Melanie landed upon the ground and shrank to normal size. She staggered slightly, caught between the phase of human and dragon. Her every breath still came out as puffs of ice and mist. Her pale completion looked more like a frozen corpse rather than a woman who had not seen the light of day in years.

Her indigo blue eyes hardened as she moved through the broken gates. Bodies were tossed about. Blood, gore and body parts were scattered in every direction. Piles of ash and dust littered the ground and corpses. She stumbled over broken rocks before reaching Marvin who hovered over his lord.

Melanie could see his silvery body quiver and shake with sadness as he cried for the loss of his lover. The Queen understood his pain all too well as she bent low. Lucian's body looked calm and still, more like a statue than a body. His tan skin was pale and stiff. The hole in his chest was nearly large enough to put her hand through.

Tears began trickling down her pale cheeks. Each one hit the ground, frozen into a tear drop of ice. Cradling his head in her lap, she pressed a finger to his neck and tried to feel for any pulse. All went still for many long moments before she felt the unmistakable flutter of a pulse.

"I am sorry my Queen. There was nothing that-"

"Not dead." She said, missing the first part of her sentence. "He isn't dead. I feel his heart beating."

Marvin's gaze widened and he quickly settled himself over both Melanie and Lucian.

"Hold on." He snarled and with all four wings beating the air into submission, he carried them up into the air towards the palace.

*****

Kelly, Lynx, Brandi, Leo and Joona sat on the long bench outside of the palace courtyard. They watched as wagons were dispatched across the burning and blood soaked city. Medical personnel and healers rushed out to assist and give aid. The five of them sat in silence for many long minutes.

Joona and Leonardo had done their jobs and protected their people. Though they felt as though they had done little in protecting the city. Leo glanced down at Brandi who looked shocked and calm. He remembered her expression of terror and distress as she saw the citizens being slaughtered in cold blood. The chimera had seen his fair share of battles and blood.

It rarely fazed him outwardly. Inwardly though he felt a turmoil of distress and frustration. His emerald green eyes glanced over at Joona and he could tell that she felt the same. Though her job was of the highest importance. Protecting the Queen was no small matter.

"He can't really be dead? Right?" Brandi asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Lynx opened his whiskered mouth to speak but could not find the strength to do so. He had seen his lord and friend fight through a dozen wars and while he had come close to death, this felt real. He reached over and rested a fuzzy hand upon Brandi who laid hers atop it. Silence ensued for many more moments before Joona caught a glimpse of silver in the sky.

"Is that...My lady?" She asked.

*****

Maalceus reached the gate and scoured the ground looking for his fallen brother. General Lin arrived at his flank, her placid face was wrought with distraught that showed in her icy gaze.

"We have yet to locate the leader of the-"

"He is dead." Maalceus replied in a deep growling voice. "I killed the bastard myself."

General Lin slid her sword into its sheath and motioned for her warriors to spread out and assist with recoveries.

"I saw the king being carried toward the palace by his guard. Is he hurt?" Lin asked, a hint of concern in her cold voice.

"I have yet to discern that myself. I shall take my leave." Maalceus replied and in his seven foot tall form, sprinted through the streets. All around him he saw death. Children of all races. Elders and parents, slaughtered outside and inside their homes.

Wagons filled with healers moved through the streets to administer aid and relief. Maalceus couldn't help but imagine how the city would look if and when the Daemon attacked.

*****

Marvin gently settled upon the grass of the courtyard before releasing his King and Queen.

"Medic! We need healers!" Leo shouted, his gravelly voice carrying over the tides of panic that the palace had succumbed to. Marvin shrank back to human form and he collapsed to the ground. Tears flowed from his eyes like a flood. His hands trembled as he tried to grasp something he could not see.

His lover was dead. For a three hundred years they had been together. Protecting their king and each other. With Heather gone, he felt a void. A gaping emptiness where her presence had been. Stripped away so suddenly, their bond had left a hole as tangible as the one in their King's chest.

"Is he-" Lynx tried to ask but could not finish it.

"No." Melanie shot back, her fingers pressed to his neck. The way they had been since she found him on the ground. Her fingers never left his neck, fearing that if she released her hold upon his beating heart, she might not feel it again.

"His heart beats." She said anxiously.

"Medics!" Leo screamed again.

Two healers dressed in long rose pink robes rushed over. One with a large sack over their shoulders dropped low allowing the other to start administering potions and medicinal remedies.

"My lady you must-" the healer tried to say but after one icy cold glare from the Queen, they knew she would not leave his side. The healer slid in a thin steel needle into his neck. At the other end was a large glass sphere with a shimmering set of gems inside. The gems lit up with a faint orange pulse that glowed softly and then dulled.

"His heart is fading. He needs blood and-"

The healer paused when he looked at the hole. A gaping hole that cut through arteries, bones and veins. Only by chance alone had it missed the King's heart. However, there was no point in putting in blood without repairing and by passing the arteries and veins. The healer watched for the rise and fall of his chest but saw none.

The crystals within the glass pulsed but with each pulsation, their light dimmed. It was through will power alone that the King's heart pumped. Lynx noticed the expression on the healer but the others were waiting for him to continue.

"Well? Do something!" Melanie screamed.

"I am sorry my lady. His...his wounds are too grave." The healer tried to stay steady and calm but the crack in his belied his facade.

"No! He has a heart beat! He isn't dead!" She shouted, fingers pressed against his throat. "Dammit! He isn't-" her voice abruptly stopped and her face went slack.

The healer looked down at the glass sphere and bowed his head silently.

"No!" Melanie let out a loud scream that echoed across the city for miles.