Heartless | A Powerless Fanfiction Novella

Chapter 11: Corrine

"Damien." The only thing that would go past my lips is his name in a barely audible whisper, but  I know he hears it when a sly smile crosses his features.

The action alone sends a shiver through my spine. That same grin that had the habit of greeting me for every single time he knew he told a lie as children, a warning to keep my mouth shut and I know he doesn't mean it as less than that in this moment. I falter once again in step but he holds me up continuing to lead us within the crowds of pairs. He doesn't want to make a scene then. My dead brother doesn't want to draw attention to us. Anger rises in me before I can stop it and Damien notices the change quickly, spinning me further away from the centre and more to the side but not stopping even once.

"I can explain, Corr."

"I don't want an explanation Damien, I want the truth." Tears pool in my eyes but I don't let them fall, from sadness or rage I don't even know anymore nor am I willing to find a difference right now. "Why?"

Why did he leave? Why did he abandon his family? Why when it was all his fault?!

"I-"

"It all happened because of you." I seethe at him.

"I'm sorry. I can't give you all the answers here, but you'll know everything soon enough," Was that geniue plea in his voice? "I promise."

I almost scoff, shaking my head and stepping away from him snatching my hand out of his grip, "You promised to keep me safe and to always be by my side." A feigned smile finds its way to my lips, the only way to reign in the will for my hand to hover above my dagger in plain sight, "I don't think you're entitled to even a scrap of my trust."

Damien purses his lips, putting his hands up in defeat and backing away a step, "You're right, but before you try to actually kill me do one thing for me," He almost looks apologetic as he says, "Run."

And that's when I'm thrown to the side by a force to collide with the wall behind me.

The ringing in my head doesn't subside as I rise from the floor and assess the situation as fast as I am capable of. Three more explosions at the other end of the ballroom happen before I can form a thought and the scene around me is a mess of screams and debris. My eyes dart around for my brother but he is nowhere to be seen, lost in the crowds or under stone it's not my top priority right now, not when I spot the Enforcer with Paedyn Grey on his shoulder indicate to the midst of the action as he carries the girl away from the scene. I don't wait another second before running in the sea of...white? The white leather masks covering half of their faces don't make it easy to spot the guards from the intruders, but also not impossible. As soon as my dagger is in my hand it already leaves it to meet the leg of an incoming attacker, crippling him in a matter of seconds and giving me enough time to pull my weapon out and direct it to one of his friends before his throwing knife can strike through my heart. I spin and twist with my blade and I in a symphony I never knew to feel beyond a melody, but with every move and hit it only makes me realise how much like a dance this is to me. Skill ingrained into me - just like ballet steps but this time stained in crimson. Two more hits before I take one myself and my arm stings with blood. With the one responsible already gone I falter to assess the cut: it's not deep, I've certainly had worse, but the pause allows me to look around me once more.

Deep green eyes meet mine from across the room and I fixate on Kitt as he struggles against his guards, roaring to let him go so he can join his people in the fight. This is not the time for nobility. He should have already been long gone, why is the crown on Ilya still here? That's when I choose do a stupid thing, but with Kai's advice not proving to work as he shouts at his brother, I send a spark to the light source the prince was close to, making it send a small shock in his direction I know he feels when I see him straighten and examine the bulb next to him, throwing me another look but this time of raging warning before finally giving in to his brother and leaving. Something akin to worry crosses his features when he gives me one last glance back, and just in time for a throwing knife to bury itself in my leg.

I fall to one knee with a silenced scream in pain and take a look at the pierced flesh, not daring to pull the blade from it just so I can bleed out right here. This time the attacker doesn't hurry to leave yet, and with my mundane skills coming at their end it's time for the fun to begin. Two synchronised shocks crawl on the marble before me just before they climb the man and bring him down. Another is sent to the one behind me, forcing him to join his friend and the last is a bolt striking through another's arm, burning the flesh in a clean blow. All of a sudden the body bursts in flames, and the Enforcer is standing across from me with barely a drop of blood on his suit.

"Lowes," Kai kneels next to me, spotting my injury with widened eyes.

The lower half of my white dress is practically bathed in red. Ironically I prefer this new design to the damning pureness of it.

"I'm fine." I grunt out, "I've had worse."

"Just be quiet," He examines the blade, and without a warning he pulls it out in one swift move and covers the broken bleeding skin with a hand.

Before I can scream in pain I feel the skin sowing itself back together and realise the prince is borrowing a Healer's ability. With my lips pursed to keep me from making a sound, I turn to examine our surroundings, only now just realising that things have quietened down. The guests that have remained to fight are searching and helping others who have been buried in the rubble of the ballroom. Crystal chandeliers in a thousand pieces, the marble stone beneath me cracked from the impact of the explosions, the emerald curtains and carpeted twin stairs in ashes from the fires that thank the Plagues are now out before they could spread through the rest of the palace.

"Can you stand?" Kai asks me still kneeling before me, "Lowes I need you to check the grounds."

I rise from the ground with my right leg shaking in the slightest, adjusting to the new feel of tender skin. The pain is now bearable, and enough for me to continue my duties.

"Thank you. I'll patrol the gardens and let you know if I see anything, or kill anyone for that matter." My tone is cold, knowing there is no use to soften it around the Enforcer when the anger is so clear on his features he might as well be the one bursting into flames.

There is no sympathy for the ones who choose to spill the blood of innocent lives. This isn't just another boy in the square, these are criminals who have committed treason in the heart of Ilya. Kai nods and allows me to leave. With my dress still bloodied, my dagger dripping in my hand and body painted in a dried up crimson failure, I pull the mask off of one of the bodies of the executed and place it on me. Every single time that leather greets my features, I can become the one I hate the most. But my hate for this new me, is nothing compared to the fear of me.

Let them run, let them hide. I'll live the lie again and again, because it looks like accepting truths will not come easy.