Hidden Empress

Chapter 43

William's pov

I held Edward tight to remove him harm's way as Alina and Alice fought. They were sword fighting. So far they seem to be even matched. It gave me chills to watch Alina in harms way but I knew it had to be done. It's about time Alice was dealt with. She has caused too much pain and agony to the world. She has made mother's cry for their children, siblings mourn their parents. I felt Edward struggle with me trying to free himself to go meet his sister. I held him tighter and softly whispered into his ear.
"Listen to me Edward, she is not the same person you remember. She's with Alice now. Calm down, you'll get your chance"
I felt him relax after my little speech.

* * * * *

Alina's pov

I blocked her attack with my sword and kicked Alice. She stumbled but regained her balance and attack harder. I have to admit, she's good. A tough warrior. But I reminded myself that I was better. I got tired of being defensive and decided to go offensive. She was shocked by my abrupt change of tactic and obviously distracted. I used that as an advantage as rolled my sword around hers successfully disarming her. The sword landed few feet away from her. Alice looked at her sword probably wondering if she had the time to retrieve it but I attacked again. She blocked my attack with a magical shield. I threw my sword aside and used my magic to send fire her way. She blocked. She moved few steps away from me trying to catch her breath. She fell on her knees as if she was suddenly weak. I didn't bother to think about that. I used that time to channel my magic and send a huge lightning her way. It send her reeling backwards and she landed with a thud few meters away close to her sword. She tried to stand but fell back down. I walked slowly towards her ready to finish her off. She held her hands up trying to ward me off. She was panting, she looked ready to faint. I arched a brow wondering if this is a trick of hers.
"What's happening to me? I can't breathe. I can't feel my magic" I heard her whisper. William, Edward and Castor moved closer to where I was standing. Melissa walked towards us. I stood ready to defend if she wanted to help her mistress but she turned to her mistress Alice and sneered
"How do you feel Alice? Dizzy?"
Alice gasped out at her and said
"It's you. What did you do to me?"
Melissa smiled coldly at her and replied "I just added a few little something to your tea to weaken you. It seems to have worked"
Alice struggled to stand but her body kept falling back down weakly. She held Melissa skirt trying to use it to pull herself up but Melissa shoved her hard to the ground. With a weak and trembling voice, she asked
"Why? Why did you betray me?"
Suddenly Melissa smiled vanish and was replaced with a frown as she yelled "Oh shut up Alice. You caused this yourself. You destroyed my life. I was just five years old when I met you. You enticed me, a little child then with tricks, giving me toys and sweets. I immediately fell in love with you. You promised to give me magic if I put a powder in my parents food. You told me it'll make them have magic. I was so stupid that I did what you told me. Little did I know it was poison. When my parents died and was buried, you told me to come live with you in your castle as a princess with magic. I was so young and stupid that I followed you. You bribed me with cakes and sweets and as a little girl, that was practically heaven. When we got to your palace, you told me I couldn't stay with you and that you had a mission for me. When you saw my reluctance, you bribed me with the promise of magic. You told me I had to infiltrate a kingdom. I was so eager to please you that I followed your instructions. I waited by the stream pretending to cry when I saw my target approaching. The young couple saw me and took pity on me. They took me to their home and I became their daughter. They already had a toddler named Edward" I heard Edward gasped out but she paid no attention to him and continued "As the years flew by, I fell in love with that family. They treated me like my birth parents did. You saw I was happy and ordered me to kill them. I protested but you assured me you will give me some of your magic and rule by your side. I killed them but I spared their son. I loved him too much to let him die. I knew Edward won't let me go so easily so I staged my death. I made sure he was there to watch the whole ordeal. Little did he know that it was all an illusion. I had poisoned his drink and made him think he watched me die. Only for me to return to you and you treat me like a servant. After everything I did for you. I killed my birth parents for you, I killed my adopted parents for you. I did everything you asked me but you denied me the magic you promised me so I'll take it myself."
We all watched wide eyed as she brought out as brought out a vial of liquid. She forced Alice mouth open and poured it into her mouth, forcing her to swallow it. Immediately a bluish light started coming out of Alice's mouth and was moving towards Melissa. Melissa opened her mouth wide and the bluish light entered into her mouth. I felt someone touch me and I turned to see Castor, he whispered
"What's she doing?"
I turned to him but made sure to keep my eyes on Alice and Melissa, and whispered "Melissa is collecting Alice's powers" He gasped out in shock. Soon the bluish light stopped coming out of Alice's mouth and Melissa threw her to a side smiling victoriously. She turned to me and said "She's all yours empress. I've taken what I wanted"
I heard a voice snap out and turned to see Edward approaching Melissa and a weakened Alice.
"So all this was for power?" Edward snapped at Melissa. She didn't look offended. She merely smiled at him and replied "Of course Eddy boy. What else?" I saw tears glistening in Edward's eyes. His lips was trembling. Melissa simply rolled her eyes at him. I immediately walked up to him and pulled him into my arms. He sobbed quietly and I held him trying to comfort him. We were so engrossed in each other that we failed to notice Alice crawl to her sword. Suddenly we heard a yell "Watch out Alina"
Before I could turn, I felt Edward hold me tight and reverse our position. Edward stiffen and I looked up to see William slitting Alice's throat. She fell to the ground dead. There was no time celebrate because I felt Edward's weight on me as he leaned on me. I looked at him to see blood pouring out of his mouth. My gaze went lower and saw Alice's sword impaled in his chest. I gasped out. Edward had taken the sword meant for me. He shifted our positions to protect me. His leg gave out and fell towards me. I caught his body before it hit the ground. I struggled with his weight to hold his body. I heard Melissa scream from a distance but my gaze was focused on Edward. Deep down I knew there was no way to save him but I still tried. I cradled his head on my laps and pulled out the sword from his chest. William and Castor knelt beside Edward. Castor pulled his shirt and placed it over the wound to stop the bleeding. I whispered a healing spell trying to heal him but it was too late. Edward smiled shakingly at me and croaked out "I-I l-love you A-Alina. You a-are t-the sister I never had"
With that said, he breathed his last breath and died.

I'm sorry, don't kill me. Please