Seth yelled out the name of his wife, only to be silenced along with everything else in the courtyard the moment the mirror shattered into pieces, letting out a powerful force of magic. The blast destroying anything in its path as well as undoing any spells recently cast. Finn and Aleister re-entered the courtyard through the now charred doors, shortly followed by Nikki and Brie. Just as they did so Drew was released from his frozen like status, he'd been trapped in for quite some time. The only sound audible to any of them was Star screaming in frustration upon seeing the mirror reduced to a pile of wood and glass. Her latest attempt at being so powerful destroyed. The neon haired woman soon looked down, the blade she'd taken from Drew at her side, still in one piece. She picked it up slowly as she noticed only three of the princes stood. The others all knocked out by the powerful blast of energy to escape the mirror.
Star soon surveyed the area. Noticing Cross close to Tommaso, the Prince of Sloth seemingly having tried to protect his wife from the force of the blast. Adam still lay in the pool of his own blood with both Drew and Baron close by him, as if they had put all their attention on their younger brother. Drew conscious whereas Baron knocked out, his head having collided with the wall. Seth on the other hand, lay in a slump near the edge of the pool, ironically the symbol of the earth druid carved into the bottom of the very pool. Morgan lay behind what remained on the mirror, one of her hands still gripping the hero's sword even when the said sword appeared to be glowing red. The smell of burning flesh wafting around the area. AJ, Ricochet, Randy, Eva and Alexa all having been throw backwards in different directions. Although Eva clearly had some control as water wrapped around the hilt of the blade Morgan held as if ensuring it remained cool enough for her to handle.
Star soon picked up the silver blade capable of killing a royal vampire, her eyes locked on the form of Morgan laying in the small area the mirror once stood. A wicked grin on her lips knowing this time she could succeed, few of the princes remained standing, whereas the woman herself was defenseless. Yet as Star ran, her eyes locked firmly on the form of Morgan, she'd been unaware of one of the prince's using the vampire speed to get to the area first. With a cry of anger and frustration Star drove her sword down towards her enemy, feeling satisfied when she felt the blade pierce through flesh and bone. Even more so upon hearing the blood hit the stone ground below. Yet when she opened her eyes, all happiness she had faded away. Instead, an angered cry escaped her lips.
Across from her stood her vampire prince in Drew, standing next to a groggy Seth, in his arms the very princess she had believed she had just stabbed viciously with her blade. Yet only now did she wonder whom she had run the blade through. If it wasn't her intended target, who was it. As the neon haired woman slowly looked down, her wickedness reappeared. There lying on the ground with the silver sword protruding through his back, lay the Prince of Envy. In his left hand, the necklace Star had used to conceal and hide her magic, the pendant of which shattered and broken just like the mirror.
"Don't let go" Star heard as she her attention was diverted from the now grey skilled Prince of Envy. Instantly she looked to the source of the voice, finding Seth holding Morgan, her weakened form laying in his lap, as her grip slowly began to loosen on the blade. It clearly becoming too much for her to bare. All knowing if she let go of the blade she'd lose her memory, something Star now hoped for, knowing there was no greater suffering for the Prince of Wrath than for his princess being there but not having any memory of him or their time together. Not having any memory of her time in Inferno or how she become a vampire. Star watched in amusement as Morgan strength finally failed, resulting her the dark-haired woman letting go of the blade and once again losing consciousness.
As if that was the cue, Star was knocked off her feet, into the pool of water behind her. Weaponless she fought against her near immortal attacker, fearing for her life when she noticed the attacker was none other than the second vampire princess. Her emotions clearly in control of her actions as she dragged the former high seeker from the pool, pinning her against the wall mere moments later. Alexa now at the side of her fallen brother, tears in her eyes as she closed his eyes before pulling the blade from his back. Drew and AJ with her neither being able to comprehend the loss just as none of them noticed when Bray entered the courtyard. Aleister and Finn soon going over to Cross, the Prince of Lust holding her back as the Prince of Pride pulled the now bloodied and battered Seeker to her feet, knowing she was powerless now.
With her one good eye, Star looked over to Nikki and Brie Bella. Her other eye swollen shut, as her busted lip twanged with pain and blood ran from her broken nose. The Fallen Mistress of Seekers finding it difficult to breath, quickly deducing she had likely gotten a few broken rips, as her arm was likely broken as well. Cross hadn't spared her when it come to the beating, she dished out. It being clear the vampire princess intended for her to suffer, on top of being powerless and defeated on the battle field, although her only win come with the death of the Prince of Envy. At least she could say she had achieved what no other had done. Not only had she killed the king but the second prince too. A feat some believed was impossible.
"The queen shall decide what to do with her" spoke Drew, not bother to look to the woman whom had once stayed in his kingdom. Often had he found himself wishing the girls had never come to Inferno. Yet he also knew if they hadn't then what was broken wouldn't have been fixed. Only now did the Prince of Greed understand Bray's words from nearly a year prior. As he looked to Bray, the ancient Shade could only nod as if to confirm his trail of thoughts were correct. The people to decide the new queen were those of the royal line, just as it now made sense to Drew, Baron had chosen his queen mere weeks after the princesses had arrived.
"Seth" spoke Nikki from the door to the courtyard, ignoring Star as others did, instead focusing her attention on the Earth Druid. "Take her back to Shadow-Stone. When she wakes, we'll all help with her journey to remembering" added the oldest of the High Seeker twins. Giving the Prince of Wrath hope, the memories of Morgan's time in Inferno could be retriggered, just giving him hope his Morgan would return again, that she would eventually remember. The Prince of Wrath offered no argument to the suggestion, carefully lifting her fragile form from the ground, holding her bridal style as he left the courtyard in a blink of the eye. "He was a hero, bury him a such" she whispered, turning her attention to the fallen prince, knowing the prince had completed his journey of redemption the moment he made the split-second decision. Each remaining prince could only nod, as Randy lifted Baron's body, taking him back to Cyrus, the kingdom in which he ruled over and changed to the safe haven to have protected so many residences of Inferno.
"What do we do now?" questioned Eva, as each left the courtyard, Alexa turning around once everyone had exited through the wooden doors, looking to Finn as if for permission to do something, there he silently nodded, with such approval Alexa used her power as the fire druid, setting the courtyard ablaze thrust destroying it once and for all. The flames flickering blue and silver rather than the normal orange and red, that alone giving nearby people of Credence, peace of mind the fires could be easily contained by the princess to start them.
"We try to heal and move on" responded Ricochet from his place next to Aleister, both High Seekers having hold of a powerless Star, who seemed to have accepted her failure for the time being. Instead, she stayed quiet, as if hoping she'd be led to the free Seeker city she was in before. The one hidden deep within the caves, yet no one answered her questions on what would happen to her, instead her questions went ignored much like Star herself did. Ricochet soon shook the hand of the remaining Princes, wishing them well for the time they were set to be parted. There he went with Eva, Nikki, Brie and Star back to the Seeker Cities, speaking of his intentions of taking Star to Heiress, his city in the clouds. Thrust ensuring she could do no further harm to Inferno, as well as ensuring she'd be kept there until her fate was decided.
"We'll let you know when Morgan wakes" spoke Aleister, knowing the decision remained on who the next queen would be. The six remaining princes, as well as the Druids and High Seekers all had their say and vote on the matter. Yet it was also clear to most Baron had made his decision before his sacrifice, just as it was clear he had planned for such things. Having given Bray something to pass on if he should fall in battle, something not even the ancient Shade himself
had read over yet.
A few days later, as quietness took a hold. Bray stayed in Shadow-Stone. In his hands the last testament of sorts Baron had written, only now did Bray see as the right time to read it. With a heavy heart he opened the envelope sealed with the symbol of the Prince of Envy. He knew the days would only get harder. With Drew and Finn rebuilding their kingdoms, the princesses having returned from the Seeker lands only to learn of Baron's death and Morgan losing her memory. Seth having stayed with Morgan, his heartbreaking when she cowered away in fear from him, asking who he was and where she was. The last thing she remembered before waking up was her small birthday celebration the year prior, before her journey into Inferno had begun. That only adding the heartbreak, as it was left to the Prince of Wrath, not only to explain she was a vampire, but her father had also been murdered in that time.
My Last Testament.
In the event of my death. Whether that be in battle or as a prisoner of war, I name my only sister in Alexa, as my Heir. She is free to change the kingdom of Cyrus as she sees fit and change it to her will. I also choose Princess Morgan as my choice for the next queen of Inferno. Whether she has her memory or not.
Please give the letters attached to the people they are intended for. If that person no longer lives burn the letter. I only hope my death makes a difference to Inferno and the people of Cyrus and Inferno as whole, Seeker, Shade, Vampire and Human alike can forgive me for my past actions.
Bury me in the garden, next to my mother. Where I can see the palace and rest peacefully knowing Inferno is safe from whichever threat, we all stood against. Knowing my loved ones are safe and free.
Baron. Prince of Envy. Prince of Cyrus.
Bray stared at the words for some time. Almost as if by doing so, the prince whom had written them would rise from the dead and return to those whom loved him and grieved. Yet he knew that was one thing that would never happen, no one could raise the dead, not even Star with the once powerful line of magic could do such a thing, not even the creature in the now destroyed mirror could. Yet as Bray looked over the handwritten letters present with the testament; he did as instruct and burnt the one with Kane's name neatly written on the front. Although a soft yet sad smile come to his lips at seeing on written for each of the princesses. Even to his surprise there was one written to Star there, something Bray knew would come as a shock to the Fallen Seeker, especially when it was no secret the duo hated each other.
As instructed Bray delivered each letter to the people in question. Being careful when it come to the Princess of Shadow-Stone. While there he also took Seth's vote on whom should be queen, leaving shortly after. His last stop being Heiress, where he delivered the letter from Baron to its intended recipient. Seeing Star's confusion, not only was he there but that he had something for her. At first, she believed it was from Drew, offering for her to return to Claymore, yet she soon realized otherwise when she didn't recognize the handwriting. Yet none the less, she sat in the corner of her cell when Bray left, looking over the letter as if to try and disguise would had written to her and why. Soon giving in and reading it through carefully and slowly.
"Dear Star,
I know I'm the last prince you ever expected to receive anything from. But if you're reading this then that means I'm dead. But before you tear this up and never think of it again, keep reading.
I know you've been through a lot, at the time of me writing this letter you have just killed my father. I know you've suffered, that you feel lost, anger even frustration for everything that's happened. Just as I know it was likely you who killed me. So, I just wanted to say I forgive you, for everything. For the death of my father, for controlling Drew, for whatever the hell you did during the war and for my death.
That last one was one me. If I died at your hand then it was because of my own choices. I likely chose to sacrifice myself. But I still forgive you for it. Everyone deserves forgiveness, I only hope now you can find you way again, find the path you strayed from and make amends for the hurt and suffering caused. Trust me when I say it's never too late to make amends, to go on the journey of redemption.
I wish you well Star
Baron, Prince of Envy"
Star looked over the words several time, as if to determine whether not what she'd read was a joke or not. Had Baron really left a letter to her, giving her the forgiveness, she'd never asked for or expected. Had he really tried to get her to see the light and tried to steer her towards the path of redemption? The Fallen Seeker soon shook her head, scoffing as she threw the letter to the side, choosing not to tear it up as she would have any other time. Instead, the words echoed in her mind as if some spell had been placed on them. Only now did she begin to think, the things she thought she would gain from her crusade, the place she thought she would be. Comparing it to all the things she ended up losing and where she was now. Was it all worth it? Her only successes being Morgan having no memory of anything to do with Inferno and Baron's demise. The rest of it had all be a failure.
"You get a say in who will be queen, do you not?" called Star as the trio of Nikki, Brie and Ricochet walked past her roomy cell within the tree. Ironically it being the same place she'd stayed while in Heiress the first time, before she'd become the High Seeker. Only now did she wonder who they would choose as their pick, even if she was still in the running for such a thing or if she had long since been removed from the running. To her surprise the trio turned to her, each nodding in response yet not uttering a single word. "Who did you choose?" asked the former High Seeker, if only so she had an idea whom would ultimately decide her fate. Yet neither answered, instead they turned back to the path before them, clearly having a destination in mind.