𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥 𖥸 𝙎𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙩 𝘼𝙣𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙨

04 | Accused

By every second that passed, Gabriel was almost positive he was losing his mind. As he stepped out of the medbay and headed to the throne room, he couldn't help but let out a low curse at the turn of events.

     He had a feeling there was some serious framing going on and despite the evidence, he still didn't believe that the girl was the one who actually caused the crime. It had to be someone more experienced and intelligent at the ways of assassinations.

     Every piece was set so perfectly and framed at the perfect timing that Gabriel was stunned the rest of the court wasn't the slightest bit suspicious. Maybe they were. No one was discussing anything and it was making him livid.

     Had Ciaran not called them to a debate, nothing would have ever been discussed. They would have just stayed with Kyran framed as the murderer and moved in.  

       As he reached the throne room and pushed open the door, he was greeted by chaotic arguing from both sides of the room. "What the hell?"

       "Ah Gabriel. It's about time you got here. The others and I have been waiting," Asteria said in her form of a greeting, giving a nod to the rest of the court.

     "And what is your opinion about this matter?" Luca cut in as he turned to Gabriel. "Where exactly is the evidence and how do you know for certain you're right?"

     "I don't know why we're making a big deal out of this. If she dies, she dies. Why should we care about the life of some random street rat?" Ciaran interrupted, earning a hard stare from the Queen.

     "I honestly think she's been framed. Luca is right. We shouldn't just jump straight to conclusions. We're smarter than that," Gabriel said in an effort to calm the restless tension that was thickening in the air. "Perhaps the lot of you should stop obsessing over here for the next few days and let the matter go. We'll have extra protection around and hopefully see who the real killer is."

     "Oh?" Ciaran raised an eyebrow, nothing kind on his face as he flashed his teeth in a wolf-like sneer. "How do you know that works? What if that wretched serpent poisons our Queen? What would we do then?"

     "Silence," Asteria sneered at him, a hand raised threateningly. "Gabriel is right. We should just let the matter go for a change and see what happens next. I'm not a defenseless puppy, I'll be fine."

     Ignatius gave a small honk in confirmation as he remained perched on her lap, watching the chaos comfortably with his feet tucked in his feathers. He saw Gabriel and then bobbed his head, getting up and waddling towards the male and nudging him affectionately.

     "Hello boy." Gabriel knelt down in order to run a knuckle down the swan's back. He smoothed the snowy white feathers down and gave a chuckle when the swan nipped at his fingers hard enough to draw blood. It was his way of showing affection after all. The bird had strange mood swings.

     "So it's decided then?" Luca asked as his eyes flickered to the clock on the wall. He studied the clock on the wall with a hard expression. "Pythios and I should get going. We have people to kill and spy on after all. Tell us anything important that happens while we're gone."

     "Will do," Asteria said in reply as she watched the spymaster and head assassin leave the room. She let out a deep sigh, rubbing her temples and closing her eyes. "I don't know what to do about this whole mess."

     "It'll sort itself out. Once we catch the true murderer we don't have to worry about anything else," Gabriel promised as he glanced at the empty door where the two courtmembers had left in.

     This was all a nightmare. A full, terrible nightmare he couldn't wake up from.

     He gently stroked Ignatius in another attempt to calm his simmering mind and let out a deep breath. Something deep within his mind wanted to just put this behind him by blaming Kyran, but his conscience would not let him do so.

     So he turned to go back to the MedBay, but as he did so, something like a piercing shriek speared through the halls. The sound caused him to freeze in his tracks. What in Erdas could have happened now?

     Ciaran emerged from the doors with Asteria at his heels, a hand on his blade as he growled, "Seven hells this kid really is a magnet to trouble."

     Gabriel shot him a glare and immediately began to walk toward the MedBay, prepared to find the nurses screaming at the sight of another dead body. 

     What he didn't expect was to walk in and see Kyran fully awake, eyes wide and a look of absolute dread on her face. 

     He also didn't expect to see a certain copper snake laying limp on the ground, eyes closed, and blood pooling beneath him.

     "What the hell happened?" Ciaran demanded, taking in the sight of the wounded serpent and then glancing back at the girl. 
 
     Kyran didn't seem to notice anyone else as she staggered to her feet. Though her body was so weak, her legs gave out instantly and she crashed helplessly to the floor when she tried to move toward the snake. 

     Gabriel's eyes flickered around the room for any sight of a healer to tend to the dying serpent. They needed to act quickly if they were to preserve him and ensure he didn't die.

     Another problem to add to the growing list.

     He stepped toward Kyran, but her head snapped up when she heard his steps, and her face changed. She looked afraid and angry at the same time.

     "How could you do this?!" She all but screamed.
          
     "What are you babbling about girl? We weren't even in the room when this happened," Ciaran rolled his eyes at her demeanor, seeming completely unaffected by the screaming. "And don't be an idiot. Why would we want to even touch a serpent like that? Let alone kill it? Only a fool would do that."

     "Now you see why I suggested she was being framed?" Gabriel asked the second in command, his voice dropping to a whisper. Here was all the proof they needed. "Why else would her serpent be on the verge of death? It wouldn't add up."

     "I suppose you're right," Ciaran grunted. "But there's still a killer on the loose and we need to do something about it."

     "So that's it?" Asteria asked by her place next to the door, a brow raised as she took in the scene. "Ciaran I believe you owe someone an apology."

     Gabriel's eyes flickered back to the redhead, taking in the sight of her with an expression that was unreadable. It was clear she wasn't in the right state of mind and she was afraid. The sight was truly unsettling.

     A few healers came forward, probably to tend to the serpent, but Kyran whirled to face them with her teeth bared. "Don't touch him!"

     She seemed to Gabriel like a caged animal, her eyes slightly crazed as she pushed herself to her hands and knees and stood over her spirit animal, snarling at the healers.

     "Let's leave her be," Asteria murmured to the second and third in command, staying safely by the door and out of the way. "It's clear she's not in the right state of mind. Some good rest would do and I don't want to see another fight break out. Come."

     But, before anyone could respond, Kyran had pushed herself all the way up, holding the limp serpent in her one arm as she shoved past the Healers and took off. She rammed right into Asteria, and didn't stop even as the queen stumbled backwards. The redhead took off down the hall at shocking speed.