Chapter 72 - This is treason!
Sir Eldridge collapsed fully now, his body numb and his mind reeling. He could only watch in mute horror as Luxana leaned in close to what remained of Hades' face. Her breath ghosted over the charred ruin of his features, her words a venomous hiss.
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"IF ONLY YOU HAD TAKEN CARE OF HELIOS!" she shrieked, yanking the blade free only to plunge it into his abdomen. The sound of tearing flesh was like wet paper being ripped apart.
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"IF ONLY YOU NEVER DESTROYED KIOR!" Another savage thrust, another fountain of blood.
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With each accusation, Luxana's strikes became more frenzied, more brutal. The sword found Hades' collarbone, shattering it with a sickening crack before plunging deeper. It pierced his shoulder next, pinning him to the ground like a grotesque butterfly specimen.
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Hades wheezed, barely able to form words. His body was an unrecognizable mass of char and gore, held together by sheer stubborn will.
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Luxana's face contorted with raw fury as she leaned in close, her lips nearly brushing what remained of his ear. "If only you had a brain, Hades," she snarled, her voice dripping with contempt. "Even if it were the size of a pigeon's, this kingdom might have survived."
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With a final, vicious yank, she tore the sword free. The sickening squelch of steel leaving flesh was the period at the end of Hades' life. He slumped forward, the last ember of life extinguished.
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The flames roared higher, as if eager to claim their prize. They engulfed Hades' corpse, reducing the once-mighty king to nothing more than ash and memory.
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Sir Eldridge, paralyzed with fear and disbelief, could only stare as Luxana stood tall amidst the inferno. Blood-soaked and backlit by flames, her shadow danced on the walls like a demon given form.
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In a final, surreal act, Luxana knelt beside the smoldering remains of her father. Her hands clasped before her in a mockery of prayer, she spoke with a voice as gentle as a lullaby. "Please die happily. May God bless your demise."
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The chamber fell silent as Luxana rose, her eyes reflecting the dying embers of the inferno that had consumed her father. "In your next life, please attempt to become a better human," she said, her voice a chilling blend of sweetness and malice. The twisted benediction hung in the air, a final mockery of the man who had once ruled with an iron fist.
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Her gaze shifted, landing on Sir Eldridge. The man stood frozen, his back pressed against the exit as if he could meld with the wood and disappear. His breath came in ragged gasps, each inhale a struggle against the terror that gripped him.
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Luxana moved towards him with an otherworldly grace, her dress stained crimson, her face spattered with blood. The sword in her hand dripped a steady rhythm of scarlet onto the floor. As she approached, the remaining flames sputtered and died, as if even they feared her presence.
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She stopped mere centimeters from Sir Eldridge, close enough that he could feel the heat radiating from her body. Her smile was a thing of nightmares - bright and beautiful, yet tinged with an undercurrent of pure malevolence.
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"Now, then," Luxana purred, her voice soft as silk and sharp as a blade.
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Sir Eldridge's eyes widened, his body trembling uncontrollably. He opened his mouth to speak, but no sound emerged.
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"Please summon all the members of the Royal Family for me," she requested, her smile never wavering. It was the grin of death itself, promising pain and suffering with every flash of teeth.
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The man's trembling intensified, his voice caught in his throat like a trapped animal. Luxana loomed over him, her eyes wide and glinting with an unholy light. "Come on now," she cooed, her tone dripping with horror. "Don't keep me waiting."
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Those words seemed to break the spell of paralysis that had gripped Sir Eldridge. With a strangled gasp, he spun around, fumbling with the lock on the door. His fingers, slick with sweat, slipped once, twice, before finally managing to turn the key.
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As the door swung open, Sir Eldridge bolted from the room, his footsteps echoing down the corridor as he rushed to complete the task given to him. Whether it was out of loyalty to his new mistress or sheer terror, he moved with a speed born of desperation.
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In the chamber, Luxana threw her head back, a sound escaping her lips that was part laugh, part scream, and wholly inhuman. "HAAAAAAAAH!" The cry echoed off the stone walls, a proclamation of triumph and the promise of more horrors to come.
-Midnight in Domino; Helia Palace; Entrance Hall-
The grand Entrance Hall of Helia Palace stood silent and imposing in the midnight hour. Moonlight filtered through the tall, arched windows, casting long shadows across the polished marble floor. The space, normally bustling with courtiers and servants during the day, now held an eerie stillness broken only by the soft whispers of the assembled royal family members.
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Lady Aeliana Emberheart stood near one of the massive fireplaces, her four children clustered around her. Prince Baelor, the eldest, kept a protective stance, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. The three princesses - Arabella, Seraphina, and Astrid - huddled close to their mother, their eyes wide with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.
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Across the hall, Princess Lilith De Lyria Von Draken Mistglen De Zorathian paced restlessly, her ornate gown rustling with each step. Her three sons - Prince Fenris, Prince Eamon, and Prince Idris - watched her with growing concern, exchanging worried glances among themselves.
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Queen Daleyza Limonizer De Carna Domino sat regally on a high-backed chair, her daughter Princess Isabella standing dutifully by her side. The absence of her son, Prince Tarian was noted by all, though none dared to mention it.
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Lady Lily Furia leaned against a pillar, her arms crossed, her sharp eyes taking in every detail of the scene before her.
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The tension in the air was palpable as Prince Fenris finally broke the silence, his voice echoing in the cavernous space. "Why have we been summoned so late at night?"
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His question hung in the air, unanswered. The assembled royals shifted uneasily, each lost in their own thoughts and speculations. The unusual hour, the urgency of the summons, and the recent, unspoken events that had rocked the kingdom to its core - all of these factors contributed to the growing sense of unease that permeated the Entrance Hall.
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As they waited, the great clock in the corner struck the hour, its deep, resonant chimes seeming to herald the arrival of something momentous and potentially terrible. The royal family of Domino stood on the precipice of change, unaware of the storm that was about to break upon them all.
"I agree," Lady Aeliana added, her voice firm but controlled. "This is most unusual. What could possibly require our presence at such an hour?"
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Queen Daleyza leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. "Indeed, it's not often that we're called together in the dead of night. There must be something grave that requires our attention."
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Princess Lilith stopped pacing and turned to face the others. "I fear it may have something to do with the recent...disturbances," she said, her voice low and cautious.
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Lady Lily Furia pushed off from the pillar, her keen eyes scanning the opulent room. "Disturbances?" she echoed, her voice carrying a hint of skepticism. "I believe not. Perhaps this summons concerns Lady Vespera Thornfield. Her arrival has been long overdue."
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"She's dead," a voice proclaimed from the elevated dais reserved exclusively for the monarch and consort.
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All eyes widened in shock as the source of the declaration revealed herself. Lily's voice trembled as she exclaimed, "LUXANA!"
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The assembled royals stood transfixed, their faces a tableau of disbelief as they beheld Luxana's blood-stained form. With graceful nonchalance, she draped her arms over the gilded railing, one elbow resting upon it as she cradled her jaw in her palm. Her other arm lay languidly across the ornate balustrade.
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A smirk played across her lips as she gazed down upon them, her eyes glinting with an air of superiority. "Lady Vespera Thornfield has indeed perished," she announced, her voice carrying a note of cold amusement. "And her son's whereabouts remain a mystery."
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Princess Arabella's composure wavered momentarily, a bead of cold sweat forming on her brow. Luxana's gaze sharpened, her eyes narrowing as she addressed the princess. "My, my, Arabella. Why such distress? Your countenance betrays you."
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The princess's sisters and mother turned to regard her with concern, but Arabella's carefully constructed facade remained intact. "I'm afraid I don't comprehend your meaning," she replied, her tone measured and cool as she tilted her head in feigned confusion.
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Prince Fenris stepped forward, worry etched across his noble features. "What has befallen you, Luxana?" he inquired, his voice laden with concern.
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Luxana's laughter rang out, a chilling sound that echoed through the hall. "Me? Oh, no, no, no," she said, shaking her head in mock denial. Her eyes snapped open, fixing them with a penetrating stare. "The more pertinent question is: what shall befall you?"
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Queen Daleyza's voice dripped with disdain as she demanded, "What is the meaning of this?"
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"THIS!" Luxana cried, her arm thrust skyward in a dramatic gesture.
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A deafening roar filled the air as an inferno erupted from her palm. The conflagration was a spectacle of terrifying beauty, a writhing mass of crimson and gold that seemed to touch the very ceiling of the grand hall. The assembled royals stood rooted in place, their faces masks of fear and awe.
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With a graceful turn of her wrist, Luxana inverted her hand. The massive flame obeyed her command, cascading down like a waterfall of fire. As it struck the polished marble floor, it spread with unnatural speed and precision, encircling the royal family but never touching them.
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The fire danced around them, a mesmerizing display of destruction. The heat was oppressive, causing sweat to bead on their brows and their fine silks to cling uncomfortably to their bodies. The opulent tapestries that had adorned the walls for generations blackened and curled, their intricate designs consumed by the hungry flames. Priceless paintings bubbled and warped, their subjects' faces twisting into grotesque expressions as if in silent screams.
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Queen Daleyza rose from her chair, her voice ringing with authority. "By what right do you threaten us, Luxana? I command you to cease this madness at once!"
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The ornate chandeliers, with their thousands of crystals, began to melt, raining down a shower of molten glass that hissed and steamed as it struck the marble floor. The gilded furniture, symbols of royal power and wealth, crackled and splintered as the fire devoured them, reducing centuries of craftsmanship to ash in mere moments.
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The flames danced around them, growing ever closer. Lady Aeliana pulled her children close, her eyes flashing with defiance. "You'll not harm my children, witch. I'll die before I let you touch them!"
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Yet, as if guided by an unseen hand, the flames parted to allow passage for the royal knights who entered the hall. Their armor gleamed in the firelight as they approached the huddled royals, producing shackles of cold iron.
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Prince Fenris stepped forward, his hand outstretched in a placating gesture. "Luxana, please, let us talk about this. Whatever grievances you have, surely we can resolve them without violence!"
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"What is the meaning of this outrage?" Prince Baelor demanded, his voice quavering despite his attempt at bravado.
"This is treason!" Prince Idris shouted, drawing his sword. "Guards! Seize this usurper!"
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"Silence!" commanded the lead knight, his voice echoing within his helm. "By order of Her Majesty, you are all to be escorted to the dungeons."
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Protests and cries of indignation filled the air, but the suffocating heat and the implacable advance of the armored figures soon quelled their resistance. One by one, they were led away, their wrists bound in iron, their heads bowed in defeat.
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"Unhand me, you curs!" Princess Lilith spat as the guards approached with shackles. "Do you not know who I am? I'll have your heads for this!"
Lady Lily Furia fought back, kicking and scratching at the knights. "You dare lay hands on a noble? The king will hear of this outrage!"
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Prince Idris attempted to rally the others. "Stand together! We outnumber them. We can fight our way out!"
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Even as they were being led away, their protests echoed through the burning hall.
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"This won't stand!" Queen Daleyza called out. "The other noble houses will rise up when they hear of this treachery!"
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Prince Baelor, struggling against his captors, shouted, "Mark my words, Luxana. You'll rue this day. The throne will never be yours!"
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As Arabella, the last in line, was about to be led from the hall, Luxana's voice rang out once more. "You may have sold young Rowan to secure your foreign trade agreements, anticipating that upon the flourishing of your ventures, you would fabricate his discovery and elevate your standing in court. Alas, I must dash your aspirations. Such a scenario shall not come to pass."
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Arabella froze, her face a mask of shock. "How...how did you come by this knowledge?" she stammered, her carefully cultivated poise crumbling.
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Luxana's smile was a thing of terrible beauty, her eyes closed in an expression of serene malevolence. She resumed her pose at the railing, one hand supporting her chin as she gazed down at the shattered princess. "My dear Arabella, I am privy to all," she purred, her voice dripping with sinister satisfaction.
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As the knights forcibly removed Arabella from the hall, Luxana's expression smoothed into an emotionless mask. With a mere thought, the raging inferno that had consumed the grand hall died away, leaving behind a scene of utter devastation – a fitting backdrop for the fall of a dynasty.
-A few minutes later. Night; Amoria Palace, Guest Room-
Click
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The balcony door lock turned, the sound impossibly loud in the tense silence of the room. Helios' head snapped towards the sound, his body tensing like a coiled spring.
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There, framed by the moonlight, stood a figure that made both men's hearts stop. Luxana, Helios' daughter, her dress a deep reddish-black that seemed to absorb the moonlight. But it wasn't the dress that drew their attention - it was the thick, glistening coat of blood that covered her from head to toe.
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"Greetings, Father," Luxana's voice dripped with sarcasm as she bowed low, a mockery of respect.
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As she straightened, her eyes met Helios', a smug smile playing across her blood-spattered face. The sight was so incongruous, so terrifying, that for a moment, neither Helios nor Kyle could process what they were seeing.
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Then, with a casual grace that belied the horror of her appearance, Luxana raised her left arm. Her index finger pointed at Kyle, who stood frozen at the far end of the room.
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SKEACH
To be Continued...
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