A Choir Of The Coldest Hearts

haha so my brain decided to write this instead of sleeping so here you go. I'll probably update around once a week...who knows. There will be mention of drugs/drug usage later (it's a made-up drug, it doesn't actually exist). It won't be very detailed but please proceed with caution. DON'T DO DRUGS.

Anyway, please enjoy and thanks for reading! Feel free to leave comments and votes. It would mean a lot to me if you did. This is also on AO3 under the same name.

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The trees stretch their leafless limbs up toward the dark sky littered with stars. A breeze runs through the forest, making leaves rustle on the forest ground. The only other sound besides the owl hooting is the footsteps around me and the sound of my body being dragged across the ground.

We're moving too fast for me to struggle. The hands latched around my arms and legs don't let up, even as I thrash, struggling to free myself. My back hits a root or rock every so often, making me yelp in pain, but I can't hear the sound over my heart beating. The lights of the familiar castle aren't visible from the dark woods as I'm dragged farther and farther away. There's no one to save me, no chance anyone will be able to hear me if I scream.

I should have known this was going to happen. Honestly, what did I expect? That I was going to be able to hide from our Father, the Ghost King forever? The almighty, the Source of Power himself. Not when he wanted me, not when he was determined.

At last, I see the lights, fire flickering at the edge of torches. Several figures in robes stand in a circle. But they're not human. I can see their eyes glittering from under the folds of fabric, pale hands crisscrossed with a spiderweb of veins as they watch me being dragged in. Curiosity radiates off of them as more appear, shadowed by the darkness away from the torches. But I'm looking for him.

One of them approaches, a pale figure dressed in scarlet like the rest. He holds in his hand a gleaming knife, words etched in gold on the side. Serva nos, pater mortis.

I try to struggle against my captors, but they hold me still as the figure nears me. He looms over me, turning the knife in his hand as I desperately plead, begging him not to. For a moment, he looks sympathetic, pity in his eyes, before he slashes the knife across my stomach.

I gasp out in pain, the sound muffled by the gag that's pressed into my mouth. Warm blood spills down my front as I'm carried into the center of the circle of torches. The figures seem to press closer, staring at me curiously as my captors tie me down, the rough ropes digging into my skin. I cran my neck, trying to see who it is, but I only catch a glimpse of flickering green before whoever it is disappears.

The figures press closer to me, the one with the knife kneeling down in front of me. He mutters something before he stands up, turning his back to me. The rest of the hooded figures lift their arms, voices echoing across the clearing. I can't make out what they're saying. They're chanting too quickly, words flying by too fast for me to catch anything besides a few words.

Pater, neca filium suus. Trahe eum casā suis, noster pater mortis.

Pain burns everywhere in my body as I bite back a scream. The cut on my stomach throbs, burning as the voices grow louder and louder. I struggle to breathe, feeling my lungs tightening as I gasp. Darkness seeps into the edges of my vision as I struggle. I don't want to die here today, but at this point, I think it's inevitable.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see him kneel down in front of me, the silver skull-shaped medallion glittering in the firelight. In his right hand, the knife gleams. I can see my own reflection in the blade, my blue-green eyes wide and reflected. He looks pitiful, sympathetic as he reaches out with one hand, brushing my forehead. In my mind, I imagine myself hurling curses at him, screaming at him for taking my life away. But I can only let out a soft groan as the knife presses into my skin, pain flooding me until there's just darkness and I'm alone.

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my latin might be really bad, sorry about that. If I got the declensions/conjugations wrong, feel free to let me know lol. FYI, later on in the story (since I'm assuming most of you can't read latin), I'll put the translations right next to it. Just can't do it here for plot reasons haha.