"Kara wake up!"
Kara jolted awake to the sound of her door slamming into the wall behind it. Mairi ripped off her blankets and tugged on her arm. Dazed, Kara shook her friend off and rubbed her eyes. When her vision cleared, she saw that Wyn and Leo were waiting in her doorway, silhouettes in the light of the hall behind them.
"What's going on?"
"Get your uniform on," Mairi pleaded. The panic in her eyes was alarming enough to make Kara get moving. She quickly threw her uniform on over pajamas. As she tightened her belt, she hurried toward her brother.
"Wyn, what's happening?"
"I—"
They stepped into the hallway together and Wyn's voice was drowned out in the sudden bursts of shouts that erupted from the floor below. Kara's heart pounded against her ribcage and her skin broke out in a cold sweat as she searched for an answer. A door down the hall opened sharply and Ravus stepped out. He spotted them and joined quickly, face written with equal confusion.
Mairi leaned over the stairway railing, face pale. "Guys, all the commanders are down there."
"Should we go?" Leo asked, uncertain.
They all looked to Wyn and Ravus, begging the more experienced soldier for an answer. The two exchanged looks before Wyn nodded and led the group down the spiraling steps to the main hall. From the other wing, Kylinn and Lisa emerged, sleepy like the rest of them.
"Mairi," Kara whispered, grabbing her friend's arm and tugging her closer. "Why is everyone awake?"
"Leo woke me because he heard the maids screaming for help," she muttered, shuddering when the commanders turned to eye the gathering group of training elites. "Something bad happened—that's all I know."
"What's going on?" Kylinn demanded, crossing her arms. Her normally smoothed hair was messy and her eyes were heavy with dark circles. She looked ready to kill a man.
Graves was having none of it, her scowl sharped by the deep shadows of the dim hall's lighting. "I'll forgive the disrespect this once," she grumbled, turning to face the gathering class she'd grown to despise. "Why are you here?"
"Because there's a mob down here," Kylinn retorted, throwing an arm out toward the commanders, guards, and grounds-caretakers. "And we have a right to know what's happening as people who live here."
"You have no rights," Graves argued, but she turned to ignore the girl. Kara raised her eyebrows at Leo and Mairi; how had she gotten away with that?
"Where's the high commander?' Wyn asked, lowering his head between Ravus's and Kara's. Ravus shook his head and Kara chewed on her lip.
She stood on her toes to see over the heads in the gathering crowd, but she couldn't make out the commander's imposing build. Weird… When she sank back down, Wyn shook his head and stepped back.
"I'm going to see if I can find Xander. Perhaps he'll know."
"Good luck." Leo nodded Wyn off and turned back to whispering to Mairi.
Kara sighed, irritated that they were cutting her out, but she was interrupted by the sudden demands for answers that were directed toward the front of the room. She couldn't see who they were speaking to on her toes, so she turned sharply to Ravus, who stood drowsily to her left.
"Let me sit on your back." When he frowned at her, she rolled her eyes, coming closer. "I'll be able to see who they're talking to, Ravus!"
"I'm sure we'll learn even—"
"Stop it," she huffed, stepping behind him and gripping his shoulders. He sighed, letting her hoist herself up and loop her legs over his hips.
Kara sat as tall as she could, stretching as high as she could. A familiar black hat was rising above the crowd as the man who wore it reached the top of the shallow stairs. Leo and Mairi were quick to draw close to Ravus, peering up at the woman perched above him.
"Who is it?" Mairi called over the shouting.
"It's the chancellor…" Kara frowned, slouching down when Ardyn turned to show his face. He stretched out his palms. "What's he doing here?"
"He makes a habit of coming unannounced," Ravus muttered, clearly annoyed that Emperor's second-in-command always seemed to drop by when he was least expected or appreciated.
"Damn right," Leo scoffed, crossing his arms.
"It would do you well to quiet down so that I may speak," Ardyn called over the voices. They hushed quickly, intent on hearing what he had to say. Kara leaned forward and rested her chin on Ravus's head, tired. He failed to shake her off. "Thank you. Now then—the primary order of business."
"What do you think happened?" Mairi whispered. Kara nudged her with her foot.
"Hush."
"These are unprecedented times, and unexpected events will occur for many years." Ardyn took a deep breath. Kara swore there was a sly smile tracing his lips as he spoke of his disappointment. "Unfortunately, this does mean that our enemies are taking strides to stop our success. This evening, the commander went to check on the guards. He was taken by surprise and this ambush ultimately ended in his death."
"The commander's dead?!" Mairi turned to stare up at Kara, alarmed.
Kara's heart skipped a beat and her fingers twitched, clutching Ravus's shoulders tighter. Dead?
"How was he killed?" a guard called from the middle of the crowd.
Ardyn raised an eyebrow, unhappy with the disturbed whispers. "He was assassinated by a paid mercenary." The voices got louder at that. Kara leaned forward to try to see Ravus's face.
"How did a mercenary get past all the guards?"
"I don't know," he replied, brow furrowed.
"Let me continue," the chancellor said, his voice holding a dangerous tone—a warning of impatience. Everyone hushed again. Wyn quietly slipped back to Ravus's side, shaking his head when Leo asked if he was successful. "This is not something to be concerned about. The man in question was paid to kill a single target."
"What if he's paid to kill one of us?" a soldier asked shyly.
"He won't be," Ardyn replied confidently. A bad feeling began to stir in Kara's stomach. "I have already pulled a few strings and a new plan of action I have been working on for years is finally coming into play." The pride on his face told them only one thing: this death was a blessing. "Our new supreme commander has been in line for quite some time. Glauca—"
Ardyn jerked his head and an enormous, armored man appeared from the shadows along the walls where he'd been waiting. The fingers that rested on Kara's legs to hold her in place twitched and dug into her skin. Glauca's wrinkled, scarred face turned over his audience, apathetic. Wyn frowned at Ravus.
"What's wrong?"
"That's—" Ravus paused when Glauca moved. The freeze was almost a flinch. Kara leaned forward again, concerned.
"Ravus?"
"That's the man that killed Mother," he gritted out, eyes narrowed on the commander.
"What?" Wyn turned back to the front sharply, trying to recognize the man.
Kara's hand smoothed a straying strand of hair. "Are you certain? All I saw on the other side was previous—"
"I'm certain."
Kara shuddered, sliding off his back. She didn't want to see the chancellor anymore. Instead, she stood wedged between him and her brother.
"As of tomorrow morning, any soldiers ranking below Third are dismissed and their commanders with them." Shocked whispers radiated from the audience and Kara's heart sank further into her stomach. "We will replace those with magitek soldiers."
Mairi's temper began to flare, but she suppressed the sparks to save her hide from the room of commanders. "They're dropping everyone just like that?"
"This is insane," Wyn huffed, shaking his head.
Ardyn stood taller and his disappointment shifted to pride in the chaos he'd created. "Now, all of you get some rest and wake up bright-eyed tomorrow. I'm still expecting those of you that are staying to perform well."
Kara felt her arms prickle with goosebumps as the chancellor turned his back and motioned for Glauca to follow him. Ravus gritted his teeth and shook his head. They could all tell her was pissed by the decision to bring Glauca in as a new leader of the troops. And what the hell is a supreme commander, anyway?
"This is bullshit," Leo scoffed, rolling his eyes as he turned to head upstairs. Mairi huffed a sarcastic laugh and followed, not bothering to wish anyone a good night. It's too late for it to turn good now.
Ravus turned sharply and headed toward the broader exit that no one else filtered through. Wyn and Kara exchanged a quick look and she wondered if he was going to be alright.
"Hey, where are you headed?" Wyn asked, hurrying after him.
Ravus shook his head. "I need some fresh air."
"Me too," Kara admitted, rushing ahead to push open a door that led outside onto the terrace.
Ravus didn't acknowledge the two following him. Kara shut the door and shrugged it off. He was probably lost in thought. Knowing now that the man who led the assault on the Queen was given power over them all made her uneasy. If he had something out for her, would he try to stop her son from rising in the ranks? She hugged her arms close and quickened her stride.
They walked up a set of stairs that led onto the walkway atop the stone walls around the manor that connected to the country's borders. Kara's breath puffed out in clouds of steam. She recalled the days when she and Ravus would leave home to play outside in the cold. They'd blow the air at each other, pretending to be dragons or wizards or even the goddess Shiva. Of course, those creatures had no business being in their yard. In hindsight, it was a foolish game and they'd probably have been better off wrestling, but it was good innocent fun—something they hadn't known in a long time.
The forest looked magical and frightening at night. Lamp posts cast an eerie yellow glow and led into the trees and vines that had overgrown the edges of their town. Along the horizon, a peaceful mist highlighted the shapes on the canopies and made their rich greens a magnificent array of grays and blues. Their world was a haunting mix of beauty and horror and there was no use in pretending otherwise.
"It's colder than I thought it'd be," Wyn admitted, breaking the silence. Ravus continued his headstrong march along the top of the wall as if he couldn't hear. As if he was blocking them out completely. "Not bad, though, for the spring." He was trying to lighten the mood, but he wasn't strong enough to do it alone. Unfortunately, no one else was willing to lend him a hand. The gravity of their situation was too much.
Kara nodded, but she was too busy watching Ravus to reply. He strode past guards without a second thought, older men who all paused to greet the boy who was once meant to be their king. That's how they remembered him, and yet, he couldn't give a care about who they were to honor him. Shivering, Kara hurried to keep up, squinting in the bright lights that lined the walls to keep the daemons out. She tried her hand at baiting him out of his shell.
"I wonder what they'll do about the hierarchy now that Ardyn's made a new position," she called out. When she received no response, Wyn answered.
"I'm more unnerved by the thoughtless elimination of an entire army system."
"You think Glauca will do well with half the men?"
"I'm not so sure. He doesn't know anything about Tenebraean soldiers and how we're trained. We hardly have any more soldiers and we're not making more? That's a fool's game if I've ever heard one."
"He's no fool," Ravus cut in, pausing along the front gate to lean forward against the wall. His breaths were heavy, trying to keep up with the pace of his heart. "He's exactly what Niflheim needs to establish complete control of us all."
"Why can't they do that will all of the commanders?" Kara asked carefully, leaning beside him. She was baiting him, praying that he'd keep talking so that he'd stay grounded with them and not drift back into his deep-seated hatred.
"They resist enough change as it is," Ravus grumbled. He shook his head, his scowl refusing to budge. "If Izunia can automate the army and keep around a few brain-washed puppets around to command respect in interpersonal relations, he can control the world."
"Damn, those are some mighty big words," Wyn teased, resting a hand on Ravus's shoulder and giving a squeeze. Ravus didn't make any effort to reply and Wyn pressed his lips together, shooting Kara a look. "Look, man… It's shit. I know it is. If there was something I could do short of killing the man, I swear I would. And…" He froze for a moment, caught on his words. The silence drew a frown across Kara's face, and when she looked up at her brother, she saw tears glimmering in his eyes.
"Wyn?"
Wyn shook his head furiously. His voice cracked as he struggled to his words out. "And I know what it's like to look into the eyes of my mother's killer and to live seeing that face every day. I know." Ravus stared into the darkness with empty eyes, but his brow twitched. "And I'm sorry."
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Kara rested her hand on Ravus's other shoulder, unsure of what else to do. They were hurting so much, and there was so little that she could do. The faintest spark of anger that remained in her heart fizzled, drowned by the pity that rushed in. He's fighting so hard. They both are. Clenching her jaw, she leaned closer and rested her head against Ravus's with a small sniff and a hand quickly brushing across her cheek to erase a tear that had slipped free.
"It'll be okay," she whispered, trying to reassure them all. "It has to be."
"How can I be expected to free them all from Niflheim if there's no one that wants freedom?" Ravus asked. "Luna…" It was obvious that he was still angry, but he stood still to keep Kara and Wyn in their places. Despite the ache in her chest, Kara managed a small smile. Maybe they were helping him feel a little better.
"You're not alone," Wyn reminded him, patting Ravus's back a few times. "We love Luna just as much as you do. If no one else will follow you, we will."
Shadows danced across Ravus's face as a guard passed by, paying them little mind as he walked by with a flaming torch in his gloved hand. The edges of the darkness were soft, taking the harshness out of Ravus's sharp features and highlighting his tired eyes as they closed solemnly. Kara reached up to smooth the back of his ruffled hair, waiting for Wyn to break the silence when Ravus let out a defeated sigh.
Instead, though, just as Wyn took a breath to speak, she caught sight of movement in the trees and straightened abruptly. "What the hell?"
"What?" Wyn demanded, on edge. He summoned his sword to his hand, waiting. Ravus snapped out of his slump.
"Kara?"
"Look!"
She pointed toward the reddish shadow that crept through the treetops with ease. As if it heard her voice, the shadow paused and turned back. In the darkness, two gleaming eyes pierced hers. Her skin prickled with goosebumps and her heart skipped a beat. The reddish hue was coming from the swishing cloak the shadow—rather, the man—wore. He turned back and continued through the foliage until the canopy hid him entirely from their view.
The three exchanged pale-faced looks. They had absolutely no reason to know who the man was, and yet they all did. He's the one that killed the commander… Without warning, Ravus darted down the path atop the walls. With a startled shout, Wyn sprinted after him. Kara swallowed her fear and gave chase, overwhelmed by the evening's events.
"Wait!" Wyn cried, gesturing for the guards to stop Ravus. They were either too confused or bewildered to obey. "Wait, Ravus!"
"Ravus!" Kara pleaded, gritting her teeth and pumping her legs harder to catch up to her brother.
Ravus hurried down a steep set of stairs and clung to the rail as he turned the sharp corner toward the gates. Wyn was hot on his heels, though he stumbled midway through the steps. Knowing she'd never keep up following in a straight line, Kara continued along the top of the wall until she reached the peak of the gate. She gripped the wall's edge, taking a deep breath, and hurled herself over the edge. The pain of the awkward impact made her wince, but the roll took the edge off. Ravus tried to slip past her, but she dug her nails into the sleeve of his uniform and stuck her leg out to stop his legs.
"What the hell are you doing?!" she demanded. He tried to pry away but she jerked him closer by the elbow. "Ravus, he's gone."
"Bloody hell you're fast," Wyn wheezed, slowing to clutch his knees and gasp for air a few feet away.
"Ravus," Kara repeated, forcing him to look her in the eye. "There's no use. Give up."
"I can't," he snapped, squeezing her hand to make her let go. She kicked his shin in retaliation.
"Don't break my fingers so that you can throw yourself into a quick death!" She hadn't meant to raise her voice to quite that volume but the silence that echoed her words afterward proved that it was a shout well spent. "We understand your pain, Ravus. Let us help you. This—" She threw a hand out toward the dark forest. "This is madness!"
"He can't get away!"
"What about Luna?!" she cried over his voice. Ravus's mouth snapped shut and his eyes turned to the ground. "If you go out there, you're not coming back. You know that."
"There's a chance—"
"You're not invincible," Wyn cut in. "Let it go."
Ravus looked ready to make another excuse or to try and throw Kara aside once more, but he was interrupted by a shrill scream from the forest that chilled them to the bone. They froze, glancing around at each other with uncertainty. Do we dare go in? There was no need to gather their courage, though, as the source of the sound stumbled from the edge of the woods.
Alarmed, Kara pulled Ravus aside and they watched as the gasping, sobbing, screaming young man in a guard's uniform staggered past. He fell to his knees before Wyn, writhing. Cuts marred his body and entire chunks of his flesh were missing, but there was something odd. Black liquid swirled with deep streaks of purple oozed from his wounds, coating his body in thick, oily sludge. Wyn stumbled backward, eyes wide with horror as the boy continued to howl in pain. Clawing at his own skin, the guard collapsed to the ground. He choked and his breaths gurgled until they didn't. His eyes, glowing a deep shade of amber, fluttered shut.
"What in the—" Wyn managed, blinking at the body.
Kara stepped forward to approach the boy, but Ravus tugged her back toward him. That was the first time in a long time that she'd seen genuine fear in his eyes.
"What—" she started.
They jumped when the body began to sizzle. The black ooze bubbled, tripling in quantity and pooling beneath the boy. Steaming, the ooze continued to boil as the body sank deeper and deeper into the puddle. The last of the guard evaporated until there was no sign that the young man ever existed.
"What the hell?" Kara whispered. Her throat was so dry that she couldn't manage a louder volume, but Ravus heard her, staring at the spot in awe.
"The daemons…" He glanced back toward the forest where a hundred gleaming eyes stared back. "They're here."
THANKS TO CHAOSBREAKER13 FOR LETTING ME USE YET ANOTHER INCREDIBLE CHARACTER IN ONE OF MY FICS ;)