Royal Flower

Chapter Sixteen

No one moved for what seemed like minutes. The only thing they heard was the swirling of Aster's water, the burning of Rose's fire, and lastly the loud and dangerous crackling of Violet's lightning.

Lorraine would have turned around to see what was so special about who was standing at the doorway, but she would be turning her back on Rose and Aster, leaving them room to attack them.

We thought we could win without salt water. Now it's too late to use it. Derek thought, glancing between Violet and Bryan.

Violet caught us by surprise because we were so focused on Rose and Aster to notice her. Bryan gritted his teeth angrily. Violet killed my wife. She won't get away with this.

Bryan was the first to move, but Violet's attention instantly snapped from Tania's dead body to Bryan. Before he could take another step further, another beam of lightning struck his sword, sending electricity throughout his body.

Bryan screamed from the pain, dropping his sword. Violet suddenly released her hold on him. Bryan clutched his heart, breathing heavily.

"Which one of you is the Reese Henessey?" Violet finally asked, her voice low.

The Red Phoenixes attempted not to cringe when they heard their leader's name. Bryan had scolded Devin for giving away Reese's name, but Reese had told Bryan to let it go, knowing what Devin had went through.

Bryan opened his mouth to respond, but Derek beat him to it. "He's not here."

"Your leader's not here?" Violet asked with frustration, clenching her fists. She had wanted to see the person who dared to succeed the man who killed her father.

"No, he's not," Lorraine called, her sword at the ready in case Rose and Aster decided to attack.

Violet sneered, finally taking a step forward. Bryan and Derek pushed Lorraine back so they could back up as well. "I should have known. Your disgusting leader is too cowardly to face us head on. Instead, he decides to send four minions."

Derek furrowed his eyebrows angrily and raised one of his daggers, but Bryan said in warning, "No, Derek." Bryan briefly glanced at Rose and Aster, who were both standing there, watching the scene unfurl. They weren't attacking them but they didn't interfere. Bryan set his eyes on Violet and said in a dangerous tone, "You killed my wife."

Violet didn't even flinch. Her lightning just crackled louder. "Your wife shot my boyfriend," she said evenly. Bryan was about to protest but Violet finally said in an authoritative voice. "Run back to your leader and give him a little message. Tell him... that he'll wish that he never became the new Red Phoenix leader."

Bryan set his jaw and tightened his sword. I'm not going anywhere until you pay for killing Tania.

Derek seemed to have read his mind, because he threw Bryan's words right back at him. "No, Bryan."

Bryan looked at Violet in anger. We won't win at this rate. "Retreat," he ordered, still not taking his eyes off of Violet.

Violet stepped aside, allowing Bryan, Derek, and Lorraine to slowly make their way out of the throne room. While doing so, Bryan made sure to step on one of the purple violets that had bloomed around Violet's feet while Lorraine and Derek retrieved Tania's body and crossbow.

The Red Phoenixes has paid too much attention to Rose because we thought she would be the most dangerous out of Flora's children. Who would have thought that despite Rose inheriting her mother's fire, she got her father's hesitant personality? We were fools not to see that Violet had inherited her father's lightning, but also Flora's impulsive personality. Lucky she let us walk away, Bryan reflected as they retreated. He would make sure not to make the same mistake again.