Impenetrable- Sequel to Arcanum

Chapter 33: Harmony

I stared after Kaliska and Father run after Colt and Cassidy, and I felt the need to run after them but I needed to help Spruce.
I quickly look back at Spruce and see some soldiers already helping him. I curl my lip, and curse at myself. I'm useless when it comes to treatment.
"Princess Harmony!" A voice called out, and I was surprised to see Kiriya running towards me. It's been a while since I've seen him!
"Kiriya?" I asked quizzically, and he races over to me and stops in front of me, panting. He looks a lot better than he did when I first met him.
"I.. I need to tell you a couple things about Cassidy." He said shyly, and I rose an eyebrow, but after I helped Spruce back to the castle I sat down with Kiriya, and I watched him twitch and squirm under my gaze. I wish I could be softer on the poor boy, but right now I was too stressed out with Spruce injured, Kaliska and my father chasing after Colt and Cassidy, and not to mention Colt is also evil now because apparently he was cursed when he was little.
"I.. Please don't hate me after I tell you this.." He whimpered, and I smiled.
"I won't hate you Kiriya." I stated calmly, and he breathed out slowly.
"Cassidy is my mother." He said quietly, and he studied me, waiting for me to burst out with something but I made sure I never did.
"Cool." I smiled, and a guard who was standing behind suddenly burst out something that sounded suspiciously close to "betrayal" and "traitor."
Before he could go any further, I sat up so quickly the chair almost fell back, and I turned my attention to the guard.
"You're relieved of your duties. Get out of here." I growled, having my eyes switch to my panther form and intimate him through my glare.
He gulped, and nodded and raced out without another word.
I let my eyes turn back before I turned to the blonde boy. Now that I gazed at him knowing Cassidy was his mother, I really could see the resemblance.
"So why do you have all those marks?" I asked, trying not to sound so blunt, but I failed horribly.
He winced, and I saw him self consciously rest a hand on his chest.
"I... I was never a good kid. Or well, in her case. I hated seeing her torture poor souls. So I'd go for days without eating until she'd force me to kill an nnocient being." His head fell and I saw a tear fall on the wooden table.
My heart pinched, and I watched him cry softly.
"We're going to stop her." I stated. He looked up, before he shook his head slowly.
"She's really strong.." He said, and I grinned and clenched my fist.
"Yeah, and she messed with the wrong people. She's hurt my friends and family for long enough and I'm not going to sit here and do nothing anymore." I announced, before I looked over at him. He had a look of admiration, and I smiled.
"If only I could be as brave as any of you.. She scares me.." Kiriya said, and I patted his head.
"Well don't worry about it. We all have our own fears." I explained before I walked out and went to Spruce's room. He laid on his bed looking bored.
"Hey." I greeted and planted a kiss on his forehead before he reached up for another kiss but I teased him and leaned back out of his reach.
"Haaarmony." He whined, and I stuck out a tongue before I pulled up a chair.
"Any word on Colt?" He asked, and I shook my head.
"It's been nearly thirty minutes since we last saw him Spruce. Even if there was, we wouldn't have heard about it yet." I said, and he laughed before he looked down guiltily.
"I should've been able to stop this from happening.." He murmured, and my brow lifts.
"Stop talking about that Spruce." I said, and he looked over at me.
"But I'm his older brother. I'm supposed to stop him from doing stupid things, and keeping him in check. I'm sure keeping him out of the hands of an evil maniac counts." He exclaimed, and rose his shoulder before they fell.
"You couldn't have stopped it." I told him and rested a hand on his shoulder.
"We can't do anything to change the past. What we must do is just keep heading into the future. It's the least we can do I mean." I said, and he sighs, before he stands up.
"What are you doing?" I ask as I raise too, ready to stop him.
"Going out to kill Cassidy." He grumbled, and I stop him by holding a firm hand on his chest.
"Trying that will get you killed at best." I snapped.
"But I have to try! It's better than laying here doing nothing." He growled, and I blinked when I realized he was just like me.
"I can't let anyone else fall into her hands." Spruce said, and I smiled and hugged him.
"But you'd be playing into her hands if you go." I said softly, and he stopped struggling and put his arms around me too.
"Right.. I'm sorry." He muttered, and I laughed before I let go and walk out.
I leaned against the wall, and rub my eyes. I was worried for Colt, and I was worried for the people fighting him. God knows what'll happen..
I grab my rapier silently when I go back into Spruce's room, and sneak back out without him noticing, and I grab a random horse before I ride out of the kingdom.
"Cassidy.. You'll pay for everything you've done.." I murmured as I went faster until I found Kaliska and my father looking ashamed.
"Did you find them?" I called as I rode over and stopped beside them and quickly scanned their bodies for injuries. Fortunately, they're fine.
"No.. We lost them when the forest got thick." Kaliska said, looking miserable and I understood she was probably very worried about Colt.
"Well how about you go back to the castle and get some rest?" I asked. Kaliska paused before she agreed and climbed onto the horse. I looked down at dad to see he was already turning away.
"Aren't you going to come back?" I asked, and he shook his head.
"I'll search a bit more and then come back." He said as he transformed into his wolf form, and disappeared into the bushes quickly.
I glanced at Kaliska before I led the horse back to the kingdom and watched Kaliska disappear into a bedroom and close the door behind her.
I turned back and began to walk back to the stables. I still had energy after all.
I got back onto my horse and rode back into the woods, determined now.