Crown Of Chaos

Chapter 6

Finally, the strange men in masks slammed the door shut. Leaving me all alone in the armoury.
Slowly and quietly, I climbed out of the barrel.
I nearly gasped at the scene. All the weapons which were hanging on the walls and sitting on the shelves were gone.
The shelves seemed naked and empty, like they'd lost their worth. It's purpose.
Even some of the paintings were stolen.
I shook my head. I shouldn't be worrying about this. I needed to find my parents.
I walked over to the armory's door and pressed my ear into it.
The sounds of swords seemed very faint, which meant the men were probably on the third floor.
There were only 3 floors in the palace, 4 towers, and the underground tunnel. The soldiers have already cleared the first and second floors, which means my parents are either in one of the towers, in the tunnel, or on the third floor, which is under attack right now.
I took a deep breath and rolled my neck.
Come on, Ruby, you can do this.
Every so slowly, I opened the door.
Instantly, the foul smell of smoke and blood iron hit my face, making me choke on nothing but air. Distracted by the disgusting odor, I accidentally tripped over something and fell onto the floor. The pain in my arm shot up again, reminding me of the very deep cut.
I looked back at what made me trip and screamed.
It was a body. Not just any body; it was the body of the young Satyr boy that led me into Declan's study earlier.
The poor boys' eyes were wide and still in fear. They looked like glass. His mouth was hanging open, probably from his last cry.
His horns, which were once on his head, were brutally chopped off, leaving nothing but brittle, chipped stubs.
On his neck displayed a large, clean cut. A perfect slit to his throat.
I then looked around and almost vomited. There were so many bodies. Several of them had slits in their throats as well. Some bodies have been nastily amputated, their legs or arms sliced off.
I felt like I was glued to the floor, trying to revert myself back to reality.
"Hey!" I ripped my eyes off the boy's body and looked towards the end of the bloody hallway. Standing there with a large sword in his hand, stood a solider.
Instead of black, he wore a silver mask that clung to his face. Hiding a very brutal and inhuman face.
"Come here ya pretty thing." He snarled as he rushed towards me.
I was instantly converted back into reality as I got up and ran further down the hallway.
I needed to find the stairs that led onto the third floor.
Leaping and dodging over the dead bodies, I ran for my life, keeping my eyes peeled for the stairs.
I have never been higher than the second floor, so I didn't know where to go.
Desperate to get away from the man, I ran into a large room and quickly locked the door behind me. Breathing hard, trying to catch my breath.
I didn't even see the hands that quickly clamped over my mouth, stifling my scream.
"Let me go!" I cried as I scratched and clawed at the person who was standing behind me. I then reached for the knife, which was tucked into my dress belt.
"Shhh Ruby, shhhhhh."
I looked around and almost cried. It was Ma.
"Mama!" I cried as I quickly wrapped my arms around her waist.
"I thought you were dead!"
Ma bent at her knees to come to my level.
"I'm right here, don't worry," she cooed as she brushed a strand of my hair behind my ear.
"My poor darling, you must've been frightened," she said as she pulled me in for another hug.
I hugged her back, breathing in her familiar scent of vanilla and honey biscuits.
Oh, how I would do anything to go back in time. To be at home with both my parents sitting by the warm fireplace, laughing while telling each other funny stories while stuffing my face with honey biscuits.
A loud wham on the door instantly pulled us apart, and Ma took my hand and quickly led me towards a wardrobe. It was the only thing in the room that could keep us hidden.
"Where's Pa?" I asked as she pushed me into the wardrobe.
"He's with the king, fighting the enemy." She spoke, her voice shaking with worry.
Something was wrong.
I could feel it in her voice.
Ma turned away, but I grabbed her hand.
"Aren't you coming in, Ma?"
I gestured for her to into the wardrobe.
There was another wham on the door.
Ma turned to look at me. Her pale blue eyes swelled up with tears.
She then took my hands in hers." Not this time darling."
"But-"
"Listen, Ruby, I love you so much. You were the best thing the gods have ever gifted me. You will always be my little girl. My little Ruby."
"Ma no!" I cried.
But she put a finger to my lips, shushing me.
"Ruby, promise me that if you survive, you'll live a good life." She whispered.
"Ma please-"
"Do it!"
I swallowed the large lump in my throat.
I didn't want to do this.
"I promise."
She then smiled. "Oh, how I love you" she said as she quickly kissed my forehead and cheeks.
I closed my eyes as she kissed over them too. Her tears falling onto my own.
"I love you, ma" I whispered as I squeezed her hand.
There was another wham and a grunt as the solider behind the door tried to break it down.
Ma then slowly peeled my hands off hers. "I love you, my little Ruby" she said as she slowly closed the door.
Not even a minute later, there was a loud crash as the door broke open. Then there was a laugh.
"My, my, my, What do we have here?"
I held my hand over my mouth to keep myself from screaming.
Ma was going to die. MY Ma
There was a loud scream. No, my Ma screamed as I heard a loud thud.
I could hear bones breaking as he hit her over and over again. Before silence.
I couldn't breathe.
I kept my mouth shut with my hands as silent tears fled down my cheeks. Mingling with my ma's
I couldn't move.
I couldn't do anything.
Then there was a ruffling sound as the man dragged my Ma's body away.
My Ma was dead. And it didn't even seem real.