After War Storm

Mare

I clutched my child to me chest as Maven Calore tried to rip him from my arms, tried and failed. Once again the manacles encircled my wrists with smaller versions on my son.

He stepped back, his fire growing around him before shooting at me and my child. I turned my back on him, trying to shelter Ti with my body. I was prepared for the burn of the heat on my back but the pain never came.

Cautiously, I turned my head and saw the fire parted around my back being pushed further and further back towards Maven. I turned back round to see him. Cal was stood in front of me parting the fire, protecting me, saving my life.

Then suddenly, he collapsed and the fire hit my back. I let out an agonised scream and my baby Ti began to cry. The fire ceased but my pain did not. The look on Cal's face caused most of it. His hands were clamped to the sides of his head and I could see him holding back a scream. What was wrong with him?

She appeared from the darkness, dressed in her usual blue. Her heels clicked along the stone floor.

She approached me and I was no longer in control of my body. Each of my steps matched each of hers until I was stood a foot away from her and Maven. "You will kneel," she purred.
"I will not," I answered.
'Kneel!' She hissed into my head and I kneeled from her irresistible command.

Next she took Ti from my grasp with no fight from me; I couldn't move my arms, or the rest of my body.
"No!" I cried. "Don't hurt him! Don't you dare hurt-" Then I could no longer talk. I screamed at through my mind but it was like she couldn't hear me.

She passed my baby to Maven and I tried to break free of her hold but I was stuck. She crouched down and I met her icy blue stare. "Ah," she purred "the Little lightning girl left powerless at my feet. This is how it should be. This is what you should be; no more than a slave to the crown."

With that, she drew a sword I hadn't noticed she had and in one smooth motion, severed Cal's head. She gave me my voice back and I screamed again. I could hear my baby crying in Maven's arms.
"Next is you," Elara continued. "Well look after you son, and I'll raise him right."

She lifted the sword high above me-