Outlanders Chapter 7: Scream Your Heart Out
He ran through the corridors, tears in his eyes as he made his way to the to the main chamber. He had just got the news that the King is dead, found in Solon's room by the maid. He didn't know what to think, the fact that his father was murdered and by suspicion of his own brother, who was now missing.
Xephos stopped when he reached the door; he did his best to calm himself down, just a moment to wipe away the tears. He took a deep breath before entering the chamber to see his father lying on the deathbed. When he walked in people were gathered to mourn for the departed king, some walked up to him and expressed their sympathy, though none of their wishes of luck and love meant much to the man who knelt at his father's feet in silent tears.
Hours passed and everyone was gone now, except for the dead king and his son, who was still standing there. His tears were gone, all used up, but the sadness was still there. The only thing that grabbed his attention off his father was the sound of approaching footsteps.
"Hello Xephos." A dark voice said from behind.
Xephos stood slowly to see it was Solon, feelings of rage and confusion filled his mind. Did Solon really kill the king? If he did, why show his face here?
"Not gonna say anything back?" Solon said in a hurt voice.
"Why?" Was all Xephos managed to say, glaring at the figure in front of him. "Why did you kill him?" He was going on a suspicion here, but something told him it was true
Solon acted shocked "Me?! Kill father?!" His disbelieving face soon had a grin on it. He twirled a golden staff in his hand. "Well he was getting old, you know. Just… a piece of litter in the place at this point. I figured it was time for something fresh, something NEW!" Solon said with a big smile, throwing his arms apart emphasize his point.
Xephos didn't know what to say, his brother just admitted that he killed their father in cold blood.
"But…" Solon started. He walked closer to Xephos, but was more or less circling him, making sure not to get too close. "There's a problem." He said looking up at the ceiling, the tip of his staff on his chin. "You." He said glancing at Xephos from the corner of his eye.
Xephos' eyes went wide, and suddenly there was the kindling of fear in him. "M-me?"
"Yes Xephos… You. You are too much like father." Solon said pointing the staff at his brother. "You will do the exact same things as he did. Where's the fun in that?!" He said exaggerating his motions once more. "So, it's time for you to go as well." With that Solon snapped his finger and two guards grabbed the unwary Xephos from behind.
"AH! GET OFF ME!" Xephos demanded, fighting against their grip, which was quite weak so he was able to get free. And just as quickly as the guards were there, they were gone.
Solon only grinned at this action and lunged at Xephos, but he didn't attack. No, Solon vanished into thin air, a slight shadowy trail left behind.
A dark laugh swarmed the room. Xephos spun around, trying to find where his brother went. "WHERE ARE YOU?!"
"I'm right here." Whispered a voice from behind.
Xephos turned quickly only to barely make out the shape of Solon, disappearing into shadows again.
"Do you know what the people say, Xephos? What they say about… YOU!" Solon said, from inside his shadow as he went around and around Xephos, who only turned to try and pinpoint where Solon was.
"You don't walk the streets like I do. All you do is stay in this palace. Wanna know what the people say? Well of course you do." Solon said with a grin as he stood in front of Xephos.
Xephos, who was still wrapped in this cloud of shadows, didn't answer.
"They say you're.. WEAK!" Solon said disappearing again. "Just a PUPPET without his master! That the king could have made a better CHOICE THEN YOU!" He said, popping up on all sides of Xephos.
Xephos, swarmed in shadows, felt fear, panic, he didn't want to believe the things that were being said. Trying to fight his way out of this hell… he stumbled and fell. Solon chuckled as Xephos crawled back.
Finally the shadows were gone and Solon stood there, in front of his brother, with a sad look."D-did I scare you brother?" He said in a sheepish tone, as he started walking closer to Xephos.
Xephos, who was already backed into a walk, glared at Solon as he approached. Short of breath from fright, he lifted his shaking hand to shield himself.
"It's okay, big brother. You can trust me." Solon said in a calm voice, holding out his hand
Xephos only stared at the extended hand, unsure what to do.
"Everything will be alright. Just come with me now." He said in a trusting tone. With that Xephos grabbed his brother's hand… and Solon only chuckled darkly as a twisted grin quickly entered his face. "Foolish boy."
With a loud thud, Xephos was thrown against a cell wall by a few guards. He was bloody from the beating that was given to him before he was dragged down into the prison. He coughed and tried to stand up, only to be slammed back down with a hit to the gut.
Solon watched with a grin. "Tie him up." He said and the guards roughly threw him against the wall and hooked his arms up to chains. "Make sure those are tight. Don't want him getting too much freedom now." He said walking in once the guards were done. "Tisk Tisk, never thought that you would be down here did you?"
Xephos, hung up on the wall like a picture, was too weak to even lift his head. Crimson blood dripped from his open mouth and his hair covered his blue eyes.
Solon growled in frustration and hit Xephos in the gut with his staff, causing a loud crack to be heard of a broken rib. "LOOK AT ME WHEN I'M TALKING TO YOU!" He said grabbing Xephos' jaw and lifted it so he could see the blue eyes of his brother. "There, isn't that better. To be looking in the eyes of the person who you're talking to." He said with a grin.
Xephos weakly glared at him and spat in his face. Grinning a bit before he screamed in pain. Solon used his newfound magics to claw Xephos' right cheek, but not too deeply to leave a scare, just enough to hurt. Blood now covered his face as his head hanged low.
Solon wiped the spit off his face. "You don't look too good. I'll get the royal physician to look at you." He said in a kind voice. He turned around to leave and said to the guard as he passed, "Keep him at the borderline of death."
"As you wish, your Majesty." The guards said with a small bow; looking back at Xephos grinning. "Come on men, you heard the king." With that the three guards started bashing and breaking Xephos over and over, and there was nothing that he could do to stop this.
"Fire anyone?" One of the guards said with a grin, grabbing a torch. With that they proceeded to burn Xephos, and he screamed.
Solon was watching all this happen, a twisted grin on his face. "Yes. Scream your heart out Xephos. Just scream." With that he left, leaving Xephos to his doom.