A Prophecy Fulfilled

Chapter Fourteen

As the two of them had known, there was no real need for a trial. They were both found guilty, and sentenced to be bled out. The sentence was to be carried out the day after the trial. In the eyes of their government, the quicker a problem was taken care of, the less they had to worry about it. No need to worry about dirt if it could easily be swept under the rug.

Because they had committed the crime together, both families decided that they would suffer the penalty together. Overnight, the stone tables were put into place for the next day. For one time in over one-thousand years, both families gathered at the town square of the Black family kingdom to watch the sentence carried out. Husband and wife were both silent as they were presented to the mass of onlookers. Despite the fact that they were about to die, they were proud that they had never betrayed their love or each other. Both looked up to see their parents standing together. King Stephen spoke from the platform.

"Vincent Black and Andromeda Luminar, you are hereby charged with high treason, consorting with members of the enemy coven; and are sentenced to be bled until your death."

Four guards, two stationed to each table, took Andromeda and Vincent, and chained them to the stone tables. Vincent turned to face Andromeda.

"Forgive me, Andromeda." He murmured softly.

The answer he received was just as he thought it would be.

"There is nothing to forgive, Vincent."

They gave each other a weak grin. For awhile, all they could do was watch as the four men took daggers from their sheaths, and made the first cut on their wrists. Andromeda, the bite mark on her wrist not completely healed, screamed. After the cut was made, she was convinced that her father had ordered that her first cut be made on her wrist as punishment for a crime that wasn't really a crime at all. They had cut deep. It was the most terrible, horrifying sound Vincent had ever heard. He grimaced as they made the first cut on his wrist. If nothing else, he could at least attempt to be strong for her now. At least for as long as he could.

The cutting continued. When one cut healed, the men made another. It had been Vincent's turn to scream when they cut the bite mark on his chest. Likewise, Andromeda squeezed her eyes shut in an attempt to keep herself from screaming at the sound of his pain. The cuts made on their chests and across the neck were particularly deep. But not deep enough to kill them. To kill them before they had bled out would have been considered merciful. It was truly torture. It seemed that the moment one cut had recovered; the same area was pierced once more. The pain became so intense that the two of them screamed with each slice.

Six hours went by, and Andromeda and Vincent had not completely bled out. But their visions began to swim and waiver as they looked at each other and the slowly thinning crowd. The outcome was inevitable. As shocked as the townspeople were to know that Vincent and Andromeda had married, both were loved and well-respected. Though the masses had begun the exhibition outraged, many were crying, or leaving to express their grief in privacy. Soon the only spectators were their parents on the platform, and Lorenzo. Lorenzo had hated himself since his friend and his wife had been imprisoned. If only he had tried harder to prevent the war; had insisted on having Stephen hear him out when he wanted to tell the truth. He could have kept this from happening. Vincent saw him through his failing vision, and could see how sorry his friend truly was. If he had the strength to speak, he would have told Lorenzo that he understood. But their parents looked as if they were proud to watch their children die for the sake of their own vanity.

Breathing labored and visions blurry, the lovers turned their heads to look at each other one last time after a total of seven hours. The tables only inches apart, they stretched their hands as far their restraints would permit them. Their fingertips barely touched. Offering each other one last weak smile, their eyes darkened and they saw no more.

The royal families had been witness to the entire execution. The four parents walked to the stand where the tables had been set, and closed their children's eyes. They were pleased that the prophecy would never be fulfilled, despite the loss of their children. The four were quiet for a moment.

"If your daughter hadn't bewitched my son," Stephen began, "This never would have happened."

"How do you know it was our daughter?" Violetta screeched. "Maybe it was your son who bewitched our daughter!"

"And I suppose you're happy that we've lost our son." Kate stated angrily.

"No happier than you must be to know we've lost our daughter." Hugh spat back. In this moment, he had completely forgotten that he had insulted his daughter only the day before.

Thus, they argued over their children's bodies.