Chapter 9:The traitor's mask
565 Words
The palace bells rang without stopping.
Guards rushed through the halls.
Servants screamed as they ran for safety.
The Hall of Silent Stars shook beneath the palace.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
Prince Zepharion grabbed Nysera's hand.
"We have to leave. Now."
"But the ghost..."
Nysera turned.
The woman had disappeared.
The hundreds of floating crowns were gone.
Only the empty throne remained.
It was as if nothing had happened.
Kaelor frowned.
"This place is hiding too many secrets."
A loud crash echoed above them.
The sound came from the throne room.
Zepharion's face became serious.
"The Emperor is in danger."
The three of them hurried through the dark passage.
As soon as they reached the stone door, it opened by itself.
No one touched it.
The hallway outside was empty.
Too empty.
Not a single guard stood watch.
Kaelor slowly drew his sword.
"I don't like this."
Neither did Nysera.
The palace was never this quiet.
Then...
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
A drop of blood landed on the white marble floor.
Nysera looked up.
Her breath caught.
A palace guard hung from the ceiling.
His armor was torn.
His eyes were still open.
He had been killed without making a sound.
Kaelor whispered,
"Whoever did this..."
"...is still here."
A cold laugh echoed through the hallway.
Not far away.
Not close.
Everywhere.
"Looking for me?"
A figure stepped out of the shadows.
He wore the black uniform of the Imperial Guard.
His face was hidden behind a silver mask.
Zepharion raised his sword.
"You are not one of my father's guards."
The stranger bowed politely.
"I was."
"Many years ago."
With one quick movement, he removed the mask.
Nysera gasped.
It was Captain Rowan.
The man who had trained the palace guards.
The man every servant respected.
The man who had carried her on his shoulders when she was a little girl.
"No..." Nysera whispered.
"You?"
Captain Rowan smiled sadly.
"I wish things were different."
Kaelor stared at him.
"You betrayed the Empire?"
"I didn't betray it."
His smile faded.
"The Empire betrayed itself."
Before anyone could speak again—
Rowan snapped his fingers.
The walls trembled.
Hidden doors opened all along the hallway.
Dozens of masked assassins stepped out.
They had been hiding inside the palace all along.
Zepharion stepped in front of Nysera.
Kaelor stood at her other side.
Neither prince moved.
Neither prince looked afraid.
Captain Rowan looked at Nysera.
"I don't want to hurt you."
"I came to save you."
Nysera shook her head.
"Save me?"
"From what?"
Rowan looked toward the ceiling.
"From the people who raised you."
Silence.
Even Zepharion did not answer.
Nysera noticed.
She looked at him.
"You knew?"
His silence hurt more than any lie.
Before she could ask another question, Rowan spoke again.
"The Emperor is not your protector."
"He is your jailer."
The words hit Nysera like a storm.
Suddenly...
A horn echoed through the palace.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Every face turned pale.
Kaelor whispered,
"No..."
"They've reached the throne room."
Then the palace shook so hard that cracks spread across the marble floor.
Far above them, a voice cried out in terror.
"The Emperor has fallen!"
For one long heartbeat...
No one moved.
Then Zepharion ran toward the throne room.
Nysera followed.
She didn't know what she would find.
But deep inside her heart...
She feared the empire had just changed forever.
- Writer
