Chapter 8

He sat silently on his throne, the room around him red with blood. Severed limbs lay in heaps, shattered swords and helms tossed into the corners. He buried his face in his hands, tears falling from his face. The doors opposite him creaked slowly opened and he slowly moved his head to look.

Her.

"Now do you understand?" she asked him.

Yes! Yes! I am so sorry for everything. he wanted to say, but his mouth betrayed him once again.

"I understand nothing," he said loud and powerful.

"You have taken over Gondowan. You have taken over Angara. You killed these civilians who only wanted to talk sense! You...you killed my husband," she choked on her tears, but continued in a composed voice, "I will ask you again. Do you understand?"

Please you must understand me. It's him. He made me do it! I understand! I am so sorry!

Tears spilled down his face and onto his shirt as he looked into her face, a look of composure hiding the pain and sorrow.

He answered her, choking on every word, "I...understand...nothing."

"Then you must die, Iodem. You must die for the sins you have committed and the lives you have taken away," she picked up a black sword from the floor, blood stains covered the blade. This was his blade, given to Iodem.

No! It's his...Do not attack me. He...him will make me...kill...

She screamed as tears poured down her face. She ran at him with the sword pointed directly at his heart. He remained on the throne, face buried in his hands, his body hiding the terror he felt on the inside.

I did not kill your husband! He did it! He made...do not attack me! he thought with fear and frustration.

The sword came within inches of him before he jumped with inhuman speed, and snatched the sword from her grasp. He turned and looked at her, shock written everywhere on her face.

No don't...Alex...

"Your husband committed treason. He did not comply with my demands. Hammett deserved death for this and now so do you, for the same felony."

"Iodem...no"

No...

But it was too late, he flicked his wrist effortlessly, sending the sword shooting directly at her. The sword pierced her directly in the heart. She fell to her knees.

On her knees, she looked at him, grimacing with pain, "Iodem...do not...give in."
She then fell to the floor, dead.

He looked at her with a look of disgust that once again hid his true emotions, and went back to his throne. He sat down and buried his face in his hands once again.

Alex...only you deserve this. Only you deserve death.

He wept again into his blood-covered hands, not for the last time.