Regicide

Chapter 17

I'm falling.

Dune felt gravity pull his body down into a free-fall. Bone watched him intently, her eyes pinning him down.

I'm falling to my death.

He saw the cliff face whooshing past him, and prayed there would be jagged rocks on the ground to kill him quickly and painlessly.

Why must I feel such terror in the face of my end?

Pain struck his back as he hit the water- he cried out as he felt the blunt force wrack through his body. But the world barely heard his cry- it was cut off prematurely as he sunk into the water, swallowed alive by the darkness.

The water enveloped him, and he realised he couldn't breathe. He shut his eyes, barely able to move his body.

I have failed. I couldn't kill Bone. Is this truly where I die?

Die. Die like the weak little runt that you are.

I feel this numbness spread through my body, and a sadness and fear in my heart. I want to rip it out.

No one will weep in your memory, or miss your absence.

I failed everything. Maybe it would be better if I just drowned.

Maybe it would.

...

...

...

No.

...

I have made it this far.

I was meant to die all those years ago when my sister betrayed me, but I didn't. I survived, and killed three of the five pathetic creatures who did this to me. Even if my heart yearns for love, I know it is something I will never find. It would be futile to even try. I must complete my mission. I have made it this far, I will finish this.

She is stronger than you.

That matters not. I will kill her.

Dune watched the stormy waves above him, feeling the sting of the salt water in his eyes. It was all blurry, yet he could see the dark forms of the giant ripples slash through the surface, foaming at the lip.

He kicked, focused on the surface. His lungs were bursting for air, and he did not plan on dying.

Moving upwards, he narrowed his eyes, feeling tension in his chest.

Just a bit longer, He thought.

He saw a flash of light in the clouds above, then broke through the surface, and opened his mouth to take in the biggest gasp of air he would ever take in his life. He felt water lap at his jaws and coughed desperately while the large waves washed around him. His eyes darted around, then locked onto land which he could climb up and finish Bone. With a snort, he began to swim towards it, feeling something big in his chest; like he would not fail under any circumstances.

Dune was still afraid, yet that fear fuelled his anger which fuelled his will. Maybe feeling his emotions again wouldn't be such a detriment after all? He was shaking in his passion, saliva dripping from his jaws as he thought about ending Bone's worthless life. He would be sure to succeed this time.

Bone had seen that Dune was not dead. The fall to the ocean had not killed him, and she had seen him resurface and swim like a fish towards land, being pushed onwards by the waves.