United (Magics AU - Part 1)

Chapter 29 - Marcus

Marcus hurried through the halls, but the screams he'd been hearing previously had ceased, making it more difficult to find his way to the voice. He'd been sitting in his office, scanning absentmindedly through a few stacks of papers, when he'd heard the shrieking that had nearly sent him out of his seat. After a moment, Marcus had realized that it had come from downstairs, near the library - and his heart had spiked. Was the Shadowbeast back and attacking, in the middle of the day? Falte was down in the library!

As the king clattered down a flight of stairs three at a time, practically leaping down the steps, he became aware that there was someone following him, gaining on his heels with urgent speed. He couldn't look back to see who it was, but he had a guess that it was his wife, having heard the screams as well. She'd been on the floor above in their bedroom, but Ruby was a quick runner, which meant she had probably caught up to her husband. 

Confirming his suspicions, Ruby's voice called out to him from a few paces behind. "Marcus! Captain Ezekiel is in the weapons room. Pound on the door when we go by, I'll tell him to follow us." 

Of course she was getting back up, Marcus realized. She probably was worried about the same thing - that the Shadowbeast had bumped up its courage and was attacking now, in broad daylight. 

Sure enough, the door to the weapon's room was slightly ajar, and Marcus could hear Zeke's gruff voice coming from inside. As he whipped by, Marcus slammed the side of his fist into the door, causing it to swing open. The king heard a startled shrieks that sounded like Melody and Emily, but a moment later, Ezekiel was at the door, blinking in confusion as Marcus sprinted by. 

"Ezekiel!" Ruby said hurriedly as she slowed just a little bit to give the captain of the guard quick orders. "Arm yourself and follow us. Something's happened downstairs." 

Marcus didn't have to look back to know that Zeke had immediately snapped into action. The king could hear a belt strap snapping and a few clangs, and then the door burst open again and another pair of footsteps joined them.

"Melody!" Marcus yelled loudly over his shoulder. "Do not let Emily go anywhere downstairs!" He wouldn't risk her being attacked again. If it hadn't been for those four brave guards - one of them was now in the hospital for quickly engaging the beast immediately - Emily would probably either be dead or seriously injured. He would not let that happen this time.

After what seemed like forever, the king realized that they were getting closer to where the screaming had been coming from. They had just whipped past the library and found nothing, which meant that the voice had come from somewhere near the library. Sucking in a quick breath, Marcus readied himself as he leaped down the last flight of stairs, whipped around the corner, and-

Slammed head-on into someone's back. 

The tall man he had crashed into spun around without missing a beat, a hand snatching Marcus shoulder. For a fleeting half of a second, Marcus thought that the person was simply trying to steady him - but nearly a blink later, the man's other hand slammed against his throat, his feet were swept out from under him, and he was knocked painfully on his back to the floor with a man standing over him, holding him in place. 

Stunned, Marcus opened his mouth to try to get the air that had been knocked out of him back into his lungs. As he blinked, he realized that the man he'd run straight into was Guardian Shintaro. The guardian was frowning harshly down at the king, but a moment later he realized who he'd just choke-slammed into the floor. 

"Your Majesty," he exclaimed in shameful shock, his eyes widening. 

At the same time, Ruby halted behind the guardian with a shocked, accusatory "Shintaro!"