Chapter Twelve – The Kingdom Beneath
The chamber trembled.
Dust fell from the ancient ceiling.
Kwaku stood frozen as the figure approached.
Two burning suns glowed inside its eyes.
Kwesi raised his sword.
Adwoa stood between the twins, her three circles shining brighter than ever.
Their father whispered:
"Don't look into its eyes."
Kwaku glanced at him.
"Why?"
"Because it will show you what you fear most."
The figure smiled.
"Still protecting them from the truth?"
Their father tightened his grip on his broken sword.
"You have already taken enough from this family."
The figure stopped.
"Your family?"
It laughed.
"You still believe they belong to you?"
Kwaku stepped forward.
"Who are you?"
The figure slowly removed the golden crown from its head.
"I have been called many names."
It looked toward the ancient walls.
"King."
"Demon."
"God."
"Prisoner."
Then its eyes returned to Kwaku.
"But my first name was Akwasi."
Kwaku frowned.
"Akwasi?"
The name echoed through his mind.
Something about it felt familiar.
Adwoa suddenly grabbed her chest.
"I know that name."
Everyone turned toward her.
Her eyes became distant.
"I heard it before."
The figure smiled.
"Of course you did."
Adwoa stepped backward.
"Where?"
"In your first life."
Silence filled the chamber.
Kwesi shook his head.
"First life?"
The figure looked at him.
"You believe you have lived only once?"
Kwesi tightened his grip.
"What are you talking about?"
The figure raised its hand.
The golden symbols covering the walls suddenly came alive.
A massive image appeared across the stone.
An ancient kingdom.
Huge walls surrounded a magnificent city.
Warriors walked through its streets.
Drums echoed.
People celebrated beneath a giant golden tree.
Kwaku stared.
"Bonoman?"
Their father shook his head.
"No."
The figure answered.
"The First Kingdom."
The image changed.
A young king stood beneath the golden tree.
Beside him were three children.
Two boys.
And a girl.
Kwaku's heart stopped.
The boys looked exactly like him and Kwesi.
The girl looked exactly like Adwoa.
Kwesi lowered his sword.
"That can't be us."
The figure looked at them.
"It is."
Kwaku shook his head.
"We weren't alive then."
"You were."
The image changed again.
The young king placed his hands on the shoulders of the two boys.
"Two Suns," the king said.
Then he looked at the girl.
"And one Key."
Adwoa's breathing became heavy.
"What happened to us?"
The figure's expression darkened.
"Your ancestors betrayed you."
The image suddenly changed.
Fire consumed the kingdom.
Warriors fought through the streets.
The golden tree burned.
The two boys were separated.
The girl screamed.
Kwaku watched in horror.
"Stop."
The image continued.
A man carried the young girl into the forest.
Kwaku recognized him.
Their father.
But he looked much younger.
Adwoa turned toward him.
"You were there."
Their father said nothing.
"You took me."
"I saved you."
"You lied to me."
"I had no choice."
Adwoa's eyes filled with anger.
"You always had a choice."
Their father looked away.
The figure stepped closer.
"He was ordered to kill you."
Adwoa froze.
"What?"
"He refused."
Their father finally looked at her.
"I couldn't do it."
The figure smiled.
"So he took you away and erased your memories."
Kwaku stared at their father.
"How?"
"Through the Third Blood."
Adwoa looked at her glowing hand.
"My blood?"
Their father nodded.
"It could erase memories."
Kwesi stepped forward.
"And why would anyone want her memories erased?"
Their father looked toward the gate.
"Because Adwoa remembered where the First Kingdom was hidden."
Kwaku looked around.
"We're standing inside it."
"Yes."
The chamber became silent.
Suddenly, a loud horn echoed from somewhere beyond the walls.
The warriors outside began shouting.
Nyamewaa turned toward the passage.
"They have arrived."
Their father frowned.
"Who?"
Nyamewaa's expression became serious.
"The armies of Bonoman."
Kwaku's eyes widened.
"Bonoman knows about this place?"
"They have always known."
Another horn sounded.
Then another.
Hundreds of footsteps thundered through the underground tunnels.
Kwesi raised his sword.
"How many?"
Nyamewaa looked at him.
"Enough to destroy this kingdom."
The First Blood laughed.
"They cannot destroy what they never understood."
A massive explosion shook the chamber.
Several stones fell from the ceiling.
Kwaku looked at his father.
"What do we do?"
Their father looked at the twins.
Then at Adwoa.
"For the first time…"
He raised his broken sword.
"…we fight together."
Kwesi smiled.
"Finally."
The sound of soldiers grew louder.
Kwaku's crimson energy spread across his arm.
Kwesi's golden energy surrounded his body.
Adwoa's three circles began rotating.
The ancient gate behind them suddenly opened wider.
A powerful wind rushed through the chamber.
The First Blood stepped aside.
"Go."
Kwaku looked at him.
"Where?"
"Beyond the gate."
Their father immediately shook his head.
"No."
The First Blood smiled.
"The answers you seek are there."
Kwaku looked at Adwoa.
She nodded.
"We need to know the truth."
Kwesi stepped forward.
"Then let's find it."
The three walked toward the gate.
Their father followed.
But before they could enter, a voice echoed through the chamber.
"Stop!"
Everyone turned.
A group of armed soldiers rushed into the chamber.
At their center stood an elderly man wearing royal cloth.
He carried a golden staff.
Their father recognized him immediately.
"Nana Kofi."
The old man's face was cold.
"You should never have brought them here."
Kwaku stepped forward.
"Who are you?"
The old man looked at the twins.
Then at Adwoa.
His eyes widened.
"The prophecy…"
He whispered.
"The three have returned."
Nyamewaa raised her hand.
The soldiers immediately pointed their weapons toward her.
Nana Kofi shouted:
"Kill the First Blood!"
The soldiers charged.
The chamber erupted into chaos.
Kwaku released a blast of crimson energy.
Kwesi swung his sword, sending a wave of golden light across the floor.
Adwoa raised both hands.
The three circles on her skin flashed.
Every soldier suddenly stopped.
Their weapons fell from their hands.
Kwaku stared at her.
"Adwoa…"
She looked at her own hands.
"I didn't do that."
The First Blood smiled.
"You did."
Adwoa looked at him.
"How?"
"You are remembering."
The ground beneath them suddenly split open.
A staircase appeared.
It descended deeper into the earth.
At the bottom, a golden light flickered.
Their father stared at it.
"No…"
Kwaku looked at him.
"What is it?"
Their father whispered:
"The chamber of the First King."
The First Blood looked toward the staircase.
"The place where your story began."
Kwaku took the first step.
Then Kwesi.
Then Adwoa.
Their father followed behind them.
But as they descended, none of them noticed the shadow standing above the chamber.
A man in a black cloak watched them disappear.
He slowly removed his hood.
His eyes were familiar.
Far too familiar.
He smiled.
"Let them find the truth."
He turned away.
"Because when they do…"
His fingers tightened around a small golden pendant.
"…they will finally lead me to the Blood Crown."
To be continued…