End To An Era

-Karen-

"Father, you made a deal," Conor interrupted angrily. Why is he angry? He's just going to kill me anyway.

"I said I would let her scurry away, boy. I never said she wouldn't die later!" He snapped back coldly.

Queen Delia grabbed my arm tightly and whispered, "Get out of here, Karen. Winholt and I will meet up with you shortly, okay? You shouldn't die in this place at his hands."

"I would never abandon you, Majesty," I whispered back, keeping my eyes glued to Zachary. "Let me get a portal so you and the Head Mage can leave."

"Never! You need to leave as quickly as possible! We will be fine. We need you to get to Nathan as fast as possible," Head Mage Winholt hissed, grabbing my wrist. I looked at him as he squeezed my wrist tightly. "Get to the Sanctuary as fast as you can. I will take care of Delia."

"I'm not leaving either of you here to die," I retorted, defiantly returning my gaze to Zachary.

"Now is your chance to leave. Get out of here!" I commanded sternly. Why aren't they leaving? Why isn't he casting a portal to safety?

"Shut up, Conor! Don't make me kill you too. Remember, you do have a brother," Zachary snapped even more coldly than before. Would he kill his son? How disturbing. Zachary turned his attention back to us.

"Well, this has been fun, but I came here with one goal in mind, Delia. We both know what fate has in store for you and your pathetic husband." He motioned to the new soldiers as they quickly surrounded us, weapons drawn.

I shook my head at the king and rolled my eyes. There was no more time! "Barrier," I whispered, pointing at Queen Delia and Winholt.

"No! Please don't do this, Karen! Just get out while you can!" Delia yelled at me, pounding the inside of the bubble.

"Kay! Please listen to Delia! It's for your good!" Winholt shouted, trying to bash through the barrier.

I smiled ruefully at them. "But someone has to protect you, even if it's just a servant," I smirked, putting my necklace back on.

"No! Get out while you can, Karen!" she pleaded, still hammering on the barrier. "Karen, please!"

"What is the meaning of this, you vile rat?! You plan to fight us, knowing you are going to die?" Zachary boomed angrily. He turned to Conor and bellowed, "I thought she was a sewer rat, son!" Conor appeared a bit perplexed as he looked from me to his father. Delia and Winholt were trying to convince me to change my mind. That's not going to happen!

"I can't, Your Majesty. You took me in as a child. To flee knowing I left you here to die would be the same as committing treason." I replied calmly towards the bubble. I smiled genuinely at her and turned back to bravely face my adversaries. "I have to try at least. I know I'm likely to die, but I won't go down without a fight! It should allow you enough time to escape."

"You're going to sacrifice yourself for nothing, Karen! It's more vital than either of us!" Winholt shouted at me, his voice tinged with anger. "That's a damn order!"

"I'm not about to surrender and let these monsters prevail." I countered as the soldiers aimed their weapons at the bubble, primarily at me. Here we go! "Ground Spears!" I hissed, thrusting my arms into the air. Spikes of varying sizes and shapes, forged from dark brown earth, surged through the floor, taking out most soldiers in a single powerful assault.

"Damn! She's a Mage! We must stop her immediately! Neutralize her at all costs!" Zachary commanded, pointing at me.

"Exit now, Your Majesties!" A soldier shouted from the doorway, trying to usher the king and prince to safety.

As the earth spears disintegrated, I seized the moment. "Rock wall!" I shouted, turning and stomping toward the door, summoning a large pillar to obstruct the main exit.

I steeled myself as I advanced toward my prey. Zachary brandished a weapon, and its end detonated. A sharp, fiery pain spread across my left side. "We will take you down, Mage!" Several soldiers were battering the wall I had erected to block the door.

"Really? I'm right here!" I chuckled, briefly savoring their frustration before unleashing my next attack. "Wind Shards!" I growled, conjuring a swirling sphere of glittering shards. With a snap of my fingers, I propelled them toward King Zachary and his men. Several soldiers leaped before him, piling atop the king to shield him from the shards. I concentrated on maintaining the pillar and barrier despite the pain that flared with each movement.

"Where are you, Prince Conor?" I murmured, scanning for him. I saw him vaulting over some fallen soldiers, moving away from Zachary and the soldiers near the door. A dark smirk crossed my face. Spotting my chance, I targeted him, isolated and defenseless.

"Thrashing Vines! Tear him asunder!" I commanded venomously. Vines burst forth, ensnaring his limbs. Another snap of my fingers, a stray vine encircled his throat. I was intent on killing him; today would mark the end for one of us.

So engrossed was I in my attempt to slay Conor that I failed to notice the king had extricated himself. "Release my son, you fiend!" Zachary roared, tackling me to the ground, his blows raining down on me. The vines binding Conor. I snapped as I was overpowered. Hearing Conor thud to the ground, coughing and gasping for air, frustrated me. He was almost within my grasp!

I redirected my focus to the immediate threat as a piercing pain stabbed my right side. Clutching Zachary's leg, I unleashed a 'Lightning Shock.' He sprang away as hastily as he had assaulted me, swearing through gritted teeth.

Scrambling to my feet, I dashed toward the Queen and Winholt. I had to send them through a portal to safety before I met my end here.

Another loud bang echoed, and a fresh surge of pain lacerated my body near the original wound. Collapsing to the ground, I panted, the pain mounting and breath becoming scarce. The end, it seemed, would come sooner than I had anticipated. Inches from the barrier, I began to cough up blood. I dragged myself the remaining distance, noting my stone now pulsing with a faint red glow. I believed I could sustain the barrier for five more minutes.

I could hear Zachary ensuring Conor was unharmed for the most part as I reached the barrier's base. Queen Delia and Winholt pleaded with me to let the barrier fall and to allow fate to take its course. I sat down in front of the barrier, clutching my side. Coughing, I brought up more blood than before, feeling some of it trickle down my chin. I ignored them, concentrating instead on the sound of boots approaching me.

Wiping as much blood as possible from my face with my left sleeve, the pain in my chest intensified with the sight of more soldiers storming into the Throne Room, their weapons trained on me. Dizziness overcame me as I continued to spit up blood, my lungs searing with pain.

"Well! Who would have thought a little purple rat could nearly kill my eldest son and take down a full fifty men? And in about fifteen minutes, no less!" Zachary remarked, pressing against my right shoulder with his boot. I swayed from the force but managed to lean back against the barrier for support.

I was acutely aware of all the eyes on me as another coughing fit racked my body, the blood in my mouth beginning to clot. "I'm so impressed that I'm going to make you an extraordinary offer," Zachary announced, seizing my right arm and crouching beside me. I looked at him weakly as he continued, "Drop this barrier, and let me complete my plans. My doctor will attend to you, and you'll be Zargo's lead mage. I'll grant you titles and lands. It's truly a once-in-a-lifetime offer," he said, his enthusiasm unmistakable. "You have six seconds to decide."

"Do it, Karen! This is your only chance to get out of here!" Delia yelled, pounding on the barrier behind me. "Please! I'm begging you!"

Are you really going to take the bait? I leaned my head toward the king's, and he foolishly mirrored the action. I headbutted him as hard as I could, but several soldiers used their rifles like bats, striking me in return. My body ached terribly from the blows, and I let out a muted groan.

"Vicious and clever for a little rat. I should have seen that coming," Zachary snapped, grabbing me by the hair and practically dangling me in front of him. I clenched my teeth against the escalating pain. "You're courageous but, like a rat, not very smart."

The pain intensified as I dangled by my hair, and I began to feel as if I were drowning. Breathing became extremely difficult, and the few breaths I managed were shallow. "Gun!" I heard the barrier shatter as my magic faded utterly. A soldier handed Zachary a small item, which he pressed to my right temple.

The moment the barrier dropped, Delia interjected, "Wait! The barrier is down, Zachary! Let her go! Please!" She grabbed his hand, trying to pull the gun away from my head.

He looked over at her coldly. "How dare you even touch me!" Zachary hissed, seething with rage.

"She was only doing what a loyal and devoted servant would do, and you know it as well as I do! So just let her go!" I struggled for breath. My vision was hazy, but my hearing was still sharp.

"Winholt and I will gladly lay down our lives to spare hers." No, please don't do this!

"I love you, Delia," Winholt said, embracing her tightly. No! You have to escape while you can!

"Fine," Zachary growled. "I'll spare this rat her meager life. My son can keep her as a pet if she survives, as I initially declared." The ground seemed to give way beneath me as everything went dark.

"Good riddance to the Lucevkin Dynasty," I heard someone say. Two shots rang out in the distance; that was the last thing I remembered from that day.