The Emperor's Concubine

Chapter Forty-Two

"Don't be dumb, we have to have pork buns for a snack." Eli scoffs.
Cethin rolls his eyes, exasperated.

The assassin's lounge on the golden palace's roof, watching Luna from afar.
The view of the empire in the distance, with a clear view of the vast forest behind the palace. The royal garden in sight, they leisurely wait, watching as Luna and Hayden speak.

"Hey, did'ya forget pork buns are only good in Xiao? We should have roasted pork loin. Oh! With that berry compote crap the chef puts on top!" Cethin drools, dreaming about food.
"Wow. Money really does change people." Petunia scoffs, listening to Cethin's gluttonous rambling.
"Listen, when we get to have our residence on the palace grounds, I'm going to have a finer taste in life. So what if I get a bit snooty, we practically sold our souls to the emperor. Might as well enjoy this life when we have it-" Cethin freezes, chills run down his spine.

Abruptly sitting up, Cethin's head snaps over to Luna's direction.
In an instant, he jumps off the roof onto a tree. Following close behind him, Eli and Petunia follow his lead.
A dark fog swiftly moves through the forest—entering the garden as it destroys the ground beneath it.
The fog speeds up, leaving behind the assassins. It flies through the gardens, cutting across the golden palace into the emperor's garden.

"What the hell is that thing?" Eli shouts.
"Damn it! Just catch up to it! Go to the roof of the palace and attack from above!" Cethin commands.
Giving a quick nod, Eli separates from the two. He jumps onto a table, propelling himself onto a balcony of the palace. He swiftly jumps up to the roof, disappearing from view.

The fog slows, the sky growing dark.
Slowing a few feet from Luna, it begins to take form. A black dagger is shot out of the fog. Hayden quickly cutting off the attack, the two watch on as the mist reveals the a man.
Emerging from the haze, Micheal steps out, his eyes manically looking towards Luna.

"Luna, duck!" Cethin shouts.

Petunia jumps, whipping throwing stars through the air. Noticing the tremble in her shoulders and hands, Hayden quickly pushes Luna down—shielding her with his body.
Micheal swiftly dodges the attacks with ease.

"Are you okay?" Hayden exclaims, shielding Luna from any other danger.
Pushing the table over, he lines up the table to hide her from sight.
"I-I'm sorry... I can't move for some reason..." Luna's body shakes, her eyes void of light as she looks back to Hayden in a daze.
Lightly grasping her trembling hand, Hayden gives a reassuring smile.
"I'll protect you, but you need to stay here until help can come."
Giving a faint—barely noticeable—nod, Luna looks back at him with a lost look.
Realizing she's in shock, Hayden cups her cheek gently.
"Trust me. I'd die before letting him hurt you." He earnestly whispers.
Her eyes begin to tear up as she nuzzles into his hand.
"Wait here." He speaks, taking his hand away.

Quickly moving, Hayden jumps over the table. Sprinting to Micheal, he swiftly lunges his sword.
Dodging it instantly, Micheal grins before jumping around Hayden, beginning to run towards Luna's direction.

"You little shit! Stay the fuck still!" Cethin shouts.|

Quickly jumping onto Micheal's back, Cethin wraps his legs around Micheal's torso before stabbing a dagger into his collarbone.

"Ack! How dare you get in my way!" Micheal screams, taken aback by the surprise attack.

His blood splatters as the dagger's removed.
Moving to take another jab, Micheal blocks him—throwing him off his back. Holding his injury, black blood drips from his wound—painting the grass with onyx black.
Anger in his expression as he looks at his hand covered with blood, he soon summons the fog—a ball of darkness growing in his palm.
Throwing it at the assassin, the energy instantly flies through the air, almost impossible to see. Hitting Cethin in his core, it throws him into the side of the palace wall the moment it hits.
Falling to the ground weakened, Cethin winces in pain. The brick wall crumbling from where his impacted.

"Cethin!" Petunia shouts, her voice filled with worry and anger.
Attempting to stab Micheal with a spear, he quickly materializes a sword from the fog that follows his feet.

Blocking himself from Petunia and Hayden's combined attacks, Micheal quickly takes hold of Petunia's spear. Pulling her into him with ease, she quickly looks back at Micheal.
Throwing his palm to her face, a giant surge of energy bursts from his hand, throwing Petunia back.

Jumping off the roof, an arrow is sent through the air.
Slicing the arrow in half with his sword, Micheal continues to dodge the attacks.
Micheal quickly lays his eyes on Hayden who runs towards him.
Suddenly an arrow slices his cheek and shoulder. Struggling to keep up with the many attacks, Hayden attempts stab Micheal during the chaos.
Their swords clash as Micheal spins, slicing the arrows—quickly positioning himself to block Hayden's attack.

"Luna!" Eli shouts, running towards her.
"Don't touch her!" Micheal exclaims.
He stomps his foot, the black fog instantly flying through the garden—destroying the grass and ground—hurling to Eli.
"Eli, no!" Luna screams.

The energy burst hits Eli, throwing him through an upstairs window.
The sound of shattering glass echoes in the garden as Luna sobs, covering her mouth as she stares at the blood upon the window ledge.

Striking his sword, Hayden blocks Micheal's attack. They stand face to face, their swords pushing into each other.

"What do you want? Don't you get tired of haunting her?" Hayden questions, his sharp eyes glowing with vibrant red.
"It's only befitting for a groom to want his bride back." Micheal scoffs, pushing Hayden back as he slices and stabs in his direction.
Dodging the attacks, Hayden's slowly pushed back to where Luna hides.

Micheal's sword grazes Hayden's arm, cutting through his jacket and shirt. Taking a large stride back, Hayden creates distance between them.

"She's not your bride." Hayden grips his sword, how eyes scowling at the man.
"She's mine! She's always been mine." Micheal shouts until a manic laugh escapes his throat.
Rolling his neck, Micheal soon looks to meet Luna's stare.
"Ah... Dear sister..." Micheal scoffs, a wide eerie grin on his lips.
Hey eyes widen, clutching the edge of the table as she maintains eye contact with him.
Micheal holds his hand out.
"Celeste...Come here." Micheal orders.

Quickly looking back to Luna, Hayden watches her tremble. Her tears flowing down her cheeks as she bites her lip.
"Celeste... I said come here." Micheal repeats.
His brow begins to twitch as he stares at Luna who stays in her place. Her eyes breaking contact to meet Hayden's eyes.
Micheal begins to laugh again, holding his stomach and forehead as he throws himself forward with a crazed cackle.
"You... You ruined her. You put your hands on her, didn't you?" Micheal mumbles, his eyes glaring at Hayden.
Hayden clenches his jaw, keeping silent as he watches Micheal lose control.
"Disgusting... Repulsive... My only light... The only light I had, and you let another man defile you!" Micheal shouts, gripping the roots of his murky green hair, "Celeste, Celeste, Celeste... How dare you... You're mine—mine!"

His rage boiling, Micheal quickly lunges for Hayden.
Hayden narrowly escapes as their swords clash, his thigh getting nicked by Micheal's sword.
"You dare touch her?" Micheal shouts, continuing to slice his sword towards Hayden.
Avoiding each frantic attack, Hayden crosses Micheal's sword, locking it in place.
His pupils sharply dilated on Micheal, he brings his face close.
"I never treated her like you did, I never laid my hands on her." Hayden speaks, his voice deep and trembling from anger.
"Lies... All you say are lies." Micheal mumbles, the mist at his feet growing larger, "I'll just have to clean her... I'll have to teach her again, who her husband is."

The instant Micheal speaks, a murderous expression appears on Hayden's face.
From the shadows of their feet, large spikes erupt from the ground—piercing into Micheal's legs and shoulders.
His complexion instantly growing pale, dark-red blood spurts from Hayden's mouth. The shadows that appeared, instantly disappearing.
Taking advantage of his opponent's weakened state, Micheal lunges to stab Hayden in the gut.

"Motherfucker!" Eli shouts, coughing uncontrollably as he tries to move.
Glass and pools of blood surround him as he looks at the cuts along his limbs. Attempting to sit up, he holds his aching head as blood begins to dribble down his forehead.
Gritting his teeth through the pain—his hand covered in cuts—he takes ahold of his bow and arrow.
Crawling to the broken window, he steadies his breath, watching as Hayden and Micheal duel. Readying an arrow, he waits for his chance. Taking three deep breaths, he watches as Hayden spits up blood.
Lunging to stab him, Eli releases his hold—the arrow cutting through the air.

Snapping his head up, Micheal catches sight of Eli with his bow.
Instantly, the arrow slices his eye and cheekbone.
"Argh!" Micheal shouts, covering his bleeding eye with his hand.

Stomping on Micheal's sword, Hayden takes the chance to plunge it into the ground.
Using the momentum, he slices upwards with his sword—cutting into Micheal's stomach to his shoulder.
Focusing on his opponent, Micheal releases his grip.
The sudden release of tension, causing Hayden to jolt forwards, he reaches into the fog—pulling out a dagger.
Stabbing the dagger deep into his chest, Micheal quickly drags the blade from the chest, downwards to his left rib.
Vibrant blood paints the grass as Hayden Jumps back. Holding his chest, Hayden breaks into a cold sweat, his hair slowly reverting to a black shade.

Micheal pants, grinning as he holds his eye. Lunging to Hayden again, his eyes widen.
Raising his hand, Hayden summons a spike—shooting upwards to Micheal's head.
The tip hitting his forehead, Micheal quickly escapes, disappearing in the fog—seconds before the spike can fully shoot out.

"Bring everyone inside now! Get the healers here instantly!" Lance commands, running out of the palace with knights and butlers.
The garden in a chaotic mess, the knights grows pale laying their eyes on the gruesome scene.
Lance runs to Hayden, frantic as he witnesses the amount of blood at his feet.

"Your highness!-"
"Don't call me that." Hayden coldly commands, "She'll hear—Ack!" Coughing up blood, Hayden takes a sharp breath through his teeth.
"Now is not the time, your highness." Lance scolds under his breath.
Taking a closer look at the injuries across Hayden's chest, Lance looks back to notice his red eyes and the roots of his hair—slowly fading to black.
"Your highness... Just how much of your powers did you use?" Lance questions, his eyes filled with concern.
"It's not important." 'Hayden' responds, coughing up blood as he tries to steady his feet.
"Your highness, you need to change back, now! Your mana's eating your soul!"
"Everyone can see me, she can see me. I can't."
Lance glances at Luna, knights helping her stand.
"We have to get everyone inside, your highness. The healers will be here soon." Lance speaks.
Shaking his head, 'Hayden' presses his arm to his chest to stop the bleeding.
"Stay with Luna... Send the healer to my room." 'Hayden' winces, stumbling to walk through the garden.

Helped to her feet by knights, Luna turns around. Her eyes widen as she lays her sight on Hayden's state. Struggling to walk through the garden, his back turned to her but the trail of dripping blood that follows behind him, making her jaw drop.

"H-Hayden!" She screams.
The guards stop her as she attempts to run to him.
"You cannot, Lady Luna. We must get you inside, that's our priority." A royal guard exclaims, looking down at her.
Tears run down her cheeks as she watches Hayden struggling to walk.
"No, no, he'll die! Hayden!" She screams, sobbing as she tries to escape the guards hold.
The guards carry her in as she struggles to free herself. Her trembling hand trying to reach out to him.

Turning the corner around the palace, Hayden's complexion more pale than before.
Waving his hand quickly, the disguise falls as his hair returns to normal.
"Damn it!" He shouts.
Emperor Cabel grits his teeth, looking down at his injuries. Collapsing back, his back hits the wall as he takes a sharp breath.
Thinking to himself for a moment as he bears with the pain, he clenches his fist.
"What was she going to say?" Emperor Cabel mutters, closing his eyes for a moment.

Voices and steps of the guards investigating the grounds, suddenly grow close.
Taking a deep breath, the emperor furrows his brow, using the wall to hold him up as he walks towards a side door of the palace.
Steps before reaching the door, he waves his hand.
His appearance slowly transitioning to Hayden, he clenches his jaw through the heavy pain that courses through him.
Almost collapsing to his knees, he wearily begins to drag himself to the side door.