A Second Chance To Live, Not Just Survive

Destiny Has A Sense Of Dark Humor

TRIGGER WARNING: Blood, gore, violence. Also has two homosexual couples so kindly f*ck off if you're homophobic! :)

INCLUDES SOME SPOILERS FOR RED QUEEN!

I am so happy to finally share this fanfiction with you guys. I hope y'all enjoy it!

━━━━━━━★━━━━━━━

Maven gritted his teeth as he pinned Mare beneath him with his knee on her collarbone. He then began to choke her. Her weak hands tried prying his away from her neck, but he put all his strength and hatred into suffocating her and she was not strong enough to fight back.

Wait, why are we doing this? He suddenly asked himself. I care about her!

We are doing this to save ourselves , his mother's voice responded impatiently. It's either her or you. One of you must die.

Yes, you're absolutely right Mother, he responded. He felt his heart go numb and all his emotions drained out of him. The only thing left was a void of emptiness where his heart used to be.

This girl had cost him everything; his family, his freedom, but most importantly, his crown. He had to finish what his mother had started. He had to survive to carry on her legacy.

"I tried, Mare," he hissed. You have no idea how much I tried to change, but SHE wouldn't let me go!

Suddenly, a memory resurfaced about when Mare was still his prisoner.

"Why did you do it?" Mare asked, the pain evident in her voice. Tears began to brim in her eyes so she moved her gaze from Maven toward the ceiling. She was obviously referring to his betrayal.

"I did it for my kingdom," Maven snapped back. "Do you think Norta would've survived with Cal as king? Evangeline would've killed him as soon as he ascended the throne."

She quickly focused her death glare on him and let out a forced laugh. "Cal didn't believe that excuse, and neither will I. Don't pretend for even a second that you did this for Norta because we both know you did this for yourself. You are, and always have been, selfish. You've never ever cared about anyone but yourself. I was stupid for believing otherwise!"

He snapped back to reality. She's wrong, a small voice in his head said. You cared about Thomas.

A slight smile formed on his face at the mere mention of his one true love.

Then he felt a pang of guilt as he saw the light in Mare's eyes begin to fade. Thomas wouldn't have wanted this. He would've told me that violence is never the answer.

So Maven let go. He loosened his grip just enough for Mare to grab the letter opener and swipe it clean across his neck. The sheer force knocked Maven onto his back and he winced at the pain, but despite that, he cracked a small smile. Now I'll finally return to Tommy.

He began to tear up as he realized how much he wanted to see him again. He let out a slow breath, then closed his eyes and prepared to rest.

You've let all of our hard work go to waste! His mother's voice screeched. YOU'RE WEAK!

No, Mother, he responded calmly. I'm finally free.

He felt shadows envelop him as everything faded to black.

━━━━━━━★━━━━━━━

The Darkling sat around a table with his two lovers, King Nikolai and Queen Alina. They were seated in the dining hall with a few of their close friends, chatting about normal things.