A Kingdom's Clash

Chapter 14

(Hey guys so I am so sad that this is the end of A Kingdom's Clash. I hope that you enjoyed this story and book 2 will be out shortly. Please let me know what you think about it and enjoy the last chapter.)

I landed on the ground with a thump after trying to shimmy down the vine. I wiped my dress clean and went towards the stable. Holly: my horse neighed as I entered the barn.

¨Shh," I said as I put the saddle on. I got up and thought about all the times that Bash had saved my life. Now I had to save his,

¨Yah,¨ I said as Holly took off. Now there was no turning back. It was very dark and I could barely see my hand in front of my face. All I could do now was try and find Winingdow and save Bash and Jack.

I rode for what felt like hours. I was trying to find where Bash and I first met. That was the only real place that I had seen that was close to Winingdow. When Bash and I were taken to Anna's I was sitting on the ground of the carriage. So with my faded memory I tried to recognize bumps in the road and certain smells.

Eventually I found the castle but I stayed in the woods. I sat on top of Holly for a while wondering what she was doing to Jack and Bash, or what she would do to me. Tying Holly up I proceed with caution. There were guards at the front entrance so I had to go and find an open window.

I searched for a small opening until I found the kitchen window. It was taller than me so I had to stand on a rock to be able to swing my leg inside. Luckily for me no one was in the room. I grabbed a rolling pin and exited with caution. As I walked further down the hallway I could hear a voice saying,

"This is the only way,¨ The only way for what I thought. I turned the corner and saw the most shocking sight.

Anna was holding Bash by the neck choking him.

¨Mom?¨ I said dropping the rolling pin.

¨Claire, it's not what it looks like. I am but sacrificing this man so that we can be together. You see when I killed your father and took his power little did I realize that there was a debt to pay. For every person with power that is killed one person without power must die. That happens to be your friend.¨

¨But why?¨ Every second I stood there her grip around Bash's neck got tighter.

¨I did it so that we could be together. Now please stand back before I hurt you too.¨

¨No,¨

¨Very well, you asked for this.¨ She used her other hand to freeze me in my place. As a result I was forced to watch her suck the life out of Bash. When it was over the spell loosened and I fell to the ground crying. Anna came over and placed her hand on my shoulder,

¨Now we can be together forever.¨

¨No,¨ I grabbed a sword that was being held by the statue of armor and jabbed it through her abdomen. This time it was Anna who fell to the ground. She placed her hand on the wound.

¨Claire, you are the new ruler of Winingdow. I love you.¨ And with that her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she was dead. I rushed over to Bash and listened for a breath. However there was nothing.

¨Bash no. You can't be dead! Please come back to me please!¨

¨Help,¨ came a faint voice. I turned around and saw a closet that was being held shut by a chair. I opened it and saw that it was Jack.

¨Jack,¨ I said you're alive.

¨Yes, now let's get Bash and leave.¨

¨Oh Jack look.¨ I said pointing to Bash and then to Anna. Just then I heard pounding at the door. ¨Quick hide!¨ I yelled as the booming noise got louder. We went back in the closet to hide. Footsteps were heard in the distance but these weren't any ordinary footsteps. They were more like a marching beat; like guards.

¨Princess Isabel! Princess Isabel where are you?¨ I busted open the closet door and yelled,

¨Here I am!¨ Mum and father came rushing towards me.

¨Oh Isabel, we have been worried sick. Where's Anna? We have guards to hunt her down.¨ I pointed my finger to Anna's dead body. ¨Oh Isabel come along we must get you home.¨ She put her hand on my shoulder but I shook it off.

¨No I can't. Anna's last words was that I would be the new ruler of Winingdow.¨

¨Isabel what are you thinking?¨

¨That's not my name. It's Claire.¨