Glory and Gore – Lorde

A/N: This chapter has quite a bit of violence. If you don't like that or don't want to read it then don't proceed. But if you want to know what happens in the next chapter then go ahead and read it but by warned. It's not too graphic or anything. But it does have violence.

Once Sofia was safely sent back below the castle and no way to transport above, Cedric began to trail behind the person he suspected to be the one who has been stalking and threatening Sofia. Trying to control his rage long enough to find out information on the person he followed them to see where they were going and what they were doing at this time of night. The person turned down another street and towards one of the Inn's. Cedric wondered if they had been staying there. As the person approached the steps they took the hood off their cloak and Cedric almost gasped when he realized he recognized them. He would thoroughly enjoy this encounter.

Quickening his pace, Cedric had to jog to catch up before the person could enter the Inn. As they reached for the door knob Cedric coughed causing the person to freeze. Slowly he withdrew his hand and turned to face Cedric, who was standing at the bottom of the steps staring at him.

"Hello… Cedric." He greeted him. "I guess you're no longer the king now."

"No. What are you doing here, Prince Andre?" Cedric asked, his voice not hiding any trace of the malice and hate he felt for him.

"Just returning to my hotel room, sir." He turned to enter the Inn but Cedric was there to stop him in an instant, his eyes alight with fire.

"I don't think so." Cedric growled feral and low. "Let's go for a walk..."

"No thanks." The man responded, high pitched, trembling and trying to open the door and get inside. Cedric reached for his shoulder and tugged him backwards.

"It wasn't a question. Let's go." He demanded, pulling him along towards the forest.

"I didn't do anything. You can't do this. Leave me alone man." Prince Andre pleaded with the very angry Cedric.

"Shut up before I simply kill you now!" Cedric shouted at him. The fearful prince closed his mouth and let Cedric pull him along, not knowing where they were heading. The woods were getting thicker and darker the further they traveled. He dared not ask or speak again. He had heard of the magical abilities of Cedric and didn't want to anger him while alone without any weapons or means of defense.

Suddenly they stopped and Cedric shoved him down onto his knees roughly. "Now tell me why you've been sending Sofia death threats."

"I don't know what you're talking about." He responded. Cedric reached forward and smacked him hard across the face with the back of his hand. "Honest man, I didn't send anything. I don't know what you're talking about. I never sent her any letters or threatened her!" The prince continued to plead with Cedric adamantly.

"Here's the thing, I know you're lying to me. From the first time we met you there was something you didn't like about her. Whether it was jealousy or just pure hatred I don't know. I don't care either. All I care is that you have hurt someone I care deeply about and taken away precious time. Therefore, I will take away precious time from you." Cedric said staring dangerously into his eyes.

"You can't kill me. I'm a prince! You'll be hunted down and hung for your crimes!"

"Oh I won't kill you…" Cedric said with a sadistic chuckle causing the other man to fear for his life.

"I never intended to kill her. I swear. I was only going to kidnap her for ransom. I just wanted money." Andre began to explain as nervous sweat poured down off his forehead.

"You don't get it. I don't care what your intentions were. What you did is done. You threatened her life. Now you will pay."

"How… how?" He asked stammering, looking around for an escape.

"Don't bother looking for an escape, you'll never get away from me. And as for how… well, you'll see soon enough." Cedric responded with an evil sneer.

Cedric watched his eyes continue to dart around nervously as if he were considering his escape options. Cedric almost wanted him to try and run just so he could chase him. It would make it more fun and thrilling.

"I'm sorry for the letters. Okay. I'm sorry. I won't send them anymore and won't have any more contact with her or your kingdom ever again." Prince Andre said as he began to cry.

"Your tears mean nothing to me. Don't bother." Cedric replied dryly. "And if I remember correctly I've already told you to never have contact with her ever again. You blatantly disregarded that by sending those threats against her life. So what's to make me believe you now?"

Cedric began to circle around him slowly just to scare him some more watching him cry as he realized he couldn't talk his way out of this mess. Stopping for a moment, he turned his back to him on purpose with a smile on his face knowing he would make a run for it as a last resort. When he heard the footsteps of the arrogant, remorseful prince, Cedric let him get a ways ahead before taking off after him.

Circling around to cut him off, Cedric met up with him by darting out from behind a tree. Prince Andre was so startled he fell to the ground on his back.

"Now, as I promised, I won't be the one to kill you." Cedric said venomously as he began to morph into his dragon form causing the other man to begin screaming as he tried crawling away digging his hands into the dirt.

"No, no! This can't be happening!" He yelled as he tried to get to his feet. Once he finally found his footing he tried running but Cedric slapped him with his tail knocking him down again, while also slicing his skin open. Prince Andre began to scream in agony as he grabbed his leg.

"You're a demon!" Andre yelled at Cedric. He snorted steam in response. Beginning to breathe fire balls towards his feet Prince Andre got a move on and started crawling away as quickly as he could. Each time the fire touched him he'd scream out in pain as it singed his skin.

"Please, just let me go. I promise I won't say anything about you and I will leave you and Sofia alone forever." Prince Andre begged, sobbing.

The angry dragon picked him up by his shirt with his claws and flung him away with such force it caused a tree trunk to break in half ending his life once and for all. Before changing back into his human form Cedric rose into the sky and flew away. He needed to be alone and think. He didn't like having to use violence but he'd do anything to protect Sofia. Anyone who intended to hurt, kill or kidnap Sofia didn't deserve another chance in his opinion; especially since the person had already hurt her once with his words and had been warned to stay away.

As he landed, Cedric sat in his dragon form for a few minutes longer staring out over the cliffs. He'd come to the spot he took Sofia when they went flying at night. Eventually he changed back into his human form and sat on the edge of the cliff taking in a deep breath. He knew he needed to return to Sofia soon. She would be worrying about him. Plus he wasn't sure how he was going to deal with their kiss or how she was going to deal with it. For now he supposed he would wait and see how she reacted and go from there.

A slight breeze blew as he stood up and prepared to transport home. It felt lonely here without Sofia he realized. He arrived below the castle and quickly found Sofia asleep on the couch in the living room near the fire. Smiling, he picked her up and carried her to bed laying her down gently before climbing in beside her. After a moment he was startled when he felt Sofia snuggle closer and whisper, "Good night, Cedric." He smiled to himself and whispered back, "Good night, Sofia."