"The storage rooms are this way." Tyrea shouted to the three men behind her as their feet pounded the cobblestones in the dark passageway. They continued to maneuver through the hidden passages in the Great Hall, taking cover until it was necessary to emerge into the open. Sweat dotted Dunban's forehead and his thighs burned, but he pushed himself forward, keeping his goal in the forefront of his mind. Find Melia. His heart pounded in his ears as they continued flying down the path, the walls on either side blurring in his peripheral vision. His stomach flip flopped as he imagined the Empress imprisoned in the darkness. If he could just see her, see that the woman was alright, and would take her to safety, that would be some reprieve for him in this nightmare. For his failure to protect her and Fiora.
Tyrea, Dunban, James and Elrich rounded a corner, and stopped in front of a door. Cautiously, Tyrea opened the door and stepped through, a finger to her lips. The Homs peered over her; the doorway opened into a large corridor, bright in comparison to the darkness they had just traveled through. He realized they must be entering the main storage area in the Staff Wing. Gesturing to the right, Tyrea led the way down the passage, knees bent, hyper vigilant of any threats. They're pace slowed considerably; his impatience grew exponentially. But rationality overcame the urgency. Caution was the only way to ascertain they would not be caught. And the only way for them to get to Melia.
Voices reached their ears, moving in their direction. They stopped dead in their tracks. "In there!" Tyrea whispered, pointing to a small corridor to the right. It was filled with barrels, presumably containing grains and wheat. They shuffled into the hall, hiding in the shadows of the barrels. Peering out from his cover, Dunban eyed the hallway. His stomach clenched. If they were discovered, they would be easy targets.
Slowly, the voices inched closer. The shadows of two High Entia appeared on the wall across from Dunban and the others, soon followed by the two individuals. They spoke in whispers, their eyes darting to and fro, as if watchful of potential spies. The Homs held his breath, watching them. How many had Camar recruited to his cause? How many High Entia wanted to join him in his crusade against the Homs and the conquest of the world? Eventually, the High Entia ambled past their hiding places. But Dunban and the others remained under cover, waiting until they were sure of their safety. The man listened as the footsteps retreated down the hall, and he exhaled. Fortune favored them.
Cautiously, Dunban nodded at Tyrea and the two stepped out into the hallway, eyeing the two High Entia guards as they turned the corner at the end of the hall. James and Elrich joined them, their eyes also drawn to the where the High Entia had been only moments before. "Let's go." Dunban urged. The others nodded and they resumed their course. The four moved down the passageway, keeping their footsteps light to prevent echoing off the walls.
His mind drifted to Melia once more. What did Camar have planned for her? Something in his gut twisted as recalled their history. Or lack of it. Did Camar still desire her? An image came unbidden to his mind, and he tossed it away, anger flashing through him. Everything in him electrified with rage. If Camar even laid one finger on Melia...
A shout pierced through his thoughts. As his eyes refocused, he snapped his head over his head and saw the same two High Entia guards watching them.
So much for the element of surprise.
"That's the Homs! Get 'im!"
Dunban heard Tyrea curse and she bolted away from the pursuers. The Homs sped after her, darting to the left and weaving through stacks of barrels and boxes. His breath came haggard but he ran, ignoring the fire in his chest. The shouts filled the air; Dunban could hear the clattering of armor behind him. Tyrea took another right, accelerating. The adrenaline spiked Dunban's anxiety as he pushed himself to keep up with her. How large was the storage wing? Were they close to finding Melia? Would they find her before clashing with the guards?
The shouts became louder; the guards were closing in on their position. Dunban clenched his jaw, risking a glance over his shoulder. The two guards were in hot pursuit. Dunban turned his face forward. He couldn't get caught now. He was so close to finding Melia.
A pair of footsteps stopped dead behind him. Dunban whipped around to see James and Elrich standing firm, crouching in a defensive position. Dunban paused in his run, and so did Tyrea, urgency written all over her face.
"What are you doing?" Dunban shouted.
"Go on ahead, we'll take care of them." James ordered. "Find the Empress."
Tyrea didn't need to be told twice. She sprinted down the hallway, leaving the three men. But Dunban remained, unmoving. He couldn't leave comrades in arms. It was against his training as a soldier. No man left behind.
But he had to find Melia.
"Go!" Elrich yelled at him. The Homs could see the desperation in the normally stoic eyes.
Dunban nodded at the two Homs Entia and turned, speeding to catch up with Tyrea, who waited a few steps away. A pit grew in his stomach as they ran down the hall; the Homs shot another glance backward, believing the two bodyguards would be fine. Then he pushed the thoughts away. The man needed to focus, use the time that James and Elrich had bought him and Tyrea. She took a sharp right at the intersection, the Homs on her heels as they dove farther into the depths of the labyrinth of the staff wing.
Moments later, Tyrea slowed and eventually stopped at the beginning of a long passage way. The man stopped next to her. "Is this it?"
"I think so. There's nowhere else."
He hoped she was right.
Down the aisle, Dunban could see a series of doors lining either side. A harsh light flickered above, casting an eery atmosphere in the silence. Dunban's stomach clenched and his pulse quickened. Was Melia behind one of the doors?
Tyrea rushed over to the first door on the right and flung it open. As she dashed inside, Dunban followed her example and dashed to the first door on the left, hurling the door open and peering into the shadows. "Melia!" He shouted as he strode inside. No response. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he saw the room was empty. She wasn't there.
The man moved to the next door and investigated the next room. And then the next. With each room, he saw nothing but undisturbed gloom. His heart twisted in his chest. His desperation grew with each empty room. She had to be here.
But when he opened the last door and pushed inside, his heart sank. Silence answered his call for the Empress; the blackness a void sucking in his words.
All of the doors were opened. And no Melia in sight.
"Dunban!" Tyrea called. His breath caught in his throat as he rushed to the Homs Entia. Melia. Had Tyrea found her? The golden light from the hall shone into the room as Dunban rushed inside, looking for the Empress. Where was she? His eyes caught sight of Tyrea and he hurried over. But she was not with Melia. No, she was kneeling, alone.
Melia was nowhere to be found.
The realization hit him like a rock and he closed his eyes. An anguish poured over him, threatening to crush him, wipe out any existence of hope that lingered in his heart.
His hands curled into fists. Camar must have realized Serenity escaped and moved Melia.
They were too late.
"She was here." Tyrea murmured. He opened his eyes and looked at her. Tyrea was examining an object, a cracked bauble on the floor in front of her, forgotten in the darkness. Dunban knelt next to her, picking up the broken sphere in his hands. A shiver ran down his spine as he traced the outline of the crack, as if trying to find some sort of clue to Melia's current location.
And suddenly, the bauble came to life in his palms, bathing the room in white light.
The sounds of gasps and shouts filled her ears as she was guided forward, fear taking over each of her senses as she put one foot in front of the other. Her wrists were in manacles and eyes were blindfolded. Swallowing, she tried to quell the thumping of her heart, but to no avail. The Empress had no idea what was happening, and it frightened her. Melia felt an overwhelming anxiety rain over her, drenching her to the core. As she was forcibly shoved to her knees, the blindfold was ripped off her face. Lights blared in her eyes and she shut them in pain, cringing sideways.
Around her, the air filled with excalmations and chatter. She couldn't make out any words, but the oscillations of tones alerted her to apprehension in the room, an undercurrent of trepidation combined with excitement. Slowly, the Homs Entia woman reopened her eyes, wincing still against the bright lights. As her eyes adjusted to her surroundings, Melia looked out in front of her. Her stomach dropped. She was in the assembly hall, on the stage. Immediately, she felt the eyes of hundreds on her. All of the High Entia watching her every move. Her palms began to sweat and her heart raced.
What was going to happen? What was Camar planning to do?
"Citizens of Alcamoth. I give you your Empress." Camar's voice called out, filling the town hall. His arm came out, presenting Melia to the crowd like a show pony. He looked down at her, the cruel glint in his eye illuminated by the stage lights.
Struggling to sit up, Melia flinched as the binds cut into her wrists. The lacerations stung, trickles of blood running down her forearms. She pitched forward over her knees, a wave of nausea passing through her. Bile rose in her throat, hot and acidic. She clenched her stomach, compelling it to disappear. Her body heaved in protest, trying to expel the sickness. The combination of exhaustion from ether usage and anxiety was too much for her to physically handle any longer.
"Many of you have asked where our great Empress is. Now I present her to you, unrepentant for her sins against our people."
A cold chill ran down her back. What sins did he speak of?
"It seems she has still not yet learned the error of her ways." Melia heard him cross the stage, but she focused on taking deep breaths in and out, attempting to regain control of her body. She would not give in to the anxiety. Drops of sweat materialized on the back of her neck with the exertion as she tried to clear her mind. "She still has a weakness for the Homs."
"It is not weakness. It is compassion." Melia said, forcing herself to sit upright, gritting her teeth. "Hatred will not lead to anything but more violence."
Camar turned his face towards hers, annoyed. The Empress did not back down; she looked at him defiantly. If she were to die here, she would not yield to this villain.
"Our people were victimized. Murdered. And what did you do? You gave them power over us! You have no right to rule this empire!" He thundered.
"And neither do you. Your campaign for genocide is reprehensible! You pervert the meaning of the High Entian monarchy. You will never be a true Emperor of the High Entia."
Flames burned in his eyes. With one swift motion, he grabbed her hair and tossed her to the ground, maintaining his grip on the silver strands. Camar pulled her face upward, and she cried out in agony. Her vision swam as the pain flushed through her. A few gasps emitted from the onlookers.
"She says that her actions were for the good of our race. Well, shall we put that to the test? Shall we see where her allegiances truly lie?"
He tossed her to the ground, and Melia landed facedown. From the opposite side of the stage, shouts of protest rang out. Melia picked her head up just in time to see two people shoved on stage. Horror washed through her, taking away all other feelings, physical and emotional. Fiora and Nae'ell stumbled into the light, gagged and chained. From her position, Melia could see a blue and purple bruise blossoming on Nae'ell's face, just under her left eye. Fiora's lip was split, but she winked at Melia as she was thrust forward. A pair of High Entia guards forced each to kneel, silent sentries for the prisoners.
Her heart twisted as Melia looked from Fiora to Nae'ell, frantic. The Homs Entia bit her lip. The two women whom she felt the closest to. What was Camar's game? Her mind raced, quickly analyzing every angle. But her instincts were a step ahead. The Empress could feel her hands tremble underneath the restraints. There had to be some way out of this. Some way...
"I will present the Empress with a decision. In front of her are two of her 'dearest' friends. One is Entian, and one is Homs." Camar turned and cast his cold glance upon her. "Empress, you can only save one life. The other will die."
The High Entian guards placed daggers against Nae'ell and Fiora's throats. Melia gasped.
"Who will you choose? You have two minutes. Choose wisely."
Her heart stopped in her chest. Choose? He wanted her to choose?
"And if I refuse?"
"I kill them both."
Camar nodded and the two High Entia guards pressed the knives into the throats of Fiora and Nae'ell. Small trickles of blood passed down Nae'ell and Fiora's necks. The red glimmered in the stage lights, demanding attention.
A sob escaped Nae'ell's throat, and she winced at the small cut.
Oh god.
Melia wanted to vomit all over again.
Panicked, her eyes darted back and forth between the two women. Tears streamed down Nae'ell's face; Melia could see her lip trembling. "Melia!" She whimpered, her voice coated in anguish. Melia's breath hitched in her throat as she locked eyes with the Entian woman. Her brother's fiancée. A warm presence; an advisor and friend. The woman who was meant to be her sister.
Her gaze shifted to Fiora, whose face was blank, betraying nothing. The Homs kept her gaze straight ahead, not meeting Melia's eyes. She knew why; Fiora didn't want Melia to choose her. Despair bloomed in the Empress' heart. How selfless this Homs was, always thinking of others. Fiora's kindness; Melia knew it all too well. This young woman had welcomed her when Melia felt like an outsider, never imposed but was always there to help, to confide in, to be a friend. This woman had treated her like a sister from the very start.
Tears stung Melia's eyes as her body tensed. How could she make such a choice? There was absolutely no way. No way she could ever choose between Fiora and Nae'ell.
"One minute." Camar said, his voice crashing through her thoughts.
"Camar, please." Melia pleaded, hating herself.
"I told you that you would come begging to me." He smirked.
"Please stop this. I cannot condemn one of them to death!"
"Isn't that what you're doing with this Treaty with the Homs colonies? Condemning your people to subjugation and death? Making us easy targets for those racist Homs?"
"That treaty does no such thing! It has provisions to—"
"Provisions?! Do you think we care of such things? We want action! Action! You have delivered nothing but useless promises and appeasement!"
"I have secured peace!"
"You have done no such thing!"
"Camar—"
"MAKE YOUR CHOICE!" He roared.
"You will not force me to make a choice! I will not yield!" Melia shouted back, restraining all urges to cry. She would not show him tears. No, she would show him strength, even if inside all she wanted to do was break.
"So be it. Kill them both."
Melia gasped as the High Entia guards began to dig the blades into the flesh of Fiora and Nae'ell's necks. The small trickles became large rivers. Nae'ell struggled under the grip of the High Entia guard, rasping, thrashing. Fiora shut her eyes, wincing at the pain of the blade tearing at her flesh.
"STOP!"
The shriek filled the room. It was only as her voice gave out that she realized the sounds had come from herself.
Camar held up his hand. He looked at Melia, eyebrows raised.
"You have made a decision?"
Her lips trembled. Who would it be? Melia looked between the two victims once more, her vision blurry. A lump grew in her throat, clogging her airway. Her breath came ragged as she considered the decision in front of her. What would she do? Who would she choose?
"Resume." Camar called, bored.
"Fiora!" Melia shouted, the words out of her mouth before she had time to consider them. "I want to save Fiora."
Silence.
It was deafening. All she could hear was the sound of her heart hammering in her ears. The Homs Entia held her breath, waiting for the axe to fall.
"You would rather I kill your kinswoman than this Homs? And not just any kinswoman. The late Prince Kallian's fiancée! You would condemn the woman who was to be your sister to death, and for what? For this scum?" Camar demanded, breaking the silence with his malevolence.
The venom in his words seeped through Melia like a poison. Every cell in her body quivered in shame. Shame that she had played his game. Shame that she was not clever enough to outwit him. And shame that Camar was right; if she had been forced to make the choice once more, Melia would have chosen Fiora again and again.
The Empress opened her eyes and looked at Nae'ell, eyes pleading with a silent apology. But Nae'ell looked away, her face contorting with anger. Everything in Melia wanted to break. She knew the depths of her betrayal and it tortured her. She wanted to fall to pieces, never to be put back together again.
Camar laughed and turned to the audience.
"Now do you see? Our Empress has no loyalty to us! No loyalty to our kind! How can we expect such a person to govern us? How can we expect her to have our best interests at heart?" Camar shook his head and continued, "I will tell you. WE CANNOT."
He walked to Melia and knelt by her side. "This will be your legacy. Choosing another race over your own. Being branded as a traitor. Think on that, Empress." Then, he leaned closer. Melia felt his hot breath on the back of her neck. In her ear, he whispered, "I can always redeem you."
Abruptly, she turned her face away. Her cheeks burned as he rose.
"Kill her." Camar pointed at Fiora.
"What? No! You cannot do that!" Melia said. "We had a bargain. I would choose one you would save. And I chose her!"
"Did you really think I was going to abide by your decision?" Camar grinned. "I do not deal with traitors. For that's what you really are. A traitor to your kind."
The High Entia guard raised the knife once more to Fiora's throat, but before he could place it on her skin, the young woman elbowed him in the diaphragm. The guard fell backwards, sputtering. The human girl whipped around, eyes searching for an exit. However, the other High Entia guard release Nae'ell and advanced on Fiora. Melia tried to rise and help, but Camar held her back.
"Watch as your friend dies. Maybe this way you'll see the light." He sniggered, digging his fingers into her shoulders as she struggled to get away.
No, no.
Melia watched as the High Entia guard tackled Fiora to the ground. Her stomach fell and her heart pounded. How could this be happening? It was all wrong. She cried out to Fiora, who continued to struggle against the guard, dodging away from the dagger that plunged downward. But then the High Entia guard Fiora had incapacitated reappeared, and held forced Fiora's shoulders down to the ground, preventing the Homs from avoiding the dagger's blade any longer.
The High Entia raised the dagger high, poising it over Fiora's heart.
"NO!" Melia screamed.
It swung downward.
Then the lights went out.