Blue Blood

Oh God You're Riping Me Apart part 1

Something is very wrong. What has gotten into Mags? Was it something I said? Oh gods, I'm such a screw up. I'll have to talk to him about this later, he's always a big grump when I try to talk with him about stuff in public so it's best to wait until later in the evening when we can be alone together.

Oh gods I miss that, just me and him and the open road. Fighting trolls, running from pixies or whatever, cold nights spent snuggled up together to keep warm; I miss it. It's been the worst three months of my life without him but . . . He's back right? He's not actually gone, he's here, he's alive, he's . . . He's . . .

I brush my fingers against his. He pulls his hand away.

He's not himself.

He-he can't be, right? I did something wrong, I must have, I always do something wrong, it's always my fault! Can't you just tell me what I did wrong and get it over with!? This is agony, just tell me what I did wrong! Magnus, SPEAK TO ME!

"Roman," I jump as a hand touches my shoulder, "if it is alright with you and your protector, may we speak together for a moment? Alone?"

I glance at Magnus nervously. His eyes meet mine but it's like there's nothing behind them, no light, no spark, no life.

"W-well, um, weren't you going to explain everything to Magnus? Ya know, since he doesn't really know what's going on?"

"Yes, in due time he will know. But I fear time is fleeting and this can not wait a moment more." The Queen states. Her eyes are deadly serious.

I pull at the hair at the back of my neck, "well, if Mags is okay with it?"

All eyes look to him. He crosses his arms and avoids eye contact. "Do as you please."

Something isn't right, what's going on here? My heart is racing in the way it does every time danger is just around the corner. The same way it does when a deadly storm is coming or war is on the horizon. Something bad is coming. I grip my chest and gulp. Someone's going to die soon.

The queen and I walk into a small dining hall decorated ceiling to floor in polished marble and lotus flowers. She sends Magnus and the guards down to a training room and locks the door behind us.

"You feel it."

I turn, "huh? F-feel what?"

"You don't have to hide your gift from me, Roman, I have one akin to yours. You can feel death approaching this land."

My chest tightens and I instinctively grip at it, " . . . Yes, something very bad is coming and I fear . . . I fear. . .that-"

"That Magnus is behind it." She finishes.

I don't want to admit it. I don't want to, but the truth . . . The truth is . . . I nod my head slowly, "h-his eyes . . ."

She puts a comforting hand on my shoulder, but it does little to ease my exploding nerves.

"Something has taken hold of him. Something ancient and dark," she paces the room thoughtfully, " I foresaw it's awakening but . . . Sigh, I thought I'd have more time."

"What do you mean-"

"Listen to me very closely, Roman," she grips my shoulders painfully, "Do you understand? You must listen and do not forget!"

I nod my head quickly, "yes, malady."

"This being of darkness wants us dead but you most of all. It has a connection to you, a tie that equalizes it's power and your own."

My heart was beating so loud in my ears I could barely hear her. A being of darkness? A connection? Why me!? Why do I have a connection to it!?

"I need you to run as fast as you can to the maids quarters and be silent. Do not leave that room no matter what you hear, do you understand? Nothing!"

I can't breath, this is too much, I can't, I-My head bolts towards the door as a blood curdling scream breaks out across the castle. Her hands shake as her grip grows even tighter around my shoulders.

"Once you are there, he will come for you. You must break the darkness's hold on him, you must!"

Outside the door, shouting has sprung up. Screams cut short and cries ended too soon spiral in my ears. Things are being broken, walls crumbled, chandeliers torn from the ceiling, battle cries ringing out.

"Once the darkness is expelled, you must run, run as fast as you can and do not look back! There is a secret tunnel through the base of the Mourning Mother, enter and do not return, do not return ever or you will be killed! My young sister will not forgive what has happened!"

The screams and crying are growing louder and louder.

"I-I can't, I don't even know how to get rid of the darkness!-"

"Once you have left the kingdom, seek out the Red Mage, do not stop until you have found the Red Mage, do you hear me!?"

"Help me, help me please!" Someone screams and bangs on the door. The voice screams once more before a loud slam is heard followed by an erie silence. All is quiet for a moment and then something or rather someone rams into the door, loosening it from its hinges.

"Roman you must go, you must go now!"

"B-but what of you!? Where will you go!?"

"GO NOW ROMAN!"

The door is hit with the might of thunder, wood splintering at the seems. One more hit and whatever is trying to break in won't have to try anymore.

I glance at the queen one final time, seeing the desperation in her gentle eyes. It feels the way a mother would look at her child in her last moments.

"I'm sorry . . ." I whimper before dashing out the window and falling to a balcony down below.

I dash past people screaming and running. Members of the royal guard rush past me towards the mayhem unaware at just how out numbered they are in strength. My vision is blurry, weather it's because of tears or not, I do not know.

What nearly sounds like an explosion sounds behind me but I don't dare look. The queens agonizing screams pierce through the air and my stomach sinks. The urge to throw up is incredible. She's gone, it killed her so now . . . Now it's-

Boom! Boom! Boom!

I dash up and down the halls, eyes darting from room to room. Please gods, where is the fucking room!?

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

It's behind me it's behind me it's behind me it's behind-

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Fuck! I throw myself into the nearest room and bar the door with anything and everything I can. Chairs, stools, tables, crates, plates, anything! I step away from the door, the sound of whatever it is that wants to kill me getting closer and closer. I curl into a ball on the floor and grip my head tightly. Make it stop, make it stop, make it stop!

Please gods, don't let me die, I don't want to die, I don't want to die! For a moment, the sound stops. All sound stops. No screaming, no crying, nothing. Hope swirls in my stomach. A-am I . . . D-did they?-The door bursts open, all that was used to barricade it with, thrown about the room. I scream and pull out my sword, eyes bulging and red. All my instincts scream to fight or run.

The shadow at the door stands for a moment before entering with slow and heavy steps.

"M-m-Mags, don't,"

He steps closer and closer, my words falling on deaf ears.

"S-stop! Stop, stop! Please!"

He crushes the remnants of the barricade beneath his feet as he trenches forward. His eyes are completely black, almost hollow looking. No I can't, I love him, I can't, I can't!

"No . . . No, no, no! I won't! I won't hurt you!"

I throw my sword away from me and not a second after, his hand is at my throat. He slams me against the wall, hand still firmly held around my neck. I grip at his hand, squirming and struggling to be let loose. Something warm and sticky drips from his hands to my neck and the irony smell of blood hangs heavily in the air. His bloodied visage pulls closer to my own, hot breath on my cheek.

In a gravely, husky tone he purrs, "MINE . . . YOUR LIFE . . . IS MINE."