Ivan stands firm
"Are you going to tell us who you are or keep us hanging?" he asks the woman in crimson as he clutches his sword tightly, protective of his family and kingdom.
"Oh honey" Says the woman, tracing her finger along her lip slowly.
"Patience. If you survive I'll gladly tell you." She winks, her lips parting.
Ivan scoffs, absolutely irritated by the seductive behavior.
"I'm a married man, I'd prefer not to know after you perish." He taunts calmly, leaning back in the process.
Meanwhile behind Ivan
Sirella swallows, her eyes wide.
"M-Mom?....i don't...i...." She tugs on Liliana's sleeve, her hands trembling.
"What is it, sweetie?" Replies Liliana soothingly as she kneels down to Sirella's level.
"I don't want to stay here....it's scary, mom..." She glances up at Liliana, her breath hitching inadvertently.
Solaire gently pats her back, even though he himself is afraid.
"Come on, Sirella...we're royalty, nothing's scary..." He says, attempting to comfort her while trying to convince himself at the same time.
The captain of the royal guard Inoué, draws his blade slowly, the steel gleaming, a magnificently crafted katana.
"Your highness..." He says to the king, his voice dangerously low.
"Let me." Inoué stands in front of the royal family, a dutiful man indeed.
"Mmmnnnn." The woman licks her lips "i like me a loyal one." and with a wave of her hand, the men and women behind her in crimson, charge.
However they're not carrying conventional weapons.
Why would you arm yourself with a staff when swords exist?
The woman slams the head of the staff onto the ground as she laughs manically
"But your loyalty will do you NO GOOD!!" She shrieks "You can't beat magic, YOU FOOLS!" she arches her back in delighted anticipation.
"Hey captain, i don't think we can...win this." Says one of the guards.
Inoué immediately shouts at him "It is our DUTY to triumph, such thoughts shouldn't wander in your mind soldier!"
But during the moment of morale boost, the woman flicks her staff, sending an icicle flying, and before anyone can even react.....
"CAPTAIN!" Cries out the knight as he immediately crouches beside him.
"Oh don't bother, darling i already pierced his head." The woman giggles, covering her mouth like a high-schoolgirl.
"YOU MONSTER! HE'S NOT EVEN BLEEDING!" Screams out the knight as he charges in outrage at the woman.
"Oh save me the sentimentality" Annoyance visible on the woman's expression, and without even glancing at the knight she ends him as well.
And with that, the woman's group keeps lunging at the knights, not with their bodies, not with their swords, but with magic, and a frostbitten magic at that.
The crowd screams, panic surges through each one of them as they attempt to run away.
Some trip on their feet.
Some shove and try to flee.
Yet the same fate greets them all the same,
Death.
"GO! I'll buy you some time!" Says Ivan loudly, stepping protectively.
Liliana quickly scoops Sirella off the ground, clutching Solaire's hand tightly she flees towards the sewers,
Sirella trembles violently, her eyes wide with terror,
After all what kind of 10 year old can comprehend this predicament?
Solaire squeezes Liliana's hand tightly as he clenches his jaw, attempting to steel himself.
"Come on, we don't have much time, run faster!" Liliana says urgently.
"I'm doing my best, mom!" Says Solaire as he sweats, whether from the sprinting or the fear is unknown.
Liliana eyes keep darting around, looking for any threat to elude.
Solaire squeezes her hand slightly.
"Mom, it's okay, Dad is protecting us." He says, attempting to calm his mother.
As they sprint, Liliana glances at him
"You're right, honey." She takes a deep breath "You're absolutely right." She adds as she becomes less tense from his words.
Finally they reach the sewers entrance, the pungent smell absolutely rued
"What happened here?" Solaire asks as he winces slightly from the gruesome smell
"I don't know dear, i really don't know..." Says Liliana, shaking her head as she breathes softly while her grip on Solaire's hand loosens.
Sirella remains traumatized and trembling in her mother's arms
"They're dead....they're dead....dad's gonna die.....mom's gonna die....brother's gonna die..." her breath catches "I'm gonna DIE!"
Liliana rocks her gently, her voice tender and soothing as she attempts to calm her darling daughter
"No one's dying sweetie, you trusted in your father's strength before, just trust again, it's okay." She lets go of Solaire's hand to stroke Sirella's hair soothingly
Solaire sheepishly pats Sirella's shoulder obviously not well versed in comforting people
"You shouted at me for doubting his strength before the coronation, right?
So come on, trust your words, sis." He says quietly, trying to convince himself as much as her.
"Please..." He clenches his fists, eyes glistening.
But as they attempt to free each other of the despair, an icicle flies but with a swift miracle, Liliana quickly hugs both of her children tightly, shielding them from the blow she coughs....the air that comes out is cold
"Go...., please protect your sister, Solaire..." Her voice grows quieter, softer as she adds "I beg you..."
Solaire flinches but he slowly nods, attempting to steal himself he frees himself from his mother's hug and he tugs at Sirella who's legs are shaking uncontrollably, unable to move.
Solaire clenches his jaw, shouldering the responsibility and attempting to fulfill his mother's wish he picks Sirella up and quickly leaps down into the sewers, ignoring the ladder completely, he grimaces at the foul, utterly revolting, stench.
He sets Sirella down, letting her slide down the wall as she trembles, her eyes wide with dread
"...She's gone...." as her breath hitches she adds "...dad's gone too..."
Solaire clenches his fists, knuckles white
Damn it...as her brother I'm supposed to help, and yet i can't comfort her at all. he thinks to himself, self-deprecating.
Sirella looks up at him, tears filling her eyes as she hesitantly asks in a shaky voice
"Brother...?"
He immediately crouches down to her level, sitting on his knees to listen to her.
"Yes?" He says, expecting more despair.
"You're not gonna die....., right?" Asks Sirella as she clutches at his shirt tightly, clinging to him.
He places his palm on her clutching hand
"Yeah..." He takes a deep breath to calm himself "I'll do my best."
In the midst of their emotion
THUD!
They both flinch, and with what flimsy courage they have, they hesitantly turn their heads...
Sirella shrieks, ear-splitting.
And Solaire?
He remains frozen.
Before them wasn't an heirloom, wasn't a lethal weapon
It was round-shaped, bloodied, and as it rolled towards them they understood one thing,
it was a head.
"MOM!" Sirella crawls back quickly as she turns and retches violently.
Solaire?
He's realizing their situation.