Chivalry is Dead | On Hold

Chapter Two: Heaven's Judgement

It was indescribable. The pain of burning hot metal pressed against skin accompanied by the sound and smell of sizzling flesh as the branding iron was held against Arden's back for far longer than necessary. Tears poured down her face, her teeth clenched together as she kept her mouth shut, her whimpers of pain muffled by nothing other than her own pride. She clung to it like a rock, her watery eyes staring up into the green ones gleaming with annoyance as she refused to utter a word. "Tch." Mercy muttered, pulling the implement away from her back. "Pride would be impressed... Shame we couldn't have a public ceremony to celebrate your betrayal of the Stars." He said, shrugging his shoulders. "But then I wouldn't be able to have my fun tormenting you." His feet carried him around her quivering form, coming to a stop by her head. "Face it, Princess." He patted her on the back as if to comfort her, a grin forming when she winced. "You're trapped."

Arden gritted her teeth, scowling as the truth of his words made itself known. She'd been branded. Not with any old mark, though. She'd had the mark of Heaven's Judgment seared into her back, and it was like a signpost saying she'd betrayed the Stars. She'd gone against the Will of the Gods. Defied them along with the Virtues. Mercy had marked her as the worst kind of criminal. Someone more contemptible than a murderer. A traitor. What was worse was the fact he wasn't listening to the Stars anymore, which meant she'd been unjustly marked for life. A fate she wouldn't wish on anyone, especially herself. No one would listen to her, even if she did have the royal blood of the Winter Household flowing through her veins. Her status as a princess had just been dragged through the mud. It meant even if she somehow escaped Mercy's clutches she'd receive no help from anyone. In fact, they'd be more likely to turn her over to the Virtues, or worse – the Vices. Arden had never had the displeasure of meeting any of the people who stood for the opposite values as the Virtues did, much like what Mercy was doing. The Vices were the Star's ultimate punishment force. They were the ones who threw those branded with Heaven's Judgement inside the black iron walled prison they stood watch over.

Where she'd eventually end up if she fled to the streets, leaving Mercy's small harsh sphere of protection behind.

Either way she chose, she was bound for pain and suffering, though the Fallen Virtue seemed to think she had no options. Evidently, he'd forgotten about all the mischief both she and Chivalry had gotten up to at the beginning of their troublesome teenage years. He'd taught her things over the years they'd spent together.

"First things first, though." Mercy grinned, pulling out a sharp silvery knife. "I think it's time for a little haircut." He said, grabbing a lock of her long brown hair. "I know how much you prize your hair... in fact, people say it's one of the first things they notice when they see you... besides, it'll probably cover up that nice burn on your back, and I know how much you want the world to see it." Strands of her brown hair littered the ground, the knife slowly sawing through her thick glossy locks, scattering the loose curls like petals on the ground, making her jaw clench as she simply stared straight ahead, tears still running down her face. She blamed them on the burn, still clinging to her shattered pride. Even now she could feel her heated skin, aggravated even more thanks to the sheer warmth in the room which was slowly growing more uncomfortable by the minute. She had no idea how the other girl could sleep in the heat surrounding them. Though she supposed it was better than it being freezing like she'd expected the basement to be. "There we go." He declared, staring at the jagged locks, unevenly cut by his hand, delight in his green eyes as he stared back at her trembling jaw. "Much better."

"The Stars will stop you."

Mercy sighed deeply, shaking his head. "Oh, foolish little princess..." He laughed. "The Stars can't stop me..."

"They can speak with the other Virtues." She scowled. "They'll tell them all about your treachery..."

Instead of looking worried, like Arden thought he would, though, he seemed oddly at ease. His laughter only growing louder at the look of sheer confusion on her face. "You're clueless about Star Law, aren't you?" He leant back against the bars of the cell, doubling over. "They can't tell the other Virtues about me, silly. Even though you think of me as a Fallen Virtue, I'll never officially be one if I don't abandon my sword." His hand strayed to his hip, where the silvery metal hilt proudly rested, the silvery surface tinted a slight green to match the glossy sheath. "They can only send them dreams about what's to come, which won't tell them the full story... besides, the last thing the Stars want is to turn the Virtues against one another, like the foolish Gods they are." He said, smiling even as he belittled the ones they worshipped. "By the time I cast away my sword, everything will be in place." A smug expression overtook the oddly serious one which had donned his face for a few moments. "You can try and tell them all about me if you wish... but who would believe a branded traitor?"

"You..." Arden trailed off, biting her lip, knowing he was right.

Not even the Stars could save them.

"It's a shame, really." His hand grasped her chin, forcing her to look him in the eye. "If you hadn't been so attached to that precious rose knight, I wouldn't have had to create this much of a fuss."

"You'll pay for this." She hissed.

Mercy simply laughed, still crouching close enough for his heated breath to brush against her cheek. "And who's going to make me?" He asked. "You?"

A bell rang out rather suddenly, saving her from the embarrassment she'd no doubt been about to face. Mercy rose to his feet, striding out from the cell, closing it gently behind him, not bothering to lock it as he rushed up to greet his visitor, giving her the opportunity she'd been waiting for.

Arden made her choice in an instant, grabbing the thin metal bar that'd once pinned half her hair up, choosing to face the outside world rather than the fate awaiting her in that basement. Mercy had made his intentions clear.

So she decided to run, unlocking her cuffs after a painful few minutes of frantically scraping metal against metal. She managed to get to the barred door before a voice spoke up behind her, making her freeze as the other occupant of the cell spoke up.

"Wait..."

She spun, her eyes locking on the tangled frizz of blonde hair obscuring her view of the girl's face. "Why?" She questioned, eager to escape before Mercy could return. It was her only shot at escaping. If she blew it, then she knew she wouldn't get a second chance. Mercy wouldn't be so foolish as to leave anything to pick her shackles with again.

"Take me with you."

"More people will make it harder to get out without being seen." She folded her arms, her eyes narrowed. "So why should I take you with me?"

"So you aren't a nice person who'll just save people for the hell of it?" The girl lifted her head, a sad smile pulling at her lips when Arden finally saw her face.

One pink eye stared back at the brunette, dried crusted blood running down from her empty eye socket. Dirt stained her skin, her hair lifeless and limp from the heat she'd been exposed to for quite some time.

Arden shook her head, trying to look unfazed by the girl's appearance. She had to be the same age as her at least, if not older, and yet her single remaining eye had a haggard look. "No, I suppose I'm not." She said, turning to leave, but the girl's next words made her pause yet again.

"What if I said I'd hold him down for you?"

"Hold him down?" She stared questioningly at the girl's face which warped into a twisted smile that set Arden's teeth on edge.

"I hold him down... While you carve our resentment onto his skin..." She said, still grinning manically. "Before you slit his throat and send him to the Stars for the true Heaven's Judgement."

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