CHAPTER ONE: "The Rise and Fall of The Banished King"
Palo Armando; code named Beast, was born in 1889 in the Belém palace of Lisbon Portugal. Back then his name was Dom Manuel II, and he would grow up to be the last King of Portugal. He was the youngest of two. While his older brother was being groomed for the throne, Dom had a very care-free and pampered life as a child. He was in no way prepared to lead a country or fend off the revolution that had been brewing amongst the citizens long before he was even born. The last few Kings who led Portugal before Dom were not popular to say the least. A majority of the people felt that Portugal was falling behind and weak compared to nearby nations, such as the Britain, France, and Spain. They no longer wished for a monarchy system, but a democracy one. The idea of a single King ruling Portugal had to end; the people demanded it.
Long before Dom every ascended the throne, past generations of Kings before him had stolen vast territories throughout Africa. They had practically enslaved the native people and bled their land for its vast natural resources; such a diamonds, gold, copper, iron, and oil just to name a few. During his father’s rule, some of the African territories they had claimed were handed over to Britain once they demanded it. Portugal had been allies with the British since 1373, so to prevent a war, his father relinquished the land to them and it was the final straw for his people. Believing that this was yet another move made by a King that ultimately weakened Portugal, the rebellion ensued and the revolution had reached its tipping point.
The royal family would occasionally go on hunting trips to Africa in order to hunt the land’s exotic game. At the age of 14 Dom was thrilled to finally join his father and older brother on one of these traditional trips. He had no idea that this would be the very last family hunt, nor could he have ever anticipated the things he saw there. Starvation, famine, and extreme poverty amongst the native people. He didn’t understand why this land, this land that supposedly belonged to Portugal, was left so neglected. Why doesn’t Portugal help them? It’s our land isn’t it? Our responsibility, so why aren’t we doing anything about it?
Dom was never groomed to be a King or had any knowledge of politics. Unlike his older brother who had long since learned that the valuable resources obtained from this land were essential to the growth and survival of their people. While his father and brother saw ‘their people’ as the citizens of Portugal, Dom saw it much differently. If this was our land, then aren’t these our people too? How can we provide for some of our people, but not all? Why do we live in a large palace on silk beds, while these people don’t even have beds; or food for that matter? Couldn’t we just give them the things we have in excess so that everyone has at least enough to survive? He was still young and naïve and was not made for the cold ruthless world of politics.
Returning from Africa, the royal family were on their way back to the palace when a group of men had attacked the carriage; firing several bullets into it. These gunmen were part of the revolution. The King, Dom’s father, was instantly killed. His older brother was mortally injured and passed a few hours after the assault. Dom had survived thanks to his mother who had instinctively shielded her youngest son with her own body. His mother had also died instantly with Dom in her arms. The last member left of the royal family had made it out with a gunshot wound to his lower left jaw, and a second one to his right upper bicep. After his recovery, he was proclaimed the King of Portugal at the age of 15, but by the time he had taken the throne it was too late to save the monarchy government of Portugal.
Despite a majority of citizens wishing for a republican democracy instead of a King, Dom’s quick popularity with his people had dubbed him ‘The People’s King’ and by the end of his reign he would be known as ‘The Banished King’. The tragic event which led to his crowning had sparked an enormous amount of sympathy from many of the citizens. It also helped that he had a likably personality. Within the first few years of his rule, the popular opinion had shifted to support the monarchy, but sadly not even his fast-growing popularity could persuade the extreme revolutionists who still sought to end all Kings in Portugal.
Six years into his rule and the popularity with his people began to decline. This was due to his persists in aiding the native people of Africa who lived on land that Portugal had ultimately stolen from them. As word spread that the various funding for the citizens of Portugal were being cut in order to provide aid to the Africans, the majority opinion slowly began to shift back to a republican democracy.
Four years later, at the age of 25 and a decade into his rule, a small portion of their funding was still being used for the African’s, and the citizen’s of Portugal had enough of helping people they did not see as their own. It had sparked various rebellions and riots throughout the capital. One in particular right outside his palace walls. Against the strong protest of his personal advisors, Dom addressed his people and stood firm with his decisions. “As long as that land belongs to Portugal, the natives of that land are Portuguese citizens!... They not only deserve but are intitled to our aid just as each and every one of you are!... If you truly wish all the funding returned to our homeland, then the land’s we’ve taken in Africa must be returned first! I will NOT cut funding from any land, so long as it belongs to Portugal!” BANG! BANG! Gunshots erupt, but not from the crowd of citizens, from his own military! The republican revolutionist had gotten all the way to his own soldiers! The rioters had set blaze to the palace. Nowhere was safe for him now and he had no choice but to flee through the underground passageway as his childhood home burnt to the ground.
Dom fled to Britain for political asylum as a republican democracy began to form and lead Portugal into a new era of government. Unfortunately, the extreme revolutionists were not done with The Banished King yet. Fear that Dom Manuel II might return with allied troops from Britain to reclaim his throne in Portugal, assassins were sent to him first. Dom had no intentions of reclaiming a throne he had never wanted in the first place. He would have been perfectly content living out the remainder of his life as The Banished King in Britain. He had only spent six months in Britain before he was found living in a tiny woodland village. The front door of his small cottage, the complete opposite of the large palace he had known all his life, was busted down and shots were fired. Dom fled out the backdoor and ran through the dark woods, leaving a trail of blood behind him as he did.
A bullet was lodged into his left side and another in his left thigh. He was unable to run with his limp, but he moved as quickly as he could while holding the gunshot wound in his abdomen. He heard their footsteps in the distance and knew he couldn’t stop moving. They were still chasing him! Unable to see the wooded terrain in the dark, he easily lost his footing and went rolling down a hill. His tumble came to an abrupted halt as his head had bashed the side of a rock. He laid unresponsive for a moment, until he heard screaming in the distance. Grown men screaming bloody murder. He made out the sounds of beastly roars, growls, and snarls; flesh tearing and bone cracking, before suddenly the screams ceased, as did his consciousness.
(Photo Age: 25+ | no longer ages)
CHAPTER TWO: "The Hunted Becomes The Hunter"
He woke up three days later, only to discover that he was no longer just human. He was saved by Kai Gaagii, a Native American SkinWalker. Kai claimed he was currently passing through Britain while searching for the Wendigo; the creature that had originally turned him and now Dom into a SkinWalker. Kai had stumbled upon the already changed Dom after the Wendigo had already turned him and eaten his pursuers, or so Kai claimed. No matter the truth, Dom was now a SkinWalker a beast and predator. Dom Manuel II was declared dead to prevent any future pursuers. Kai was the one who had suggested the name Palo, and from then on, he was known as Palo Armando.
Palo and Kai traveled all around the world together. Kai was the willing teacher and Palo the desperate student. Alone in the world, he needed the veteran SkinWalker to help with the discovery and understanding of these new terrifying powers. With both having an abnormally high sex drive due to their beastly nature, it wasn’t long before their teacher-student relationship evolved into lovers. There was never any love or deep affection between them. Just lust and some obsession, but never love. Over their years together Kai taught him what to avoid, what to seek, and most importantly; what to hunt. Human flesh helped calm and silence the animalistic nature within. The teacher did well to transform him from ‘hunted’ to ‘hunter’.
Kai was manipulative, cunning, and persuasive with a moral compass that always pointed south. For years Palo was the ruthless hunter that Kai had convinced him he had to be. Palo tried to follow all of Kai’s teachings, but in doing so he felt as if he was not being true to who he really was. As the years pressed on, they grew more distance as Palo’s deeper understanding of his urges and powers helped him to find his own way to control it; a way that wasn’t Kai’s. They fought more often than not as Palo’s heavy guilty would no longer allow him to follow in Kai’s immoral footsteps. The final straw was when Palo discovered the truth about his transformation from human to SkinWalker. He learned that Kai was the one who had killed the assassin’s chasing him that night… and Kai was the one who had changed Palo into a SkinWalker.
Upon learning the truth, Palo was furious. He didn’t view these powers as a ‘gift’ like Kai did. They were a ‘curse’ to him. All of the frustration and anger he felt towards this curse, now had a face to blame for it. With his lies and deceptions in the open, Palo wanted Kai out of his life for good. Despite being in the wrong, Kai felt betrayed. Palo would be dead without him and he believed he was being ungrateful. He developed an unhealthy obsession with the student who had rejected him. A vengeful and spiteful creature, Kai cursed Palo and warned him that if he left, he would make the rest of his life pain and misery. Unmoved by his threat, Palo left to find his own path. A road that he could walk down without shame or guilt, but he was unaware of the turmoil that decision would cause him later down his road.
Now away from the manipulative words in his ear, Palo went cold-turkey. He truly believed his own willpower could out match the animal within himself. Sadly he was wrong. After nearly four months with no human flesh, he finally broke. Transforming into beast he tore through an entire village and devoured everything. He wasn’t able to find his way back to his human form until three days later. Once he finally did, he had no memory of what had happened during his transformation. It truly was like a different being entirely taking over. Over the years through trial and error, he learned his limits. He needed to consume a minimum of one human on an average of once a month in order to stay in control. It was better than multiple in a week while under Kai’s guidance. He was also a picky eater; meaning if possible, he only ate the worst of the worst. (murders, rapists, pedophiles, etc.)
Learning how to manage his urges in his own way wasn’t enough for him. He was a very affectionate creature and craved emotional connection. Back in England, he met a woman named Chloe. While he enjoyed her company, it never went very far. Palo had lost control of his beast side, as claws and fangs punctured her soft skin while their passionate make-out session grew spicy. Unfortunately, nothing happened beyond that, as she panicked and fled after he had unintentionally hurt her; leaving bruises and drawing blood. He never saw her again… but Kai did.
Chloe had never returned after that night because Kai had followed her when she fled before devouring her. Kai was true to his word. Palo was not allowed any form of happiness so long as he still breathed. To this day, Palo is unaware that Chloe’s disappearance was due to Kai’s fowl play. Roughly 20 years ago from the present, Kai was captured by Shinko Incorporated and made into a G-E-Triple-S soldier with the code name SwiftRunner. (profile coming soon) Kai was quick to offer Palo up to Shinko. He was the one who had eagerly led the mission in capturing Palo. Now an unwilling member of the G-E-Triple-S, Palo is forced to interact with Kai occasionally due to their same work environment. The devilish SkinWalker isn’t done with Palo yet. He’s merely waiting in the shadows for another opportunity to strike and interfere with his life; a miserable life at that. Palo lives mostly in isolation for fear of hurting someone innocent again. For someone as affectionate as him to be trapped in a lonely life, it was the ultimate form of punishment and exactly what he deserved, Kai thought. Kai Gaagii’s spiteful vengeance knows no bounds. Palo will continue to suffer at the hands of his former teacher, friend, and lover so long as he still lives.
