Eladea: A Hopeless Age

Chapter 7: Liam

Chapter 7: Liam

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I heard them before I saw them. A rhythmic booming crash that sent tremors through the castle. I had run over to the nearest window, and that is where I stand, watching, frozen, as foreign men charge through the gates, clad in black amour. My heart races, my eyes wide as my body yells at me to run but I can't. I'm rooted to the spot. I had prepared myself for this, made a plan for this. So why, in the one moment that this was actually happening, can't I move? 

I watch as the men stream like ants, weaving through the courtyard and breaking down the doors into the castle. I watch as a few take their swords and slash at Lance's statue, creating dents in the stone. I clench my fists. They can't do that! That statue means too much to Sage! 

Sage…where's Sage?! And V, and Ren? The Knights? Why isn't anyone fighting back? Finally, at the thought of my sister being in trouble, my feet unstick to the tile and I turn, racing through the corridors. I spot a few confused servants on the way. 

"The castle's under siege! Find anyone you can and get them out!" I yell at them. They seem frozen for a moment, just like me, before dropping their various things and taking off the opposite way down the hallway. 

My breathing comes in short, raspy breaths as my feet pound against the shiny floor, slipping around corners and flying by door after door. Goddesses I'm out of shape. After running half way across the castle I practically collapse at Sage's door, banging on it with the side of my fist. 

"Sage! Sage are you in there!" I whip my head around as the faint sounds of shouting and battles flow into my ears. They're getting closer. "Sage! We have to go now! Open-" I'm cut off as my fist flies through the air instead of making contact with the door. I look up, expecting to see my older sister to have opened up. What I see instead thoroughly surprises me. 

The handsome Ivar Quentian stands there, eye level with me but seeming ever so tall. He squints his eyes down at me, a cold, spine chilling smirk creeps up his lips, as if he isn't able to hold it back. 

"Liam Emmerson. Good to see you, my boy. Though we can't do much catching up now, I believe you have some things to deal with. Good luck. Hope to speak again soon." He says in this weird way, as if his voice had changed overnight. Has it gotten...sinister? 

I'm confused for a few seconds as to why he isn't panicking like all the rest of us, but then my eyes glance behind him. My blood turns cold at the sight. There, lying in front of the open window in a pool of her own blood, my beloved sister. Immediately fear clutches my heart in a strong fisted grip. I stumble backwards a step, looking fearfully at the man I had once thought of as a humble, obedient, merciful man. But now, I saw him for what he truly was. As if a skin he could finally molt out of after days of outgrowing it. A cold, merciless murderer. I brace myself for a blade, a knife, a punch, a kick, anything. But instead he simply shrugs, steps forward and pats me on the shoulder. 

"I like you. Try not to die?" He glances back behind him into Sage's room. "Better hurry. I imagine you don't have much time." He flashes another too-perfect smile before calmly strutting down the hall. 

Once he turns a corner and is out of sight, I rush forward, sliding on my knees over to my Ace. I pick up her bloodied head and cradle it in my arms. 

"Oh Sage…" I whisper under my breath, looking at her unconscious face. She almost looks relaxed, completely calm. I take a deep breath, trying to calm my rattling lungs and the anxiety that blooms in my stomach. Sage would tell you to be calm and collected, for a panicked leader is a panicked people. You can't get things done when you're panicking. Be like Sage. Stop thinking about what you could have done and start doing f what you can now. It's finally time to test your training, I think to myself earnestly.