After All

Chapter 13: Uprising

Adonis was busy keeping track of the recruits boarding a caravan when a messenger from the royals sought him out.

"Captain Broderson! I have a summons for you from Prince Quillian Salvatore!" The messenger announced. Adonis groaned and rolled his eyes.

"And to think I took this job to get away from him," Adonis grumbled to himself. He sighed in frustration before responding to the messenger.

"Very well. Did he mention where he wanted to meet?"

"In his private chambers, captain." The messenger elaborated. Adonis nodded knowingly before handing his paperwork off to one of his subordinates and leaving for the castle. Quillian's private chambers were usually reserved for debauchery, only his closest friends were allowed to be in Quillian's bedroom. The fact that Adonis was meeting Quillian there was significant and added a layer of secrecy to Quillian's summons. Adonis walked into Quillian's bedroom and found his former friend sitting in a chair with a bottle of alcohol in his hand. When Adonis got closer he realized Quillian was shirtless and that his wives were sleeping in their bed. It didn't take long for him to realize what had happened before his arrival, making him cringe internally. When Quillian made no motion to acknowledge his presence, Adonis cleared his throat and spoke up.

"You wanted to see me?" Adonis asked as Quillian rose to his feet.

"Yes, I did! I wanted to show you something." Quillian explained, downing the remaining contents before tossing the bottle aside and approaching Adonis.

"Please sit," Quillian commented, guiding Adonis over to his chair and forcefully shoving him into it. He then walked towards a series of chairs draped in a long curtain. Quillian quickly pulled back the curtain, revealing portraits of each of his family members.

"Where did you get those?" Adonis asked, eyeing the portraits cautiously.

"I took them from the great hall. I needed them for my demonstration." Quillian nonchalantly commented as he pulled out a dagger from his back pocket, examining it in the light.

"Demonstration?" Adonis echoed, confused by Quillian's actions.

"Of my plan! I wanted to run it past you first. That is, if you aren't too busy avoiding me." Quillian added, stepping beside the portrait of his father.

"I'm never too busy." Adonis lied, clearing his throat in an attempt to hide the thickness of his voice.

"Good! Now onto the plan!" Quillian announced, turning to the portrait of his father.

"First we have Orpheus. He'll do anything to keep me from getting the throne. So, he has to die first." Quillian explained, pointing the knife at his father's portrait's throat.

"Die?!" Adonis exclaimed.

"Yes. Tomorrow he is going to check on the front lines. Before he reaches the lines, I will put an end to his pathetic existence." Quillian darkly instructed, slicing the throat of Orpheus' portrait. Adonis watched on in horror as Quillian moved on to Artemisia's portrait.

"Next is my dear little sister." Quillian hissed.

"Your sister gave up her claim on the throne!" Adonis exclaimed, worried that Quillian would still consider harming her after all she had done for his benefit.

"Titles can be reinstated. If my mother decides she is a more valuable asset than I am, then I will be forced to return to my captain status. Hence, why my sister must die next." Quillian remarked, slicing the throat of Artemisia's portrait before moving onto his mother's.

"And last but not least, my precious mother. Her powers make her a formidable foe. But she's too unstable to be kept alive. Her powers can kill everyone in my kingdom, herself included. She will have to be eliminated, so my wives will be queens." Quillian proclaimed, gesturing to his sleeping wives before slicing the throat of Bellona's portrait.