Over the next few weeks my anger towards Azreal only grew, and it seemed that was also true for him. Our sparring matches were no longer just fun and games. We were getting more and more violent, not even hesitating to cause the other bodily harm. Our old tricks were no longer to humiliate each other but to trap one another, making it easier to hurt them.
Several times Keith had to stop us in the middle of our fights, even having to once physically drag one of us away from the other. He soon found out though that by doing that he was giving the other a free shot. He refused to train us alone after that so Lenor had to be there when we trained. Keyara was also normally there, if only so we didn't have to walk alone or be carried all the way to the medical wing.
And things were only getting worse with every passing day.
Every chance we got to hurt one another we took, whether it be physically, mentally, or emotionally. It was like we were trying to destroy each other from the inside out. Things were getting out of hand, and it didn't help any that the other royals were still coming over to discus who should take our mother's throne.
It seemed like every time I passed by the room they were in I would hear them yelling. Most of the time it wasn't even about Mother's throne; Serina and Kazar could argue over the littlest thing. It was a good thing Barry was there to break them up every time, but anyone with a brain could tell that he too was close to losing his cool. With the way things were heading it seemed like everyone was going to explode. It was only a matter of time, and that time was growing shorter by the second.
Things were escalading faster and faster. After a point Keith out right refused to train us. In his own words, he'd said that he couldn't continue to watch these assassination attempts continue. He'd been right to call them assassination attempts, though neither I nor my brother had realized at the time just how right he was. No, at that time we'd just gotten even more agrivated and frustrated.
Things kept getting worse and worse, until the day when everything finally broke. It was the day that everyone's tempers exploded. It hadn't started out as a bad day though.
I had decided to go for a walk out side. As I'd looked around I started thinking about the past. I could see my memories playing out before my eyes, it was like reliving my life, but none of the good parts.
I saw pranks replayed. I could hear Azreal and Barron laughing again, just like when we were kids. I could see them as they ran away, leaving me behind. Then mommy would come and help me, and she'd catch Azreal and ground him. But Mom's not here anymore.
I sighed. The pain wasn't as bad as it had been at first, but it was still there. As I continued walking around I wondered if it would ever go away. I ended up walking to Mother's old study where the other royals were still debating. As I looked around I saw Azreal standing by the door trying to ease drop.
I'd walked up behind him, my arms already crossed and a glare on my face directed at the back of his head. "And what are you doing, dear brother?" I said in an icy cold tone, spitting out the last part like poison. He turned swiftly and met my glare with one of his own.
"What I'm doing, dear sister, is none of your buisness." He replied haughtily, scrunching his face up like he smelt some thing bad as he addressed me as his sister. I wanted to smack him but decided against it, thinking it'd be more fun to rile him up.
"Fine, not like I really care. I already know that no one in their right minds would pick you to take mother's throne." I replied as I made to turn around, but before I could do so I ducked to the side on instinct. Thank goodness for reflexes. I turned back to see a seething Azreal getting ready to strike again.
"How. Dare. You." he said between panting breaths, his rage filling each word as he used his magic to cover his hand in ice. Big, long spikes formed over his knuckles. But I wasn't scared, only angry and slightly entertained.
"What? Can't take the truth?" I teased. He instantly ran at me, making a sound similar to a roar as he tried to make contact. I laughed as I easily dodged him. "Oh, brother dearest, I think you're getting sloppy." I said with a giggle only to scream loudly as he managed to make contact with my side, sending me to the ground. I shouldn't have been taking him so lightly.
It was at that point that I heared the other royals come out side to see what all the noise was, but I didn't pay them any mind. I had more important things to deal with as I turned to look up at Azreal to see him smirking down at me.
"What's the matter Ary? Getting sloppy?" he teased, using the same tone I had before trying to hit me again. I dodged his spiky, ice covered hand before he could make contact again. His magic was strong, I couldn't let him get me. I had to keep a good distance as long as he was using his magic for close combat.
He continued to throw punch after punch, but I dodged every one. This only made him angrier, and the angrier he got the stronger his magic became. I needed to think, but it was difficult to think of a strategy while you're being targeted by someone that's out for blood.
Thankfully we heared a scream, long and loud. It distracted Azreal just long enough for me to turn the tables. I focused my magic to creat a whip and lashed at Azreal, smacking him across the face and leaving a long red gash. I smirked as he grabbed at his cheek, the ice around his hand having melted when he first lost his focus. He squeezed his eyes shut in pain.
I took this as my opportinity to lash at him again before he could comprehend what was happening. The whip tore his shirt where it hit at his shoulder and down his chest. He grunted in pain as he grabbed his shoulder with his other hand. Blood covered both his hands as it seeped through his fingers.
"What's the matter brother? Can't handle a little pain?" I asked. He forced open his eyes and glared at me. With a growl he picked himself up. At first his legs were shaky, but it didn't take him long to right himself.
I willingly let my ice whip melt to the ground and crossed my arms as I watched him with a raised eyebrow. "Are you really going to continue fighting like that?" I asked.
"Well, I'm not about to let you take mom's place." he grunted out.
"Oh, please, you never stood a chance! I'm a better choice to be the next ruler of winter! You're just a spoiled little brat that brakes his promises!" I screamed at him. My hands were fisted at my sides and I had squeezed my eyes shut, not in physical pain but in emotional pain. I had thought that he was harmless, having been hurt so badly. I made a big mistake. I'd forgotten about healing magic.
Because of this mistake I was caught compleatly off gaurd as I felt something hit me right across the face. His fist. Thankfully he hadn't had enough time to cover it with ice again. I had fallen to the ground and smacked my head hard. I didn't have time to check and see if I was alright though. Azreal was already aiming his next strike and I had to move.
I rolled away just in time and kicked him in the side, causing him to fall to the ground to. I took this small brake in time to jump back to my feet, sadly he did to. And he was quick to start his attacks again. It was back to him throwing punches and me dodging. But, this time, I had a plan.
When I got far enough away I aimed my hands down and made an ice pillar rise from the ground where I was standing. From there I had the perfect view of Azreal and could use my magic for long range attacks. I focused my power to create spheres of pure energy that could destroy anything they hit. It was a desperate move. I knew I would only have enough power for one try.
But, I thought I had an advantage. I didn't think Azreal would know what I was doing. I only knew about this from studying ahead, we hadn't been taught yet. I didn't think he'd know, but aparently he knew enough to get out of its way. Instead it hit a building which soon callapsed.
I didn't have enough magic left to sustain the pillar that I was standing on and it melted faster then I could move. As I fell I was hit repeatedly with some thing hard and sharp, some form of weapon Azreal had learned about. I could just barely hear the scream of another over my own as I fell to a bloody heap on the ground.
As I lay there gasping for breath, a pool of my own blood surrounding me, I barely noticed Azreal approch and kneal down to face me. He was snearing and looked like he was about to say some thing cruel when he froze. He reached down towards my neck. 'Is he going to strangle me?' I'd wondered.
My vision was going blurry. 'If I pass out now I'll die. No! I won't die! I refuse to!' and with those last thoughts I focused all my energy and my last bit of magic to create an ice dagger and drive it through Azreal's heart.
The last thing I remembered before falling into unconshousness was seeing his shocked face turn lifeless and feeling a tug at my neck as he fell besides me, his hand wrapping around my necklace. I'll never forget the look on his face.