever it was, let out a roar as it lunged toward me.

I squeezed my eyes shut and whimpered. Its paws landed near my head with a heavy thud. My heart raced, and I whimpered even louder.

When the blow never came, I dared to open my eyes. The creature was huffing, staring right at me.

My eyes widened in a mix of fear and intrigue. Now that it was so close, I could see the human-like features more clearly.

The beast growled at me, clearly displeased with my gaze.

So, he’s not fond of being stared at. I suppose I would feel the same if people looked at me like I was some bizarre creature. It’s quite understandable, really.

I need to stop rambling and figure out how to survive.

"Quit overthinking. Your thoughts are giving me a headache," the creature snarled, its voice a bizarre blend of human and animal sounds. The fact that it could talk was utterly astonishing!

"It can talk," I stammered, my heart racing. Come on, brain, come up with a plan. I need to find a way out of this mess.

But what can I do? I’m no match for a criminal, let alone this massive beast. Have I ever been hunting?

I don’t think so. No, I never took my coworker up on that offer to join her for hunting lessons.

"Stop thinking, I told you," it growled again, its tone growing more menacing.