The Skeleton Queen

Wedding

Will continues to look through the perspective of Queen Melody as his heart collides against his sternum repeatedly.....

Her people raised their glasses of red and white wines as they cheered. Will sees the glass of white wine being raised to "his" lips as Melody took a sip.

Glasses then fell to the floor. Pieces of glass scattered around. It only took less than a minute before the poison kicked in.

Most of Melody's citizens keeled over. Hands sprawled out onto the tables for support as their legs gave out. Some clutched their throats for air. Hector motioned his guards to quickly attend to them.

Emilia held onto her father with welled up eyes. "Papa! What's wrong? Someone help!" she screamed.

Some bodies collapsed to the floor with their final exhales lifted up to the ceiling. Will finds "himself" jumping out of her seat. Anger and confusion poured out from the lump in her throat.

"What is the meaning of this?!" she exclaimed.

"My wife, there is a way to save the rest of them. The clock is ticking though for those with less poison."

Hector rushed up with a screech of his drawn saber to protect his majesty. He goes for a nonlethal slash at the groom's side, but the white garbed mage steps in his way.

"Fulgur!"

A lightning bolt crackled through his chest! He drove his saber into the floor to keep himself up as Melody rushed to his side.

"Hector!"

"I'm fine," he grunted as he clutched his wound. Her top guards rush in and surround her.

"Ignis gladius!" Arthur's red mage uttered. With the swing of his arm, a prolonged sword of flames burnt their torsos to a crisp. Their bodies of her guards toppled to the floor.

"If you want the rest to live, give us the research for your white wine. We will give you the antidotes in exchange," her "husband" offered while pulling out the vials as proof.

"Don't do it, Your maje-"

"I will do it! Just don't hurt them anymore!" she pleaded while fighting back tears.

"Fine. Go with her," he instructed the fire mage. Melody rushed down to the cellars in the castle and returned. She threw the book towards him. He read through it for legitimacy. 

"I didn't lie to you! Give me the antidote!" she ran to Hector's side.

Labored breaths accompanied her racing heart. Emilia and the other children were clutching on to their lifeless parents. Her heart broke, but she hoped to save the rest of them. Arthur of House Vinum continued to read through the pages.

"Give me the antidote! You have-"

A whispered fulgur cracked the table. The sparks from it set the cloth on fire. The horrible flames mocked her shaking magenta irises.

"The House of Vinum has what we needed. My son will inherit this castle and its riches as a wedding gift to his bride. He's been looking forward to this." 

Arthur nodded to the mages of Vinum.

The fire mage raised a finger and pointed down. "Ignis hastis."

Spears of ember lit up near the ceiling and struck through the remainder of her people. Will's heart breaks as Emilia and the children screamed through the flames that are consuming their bodies.

"STOP IT!" Melody cried out with flowing tears. She took Hector's sword and rushed in to kill the mage. Arthur interfered by cutting off her right hand with his sword.