Caged Heart

Chapter 24

Emerson turned his head back to the doors and his soft expression hardened, his lividness showing once again. It seemed to only take three steps and they were at the entrance to the throne room, the guards who were at their post starting to question them before Emerson knocked one out with the hilt of his sword. The other started to pull out his sword, but the Hallow king was too fast; he kneed him in the stomach and then slammed his head against the door, knowing that would alert the ones inside.

"Don't worry," he said to Serenity as he dropped the unconscious guard, "he'll wake up soon." He turned to face the gigantic wooden doors and didn't even think twice before lifting his foot, kicking them wide open.

Upon seeing the princess and the king, Darius stood from his throne, "Serenity," he began, "what is the meaning of—" but he was cut off before he could say anything.

"Your son has been lying to you, your majesty," Emerson said, his fiery gaze set on Caleb, "He is the one who has brought this misery into your kingdom."

The prince's hand twitched as he fought to keep from reacting to Emerson's words.

The king, having unnoticed this, laughed and walked down the steps of his throne, his own eyes showing fury. "First, you have Genevieve and Godric killed. Then, you manipulate my remaining daughter's heart and get her to break you out of your cage. Now, you stand before me and accuse my son of something vile and sick? I should kill you where you stand."

"No," Serenity stepped forward, "Emerson speaks the truth, father."

"And how would you know that?"

"I was there while he was interrogating—"

"You foolish girl." Darius interrupted, "Your heart has led you to make many poor decisions and allowing yourself to trust this man is one of them. He paid those men with the gems you saw when I first sentenced him to death; did it never occur to you that he may have paid them more and promised to get them out of prison if they lied for him to get you to trust him?"

"Never. Because I have trusted Emerson since the wedding. The wedding, father, in which he helped get me, mother, Godric, and Caleb to safety and he was also the one who helped round up all the people who were there so that you could take Genevieve to the infirmary."

"He is a liar, Serenity!" Her father roared.

"The only liar in this room is your son, Darius." Emerson said, still glaring at Caleb.

Throughout Serenity's talk with her father, the two had not stopped staring each other down and Violette was staying quiet, which was quite unusual. She was gripping the arms of her throne until her knuckles turned white—she was scared.

"We both know that is not true, Emerson," Caleb finally spoke, his voice terrifyingly calm, "and this accusation that you bring forth is also not true. The proof you have—the only proof, might I add—are the words of two prisoners, both of whom have been established as willing to do anything for a pretty penny, and the memory of my sister."

"Shouldn't the words of Serenity be enough? She is, as you just said, your sister, so why wouldn't you believe her?"

"Seeing as she decided to let you out of your rightful place, I'd say that the judgment of my dear sibling has been impaired." At this point, Caleb was now standing at his father's side, "Your guiltlessness has failed to be proven, your majesty. Wouldn't you agree, father?"

"I would."

"Father!" Serenity exclaimed, but he paid her no heed.

The rage coming from Emerson seemed to make the temperature in the room rise, "Tell him the truth, Caleb." He spoke through his teeth.

"Give it up, Emerson. The only one you've managed to fool is Serenity." He took two steps closer to the king and spoke low enough so that only Emerson could hear, "And I've managed to fool everyone." A smirk appeared on his lips, sending a shiver down the princess' spine—that was not her brother.

What he had said sparked what happened next.

Emerson had thrown the first blow, punching Caleb square in the jaw making him stumble back. The prince lifted a hand to his face and winced upon touching where he had been hit. His smirk was gone, replaced by a scowl and his eyes burned with a brighter, more furious flame than that of Emerson and Darius combined. There was no regret in Emerson's eyes as he looked at Caleb, his grip tightening on the sword he was holding.

Darius quickly moved to Caleb's side, placing his hand on his shoulder, "Caleb—" he began, but stopped when his hand was harshly pushed off of the prince's shoulder.

"Don't start something you won't be able to finish, your majesty." Caleb sneered, "No amount of violence will be enough to convince father of your innocence and getting your hands dirty now would just be an insult."

"The violence won't be the deciding factor, your highness," Emerson retorted, mocking Caleb the same way, "Your confession after being bested will be."

Caleb laughed, cocking his head to the side, "That's it? That's the plan?"

The princess watched as Emerson's posture changed. He raised the sword in Caleb's direction, his feet adjusting so that his right was in front of his left shoulder length apart, and his free hand was made into a fist.

"That's the plan." He said, confidence riddled in his voice.

"Then I guess," Caleb unsheathed his sword and twirled it in his hand, "there won't be a need for your public execution after all."

Serenity's eyes widened and she shook her head, walking to her brother's side, grabbing ahold of his wrist, "Don't," was all she said, pleading with him; it was all she had the strength to say to him.

He turned his head to look at her. She expected the look in his eyes to soften, but it didn't; in fact, nothing in his expression changed as he looked at her. The only thing that she got from him was a smirk and a foreboding chuckle as he yanked his wrist from her hand, turning his attention back to the king who was now advancing towards him. As before, Emerson was the first to attack and the fight between the two began.