Chapter 18: A Scream {17}

Alyosia had seen the guard catch a glimpse of her cloak but thought nothing of it until she saw 7 more appear from around the corner, each surprised to see her.

All because of her stupid, reckless emotions. If it were not for them, she would not have been sighted, or even thought of being detected.

The guards she had dispatched earlier... seemed to have re-appeared.

Aloysia hastened her pace as she fell back into her quick steps running opposite to the guards. They chased.

"STOP RIGHT THERE!" They bellowed, earning no response from Aloysia.

Her cloak was flapping yet the hood was sealed tightly around her eyes.

Thinking to herself why she did the little meeting in the first place annoyed her, she should not be so easily distracted.

God- she was loosing it. Ending in deep shit because of it all.

Could she make it back to her room without detection?

The marble corridors stretched on while the thundering of footsteps echoed off the floors.

Her heart beat against the cage of her chest as her muscles ached yet submitted at her will.

Alyosia's stamina was far greater than any guard.

Passing several doors, she was dawning upon the hall. As usual, there were even more guards on high alert. Great. Dread twisted her stomach as her feet ran and ran and ran, opening old tears and scars on the soles of her feet.

She swore filthily, cursing Liam for causing her such emotions of hate... and compassion.

As their eyes caught her in their gaze, they alarmingly charged at her; spears, swords in scabbards, sheathed, but could be un-sheathed in a heartbeat.

Her blood ran cold as her mind sought out methods of escape.

4 Men, each bearing a sword, 10 paces in front, 7 men 6 paces behind, also bearing swords. To her left, the entrance to the castle. Shielded by two sentries out posting near the towers, each equipped with bow and arrow...

Her mind was screaming at her, flooding her with frustration.

The wind was howling at her to make a decision as the sunlight from a glimpse of the sunrise cast shadows along the ground; places where she belonged. The shadows.

The odds were not in her favour.

But then... a familiar sting surged through her, reminding her she was The Shadow, the meticulous assassin, known for the bringer of death.

She would fight her way out.

Her crimson eyes awoke, feeding off her emotions like a parasite.

Aloysia grinned while reaching with one hand for her twin blade. She gripped the pommel, feeling its sharp edges, its beauty and nightmares as she charged. The first man lunged, sword first at her. They never learn.

She swerved out of its direction and sharply knocked his elbow with her arm so hard the connection between his sword and hand disconnected; Aloysia catching it seamlessly.

Simultaneously, she grabbed his other shoulder, pulling him into her as she cruelly kneed his abdomen, collapsing all response.

He plunged flat out on the floor, releasing a winded gasp. With the sword now in her possession, Aloysia stopped his breathing, digging it's tip into his chest.

The sword remained upright once she let go, his scream echoing but soon dying off.

Aloysia's hand shot out to retrieve her other dagger, but as she did, another guard was slashing at her, aiming his sword toward her elbow.

Realising his intentions, she swiftly removed her arm and pushed him, deflecting the swing overheard with her twin blade.

Quickly lunging for the other blade, while in a stalemate, she head-butted the man, and using her upper body, elevated herself over him.

As she did, her blade cut down his back, tearing cloth and skin..

While he roared in pain, her nimble body slipped effortlessly down to the floor and she swiped the sword that the first one had dropped.

Leaping back to standing without loss of balance, her head snapped towards her next target, clutching her drenched daggers in her hand, dripping sword in the other.

She spun her body rapidly, plummeting the digging tip of her blade into the stomach of another guard. Her stance was deadly as the guard shut down, like a machine destroyed.

Her soft hand gripping the blade grew in blood as her cloak brushed along the bodies below, staining its hem. Without a second to breathe, the man behind her had a piercing iron blade through his heart, as she threw the sword like a dart, even before gravity brought the other body to the floor.

The cloak had now flown around her, shielding her from any incoming attacks.

The sword hit its target with deadly accuracy as she wanted, sending him flying into the others. Time. She had bought herself a few more seconds.

The wind grew stronger as the pounding of her heart rung like a solemn knell through her body.

Her head swivelled as her hands moved swiftly to the bow, hung around her back. Pitch.

She named it pitch after its striking appearance.

Nocking the arrow that lay vertical against her hip, she fired instantaneously. Hair flapping against her cheeks.

The blade's tip hit the shoulder joint as the shaft dug itself into the flesh of another clueless guard. He trembled at the jolt of pain radiating off his shoulder as he collapsed. 4. She had taken out 4. 7 Left.

Her grin grew broader as her body roared into life, at the thrill of the kill. Her hand met a guard's chin, as he hoisted himself towards her.

She flung her elbow into his cheek, spinning him off balance. From the corner of her eye, another was charging. Alyosia, on reaction, lunged backwards, grabbing him with her blood-soaked hands and using her roaring strength, sliced across his stomach while tipping him over onto the other one stumbling.

They crashed to the floor as she merely stood, heavy breathing and watching their crippling flesh supress each other, surrounded by a puddle of bodies. Her breathing was erratic, drawing in laborious breaths. This was easy. This was no challenge.

Before she knew it, Alyosia had blocked all attacks and struck unforgiving blows as she mowed her way through them, one by one.

Until there was no one left to hear the screams that rung in her ears. Until there was no one left to witness her brutal capabilities of murder. Nothing but silence. Deadly silence as her powerful body stood, blood drenched with sharp blades gripped in her hands.

This wasn't supposed to be this way.

She was breathing heavily as her eyes and soul took in the death toll. She inhaled the dead eerie atmosphere suffocating her, as she embraced the feeling of thriving amongst others. She was Alyosia Tamala, she could kill anyone she wanted, and how she wanted...

But did she want too? Were the hands that murdered at fault or the blades forever stained?

Allowing reality to hit her like a stone, re-emerging her from her trance, she wasted no second sprinting down the hall, careful this time not to alarm any more guards.

With a predator's stealth once again, she snuck her way back to her chambers, where the fire deep within extinguished, and her body collapsed, in sheer exhaustion and fright.

There was a trail of blood... they would soon find her, it was a matter of time.

As she lay shivering against the cold oak floor, she began to cry, as the overwhelming feeling of her body shattering consumed her bit by bit.

~~~~

Celimine, despite her age and dress attire, gave up leisurely waking and hurriedly ran down the corridors, hustling past numerous guards searching for The Shadow.

They were sealing off all exits and ushering everyone to the safety of their chambers. She didn't have much time.

Find her.

Find me.

Find her.

It all clicked when the door ahead of her was that of the Princess's.

She had known, from the moment she met her in the red dress illuminating her eyes, that Elianna was The Shadow. The burdened one.

It took a while to gaze upon her with compassion, as the anger of all those she had murdered came into view... but everything she had gone through- everything she had to become... it was all for a reason.

And because of that reason, she needed to tell her everything she knew, follow the silent command. Time was unforgiving.

The rush and alarm of the palace only hastened her pace as her breathing lungs gaped at the need of oxygen. She held her nightgown as she ran, hair tucked within the dress to not get in the way.

As she approached the squeaky oak door, the handle was mucked in blood. The Queen gasped as she covered her mouth in shock yet continued to push open the reluctant door with her foot.

There, she saw The Shadow, lying motionless, as if dead, upon the cold wood sobbing.

The sun was rising, the moon descending while the night sky casted a shadow over her.

She was right.

And she was too late.

You found her.

You found me.

Slamming the door shut, to hide their discussion, she rushed by her side, crouching over her. Protection.

The stench of blood rushed up the Celimine's nose as she held her mouth to stop herself gagging. The hood had slipped back off Alyosia's face, revealing her crimson eyes. The sight of them broke her from the inside out. The pain, the torture, the split soul that resided in them was gut wrenching.

They were glinting in agony as she fought a wild, ferocious battle that was consuming her. Good against evil.

Her face was deathly pale as she curdled up in a ball to shield herself from any more agonising grief. "Your eyes..." They were turning brighter, brighter and brighter, like a void that shone a sinister light at the end of its tunnel.

The Queen held her in her arms, a comforting gesture and ignoring the blood splotches now on her pristine gown.

"Listen to me Elianna-"

The same voice -was again- whispering to her, this time, speaking through her; no longer an innocent child, but that of her own voice... the voice of a mother.

"My dear, I have no time to explain my reasoning, but you must seek the creation stone"

Her voice was different, an ancient quality residing in it.

Alyosia tried to move, but her body, empty as her heart remained still. How did the queen know of this?

"The stone responsible for life itself lies divided yet closer than you think. I cannot tell you where they lay or it will not reveal itself to you, but trust me in that you can be free, and rid this world of the death that resides in you" her words were smooth, head, eyes completely still even with time ticking against them.

Alyosia shivered, only hearing whispers of what she was saying.

The voice withdrew, almost retreating from an incoming threat as Celimines voice became her own again.

The Queen drew a face of panic as footsteps echoed outside the door. Sweat rolled off her body even with the cool breeze brushing her hair, as time was rapidly moving, too fast.

Her breathing accelerated as her mouth whispered, "The king is searching for the stone, find it before he does, put a stop to his mutiny against the natural law and you will be saving many lives, including your own-"

The door slammed open as its handle crunched against the wall behind it. At least 20 guards flooded into her chambers, the King dressed in battle armour, standing in their midst. Tension arose as they saw the Queen cradle the imposter. "Seize her!".

Immediately the Queen hurdled Alyosia away from them as she put her body like a boundary of protection against the King. He snarled, "I should never have told you, my dearest sweetheart" bitterness rolled off his tongue as Celimine stared the guards down, biting her lip.

"Even if you hadn't, I knew all along- we all did"

The wind outside grew fierce, Aloysia's fingers had curdled toward them standing at the door, and once her fist clenched.... the wind came thrashing into the guards in front of the queen from the window. An unseen force only gently traced the outlines of the Queen while her figure stood.

Her eyes widened at its marvel. Manipulating the wind... her head turned... could it be?? Was it the gods aiding her, or the power within Elianna?

No time to ponder over it. Celimine seized every second it bought.

Blowing the objects off the table, scattering everything in the room as it hit everyone and everything the wind was pushing.

The King, clinging onto the door fumed as rage consumed his face, darkening his already pitch-black eyes.

His voice was being drowned out by the wind as he maliciously screamed, "GET HER BY ANY MEANS NECISSARY!"

His voice boomed from his hoarse lungs as they all held on for fear of being swept away. Their boots gripped the ground, fighting their way against nature.

Cloths, draped curtains, mats, were flailing away as the guards struggled to stay grounded.

The Queen, who was startled yet fuelled with adrenaline and opportunity, rushed to Aloysia. "Go! Search for it, the wind will only buy you time!"

Calling upon any power she had, Alyosia used her arms to hoist herself up. They were shaking under her weight but was soon assisted as Celimine lifted her to standing. Dark spots obscured Alyosia's vision, and bright white light was dimming at the window, calling to her, as her hood flew off.

"T-thank you, Cel..." she stammered, speaking a difficult task.

She turned her head to face the commotion... The king's eyes awoke in fear as he beheld his daughter.

His daughter- The Shadow. All along. All this time.

Her face was consumed by tremors and confusion as her father stared at her with such disgust and fury that he screamed. She shielded her ears from the side-splitting screech as the Queen faced her, tears streaming down her rosy cheeks from her hazel eyes.

The Prince's eyes.

Confusion and sadness bottled up in her, rattled at her head. "Please protect him, do not let harm come to the Prince, my little boy, Liam-".

Her words trailed off under the sadness of her voice.

She appeared as if she was being choked by the suffocating madness and power that lingered all around them. And before Alyosia could mutter a word, the Queen threw herself at the guards, tearing their swords and weapons off them. Alyosia watched, as her blood ran cold. "GO!" Cel yelled.

A mother's sacrifice.

Snapping her mind into focus, Aloysia threw one leg out of the window, it was something she did so often, yet it felt alien. Clasping for balance, she looked back one more time, to see Cel barricade against a guard; a squeal of agony following as a sword penetrated her gown.

It happened so suddenly, so quick, as she fell to the floor in an instant while the king- on the other end of the sword- swore.

Alyosia grimaced as feelings she could not begin to describe began to dwell in the depths of her rage. She could not tear her agonising gaze away as Cel stumbled to the floor like a mindless child while the blood soaked deep into her gown. Her hair had dirtied, her beautiful hair... and her eyes, not yet empty caught her gaze; watched as the tears dropped down onto her blood drenched hands. She smiled slightly, as much as she cold to stop herself from contorting into a scream and mouthed, "It's ok, this is not the end..." .

Alyosia's face was broken, shattered as the King hovered over her body, his power-hungry eyes staring at his next prize-her. He was the true monster.

By now the wind has stopped, and the guards huddled closer to her, still a metre away.

They were cautious. But they were also blocking out the queens body...

Aloysia's lips were trembling, eyes scrunched so fiercely she had a headache.

And with that, the last breath, the last blink, the last moment alive was lived as the Queen's soul departed her body, and all that was left was a fragile, pale lifeless husk, with a void in her eyes.

No longer filled with the hazel brown life that lifted people from the depths of pain.

Alyosia's mind flooded as her body was no longer hers, emotions haywire.

Compelling her limbs to listen to her commands, she jumped. Out of the window and out of the cluster struggling to hold back her scream.

Her feelings were tearing her piece by peace as the image of the sprawled-out queen, by the hands of the king, replayed in her eyes.

Her Crimson, deathly eyes glinting as she fell, the wind sweeping upwards through her blonde messy hair and blood saturated cloak; until she landed with a thud onto the grassy wilderness, her legs crunching on impact and took off into the shadows that the hidden sunlight was offering.

She was running away from the pain, hiding from the King, and hoping to avenge her friend one day as her hunger for the King's blood grew. She would do as Cel said, if only to save herself, and the grief that now consumed her and grew ravenous through her god-forsaken body.

What... did she just witness??