The Substitute Cinderella

Chapter 20 "War For The Merciful Eyes"

A quick note: The song I chose for this chapter is "War Of Hearts" by Ruelle. Enjoy!

***
And suddenly it was over.

She had been overwhelmed by the memories that were carved out of her subconscious mind by someone else in an agonizing way.

And now it had finally ended. Her knees felt as weak as her heart crushed under a mountain of feelings. She fell on the ground. Not gracefully.

Like she had been thrown from a cliff.

Yet again, she had been saved.

Adrien stared at the King who had somehow tried to save himself from the deep dark sleep.

The bond between him and Ella had been torn apart by the sudden intrusion. But he knew, Ella had seen the past. She definitely wouldn't keep staying in this cruel fantasy world when she woke up.

If she woke up from her deep slumber.

Henry's silver sword was frigid and sharp against his throat aching for bloodshed.
Adrien came to his senses.

Dark most rose from the tip of his fingers surrounding the whole cave sending a force wave enough to throw Henry 5 feet in the air. He fell down soon with a strong thud.

Adrien wouldn't be caught off guard again.

Yet, Henry had no intention of giving up. He took strength from his hands covered with dust. He lifted his head. He had to resist the numbing atmosphere of the dark mist.

His eyes met with the love of his life who was still unconscious. Ironically she seemed in peace, but the war hadn't ended yet.

Fury penetrated through his bruises, looking at her filled his brave heart with more and anger and guilt yet helped him tap into the power in his soul he needed at that moment.

A kind of power that one couldn't obtain by a force like dark magic.

A kind of power that ran in the royal blood of his ancestors.

He swiftly got up, swung his sword in a skillful way inviting the creature into his doom.

Ella blinked in confusion with the clashing sounds reaching to her ears like the sounds of an earthquake with great magnitude.

Adrien's sword was obtained with magic, his fighting skills based on deception. The majority of the mist that isolated the 3 was mostly gone. He had used to much of his strength.

He had to go back.

He had to take Ella with him.

She belonged to the real world. The one in which people didn't use magic, neither lived in catles nor fought with swords, at least not anymore.

In the deepest part of his rotten and sinful heart though, she belonged to his world.

The light couldn't be with the imagined but with the dark, he thought. He hoped.

He was the one on the ground now. Losing a battle he could have won with his eyes closed.

But he forgot.

It was not simply battle of swords. It could neither be won by skill nor with deception.

It was the war of hearts.

For the heart of the light.

Henry towered over him with a look of triumph on his eyes, an aura of intimidation in his posture, the sound of a strong stability and grace in his approaching steps.