The Serpentine's Revenge

Chapter Twelve

My vision spun. Spots of light danced before my eyes. Cold prickled at my skin, and the darkness seemed the sap the warmth out of me even more. They threw me into a dungeon. Just like how they promised in the beginning. Every breath sent painful sparks through me. The blood at my hands began to stick. The slice under my ribs burned. Like fire. My eyes drooped. It’s been days. Or weeks. Or months. Or only mere hours. Time seemed to slow as I felt Death reach out a hand, waiting for me to take it, and to join my parents. He was standing there, waiting for my last breath to go, and for me to take his hand.

Maybe I should. After all, what else is there to live for?

I saw the hooded figure standing in front of me. His cold bony hands reached out, begging me to take it. I reached up my shaking hand, and—

The door swung open. The hooded figure of Death vanished. Millard Frayard stood in the doorway, a tray of food in hand. I scrambled as far as I could away from him. I tucked my legs into myself. But I winced as the wound at my side sparked alive. “Alexandria.”

It was him. This was no illusion. “Millard.” I gasped out. He rushed to my side, and the tray clattered on the mud floor.

“What happened to you?” His eyes ran over me, landing on my hand, covering the wound under my ribs. The blood stood stark against me. “You’re hurt. Can you move? W-We have to get you to a healer.” He slid his hands under me, but I stopped him.

“No.” I placed my hand over his. “If she finds out, you’ll suffer. Maybe even die. I can’t lose you too. I’m not going to let that happen.”

His hand brushed my cheeks. “But if you are not healed, you’ll die.”

I smiled. “And I will be a family again with my parents.” I pushed him off. “Thank you for the food. Now, go. And leave me.”

He nodded. “Okay. But do something for me before I leave. As a goodbye.”

“Anything.” He leaned in, and kissed my lips. His hands tangled in my dirty hair. “Goodbye, Millard Frayard.”

“This is not goodbye, Alexandria Crellea. I will get you out.” With that, the door slammed shut. The chains on my wrists felt heavier than normal. I hope that Millard will not hold his promise. I don’t have anything to live for. Everything I ever had is now gone. There is no reason for me to stay.

Time passed. I didn’t know how long, but I knew that Death was coming back to claim his prize. I felt my body try to heal itself. A thin layer of skin formed over my ribs, but still, blood dripped out. Like an hourglass running out of sand. I ripped open my vest, and I gagged at the sight. Red streaks spread from the ugly s***h. Green and yellow mixed with the red. I placed a hand on my forehead, and heat ignited under my palm. A fever. Bile stung the back of my throat.

Soon, the door beside me creaked open, and a young girl around my age stumbled into the cage. I heard Allura’s voice. “Well, now you have a cell mate. One after another. It’s like you were meant for each other.” I heard her cackle echo through the cement walls surrounding us. Guards followed her out. I tried to sit up straighter to see who they brought, but red flashes shot down my side. I sobbed as the pain became almost unbearable.

“Stop. Don’t move. I’m here to help. I was sent by Millard.”

“Millard?” I breathed out. I saw her nod.

“Don’t worry.” I was going to tell her that I never worry, but she reached her hand under the bars separating us. Her hand brushed my wound. I jumped at her touch as a yellow golden swirl of magic exploded out from her hand. A warmth filled me, a feeling I forgot I could get. The pain in my belly disappeared, and she retracted her hand.

I felt at my side, and there was no more wound. There was no more pain. “Thank you.” She nodded. Her flaming red hair bouncing with her head. “What is your name?”

“It’s safer if I don’t tell you.” Her mild accent curled the vowels in her words.

I bobbed my head in understanding. “Thank you for healing me.” I didn’t see her smile, but I know she did. “At least let me repay you.” I slid one of the bracelets off my wrist, and handed it to her. “So, you remember you always have a friend.”

“Thank you.” The next day, the guards came. They opened the door to my cell, and dragged me out. I will always owe the girl with red hair my life.

~

King Crimson and Queen Allura stood high above me, as the guards force me to my knees. I groaned in false pain. “Have you healed, Assassin? Of course, you haven’t. You’re still dying. Which makes this next part a lot more fun.”

“What do you want? I’m bleeding, I’m tired, I’m hungry. You have made me miserable. What else do you want!?” I moaned as the guard pushed me down. It didn’t hurt—not at all, in fact. If Crimson found out I was healed, they would torture me again, and I may not have the same cell mate twice.

“Hungry, are you? Then you’ll have to earn some food.” With a flick of Allura’s wrist, the shackles fell off, and a sword appeared in my hand. “Fight for it.” I turned around, still clutching my imaginary wound. Adrien Black stood behind me. “Until one is killed.”

“This will be fun.” Adrien chuckled. “Now it’s you who shall be going to Hell first.” He swung his sword, and I heaved the sword above my head to block it. I twisted the sword, and sliced across Adrien’s torso. I felt my blade ripple through the skin and muscle. He fell.

I ran, toward Crimson, blade raised above my head, ready to plunge into his chest. He merely raised his hand, and I was pushed back. I slid across the floor, and my sword flung out of my reach. I saw Adrien towering over me. I cut him down. Why was he still alive?

Adrien came closer, and he brought his sword down, and my tattoo bursted in pain. Adrien had hit my arm, blood was dripping down my hand. The tattoo burned, sending agony up my arm. Black flashes of pain sparked in front of my eyes. The first drop of warm blood ran down my hand, and splashed onto the floor. I took a glance at my bleeding arm, to see a s***h through the beautiful Serpentine when my tattoo glowed.

I screamed. Pain, fire and anger. All coursing through my veins at the same time. Everyone sucked in a deep breath. Including me.

I was surrounded in an aura, a Serpentine. The Janadexiand Family Crest. I felt stronger, more powerful. Electricity coursed up and down my arms, power right at my fingertips. The aura twisted into a roar. The glass ceiling above me exploded. The shards rained down on the soldiers below me, imbedding glass into their necks, killing them. I met eyes with Crimson, whose face was contorted in shock and anger. I landed on the ground, my aura still flaming around me. I picked up my sword, and walked towards him. I pointed my blade to his neck.

I smiled. “I wouldn’t count on it.”

“Assassin, you are good.” Crimson pulled out a sword from a guard beside her. “But not good enough.” He thrusted his sword at me, and the point found my shoulder, and pain vibrated through my body. I could feel the blood drip down my vest.

I fell to one knee.

I gritted my teeth. Fire washed in over my eyes in red and black. I took in a deep breath and stood up. I don’t give that easily.

“You are a weak one. So vulnerable.”

“Don’t tell me what I am.” I shouted as I stood up. “There’s only one person who decides that, and you’re looking at her.” I brought my elbow down her shoulder, and pain overtook him. I grabbed my dagger that was lying on the floor, when Crimson attacked me again.

Instinct took over. I raised my hands to block the incoming blow.

Crimson sucked in a breath of air. Blood dripped onto my neck.

I opened my eyes to see the dagger that I took from Crimson all those years ago deep in his chest.

“Who are you?”

“My name is Azuria Janadexiand.” I twisted the dagger deeper into his gut. He took his last breath. His eyes rolled into the back of his head; and King Crimson crumbled into nothing but ash.

A wave of red haze suddenly washed over the room. Everyone froze in place. Except me.

I reached my hand up to wipe away the blood dripping from my nose. I pressed the same hand to the wound still bleeding from my shoulder.

“Well done. You killed him. Even though, he was already dead.” Allura’s lavender dress developed a black ombre as she walked from the shadows into the moonlight.