Chapter Thirteen:
The noise shivered down Lord Edward's spine, weakening him in the knees. To the others, it was obviously a cry for help. To him, it felt as if his heart were being shredded, vessel by vessel.
It called to him, summoning a strength that he didn't even know he possessed. With daylight now on their side, Edward took off, running at full-force in the direction of the scream. He noticed not the whip lashings of the tree's branches, nor of the strap of his helm digging into his chin.
Suddenly, he was lifted from the ground, soaring into the sky. Somehow, Vlad and Jasper had pulled him onto Alice's back and they held on for dear life. He longed to shade his eyes from the blistering light of the sun, but he kept them open instead. From their height, Lord Edward surveyed the devastation beneath him.
Besides the vast greenery of the forest, all land was burned and destroyed. There were no homes, no villages, no children playing about in the fields. No men were labouring the soil, no women hauling water from wells.
Lord Edward's blood boiled with hatred. Some for himself, some for others. Was it not at his command that all Providences were killed? Surely so, but the War of the Era had left him no choice. He had to claim all the lands to keep the peace, but at what price?
Of course there was peace.
There were no people.
Caught up in the throes of warfare, he had ordered that the surrounding lands be slaughtered, but in the battle, so was his.
The war had been for naught. While he feasted daily on boar and fine cheeses, whomever was left in his Providence was most likely struggling for their lives.
And for what? Over territory? Over women?
His people did not care about those matters. It was he who did. And yet, they had paid the price.
The War of the Era had been a long time coming, since the Goddesses had forbidden any woman to bear a child. Somehow, kingdoms fought and good men were killed. It had caused rebellion amongst the nations, and anger towards the goddesses had turned to anger towards men.
And he, Lord Edward of Didyme, was just a pawn in the Goddesses game.
No more! He thought bitterly, as Alice swooped downward to a landing. No more!
In the depth of his heart, Lord Edward knew his fate.
He was never supposed to bed the girl who was marked. The War of the Era was provoked by the Goddesses to slay all who lived.
That included the Sculpia.
She was never meant to survive. They had marked her to make a point. That they controlled the earth. She represented everything men wanted and nothing they could have. Even if she lived, he doubted anyone would be able to touch her. The Goddesses were just that powerful.
Now Edward had to make a choice.
Kill the girl. Or fulfill his destiny and save humanity's only hope.
A/N: Bella Marie is earth's only virgin, but as Edward is slowly figuring out, she was meant to die that way. Even though she lived (she beat the odds), the Sculpia is a symbol that protects her.
It is a way to torment all men who live, waving poor Bella Marie in front of their faces like a juicy steak and never being able to eat! *insert crude snickers*
However, this is Fanfiction and my damn story! Surely we will find a way around the Goddesses forbidden decree so that Bella Marie will live, and Lord Edward can stick his sword where it belongs. *nudges you for use of witty pun*
Rated M for a reason my lads. Update more soon!