I am so sorry to the whole *counts on fingers* 1, 2, ... 3 people that read this! Especially GOGHOTi who I know is gonna kill me lol. That 2 weeks turned into like 3 months....

Blame school, doing last year of high school and the homework is ridiculous.

Oh and I realise I've completely forgotten Princess Ellimere up to this point but don't worry she'll appear soon. I promise.

Disclaimer: If I actually owned all these characters would I be posting this on a fanfiction website? I don't think so.... ;)

FLAWLESS EVIL

Hope Lost

As the last echoes of Astarael swept through life and death Kaddison stood in the great expanse that was the sixth precinct and studied the dead as they passed him by.

He was looking for one in particular, one which had called him into death all the way from Navis, one that would not flow by without a fight and would be of great value if found. He had felt it as it passed into death and he could still feel it now, and incredible presence that burned its way slowly through death. Quickly he walked through the precinct, tracking the spirit that he felt and before long could also see.

Before long he found it, kicking up spray, its life force burning the dead who it passed by. In this ethereal realm the spirits strength translated directly into liquid light which flowed in and around the water through which it passed.

Reaching the spirit Kaddison pushed his hand into the glow and grabbed the spirit by its upper arm, dragging it out of the water and holding it at arms length where he eyed it curiously. Curiously, for it had not one face but two and its actual face it seemed was always shifting somewhere between both.

Dangling the spirit behind him he made his way back towards life, the light he carried with him parting the dead like Moses parted the sea.

Reece paced the halls of the palace at Belisaere and admired it. Outside the palace his generals were putting up notices and making announcements. The people here would not get speeches, they would not be inspired, they would do what he wanted them to do out of fear or they would die.

It seemed a great number of the soldiers had in fact survived the battle, when they found out that the king had died many of them surrendered and now they would join his army or their families would be killed.

The palace really was an impressive place, gardens, walkways, fortification, towers. It had everything… except a really good dungeon. Instead it had that ridiculous pool with charter stones in it.

He came back into the throne room and seated himself on the throne. It was uncomfortable and so he stood up almost immediately, 'surely' he thought 'these kings and queens must have very thick-skinned backsides if they sat on them all day.'

Finally his optimism failed. With a shout of frustration he beat his fist against the arm of the throne and instantly yelped with pain. After glancing around to ensure no one had seen he proceeded to berate himself and to rail at the walls around him.

The Abhorsen had not been here! Nowhere had the Abhorsen's body been found and at no point had that girl appeared to challenge him. All that had been here had been that pathetic king!

Climbing back onto the throne and ignoring the hardness of the seat he folded his legs under him slouched down into the corner between the back and the arm and proceeded to sulk… he didn't even have Kaddison here for comfort.

… The great iron locks upon the doors slotted into place with a heavy bang, sealing the throne room…

***

Swaying in her saddle Lirael topped the last rise to see Belisaere with Sabriel kneeling on the ground a short distance further down the slope crying.

They'd started seeing the smoke hours ago but Sabriel had ridden on with that grim look of determination on her face. Despite almost falling asleep on her horse Lirael couldn't help but admire that in her.

Now though it seemed they had indeed been too late. Any battle which had taken place was already over. The gates were either sealed shut or destroyed and guarded by the hulking forms of Mordicants and the feeling of the dead emanated from the city so strongly that it was almost nauseating.

The hillside was covered with small shrubs and bushes. Here, further south than Navis which was still locked in winter, spring had begun to take hold and the plants were beginning to bud and bloom. Wordlessly Sabriel plucked one from the bush next to her. A beautiful variety of blue with a white centre, often called the Abhorsen's flower because of the matching hues it held with the outfit. Indeed a large one grew in the Abhorsen's House garden.

Lirael had thought that she might have plucked it to smell or to keep, but Sabriel had other ideas. With one hand she dug at the soft ground with until there was a reasonable depression, within which she laid the newly budding flower before burying it.

Still silent she climbed onto her horse and set off... south again. In her exhausted state all Lirael could manage was to turn her horse's head in the right direction and begin to realise that even though Sabriel was older, she had a lot more experience at this sort of stuff.

Behind them he fires of Belisaere continued to burn, trails of smoke weaving through the sky above, stark grey against the dawn blue.

Ok it was a tad melodramatic, shoot me. She's mourning him cause he's dead, at least I didn't kill off anyone else yet. (If you can figure out why it's the Abhorsen's flower and not the king's flower you get a prize though.)

No guarantees about when the next one is coming. I do still have 4 days left of my school holidays in which I *might* get another chapter done but after that it'll probably be another couple of months again.

I hope you still like it and remember to R & R... especially if you want that next chapter before school again. :P