T.O.L.D : A Tale Of Light and Darkness

Ep. 9 Shattered Hearts

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"In the silence of sorrow, my heart's tears flow unseen,

Lost in the shadows, where hope has never been."

Content Warning: This chapter contains graphic content and scenes of violence that may be disturbing to some readers. Reader discretion is advised.

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The late afternoon sun dipped toward the horizon, casting long shadows across the Aldorian palace.

Mahir emerged from the fading light, his sword glowing with an eerie brilliance. He moved with deliberate, menacing grace toward the trembling Queen Helena.

Dark power radiated from his presence, sending a shiver down her spine. Though her mind raced with questions - "who is this man, and why is he doing this?" - grief for her lost daughter and fear for her own life choked the words before they could escape her lips.

Mahir grabbed Queen Helena by the hair, yanking her roughly, "Where is the shield?" Mahir demanded, his voice a harsh whisper.

She winced in pain as he slammed her against the wall, his grip tightening around her neck. "Tell me where Dorath's shield is!"

Tears streamed down Helena's face as she sobbed, "Even if it costs me my life, I'll never tell you," she said, her face pale and streaked with tears.

Mahir let out a sinister chuckle, "I won't kill you, dear queen. But I will make you suffer."

He turned and nodded to Zaheer, who stepped forward and grabbed Sabina's lifeless body. With a slow, deliberate motion, he unsheathed a knife and brought it to her neck.

Mahir forced Helena's face sideways, directing her gaze toward her daughter. Leaning in close to her ear, he whispered menacingly, "Speak, or every second you stay silent, my man will mutilate your daughter before your eyes."

"You demons! Don't you have a heart?" Helena cried out in desperation.

"Not in the slightest," Mahir replied coldly. He nodded to Zaheer again, who began to drive his knife into Sabina's neck with swift, deliberate motions, trying to behead her.

Helena's eyes widened with horror. "No! Please stop! I'll tell you what you want!" she screamed, her voice breaking with desperation.

"Good," Mahir responded, loosening his grip on her neck and stepping back signalling Zaheer to stop.

Helena gasped for air, her hand instinctively reaching up to touch her bruised throat. Desperation and sorrow filled her eyes as she looked at Mahir, knowing she had no choice.

Her voice trembling with anguish, she finally spoke, "The shield...*gulp*, the shield is sealed away in the crypt where King Amon was buried."

Mahir stepped closer, "Show me the way then, Your Majesty" he commanded, his tone bearing no argument.

Helena couldn't tear her eyes away from her daughter's lifeless body, each second deepening the ache in her heart. "Let me bury my daughter first, please," she pleaded, her voice a mere whisper of sorrow.

Mahir's expression hardened. He grabbed her arm with a rough grip, yanking her forward. "First, the shield," he insisted, pushing her ahead.

Reluctantly, Helena began to move, each step feeling heavier than the last.