Shattered Heart (Red Queen)

Chapter Twenty-Five

•Mare POV•
     I'm getting ready when a loud blaring sound makes me jump. It's the alarm warning us of intruders. It's Maven. I know it is.
     Cal flings open the door to the bathroom and says, "We have to get to the safe room right now."
     He throws on a t-shirt and pants and runs out of the room. I'm following directly behind him with sparks at my fingertips. People are running in every direction. It's mass chaos. Then the screaming starts and shots echo down the long corridors.
     "Cal!" I shout worriedly.
     He looks back at me with a concerned expression. "It'll be ok! We're almost there!"
     "We have to help them!" I shout over the noise and point at the soldiers protecting us.
     He shakes his head and replies, "Maven is here for you! I'm concerned about protecting you, not them."
     Carac then rounds the corner in front of us and says, "We can't get to the safe room. It's blocked by the fighting."
      "Then where do we go?" Cal asks and takes my hand.
     "Follow me," he says and takes off in the other direction.
     We follow and the shots get closer. Carac stops at a random room and says, "It should be safe in here."
     I open the door and walk in. It's pitch black and I suddenly have a terrible feeling. The door slams shut and I search frantically for Cal. We need to get out now.
     The lights turn on and the first person I see is Maven. My heart skips a beat and Cal steps in front of me protectively. His hands burst into flames and Maven smiles.
     "There's no need for that, traitor," Maven says.
     "You're one to talk," I respond. "You betrayed us."
     "And yet here we stand," he says. "Fantastic job, Prince Carac. You lead them right to us."
     I whip my head around to face him. He's smirking and I feel like a fool. I should have known he wasn't one of us.
    "How dare you! So you're a prince too?" I sneer.
     "Clearly. I'm Prince Carac Cygnet of the Lakelands. But I am a Newblood of sorts, so I didn't completely lie to you," he says.
     "What the hell do you mean? You're a Silver! Just like him," I say and point to Maven.
     "No, I'm not. My mother was a Red, oddly enough. My power is death because I'm an Newblood," he tells me.
     "And why should I care what you are?" I ask coldly.
     "I'm so glad you asked, Mare. You see, I made a deal with King Orrec Cygnet to end the war and create an alliance," he starts.
     "Yes, I'm aware. But what does it have to do with me?" I ask flatly.
     "You, my dear, will be my wife. You were the deal," Carac says.
     "Like hell I will be!" I yell.
     He makes a move for me and Cal throws flames at him. They hit his shoulder and he grunts in pain.
     "Don't even think about touching her. She is mine. We are engaged and Mare will be my wife," Cal says with pure hatred.
     "I'm afraid you don't have much of a say," Maven says.
     "Maven, you're my brother. Don't do this," he pleads. "I love Mare more than life itself. I can't let you have her. I need her. Everything else has been taken from me, so please don't do this. I will give you anything, anything."
     My heart truly breaks to hear him beg like that. And for a second, I think he may have convinced Maven. His eyes soften and a look of remorse crossed his face.
     "I am sorry, brother. But I already-" Maven starts but is interrupted.
      "You don't understand!" Cal says and wraps his arms around me. He won't let go of me for anything. "She's all I have left. I lost my mother, my father, my home, my kingdom, and my brother. Maven, if you have any love for me left in your heart, then you won't do this."
     A man I assume is King Orrec steps up and I didn't realize he was here. "Get over yourself, boy. You're as weak as your father. You don't need some girl to be strong. Be a man."
     Cal squares his shoulders and responds, "A true man needs a woman to survive. I am not weak. You are no man. You think you can go through life alone, but what you don't realize is that you need someone to share your life with. Someone that you love and will do anything for. To me, Mare is that person. Have a heart, your majesty."
    The king scoffs and I narrow my eyes at him. Cal jut poured his heart out for me and he has the nerve to do that.
     "I knew this would happen. Carac, do it," he says to his son.
     Carac opens his mouth to protest but the king gives him a look. He waves his hand and Cal falls to the ground suddenly. I scream and fall to his side, but a Silver soldier catches me in midair. 
     "WHAT DID YOU DO?" I scream at him. My heart is pounding in my chest and I fear the worst. Carac has the ability to kill someone with a single thought, and I'm terrified that's what he did to Cal.
     "Relax, darling, he's not dead. I slowed his heart enough to be unconscious. He's alive, but just barely."
     "No, no, no, no, please bring him back. I'll do whatever you want," I beg.
     The king smiles and says, "That's more like it. You will marry my son and fight for the Lakelands. You are one of us now. If you do this, I will consider keeping him alive."
     "Fine, I'll do it. Just please, save him," I say.
     "Good," he says slowly and nods to Carac.
     Carac furrows his brows and says, "Something's wrong with him. I-I can't bring him back."
      "What?" I say breathlessly.
     He shakes his head and says, "I can't save him. I'm sorry, he's gone.
      My heart shatters into a million pieces as I hear those words. My whole word stops and I let out a pained scream. The person I love most is dead. Life is not worth living anymore. Without Cal, I am nothing.
     But I will avenge him. I will make Maven, Carac, and Orrec bow before me. I will turn the Lakelands into nothing. I will do everything for Cal.