The Cruel Crown (A Young Elites Fanfiction)

Adelina Amouteru ❦

Now, without a second thought, light the sword on this paradoxical world.
- Ignite

Enzo's charring blazes whirl around me, and my castle begins to fall into fragments.

"The weak perish, and the strong prosper," I snap loud enough so Enzo can hear my voice through the ember wall. I refer to a quote I once heard from a tale called The Endgame by Evangeline Bellamy. "Those are the rules."

"You're correct," someone muses.

Who would walk straight into a firefight? I know of a few. I glance up to see Magiano standing bloodstained in front of me. He stands poised with a hilt between his fingertips. He smirks as a wicked smile appears on his lips.

"Magiano, where are Sergio and Violetta?"

"They are fighting the other Daggers; we are outmatched here, my love." His confidence doesn't waiver. "Hey Enzo, one of your precious Daggers is dead. By the way." He seems jealous of Enzo; though, he has no reason to be.

Enzo clenches his fists. He looks poised to attack, but Raffaele quells the anger. Raffaele really is sinister; though, he doesn't look it. Why would he stop him for wanting to avenge a death? Raffaele must be gaining something through this meeting of the two.

"I mean, I didn't even plan on killing him, but," he shrugs. "Michel, his name was. He stopped in mid clash. He died of his own accord. I cannot fathom why."

"Yes," I muse. "We must discuss the casualties later but Magiano? Just shut up and fight."

He smiles at that one.

"Well, my love? Shall we?"

I nod and begin to weave. Enzo is still heated toward the death of a comrade.

From the corner of my one eye, I see Magiano sneak behind Gemma and Dante. I postpone the creation and watch as he presses an aureate dagger to her throat and a silver one to his heart. She gasps; I will not accept her as a fierce opponent. Where are the beasts that constantly lingered at her side? Living things must not like obeying dead things.

But I do lock eyes with Magiano and silently warn him of Dante's strength.

Dante turns a fiery glare and rips the daggers away. One slices Magiano's forearm; he grips his arm to end the bleeding. Both daggers twist away in the air. Magiano executes a back-handspring in haste to retrieve his weapons. This is not an adversary Magiano can play with.

He grasps both blades, one for each hand. All watch as the metal spurs to life, spitting fire.

"Now we can play." He is brazen enough to smile.

Gemma's and Dante's eyes widen in shock at the approaching light that will cease. And at the surprise of witnessing him use the Reaper's power. As the fire reaches them, Dante pulls Gemma out of the path.

Raffaele remains unfazed. "He can mimic other Elites as his ability," Raffaele explains. Nyx nods like she knew.

Magiano gets closer per every attack. Magiano must currently be immune to fire; his wrists are gorged in it. And his passive cat-slitted eyes now glow a lurid red. He bears his teeth which resemble Dante's, two of his top teeth on both sides are razor-like incisors. His countenance transformation and black attire make Magiano look absolutely terrifying. I don't like the sudden gleam in his eyes. It's as if he's not even the same person.

He lights it and hurtles it toward him who raises his arm and steals it away. In the process, Dante sets his hand alight. He doesn't scream or attempt to extinguish it. Instead, he approaches me and attempts to strangle me. A strained scream escapes my throat. Magiano sees this and leaps toward us. He cuts him straight through. Crimson red blood drips down from Dante's lifeless body; the scent of blood, like copper, enters the air. Gemma runs to shield herself of Magiano's bloodlust.