The Jem

~35~

Darya's magic was surprisingly very strong, maybe because of all the adrenaline and excitement. "Ahhhh the element wielders, we should have known." An elf hissed. "Yes well now it's too late isn't it." Darya could manipulate water or any liquid as a matter of fact. The elf-guard ran towards her then immediately stopped, his eyes widening as she drained every inch of water that flowed through him.

He shrivelled up and fell to the floor, "Ahhhh, he's dead." Darya laughed then ran off to kill others. As horrible as it was, it made her feel alive and she didn't regret it not in the way Crimson or Brice did. She could see the prince of Galleyana's expression when someone had died at his own hands. He dreaded every minute of it. Poor guy.

A guard attempted another attack and she choked them to death then made her way over to Brice.

~

Hunter never missed a shot as he threw his daggers right in between the temples of his enemies. He was not going to use his power, it was horrifying. And he could tell it scared Crimson the most so he wasn't going to do it even if she asked it of him. He saw the agony in her eyes before and he never wanted to see it again.

The guards were clearing up and the animals had done a great job, thanks to Crimson. He stabbed another approaching guard when suddenly he heard a familiar voice shriek his name as he got stabbed in the side. A scream. Then a cracking noise. Then his name over and over again.

~

Deeja had feasted on and killed so many and there were only a few left but as she heard Crimson's scream she had stopped dead just like her heartbeat. Crimson dropped to her knees and weeped as she held Hunter and put her hand to his left side where he had been stabbed the blood was as a fresh and bright as Crimson's usually playful eyes that were now overflowing with sorrow. Deeja had heard the soldiers's neck snap and she walked over. Crimson roared as thorn filled plants and vines sprouted from every direction killing any remaining enemies. They shrunk back in and she put her head on Hunter's chest. "I'm so sorry. I knew this would happen, I knew it." She whispered to him as she pushed his silver hair out of his face.

"I'm so sorry." She repeated. Somehow all the animals started to cry too. All of them scampering away with their heads low. Deeja walked over to Crimson and placed a hand on her shoulder. She didn't move only cried even more on his chest.

"I think...I think I can heal him." Brice confessed from behind. They all shifted in his direction.
"My magic, it has done it before. No one knew how my little sister miraculously healed in just a short amount of time from her illness but I knew because I was the one who did it." He explained.

"You can try." Crimson blubbered, wiping her face with her sleeve as she rose to her feet, Deeja's hand still on her shoulder. They all watched silently as Brice sat next to where Hunter laid. He closed his eyes and a big gust of wind flew in. After a few minutes, his wound began stitching up, Brice had put so much power into the healing that he lost control for a little bit then started again.

Hunter had stopped bleeding but still not awoken, Crimson carried him with her vines and they ran to passage way.

~
They ran through the halls that had dead or unconscious guards scattered all over them like the blanket of snow covering the ground outside. As they neared the exist they found the emperor and a two guards standing beside him. A sly smile took over his lips almost as if he tried to fight it. "Son." He purred. Deeja growled.
"Why would you run away from me son?"

"I'm not your son, where is my real father, you beast?" Brice's sharp tone wasn't sharp enough to throw Lazarus off.

"Oh but you are my son." He snarled, that horrible smirk still painted on his face.

"What do you mean?" Panic hit the Prince's face like a brick.

"It was truly this form who sired you but it is not I who has taken care of you. However your father no longer exists and since I am in his skin therefore, you are my rightful son."

"Brice we have to go. Now." Crimson whispered through her teeth.

Brice ignored her, "where is my father?"

"Dead." The monster assessed his nails with not a hint of emotion as he said that word.

"He's lying I smell it!" Deeja groaned as she attacked one of the guards who stood beside him and Jermine threw his sword into the other guard's abdomen. But after she had ripped the man to shreds, the man who wore the emperor's skin lifted her up with an invisible force. There Deeja dangled by her neck, scratching and struggling.

"Let her go." Darya demanded. The monster began laughing. "Let. Her. Go!" Darya's temper got the better of her as she lifted her hands and moved them in opposite directions almost like she was orchestrating a music performance and suddenly the fake emperor's eyes darted towards her and widened, his entire body shriveled and fell. "NO!" The Prince cried out. Deeja dropped to the floor rubbing her neck and only a shadow remained. Brice had tears in his eyes as he blew the shadow away and they raced down to the horses that awaited them.