Kingdom's Queen

Act 2: 20

So, I'm not even sure how to describe this, but when I came to, I managed to use my anger to my advantage and rip Ares's arm off.

It was just instinct, I guess. I'm not sure WHO'S instinct, but it came off when I pulled.

I can still hear him yelling as I run down the hall with it in hand, followed by Declan, Winston, and Lucia. Well, Winston is being mostly carried by my magic. And my father is passed out, lifted by Declan.

I look down at my arm, covered in blood, and suddenly let go of Ares's arm in disgust.

Think, think, think, what do you do when you're faced with people who've suffered twenty times what you have?.. Wait, can he grow back his arms? No, he's not a lizard, there's no way.

Either way, we have gotten out of the dark hole we were being kept in, Belle's basement, and are out in the castle's ruins.

In my hand, I clutch the necklace from Lucia, inhaling. "Declan, how strong is your magic?" I call back as we make it into the courtyard.

"What?! You know that I was never that strong to begin with, my mother hated my abilities." He pants. "She said it was for emergencies only."

"This IS an emergency, Declan. They are too powerful for me to beat alone." I shove my hands into my pockets, putting everything away for later. "I need both of you to try and reach your limits with your abilities-" The Magic Keepers burst through the ground, catching us off guard.

I look back, still running toward the town, seeing Ares has indeed grown his arm back. I don't even want to know how, I can imagine it being a painful process.

In the distance, I see Daniel sitting in front of a stone with my name on it.

"DANIEL!" I call, avoiding the falling debris. He looks back, face red from crying, and stands up. "Daniel, run!"

He listens with wide eyes, running in the same direction we are.

"My sister, I'm so glad you're alright." He says as he wipes his eyes. "I thought I had lost you."

"I would never leave you." I smile.

"AN EYE FOR AN EYE, MY NEICE." Ares jumps forward, his sword angled for my neck, but Daniel interjects just before he slashes me, cutting a bit of my hair. I slide to duck, grabbing Ares's arm so Daniel can cut it off.

He screams, using his magic to push Daniel into me, sending us into the ground.

I scoff, rushing him. I jump over Ares, Nanna, and the other one distracted by Daniel, and...

I didn't see it. His sword turned up toward me. I cough, the sharp pain coursing through me. Ares chuckles lightly, standing up slowly. He pushes it in deeper the higher he stands, until the tip is piercing the ground and I am holding it deeply in my stomach. Everyone stops when they hear me slide down the sword to meet the ground.

"I don't know why you thought you'd be able to stop me." Ares laughs loudly. "I am the leader of the Magic Keepers, I took down the previous leader and most of the royalty in the United Kingdoms."

"Why are you even doing this?" I croak, trying to move the sword out of my torso.

He laughs, placing a foot on my chest. "What kind of a question is that? Isn't it obvious with all I've shown you? I am doing this because it is my family's legacy."

Alright, new approach. "Why didn't you kill us when you had the chance?"

To this question, he stops. The foot on my chest gets heavier as he steps down, pressure hurting my ribs. "He was my brother and you are my niece. I felt a moment of weakness for him, therefore for you, Darling. Also because I hate royalty just like my father did. If it wasn't for them, none of us would exist. Without their hate for magic and its people, none of their stupid hateful laws would exist. I would probably be living peacefully in Harmony with what would've been my family, had they not been taken from me by royalty in Badinage. You know what it's like, everything taken from you over and over again. Your father, family, your rank, your friends... your arm." He reaches down to grab my arm, glove wrapped tightly around it. "You should be on my side, yet you think good should prevail. YOU think you can win by defending yourself and your beliefs... Well, I'm sorry niece, but your life ends here. Soon, no one will even remember your tragedies."