Ethereal

Chapter 2: The execution

*NEIGHHH-R-R-R*

The carriage juggled,

the horses jogging to the execution ground.

The execution ground was a wide circle of pale stone.

And a throne.

Three thrones.

The biggest in the middle.

And two smaller ones by the side.

Situated above the crowd that gathered below.

High enough to see everything that went on.

With a light white curtain just in front of them.

To protect the royals from any blood stains that may splash.

The king stepped out of his carriage,

assisted by his steward.

He put his hand forward.

And reached for his queen.

'Her Majesty, Emir.'

And escorted her down to their thrones.

They had reached their respective thrones.

When the king turned around.

In search of his son.

He called one of the king's guards.

And whispered something into his ear.

The man whispered back.

And walked away.

Then came back.

But not alone.

No words were heard.

Just the sight.

Of the second man kneeling on one knee.

And anger written all over the king's face.

The king stood, his fists folded.

The queen, who had been sitting beside him, turned.

And placed her hand on his.

He turned to look into her soft brown eyes...

She slowly whispered,

“Calm down a bit. We’ll sort this.”

The king took a deep breath.

And ordered the curtains to be pushed aside.

For him to address his people.

“Loyal servants of Heaven,” he started.

“Long live the king!

Long live the king of Heaven!”

They chanted in response.

“Go home!

The execution has been postponed.

The bells will be rung again in the evening time.

And we will all gather again to witness the execution of the sinner.”

A lot of murmuring was heard from the crowd.

As they all started leaving in big chunks.

The king had also dismissed all the dungeon workers.

To go back to their duty posts.

As he entered his carriage.

****

Meanwhile...

The king had ordered an emergency council meeting.

To address the matter of his missing son.

He had found his son was missing at the execution ground.

Delaying the execution.

Marble floors...

Darkness filled the room.

If not for the little light entering through the stained glass window.

The king hadn't called for the meeting in his throne room as usual...

This time, he called it in the council room.

Most called it..

'The high council chamber.'

Because it was above every other room.

And the only room in the upper chambers of the palace.

“I am sure you are all aware of what has happened,”

the king started.

The council members, a bit spooked.

Fully aware of what had happened.

“My lord,”

Lady Mire had finally gathered up the courage to speak.

She was the oldest member of the council.

Grey hair covered her head.

She looked as kind as she was, yet was well respected.

“The last time he was seen was yesterday's morning, when Ethereal was convicted,”

she continued.

“Rumours even say he had gone to the dungeons and threatened the guards as soon as she was dragged there,”

Archangel Cael spoke up as Lady More had already led the way...

“I do not care what the prince had done yesterday...

Where's my son today!!”

The king burst out, slamming his hand on the table.

Making the whole room vibrate, with the council staring in astonishment.

“I do not care whom he threatened.

I do not care what he did.

He's 24 with a wife's betrayal and execution.

I do not care what he does,”

the king continued, trying to collect himself back together.

He paused.

“Archangel Serin, you are the crown's whisperer...

Tell me, which of the guards did my son threaten....

Tell him to meet me in my throne room”

“Uhm... Your Majesty...”

Archangel Serin started...

“He threatened all the guards..”

he finally continued.

The king, who had already turned to leave, stopped in his tracks.

“Then bring them all to the throne room”

he said without even turning back.

Leaving the council with nothing but silence.

The king left for the throne room, awaiting the guards he had ordered.

Soon they came trooping in.

Guards who had been on duty the day Ethereal was captured.

All of them lined up before the king.

They all went down on one knee, chanting

“Long live the king, long live the king of heaven”

Beating their chests before standing up…

*Sqeeeeeeeeeeeeek*

A slow, loud creak echoed as the pearly gates to the palace opened.

And in walked Lucifer. Black robe, soft smile, hands spread wide like he was offering a gift, not an apology.

“Your Majesty,” he purred. “I came the moment I heard.”

“What is the meaning of this, Lucifer?!”

The king’s voice cracked through the hall. Rage, hot and pure.

“Seize him! Seize all of them!!”

Guards hurried forward, grabbing Lucifer by the arms and dragging him down the marble.

Lucifer didn’t fight. He stumbled, then let his voice break — just enough.

“Your majesty... please... your majesty...”

His eyes flicked upward, wide and wet. Scared. Just the right amount of scared.

“I know who’s to blame,” he gasped, voice shaking but words careful. “It’s Ethereal. It has to be.”

A pause. Let the king’s anger deepen.

“She’s the one twisting things. The prince? He wouldn’t hide unless he’d been betrayed. Hurt. And who hurt him, Majesty? Her.”

He swallowed hard, as if the next words cost him.

“Your justice is the only thing that will call him back. I... I don’t like it either. But an execution... Ethereal’s execution... would prove to the prince that order is restored. That you’re still the king he respects.”

Lucifer’s smile faded. Only earnestness and fear remained.

“Imagine it, Your Majesty. Her head on a stake. The woman who betrayed him. The prince would see it and know he’s safe to come home. I swear it. This is the only way to bring him back to you.”

The king, already halfway to the door, stopped.

Slowly, he turned. One brow raised. Interest, sharp and dangerous.

He lifted a hand. The guards loosened their grip on Lucifer.

“You are certain?” The king’s voice was quiet now. That was worse. “That this is the case.”

Lucifer dropped to one knee immediately. Head bowed. Perfect picture of loyalty.

His heart was hammering. If he said the wrong word here, it was his neck.

“Yes, Your Majesty.” His voice didn’t shake. He made sure of it. “I am certain.”

A long silence.

“Then we will wait.” The king’s eyes never blinked. “Till evening. When the bells are rung. When all of Heaven is gathered.”

He stepped closer.

“And if I have Ethereal’s head on that block... and my son still does not come home to me...”

A smile that wasn’t a smile.

“Then I shall have your head too, Lucifer.”

Lucifer didn’t flinch. He smiled back, small and pained. Like a man bearing a burden for his king.

“Of course, Your Majesty. I would ask for nothing less if I were wrong.”

Inside: _Please let this work._

The king turned and left.

_DONG-G-G. DONG-G-G. DONG-G._

“Ready my carriage.” The king told his steward without looking back.

And once again, he was marched down to the execution grounds and seated on the throne.

Among the crowds... some still bowed. Old loyalty dies hard.

They remembered she was a princess once.

Women clutched their husbands. Children were held close.

But the majority?

They were shouting.

“Liar..! Sinner…!!” As it had been made known, the treacherous crime that Ethereal allegedly committed

Chains on her hands and feet.

The most beautiful woman in heaven being dragged by Commander Thorne; she looked miserable.

Her skin was as dull as dried wood.

Her blue eyes soggy, with dark circles underneath.

Bruises scattered across her body from all the dragging.

Wet hair from the leaking dungeons.

And dirt mixed with blood on her feet from all the barefoot trekking

She was set to kneel down in front of the whole of heaven and say her last prayers…she looked around.

Eyes shaky.

She had watched this process a million times but never imagined that one day her head would be chopped off too

Her eyes, still wavering, moving randomly.

Her face, innocent as usual.

Pale lips.

And a little blood on her cheeks as tears rolled down her eyes

… “I didn't do it..” she quietly murmured to herself, sobbing…tears dropping onto the rock she was now facing

The executioner laid her head down on the stone

She closed her eyes.

Prepared for her last breath….

This… was the end…

Deep breaths.

Swords raised.

*Clang*

She opened her eyes to see that the sword had dropped beside her.

She looked up to see an arrow attached to the executioner's neck, with blood dripping down…

And up in the sky was

...Athena.

Her mother.

Riding on a white Pegasus.

Chants were heard from a distance, and horses were marching in their direction.

Swords swinging from all directions.

And soon Ethereal vanished from the execution ground.

With no trace whatsoever