Kingdoms End

Meliss was awakened by the sound of someone knocking on the door. She looked around and found that she was asleep on the sofa in the living room Tenna was asleep at the other end of the sofa. The next sound that came to Meliss’ ears was of someone picking the lock. “It’s bolted six places on the inside!!” she yelled to whoever was at the door. “You’d better get away now if you are some burglar or any other negative personality,” she added, sitting up.

Tenna shook now and came awake. “What’s going on?” the fairy asked Meliss. “Your brother has been arrested, Meliss!” announced a male voice from outside the door. Meliss shot to her feet and rushed to the door. She quickly undid the six inner locks, then turned the key in the keyhole and pulled the door open.

In the hallway stood a middle-aged man, about 47. Meliss knew him, he was a member of the Blue hand assassins guild. “Who arrested him?!” Meliss asked the man sharply. The man pushed her aside and entered the apartment, then turned to her. “Shut the door,” he told her and she obeyed. “Now tell us about our brother,” Meliss spoke. “What’s going on?” Tenna asked, getting to her feet and rubbing her left eye with the back of her hand.

“For some reason, your brother has been suspected to have a hand in the assassination of Lord Leroy Midi and now, the Governor has had him arrested,” the man explained. “What!!” Tenna exclaimed, putting her hands over her mouth. “I’m getting my brother out of there,” said Meliss, moving toward the door that led to the bedrooms corridor. “He didn’t even do anything,” Tenna added. “There’s more, Meliss,” the man spoke. “Make it quick, I’ve got a jailhouse to break into,” Meliss stated, turning to face the man now.

“Firstly, Marco is being held at the governor’s palace, not any jailhouse and secondly, the guild has marked your brother for failing to execute a perfect job,” the man announced in a deflated voice. “What?!!” both Tenna and Meliss asked in unison. The man bowed his head and gave no reply. “But it wasn’t even his job,” Tenna stated. “It was mine and Tenna’s,” Meliss added, coming close to the man now. “Look at me, Gregory,” she said, grabbing his shoulders and shaking him. “Why would the guild do this?” Tenna asked herself, sitting down on the sofa.

“It’s because they’re jealous of him!!” Meliss snapped, letting go of the visitor, Gregory’s shoulders. “You cannot even begin to imagine how right you are,” the man stated and the girls looked at hm. “You girls know that I have always been like a father to your brother,” he spoke. “I wanted to get close with you two, but Marc said he didn’t trust any man around his sisters and I couldn’t argue it with him.........I dared not argue it with him.” “What does that have to do with the guild putting a hit on my brother?!” Meliss asked sharply. “The guild leaders here in Ronat have always been jealous of Marc, he was a solid fighter, good father figure and loyal friend,” Gregory began.

“They feared that he might run for the ruling seats some day and win, so they plotted ways to kill him. But how do they kill a prized fighter? They are putting this on him now because they know an assassin must perform the job and leave no clue linking the assassination to him or her. They knew your brother would be watching over your job to kill the governor’s brother, Leroy Midi. He always watched over you girls during your missions and so now that the governor suspected your brother, they pounced on the one shot to get rid of Marco without incurring the wrath of the other members.”

“Bloody bastards!!!” Meliss yelled, punching the wall hard. “They hate him for being a better assassin than they’d expected of him,” Tenna said gently. “You two have to stay away from Marco, or the guild will kill you too,” advised Gregory, “It’s what Marco would want you to do.” “Thanks for your concern, Greg,” Tenna replied him, “but Marco also knows that we’d never leave him at a time like this.” “Go tell your guild that our family is quitting their stupid association and they can shove their stupid threats up their murderous asses,” Meliss added. “I wont tell them anything,” said Gregory. “I’m for you guys. Try and get your brother out and get out of the city. I know Marco enough to know that he has a plan of how you three will get past the gates and the Hergonesse troops outside the walls.”

As the man spoke, he moved toward the exit. “If I know Marco and I do,” he said at the door, “he’s probably already plotting an escape plan, or escaping the governor’s palace as we speak. You girls had best hurry and be watchful. You cannot trust anyone.” He finished with his advising and left the apartment.

Tenna got to her feet once Gregory was gone. “Isn’t the governor’s palace where Amisha works?” she asked Meliss. “That doesn’t matter right now,” Meliss stated. “I’ll burn that place down if I have to.” “You mean WE will burn that place down if WE have to,” Tenna corrected, stressing each “We” in the sentence. “I wouldn’t even be able to do it without you,” Meliss stated, moving toward the door to the bedroom corridor once more.

In a cell, underneath the governor’s palace in the north west region of Ronat, Marco sat. He’d been brought in the previous day, after being picked up by the city guards on his way out of a friend’s apartment building. His spelled jewellery had been taken from him and all he had on was his cotton shirt and leather pants. His cell was 20ft by 20ft, with a bed in one corner and some magic glowing lights around the walls.

Marco had used some unethical methods in his search for mastery of magic; blood transfusions from Tenna and some elves. Fairies and elves were magic, thus their blood running in his veins gave him magic which he sought. He’d been warned that transfusions like these could be dangerous, but he ignored the warnings and it hadn’t turned out well so far. Marco had done his transfusions six years ago, when his fascination with magic was at its height; he was just sixteen then. Two years after the transfusions, he began seeing the signs of blood corruption.

His body didn’t agree with the magical bloods, but the latter were forcing themselves to work with the body anyway. The blood corruption resulted in sudden bursts of hyperactivity, followed by long hours of extreme weakness, glowing veins, extreme rise in body temperature, up to ninety degrees celsius, just ten degrees below the boiling point of water. The corruption would grant him sudden bursts of extreme and abnormal body functions; super strength, speed, reasoning and ended them with long hours of similarly extreme tiredness. The last of the blood corruption’s signs were the nose and ear bleeds which happened at least once a week, but never more the twice in one week. He had to keep injecting himself with fairy and elf blood from time to time, or he’d drop dead.

Marco dealt with his blood corruption without ever letting his “Darlings” know of it. He got his shots of blood from a well kept source and the rest of the problems the ailment brought, he found his way around them. He was currently pondering an escape plan and though he was without his spelled jewellery, magical blood coursed through his veins.

He was seated on the bed in the corner of the cell. The sound of the key being fitted into the lock, warned him that someone was about to enter the cell. The cell was a simple one, a metal door with an iron barred portal through which one could see I’m and out of the cell. The Ronat governor was a good fellow and rarely ever had to use the prisons beneath the palace. No past governor had used it for anything other than locking up disobedient servants and children, this there was never any reason why the cells needed over-fortification. Would that the palace guards had known Marco, they’d have put him in the most secure facility in the entire Queendom.

As Marco looked at the door, through the bar-covered side of it, he could see the side view of his warder’s face as he worked on unlocking the door. Marco balled his right fist and his green glowing veins shone brighter, this illuminating the inside of his shirt. He put the back of his left hand to his neck to check his body temperature and it was at least eighty-five degrees Celsius. He smiled as he lowered his left hand from his neck, just as someone entered the cell through the door which was only half-opened. Upon sight of the one who’d just entered his prison cell, Marco’s fist relaxed and he physically vibrated with shock.

“Amisha?” Marco exclaimed. It was a lady who ’d just entered his cell with a tray of food in her hands. She was twenty-one and beautiful, even with her hair tied in a scarf and an apron covering her front. She was about the same height as Meliss, but she was thick, laden with flesh in the right places, curvy, busty and endowed with every other thing any man could want in his lady. She was Marco’s girlfriend, an orphan girl who’d practically forced herself on him, but they were both madly in love with each other now and had been so for the last two years.

Amisha made to come closer to Marco, but he didn’t want her feeling how hot his body was and also didn’t want her blamed as an accomplice in his escape. “I will not have her!!” he screamed immediately, getting to his feet and going to the free, inner corner of the room. “Get her out of here!!” he screamed next. “Marco, it’s me,” Amisha said gently. “I know who you are,” replied Marco. “Now, go away.” “Guard?!!!” “Marco, what’s wrong with you?” Amisha asked, putting the tray of food down on the ground, barely five feet into the cell. “Guard?!!!” Marco cried out again.

The cell door opened and two guards stepped into the space, the door shut after them by one guard who remained outside.“Why all the yelling?!” one guard asked sharply. “I have made no contact with this lady and I want her removed from this cell and her tray of food also,” Marco replied. “I thought you said he wad your lover,” one of the guards inquired of Amisha. “He is,” she replied, confusion greatly evident on her face, “but something must have gotten into him.” “Do you know her?” the guard asked Marco. “I do,” he replied, “but I also plan on escaping from this cell and want no one to accuse her of being my accomplice.” The two guards looked at each other, then back at Marco.

“You just confessed to planning an escape from this prison, do you realise that?” asked one of the soldiers. “What I want you to do is bear witness that this Amisha here is innocent of helping me escape,” Marco relied. “He must be mentally unwell,” one soldier told the other. “You must leave as he has asked you to, Amisha,” the other guard told the lady.

“Marco?” Amisha called, stretching out her hands toward him. Marco knew it was breaking her heart, but he didn’t want the governor thinking that she aided his brother’s killer in escaping from inside his very own palace. “I do it to keep you safe, my love,” was all Marco could say.

Amisha turned around and ran to the locked cell door, crying gently. She’d left the tray of food on the floor. The guard outside opened the door and she rushed out.

The guards inside the cell had watched Amisha leave and when they turned to face Marco once more, he was two feet from them now. With lightning speed, Marco struck both men in the neck with the sides of his hands. The soldiers fell limp to the floor. He jumped to the door before the soldier outside could pull it shut. He grabbed the side of the door and pulled against the soldier. With the abnormal strength his hybrid blood granted him, the soldier was no competition. With one yank, the door swung Marco’s way, pulling in the soldier with it. Marco’s free hand came up as the guard was pulled in and once the side of that hand struck the guard’s neck, he went limp and fell forward.

Marco took off one guard’s belt which held his gun holster and sword sheath. He put the belt around his own waist and bent down to take a pair of boots. He took the boots off and as he put them on, he noticed a necklace which all three guards had on and knew its use instantly. “Spell protectors, huh?” he thought aloud, touching one soldier’s necklace. He took of the necklace and put it on, then took the big loaf of bread which had been in the tray Amisha left behind.

Now that he was fully clothed and armed, Marco collected the cell keys from the guard who held it and he stepped out into the corridor. He went back into the cell and picked the bowl of stew which was also in the tray his lover had brought. “She must have prepared them herself,” he though aloud, drinking the stew from the bowl. Again, he exit the cell. He pulled the door shut and locked in the three guards. He took the route to his right, as he was sure that it led out of the dungeons. He walked fast and prayed that he met no hindrances on his way. He had gone but a short distance, when he caught the rear-view of Amisha as he’d seen her while she left his cell. She had on a plain white gown that ended just above her knees, the ropes of her apron were tied together at her lower back and top of her head was covered in a white scarf.

Marco rushed to Amisha’s side and she hadn’t even heard him approach, or perhaps she heard someone coming and just believed it to be a guard. She wasn’t expecting Marco to break out of his cell, at least not so quickly. “My love?” Marco called, putting his bread-wielding arm around the weeping lady, while the other held unto the bowl of stew. Amisha broke away from his hold and was surprised to see him. “How are you here?” she asked. “I told you I would escape,” Marco replied proudly. Without warning, Amisha smacked the bread pit of his hand and took a swing at the bowl of stew too. Marco moved his hand in time to save the stew, then he looked at Amisha’s angry face.

“I know you are angry, Amisha,but I did it for your own safety,” he explained. “Guards!!?” Amisha yelled. “What?!” Marco asked, stunned. “Guards?!!” the lady called u again and Marco immediately put his hand over her mouth. “I have to get out of here, my love,” he told her with her mouth still covered. “Our world is dying and my sisters need me if they are going to get off this planet. I’m also making arrangements for you too. We have some money. We plan on going to Guurjey, starting a new life and opening up our own business.” Amisha hadn’t struggled while Marco spoke and now that he was done, he released her mouth once more.

“Guards?!!” Amisha screamed once she was free, crossing her arms as she did so. Marco caught the back of her head in his free hand and pressed his lips to hers. Again, Amisha didn’t struggle, but she didn’t unfold her arms either. The kiss lasted no more than five seconds, then Marco let her go. “I expected you to be against that,” he spoke. “I will not deny myself the pleasure of your lips, Marco,” the lady replied coldly and Marco smiled. “Guards?!!” she cried yet again, but this time, Marco didn’t stop her.

Marco went to the bread which had been knocked out of his hand by Amisha and picked it up. “I can tell by the pepper and excess milk in the bread and the unique taste of the stew that they were specifically prepared for me, by you,” he stated. “For that, I shall eat them even if they be served on the floor, my love.” “Guards?!!” Amisha yelled again. Marco came and stood by her side. “I said I wouldn’t let anyone accuse you of aiding in my escape and I warn you now that those three guards who saw you leave my cell, I only knocked unconscious, but whichever unfortunate fellow comes at the sound of your voice to find you and I together, I must kill.”

Amisha looked at Marco now. “Then the rumours are true?” she asked. “You belong to the Blue hand assassins and you killed Lord Leroy Midi?” “I did not kill the governor’s brother,” Marco replied. “I work here in the governor’s palace and I saw Lord Leroy alot,” Amisha spoke. “He was a good man and did not deserve to die that way, poisoned like a failing animal.” “And I assure you that I didn’t kill him,” Marco replied. “And you do not belong to that dreaded assassins’ guild?” Amisha asked. “I don’t,” Marco replied in a small voice. “You’re lying to me!” Amisha barked. “I don’t belong to any killers guild,” Marco admitted, “and I did not kill the governor’s brother.” “And you don’t know who did?” Amisha asked, but Marco looked away. “You do know who did it,” Amisha stated. “We are wasting time here, Amisha,” Marco told her. “Our world is dying and the armies of Hergon lie outside our city’s walls. I know how to get us out and thanks to a lot of hard work, I have enough money for transport and resettlement. All I need are you and my darlings at my sides.” Amisha was going to say something, but the scream of “Halt in the name of the governor,” drew the lovers’ attentions to a set of soldiers.

The soldiers came close to the lovers. “We heard your scream, my lady,” said one of the guards. “I warned you, Amisha,” Marco spoke, tossing the bowl of stew at one soldier and drawing his sword with that hand which was now free of the bowl. He held the sword in his right left hand and the loaf of bread in his left.

“Marco no!!!” Amisha yelled, but he couldn’t stop now. He went below the first soldier’s sword swing and ran his own sword deep into the man’s side. He stood erect behind the soldier and pulled his sword out of the body, letting it drop to the floor. The soldier writhed in pain as he died, while Marco advanced on the other man. The second soldier parried the thrust with which Marco came at him, but Marco spun into the man’s exposed front and jammed his right elbow into the soldier’s throat. The soldier tried turning his sword on Marco who’s back was against his chest, but Marco knocked the sword out of his hand with a strong hit to the wrist with the butt of his sword. The soldier’s sword clattered to the floor and with a quick backward thrust, Marco impaled the the man.

Marco left his sword in the second soldier’s corpse as it went down, then he picked up the sword he’d knocked out of the fellows hand and put that in his sheath instead. He looked at Amisha and the lady was frozen by fear. “They would have reported seeing you and I together after my escape and the governor would suspect you of aiding in my escape once he found out that you were my lover,” Marco explained without going close to her. “You just murdered two men,” she said in a small voice. “It was me or them,” Marco pointed out, “Who would you have rather seen come out victorious?” Amisha knew what her answer to that question was, but she wouldn’t voice it.

Marco walked up to her and she backed away from him. “I must leave now,” he told her. “My darlings must be very worried about me. They probably don’t know that I was arrested. We shall leave the city and attempt crossing the Hergonesse camp tonight. I shall come for you once the sun sets. We will not leave you to die with this world. We orphans should look out for each other. If you wish to see me dead, then you can inform the governor that I shall be at your place, that he might have his soldiers wait there for me, but I tell you that I will not come unarmed and I shall fight to my last breath.” Marco finished his speech and waited awhile for Amisha to say something, but she didn’t. “I love you,” he finally told her, then continued down the corridor, running this time.

The rest of Marco’s time in the hallway was uneventful. There were no other guards in sight until he came to the wide stairs that led up out of the dungeons and into the palace above. At the top of the stairs were was a large archway and two guards stood with their backs to Marco.

The guards couldn’t see him now, but what were the odds he’d climb up those over thirty steps without either guard turning around? If he could just get up quietly, he’d take them out without any worries. Twas time to stop thinking and begin acting.

Marco put his right hand on the handle of his sword and began his slow ascent. He had gone past at least ten steps when something unexpected suddenly happened.

Out the two sides of the arcway, two figures slipped out and with swift, but silent moves, took out the guards. The figures caught the guards before their bodies even hit the ground and dragged down the stairs. The figures were dressed in black, tight fitting bodysuits with masks over their heads and soft, soundless shoes on their feet. They were concealed, though the tight cloths gave off their sexes as females, but those figures were two of three Marco was very used to.

“Meliss? Tenna?” Marco called softly, though his excitement was still carried in his voice. The figures let the lifelss guards fall and spun around sharply to face Marco; both reaching for their weapons. Seeing their brother caused them to let their weapons be and run down into his open arms.

The ladies pulled down the part of the masks that covered their lips and covered their brother’s face in kisses. “Gods, we are so happy to see you, Marco,” said Meliss. “Greg came to the apartment and told us you were here,” Tenna stated. “He also told us the Blue hand guild has put a hit on you,” Meliss added. “I am not surprised,” Marco said with a sigh. “Though we should leave now before some of the guards we knocked out wake up and sound an alarm,” Tenna suggested. “She is right,” Meliss agreed, “We’ll fill you in on everything else while we get out of here.”

“Agreed,” Marco replied his sister, then they all rushed up and into the governor’s palace proper.