The Enchanted Queen

The Ancient City

Ren's POV
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I never understood love before. It was a concept that was almost laughable to me. But as I plunged through the painting, all I could think about was her. I was filled with an unforgivable rage towards the man behind this painting. Nothing will take her from me.

Dominick seemed to smirk with delight as he gazed upon the enormous distorted creature. If I don't make a sound, I'll be able to finish him quickly. I couldn't help but cringe away from the sight of Casper. He was howling in agony and anger, his body continued to convulse with plague. His form seemed to grow and become more gruesome by the second.

If I kill him, all of his spells will be broken. Suddenly I am taken aback by Vera who tackles me to the ground. My sword clatters to the floor and Dominick's head snaps toward us.

"Casper." Dominick chuckled. "What a surprise. It seems that our pray has stumbled upon us. How unfortunate."

I grabbed my sword and stood slowly. We are completely screwed. I thought.

"Unfortunate for you." Vera spat. I saw the flash of a dagger gleam out of the corner of my eye. Dominick seemed to be surprised too, because he wasn't quick enough. He dodged, but the dagger plunged into his shoulder. Suddenly a deafening roar echoed throughout the dungeon.

"We happen to be friends with the Moon Goddess." Vera smirked.

"Will she fight her own mate?" Dominick smiled. "This might be interesting." He pointed to the chains on Casper's body and they fell away. "Casper, kill the wolf girl." He ordered. Asya's wolf towered over everything. It was the first time I had ever seen her Goddess form. I watched as Casper took off after her. Asya seemed to stand her ground at first. It was clear that she did not want to attack. Casper's eyes seemed to be dead and lifeless. He was under some sort of mind control. She dodged as Casper's jaws snapped at her.

Vera stood next to me. She busted her lip when she landed on me. I watched as she wiped off the blood and began to paint something on the ground. Before I could ask what she was doing, she reached into the painting on the floor and pulled out a bow and arrows. They gleamed with the same angelic glow as my sword. I watched as she pulled her first arrow back. Her silver hair was striking against the low lighting. Her fingertips brushed against her cheek as she released the arrow.

Dominick laughed. "You missed, princess." He said as he vanished into the air in a cloud of smoke.

"It wasn't meant for you." Vera said. The arrow sunk into Casper's paw. He yelped, leaving Asya enough time to sink her teeth into his neck. "Asya! You're killing him!" I yelled. The arrow seemed to dissolve the corrupted parts of Casper. He began to writhe in agony. His lifeless body dropped to the ground.

Suddenly, swarms of distorted creatures began to erupt from the walls. "Vera, you have to get us out of here. Casper doesn't look like he has much time left."

"We have to kill Dominick." Vera protested. The creatures began charging in. Dominick seemed to be controlling them all somehow.

"There are too many of them. We can't win. And we can't let Casper die." I replied.

Asya knelt beside Casper. She was draped in all white. Her black hair contrasted against the bright colors. "Asya! Watch out!" I called. She looked up to me, tears rolling down her face. My eyes widened as I realized that he was already gone.

I couldn't control the blind rage that consumed my entire body. I clutched my sword tightly, driving it through the chest of the first creature that got too close. Vera was deadly, her arrows landed with perfect accuracy. We ran, making a path to Asya and Casper. I slashed through creature after creature, hacking our way towards them. Finally we made it, colliding with more monsters. Asya plunged her hand into Vera's back, pulling out a chrome tinted sword. She whirled around just in time to meet an enemy. She cut right through him, breathing a sigh of thanks. The three of us protected Casper, defending against the beasts from all directions.

I felt a tear rolled down my cheek as I fought with all that I had. It seemed that their numbers were getting smaller. I felt my magic rise up around me. I replicated myself, sending my dummies out into battle. They tore through the beasts, acting as a small army. Finally Dominick revealed himself. His magic should be weakened from the fight. I immediately sent my copies after him, distracting him from the real me. The seven of us circled Dominick, taunting him into attacking.

"Such a childish spell. I expected more of you, Faery Prince. His eyes locked in on me. The real me. My copies charged in on him. He held up a hand, deflecting them with spherical shaped light from his palms. He drew his sword, charging at me with full force. I thought quickly, dodging his first attack and deflecting a second blow.

"Where are Vera's parents?" I seethed. "What have you done to them?"

"Trust me, if you don't like me, you certainly won't want to wake them." Dominick smiled, barely escaping my attack. He muttered a spell, sending deadly spheres of light in my direction. Vera's ring glowed from within, and an invisible barrier seemed to be blocking his spells.

"Where are they?" I growled, slicing into his arm. Suddenly I noticed Vera out of the corner of my eye. I attacked again, this time colliding with his sword. I just have to distract him for a couple of seconds.

"They are among the ugly distorted warlocks that walk amongst the city, waiting for my orders. The plague has rendered them harmless."

"You're pathetic." I breathed pushing against the weight of his blade. I broke free, causing him to stumble backwards. Vera appeared out of nowhere, her eyes filled with fury. She plunged the wooden base of the brush into his back and through his heart. The brush seemed to erupt with divine light. Colors radiated around Vera. She was the most magnificent sight i had ever seen. Her white hair was tangled and wild. She stood away from Dominick's body, glowing brightly with every color at once. She began to whisper an ancient spell, and the entire dungeon was filled with radiant color. The veil between the two worlds shattered, and all of Dominick's spells lifted.

"Move." Vera said to me sharply. I noticed that she was lifting her hand to cast a spell. I immediately saw a colorful light erupting from her palm. I barely had time to dodge as she completely incinerated the rest of the creatures.

"Fuck." I breathed. Rolling back onto my feet.

Vera darted towards Asya, and I followed closely behind.

Asya was waiting with Casper. She sobbed as Vera collided with her. The two of them sunk to the ground in tears as I approached my brother slowly. I fell to my knees. "Casper." I whispered. "I'm so sorry."

Vera placed a glowing palm to the dungeon floor. The colors seemed to spread from her fingertips, creating an image beneath us. Suddenly we plunged through the painting, finding ourselves inside my fathers court.

"The veil has fallen." I said weakly. The adrenaline seemed to fade away with my consciousness, and all at once, everything was black.