Cursed

Broken

Leaf

I land on the cold hard ground. All around me are shards of the gem I broke. Looking around I see Zachary. He's not impaled like I had seen when I was in the gem, but he's badly hurt. From somewhere in the castle a murderous roar erupts. I know it's coming from Sullivan, but I have no idea what I've done.

Lying besides me are two gems, one Zachary had taken from Will when he killed him, and the other unknown to me. The one Will had is glowing brightly, while the one Zachary had is barely a flicker. I grab both of the gem. One of them must come in handy at some point if Sullivan wanted them.

Wasting no time waiting in this room any longer, I get up and run for the door. I realize I've gotten up too quickly because I almost fall to the ground again as start to black out. I force myself to stay awake and take it slowly for a bit. Finally, I exit the room.

The hall is just like I left it, barren. The roar comes echoing from deep in the castle again. I make a smart choice and go in the opposite direction from where it seems to be coming. In the matter of a few minutes I reach the corridor where the commoners had lined up to greet the now dead king so long ago.

There's also no guards here. Something's off, but I can't place my finger on what. Deciding not to forsake my good luck I run for the safety of the town. Seconds before I'm out onto the steps Sullivan appears before me. He looks haggard and old. Sweat is dripping all around him. In his arms is an unconscious Zachary.

"I don't know how you got out of my gem, but I won't forgive you smashing my power," he growled.

I know I was in a bad situation, but if I really did smash his power, then he should be weaker than normal. Also, Zachary is out for the count, that should make things alot easier. Sullivan tosses Zachary to the side without so much as a care. I hear some bones crunch as he lands.

Sullivan is ruthless. He starts to walk toward me, and I notice he's not as fast as he usually is. His movements are slow and labored. How much power did he have stored in that gem, I wonder.

I run back toward the door I came through, but Sullivan's already anticipated me move. He's cut me off before I'm even half way there. It appears that he can't, or won't, apparate anymore. Having no other option, I do something desperate.

I run right for him, drop to the ground seconds before he can grab me, and kick his feet out from under him. Rolling backwards, I jump up and run toward the town. For some reason or another, he isn't following me. I make it to the town and hide. It's my only option for now, as much as I hate it.

Keeping off the main road I head for an inn I used my first time here. No one would remember me there because I kept my hood up the whole while I was there and used a fake name. When I reached the inn I rent a room and bide my time.

Over the next few hours the city grows dark. The Empire's guards are looking for me. Who knows where Sullivan is. I dread him finding me. Every once in awhile I venture a small walk out into the town, but always come back quicker than I expect because the guards start to come too close to me.

As irritating as the concept seems to me, I figure I have to stay another night in the town. It's risky because it gives Sullivan more time to narrow out where I was, but it seems like my only option.

I sit down on my bed, trying to come to grips with everything that's happened. Will's dead, I saw that when Sullivan stabbed him and he started to bleed out. A hole opened up in my heart, cold and alone. Will and I had been together for so long, and now he's just gone. I long for his company, wishing and pleading that he's going to be ok in the end, that he's not dead.