Toiling on the ground in silence as my defiance bubbles inside of me, mapping what my next actions would be—

Never in a million years would I have figured them to be ripping out a random demon's esophagus and shoving it into another demons fanged mouth. My body was on autopilot, moving so quickly with rage that I could barely form a coherent plan into my mind as things went along; numb with adrenaline, I could barely feel their hits coming. I hadn't even realized when my body leapt off of the ground.

The hardest hit I took was the brunt of someone's sword pummel jamming into my eye socket— shattering whatever frost formed inside, until my very own eyeball was leaking blood, having my own power against me.

"Oh, fuck you." I grin, wiping at my wet cheekbone. Yet, the fear that filled the beautiful blonde haired, black horned demon was enough to kickstart my bloodlust. Her look of instant regret made it so worth it for me when I formed my ice tipped fingers, shoving them into her skull.

Even as the masses of the coven closed in on me, I had already resigned to taking as many as I could down with me; my death being the end game or not.

The hot blood dripping down my chin and onto the floor was echoing in my mind, the otherwise complete silence encompassing my focus. I couldn't hear their labored breaths, their blades slicing the air— maybe a couple blades nicking me before I could even realize I was bleeding. Their grunts of pain when I'd get a killing blow— it was all silence to me. Was this the rush people got during war? Although, these few dozens of creatures were nothing compared to hours of bloodshed on a battlefield, it still felt like glory.

Had it passed seconds or minutes?

My focus was wholly on the game I was playing in my mind— and I was set on making it to the final boss; and maybe shoving a shard up her ass.

But even as the revenge plan formed in my brain amongst the bloodshed, the sword whispered to me. Hummed my name like a vibrato that was incessant. Among the shouts and splatters of blood— slowly all that became of my own ear drums were the vibrations emitted from the sword.

I knew I had to change the path of my course— revenge would have to wait, because in my last breaths, I'd have to make sure that the blade didn't stay with Kilian. I was thinking too big— thinking I could just eliminate the threat myself when this war had been spanning for generations. I needed to think smaller, more practical; taking down two demon crime bosses probably wasn't gonna happen on todays itinerary, but stealing the sword that might be used to kill my sister and her unborn baby? That was doable. Even for my rage infused haze.

Still, a caution sign arises in my mind as I realize that I haven't spotted mother recluse or Kilian since the start of the slaughter. I dodge a pink skinned demons talons, I feel something clasp onto my neck and jerk back, causing me to fall back onto the ground.

It feels like my five minutes of glory were swept from under my feet in a span of seconds, regret coating my tongue for the sole fact that I hadn't killed all of them.

The cold metal collar clasped around my throat makes me pause as two chained bracelets clasp onto my wrists, recognition flaring in my mind.

These are the chains they'd used on Kilian's mother. How sick.

Maybe not the exact ones— no, I'm willing to bet that his mother was still locked up. I'm beginning to think everything Kilian ever told me was a lie— along with the sob story of his mother being his fathers prisoner.

I'm beginning to think that Kilian is the keeper of all prisoners— the playmaker and the puppeteer. I am just a pawn in his grab for power— someone he wants to keep by his side because of genetics.

How cute would demonic dragon babies be? Bile raises up my throat as the chaos dies around the room, and an organized circle forms around me.

Kilian steps from behind me, irritation gracing his features, marring his once charming face like a mask removed— and I ask myself, what had I ever seen in him?

Had I truly been that desperate for a romantic fling?

It almost feels like I aged five years on this journey, the hard way of learning.

Whispers fill the room as Kilian's face twitches, nostrils flaring in my direction as I grin lazily up at him. Fuck you.

"Disobedient." That voice rasps behind me again— her words ringing like a whip at my back.

"Insolent girl. This is who you will make your queen? I prefer Echo." She finishes as Kilian scrubs at his face, raising an eyebrow at her.

"I'm beginning to agree with you on that one." He says, giving me a pointed stare, as if the jab were meant for me. As if I were a puppy in need of discipline; a child needing a cookie revoked and given to another child instead to learn a lesson. The smile won't leave my face, even as I feel my fingers twitching at my sides— I wouldn't give him that satisfaction.

Regardless who wears the crown— it would be worthless in the end anyway, because Kilian is on the losing side; I just have to make sure to get rid of that cursed sword. The sword that wouldn't shut up in that dusty corner.

"Hear hear." I mutter softly as Kilian clicks his tongue.

"Mother recluse and I are needed for some business downstairs— so hear me clearly when I say to you," he looks around the room, making sure to glance at least once into every demons eyes.

"Leave no piece of skin unbruised or unmarred." He says carefully, slowly for more power to his words.

"Just as you'd make sure your horses are tamed, you'll make sure your future queen is obedient. I would hate to have to choose a different coven for this process." He says, his calm eyes retaining unspoken anger toward the dead bodies I'd been responsible for.

I narrow my eyes at Kilian's back as I hear the whispers begin again at the thought of them not being brutal enough. The goal wasn't just to punish me— it was to break me.

Break the woman who made it hail for him.

Or else, I'll break him.

The chains tighten on me as mother recluse forces me onto my knees, directing her coven to close in the circle around us, the air thickening in my throat considerably.

I hear her giving orders, but I barely process them as I watch her and Kilian make their way out of the room, not glancing back at me once. Not once.

And as that ember in my heart dies down, I'm filled with defeat. Even the outcry from the sword is diminished to nothing as the door clicks shut and the coven begin their first blows; my head is instantly knocked to the side, cheekbone crunching painfully.

Blow after blow, their chatter and chuckles don't stop— I feel dehumanized. Like an empty vessel, a casket of bones reduced to ashes.

Demons who took pleasure in torture when I'd given their ruler the naive benefit of the doubt, even when I'd been warned otherwise.

I'm not surprised when a demon with painted red talons approached me with a sinister glint in his eyes— and aims at my collarbone.

He slowly drags a claw down my collarbone and onto my left shoulder, piercing pain shrouding my vision as my skin breaks open under the sharp pressure.

A chorus of cheers erupts as my the first downfall of tears drop out of my uninjured eye; pressing my lips together tightly to avoid shouting in pain.

"Shall we break a bone or do you think that's against the rules?" Another eager voice speaks up as I silently sob, heated blood spilling onto my clothing like an endless water stream. I'm actually surprised with the amount of blood that I carry, watching in equal amounts of pain and fascination as it spurts.

I'm going to die here.

A silent sob breaks through my throat as I heave against the chains.

I need that sword.

My vision is blurring, a dizzy spell beginning to make my body sway.

Yet as my sobs begin to multiply, mouth open in a silent, mute scream; I find myself only able to think one beautiful name.

And with my last breaths, I force myself to say it.

The name Callence rips through my throat in an agonized shriek, terror slipping through the strong front I was putting on.

And with that name blasting throughout the room, filling every corner of every stone— so does a massive blinding white light.

A light indicating that someone was forming a portal into this very room.

•

•

•

•

•