Put back together

73. The Aftermath of inflicted Evil

Warnings: Blood, death, references to a violent murder (from last chapter), references to genocide, vomit, slight gore, references of child murder

'The Sun King is dead.'

The words echoed through Roman's mind but he couldn't seem to make sense of them.

'The Sun King is dead.'

Blood had splattered on his face and arms and clothes, warm, but slowly getting dry and cool.

'The Sun King is dead.'

The hand on the sword grip under Roman's was limp. He held it as much as he held the sword.

Father is dead.

His gaze fell on the blood splattered wood floor.

And you helped.

He stumbled back and threw up. Bile burned in his throat and his chest felt tight.

Was it regicide?
No, patricide.

A hand grabbed him by the shoulder, pulling him back, away from the fresh blood.

It had sprayed onto the crown as well, deep and dark against the gold and fitting in perfectly between bright rubies and iridescent mermaid scales.
Like the crown had been made to be bathed in blood, whether it's wearer's or their enemies.

The sight burned itself into his mind.

---

Roman came without resistance as Remy grabbed him. He was pale and bile stuck to his lips and Remy doubted he was aware of much at the moment.

Neither was Virgil, for entirely different reasons.

Both princes were covered in King Marley's blood, but instead of shock Virgil's eyes shone with mania.
He was grinning wildly, chuckling to himself every few steps.

Remy gave him maybe two minutes before the rush faded and he broke down.

In that time they had to get as far away as possible.

Once the guards realized they could move again they'd be out for blood. Not to mention the king's little rats that hid everywhere around the town and probably the surrounding villages as well.

Remy had underestimated them up until -
Well, until they set the town ablaze.

He should've seen it before, looking back, but it had taken a fire for him to realize that these bastard's were fucking insane.

They wouldn't take the king's death well.

Remy pulled Roman and Virgil into the gardens, where Emile was already waiting with the other two.
The taller had thrown up.
Remy wondered if he'd ever seen that much blood before

"Sorry, babe," Remy attempted a grin. "Guess I can't stop committing treason."

Emile smiled wearily.

"Keep him alive long enough to take the crown and maybe we won't get exiled," he pointed at Roman. He said it like a joke but Remy was too aware of the truth behind his husband's words. From here the only option for him were the Cursed Islands or the abyss.

He had just enough of a sense of self preservation not to go back to Janus and the nerds of Natica were too cowardly to let mages anywhere near their precious books.

"That way," Remy took the lead through the pathways and bushes.

---

Patton wasn't sure why they were running but he really really didn't want to stop.