Wither of Thornes

Chapter 14: A One-Sided Battle

~I am so sorry for this delay! I was in a big writers block and had a whole lotta things to do  :(( I'm still trying to compose my ideas into the story but my thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations (heh.)~

-TazTree

"Father?" Arine called, her voice cracking. "Father, why are you here?"

The menacing figure of the King came closer, and Arine could see clearer that the King was here. 

"Why I am here?" the King repeated, in a chilling voice. "Little Thorne, you should be dead. Your Graydown too. All of you must die."

Arine's eyes widened at him, and she felt Marvin hold her hand tightly as they both stared at the King. 

"But-but," Arine's voice shook. "You treated me so nicely. You were like a father to me." 

The King cocked his head and grinned wickedly. "If I didn't, how would I end up here?" 

His words impacted Arine with a hard blow. The truth dawned on her now. She was used. She was treated like a daughter, like a normal princess so she would be determined to find Marvin, or find the Tempus Kingdom. And once she did that, the King could track her and find them. 

Arine slid down to her knees, not being able to balance herself anymore. She hugged herself tightly, wishing with the same longing she felt when she was in the Dark to disappear. 

"Please, please leave everyone alone," Arine whimpered. "What do you need to just leave everyone alone?" 

"Oh little Thorne," Harris cooed. "The thing we need first is the Graydown ring." 

"No!" Marvin shouted immediately. Arine looked up at him in surprise.

Harris narrowed his eyes. "Give it Graydown. Spare yourselves the troubles and your lives for now by giving it." 

Arine noticed Marvin's jaw tightening. 

"I will not give it," he declared. "I will not allow you to own the power of the seasons. You will misuse it, and will not spare any Tempus Praestes."

Harris gave him a crooked smile. "Indeed, we will not. But wouldn't you enjoy a few extra minutes of your life?"

"If those few minutes were spend defeating you and your army." Arine whispered harshly, loud enough for Harris to hear. 

Harris snarled and leaped for Marvin. Marvin backed away, causing Harris to trip. 

At once, the army armed their weapons, which consisted of bow and arrows, daggers, and whips. Arine held onto the top of her watch tightly, looking back and forth at anyone who may ambush her.

A guard did. As he was about to stab his dagger at her, she traveled to a different place, far from him. The guard look at her confused while Arine smiled mischievously. In the library in Tempus, she saw papers talking about something called 'Swift Travels.' They were Time Travels that made a Praestes travel in closer distances. Essentially it was used mostly to be farther away from an object or enemy, but still in the same place.

Another guard ran to her too and Arine Swift Traveled again. Arine started to acknowledge the fact that she had no weapons to defeat them, and she couldn't keep Swift Traveling. That became clear once she was surrounded by guards, and there was no place she could travel without being caught. 

The sharp points of the guards weapons seemed to glint, making Arine shiver. She didn't know how to hit them with her bare hands, without cutting herself.