They both whip their heads toward me. King Elio in shock. Aeron’s face is blank.
I point my blades at them. One for each of their throats. My arms are shaking at what I just heard.
King Elio killed my Mother. I always suspected but hearing it fully. The truth exposed. Thinking of how she suffered, how she died with him. Someone she trusted. Spending every day with him. Every time he looked at me did he think of her? Her face? Her light?
“Dinalia!” I hear King Elio shout. “Listen to me! I loved your Mother but she had to die!”
I can’t hardly hear him over the anger that is ringing in my ears. I’m shaking with rage. My knuckles turning white from how hard I am gripping my blades.
“My estrella,” I look over to Aeron, my heart beating, my Goddess mark burning, “There is much to explain.” His voice is calm. His expression is endearing. How could he do this to me?
How could I allow this to happen?
“Dinalia, please! Help me!” King Elio pleads. Groveling, begging for my assistance.
But what he should be begging for is my mercy.
I shut my eyes close. Clenching my jaw so hard, I think my teeth might break. He ‘loved’ my Mother. He killed her but he supposedly loved her. He used her, just like he uses everyone else. She deserved so much more in life. She will be avenged. I will have my revenge. I turn, slicing both of my blades in his direction.
My magic coating my blades. Expanding all around me.
He dodges. He’s not chained. His countering will not last. He has little magic compared to my own and no sword to defend himself. Besides he has already been severely beaten, by Aeron if I had to assume. His torn clothes and blood coated face give it away.
He blocks my magic with his. My white flames slashing at his bursts of pure energy. He’s backing away from me. I can’t get close enough.
Not yet.
Rage barrels through me. All this time. All the years of suffering. Of anguish. Of enduring his disgust and cruel treatment toward me. Only for him to think he can assault me. Overpower me and use me for his own gain.
I am not the same weak and frail girl I once was. I am a star, whose light cannot be matched. And my light will not dwindle. Not for them. Not for anyone.
I will never be used again. I will not be a pawn in someone else’s game. These men. These two insufferable males will see just how dark and lethal I have become. They think they rule with the title of King. Sitting on their thrones looking down upon everyone else. But I will put them down. I will put them in their place. If they want to rule, they can rule in hell.
Clicking the button on my blades. They extend. Forming whips. I slash them toward him. Reaching and cutting him from this distance.
He falters.
I break through his energy shield. Making quick work to bind him with my magic. Burning him ever so slightly. The purple and blue hues of my flame enveloping his skin.
We are surrounded by white flames. The room grows cold as it is engulfed in my magic.
Anger consumes me. Darkness becomes me. There is no holding back. I have kept this burning desire at bay inside of me long enough. Only killing in the shadows. But not anymore.
I will kill him in the light of our Goddess’s full moon. I will kill him for all to see.
My magic coils around him like a python wrapping around its prey. I bring him to his knees. Strangling him. Restricting him of breath. Forcing him to feel my asphyxiation. The suffocation I’ve felt every single day living in his castle. Enduring his disdain. Weighing him down just as he pressed his body into me last night.
His eyes are bulging out of his head. His face is purple. The rest of him is black from my flames burning his skin.
Then I release him.
He gasps in air. Taking breath after breath.
Thankfully, he is still on his knees.
He peers up at me, vengeance in his eyes.
I create my single double edge blade. Hosting it up high, as I say, “Blood for blood, King Elio, blood for blood”