The King of Stars and Storms

Chapter Thirteen

People stared at Luca and Elizabeth as they entered the courtyard in a hurry. Once they were dismounted they were met with Aurora, Mary and Emily. "Elizabeth you're back," Emily exclaimed running up to her and embracing her into a hug. Elizabeth quickly returned the hug. "I'm sorry Emily I'm currently in the middle of something but I'll come and find you later and we'll spend some time together." Emily nodded. "You promise?" "I promise," Elizabeth spoke softly before standing back up to face the other two women. "What happened? Is it over?" Aurora asked. Luca shook his head. "No. Not yet. Father came back here. We need you to get everyone out of the castle and somewhere safe. Preferably not towards the faerie realm." They nodded. "And what about you two?" Mary asked. "We are going to end this," Luca said before he and Elizabeth walked off.

Mary turned to one of her servants. "Get everyone you can find and meet us back here." The servant girl nodded and scurried away. Aurora had already gone inside and was gathering up all the people in her wing, including her father. She was knocking on doors and escorting people to the meeting place. Once everyone had arrived in the courtyard, they were confused as to why they were being gathered there. They were given vague excuses and had no idea as to where they were going. The few guards that were there, were loyal to Mary and Mary only. These guards had no clue as to what the king was planning and wasn't even asked to accompany them. Mary and one of her guards led the way as everyone filed out of the courtyard. Aurora was at the back with another one of Mary's guards. Before she stepped out of the gates she turned back and gave the castle one last look, hoping that Elizabeth and Luca succeed because god knows what will happen if they don't.

Elizabeth and Luca marched down the hall with their swords in their hands. Elizabeth heard the sound of a creaking door and snapped her head in the same direction. She grabbed Luca by the arm and pulled him with her. "What? What are you pulling me?" He spoke and her response was to hush him. "I heard a door creak over here." She whispered. Luca glanced at the door. "This is the throne room." Elizabeth was confused. Why would he hide out in the throne room? Surely he knew that this will be one of the first places they'll look. She held out her hand and slowly pushed the door open. Once it was open as far as it will go she spotted Gabriel standing behind his throne staring out the window. "I knew this would be the first place you look. And I thought there is no point hiding." Elizabeth scoffed looking at Luca. "Is that why you ran? Leaving your men to fight your battle." Gabriel laughed. Elizabeth made sure that her sword was comfortable in her hands. "You both really think you can stop me." She gave him a shrug. "I'm not entirely sure but we can give it a go." 

Gabriel lunged at Luca and swung his sword close to his face. Luca was able to duck, missing it, jumping to the side. Elizabeth raced to her brother's side swinging her sword. Dragging it over Gabriel's arm, not causing too much harm but Gabriel winced and grabbed his arm in pain. He spun to face her and she started to back away as he stalked towards her. Elizabeth gave him a small smirk before bringing her sword up to meet his but he pushed them towards her slightly grazing her cheek drawing little blood as it ran down her face. She twirled around as he brought down his sword again but his sword met the stone flooring making him lose his footing nearly tumbling to the ground. Elizabeth took this chance to make an advance and brought her sword over his side making a tear in his gear just missing his skin. She leapt back to miss his sword as he angrily swung his sword about trying to harm or disarm her. Elizabeth brought her sword down to disarm him but he got there before her, as he brought his sword up just hard enough that her sword flew out of her hand landing by Luca.

Luca stood, in shock, watching the fight happening between his father and his sister until he heard the sound of metal hitting the floor. He glanced between the two people in front of him and the sword beside him before rushing over to the sword and over to them. Luca brought both the hilts down onto his father's head. Whilst he was slightly distracted, Luca threw the sword to Elizabeth and stood beside her. They both looked at Gabriel and then at each other. "How are we going to stop this?" She asked. "I don't know. But we can't let him win. Who knows what he'll do if we do." Elizabeth nodded running forward going in for another attack but was knocked back when Gabriel swung his fist colliding with her face. Then Luca did the same thing only to have the same thing happen. Gabriel marched over to Elizabeth who realised that her sword had been flung across the room when she was knocked back, tried to stand up but was kicked back down. She looked at Luca as if to tell him to run.

Elizabeth kept being knocked back down, so instead of trying again and again she started to move back until her back hit the wall. Gabriel laughed, smirking that he had her cornered. "It's a shame. We could have been a family. But you had to go and ruin it by exposing my secrets." Elizabeth laughed. "I wasn't the only one." Gabriel looked back at Luca and laughed back. "I'll deal with him once I've dealt with you." Gabriel drew his sword above his head, both hands on the hilt. Elizabeth closed her eyes and embraced for the impact and pain.

Mary, Aurora and Emily all sat in one cold, damp corner of a room they had found. They had found an abandoned village not that far from the castle. "I don't like it here," Emily whined. "I know sweetheart. We won't be here that much longer." Mary told her. Not sure herself when that'll be. Aurora moved closer to Mary. "How long do you think we'll be here?" She whispered. "Honestly? I don't know." Mary responded. Aurora glanced around the room and noticed all the looks people had on their faces. The look of confusion. They had suddenly been asked to leave their home, with a not so good explanation as to why and brought to this run-down village. They just hoped that Elizabeth and Luca would be finished soon and they could all go home.

Elizabeth kept her eyes closed but felt no pain, no piercing of her skin, didn't hear the tearing of her clothes. Before she opened her eyes she felt drops on her face. She knew it couldn't be rain. She wiped her face, opening her eyes. Elizabeth was met with Gabriel frozen, blood dripping from the corners of his mouth. Not before long, his sword fell to the ground and his body not long after. When Gabriel's body met the floor, and after her eyes following it, she looked back ahead and saw Luca standing there, shocked, staring at his blade that was now covered in blood. Their father's blood. Elizabeth raced over to Luca, taking the sword out of his hands and noticed they were shaking. She slowly placed it on the ground. "Hey. Are you alright?" She asked softly. "I-I-I. I killed him." Elizabeth embraced him in a hug."I know. Thank you." She spoke nearly whispering. Luca pulled away. "Thank you for what?" "You saved my life. If it wasn't for you I would be the one on the floor and not him." "What do we do now?" "We have to get back to the battle. They have to know that it's over." They raced out of the throne room and back to the courtyard. They stopped just before they got on their horses. "You go get Mary and the others and I'll go to the battlefield." Luca nodded. "Are you going to be alright?" "Yes." They then got on their horses and raced in the opposite directions.

ⒸSashabarrow1999