Quest of Fate

How could you?!

As I walked forward, I could feel the heat of the guard beside me, breathing heavily, his eyes glancing quickly from my face to my body. Feeling sickness boil inside,  I kept my gaze ahead, not wanting to see the glazed over pupils, the heat- filled eyes. As we turned the corner,  I felt a brush of a heavy hand against my lower back. Barely containing the shiver, I glanced over to his face. I saw those piggish eyes staring into mine, could almost taste his sour breath that brushed against my face. Swallowing a gag, I turned back, now quickening my steps, for the quicker we get there, the quicker I can get away from this man. Finally, the Queen's chamber doors came into sight. I silenced the sigh of relief that escaped my lips, and all but nearly ran towards the door. As we came closer, the sounds of a struggle bled through the door as a muffled cry erupted from within. The guard and I exchanged glances, mine a look of confused fear, his a look of  knowledge of what was going on in the room. I could not help just standing there.  Rushing forward I shoved the doors open. Their heavy weight banged against the walls, an announcement to our arrival. The scene before stole my breath. Held on the floor, was my father, another one of Catherine's men pinning his arms behind him. The Queen herself was in a disarray, her hair unkempt from the neat braid it was usually placed, her clothing twisted about her. She looked up from her place on the floor beside my father when I saw the glint of something hidden in her lap. She stood slowly, fixing her hair and dress as she sauntered over to me, standing speechless in the doorway. 

"Ah, Cara. I was hoping you would arrive." She sneered down at my father. She grabbed the sword hanging on the hip of the guard who escorted me here.

"Cara, please, kneel." 

"What-why?!"  

The angelic smile appeared, but now it shown her true intent.

"Why, you are taking your father's position. Now," the smile slipped, and I could tell that she was wanting to strike me for my confusion, "Please, kneel."

"But you can't-"

"That is where you are wrong my dear. As you can see, I am a queen, whilst you are the lonely daughter of the huntsman. So," she leaned forward and stared me straight in the eye, "I believe I can do as I please. Now, please...kneel."

With nothing else to say or do, I slowly sank to my knees, my mind a blank, for  I could not see what she was up to. 

"There, was that so hard? Now," she cleared her throat, and stood tall, " I, Queen Catherine Alexandria Cortsinova, mark thee," the sword jabbed both of my shoulders sharply, leaving scratches upon my skin, "The Royal Huntsman. May you live long and prosper fully."

Rising unsteadily to my feet, I felt an upending doom in my gut, as if it wasn't over yet. Catherine strode towards her throne and sat down prettily, sighing as if a great burden was lifted from her shoulders. 

"Now that that is over," she lifted her hand almost bored like and pointed at my father, still lying on the floor, "Guards, kill him." 

"No!" 

I leapt forward, grasped the first guard I could lay my hands on, and threw him across the room. He crashed into the wardrobe and landed heavily on the ground, knocked unconscious. I felt a vicious sound start deep in my belly, and with a sudden burst, a roar slipped between my teeth, startling all of us. The Queen stared at me with an ugly hunger in her eyes, a feral smile on her face as she leant forward, gripping the arm rests of the throne with hands like eagle talons. My father struggled to stand, a look of disappointment, of sadness playing along his features. The sight of seeing him disappointed with me, caused me to falter.  

"I knew it!" Catherine yelled, her voice hoarse with excitement. "You were under my nose all along!"  The smile placed on her features was a gleeful one, as a child looks on Christmas morning. 

"You are mine!" Catherine rushed me, the light glinting off of the now bared knife wielded in her hands. I stopped, fear clogging my heart. My mind stopped, but my body took over. Feeling the rush of power, stronger now, pour through me, I smiled at Catherine, baring my teeth as fangs grew. Feeling euphoric, I tossed my shoulders, feeling unknown strength course. Catherine then bodily slammed me, raising the knife high above her head before plunging it toward my heart. 

"NO!" Father cried out, his face one of pure helplessness.

Catherine met my eyes, her's confused, mine in complete shock as I held her wrist in my grasp, the knife point mere inches from piercing my clothing. She tried to pull her hand away, but I held on. The pure feeling of having someone's life in your hands was a heady feeling as I then grabbed Catherine around the throat, he's dainty neck feeling so fragile in my grasp. 

"Gasp-You think-Gasp- that just because-Wheeze-you can shift-Gag-you can do as you please?"

I watched with skewed fascination as her pulse thumped against my thumb, my nails growing longer and pointed as the thumbnail poked her thin skin. Catherine stilled, barely breathing as I moved the tip of my thumb against her pulse. I felt my mouth pull into a teeth baring grin, and I guess she say something in my eyes, for Catherine turned as pale as a sheet.

"Cara, put the Queen down. You do not want to kill her. You don't want her blood on your hands." Father's words reached me, but all I could think about was just one little cut, and the scent of her fear was delicious, as she was the one to start fear in all the others. Then the unexpected crossed my mind. Stefan spared me the same mercy, the one who was sent to kill him, yet he let me live. Snarling,  I unceremoniously dropped Catherine, where she fell into a crumpled heap. Turning towards Father, I saw the only guard left slide behind him. Dashing forward, I was too late when I heard the sickening sound of blade cutting through flesh. Father arched against the guard, his mouth opened in a silent scream of pain before he slumped to the ground. It was nothing to toss the guard hard against the wall. Collapsing to my knees, I slid forward, catching his body before  he hit the ground.

"Father. Father. Daddy, please, please don't leave me." Gasping as if I was the one with the knife through me, I held tightly onto him, waiting for any response. Finally, Father wearily lifted his head, his eyes barely seeing.

"Cara."

"I'm here Father. Don't worry, I'm here. Please, please don't go."

Father's body clenched as a wet cough racked his frame.

"Cara, you need to listen to me. You-cough- have to run. Go Cara. Go home."

A fit of coughs took over, and I felt the rock of ever growing fear and desperation roll in my gut.

"Please Father, we can get you bet-"

"Cara, it is the end for me, but not for you." His eyes stared deeply into mine with renowned strength.

"You have a whole life before you. One you didn't even know of."

"Father, what are you talking about? My life has been with you and Mother."

A chuckle escaped his lips.

"Cara, if only you knew who you were."

"Father, you are saying nonsense."

"Cara, you need to return to the cottage. Find your Mother's journal. Your birth Mother's journal."

"What?! Father you-"

It was then I realized how cold he had grown. All the strength I had withered away, leaving nothing but and empty hull. Silent tears streamed down my face as I pressed my forehead to his.

"Good-bye."