Execution.
Alquin swam in guilt and regret everywhere he was, in each moment he breathed, no one could console him and no amount of sex he had could fill the void of the guilt and shame he felt for what he did, he wanted to kill Tristan and Jon along with Lera for what they did but if he were to kill them then the balance he was clinging to between the five would crumble.
.
Mier had been gone for almost two months now, no one knew where he was and the one he suspected of knowing wouldn’t even breathe the same air as he did, Villa Chevalier treated him like a plague, one that needed to be rid of and he knew soon the vampire prince would eventually leave, he could feel it every day when he was avoided, Villa was getting alarmingly stronger for a vampire, though he wasn’t a threat he knew something was going on.
He couldn’t confront him about it because he would never get the chance, his advisors were now just advisors. Malia never spoke unless spoken to and his general had become a stranger, not the man he went to when he wanted to get drunk and not be a king but just an ordinary demon.
.
It was weighing heavily on his crown and as it was said heavy is the head that bears the crown, now he was starting to understand it, to understand it all, but there was only so much he could do, as he sighed for the hundredth time after addressing nobles and common folk who had come with grievances, he stood up to leave but was immediately frozen when a fae warrior appeared in the throne room.
“Your majesty.” The fae bowed and Alquin wondered how the fae had even entered his kingdom, had someone opened the barrier for him, before the fae could speak chains sprouted from the ground, they pierced him, burnt, and bound him to the ground. “What do you want in my kingdom?” Alquin hissed looking at the warrior.
“I only bear an invitation to the fae kingdom my lord, the king desires you to attend a special ceremony today at midday, he hopes you’ll be in attendance, to spectate.” The fae barely spoke as the chains tightened around his throat, Alquin had only heard him because of his superior hearing. “Very well then, tell your king that I will be there, and he should know that I don’t want my time wasted.” Alquin replied harshly and the fae disappeared.
When the demon king turned to leave the throne room again he spotted his old friend passing the throne room, obviously ignoring Alquin’s presence. “Saytor!” Alquin called and the demon walked back to the throne room and bowed. “My liege, how may I serve you.” Saytor replied making Alquin frown, Saytor’s behavior was because he was angry, but when will that anger disappear as he would at least talk to him normally.
“Saytor don’t be so formal, I’m your friend, I know you’re angry but this has gone on long enough, have I not earned your forgiveness.” Alquin pleaded but when the demon in front of looked at him, he saw no remorse or forgiveness. “I don’t see the witch or your child.” Saytor snapped back and remained in the room awaiting for the king to say his orders.
Saytor was angry, furious even, he hated what Alquin had done, enchantment or not he took it too far, he knew Alquin could’ve burnt out the enchantment with his magic before it got too far but he allowed himself to violate the witch, his king may claim to have been under an enchantment but he was still a king, an archdemon, therefore he could’ve easily countered the enchantment but he didn’t, all in wanting his flesh to enter the witch, he hated him with a passion.
“We are going to the fae kingdom at midday which is an hour from now, get the guard ready, we cannot take any chances.” Alquin instructed his old friend, the demon nodded and walked to do as he was told, he hoped to finish whatever the king wanted so he could find the witch and see if he were safe, it was the only thing he could do on behalf of those who stood by Alquin.
****
Midday came and Alquin along with his guard were ready to leave for the fae kingdom, both he, Malia and Saytor had dressed for the occasion but also had their weapons at the ready, even if peace had been brokered between the two mystic races, animosity still lingered in between the guise of peace and the demon king wasn’t taking any chances.
They all stood by the courtyard where lush greenery spread as far as they could see, Alquin stood there remembering the time he used to watch his son or play in the garden with him, now he wanted nothing to do with him, he felt betrayed by his own blood, though he were in the wrong, his son chose the witch over the demon who held his blood, but could he blame the boy, he had seen his father’s sins, would any child stick around.
A portal opened leading to the fae kingdom, the guard was first to enter, followed by their king, when they passed through the portal it closed behind them, Malia gasped taking in her surroundings, the city was burning, and it seemed remnants of a fierce battle was what remained. The guard circled Alquin and they waited for what came.
“Ah, Alquin you’ve finally showed up, thank the goddess I was starting to think you had gotten cold feet to attend an execution.” A fae stood in front of the king and his guard, his wings were a dark shade of blue, his height and strength all pointed him to being a royal, but he didn’t know this royal, he knew of Tristan’s family.
“What is going on here?” Malia spat looking at the fae. “Its called a hostile take over my dear, the fae are tired of sucking the balls of demons, we’re taking our freedom back, but we couldn’t do that with the current monarch, urgh, the pacifistic Bloom family and their pledge to Alquin BloodShade, that’s why I invited you, to watch of course.” The fae smiled without humor only malice and destruction.
Tristan’s family were thrown down the stairs that led to the front doors of their palace, his father, mother, brothers, and sister were all drenched in blood, the current fae king seemed to be drained with no more will to fight and it struck Alquin like a church bell, he must’ve fought to protect everyone but was overpowered.
“He put up one hell of a fight, poor thing, but as they say those weak willed will never reap that of those who are stronger.” As the fae royal spoke Saytor could see the dark incantation that rooted in his body, the fae was strong because of that darkness, but the practice of dark fae incantations had been abolished because those without control killed mercilessly but it didn’t seem to be the case with this particular fae, he was very much control.
“Don’t worry your pretty self your highness, I will come for the demons soon enough, but this message has to be sent, and you are to receive it with your very eyes.” The fae smiled again with no humor as the fae king’s head was severed, the rest of the family was torn apart as Alquin watched, this was a matter between the fae he could not intervene and also his guard was vastly outnumbered, that’s why he only stood to watch.
Malia swallowed hard looking at the massacre of Tristan’s family, the prince no longer had a family now it had been torn from him. “Tell your dear husband Tristan to come collect his family’s remains, he’s the last of the Bloom clan, after all, do tell him that, also even though the witches don’t know of what he did, the fae do and this is the beginning of his punishment.” The dark fae turned and walked away with a sinister chuckle, all three of the demons knew what the fae was talking about.
The fae knew what Tristan had done to Mier, even though the witches didn’t know, soon they would know and they would definitely revolt. “Wait, you’re still under my rule!” Alquin yelled and the dark fae turned around so fast a normal neck would’ve broken. “Alquin those you made the pledge with are dead, Tristan is as useless as a whore now, his royal status came from overthrowing the OasisKnight, but they should’ve made sure to kill all of us.” The dark fae hissed back and Alquin tried hard not to fight.
Alquin now connected the dots as to why the fae was powerful, he was part of the original fae royal family. “Who are you?!” Alquin questioned. “I’m Everin OasisKnight brother of the late king and I’m claiming what belongs to us, as with that our freedom.” Everin replied and walked away from scene, he entered the castle along with his guard, Alquin knew that if the fae were now rebelling soon enough it would spark rebellion across the whole continent.
The demon flicked his hand and a portal opened, his guard and friends walked back to their kingdom, they had to prepare for an attack, it would come any time.
***
Saytor knew he now had to find the witch more than ever, he needed to warn him and the child, so in the dead of night his wings sprouted from his back, and with one flap he took off for the sky, he knew Ramier would be in a place no one would think to look, therefore he headed west, where he hoped the witch was.
+++
LMJ
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