Chapter 3: The Great Animal Attacks

Chapter 3: The Great Animal Attacks

Later on, Dorothy and Zane were standing on the bridge, as Sheppard and Jesse are getting ready to leave for good.

“We tried, Dorothy.” Sheppard said. “No one can say we didn’t try.”

Dorothy was still crying, as Zane crossed his arms and looked away.

“Say goodbye, Jesse.” Sheppard told her.

“Goodbye.” Jesse said, not looking at Zane.

“Goodbye…?” Sheppard said, expectantly.

“Prince Zane.” Jesse added.

Dorothy elbowed Zane’s arm.

“Mother.” Zane said.

“Zane!” Dorothy whispered, softly.

“Goodbye, Princess.” Zane finished and watched Jesse leave.

Zane looked down, knowing he had made a big mistake. Jesse looked at him one last time, before she rode off after her father.

“All these years of planning… Wasted!” Dorothy yelled, walking back into the castle.

During a dark stormy night, Zane and Atticus are playing chess while Crowler glared at Zane.

“What else is there?” Crowler said. “She says, “Is beauty all that matters?” And you say, “What else is there?!””

“It was dumb, I know.” Zane replied, as he paced about.

“You should write a book.” Crowler said. “‘How to Offend Women in Five Syllables or Less’.”

“Your turn, Prince Zane.” Atticus chuckled.

Zane moved one of his pieces and still walked around.

“I didn’t know what else to say.” Zane said.

“Oh! You lost your queen, Zane.” Atticus smirked, as he took one of Zane’s playing pieces.

“That’s twice in one day!” Zane said.

“Think!” Crowler exclaimed. “You must see something other than Jesse’s beauty.”

“Of course I do, Crowler.” Zane said. “She’s like… You know! How about… And then… Am I right?” Crowler  raised an eyebrow and Zane turned back to the game, as he continued. “I don’t know how to say it!” Zane had an idea, as he said. “I’ll prove it to her. I’ll prove my love!” He did his turn on chess and said. “Checkmate!”

Atticus looked at the board.

“Huh?” he is very confused.

In the dark, scary woods, a certain figure walked on the road, before he stopped and smiled evilly, when he saw Sheppard’s carriage.

“Today’s the day, Sheppard…” Adrian said. “Everything you own, everything you love, will be mine.”

Adrian laughed evilly.

Inside of the carriage, Sheppard was confused about what Jesse had meant before they left the kingdom.

“I – I just don’t understand…” Sheppard said to his daughter. “What else did you want him to say?”

“I need to know that he loves me for just being me.” Jesse answered.

“Whoa! Whoa.” Bastion woahed.

Suddenly, the carriage stopped. Confused, Sheppard went outside to see what's going on and Bastion pointed at a figure, which is none other than Adrian.

Jesse was about to get out, but Sheppard stopped her.

“Stay inside, Jesse” he said.

All of a sudden, Adrian used his magic and created a flare of light, before it disappeared, turned into the great Animal. The creatures ran towards King Sheppard and his guards, attacking.

Back at the other castle, an injured Chazz broke through the door, catching Zane, Crowler and Atticus’ attention.

Zane ran towards Chazz

“It’s King Sheppard’s captain!” he said.

“We… We were attacked.” Chazz said, weakly. “A Great Animal…”

Zane immediately had a bad feeling about this.

“Jesse!” he said.

Zane ran off, hoping Jesse was alright.

“Zane! Wait!” Crowler yelled, but Zane didn't listen.

Zane hopped onto his horse and rode out of the castle to find Jesse in the rainy night.

“Jesse!” Zane called out, as he jumped off of his horse and he saw that everything was destroyed. “Jesse?” He said, as he opened the carriage, but couldn't find Jesse in there. “Jesse!” He screamed, as he searched for her. He then looked down and saw the golden locket he had given to her, when she was a baby. As Zane picked it up, he saw Sheppard badly hurt and dying. “Oh! King Sheppard…” he said, as he knelt beside him.

“Zane… I…” Sheppard said, weakly.

“Who did this?” Zane asked in concern.

“It came so quickly… A Great… Animal.” Sheppard answered.

“Where is Jesse?” Zane asked, looking very worried.

“Listen to me, Zane.” Sheppard continued. “It’s not what it seems. It’s not what it seems.”

“What’s not? Where is Jesse?” Zane asked.

“Jesse is… Jesse is… Gone.” Sheppard said, as he closed his eyes, breathing his last breath.

Zane couldn't believe it. Jesse, the woman he loved, his one true love, gone? It couldn't be!

“Jesse!” he screamed, before he collapsed onto his knees and held his head in his hands. Jesse was gone, but he knew she wasn't dead.

A really long chapter, next one will be interesting so stay tune.