Nocturne

☾ Chapter Twenty-Five ~ Nocturne ☽

The world was glass.

Imperfect, with an air-filled bubble right where they stood, cracks radiating outward, splintering moments, shattering memories, fracturing futures.

The crowd was still. Everyone, including Aurora and Asa, was shocked into silence. Even Aelius seemed a little surprised by his powerful gesture.

Nocturne didn't change much. She felt distant, separated from the situation as if she were watching a reflection. Her heartbeat was racing and her cheek was stinging, but her mind was far away, staring at the scene from across a misty river. All she could do was observe.

King Arun rose slowly from the gilded throne that had been brought out for the occasion, crafted with finely-wrought gold leaf and flowing over the floor with exquisite satin the deep colour of spilt blood. His eyes glowed furiously and brighter than any raging dragoness could possibly hope to attain. Every movement was as dramatic and polished as it was possible to be.

Arun considered his options shrewdly. He had a sword at his own hip, of course, but it was more decorative than functional, with rubies and gold adorning the hilt and dripping down the blade. There was even a little orangey-red tassel on the end.

He realized that his ornamental sword would be nigh on useless against his own son's lavish but effective weapon. It was the tool of an executioner, after all. Still, not willing to lose face before his assembled people, the king drew the garish blade from its sheath and pointed it at his defiant son.

"How dare my own son defy me thus?" he roared, blond hair flaring around his throat like the mane of the ancient Vitria.

But Aelius didn't flinch.

"You're wrong," he repeated. "You know that if... Nocturne dies, so will Aurora? Aurora doesn't deserve that!" His arms waved dramatically through the crisp morning air.

He continued, talking over his father's protests. "For that matter, neither does Nocturne! And Asa most certainly doesn't!"

"She defied me!"

"She decided to follow her own path and attempt to restore her own faith and family. She tried to do the right thing! Same with Nocturne- and Aurora just wanted to help her! They've shown more courage at sixteen than you've displayed throughout your entire miserable life!"

Here he looked away, a sorrowful blush lining his cheeks for a moment. But he turned back and continued. Nocturne could see old angers and new indignities rising to the surface, bubbling out, burning and hissing with poisonous smoke. It burst from Aelius and seethed in Arun.

Frankly, she was surprised they hadn't erupted long ago.

The sun was burning down at them now, fully above the horizon. Nocturne tipped her head to Him, a small gesture of respect she knew He'd see.

Alight in bright flames of morning light, Aelius took a step towards his father, who returned it, kicking Nocturne aside to form a fighting ring. They had both totally forgotten the crowd, which stood, split between shock and horror and the excitement of a battle between two such exalted figures.

It was the Tiger of the Bright Dawn against the Lion of the Noonday Sun.

A battle to the death between a father and son.

Nocturne's heart sank. It was as if she were coming closer, being drawn in towards this terrible, terrible happening. She screamed and clawed within her mind, fighting in vain to keep herself away, away, as far away as her fragile human brain could get her but it didn't work. Her lips parted slightly, a motion slight and noticeable yet betraying so much emotion. She was falling, falling faster and faster towards the real world, ablaze with colours and pain and masked in the dull grey of distant emptiness.

Aelius was fit and youthful, but Arun was strong from a lifetime of training, sparring, and fighting. Aelius had a strong blade, designed to cut through flesh like butter, but Arun wore a gold-encrusted steel chestplate and carried a far longer blade. Aelius was passionate, but Arun was experienced.

Aelius struck first, leaping through the air like a fiery tiger, blazing with sunlight's wrath. The crowd cheered for the handsome face of righteousness they adored. Arun struck the blow aside with a lion's roar and a metallic ringing. He was far from fast, but he was strong, and he crouched, ready to pounce.

A two-voiced cry cut through the air, and golden blur flashed in between the warring relatives.

"No!" they screamed, and the earth was watered in blood.