It's been hours. My crying hasn't ceased. The tears are still falling. I feel as if I'm drowning in them. Drowning in my sorrow.
A voice breaks through the silence I've succumbed to. "You should get up, dear," it says. It sounds disembodied. It's the voice of a male, someone young. "The guards are coming to see what happened, you know. You should get up now."
I sit up and look around, seeing nobody. "Hello? Who are you?"
"Look behind you, dear," the voice tells me.
I turn around and stand up, coming face to face with someone that looks like a person but more resembles a ghost. It's glowing gold, a shiny outline of a person. I back away, almost tripping over Archie's body. "W-Who–? W-What are you?" I ask, confused as to what I'm seeing.
"I am Rios. You've set me free, Aydin. I am forever in your debt," it answers.
"What exactly are you?" I ask again, befuddled.
"I am the spirit that keeps this Kingdom alive. I am, as you humans called me, the Lifeblood. I had been trapped in that tree for eons, what a wonder it is to be set free! Now, tell me, child. What is it that you want?" Rios says, smiling.
I look down at Archie's body and open my mouth to speak, but I hesitate. I gaze over at the Kingdom and then back at Rios. "I'd like the Kingdom's magic to be restored. You can be free, but I'd also ask that the rituals could continue. Perhaps with a grotto where the tree once stood."
"You are a kind soul, Mr. Wright. I always knew it. And before you ask, yes, I do know everyone in this Kingdom, alive and dead. I cannot tell the future, however, but I am sure you will continue to bring greatness to Galariesse," Rios says. "And I will oblige to your wishes. You would make a good King, dear."
In a split second, Rios disappears and the sky illuminates with a burst of light. The guards come running into the clearing and I suddenly feel rid of my sorrow. I feel strong, stronger than ever.
King, he said?
What a prospect. What a dream, beyond sorting everything out with the Kingdom. But wait, could I be King? I glance down at Archie and feel as if he gives me the answer to that question.
Only time will tell if it will be so. What lies in store terrifies yet intrigues me. And in the end, none of us were in the right. This Kingdom found it's worst because of the faults that we all created.
Nobody wins. Everybody loses.
We are all at fault.
YOU ARE READING
Faults
FantasyA group of teenage boys working together to save their Kingdom from the clutches of the wicked get more than what they expected when plans of revenge don't go as planned. The will to avenge takes over as things spiral out of control. Family tension...
