Brothers.

6

Gabe came into the Gateway a second too late.
Josh was gone, but Luciana still stood there with the dragon pendant in her hand, he had not expected that she would be in on his brother's plan. Her betrayal didn't make sense yet here she was, caught redhanded and it broke his heart to know his love had a part to play in this.

Gabe could not believe his father was dead and Josh had killed him! It had to be his brother, no one else had been in the room and Josh was a maligan! His baby brother an evil maligan, it was even more painful than Father's passing.

Gabe called the other two guards and walked to Luciana where she stood next to the altar, "Luciana, where is my brother?" She frowned when she saw his sword in his hand and the other two weaponed guards, "Is something wrong?"
Gabe stopped less than three feet in front of her, he could not believe that she was pretending to know nothing of the crime, "Lying will get you nowhere, but in more trouble. Tell us where Josh is and then maybe we won't bring the Sisters into this."

Luciana gasped at the mention of the Sisters, but still, she did not confess or say where his brother was. He nodded to the other guards and turned back to her, "Luciana, I hope your soul will survive what is to come. Take her!"
He quickly snatched the dragon and pulled the necklace off her neck, a traitor cannot hold this honor. Luciana cried out.

Gabe stepped back while the two guards advanced. Nikira took out the wing shackles and walked around Luciana to her white wings, "Luciana, you are being sent to the dungeons for playing part in the assassination of King Micheal. Usage of your wings are forbidden," Nikira grabbed her wings at the moment Blake started to read out her restrictions and punishments.

Luciana screamed and tried to shake herself free, but he continued to read on, "You are stripped of your duty as gatekeeper and you will stay in the dungeons until the Sisters judge you a week from now," Luciana cried out that she didn't understand what was happening, her eyes were brimmed with tears. Her expression was confused and frightened at the same time, Gabe wished he could help her just to remove that horrible expression yet no mercy can be shown to the criminals who murdered his father.

Gabe avoided her eyes when she said she was sorry about his father. He didn't want to hear her lies, the only thing he cared about was the location of Josh so he could find him and then kill him.

He partly blamed himself for letting this happen. Gabe had to have seen this coming when Josh told him about his wings and after the confrontation with the maligan. If only he had thought clearly and used his wits then everything would be different now...

Once outside the Gateway, the two guards picked Luciana up. Nikira had his arms locked over her chest and Blake held her feet. They took off in unison with Gabe trailing behind them.

Once inside the palace, he left them to take Luciana to the holding cells. He sent one of the other soldiers to inform Bill about Luciana's betrayal. Gabe would have done it himself yet he had something else to do that couldn't wait and besides he didn't want to witness the pain the news will give Bill and Christina.

Gabe went into the throne room but found it vacant except for the usual decorations and a big pool of blood on the ground. The whole chamber even felt empty and sad now that its usual occupant was gone and that also made the hole in Gabe's heart bigger. Father would never be here again to rule or to talk to Gabe and Josh. He would never hear his voice again or feel his strong hands. He would never- STOP! Gabe blinked back tears, he cannot cry now with the danger of someone seeing him, Gabe must keep his emotions in check. He could weep later when he was alone, but not now.

He walked over to the pool of blood and looked at the looming throne behind it. Never before had Gabe noticed how massive and intimidating the seat looked and now it was his massive chair to fill. Now I will be king.