The Emperor's Concubine

Chapter Forty-Eight

(Trigger warning: Read at your own discretion.)
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My insides feel as if they're on fire, being eaten away from the venom. The sharp unbearable pain in my abdomen grows stronger each second, my head spinning from the pain.
I gasp for air as the metal collar chokes me, I struggle to stand on my toes to ease the pressure.
Just before mother's crown is placed on my head, the windows shatter from a sudden impact.

Within a second, my eyes widen as a flourishing crimson cape flies past.
A warm authoritative aura fills the throne room. I look to see hair as black as night, glowing blood red eyes, and the wide strong back I recognize.
The overwhelming wave of relief washes over me as tears begin to well in my eyes.

Cabel quickly attempts to stab Micheal. Dodging the attack, Micheal soon materializes a sword to block the attack.
Their swords clashing, Cabel jumps back.
His expression almost terrifying as I watch him grit his teeth, his eyes murderously glaring back at Micheal.

"You. How dare you disturb our wedding?" Micheal shouts, the black fog at his feet growing larger as he stands to my side.
"What did that bastard do to you?" Cabel questions, enraged as he looks at my state.

Unable to control his anger, Cabel instantly charges at Micheal.
Their swords clash against each other, creating a rhythmic beat.
Micheal jumps back, appearing behind me. The chains quickly rustle as Micheal pulls them. The chains are instantly tugged—dragging me up into the air.
The floor a few feet below me, I gasp—struggling to breathe.
The cuffs around my wrists—too heavy to hold up to grab the choker—the pressure on my neck is unbearable. The collar tightly pushed into my throat, the pressure is instantly released as the sound of metal shattering fills the room.
Cabel smashes the chains, freeing me.
Catching me in his arms, his feet slam into the ground—pieces of broken chains falling around us.

Quickly setting me on the ground, Cabel jumps forward to Micheal. Their swords clash, creating sparks upon each impact.

"You must be a fool." Micheal laughs manically.
I turn around to see Cabel and Micheal, standing still as they both push their swords against each other.
The fog surrounding Micheal grows larger. Out of the fog, sharp spears fly out—passing Cabel as they aim towards me.

Instantly shutting my eyes, the sound of the spears hitting appears before me.

"You pest." Cabel's voice thunders ahead of me.

Quickly opening my eyes, I see Cabel standing in front of me, his back turned towards me with the weapons impaled through him.
A spear shot through his chest leaving out his back, and another stabbed through his right arm. The other spears sliced and scattered on the ground in front of him, my eyes widen as heavy pools of blood drip down from him.
Cabel spits out the blood that fills his mouth, taking a deep breath. He reaches for the spear, ripping it out of his body.

"How funny, you risked yourself for her. As much as I wanted to torture you, I'm tired of your disturbance." Micheal chuckles, instantly disappearing into the fog.
The black fog disappears before I can even realize Micheal's gone.

His heavy, demonic aura appears behind me out of no where.
Instantly, a thick wet sensation splatters onto my face and arms.
A heavy demonic aura appears behind me, I turn to see Micheal. Standing above me, his hand is pierced into Cabel's back.
Ripping his hand out, I watch as the dark blood drips more from his body.
Falling to his knees, Cabel grabs his chest.

"C-Cabel?" I stammer, shocked.
Tears begin falling down my cheeks as I watch his body drop to the ground.
"Cabel! No!" I scream attempting to get to him.

Grabbing me by my hair, Micheal drags me back. Trying to fight against him, I struggle to get closer.
Micheal wraps his arm around my waist, forcing me to look at Cabel's state.
The burning pain in my body disappears as I stare at Cabel's body that lays on the ground—the large pool of blood around him growing.

"C-Cabel... Cabel! You promised! You can't die! You can't leave me alone!" I scream.
"You'll have me. You won't be alone sister." Micheal pulls my hair back, bringing me face to face with him, "With this, you'll finally be my bride."
My body cold, I sob as Micheal simply flashes an eerie grin, chuckling lightly.
Leaning in to kiss me, I close my eyes—unable to find the strength to fight.

"Urk-"

Warm liquid splatters onto my cheek.
I open my eyes as Micheal spits out black blood, the blood flowing out his mouth, down to his chin.
Confused, I glance down to see spikes erupted from his shadow, piercing him inside of the rib through his stomach. His grip on me releases as he realizes he's been hurt.

I turn to look at Cabel who takes a sharp breath. Leaning against the wall, he flashes a victorious grin as his fingers clench tightly into his palm.
Instantly, Micheal's stabbed from all directions with spikes, finally being stabbed through the back of his head out.

Shuffling back, my breath caught in my throat as I stare at my brothers skewered body.
Taking a trembling breath, I return to my senses.
Facing Cabel who struggles to breathe, I scramble towards him as I watch his body slump over. Trying to hold himself up, he balances himself with his forearm.

"Cabel!" I exclaim, taking him in my arms.
"H-How could you get yourself killed!" I question, my eyes filling with tears.
Lying back in my arms, a faint smile appears on his lips. His bloodied hand moves to gently cup my cheek.
"I told you I'd save you." Cabel flashes his usual arrogant grin before his brows furrow in pain.
"S-Saving me doesn't mean dying." I sob, leaning into his touch.
"Luna, I'm sorry... You don't need to love me back but..." Cabel pauses, his eyes filling with tears as he looks back at me, "If you let me love you like this, I'd die again for you if it means I can protect your smile..."
Cabel chuckles as if mocking his own words.
Taking a sharp breath, he struggles to breathe as his complexion turns pale.

"C-Cabel?" I call out, my chest aching as I look down at his eyes slowly glossing over.
Giving a small smile, he wears a composed expression as he closes his eyes. Soon, his hand drops from my cheek to rest on his stomach.
"C-Cabel, please... You can't die! Please wake up!" I beg, sobbing as I hold his cold cheek, "I need you Cabel! Y-You can't leave me alone, I couldn't even tell you my feelings!" I sob, looking down at his lifeless body.

My heart feeling as if being torn apart, my mind silences as the unbearable moment slowly passes.

"He's never going to smile at me... He's never going to cup my cheeks and whisper kind words... H-He's never going to hear my feelings for him..." I whisper, my eyes stinging as they well up with tears.
A scream erupts from my throat as the sharp heavy pain in my chest becomes unbearable.
Gripping his shirt tightly, I hold him close as I sob.